Patent attributes
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with a fuse element includes providing a semiconductor structure with a fuse element formed over a first device region thereof. A first interlayer dielectric layer, an etching stop layer and a second interlayer dielectric layer are sequentially formed. A bond pad is formed over the second interlayer dielectric layer in a second device region of the semiconductor structure. A passivation layer is formed over the bond pad and the second interlayer dielectric layer. A first etching process is performed to form a first opening in the first device region and a second opening in the second device region, wherein the first opening exposes a portion of the second interlayer dielectric layer over the fuse element and, and the second opening partially exposes a portion of the bond pad. A second etching process and a third etching process are performed to leave another passivation layer conformably covering the fuse element and the semiconductor structure adjacent thereto.