Method of making a conductive path in multi-layer metal structures by low power laser beam

Claim 1

The process for forming an electrically conductive path between a first metal layer and a second metal layer in an integrated circuit device which comprises providing a substrate, a layer of base oxide on said substrate, a first metal layer on at least a portion of said base oxide having at least one first main conductive path, at least one first link point portion and at least one bridge portion extending between said first main conductive path and said link point portion, a layer of link insulator selected from the group consisting of amorphous germanium, amorphous silicon undoped polysilicon and polycrystalline germanium overlying at least said first link point portion, a second metal layer overlying said link insulator at a second link point portion at least in a region that also generally overlies said first link point portion to form a link point and including at least one second main conductive path and at least one bridge portion extending between said second means conductive path and said second link point, and an insulating metal diffusion barrier layer between said link insulator layer and each of said first metal layer and said second metal layer, and exposing the second metal layer of said link point to a laser pulse between about one and about three watts for a time period between about 0.01 and about 10 milliseconds to effect alloying between the first metal, said second metal and the link insulator material.