A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die including a first protection circuit. A second semiconductor die including a second protection circuit is disposed over the first semiconductor die. A portion of the first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die is removed to reduce die thickness. An interconnect structure is formed to commonly connect the first protection circuit and second protection circuit. A transient condition incident to the interconnect structure is collectively discharged through the first protection circuit and second protection circuit. Any number of semiconductor die with protection circuits can be stacked and interconnected via the interconnect structure to increase the ESD current discharge capability. The die stacking can be achieved by disposing a first semiconductor wafer over a second semiconductor wafer and then singulating the wafers. Alternatively, die-to-wafer or die-to-die assembly is used.

A thermally enhanced semiconductor assembly with three dimensional integration includes a semiconductor chip electrically coupled to a wiring board by bonding wires. A heat spreader that provides an enhanced thermal characteristic for the semiconductor chip is disposed in a through opening of a wiring structure. Another wiring structure disposed on the heat spreader not only provides mechanical support, but also allows heat spreading and electrical grounding for the heat spreader by metallized vias. The bonding wires provide electrical connections between the semiconductor chip and the wiring board for interconnecting the semiconductor chip to terminal pads provided in the wiring board.

A semiconductor device is provided that includes a dielectric layer, a bond pad, a passivation layer and a planar barrier. The bond pad is positioned in the dielectric layer. The passivation layer is positioned over the dielectric layer and has an opening over the bond pad. The planar barrier is positioned on the bond pad.

A semiconductor device according to an embodiment comprises a substrate, an epitaxial layer on the substrate, and a cluster including a plurality of particles disposed on the epitaxial layer, the particles being disposed to be apart from each other, and contacting the epitaxial layer.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a conductive pads forming method. The conductive pads forming method may include providing a contact pad or a test pad electrically connected to a semiconductor component; and forming the conductive pads electrically connected to the contact pad or the test pad through the conductive routes, respectively.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer insulating film over a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductive film pattern for a first pad and a second conductive film pattern for a second pad over the interlayer insulating film, forming an insulating film over the interlayer insulating film such that the insulating film covers the first and the second conductive film patterns, forming a first opening portion for the first pad, the first opening portion exposing a portion of the first conductive film pattern, and a second opening portion for the second pad, the second opening portion exposing a portion of the second conductive film pattern, in the insulating film, and forming a first plated layer by plating over the portion of the first conductive film pattern exposed in the first opening portion, and a second plated layer.

A semiconductor device includes a first insulator, a transistor over the first insulator, a second insulator over the transistor, and a third insulator over the second insulator. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The amount of oxygen released from the second insulator when converted into oxygen molecules is larger than or equal to 1×10.sup.14 molecules/cm.sup.2 and smaller than 1×10.sup.16 molecules/cm.sup.2 in thermal desorption spectroscopy at a surface temperature of a film of the second insulator of higher than or equal to 50° C. and lower than or equal to 500° C. The second insulator includes oxygen, nitrogen, and silicon.

A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body configured to conduct a load current. A load terminal electrically connected with the semiconductor body is configured to couple the load current into and/or out of the semiconductor body. The load terminal includes a metallization having a frontside and a backside. The backside interfaces with a surface of the semiconductor body. The frontside is configured to interface with a wire structure having at least one wire configured to conduct at least a part of the load current. The frontside has a lateral structure formed at least by at least one local elevation of the metallization. The local elevation has a height in an extension direction defined by a distance between the base and top of the local elevation and, in a first lateral direction perpendicular to the extension direction, a base width at the base and a top width at the top.

A device with pillar-shaped components, includes a substrate; a wiring layer disposed on the substrate; and pillar-shaped components disposed on any of the substrate and the wiring layer, each of the pillar-shaped components having a bottom part connected to the substrate and/or the wiring layer, a top part opposed to the bottom part, and a lateral face part extending from the bottom part and connected to the top part; wherein each of the pillar-shaped components includes a first pillar-shaped part formed by plating, a second pillar-shaped part formed on the first pillar-shaped part by plating, and a ring-like projection part formed on the lateral face part to project outward and extend in a circumferential direction, and to be in a position higher than a joint position between the first pillar-shaped part and the second pillar-shaped part.

According to various embodiments, a contact pad structure may be provided, the contact pad structure may include: a dielectric layer structure; at least one contact pad being in physical contact with the dielectric layer structure; the at least one contact pad including a metal structure and a liner structure, wherein the liner structure is disposed between the metal structure of the at least one contact pad and the dielectric layer structure, and wherein a surface of the at least one contact pad is at least partially free from the liner structure, and a contact structure including an electrically conductive material; the contact structure completely covering at least the surface being at least partially free from the liner structure of the at least one contact pad, wherein the liner structure and the contact structure form a diffusion barrier for a material of the metal structure of the at least one contact pad.