Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor structure, a conductive nitride feature, a third dielectric feature, and a conductive line feature. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, two source/drain regions disposed in the substrate, a first dielectric feature disposed over the substrate, a gate structure disposed in the first dielectric feature and between the source/drain regions, a second dielectric feature disposed over the first dielectric feature, and a contact feature disposed in the second dielectric feature and being connected to at least one of the source/drain regions and the gate structure. The conductive nitride feature includes metal nitride or alloy nitride, is disposed in the second dielectric feature, and is connected to the contact feature. The third dielectric feature is disposed over the second dielectric feature. The conductive feature is disposed in the third dielectric feature and is connected to the conductive nitride feature opposite to the contact feature.

Abstract: Provided are devices with conductive contacts and methods for forming such devices. A method includes forming a lower conductive contact in a dielectric material and over a structure, wherein the lower conductive contact has opposite sidewalls that extend to and terminate at a top surface. The method also includes separating an upper portion of each sidewall from the dielectric material and locating a barrier material between the upper portion of each sidewall and the dielectric material. Further, the method includes forming an upper conductive contact over the lower conductive contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an epitaxial structure, a silicide structure, a conductive structure, and a protection segment. The epitaxial structure is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. The silicide structure is disposed in the epitaxial structure. The conductive structure is disposed over the silicide structure and is electrically connected to the silicide structure. The protection segment is made of metal nitride, is disposed over the silicide structure, and is disposed between the silicide structure and the conductive structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature in a first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer; forming a trench that penetrates through the second dielectric layer, and terminates at the conductive feature; forming a contact layer in the trench and on the conductive feature; etching back the contact layer to form a first via contact feature in the trench, the first via contact feature being electrically connected to the conductive feature; and forming a second via contact feature on the first via contact feature in the trench.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a lower metal contact in a trench of a first dielectric structure, the lower metal contact having a height less than a depth of the trench and being made of a first metal material; forming an upper metal contact to fill the trench and to be in contact with the lower metal contact, the upper metal contact being formed of a second metal material different from the first metal material and having a bottom surface with a dimension the same as a dimension of a top surface of the lower metal contact; forming a second dielectric structure on the first dielectric structure; and forming a via contact penetrating through the second dielectric structure to be electrically connected to the upper metal contact, the via contact being formed of a metal material the same as the second metal material.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, a layer of dielectric material over the gate structure, a source/drain (S/D) contact layer formed through and adjacent to the gate structure, and a trench conductor layer over and in contact with the S/D contact layer. The S/D contact layer can include a layer of platinum-group metallic material and a silicide layer formed between the substrate and the layer of platinum-group metallic material. A top width of a top portion of the layer of platinum-group metallic material can be greater than or substantially equal to a bottom width of a bottom portion of the layer of platinum-group metallic material.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device with a nitrided capping layer and methods for forming the same. One method includes forming a first conductive structure in a first dielectric layer on a substrate, depositing a second dielectric layer on the first conductive structure and the first dielectric layer, and forming an opening in the second dielectric layer to expose the first conductive structure and a portion of the first dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a nitrided layer on a top portion of the first conductive structure, a top portion of the portion of the first dielectric layer, sidewalls of the opening, and a top portion of the second dielectric layer, and forming a second conductive structure in the opening, where the second conductive structure is in contact with the nitrided layer.

Abstract: A method for integrating software distribution. A main execution file and a plurality of shared distribution systems are packaged as a main installation program. The main installation program accesses an installation configuration file, registering the number of installation components and installation sequences corresponding to each installation component. The main installation program installs the shared distribution systems and a component execution file in an installation component according to one installation sequence.

Abstract: An electronic photo display device. The device comprises a panel, which is the size of a typical photo, an internal storage medium storing digital image files, and a central control unit. The central control unit acquires a digital image from the internal storage medium and displaying it on the panel according to a control command.

Abstract: A multilingual software installation system and method. The system includes a multilingual text file and a setup module. The multilingual text file is constructed with sections and index directives, including at least a first tier section, a second tier section and a third tier section. During software installation, the setup module retrieves an environment language family code and an environment language code of a setup environment, searches for a language family in the first tier section according to the environment language family code, searches for a language type in the second tier section corresponding to the language family according to the environment language code, and retrieves sentences/data from the third tier section corresponding to the language type.

Abstract: A method for verifying a device under test includes inputting a control command, compiling the control command to a corresponding data-bus command, and simulating the result generated by the device under test after executing the data-bus command and comparing the result with an expected value. The method allows the tester to input readable hardware control commands with various methods, rather than to perform a simulation test by inputting unreadable data-bus control commands.