Patent ID: 7317253

Claim:
A semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate; at least one layer of functional devices formed on the substrate; a first dielectric layer formed over the functional device layer; a first trench/via located in the first dielectric layer; a copper conductor filling the first trench/via; an electromigration inhibiting barrier layer selectively located over a surface of the copper conductor and not any other remaining exposed surface; an insulating cap layer overlying the barrier layer and the remaining exposed surface; a second dielectric layer overlying the insulating cap layer; a second trench/via located in the second dielectric layer and extending through the insulating cap layer and the barrier layer; a micro-trench located within the first dielectric layer and associated with formation of the second trench/via, said micro-trench exposing a portion of the copper conductor; and a filler filling the micro-trench, said filler being formed from a material used to form the electromigration inhibiting barrier layer.