Patent ID: 8455351

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming a high current device; forming a first via positioned in a dielectric and coupled to the high current device at one end; forming a buffer metal segment positioned in a dielectric and coupled to the first via at an opposite end thereof; forming a plurality of electrically insulating inter-dielectric (ILD) pads through buffer metal segment; forming a second via positioned in a dielectric formed over the buffer metal segment and coupled to the buffer metal segment at one end; and forming a metal power line in a dielectric and coupled to the second via at an opposite end thereof; wherein the plurality of ILD pads are configured in a pattern within a perimeter of the buffer metal segment, with the pads having varying shapes and sizes with respect to one another and being arranged at various densities with respect to locations in the buffer metal segment so as to spread current density distribution in the metal buffer segment in a manner that avoids current crowding in the metal buffer segment and in the metal power line.