US Patent 7897484 Fabricating a top conductive layer in a semiconductor die

According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a top conductive layer in a semiconductor die includes forming a through-wafer via opening through at least one interlayer dielectric layer in a through-wafer via region of the semiconductor die. The method further includes extending the through-wafer via opening through a substrate of the semiconductor die to reach a target depth. The method further includes forming a through-wafer via conductive layer in the through-wafer via opening, and concurrently forming the top conductive layer over an exposed top metal segment.