Method of forming a moisture guard ring for integrated circuit applications

摘要

An improved and new structure and method for forming a guard ring in an integrated circuit having at least one level of polysilicon wiring has been developed. The guard ring is formed without necessitating additional manufacturing process steps and the guard ring is bonded to the semiconductor substrate, thereby providing a superior barrier to diffusion of moisture and contaminants from a window in the insulating layers to the semiconductor device regions.