Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) with active and dummy device cell arrays and a method of fabricating the same are discloses. The IC includes a substrate, an active device cell, and a dummy device cell. The active device cell includes an array of source/drain (S/D) regions of a first conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate and an array of gate structures with a first gate fill material disposed on the substrate. The dummy device cell includes a first array of S/D regions of the first conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate, a second array of S/D regions of a second conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate, and an array of dual gate structures disposed on the substrate. Each of the dual gate structures includes the first gate fill material and a second gate fill material that is different from the first gate fill material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an alignment mark layer on a substrate; patterning the alignment mark layer for forming at least one alignment mark feature; forming a bottom conductive layer on the patterned alignment mark layer in a substantially conformal manner; forming an insulator layer on the bottom conductive layer; and forming a top conductive layer on the insulator layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first well region, a second well region, an isolation, a gate structure, and a dielectric layer is provided. The first well region is disposed in the substrate, wherein a dopant of the first well region includes arsenic. The second well region is disposed in the substrate under the first well region, wherein the second well region has a conductivity type different from that of the first doping region. The isolation is disposed in the substrate and surrounds the first well region, wherein a depth of the isolation is substantially greater than or equal to a depth of the first well region from a first surface of the substrate. The gate structure are disposed sequentially over the substrate and overlaps the first well region. A method of forming the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) with active and dummy device cell arrays and a method of fabricating the same are discloses. The IC includes a substrate, an active device cell, and a dummy device cell. The active device cell includes an array of source/drain (S/D) regions of a first conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate and an array of gate structures with a first gate fill material disposed on the substrate. The dummy device cell includes a first array of S/D regions of the first conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate, a second array of S/D regions of a second conductivity type disposed on or within the substrate, and an array of dual gate structures disposed on the substrate. Each of the dual gate structures includes the first gate fill material and a second gate fill material that is different from the first gate fill material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure of a CMOS image sensor. The method includes providing a substrate; growing an epitaxial layer on the substrate; forming a barrier layer on the epitaxial layer; forming a trench extending into the epitaxial layer; oxidizing the epitaxial layer to form a liner layer; defining a region of a photodiode and a first dopant thickness; implanting dopants into the epitaxial layer around a sidewall of the trench to form a protective layer with a second dopant thickness less than the first dopant thickness; forming an oxide layer in the trench; performing an annealing operation to densify the oxide layer to form a densified oxide layer, wherein the protective layer, expanded from the second dopant thickness to a third dopant thickness less than the first dopant thickness, is kept spaced from the region; and forming the photodiode in the region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of isolation structures, wherein each isolation structure of the plurality of isolation structures is spaced from an adjacent isolation structure of the plurality of isolation structures. The semiconductor device further includes a gate structure. The gate structure includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall angled with respect to the first sidewall. The gate structure further includes a first surface extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein a dimension of the gate structure in a first direction is less than a dimension of each of the plurality of isolation structures in the first direction.

Abstract: A flash memory includes a linear array of flash memory cells having a source region extending along a first direction. Each flash memory cell includes a floating gate disposed adjacent the source region. The linear array of flash memory cells further includes isolation strips disposed between the floating gates of the flash memory cells. An erase gate line extends along the first direction and is disposed over the source region. A control gate line extends along the first direction and is disposed over the isolation strips and over the floating gates of the flash memory cells. The control gate line has a non-straight edge proximate to the source region that is indented away from the source region at least where the control gate line is disposed over the isolation strips.

Abstract: A flash memory includes a linear array of flash memory cells having a source region extending along a first direction. Each flash memory cell includes a floating gate disposed adjacent the source region. The linear array of flash memory cells further includes isolation strips disposed between the floating gates of the flash memory cells. An erase gate line extends along the first direction and is disposed over the source region. A control gate line extends along the first direction and is disposed over the isolation strips and over the floating gates of the flash memory cells. The control gate line has a non-straight edge proximate to the source region that is indented away from the source region at least where the control gate line is disposed over the isolation strips.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of isolation structures, wherein each isolation structure of the plurality of isolation structures is spaced from an adjacent isolation structure of the plurality of isolation structures in a first direction. The semiconductor device further includes a gate structure. The gate structure includes a top surface; a first sidewall angled at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the top surface; and a second sidewall angled with respect to the top surface. The gate structure further includes a first horizontal surface extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the first horizontal surface is parallel to the top surface, and a dimension of the gate structure in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, is less than a dimension of each of the plurality of isolation structures in the second direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a contact feature in a dielectric layer, a passivation structure over the dielectric layer, a conductive feature over the passivation structure, a seed layer disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation structure, a protecting layer disposed along sidewalls of the conductive feature, and a passivation layer over the conductive feature and the protecting layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor is disclosed. The method includes forming a portion of a metallization layer on a substrate, forming a via layer on the substrate, and forming a first electrode between the metallization layer and the via layer, where the first electrode is electrically connected to the metallization layer. The method also includes forming a second electrode between the metallization layer and the via layer, where the second electrode is electrically connected to the via layer, and forming a dielectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the first electrode is not electrically connected to any other conductors other than through the metallization layer, and where the second electrode is not electrically connected to any conductors other than through the via layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer, a conductive layer over the first dielectric layer, and a first electrode over a first portion of the conductive layer. A first thickness of the first portion of the conductive layer is greater than a second thickness of a second portion of the conductive layer not under the first electrode.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a semiconductor substrate, an isolation region and an active region disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack disposed over the active region, and a source and a drain disposed in the active region and interposed by the gate stack in a first direction. The active region is at least partially surrounded by the isolation region. A middle portion of the active region laterally extends beyond the gate stack in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A method comprises depositing a mask layer on a front-side surface of a wafer, wherein a portion of the wafer has a first resistivity; with the mask layer in place, performing an ion implantation process on a backside surface of the wafer to implant a resistivity reduction impurity into the wafer through the backside surface of the wafer to lower the first resistivity of the portion of the wafer to a second resistivity; after performing the ion implantation process, removing the mask layer from the front-side surface of the wafer; and forming semiconductor devices on the front-side surface of the wafer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a contact feature in a dielectric layer, a passivation structure over the dielectric layer, a conductive feature over the passivation structure, a seed layer disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation structure, a protecting layer disposed along sidewalls of the conductive feature, and a passivation layer over the conductive feature and the protecting layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active gate metal structure disposed over a substrate, the active gate metal structure having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to each other. The semiconductor device includes a first source/drain region disposed adjacent the first sidewall of the active gate metal structure with a first lateral distance. The semiconductor device includes a second source/drain region disposed adjacent the second sidewall of the active gate metal structure with a second lateral distance, wherein the second lateral distance is substantially greater than the first lateral distance. The semiconductor device includes a resist protective oxide (RPO) comprising a first portion extending over a portion of a major surface of the substrate that is laterally located between the second sidewall and the second source/drain region, wherein the RPO has no portion extending over a top surface of the active gate metal structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a semiconductor substrate, an isolation region and an active region disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack disposed over the active region, and a source and a drain disposed in the active region and interposed by the gate stack in a first direction. The active region is at least partially surrounded by the isolation region. A middle portion of the active region laterally extends beyond the gate stack in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device may include a substrate, a first via, a first pad, a second pad, and a first passivation layer. The first pad may be over the substrate. The second pad may be over the substrate. The second pad may be parallel to the first pad. The first passivation layer may surround the first pad and the second pad. The first passivation layer may include a first part on the first pad. The first passivation layer may include a second part on the second pad. A thickness of the first part of the first passivation layer may exceed a height of the first pad. A thickness of the second part of the first passivation layer may exceed a height of the second pad.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, first and second fin structures are formed over a substrate, an isolation insulating layer is formed over the substrate, a gate structure is formed over channel regions of the first and second fin structures, source/drain regions of the first and second fin structure are recessed, and an epitaxial source/drain structure is formed over the recessed first and second fin structures. The epitaxial source/drain structure is a merged structure having a merger point, and a height of a bottom of the merger point from an upper surface of the isolation insulating layer is 50% or more of a height of the channel regions of the first and second fin structures from the upper surface of the isolation insulating layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device first conductive layers are formed over a substrate. A first photoresist layer is formed over the first conductive layers. The first conductive layers are etched by using the first photoresist layer as an etching mask, to form an island pattern of the first conductive layers separated from a bus bar pattern of the first conductive layers by a ring shape groove. A connection pattern is formed to connect the island pattern and the bus bar pattern. A second photoresist layer is formed over the first conductive layers and the connection pattern. The second photoresist layer includes an opening over the island pattern. Second conductive layers are formed on the island pattern in the opening. The second photoresist layer is removed, and the connection pattern is removed, thereby forming a bump structure.