Water level processing method and structure to manufacture two kinds of bumps, gold and solder, on one wafer

Abstract

A chip structure comprising a substrate, a plurality of wire bonding pads and a plurality of solder pads is provided. Gold bumps or gold pads can be formed on the wire bonding pads while solder bumps can be formed on the solder pads concurrently. Alternatively, both wire bonding pads and solder pads can be formed of the same metal stack.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the manufacturing of high performance Integrated Circuit (IC's), and, more specifically, to a wafer structure and fabrication method to form both gold and solder bumps on the same wafer.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Integrated circuit (IC) packaging techniques must be able to accommodate the developing trends of electronic devices, including digitization, networking, localization, and user friendliness. In order to meet these requirements, electronic devices must be functional, highly integrated, miniaturized, lightweight, inexpensive, and high speed. There is a soaring demand for incorporating many more functions on one chip while still having few bonding pads to link the chip to other substrates. High-density IC packages such as ball grid arrays (BGA), chip scale packages (CSP), flip chips, and multi-chip modules (MCM) have been developed. For high-density IC packaging, the speed of signal transmission increases as the wiring length decreases. Thus, the application of bumps has become a major trend in high-density packaging.

Having solder bonding and wirebonding capabilities simultaneously on a same wafer is desirable for applications of chip-on-chip or chip-on-silicon-substrate assembly. Currently, solder bonding is provided by creating solder bumps on a subset of the bonding pads, while wirebonding is performed on the remainder of the original bonding pads; that is, on the aluminum surface. However, the process of creating solder bumps on the wafer will often damage the aluminum bonding pads, making it impossible to perform wirebonding on the original aluminum bonding pads.

In our invention, we create gold bumps or gold pads to protect the aluminum pads before performing the solder bumping process. The gold bumps or gold pads can be used for the wirebonding or TAB (Tape-Automated-Bonding). Having both solder bumps and gold bumps placed on one wafer enables the possibility of chip-on-chip or chip-on-silicon-substrate packages. A process to form both solder bumps and gold bumps on the same wafer will allow a large chip to be solder bonded face-to-face with one or several smaller chips and later wirebonded or TAB (Tape-Automated-Bonding) to the next layer of an assembly (for example, organic, ceramic or glass substrate).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,692 to Ishii et al describes solder and gold bumps together, but gives no details about how these two types of bumps are to be formed on a same wafer. A barrier metal layer of TiW and Au is disclosed for gold bumps. U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,689 (Liu), U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,639 (Seppala et al), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,612 (Liang) teach diffusion/barrier layers of TiW and Au under gold bumps. The last patent teaches that formation of solder and gold bumps differs in many details. U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,916 to Lin et al, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, adds, in a post passivation processing sequence, a thick layer of dielectric over a layer of passivation and layers of wide and thick metal lines on top of the thick layer of dielectric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the invention to provide a chip structure and a manufacturing method thereof wherein a wire bonding (or TAB bonding) pad and a solder pad are concurrently fabricated on a same wafer.

Another-objective of the invention is to provide a wafer structure having both a wire (or TAB) bonding pad and a solder pad thereon.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a connection structure of a chip and an external circuit wherein a bonding wire (or TAB lead) connects a wire (or a TAB) bonding pad to a circuit board or next level of assembly and a solder bump connects a solder pad on the same chip to other chips.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a chip structure having a post-passivation interconnection scheme wherein wire (or TAB) bonding pads are formed of the same material as the post-passivation interconnection lines.

A still further objective of the invention to provide a method of fabricating both wire (or TAB) bonding pads and solder pads on a same wafer.

According to the objectives of the invention, a chip structure having both wire (or TAB) bonding pads and solder pads thereon is achieved. The chip structure comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer overlying the bonding pads wherein the passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which are exposed the bonding pads. A plurality of wire bonding (or TAB) pads comprising gold are disposed on a first subset of the plurality of bonding pads exposed through the openings and a plurality of solder pads are disposed on a second subset of the plurality of bonding pads not covered by the wire (or TAB) bonding pads.

Also according to the objectives of the invention, a connection between a chip structure and an external circuit are achieved. The chip structure comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer overlying the bonding pads wherein the passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which the bonding pads are exposed. A plurality of wire (or TAB) bonding pads comprising gold are disposed on a first subset of the plurality of bonding pads exposed through the openings. A plurality of bond wires (or TAB leads) electrically connect between the wire (or TAB) bonding pads and the external circuit. A plurality of solder pads are disposed on a second subset of the plurality of bonding pads not covered by the wire (or TAB) bonding pads. A plurality of solders are disposed on the solder pads to electrically connect to the external circuit.

Also in accordance with the objectives of the invention, a fabrication process for forming a chip structure having wire (or TAB) bonding pads and solder pads on the same wafer is achieved. A substrate is provided comprising a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer overlying the bonding pads wherein the passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which the bonding pads are exposed. A plurality of wire (or TAB) bonding pads are formed, disposed on a first subset of the plurality of bonding pads exposed through the openings. A plurality of solder pads are formed, disposed on a second subset of the plurality of bonding pads not covered by the wire (or TAB) bonding pads. Then, the substrate is diced to form a plurality of chips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 11 are a cross-sectional representations of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional representation of a completed chip structure showing a redistribution layer.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional representations of a completed chip structure showing a post-passivation metal interconnect structure.

FIGS. 14 through 16 are cross-sectional representations showing a first alternative in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional representations showing further alternatives in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional representations of another alternative in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21 through 23 are cross-sectional representations of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are cross-sectional representations of a chip of the present invention showing connections to other chips and substrates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross section of a partially completed integrated circuit device. The wafer 10 includes a semiconductor substrate and semiconductor device structures, not shown, formed in and on the substrate. For example, gate electrodes and associated source and drain regions and multiple levels of interconnecting lines may be fabricated on the wafer 10.

A plurality of bonding pads 20 and 21 are provided in a top layer on the wafer as shown. The bonding pads can be made of copper, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, and so on, and have a thickness from about 0.1 to 3 microns. The bonding pads can be used for inputting/outputting of signal and power sources and for interconnection to other devices in a package.

A passivation layer 22, formed of, for example, a single or a composite layer of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride, is provided over the surface of the wafer and over the bonding pads 20 and 21 and functions to prevent the penetration of mobile ions (such as sodium ions), moisture, transition metal (such as gold, copper, silver), and other contamination. The passivation layer is used to protect the underlying devices and metal interconnecting lines. A plurality of openings 23 in the passivation layer expose the surface of the bonding pads 20 and 21.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an adhesion layer and a seed layer are deposited over the passivation layer and over the bonding pads 20 and 21 exposed by the openings in the passivation layer. The adhesion layer will also act as a diffusion/barrier layer for the wire bonding bumps. The adhesion/barrier layer 24 is preferably titanium tungsten (TiW) sputter deposited globally on the passivation layer to a thickness of between about 500 and 8000 Angstroms. Other possible materials include tantalum, tantalum nitride, and titanium nitride. The seed layer 26 is preferably gold sputter deposited to a thickness of between about 300 and 3000 Angstroms over the adhesion layer 24. Other seed layer materials include copper.

Now, a mask layer 30 is formed over the seed layer 26, as shown in FIG. 3. For example, the mask layer may be a photoresist layer. Now, as shown in FIG. 4, openings 32 are made in the mask layer to expose the seed layer over certain of the bonding pads 20, and not exposing the seed layer over other bonding pads 21. For example, the photoresist is exposed to UV light and developed away to leave openings 32 over those bonding pads 20 to which wire (or TAB) bonding pads are to be connected.

Referring now to FIG. 5, gold caps 34 are formed by, for example, electroplating the gold seed layer 26. The gold caps 34 comprise the seed layer 26 and the thicker electroplated layer overlying the seed layer. The thickness of the gold caps 34 can vary upon demand. For example, a typical gold bump 34 is between about 1 micron and 60 microns high. A most frequently used thickness is between about 2 and 5 microns.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the mask layer 30 is removed. A further etching removes the seed layer 26 and the adhesion layer 24 not covered by the gold bumps 34. An H₂O₂-containing liquid may be used to remove the adhesion layer. The gold bumps 34 and underlying adhesion layer 24 form the wire (or TAB) bonding pads of the present invention formed on certain bonding pads 20. After this etching, other bonding pads 21 not covered by the wire (or TAB) bonding pads 34/24 are exposed through openings 35 in the passivation layer.

Now, a second adhesion layer 38 is formed over the surface of the wafer as shown in FIG. 7. The adhesion layer 38 may be titanium, chromium, a chromium-copper alloy, a titanium-copper alloy, or a titanium tungsten alloy, or combinations of the above, deposited to a thickness of between about 200 and 5000 Angstroms. A second seed layer 40 is deposited over the adhesion layer 38. The seed layer 40 may be copper, deposited to a thickness of between about 300 and 10,000 Angstroms. The adhesion layer 38 and seed layer 40 cover both the exposed bonding pads 21 and the gold bumps 34/24.

Now, a mask layer 45 is formed over the wafer having openings 46 to expose the seed layer 40 over the bonding pads 21 that are not covered by wire (or TAB) bonding pads 34/24, as shown in FIG. 8.

Now, solder bumps are to be formed as illustrated in FIG. 9. An under bump metal (UBM) or diffusion barrier layer 48 is formed within the openings 46. Preferably, the UBM layer 48 is formed by electroplating copper, tin, or nickel or a composite layer, such as nickel/copper, copper/nickel, tin/copper, copper/tin, titanium/copper, chromium/copper, chromium-copper/copper alloy, titanium/copper/nickel, chromium/copper/nickel, chromium-copper alloy/copper/nickel, and so on. The operational thickness of the UBM layer is about 15 microns.

Furthermore, a solder wettable layer 50. may be formed on the UBM layer 48 to increase bonding ability between the subsequently formed solder and the UBM layer. For example, the solder wettable layer 50 comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder. The solder wettable layer 50 may have a thickness of between about 500 and 10,000 Angstroms.

Now, solder 52 is formed on the solder wettable layer 50. The solder may be tin, a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

For example, solder can be electroplated into the openings 46. Alternatively, in a printing method, a solder paste is pushed into the openings 46. The mask layer 45 is removed. Furthermore, the adhesion layer 38 and seed layer 40 are removed where they are not covered by the solder 52. A BOE etchant may be used to remove the adhesion and seed layers. The barrier layer 24 underlying the gold bumps 34 is resistant to the BOE etchant. Therefore, the etching process does not damage the underlying bonding pads 20.

The solder 52 is reflowed to form the solder bump 54 shown in FIG. 11. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the solder reflowing step may be performed prior to the removal of the adhesion and seed layers. The solder bump has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 400 microns.

After completion of wafer fabrication, the wafer can be diced into a plurality of chips. After dicing, a chip typically includes a substrate comprising a plurality of electronic devices, covered by a passivation layer. Connections to external circuitry positioned over another substrate are made after dicing. The connection to external circuits are achieved through wire bonding or TAB bonding on the gold bumps, and through solder bonding on the solder bumps.

For example, refer to FIGS. 24 and 25 showing connections. FIGS. 24 and 25 show a chip-on-chip connection using solder bonding. Chip 10 is bonded to chip 80 using solder balls 54. Solder pads 82 have been formed on chip 80. In FIG. 24, wire bonds 72 are formed on gold pads 26 or on gold bumps to connect to pads on an external circuit. For example, circuit board 100 is connected to chip 10 through wire bonds 72 to pads 120. In FIG. 25, connection is made to flexible substrates 150 and 154 through TAB leads 156. TAB leads 156 are formed on gold bumps 34 or gold pads on TAB bonding pads 20.

In another aspect of the invention, a redistribution layer may be formed on the wafer. With the redistribution layer, the original positions of the bonding pads can be redistributed to specific positions. The redistribution layer may be formed of the same material as the gold bumps and may be formed by the same process, as shown in FIG. 12. Redistribution layer 36 is shown. Area 39 represents a redistributed bond pad. For example, the circuit is connected to an external device, integrated circuit, or circuit board through a wire bond 72 directly on the redistribution layer 36. Alternatively, 72 may be a solder bump formed on redistributed bond pad area 39. In this case, a UBM layer underlies the solder bump. Typically, the UBM layer may include an adhesion layer, a seed layer, a barrier/diffusion layer, and a solder wettable layer at its top surface. Also shown in FIG. 12 is a solder bump 54 formed on a gold pad 26. A UBM layer 74 is formed on the gold pad and the solder bump 54 is formed on the UBM layer.

In another aspect of the invention, a post-passivation metal interconnect structure can be fabricated on the passivation layer, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B.

The post-passivation layer metal interconnect structure 76 connects one circuit to another circuit under the passivation layer 22 through openings in the passivation layer, as shown. For example, the post passivation layer metal interconnect structure 76 and the gold pads 26 are formed of the same type of material and may be formed by the same process. The openings in the passivation layer can be, for example, greater than 0.1 micron in width. In FIG. 13A, solder bump 54 is formed on solder pad 38/40/48/50, as described above. In FIG. 13B, solder bump 54 is formed on gold pad 26. UBM layer 74 is formed on the gold pad, then the solder bump 54 is formed.

The post passivation metal interconnect structure may be a circuit that includes power bus, signal bus, and ground bus connected to power lines, signal lines, and ground lines under the passivation layer through the openings in the passivation layer.

Active devices, passive devices, and/or metal interconnects may underlie the bonding pads connected to the gold bumps or gold pads.

In an alternative to the method of the present invention, gold bonding pads will be formed instead of gold bumps. This alternative is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. According to this alternative, processing proceeds as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The gold layer 26 may be formed by sputtering or by electroplating. However, the mask layer 30 is exposed and developed to leave the mask only over the certain bonding pads 20 where gold bonding pads are to be fabricated, as shown in FIG. 14.

Now, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the adhesion layer 24 and seed layer 26 are etched away where they are not covered by the mask layer 30. The mask layer 30 is removed. Gold bonding pads 26 have been formed above bonding pads 20. The thickness of the gold bonding pad is, for example, 0.1 to 3 microns. The gold pad is useful for wirebonding on top of aluminum bonding pads.

The solder bump can now be fabricated as described above with reference to FIGS. 7-11. The solder bump 54 and gold bonding pads 26 are shown in FIG. 16. Now the wafer can be diced into chips as discussed above.

In a second alternative to the present invention, an unreflowed solder can be formed on the solder pad rather than forming a solder bump. This alternative will be presented with reference to FIG. 17. Gold bumps or gold bonding pads 24/26 are formed as described above and as shown in FIG. 17. The solder pad is formed as described above. FIG. 17 shows adhesion layer 38, seed layer 40, UBM layer 48, and solder-wettable surface 50. Now, an unreflowed solder 60 is formed on the solder pad as illustrated.

In another alternative illustrated in FIG. 18, the solder pad can be directly exposed without forming a solder bump on it. A second integrated circuit that is to be bonded to this one may have the solder bump on it. Then, this bonding pad will be free of solder materials. In another example, a solder ball may be placed on the chip at a later time in a solder mounting technique.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a further alternative formation of the solder bump 54. Gold bumps 34 are illustrated in FIG. 19. After these gold bumps are formed as described in FIG. 6, the solder bump is to be formed. It will be understood that alternatively, gold bonding pads could be formed as shown in FIG. 15. Now, a solder bump will be formed. A UBM layer 74 is sputter deposited onto the bonding pad 21. The bonding pad 21 may be an aluminum pad, for example, or it may be a copper pad formed by a damascene method, for example. Typically, a UBM layer includes a solder wettable layer at its top surface. Then, the solder bump 54 is formed of solder as described above. In FIG. 20, gold pads 26 are shown. A solder ball 54 may be formed on the gold pad 26 as shown.

The present invention permits modification of the wafer required by the packaging process.

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 21-23. This embodiment of the present invention integrates the material for the wire bonding pad and the solder pad. That is, the material forming both the wire bonding pad 64 and the solder pad 66 comprises the same stacked layer. For example, the layer stack includes an adhesion layer, for example, titanium or chromium or a chromium-copper alloy, formed on the pads 20 and 21 and a stacked metal layer, such as copper, nickel, and gold. The stacked layer can be used concurrently as a solder bonding or a wire bonding. The stacked layers can be sputter deposited in a blanket process and then patterned to form the bonding pads. For example, Ti or CrCu can be sputter deposited and Ni can be electroplated onto the wafer.

In certain applications of IC design, it is not necessary to decide ahead of time which wire bonding pad is for wire bonding and which solder pad is for soldering. The lifetime and area of application of the IC are expanded in this embodiment of the invention For example, if an IC is originally designed for wiring, but is not used due to changes in packaging, the use of this IC will not be limited if the IC comprises the dual functional bonding pad of the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates wire bonding pad 64 and solder pad 66 exposed on the wafer surface. As described above, wire bonding pad 64 and solder pad 66 comprise the same stacked material layer. In FIG. 22, solder 70 that has not been reflowed is formed on solder pad 66. In FIG. 23, bonding wire 72 has been formed on wire bonding pad 64 in a wire bonding process and reflowed solder bump 74 has been formed on solder pad 66. It will be understood that any combination of wire bonds, solder bumps, or unreflowed solder can be formed on the wafer.

The present invention has been described with respect to the structure and fabrication of a wafer. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to the wire bonding process or to the fabrication of solder conducted on a wafer structure to form a connection between the IC chip and an external circuit. The wire bonding pad and the solder pad are fabricated concurrently on the same wafer. Various chips on the wafer can be electrically connected with other chips, carriers, passive devices, and so on, through soldering or wire bonding. Furthermore, the gold bonding pads can be used as testing pads.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated, and that form has been described in detail, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A chip structure comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads exposed through said openings and further comprising a gold bump on each of said wire bonding pads; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads.

2. The chip structure according to claim 1 further comprising: semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; and a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures wherein said bonding pads are formed in a topmost metal layer.

3. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein said gold bumps are connected to an external circuit though a plurality of bonding wires.

4. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein said gold bumps are used as testing pads.

5. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said gold bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 60 microns.

6. The chip structure according to claim 1 further comprising an active device, a passive device, or a metal interconnect underlying said gold bump.

7. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said wire bonding pads further comprises an adhesion/barrier layer underlying said gold bump and directly overlying said bonding pad.

8. The chip structure according to claim 7 wherein said adhesion layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

9. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein a thickness of said bonding pads is between about 0.1 micron and 3 microns.

10. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

11. The chip structure according to claim 10 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

12. The chip structure according to claim 10 wherein said solder bumps are connected to an external circuit.

13. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said solder pads comprises an underbump metallization (UBM) layer and an overlying solder bump.

14. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said solder pads comprises: an adhesion layer; and a seed layer for electroplating sputtered onto said adhesion layer.

15. The chip structure according to claim 14 wherein a material comprising said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, a chromium-copper alloy, or a titanium-tungsten alloy, or a combination of these materials.

16. The chip structure according to claim 14 wherein said seed layer for electroplating comprises copper.

17. The chip structure according to claim 14 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a diffusion barrier layer disposed on said seed layer for electroplating.

18. The chip structure according to claim 17 wherein said diffusion barrier layer comprises nickel, tin, copper, a tin-copper composite layer, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

19. The chip structure according to claim 17 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a solder wettable layer disposed on said diffusion barrier layer.

20. The chip structure according to claim 19 wherein said solder wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

21. The chip structure according to claim 19 further comprising a plurality of solders disposed on said solder-wettable layer.

22. The chip structure according to claim 19 further comprising a plurality of solder bumps formed on said solder-wettable layer.

23. The chip structure according to claim 22 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy or any other unleaded solder material.

24. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein said bonding pads comprise copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

25. The chip structure according to claim 1 further comprising a post-passivation metal interconnect line overlying said passivation layer wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line and said gold bumps comprise the same material.

26. The chip structure according to claim 25 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line through openings in said passivation layer connects a portion of the circuit under said passivation layer to other portions of said circuit under said passivation layer.

27. The chip structure according to claim 26 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

28. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein said passivation layer further comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus thereover wherein said power bus, said signal bus, and said ground bus are connected to a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, under said passivation layer through openings in said passivation layer and wherein said power bus, said signal bus, said ground bus, and said gold bumps are formed with a same type of material.

29. The chip structure according to claim 28 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

30. The chip structure according to claim 1 further comprising a redistribution layer overlying said passivation layer wherein said redistribution layer redistributes original positions of said bonding pads to specific other positions and wherein said redistribution layer and said gold bumps are formed of a same material.

31. The chip structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said solder pads comprises: an adhesion layer on said bonding pad; a seed layer on said adhesion layer; and a diffusion barrier layer on said seed layer.

32. The chip structure according to claim 31 further comprising a reflowed solder bump over said diffusion barrier layer.

33. The chip structure according to claim 32 further comprising a solder wettable layer overlying said diffusion barrier layer and underlying said solder bump.

34. The chip structure according to claim 32 further comprising a non-reflowed solder bump over said diffusion barrier layer.

35. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of each of said wire bonding pads comprises a gold bump; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

36. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein said gold bumps are connected to an external circuit though a plurality of bonding wires and wherein said solder bumps are connected to said external circuit.

37. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein said gold bumps are used as testing pads.

38. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein each of said gold bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 60 microns.

39. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein each of said wire bonding pads further comprises an adhesion/barrier layer underlying said gold bump and directly overlying said bonding pad.

40. The chip structure according to claim 39 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

41. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein each of said solder pads comprises an underbump metallization (UBM) layer.

42. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises an adhesion layer underlying said solder bump.

43. The chip structure according to claim 42 wherein said a material comprising said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, a chromium-copper alloy, or a titanium-tungsten alloy, or a combination of these materials.

44. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a diffusion barrier layer disposed between said solder bump and said adhesion layer.

45. The chip structure according to claim 44 wherein said diffusion barrier layer comprises nickel, copper, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

46. The chip structure according to claim 44 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a solder wettable layer disposed between said solder bump and said diffusion barrier layer.

47. The chip structure according to claim 46 wherein said solder wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

48. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy or any other unleaded solder material.

49. The chip structure according to claim 35 further comprising a post-passivation metal interconnect line overlying said passivation layer wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line and said gold bumps comprise the same material.

50. The chip structure according to claim 49 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line through openings in said passivation layer connects a portion of the circuit under said passivation layer to other portions of said circuit under said passivation layer.

51. The chip structure according to claim 50 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

52. The chip structure according to claim 35 wherein said passivation layer further comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus thereover wherein said power bus, said signal bus, and said ground bus are connected to a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, under said passivation layer through openings in said passivation layer and wherein said power bus, said signal bus, said ground bus, and said gold bumps are formed with a same type of material.

53. The chip structure according to claim 52 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

54. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of each of said wire bonding pads comprises a gold bonding pad; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads further comprises a solder bump.

55. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein said gold bonding pads are connected to an external circuit though a plurality of bonding wires.

56. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein said gold bonding pads are used as testing pads.

57. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein each of said gold bonding pads has a thickness of between about 0.1 micron to 3.0 microns.

58. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein each of said wire bonding pads further comprises an adhesion/barrier layer underlying said gold bonding pad and directly overlying said bonding pad.

59. The chip structure according to claim 58 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

60. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein each of said solder bumps is between about 1 micron and 400 microns thick.

61. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein said solder pads comprise gold.

62. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

63. The chip structure according to claim 54 further comprising a post-passivation metal interconnect line overlying said passivation layer wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line and said gold bonding pads comprise the same material.

64. The chip structure according to claim 63 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line through openings in said passivation layer connects a portion of the circuit under said passivation layer to other portions of said circuit under said passivation layer.

65. The chip structure according to claim 64 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

66. The chip structure according to claim 54 wherein said passivation layer further comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus thereover wherein said power bus, said signal bus, and said ground bus are connected to a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, under said passivation layer through openings in said passivation layer and wherein said power bus, said signal bus, said ground bus, and said gold bonding pads are formed with a same type of material.

67. The chip structure according to claim 66 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

68. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of said wire bonding pads is gold; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads wherein a surface layer of said solder pads is copper or gold.

69. The chip structure according to claim 68 further comprising a plurality of gold bumps disposed on said wire bonding pads.

70. The chip structure according to claim 68 wherein said bonding pads comprise copper, aluminun, or an aluminum alloy.

71. The chip structure according to claim 68 wherein each of said wire bonding pads further comprises: an adhesion/barrier layer directly overlying said bonding pad; and a gold film layer disposed on said adhesion/barrier layer.

72. The chip structure according to claim 71 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

73. The chip structure according to claim 68 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises: an adhesion layer; and a seed layer for electroplating sputtered onto said adhesion layer.

74. The chip structure according to claim 73 wherein a material comprising said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, a chromium-copper alloy, or a titanium-tungsten alloy or a combination of these materials.

75. The chip structure according to claim 73 wherein said seed layer for electroplating comprises copper.

76. The chip structure according to claim 73 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a diffusion barrier layer disposed on said seed layer for electroplating.

77. The chip structure according to claim 76 wherein said diffusion barrier layer comprises nickel, copper, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

78. The chip structure according to claim 76 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a solder wettable layer disposed on said diffusion barrier layer.

79. The chip structure according to claim 78 wherein said solder wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

80. The chip structure according to claim 78 further comprising a plurality of solders disposed on said solder wettable layer.

81. The chip structure according to claim 78 further comprising a plurality of solder bumps disposed on said solder wettable layer.

82. The chip structure according to claim 81 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

83. The chip structure according to claim 68 further comprising a post-passivation metal interconnect line overlying said passivation layer wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line and said wire bonding pads comprise a same type of material.

84. The chip structure according to claim 83 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus.

85. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein each of said wire bonding pads comprises an adhesion layer/copper/nickel/gold layer; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads wherein each of said solder pads comprises an adhesion layer/copper/nickel/gold layer.

86. The chip structure according to claim 85 wherein said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, or a chromium-copper alloy.

87. The chip structure according to claim 85 wherein said bonding pads comprise copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

88. The chip structure according to claim 85 further comprising a plurality of solders disposed on said solder pads wherein said solders comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

89. The chip structure according to claim 85 further comprising a post-passivation metal interconnect line overlying said passivation layer wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line and said wire bonding pads comprise a same type of material.

90. The chip structure according to claim 89 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect line comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus.

91. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a post-passivation metal interconnect structure disposed on said passivation layer and connected to a circuit underlying said passivation layer through said openings in said passivation layer to a first subset of said bonding pads; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not connected to said interconnect structure wherein a surface layer of each of said wire bonding pads comprises a gold bump and wherein said metal interconnect structure and said wire bonding pads comprise a same material; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a third subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads and not connected to said interconnect structure wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

92. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure connects a part of a circuit under said passivation layer to other parts of said circuit under said passivation layer through said openings.

93. The chip structure according to claim 92 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

94. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure further comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus above said passivation layer wherein said power bus, said signal bus, and said ground bus are connected to a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, under said passivation layer through said openings in said passivation layer.

95. The chip structure according to claim 94 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

96. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure further comprises a redistribution layer.

97. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein each of said gold bumps is connected to an external circuit through a bonding wire and wherein each of said solder bumps is connected to said external circuit.

98. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein said gold bumps are used as testing pads.

99. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein each of said gold bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 60 microns.

100. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein each of said solder bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 400 microns.

101. The chip structure according to claim 91 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

102. A chip structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of metal pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said metal pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said metal pads are exposed; a post-passivation metal interconnect structure disposed on said passivation layer and connected to a circuit underlying said passivation layer through said openings in said passivation layer to said metal pads; a plurality of bonding pads on a surface of said post-passivation metal interconnect structure; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of each of said wire bonding pads is a gold bonding pad; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads.

103. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure connects a part of a circuit under said passivation layer to other parts of said circuit under said passivation layer through said openings.

104. The chip structure according to claim 103 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

105. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure further comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus above said passivation layer wherein said power bus, said signal bus, and said ground bus are connected to a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, under said passivation layer through said openings in said passivation layer.

106. The chip structure according to claim 105 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron in diameter.

107. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein said post-passivation metal interconnect structure further comprises a redistribution layer.

108. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein each of said gold bonding pads is connected to an external circuit through a bonding wire.

109. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein said gold bonding pads are used as testing pads.

110. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein each of said gold bonding pads has a thickness of between about 0.1 micron and 3.0 microns.

111. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

112. The chip structure according to claim 102 wherein said solder pads comprise gold.

113. The chip structure according to claim 112 wherein each of said solder bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 400 microns.

114. The chip structure according to claim 112 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

115. The chip structure according to claim 102 further comprising a non-reflowed solder bump on a surface of each of a plurality of said solder pads.

116. An electrical connecting structure of a chip and an external circuit comprising: a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures; a plurality of bonding pads formed in a topmost metal layer; a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of wire bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads exposed through said openings wherein a surface layer of each of said wire bonding pads comprises gold; a plurality of bond wires electrically connecting between said wire bonding pads and said external circuit; a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire bonding pads; and a plurality of solders disposed on said solder pads to electrically connect to said external circuit.

117. The structure according to claim 116 wherein a surface layer of said wire bonding pads comprises a gold bump.

118. The structure according to claim 117 wherein said gold bump has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 60 microns.

119. The structure according to claim 117 wherein said bonding wires are connected to a region under said gold bumps wherein said region comprises an active device, a passive device, or a metal interconnect.

120. The structure according to claim 116 wherein a surface layer of said wire bonding pads comprises a gold bonding pad.

121. The structure according to claim 120 wherein said gold bonding pad has a thickness of between about 0.005 micron and 5.0 microns.

122. The structure according to claim 116 wherein a surface layer of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

123. The structure according to claim 122 wherein said solder bumps have a thickness of between about 1 micron and 400 microns.

124. The structure according to claim 122 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

125. The structure according to claim 116 wherein each of said wire bonding pads and each of said solder pads comprises an adhesion layer/copper/nickel/gold layer.

126. The structure according to claim 125 wherein said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, or a chromium-copper alloy.

127. The structure according to claim 116 wherein said bonding pads comprise copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

128. The structure according to claim 116 wherein a material used in forming said solders comprises a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

129. The structure according to claim 116 wherein said passivation layer further comprises a metal interconnect thereover and wherein said metal interconnect and said wire bonding pads are a same type of material.

130. The structure according to claim 129 wherein said metal interconnect comprises a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus.

131. A chip fabrication process comprising: providing a substrate comprising a plurality of semiconductor device structures and overlying layers of interconnection lines wherein a plurality of bonding pads are formed in a topmost metal layer and wherein a passivation layer overlies said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; forming a plurality of wire or TAB bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of said wire or TAB bonding pads is gold; and forming a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire or TAB bonding pads.

132. The process according to claim 131 wherein said forming said wire or TAB bonding pads comprises: forming an adhesion/barrier layer overlying said passivation layer and on said bonding pads; forming a gold film layer on said adhesion/barrier layer; forming a mask layer on said gold film layer; forming a plurality of mask openings in said mask layer wherein said mask openings are disposed above said first subset of said bonding pads and wherein said mask openings expose said gold film layer; forming a plurality of gold bumps on said gold film layer exposed by said mask openings; thereafter removing said mask layer; removing said gold film layer not underlying said gold bumps; and removing said adhesion layer not underlying said gold bumps.

133. The process according to claim 132 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

134. The process according to claim 132 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer is formed by a sputtering process.

135. The process according to claim 132 wherein said gold bumps are formed by electroplating.

136. The process according to claim 132 wherein said removing said adhesion/barrier layer is by a wet etching method wherein said wet etching method uses a H2O2-containing liquid.

137. The process according to claim 132 further comprising forming a redistribution layer overlying said passivation layer wherein said redistribution layer redistributes original positions of said bonding pads to specific other positions and wherein said gold bumps and said redistribution layer are formed of a same material and by the same process.

138. The process according to claim 131 wherein said forming said wire or TAB bonding pads comprises: forming an adhesion/barrier layer overlying said passivation layer and on said bonding pads; forming a gold film layer on said adhesion/barrier layer; forming a mask layer on said gold film layer; exposing and developing said mask layer to expose said gold film layer not directly above said first subset of said bonding pads; removing said gold film layer and said adhesion layer not covered by said mask layer to leave said gold film layer and said adhesion layer covered by said mask layer to form gold bonding pads; and thereafter removing said mask layer.

139. The process according to claim 138 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

140. The process according to claim 138 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer is formed by a sputtering process.

141. The process according to claim 138 wherein said gold film layer is formed by a sputtering or electroplating process.

142. The process according to claim 138 wherein said removing said adhesion/barrier layer is by a wet etching method wherein said wet etching method uses a H2O2-containing liquid.

143. The process according to claim 138 wherein when forming said gold bonding pads, a metal interconnect is also formed of the same material and by the same process.

144. The process according to claim 143 wherein said metal interconnect connects a part of a circuit under said passivation layer to another part of said circuit under said passivation layer through said openings in said passivation layer.

145. The process according to claim 144 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron.

146. The process according to claim 138 wherein when forming said gold bonding pads, a power bus, a signal bus, and a ground bus are also formed to connect a power source, a signal source, and a ground source, respectively, through openings in said passivation layer.

147. The process according to claim 146 wherein said openings in said passivation layer are greater than 0.1 micron.

148. The process according to claim 131 wherein said forming said solder pads comprises: forming an adhesion layer over said passivation layer, said bonding pads, and said wire bonding pads; forming a seed layer for electroplating on said adhesion layer; forming a mask layer on said seed layer for electroplating; forming a plurality of mask openings in said mask layer wherein said mask openings are located over said second subset of bonding pad not covered by said wire or TAB bonding pads and wherein said openings expose said seed layer for electroplating; forming a diffusion barrier layer over said seed layer for electroplating exposed by said mask openings; forming a solder layer on said diffusion barrier layer; thereafter removing said mask layer; and thereafter removing said seed layer for electroplating and said adhesion layer that are not covered by said solder layer.

149. The process according to claim 148 wherein said adhesion layer comprises titanium, chromium, or a chromium-copper alloy.

150. The process according to claim 148 wherein said adhesion layer is formed by a sputtering process.

151. The process according to claim 148 wherein said seed layer for electroplating comprises copper.

152. The process according to claim 148 wherein said seed layer for electroplating is formed by a sputtering process.

153. The process according to claim 148 wherein said diffusion barrier layer is nickel, copper, tin, a tin-copper composite layer, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

154. The process according to claim 148 wherein said solder layer comprises a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

155. The process according to claim 148 wherein said solder layer is formed by an electroplating method.

156. The process according to claim 148 wherein said solder layer is formed by a printing method.

157. The process according to claim 148 further comprising forming a solder-wettable layer on said diffusion barrier layer prior to forming said solder layer.

158. The process according to claim 157 wherein said solder-wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

159. The process according to claim 148 wherein said solder layer comprises unreflowed solder.

160. The process according to claim 148 further comprising reflowing said solder layer to form solder bumps.

161. The process according to claim 131 wherein said forming said solder pads comprises: forming an underbump metallization (UBM) layer over said passivation layer, said bonding pads, and said wire bonding pads; forming a mask layer on said UBM layer; forming a plurality of mask openings in said mask layer wherein said mask openings are located over said second subset of bonding pads not covered by said wire or TAB bonding pads and wherein said openings expose said UBM layer; forming a solder layer on said UBM layer; thereafter removing said mask layer; and thereafter removing said UBM layer not covered by said solder layer.

162. The process according to claim 161 further comprising reflowing said solder layer to form solder bumps.

163. The process according to claim 131 wherein said forming said wire or TAB bonding pads and said solder pads comprises: depositing an adhesion layer overlying said passivation layer and said bonding pads; depositing a copper layer overlying said adhesion layer; depositing a nickel layer overlying said copper layer; and depositing a gold layer overlying said nickel layer; and patterning said gold layer, said nickel layer, said copper layer, and said adhesion layer to form said wire or TAB bonding pads and said solder pads over said bonding pads.

164. The process according to claim 163 wherein said adhesion layer comprises titanium, chromium, or a copper-chromium alloy.

165. The process according to claim 131 further comprising forming connections from said wire or TAB bonding pads and said solder pads wherein said connections comprise wire bonds, TAB leads, solder bumps, or unreflowed solder.

166. A chip fabrication process comprising: providing a substrate comprising a plurality of semiconductor device structures and overlying layers of interconnection lines wherein a plurality of bonding pads are formed in a topmost metal layer and wherein a passivation layer overlies said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; forming a plurality of wire or TAB bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads wherein a surface layer of said wire or TAB bonding pads comprises gold; forming a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said wire or TAB bonding pads; and dicing said substrate to form a plurality of chips.

167. The process according to claim 166 wherein said wire or TAB bonding pads are formed by a sputtering method.

168. The process according to claim 166 wherein said solder pads are formed by sputtering or electroplating.

169. The process according to claim 166 wherein said forming said wire or TAB bonding pads comprises: forming a patterned adhesion/barrier layer on said first subset of said bonding pads; and forming a gold film layer on said adhesion/barrier layer.

170. The process according to claim 169 wherein said adhesion/barrier layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

171. The process according to claim 166 further comprising forming gold bumps on said wire or TAB bonding pads.

172. The process according to claim 166 wherein said forming said solder pads comprises: forming an adhesion layer on said substrate surface covering said wire or TAB bonding pads and said bonding pads; forming a mask layer on said adhesion layer having a plurality of mask openings located above said second subset of bonding pads; forming an electroplating layer on said adhesion layer exposed within said mask openings; therafter removing said mask layer; and removing said adhesion layer not covered by said electroplating layer.

173. The process according to claim 172 wherein said adhesion layer comprises titanium, chromium, or a chromium-copper alloy, or a combination of these materials.

174. The process according to claim 172 wherein said electroplating layer comprises copper.

175. The process according to claim 172 further comprising forming a diffusion barrier layer overlying said electroplating layer.

176. The process according to claim 175 wherein said diffusion barrier layer comprises nickel, copper, tin, a tin-copper composite layer, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

177. The process according to claim 175 further comprising forming a solder-wettable layer on said diffusion barrier layer.

178. The process according to claim 177 wherein said solder-wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

179. The process according to claim 172 further comprising forming a solder layer on said solder pads.

180. The process according to claim 179 further comprising reflowing said solder layer to form solder bumps.

181. The process according to claim 166 further comprising forming a metal interconnect on said passivation layer during said forming of said wire bonding pads wherein said metal interconnect comprises a same material as said wire or TAB bonding pads.

182. A chip structure comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer overlying said bonding pads wherein said passivation layer comprises a plurality of openings through which said bonding pads are exposed; a plurality of TAB bonding pads disposed on a first subset of said plurality of bonding pads exposed through said openings and further comprising a gold bump on each of said TAB bonding pads; and a plurality of solder pads disposed on a second subset of said plurality of bonding pads not covered by said TAB bonding pads.

183. The chip structure according to claim 182 further comprising: semiconductor device structures formed in and on said substrate; and a plurality of layers of metal interconnection lines connecting to said semiconductor device structures wherein said bonding pads are formed in a topmost metal layer.

184. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein said gold bumps are connected to one or more external circuits though a plurality of TAB leads.

185. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein each of said gold bumps has a thickness of between about 1 micron and 60 microns.

186. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein each of said TAB bonding pads further comprises an adhesion/barrier layer underlying said gold bump and directly overlying said bonding pad.

187. The chip structure according to claim 186 wherein said adhesion layer comprises a titanium-tungsten alloy, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or titanium nitride.

188. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein a thickness of said bonding pads is between about 0.1 micron and 3 microns.

189. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein a surface layer of each of said solder pads comprises a solder bump.

190. The chip structure according to claim 189 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, a tin-silver-copper alloy, or any other unleaded solder material.

191. The chip structure according to claim 189 wherein said solder bumps are connected to an external circuit.

192. The chip structure according to claim 189 wherein each of said solder pads comprises an underbump metallization (UBM) layer and an overlying solder bump.

193. The chip structure according to claim 189 wherein each of said solder pads comprises: an adhesion layer; and a seed layer for electroplating sputtered onto said adhesion layer.

194. The chip structure according to claim 193 wherein a material comprising said adhesion layer is titanium, chromium, a chromium-copper alloy, or a titanium-tungsten alloy, or a combination of these materials.

195. The chip structure according to claim 193 wherein said seed layer for electroplating comprises copper.

196. The chip structure according to claim 193 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a diffusion barrier layer disposed on said seed layer for electroplating.

197. The chip structure according to claim 196 wherein said diffusion barrier layer comprises nickel, tin, copper, a tin-copper composite layer, or a copper-nickel composite layer.

198. The chip structure according to claim 196 wherein each of said solder pads further comprises a solder wettable layer disposed on said diffusion barrier layer.

199. The chip structure according to claim 198 wherein said solder wettable layer comprises gold, copper, tin, a tin-lead alloy, or an unleaded solder material.

200. The chip structure according to claim 198 further comprising a plurality of solders disposed on said solder-wettable layer.

201. The chip structure according to claim 198 further comprising a plurality of solder bumps formed on said solder-wettable layer.

202. The chip structure according to claim 201 wherein said solder bumps comprise a tin-lead alloy, a tin-silver alloy, or a tin-silver-copper alloy or any other unleaded solder material.

203. The chip structure according to claim 182 wherein said bonding pads comprise copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.