This U.S. nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0120226, filed on Sep. 9, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present inventive concepts relate to semiconductor devices and/or semiconductor packages, and more particularly, to semiconductor chips with a stepped sidewall, semiconductor packages including the semiconductor chip, and/or methods of fabricating the semiconductor chip.
In general, a wafer on which semiconductor devices are formed is divided into a chip region on which a plurality of cells are formed and a scribe lane which distinguishes chips from each other. A plurality of semiconductor devices, such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors, are formed on the chip regions and are not formed on the scribe lane. The wafer is sawed along the scribe lane to complete or separate each of the semiconductor devices (or semiconductor chips). The scribe lane may be provided thereon with an alignment key for an exposure process and/or with a test pattern for monitoring electrical properties and defective patterns of the semiconductor devices formed on the chip regions to inspect whether a process is normally performed.
Some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts provide semiconductor chips with increased reliability.
Some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts provide semiconductor packages with increased reliability.
Some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts provide semiconductor chips fabrication method capable of increasing a yield.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor chip may include a substrate including a device region and an edge region, a device layer and a wiring layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, a residual test pattern and a sub-pad on the wiring layer, the sub-pad being on the device region, the residual test pattern being on the edge region, and a sidewall of the residual test pattern being aligned with a sidewall of the substrate, and an upper dielectric stack covering the sub-pad and the residual test pattern. The upper dielectric stack may expose a portion of a top surface of the residual test pattern. A sidewall of the upper dielectric stack may have a stepped region.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor chip may include a substrate including a device region and an edge region, a device layer and a wiring layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, a residual test pattern and a sub-pad on the wiring layer, the sub-pad being on the device region, the residual test pattern being on the edge region, and a sidewall of the residual test pattern being aligned with a sidewall of the substrate, an upper dielectric stack covering the sub-pad and the residual test pattern, a passivation layer on the upper dielectric stack, a separation dielectric pattern penetrating the wiring layer on the edge region, a bonding pad in the upper dielectric stack and connected to the sub-pad, a conductive bump penetrating the passivation layer and coupled to the bonding pad, and a solder layer coupled to the conductive bump. The upper dielectric stack may expose a portion of a top surface of the residual test pattern. A sidewall of the upper dielectric stack may have a stepped region. A top surface of the bonding pad may be at a first depth from a top surface of the passivation layer. A bottom surface of the stepped region may be at a second depth from the top surface of the passivation layer. The second depth may be about 0.9 times to about 2.0 times the first depth.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor chip may include a substrate including a device region and an edge region, a device layer and a wiring layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, a residual test pattern and a sub-pad on the wiring layer, the sub-pad being on the device region, the residual test pattern being on the edge region, and a sidewall of the residual test pattern being aligned with a sidewall of the substrate, and an upper dielectric stack that covers the sub-pad and the residual test pattern. The upper dielectric stack may expose a portion of a top surface of the residual test pattern. The device layer may include a device interlayer dielectric layer. The upper dielectric stack may include a plurality of upper dielectric layers that are sequentially stacked. A surface roughness at a sidewall of an uppermost one of the upper dielectric layers may be less than a surface roughness at a sidewall of the device interlayer dielectric layer.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor chip, a plurality of second semiconductor chips stacked on the first semiconductor chip, and a mold layer covering lateral surfaces of the second semiconductor chips and a top surface of the first semiconductor chip. Each of the second semiconductor chips may include a second substrate and a circuit structure below the second substrate. The second substrate may include a device region and an edge region that surrounds the device region. The circuit structure may include a device layer and a wiring layer sequentially stacked below the second substrate, a sub-pad and a residual test pattern below the wiring layer, and a dielectric stack covering a bottom surface of the sub-pad and a bottom surface of the residual test pattern. A sidewall of the dielectric stack may have a stepped region. The mold layer may cover the stepped region.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a method of fabricating a semiconductor chip may include forming a wiring layer on a substrate that includes a plurality of device regions and a scribe lane region between the device regions, forming a sub-pad and a test pattern on the wiring layer, the sub-pad being on a corresponding one of the device regions, and the test pattern being on the scribe lane region, forming a first upper dielectric layer that covers the sub-pad and the test pattern, forming on the first upper dielectric layer a bonding pad connected to the sub-pad, forming a second upper dielectric layer that covers the bonding pad and the first upper dielectric layer, etching the second upper dielectric layer on the test pattern to form a preliminary hole that exposes the first upper dielectric layer, and etching the first upper dielectric layer below the preliminary hole to form a first hole that exposes the test pattern and simultaneously etching the second upper dielectric layer on the bonding pad to form a second hole that exposes the bonding pad.
Some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to aid in clearly explaining the present inventive concepts.
While the term “same,” “equal” or “identical” is used in description of example embodiments, it should be understood that some imprecisions may exist. Thus, when one element is referred to as being the same as another element, it should be understood that an element or a value is the same as another element within a desired manufacturing or operational tolerance range (e.g., ±10%).
When the terms “about” or “substantially” are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value includes a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated numerical value. Moreover, when the words “about” and “substantially” are used in connection with geometric shapes, it is intended that precision of the geometric shape is not required but that latitude for the shape is within the scope of the disclosure. Further, regardless of whether numerical values or shapes are modified as “about” or “substantially,” it will be understood that these values and shapes should be construed as including a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated numerical values or shapes.
Referring to
On the device region, transistors TR may be disposed on the first surface 1a of the substrate 1. Although not shown, on the device region DR, the first surface 1a may be provided thereon with a shallow isolation pattern, memory cells, capacitors, and the like. The first surface 1a of the substrate 1 may be covered with a device interlayer dielectric layer 3. The device interlayer dielectric layer 3 may have a single-layered or multi-layered structure including, for example, at least one selected from silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride.
A chip sidewall 100_S of the semiconductor chip 100 may include a sidewall of a lower passivation layer 40, a sidewall 1_S of the substrate 1, a sidewall 3_S of the device interlayer dielectric layer 3, a sidewall of an edge lower dielectric stack 7e, a sidewall of a second residual test pattern 14sr, a sidewall UI_S of the upper dielectric stack UI, and a sidewall of an upper passivation layer 29.
On the device region DR, the device interlayer dielectric layer 3 may be provided therein with contact plugs 5c connected to the transistors TR. On the edge region ER, the device interlayer dielectric layer 3 may be provided therein with first guard ring patterns 5g and first chipping dams 5p.
The contact plugs 5c, the first guard ring patterns 5g, and the first chipping dams 5p may include the same material, such as tungsten. Although not shown, the contact plugs 5c, the first guard ring patterns 5g, and the first chipping dams 5p may be covered with a barrier metal provided on lateral and bottom surfaces thereof. The barrier metal may include, for example, at least one selected from titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, and tungsten nitride. The contact plugs 5c, the first guard ring patterns 5g, and the first chipping dams 5p may penetrate the device interlayer dielectric layer 3. The device layer DL may be constituted by the transistors TR, the interlayer dielectric layer 3, the contact plugs 5c, the first guard ring patterns 5g, and the first chipping dams 5p.
Likewise fifth guard ring patterns 14g which will be discussed below with reference to
The wiring layer LI may be disposed on the device interlayer dielectric layer 3. The wiring layer LI may include a primary lower dielectric stack 7m and an edge lower dielectric stack 7e that are spaced apart from each other. The primary lower dielectric stack 7m and the edge lower dielectric stack 7e may each include a plurality of lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10. The lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 may include a low-k dielectric material which has dielectric constant less than that of silicon oxide. For example, the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 may be porous dielectric layers. The lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 may include SiOCH. Each of the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 may have a mechanical strength less than that of the device interlayer dielectric layer 3. Although not shown, an etch stop layer may be interposed between the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10. The etch stop layer may include, for example, one of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and silicon carbonitride.
The primary lower dielectric stack 7m may cover the device region DR and its adjacent portion of the edge region ER. When viewed in a plan view as shown in
The wiring layer LI may include a plurality of lower wiring patterns 11 disposed in the primary lower dielectric stack 7m on the device region DR, and may also include lower via patterns 9 that connect the lower wiring patterns 11 to each other. The wiring layer LI may further include a lower guard ring structure GS1 and a lower chipping dam structure PS1 that are disposed in the primary lower dielectric stack 7m on the edge region ER.
The lower guard ring structure GS1 may include second guard ring patterns 11g and third guard ring patterns 9g that connect the second guard ring patterns 11g to each other. The second guard ring patterns 11g may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower wiring patterns 11 and may include the same material as that of the lower wiring patterns 11. The third guard ring patterns 9g may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower via patterns 9 and may include the same material as that of the lower via patterns 9. When viewed in a plan view, the second and third guard ring patterns 11g and 9g may each have an annular shape that surrounds the device region DR. The lower guard ring structure GS1 may serve to block or protect the wiring layer LI on the device region DR against moisture and/or physical cracks.
The lower chipping dam structure PS1 may include second chipping dam patterns 11p and third chipping dam patterns 9p that connect the second chipping dam patterns 11p to each other. The second chipping dam patterns 11p may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower wiring patterns 11 and may include the same material as that of the lower wiring patterns 11. The third chipping dam patterns 9p may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower via patterns 9 and may include the same material as that of the lower via patterns 9. When viewed in a plan view, the second and third chipping dam patterns 11p and 9p may each have an annular shape that surrounds the lower guard ring structure GS1. The lower guard ring structure GS1 may serve to block or protect the wiring layer LI on the device region DR against moisture and/or physical cracks.
The wiring layer LI may include first residual test patterns 11sr disposed in the edge lower dielectric stack 7e and first test via patterns 9s that connect the first residual test patterns 11sr to each other. The first residual test patterns 11sr may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower wiring patterns 11 and may include the same material as that of the lower wiring patterns 11. The first test via patterns 9s may be located at the same height (level) as that of the lower via patterns 9 and may include the same material as that of the lower via patterns 9. The first residual test patterns 11sr may be, for example, portions of test patterns. The first residual test patterns 11sr may have their sidewalls that are aligned with the sidewall 3_S of the device interlayer dielectric layer 3.
The wiring layer LI may be constituted by the primary lower dielectric stack 7m, the edge lower dielectric stack 7e, the lower wiring patterns 11, the lower via patterns 9, the lower guard ring structure GS1, the first residual test patterns 11sr, and the first test via patterns 9s.
The upper dielectric stack UI may be disposed on the wiring layer LI. The upper dielectric stack UI may include first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, and 27 that are sequentially stacked. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, and 27 may each include a dielectric material which has dielectric constant greater than that of the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, and 27 may each have a mechanical strength greater than that of the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10.
The first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 may be provided thereon with a sub-pad 14, fifth guard ring patterns 14g, fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and a second residual test pattern 14sr. The second residual test pattern 14sr may be provided in plural, and the plurality of second residual test patterns 14sr may be arranged in one column along an edge of the semiconductor chip 100.
Although not shown, upper wiring lines may be additionally disposed on the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 on the device region DR.
The device region DR may be provided thereon with the sub-pad 14, and the edge region ER may be provided thereon with the fifth guard ring patterns 14g, the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and the second residual test pattern 14sr. The sub-pad 14, the fifth guard ring patterns 14g, the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and the second residual test pattern 14sr may be located at the same level and may be identical in terms of material and thickness T1.
A first upper via pattern 12 may penetrate the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13, and may connect the sub-pad 14 to one of the lower wiring patterns 11. Fourth guard ring patterns 12g may penetrate the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13, and may connect the second guard ring patterns 11g to the fifth guard ring patterns 14g. Fourth chipping dam patterns 12p may penetrate the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13, and may connect the second chipping dam patterns 11p to the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p. Second test via patterns 12s may penetrate the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13, and may connect the first residual test pattern 11sr to the second residual test pattern 14sr. The first upper via pattern 12, the fourth guard ring patterns 12g, the fourth chipping dam patterns 12p, and the second test via patterns 12s may be located at the same level and may be identical in terms of material and thickness.
The fourth guard ring patterns 12g and the fifth guard ring patterns 14g may constitute an upper guard ring structure GS2. When viewed in a plan view, the upper guard ring structure GS2 may surround the device region DR. The fourth chipping dam patterns 12p and the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p may constitute an upper chipping dam structure PS2. When viewed in a plan view, the upper chipping dam structure PS2 may surround the upper guard ring structure GS2. The upper guard ring structure GS2 and the upper chipping dam structure PS2 may serve to block or protect the device region DR against moisture and/or physical cracks.
The second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19 may be sequentially stacked on the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13, the sub-pad 14, the fifth guard ring patterns 14g, the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and the second residual test pattern 14sr. The first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 and the second upper intermetallic dielectric layer 15 may each include, for example, silicon oxide, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), or high-density plasma (HDP) oxide.
The third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may include, for example, silicon nitride. In such case, the second upper intermetallic dielectric layer 15 may serve as an etch stop layer. In some example embodiments, the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may include a material whose hydrogen permeability is low. In such case, the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may serve as a hydrogen barrier. For example, the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may include at least one selected from aluminum oxide (AlOx), tungsten oxide (WOx), and silicon nitride (SiNx).
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 19, 2325, and 27 may include, for example, one of high-density plasma (HDP) oxide, undoped silicate glass (USG), tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), SiN, SiO2, SiOC, SiON, and SiCN.
The first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 may have a sidewall aligned with that of the edge lower dielectric stack 7e. The second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19 may have their sidewalls that are aligned with each other, and may partially expose a top surface 14sr_U of the second residual test pattern 14sr.
Second upper via patterns 22 may be coupled to the sub-pad 14 while penetrating the second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19. On the device region DR, a bonding pad 21p may be disposed on the fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 19. The fifth and sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 23 and 25 may be sequentially and conformally formed on the fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 19. The fifth and sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 23 and 25 may sequentially and conformally cover a sidewall and a top surface of the bonding pad 21p.
A portion of the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may penetrate the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 13, 15, 17, 19, and 23 between the upper chipping dam structure PS2 and the second residual test pattern 14sr, and may be interposed between the primary lower dielectric stack 7m and the edge lower dielectric stack 7e. A groove GR1 may be formed in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 13, 15, 17, 19, and 23 and between the primary lower dielectric stack 7m and the edge lower dielectric stack 7e, and a portion of the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may be coupled to the device interlayer dielectric layer 3 while covering a sidewall and a bottom surface of the groove GR1. The sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may serve as a capping layer.
The seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may have a flat top surface. A portion of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may be inserted into the groove GR1, thereby filling the groove GR1 and constituting a separation dielectric pattern 27b.
When viewed in a plan view as shown in
Referring to
The sidewall 27_S of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may have the first stepped region SDR(1) in the recessed region LRC. The upper dielectric stack UI may have the first stepped region SDR(1) at its sidewall UI_S. For example, the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may have an upper sidewall 27_S(1) and a lower sidewall 27_S(2) that are offset from each other. For the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27, the upper sidewall 27_S(1) may be connected through an intermediate surface 27_M to the lower sidewall 27_S(2). The seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may have a top surface 27_U that is stepped relative to the intermediate surface 27_M, which is stepped relative to the top surface 14sr_U of the second residual test pattern 14sr (or relative to a top surface of the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13), and the second stepped region SDR(2) may be formed by the intermediate surface 27_M and the top surface 14sr_U that are stepped relative to each other. The intermediate surface 27_M of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may be positioned at a second depth DT2 from a top surface of the passivation layer 29. The second depth DT2 may be, for example, about 0.9 times to about 2.0 times a first depth DT1 which will be discussed below.
Referring to
Referring to
The seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may serve as a buried dielectric layer. When viewed in a plan view, the groove GR1 and the separation dielectric pattern 27b may each have an annular shape that surrounds the device region DR.
The separation dielectric pattern 27b and the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may each include a dielectric material which has dielectric constant and mechanical strength greater than dielectric constant and mechanical strength of the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10. The sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may have a density greater than that of the separation dielectric pattern 27b. For example, the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 may include high density plasma (HDP) oxide, and the separation dielectric pattern 27b may include tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS).
As the wiring layer LI includes the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 whose mechanical strengths are low, physical cracks may easily propagate along the lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 toward the device region DR. In contrast, according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the groove GR1 and the separation dielectric pattern 27b and the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 that are positioned in the groove GR1 may block or prevent physical cracks from propagating from the edge region ER toward the device region DR.
When lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 include a porous dielectric material, moisture may be easily introduced into the semiconductor chip 100. In contrast, according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the groove GR1 and the separation dielectric pattern 27b and the sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 25 that are positioned in the groove GR1 may block or prevent moisture from being introduced into the device region DR from an outermost side (e.g., the cutting surface CTS) of the semiconductor chip 100. Thus, the semiconductor chip 100 may increase in reliability.
The lower sidewall 27_S(2) of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may be aligned with the sidewalls of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, 19, 23, and 25. The upper passivation layer 29 may be disposed on the upper dielectric stack UI. The upper passivation layer 29 may have single-layered or multi-layered structure including at least one selected from silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and SiCN. The upper passivation layer 29 may have a sidewall aligned with the upper sidewall 27_S(1) of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27.
A conductive bump 37 may be coupled to the bonding pad 21p while penetrating the upper passivation layer 29 and the fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 23, 25, and 27. The conductive bump 37 may be disposed in a second hole H2 formed in the fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 23, 25, and 27. The second hole H2 may have a first depth DT1. The first depth DT1 may correspond to a distance between a top surface of the upper passivation layer 29 and the top surface of the bonding pad 21p.
A portion of the conductive bump 37 may protrude beyond the upper passivation layer 29. A solder layer 39 may be bonded onto the conductive bump 37. The bonding pad 21p may include metal, for example, aluminum. The conductive bump 37 may include metal, for example, copper. The solder layer 39 may include, for example, at least one selected from tin, lead, and silver.
The lower passivation layer 40 may cover the second surface 1b of the substrate 1. The lower passivation layer 40 may have a single-layered or multi-layered structure including, for example, at least one selected from silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and SiCN.
On the device region DR, a through electrode TSV may penetrate the device interlayer dielectric layer 3, the substrate 1, and the lower passivation layer 40. The through electrode TSV may be coupled to one of the lower wiring patterns 11. A through dielectric layer TL may be interposed between the through electrode TSV and the substrate 1. The through dielectric layer TL may be, for example, a silicon oxide layer. The lower passivation layer 40 may be provided thereunder with a lower bonding pad 46 coupled to the through electrode TSV. The through electrode TSV may include metal, for example, tungsten or copper. The lower bonding pad 46 may include metal, such as copper, gold, nickel, or aluminum.
Referring to
The seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27 may have a larger surface roughness at the sidewall 27_S in cross section taken along line B-B′ shown in
For the semiconductor chip 100 according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a metal pattern, located at the same level as that of the bonding pad 21p, may not be exposed on the sidewall UI_S of the upper dielectric stack UI. Therefore, electrical short due to metal burs may not occur when the semiconductor chip 100 is mounted. Accordingly, there may be an increase in reliability of a semiconductor package including the semiconductor chip 100.
Referring to
Ordinary procedures may be formed to form a wiring layer LI on the device layer DL. The wiring layer LI may include a lower dielectric stack 7 including a plurality of lower intermetallic dielectric layers 10 of
A first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 may be formed on the wiring layer LI. First upper via patterns 12, fourth guard ring patterns 12g, fourth chipping dam patterns 12p, and second test via patterns 12s may be formed to penetrate the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13. A sub-pad 14, fifth guard ring patterns 14g, fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and a second residual test pattern 14sr may be formed on the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13. A plurality of second test patterns 14s may be provided, and the plurality of second test patterns 14s may be arranged in one or more columns on the scribe lane region SR.
Second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19 may be sequentially stacked on the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13 to cover the sub-pad 14, the fifth guard ring patterns 14g, the fifth chipping dam patterns 14p, and the second test patterns 14s. Second upper via patterns 22 may be formed to penetrate the second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19. In this stage, a third test via pattern 22s may be formed to penetrate the second, third, and fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15, 17, and 19. The second upper via patterns 22 may be connected to the sub-pad 14. The third test via pattern 22s may be connected to the second test pattern 14s.
A metal-containing layer 21 may be formed on the fourth upper intermetallic dielectric layer 19. The metal-containing layer 21 may include, for example, aluminum.
Referring to
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The first hole H1 may have a first width W1 of
In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, because the preliminary hole PH1 is previously formed in the step of
When the upper passivation layer 29 and the upper dielectric stack UI are etched to form the first hole H1 and the second hole H2 without forming the preliminary hole PH1, the bonding pads 21p may be first exposed because the second hole H2 is relatively deeper than the first hole H1. In this case, the bonding pads 21p may continuously suffer from etching damage during the formation of the first hole H1, and thus etching byproducts, Al—F compounds, may be formed by reaction between aluminum included in the bonding pad 21p and fluorine contained in an etchant used in an etching process. The etching byproducts may be difficult to remove in a cleaning process and may induce contamination of an etching chamber to increase manufacturing costs. In contrast, according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, such problems may be mitigated or solved by forming the preliminary hole PH1 on a location at which a relatively large amount of etching is desired.
Referring to
After the test process is terminated, ordinary processes may be performed to form a conductive bump 37 in the second hole H2 and to form a solder layer 39 on the conductive bump 37.
Referring to
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In the fabrication method of some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the third test pattern 21s may not be present on the second test pattern 14s. Moreover, as discussed above, the third test pattern 21s may also be omitted. Because the breaking region BR is provided thereon with no or a small number of third test patterns 21s that are relatively thick, it may be possible to minimize or prevent blade teeth from being stuck with aluminum included in the third test pattern 21s in the sawing process. When aluminum is largely stuck in the blade teeth, there may occur sawing defects such as un-cutting or damage to the blade or semiconductor chips. In contrast, some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts may solve such sawing defects.
The sawing process may cause a difference in surface roughness discussed with reference to
Referring to
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The second and third upper intermetallic dielectric layers 15 and 17 may have their sidewalls that are aligned with each other. The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layers 19, 23, 25, and 27 may have their sidewalls that are aligned with each other. The second upper intermetallic dielectric layer 15 may have a sidewall 15_S that is offset from the sidewall 27_S of the seventh upper intermetallic dielectric layer 27. Therefore, the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may have a top surface 17_S that is partially exposed. The exposed top surface 17_S of the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 and the top surface of the upper passivation layer 29 may constitute a step difference to form the first stepped region SDR(1). The exposed top surface 17_S of the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17 may be stepped relative to the top surface 14sr_U of the second residual test pattern 14sr (or relative to the top surface of the first upper intermetallic dielectric layer 13), and the second stepped region SDR(2) may be formed by the top surface 17_S and the top surface 14sr_U that are stepped relative to each other. The top surface 14sr_U of the second residual test pattern 14sr may be positioned at a third depth DT3 from the top surface 17_S of the third upper intermetallic dielectric layer 17. The third depth DT3 may be, for example, about 0.9 times to about 2.0 times the first depth DT1 which will be discussed below. Other structural features may be identical or similar to those discussed above.
Referring to
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The first semiconductor chip 100a may be called as or replaced with a package substrate or a redistribution substrate.
A mold layer MD may cover a top surface of the first semiconductor chip 100a and lateral surfaces of the second to fifth semiconductor chips 100b to 100e. The mold layer MD may include a dielectric resin, for example, an epoxy molding compound (EMC). The mold layer MD may further include fillers, and the fillers may be dispersed in the dielectric resin. The fillers may include, for example, silicon oxide (SiO2). The mold layer MD may have a top surface coplanar with the second surface 1b of the substrate 1 included in the fifth semiconductor chip 100e.
Each of the first to fifth semiconductor chips 100a to 100e may have characteristics the same as or similar to those of one or more of the semiconductor chips 100, 101, and 102 discussed with reference to
Among the first to fifth semiconductor chips 100a to 100e, an underlying semiconductor chip may include the lower bonding pad 46 coupled to the solder layer 39 disposed on an overlying semiconductor chip.
Each of the first to fifth semiconductor chips 100a to 100e may have the stepped region SDR at its edge region. The stepped regions SDR of the second to fifth semiconductor chips 100b to 100e may be filled with the mold layer MD. The mold layer MD may cover a bottom surface of the second residual test pattern 14sr and a sidewall of the upper dielectric stack UI.
The fifth semiconductor chip 100e at top position may not include any of the through electrode TSV and the lower bonding pad 46. Other structural features may be identical or similar to those discussed above. A redistribution pattern 35 may be disposed on a top surface of the first semiconductor chip 100a (or the second surface 1b of the substrate 1), and may be coupled to the solder layer 39 of the second semiconductor chip 100b.
As the semiconductor package 1000 according to some example embodiments of the present embodiment includes the semiconductor chips 100a to 100e whose reliability is increased, it may be possible to block or prevent electrical shorts caused by metal burs and to increase reliability of the semiconductor package 1000.
According to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor chip and a semiconductor package including the same may be configured such that a thick metal pattern located at the same level as that of a bonding pad is not exposed on a sidewall of an upper dielectric stack. Therefore, when the semiconductor chip is mounted, there may be no occurrence of electrical short due to metal burs. As a result, the semiconductor chip and the semiconductor package may increase in reliability.
In a semiconductor chip fabrication method according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, because a breaking region is provided thereon with no or a small number of thick metal patterns located at the same level as that of the bonding pad, it may be possible to block or prevent damage to blades or semiconductor chips and to minimize or prevent sawing defects. Further, according to the semiconductor chip fabrication method in accordance with some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, because a preliminary hole is formed on a location of a layer having different etch-target thicknesses and needing a relatively large amount of etching on a region where, the bonding pad may be blocked or prevented from etching damage and etching equipment may be prohibited from contamination. As a result, a yield may increase.
Although the present inventive concepts have been described in connection with some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the technical spirit and essential feature of the present inventive concepts. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitution, modifications, and changes may be thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present inventive concepts.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2021-0120226 | Sep 2021 | KR | national |