Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure disposed in a first dielectric layer, a conductive segment disposed in the first dielectric layer and separated from the gate structure, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, a first contact penetrating the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the gate structure, a second contact penetrating the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the conductive segment, and a silicon nitride-based layer surrounding at least one of the first and second contacts and connected between the second dielectric layer and the at least one of the first and second contacts. A method for making the semiconductor device is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate structure across a fin, in which the dummy gate structure has a dummy gate dielectric layer and a dummy gate electrode, forming gate spacers on sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, forming source/drain epitaxial structures on sides of the dummy gate structure, performing a first etch process to the dummy gate electrode such that a recessed dummy gate electrode remains over the fin, performing a second etch process to the gate spacers such that recessed gate spacers remain over the sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, removing the recessed dummy gate electrode and the dummy gate dielectric layer after the second etch process to form a recess between the recessed gate spacers, forming a gate structure overfilling the recess, and performing a third etch process to the gate structure such that a recessed gate structure remains between the recessed gate spacers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure, a first edge structure and a second edge structure on a semiconductor strip. The method further includes forming a first source/drain feature between the gate structure and the first edge structure. The method further includes forming a second source/drain feature between the gate structure and the second edge structure, wherein a distance between the gate structure and the first source/drain feature is different from a distance between the gate structure and the second source/drain feature. The method further includes implanting a buried channel in the semiconductor strip, wherein the buried channel is entirely below a top-most surface of the semiconductor strip, a maximum depth of the buried channel is less than a maximum depth of the first source/drain feature, and a dopant concentration of the buried channel is highest under the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode over the bottom electrode, a switching layer between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, wherein the switching layer is configured to store data, a capping layer in contact with the switching layer, wherein the capping layer is configured to extract active metal ions from the switching layer, an ion reservoir region formed in the capping layer, a diffusion barrier layer between the bottom electrode and the switching layer, wherein the diffusion barrier layer includes palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), or a combination thereof and is configured to obstruct diffusion of the active metal ions between the switching layer and the bottom electrode, and the diffusion layer has a concaved top surface, and a passivation layer covering a portion of the top electrode, and wherein the passivation layer directly contacts a top surface of the switching layer.

Abstract: A grid structure in a pixel array may be at least partially angled or tapered toward a top surface of the grid structure such that the width of the grid structure approaches a near-zero width near the top surface of the grid structure. This permits the spacing between color filter regions in between the grid structure to approach a near-zero spacing near the top surfaces of the color filter regions. The tight spacing of color filter regions provided by the angled or tapered grid structure provides a greater surface area and volume for incident light collection in the color filter regions. Moreover, the width of the grid structure may increase at least partially toward a bottom surface of the grid structure such that the wider dimension of the grid structure near the bottom surface of the grid structure provides optical crosstalk protection for the pixel sensors in the pixel array.

Abstract: The disclosure introduces a shift register is configured to enter a low power mode by disabling a portion of flip-flops (FFs) that handles upper bits of input data. The shift register includes first FF(s), second FF(s) and gating circuit. The first flip-flop (FF), includes input terminal coupled to first portion of input data. The second FF includes input terminal coupled to second portion of input data, an output terminal, a clock terminal coupled to a clock signal, a power terminal coupled to a supply power. The second portion of the input data is subsequent to the first portion of the input data. The gating circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the first FF, and configured to disable the second FF for storing the second portion of a subsequent input data according to output data currently being stored in the first FF.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a channel region, and a source/drain region adjacent to the channel region. The source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer epitaxially formed on the first epitaxial layer and a third epitaxial layer epitaxially formed on the second epitaxial layer, and the first epitaxial layer is made of SiAs.

Abstract: A method includes: programming a first bit of a physical unclonable function into a first memory cell; and generating, by a first memory circuit in the first memory cell, a first current indicating a logic value of the first bit. The programming the first bit includes: turning on a first switch in the first memory circuit and at least one second switch in at least one second memory circuit in the first memory cell in response to a first bit line signal, to program one of the first memory circuit and the at least one second memory circuit while rest of the first memory circuit and the at least one second memory circuit is not programmed, according to the first bit line signal. A memory device and a system are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a semiconductor channel layer over the substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a high-k gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor channel layer, a work function metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric layer, and a bulk metal layer over the work function metal layer. The work function metal layer includes a first portion and a second portion over the first portion. Both the first portion and the second portion are conductive. Materials included in the second portion are also included in the first portion. The first portion is doped with silicon at a first dopant concentration, and the second portion is not doped with silicon or is doped with silicon at a second dopant concentration lower than the first dopant concentration.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a second package component to a first package component, bonding a third package component to the first package component, attaching a dummy die to the first package component, encapsulating the second package component, the third package component, and the dummy die in an encapsulant, and performing a planarization process to level a top surface of the second package component with a top surface of the encapsulant. After the planarization process, an upper portion of the encapsulant overlaps the dummy die. The dummy die is sawed-through to separate the dummy die into a first dummy die portion and a second dummy die portion. The upper portion of the encapsulant is also sawed through.

Abstract: A tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) device is disclosed. A protrusion structure is disposed over the substrate and protrudes out of the plane of substrate. Isolation features are formed on the substrate. A drain region is disposed over the substrate adjacent to the protrusion structure and extends to a bottom portion of the protrusion structure as a raised drain region. A drain contact is disposed over the drain region and overlap with the isolation feature.

Abstract: A conductive structure, includes: a plurality of conductive layers; a plurality of conductive pillars being formed on the plurality of conductive layers, respectively; and a molding compound laterally coating the plurality of conductive pillars. Each of the plurality of conductive pillars is a taper-shaped conductive pillar, and is tapered from the conductive layers.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming a ROX layer on a substrate and a patterned silicon oxynitride layer on the patterned ROX layer; conformally forming a dielectric oxide layer to cover the substrate, the patterned silicon oxynitride layer, and the patterned ROX layer; and fully oxidizing the patterned silicon oxynitride layer to form a fully oxidized gate oxide layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A device structure according to the present disclosure includes a passivation layer, a first conductor plate layer disposed on the passivation layer, a second conductor plate layer disposed over the first conductor layer, a third conductor plate layer disposed over the second conductor layer, and a fourth conductor plate layer disposed over the third conductor layer. The second conductor plate layer encloses the first conductor plate layer and the fourth conductor plate layer encloses the third conductor plate layer. The device structure, when used in a back-end-of-line passive device, reduces leakage and breakdown due to corner discharge effect.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a source/drain (S/D) epitaxial layer formed in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a S/D silicide layer formed on the S/D epitaxial layer, and the S/D silicide layer has a first width, the S/D epitaxial layer has a second width, and the first width is smaller than the second width. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric spacer between the gate structure and the S/D silicide layer, and a top surface of the dielectric spacer is lower than a top surface of the gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gas sensor. The gas sensor includes a substrate, a conductor layer over the substrate, wherein the conductor layer includes a conductive pattern including a plurality of openings, the openings being arranged in a repeating pattern, an insulating layer in the plurality of openings and over a top surface of the conductive pattern, wherein the conductive pattern is embedded in the insulating layer, and a gas sensing film over a portion of the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes etching a gate stack to form a trench extending into the gate stack, forming a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the gate stack, with the sidewall exposed to the trench, and etching the dielectric layer to remove a first portion of the dielectric layer at a bottom of the trench. A second portion of the dielectric layer on the sidewall of the gate stack remains after the dielectric layer is etched. After the first portion of the dielectric layer is removed, the second portion of the dielectric layer is removed to reveal the sidewall of the gate stack. The trench is filled with a dielectric region, which contacts the sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a device that includes an interconnect structure arranged on a frontside of a substrate. The interconnect structure includes interconnect conductive structures embedded within interconnect dielectric layers. A trench extends completely through the substrate to expose multiples ones of the interconnect conductive structures. A bond pad structure is arranged on a backside of the substrate and extends through the trench of the substrate to contact the multiple ones of the interconnect conductive structures. A bonding structure is arranged on the backside of the substrate and electrically contacts the bond pad structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor package and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor package includes at least one semiconductor die, an interposer, an encapsulant, a protection layer and connectors. The interposer has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and sidewalls connecting the first and second surfaces. The semiconductor die is disposed on the first surface of interposer and electrically connected with the interposer. The encapsulant is disposed over the interposer and laterally encapsulating the at least one semiconductor die. The connectors are disposed on the second surface of the interposer and electrically connected with the at least one semiconductor die through the interposer. The protection layer is disposed on the second surface of the interposer and surrounding the connectors. The sidewalls of the interposer include slanted sidewalls connected to the second surface, and the protection layer is in contact with the slant sidewalls of the interposer.

Abstract: Three-dimensional memories are provided. A three-dimensional memory includes a memory cell array, a first interconnect structure, a bit line decoder and a second interconnect structure. The bit line decoder is formed under the memory cell array and the first interconnect structure. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells formed in a plurality of levels stacked in a first direction. The first interconnect structure includes at least one bit line extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The bit line includes a plurality of sub-bit lines stacked in the first direction. Each of the sub-bit lines is coupled to the memory cells that are arranged in a line in the corresponding level of the memory cell array. The second interconnect structure is configured to connect the bit line to the bit line decoder passing through the first interconnect structure.