Patent ID: 8174101

Claim:
A microelectronic device having a reduced pitch between workpiece contacts, the microelectronic device comprising: a microfeature workpiece having a first side opposite a second side, and a passageway extending through the microfeature workpiece from the first side to the second side; and a first workpiece contact in a first plane at the first side of the microfeature workpiece; a second workpiece contact having a bonding surface, the second workpiece contact being carried by the second side in a second plane generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane, the second workpiece contact being electrically coupled to an element of the microelectronic device, the bonding surface being positioned to be accessible to a wirebond extending through the passageway, the second workpiece contact further having a peripheral first non-bonding surface extending laterally outwardly from the passageway and facing the second side of the microfeature workpiece, and a second non-bonding surface opposite the bonding surface; and a protective material encapsulating the second non-bonding surface of the second workpiece contact and at least a portion of the second side of the workpiece, wherein the protective material electrically isolates the second non-bonding surface of the second workpiece contact.