US Patent 7790525 Method of achieving dense-pitch interconnect patterning in integrated circuits

Components in integrated circuits (ICs) are fabricated as small as possible to minimize sizes of the ICs and thus reduce manufacturing costs per IC. Metal interconnect lines are formed on minimum pitches possible using available photolithographic printers. Minimum pitches possible for contacts and vias are larger than minimum pitches possible for metal interconnect lines, thus preventing dense rectilinear grid configurations for contacts and vias. The instant invention is an integrated circuit, and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit, wherein metal interconnect lines are formed on a minimum pitch possible using a photolithographic printer. Contacts and vias are arranged to provide connections to components and metal interconnect lines, as required by the integrated circuit, in configurations that are compatible with the minimum pitch for contacts and vias, including semi-dense arrays.