Abstract: A package structure including a redistribution circuit structure, a wiring substrate, first conductive terminals, an insulating encapsulation, and a semiconductor device is provided. The redistribution circuit structure includes stacked dielectric layers, redistribution wirings and first conductive pads. The first conductive pads are disposed on a surface of an outermost dielectric layer among the stacked dielectric layers, the first conductive pads are electrically connected to outermost redistribution pads among the redistribution wirings by via openings of the outermost dielectric layer, and a first lateral dimension of the via openings is greater than a half of a second lateral dimension of the outermost redistribution pads. The wiring substrate includes second conductive pads. The first conductive terminals are disposed between the first conductive pads and the second conductive pads. The insulating encapsulation is disposed on the surface of the redistribution circuit structure.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, and a gate stack on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. The gate stack includes a high-k dielectric layer, a work-function layer overlapping a bottom portion of the high-k dielectric layer, and a blocking layer overlapping a second bottom portion of the work-function layer. A low-resistance metal layer overlaps and contacts the work-function layer and the blocking layer. The low-resistance metal layer has a resistivity value lower than second resistivity values of both of the work-function layer and the blocking layer. A gate spacer contacts a sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate all around transistor includes forming a plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. The method includes forming a cladding inner spacer between a source region of the transistor and a gate region of the transistor. The method includes forming sheet inner spacers between the semiconductor nanosheets in a separate deposition process from the cladding inner spacer.

Abstract: A CBC light strip structure capable of guiding ultraviolet light includes a light strip; the light strip being formed by cyclic block copolymers (CBCs); the light strip having an input end to receive ultraviolet (UV) light; the ultraviolet light being guided by the light strip and passes through the light strip from the input end to an output end of the light strip.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system and an electron beam lithography process are disclosed herein for improving throughput. An exemplary method for increasing throughput achieved by an electron beam lithography system includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that includes a target pattern, wherein the electron beam lithography system implements a first exposure dose to form the target pattern on a workpiece based on the IC design layout. The method further includes inserting a dummy pattern into the IC design layout to increase a pattern density of the IC design layout to greater than or equal to a threshold pattern density, thereby generating a modified IC design layout. The electron beam lithography system implements a second exposure dose that is less than the first exposure dose to form the target pattern on the workpiece based on the modified IC design layout.

Abstract: A mask for use in a semiconductor lithography process includes a substrate, a mask pattern disposed on the substrate, and a light absorbing border surrounding the mask pattern. The light absorbing border is inset from at least two edges of the substrate to define a peripheral region outside of the light absorbing border. In some designs, a first peripheral region extends from an outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a first edge of the substrate, and a second peripheral region that extends from the outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a second edge of the substrate, where the first edge of the substrate and the second edge of the substrate are on opposite sides of the mask pattern.

Abstract: A chip structure is provided. The chip structure includes a substrate. The chip structure includes an interconnect layer over the substrate. The chip structure includes a conductive pad over the interconnect layer. The chip structure includes a conductive bump over the conductive pad. The conductive bump has a first portion, a second portion, and a neck portion between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is between the neck portion and the conductive pad. The neck portion is narrower than the first portion and narrower than the second portion.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system and an electron beam lithography process are disclosed herein for improving throughput. An exemplary method for increasing throughput achieved by an electron beam lithography system includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that includes a target pattern, wherein the electron beam lithography system implements a first exposure dose to form the target pattern on a workpiece based on the IC design layout. The method further includes inserting a dummy pattern into the IC design layout to increase a pattern density of the IC design layout to greater than or equal to a threshold pattern density, thereby generating a modified IC design layout. The electron beam lithography system implements a second exposure dose that is less than the first exposure dose to form the target pattern on the workpiece based on the modified IC design layout.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: A system for aiding placement of a nasogastric tube or a nasoduodenal tube and a method for using the same is disclosed, and the system comprises that of: a placing tube; a three-way connector, having a first port, a second port, and a third port, the first port being on the opposite end to the second port, the first port being adjacent to the third port, the first port being connected with a proximal end of the placing tube, the third port being adapted for pumping air or fluid into the three-way connector; an endoscope, having an insertion tube and an image-capturing device, the distal end of the insertion tube being a bending section, the image-capturing device being located in the front end of the bending section; and a display unit, connected with the endoscope.

Abstract: A chip structure is provided. The chip structure includes a substrate. The chip structure includes an interconnect layer over the substrate. The chip structure includes a conductive pad over the interconnect layer. The chip structure includes a conductive bump over the conductive pad. The conductive bump has a first portion, a second portion, and a neck portion between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is between the neck portion and the conductive pad. The neck portion is narrower than the first portion and narrower than the second portion.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system and an electron beam lithography process are disclosed herein for improving throughput. An exemplary method for increasing throughput achieved by an electron beam lithography system includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that includes a target pattern, wherein the electron beam lithography system implements a first exposure dose to form the target pattern on a workpiece based on the IC design layout. The method further includes inserting a dummy pattern into the IC design layout to increase a pattern density of the IC design layout to greater than or equal to a threshold pattern density, thereby generating a modified IC design layout. The electron beam lithography system implements a second exposure dose that is less than the first exposure dose to form the target pattern on the workpiece based on the modified IC design layout.

Abstract: A lithography mask including a substrate, a phase shift layer on the substrate and an etch stop layer is provided. The phase shift layer is patterned and the substrate is protected from etching by the etch stop layer. The etch stop layer can be a material that is semi-transmissive to light used in photolithography processes or it can be transmissive to light used in photolithography processes.

Abstract: A mask for use in a semiconductor lithography process includes a substrate, a mask pattern disposed on the substrate, and a light absorbing border surrounding the mask pattern. The light absorbing border is inset from at least two edges of the substrate to define a peripheral region outside of the light absorbing border. In some designs, a first peripheral region extends from an outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a first edge of the substrate, and a second peripheral region that extends from the outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a second edge of the substrate, where the first edge of the substrate and the second edge of the substrate are on opposite sides of the mask pattern.

Abstract: A mask characterization method comprises measuring an interference signal of a reflection or transmission mask for use in lithography; and determining a quality metric for the reflection or transmission mask based on the interference signal. A mask characterization apparatus comprises a light source arranged to illuminate a reflective or transmissive mask with light whereby mask-reflected or mask-transmitted light is generated; an optical grating arranged to convert the mask-reflected or mask-transmitted light into an interference pattern; and an optical detector array arranged to generate an interference signal by measuring the interference pattern.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.