IP Library Granted Patent US 12,628,633
Granted Patent B2
US 12,628,633 · App. 17/841,245 · Granted May 12, 2026

Semiconductor device including spacer via structure and method of manufacturing the same

Inventors: Janggeun Lee (Delmar, NY); Jaemyung Choi (Niskayuna, NY); Kang-ill Seo (Albany, NY)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H01L23/5226H01L21/76802H01L21/76829H01L21/76831H01L21/76834H01L21/76837H01L21/76843H01L21/76847H01L21/76877
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,628,633
App. No.
17/841,245
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connection structure for an integrated circuit includes: a 1 st layer including a 1 st metal line; a 2 nd layer, above the 1 st layer, including a 1 st via; and a 3 rd layer, above the 2 nd layer, including a 2 nd metal line connected to the 1 st metal line through the 1 st via, wherein the 1 st via comprises a spacer structure at a side of an upper portion of the 1 st via, the spacer structure comprising an insulation material.

Claims (27)

1 . A method of manufacturing a connection structure for an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

forming a 1 st layer comprising a 1 st metal line;

forming a 2 nd layer, above the 1 st layer, comprising an initial via structure vertically connected to the 1 st metal line;

removing an upper portion of the initial via structure from the 2 nd layer to form a hole exposing a top surface of a lower portion of the initial via structure;

forming a spacer layer along a side surface of the hole, wherein the spacer layer has a horizontal thickness that is uniform along the side surface of the hole;

filling the hole with a via material to be combined with the lower portion of the initial via structure to form a 1 st via comprising metal in the 2 nd layer; and

forming a 3 rd layer comprising a 2 nd metal line above the 2 nd layer such that the 1 st via is vertically connected to the 2 nd metal line through metal-to-metal connection.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the 3 rd layer comprises:

forming a 3 rd metal line adjacent to the 2 nd metal line in the 3 rd layer;

isolating the 2 nd metal line from the 3 rd metal line through an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer; and

isolating the 1 st via from the 3 rd metal line through the spacer layer and the ILD layer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

forming a 4th layer, above the 3 rd layer, comprising a 2 nd via connected to the 3 rd metal line; and

forming a 5th layer, above the 4th layer, comprising a 4th metal line connected to the 2 nd via.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 1 st via is directly connected to the 2 nd metal line.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a horizontal distance between an upper-right or upper-left edge of the 1 st via contacting the spacer layer and the 3rd metal line is greater than a horizontal distance between the 2 nd metal line and the 3 rd metal line.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a horizontal distance between an upper-right or upper-left edge of the spacer layer, not contacting the 1 st via, and the 3 rd metal line is smaller than a horizontal distance between the 2 nd metal line and the 3 rd metal line.

7 . A method of manufacturing a connection structure for an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

forming a 1 st layer comprising a 1 st metal line;

forming a 2 nd layer, above the 1 st layer, comprising an initial via structure vertically connected to the 1 st metal line;

removing an upper portion of the initial via structure from the 2 nd layer to form a hole exposing a top surface of a lower portion of the initial via structure;

forming a spacer layer along a side surface of the hole, wherein the spacer layer has a horizontal thickness that is uniform along the side surface of the hole;

filling the hole with a via material to be combined with the lower portion of the initial via structure to form a 1 st via comprising metal in the 2 nd layer,

wherein a 3 rd layer is formed to further comprise a 3 rd metal line such that the 3rd metal line is isolated from the 1 st via, and comprises a protrusion in a form of via,

wherein the 3 rd metal line comprises a metal line and the protrusion as a top via, and

wherein the metal line and the protrusion is a single continuous structure without a connection surface therebetween.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the 3 rd metal line has a height greater than the 2 nd metal line by a height of the protrusion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2022
From: LEE, JANGGEUN; CHOI, JAEMYUNG; SEO, KANG-ILL
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060487/0825 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: LEE, JANGGEUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060214/0224 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63332916 · Apr 20, 2022
Related Publication 20230343697A1 · Oct 26, 2023
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