Via density rules

1. A method of designing a semiconductor interconnect architecture including a pair of metal layers interconnected by a plurality of conductive vias, the method comprising:

determining via stress as a function of a via density, the via density being a ratio of the plurality of conductive vias interconnecting the pair of metal layers to an area of the pair of metal layers;

identifying a via to metal ratio value below which the stress on a via does not significantly increase relative to the stress on the via above the via to metal ratio value; and

positioning the plurality of conductive vias in the semiconductor interconnect architecture according to via to metal ratio being at least as large as said via to metal ratio value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said value is approximately 1/100.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.04 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.25 via/μm 2 .

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.03 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.3 via/μm 2 .

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.02 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.44 via/μm 2 .

6. A method of producing a semiconductor interconnect architecture, the method comprising:

providing a first metal layer;

providing a second metal layer; and

providing a plurality of conductive vias interconnecting said first and second metal layers;

determining via stress as a function of a via density, the via density being a ratio of the plurality of conductive vias interconnecting the first metal layer and the second metal layer to an area occupied by the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and

positioning the plurality of conductive vias in the semiconductor interconnect architecture according to a via-to-metal area ratio being at least as large as a predetermined via-to-metal area ratio value below which the stress on the vias does not significantly increase relative to the stress on the vias above the value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said value is approximately 1/100.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vial has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.04 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.25 via/μm 2 .

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.03 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.3 via/μm 2 .

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.02 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.44 via/μm 2 .

11. A semiconductor interconnect architecture, the architecture comprising:

a first metal layer;

a second metal layer; and

a plurality of conductive vias interconnecting said first and second metal layers, said vias arranged with respect to the first metal layer and the second metal layer according to a via-to-metal area ratio being at least as large as a predetermined via-to-metal area ratio value below which stress on the plurality of vias does not significantly increase relative to stress on the vias above the value.

12. The semiconductor interconnect architecture of claim 11 , wherein said value is approximately 1/100.

13. The semiconductor interconnect architecture of claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.04 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.25 via/μm 2 .

14. The semiconductor interconnect architecture of claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.03 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.3 via/μm 2 .

15. The semiconductor interconnect architecture of claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of conductive vias has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.02 μm 2 and said semiconductor interconnect architecture has a via density of approximately 0.44 via/μm 2 .