1. An electronic component comprising:
a first insulation layer;
an upper metal layer formed on the first insulation layer;
an electrically conductive structure integrated into the first insulation layer, the electrically conductive structure mechanically stabilizing the insulation layer under the action of mechanical force, the electrically conductive structure formed as a capacitor structure in which a first strip sequence of metal strips arranged congruently one above another and connected to one another by via connections are connected to a first electrical potential; and
a second strip sequence of metal strips that are arranged congruently one above another and are connected to one another by via connections is in each case arranged on both sides of the first strip sequence at identical lateral distances, the metal strips of the second strip sequences in each case being arranged at the same level as the metal strips of the first strip sequence and being connected to a second electrical potential.
2. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive structure is planar with horizontal surfaces of the first insulation layer and surface regions of the conductive structure form partial regions of the horizontal surfaces of the first insulation layer.
3. An integrated circuit having a substrate and an electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is formed on the substrate.
4. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the upper metal layer is an electrically conductive bonding pad layer.
5. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive structure is sufficient to stabilize the insulation layer during at least one of: bonding of the upper metal layer or mounting of the electronic component.
6. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the first insulation layer is formed from a material having a dielectric constant of less than 4.
7. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the upper metal layer has a bonding region and the electrically conductive structure is essentially arranged vertically below the bonding region.
8. The electronic component according to claim 7, wherein dimensions of the electrically conductive structure in a plane parallel to the upper metal layer are identical in magnitude to the bonding region.
9. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive screening layer is formed between and electrically insulated from the upper metal layer and the electrically conductive structure.
10. The electronic component according to claim 9, wherein the screening layer is a second metal layer and is connected to ground.
11. The electronic component according to claim 9, wherein the screening layer is formed as a contiguous plate or as a grid structure.
12. The electronic component according to claim 9, wherein an area of the screening layer which faces the electrically conductive structure is identical in magnitude to an area of the conductive structure which faces the screening layer, and is arranged such that when the areas are projected on one another, the area of the screening layer completely covers the area of the conductive structure.
13. The electronic component according to claim 9, wherein the screening layer is formed in a second insulation layer, the second insulation layer arranged between the first insulation layer and the upper metal layer.
14. The electronic component according to claim 13, wherein the upper metal layer is electrically connected to an electrically conductive region by means of a contact region in a third insulation layer, the electrically conductive region being arranged in the second or third insulation layer.
15. The electronic component according to claim 14, wherein the contact region and the second electrically conductive region are arranged horizontally offset with respect to the electrically conductive structure and with respect to a bonding region of the upper metal layer.
16. The electronic component comprising:
a first insulation layer;
an electrically conductive structure formed as a passive electronic component and integrated into the first insulation layer, the electrically conductive structure mechanically stabilizing the insulation layer under the action of mechanical force;
a second insulation layer applied on the first insulation layer, the second insulation layer containing a metallic screening layer arranged vertically above the electrically conductive structure such that the second insulation layer laterally completely covers the electrically conductive structure;
an upper metal layer formed on the second insulation layer; and
an electrically conductive region arranged laterally with respect to the screening layer in the same plane as the screening layer within the second insulation layer, the electrically conductive region connected, by means of a contact hole in the second insulation layer, to the upper metal layer applied on the second insulation layer.
17. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive structure is electrically connected to a supply voltage potential and ground, respectively, by means of via connections and electrical contact strips.
18. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the first insulation layer is formed from a material having a dielectric constant of less than 4.
19. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive structure is planar with horizontal surfaces of the first insulation layer and surface regions of the conductive structure form partial regions of the horizontal surfaces of the first insulation layer.
20. An integrated circuit having a substrate and an electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the electronic component is formed on the substrate.
21. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the upper metal layer is an electrically conductive bonding pad layer.
22. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive structure is sufficient to stabilize the insulation layer during at least one of: bonding of the upper metal layer or mounting of the electronic component.
23. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the upper metal layer has a bonding region and the electrically conductive structure is essentially arranged vertically below the bonding region.
24. The electronic component according to claim 23, wherein dimensions of the electrically conductive structure in a plane parallel to the upper metal layer are identical in magnitude to the bonding region.
25. The electronic component according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive structure is formed at least one of: as a capacitance structure or as an inductance structure.
26. The electronic component according to claim 25, wherein a partial region of the electrically conductive structure is formed as a capacitance structure and has at least two metallization planes, strips arranged parallel to one another and insulated from one another being formed in the first metallization plane, the strips are arranged congruently with respect to the strips arranged parallel to one another and insulated from one another in the second metallization plane and the strips arranged one above another in a vertical direction in the two metallization planes being electrically connected by via connections.
27. The electronic component according to claim 25, wherein a partial region of the electrically conductive structure is formed as an inductance structure and has at least one metallization plane in which a spiral metal track is formed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for automatically verifying that a user is still sentient and alive by implementing a user-specified protocol of timed electronic communications comprising the steps of:
a) setting up a protocol of electronic communications to be sent at specified timed intervals to a designated user;
b) sending said timed electronic communications in the form of a telecommunication alert that requires a user response;
c) determining if said individual has responded wherein if the user has responded said protocol is terminated and return to step \u201ca\u201d for setting up a new protocol call for the user;
d) determining if the user has not responded said protocol proceeds to a next communication;
e) determining if said protocol completes without any response from the user, wherein a user designated person is alerted.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of interrupting said protocol by the user when they go on vacation.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of interrupting said protocol by the user when they leave the country for business purposes.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining if said protocol completes without any response from the user, wherein a user designated guardian is alerted.
5. A system for automatically verifying that a user is still sentient and alive comprising:
computer software for implementing a user-specified protocol of timed electronic communications,
said protocol of electronic communications to be sent at specified timed intervals;
said timed electronic communications sends a telecommunication alert that requires a user response wherein the user must respond within a specified period of time; and
the user responding to said alert terminates the protocol wherein if the user does not respond within the specified time, the protocol proceeds to the next communication wherein if the protocol completes without any response from the user, a user designated person is alerted.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising interrupting said protocol is interrupted by the user when they go on vacation.
7. The system of claim 5 further comprising said protocol is interrupted by the user when they leave the country for business purposes.
8. The system of claim 5 further comprising said user designated person is a user designated guardian.
9. The system of claim 5 further comprising said user is assigned said protocol by a designated person.
10. The system of claim 5 further comprising said user is assigned said protocol by a designated guardian.
11. The system of claim 5 further comprising said user assigns said protocol by themselves.
12. The system of claim 5 further comprising telecommunication alerts are in the form of a \u201cping\u201d.