Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first conductive structure having sidewalls and a bottom surface, the first conductive structure extending through one or more isolation layers formed on a substrate; and an insulation layer disposed between at least one of the sidewalls of the first conductive structure and respective sidewalls of the one or more isolation layers, wherein the first conductive structure is electrically coupled to a second conductive structure through at least the bottom surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a barrier structure between liner-free conductive structures and underlying conductive structures. The method includes forming openings in a dielectric layer disposed on a contact layer, where the openings expose conductive structures in the contact layer. A first metal layer is deposited in the openings and is grown thicker on top surfaces of the conductive structures and thinner on sidewall surfaces of the openings. The method further includes exposing the first metal layer to ammonia to form a bilayer with the first metal layer and a nitride of the first metal layer, and subsequently exposing the nitride to an oxygen plasma to convert a portion of the nitride of the first metal layer to an oxide layer. The method also includes removing the oxide layer and forming a semiconductor-containing layer on the nitride of the first metal layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having metal gates and the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method comprises providing a first sacrificial gate associated with a first conductive type transistor and a second sacrificial gate associated with a second conductive type transistor disposed over the substrate, wherein the first conductive type and the second conductive type are complementary; replacing the first sacrificial gate with a first metal gate structure; forming a patterned dielectric layer and/or a patterned photoresist layer to cover the first metal gate structure; and replacing the second sacrificial gate with a second metal gate structure. The method can improve gate height uniformity during twice metal gate chemical mechanical polish processes.

Abstract: An apparatus including an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive video frames generated by a plurality of capture devices. The processor may be configured to perform operations to detect objects in the video frames received from a first of the capture devices, determine depth information corresponding to the objects detected, determine blending lines in response to the depth information, perform video stitching operations on the video frames from the capture devices based on the blending lines and generate panoramic video frames in response to the video stitching operations. The blending lines may correspond to gaps in a field of view of the panoramic video frames. The blending lines may be determined to prevent the objects from being in the gaps in the field of view. The panoramic video frames may be generated to fit a size of a display.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern in a photoresist layer includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, and reducing moisture or oxygen absorption characteristics of the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form a latent pattern, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first conductive layer on the substrate, a first conductive via, and further conductive layers and conductive vias between the first conductive via and the substrate. The first conductive via is between the substrate and the first conductive layer, and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The first conductive via extends through at least two dielectric layers, and has thickness greater than about 8 kilo-Angstroms. An inductor having high quality factor is formed in the first conductive layer and also includes the first conductive via.

Abstract: A test head assembly for a semiconductor device has a carrier, a pin seat and a test wire assembly. The carrier is formed in an L shape and has a lateral board, a perpendicular board and a opening formed through the perpendicular board. The pin seat is mounted in the corresponding opening. The test wire assembly has a test head, a plurality of connectors and a plurality of test wires. The test head is mounted on an outer sidewall of the lateral board and connected to the pin seat through the test wires and the connectors. Therefore, the pin seat is mounted on the perpendicular board of the L-shaped uprightly and the test head is mounted on the lateral board. The pin seat and the test head are not parallel to each other, and a lateral size of the test head assembly is reduced to increase the space usage.

Abstract: A semiconductor process system includes a wafer support and a control system. The wafer support includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of temperature sensors. The heating elements heat a semiconductor wafer supported by the support system. The temperature sensors generate sensor signals indicative of a temperature. The control system selectively controls the heating elements responsive to the sensor signals.

Abstract: A an apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to house a workpiece, a target holder in the processing chamber, a first magnetic element positioned over a backside of the target holder, a first arm assembly connected to the first magnetic element, a rotational shaft, and a first hinge mechanism connecting the rotational shaft and the first arm assembly.

Abstract: A device includes an interconnect structure, a barrier multi-layer structure, an oxide layer, a pad metal layer, and a passivation layer. The barrier multi-layer structure is over the interconnect structure, the barrier multi-layer structure includes a first metal nitride layer and a second metal nitride layer over the first metal nitride layer. The oxide layer is over the barrier multi-layer structure, in which the oxide layer is an oxide of the second metal nitride layer of the barrier multi-layer structure. The pad metal layer is over the oxide layer. The passivation layer is in contact with the barrier multi-layer structure, the oxide layer, and the pad metal layer.

Abstract: A robot for transferring a wafer is disclosed. A blade of the robot includes a first sensor on an upper surface of the blade and the second sensor on a back surface of the blade. The first sensor is operable to align the blade with a wafer. The second sensor is operable to align the blade with a holder that holds 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: a first conductive structure having sidewalls and a bottom surface, the first conductive structure extending through one or more isolation layers formed on a substrate; and an insulation layer disposed between at least one of the sidewalls of the first conductive structure and respective sidewalls of the one or more isolation layers, wherein the first conductive structure is electrically coupled to a second conductive structure through at least the bottom surface.

Abstract: Photoresists and methods of forming and using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes spin-on coating a first hard mask layer over a target layer; depositing a photoresist layer over the first hard mask layer using chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition, the photoresist layer being deposited using one or more organometallic precursors; heating the photoresist layer to cause cross-linking between the one or more organometallic precursors; exposing the photoresist layer to patterned energy; heating the photoresist layer to cause de-crosslinking in the photoresist layer forming a de-crosslinked portion of the photoresist layer; and removing the de-crosslinked portion of the photoresist layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a barrier structure between liner-free conductive structures and underlying conductive structures. The method includes forming openings in a dielectric layer disposed on a contact layer, where the openings expose conductive structures in the contact layer. A first metal layer is deposited in the openings and is grown thicker on top surfaces of the conductive structures and thinner on sidewall surfaces of the openings. The method further includes exposing the first metal layer to ammonia to form a bilayer with the first metal layer and a nitride of the first metal layer, and subsequently exposing the nitride to an oxygen plasma to convert a portion of the nitride of the first metal layer to an oxide layer. The method also includes removing the oxide layer and forming a semiconductor-containing layer on the nitride of the first metal layer.

Abstract: A device includes a pair of gate spacers on a substrate, and a gate structure on the substrate and between the gate spacers. The gate structure includes an interfacial layer, a metal oxide layer, a nitride-containing layer, a tungsten-containing layer, and a metal compound layer. The interfacial layer is over the substrate. The metal oxide layer is over the interfacial layer. The nitride-containing layer is over the metal oxide layer. The tungsten-containing layer is over the nitride-containing layer. The metal compound layer is over the tungsten-containing layer. The metal compound layer has a different material than a material of the tungsten-containing layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first conductive layer on the substrate, a first conductive via, and further conductive layers and conductive vias between the first conductive via and the substrate. The first conductive via is between the substrate and the first conductive layer, and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The first conductive via extends through at least two dielectric layers, and has thickness greater than about 8 kilo-Angstroms. An inductor having high quality factor is formed in the first conductive layer and also includes the first conductive via.

Abstract: A head of a tag device having a body, at least one row of negative-pressure through holes and at least one row of positive-pressure through holes. The body has a first surface and a second surface. The rows of negative and positive-pressure through holes are formed through the first and second surfaces of the body and arranged along a long-axis direction. Two negative and positive-pressure through holes at both ends of the corresponding row of negative and positive-pressure through holes are respectively close to the short sides of the body. Therefore, an effective labeling area is distributed between two short sides. The head of the tag device of the present invention provides a stable labeling operation for different products where different components are mounted and increases units per hour (UPH).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure that includes a first interfacial layer, a first gate dielectric layer disposed over the first interfacial layer, and a first gate electrode disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second gate structure that includes a second interfacial layer, a second gate dielectric layer disposed over the second interfacial layer, and a second gate electrode disposed over the second gate dielectric layer. The first interfacial layer contains a different amount of a dipole material than the second interfacial layer.

Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with a gate structure and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, a workpiece is received that includes a substrate having a channel region. A gate dielectric is formed on the channel region, and a layer containing a dopant is formed on the gate dielectric. The workpiece is annealed to transfer the dopant to the gate dielectric, and the layer is removed after the annealing. In some such examples, after the layer is removed, a work function layer is formed on the gate dielectric and a fill material is formed on the work function layer to form a gate structure.