Abstract: A dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, an anti-reflective layer is formed over the dielectric layer, and a first hardmask is formed over the anti-reflective layer. A via opening and a trench opening are formed within the dielectric layer using the anti-reflective layer and the first hardmask as masking materials. After the formation of the trench opening and the via opening, the first hardmask is removed. An interconnect is formed within the openings, and the interconnect has a via with a profile angle of between about 70° and about 80° and a depth ratio of between about 65% and about 70%.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a silicon-based, carbon-rich, low-k ILD layer with a carbon concentration between about 15 atomic % and about 20 atomic %. For example, the method includes depositing a dielectric layer, over a substrate, with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant below 3.9 and a carbon atomic concentration between about 15% and about 20%; exposing the dielectric layer to a thermal process configured to outgas the dielectric material; etching the dielectric layer to form openings; and filling the openings with a conductive material to form conductive structures.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor, which includes forming a gate dielectric on a semiconductor region, forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, and forming a source/drain region extending into the semiconductor region. The method further includes forming a source/drain contact plug over and electrically coupling to the source/drain region, and forming a gate contact plug over and in contact with the gate electrode. At least one of the forming the gate electrode, the forming the source/drain contact plug, and the forming the gate contact plug includes forming a metal nitride barrier layer, and depositing a metal-containing layer over and in contact with the metal nitride barrier layer. The metal-containing layer includes at least one of a cobalt layer and a metal silicide layer.

Abstract: A dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, an anti-reflective layer is formed over the dielectric layer, and a first hardmask is formed over the anti-reflective layer. A via opening and a trench opening are formed within the dielectric layer using the anti-reflective layer and the first hardmask as masking materials. After the formation of the trench opening and the via opening, the first hardmask is removed. An interconnect is formed within the openings, and the interconnect has a via with a profile angle of between about 70° and about 80° and a depth ratio of between about 65% and about 70%.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin in a substrate, the first semiconductor fin adjacent the second semiconductor fin, forming a dummy gate structure extending over the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, depositing a first dielectric material surrounding the dummy gate structure, replacing the dummy gate structure with a first metal gate structure, performing an etching process on the first metal gate structure and on the first dielectric material to form a first recess in the first metal gate structure and a second recess in the first dielectric material, wherein the first recess extends into the substrate, and wherein the second recess is disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, and depositing a second dielectric material within the first recess.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region on a substrate and forming a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the source/drain region. The method further includes forming a second ILD layer over the first ILD layer, forming a source/drain contact structure within the first ILD layer and the second ILD layer, and selectively removing a portion of the source/drain contact structure to form a concave top surface of the source/drain contact structure.

Abstract: A joystick module includes a casing, a movable component, a circuit board, a base, a swing arm, a joystick and a sensor. The movable component is disposed inside or outside the casing. The base is disposed within the casing. The swing arm is disposed within the casing, pivotally connected to the base and connected to the movable component for driving the movable component to move. The joystick is connected to the swing arm for driving the swing arm to move. The sensor is disposed on the circuit board and opposite to the movable component, and configured to sense a plurality of received signals from the movable component. The received signals are different with the movement of the movable component.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a silicon-based, carbon-rich, low-k ILD layer with a carbon concentration between about 15 atomic % and about 20 atomic %. For example, the method includes depositing a dielectric layer, over a substrate, with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant below 3.9 and a carbon atomic concentration between about 15% and about 20%; exposing the dielectric layer to a thermal process configured to outgas the dielectric material; etching the dielectric layer to form openings; and filling the openings with a conductive material to form conductive structures.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin extending a first height above a substrate, forming a dummy dielectric material over the semiconductor fin and over the substrate, forming a dummy gate material over the dummy dielectric material, the dummy gate material extending a second height above the substrate, etching the dummy gate material using multiple etching processes to form a dummy gate stack, wherein each etching process of the multiple etching processes is a different etching process, wherein the dummy gate stack has a first width at the first height, and wherein the dummy gate stack has a second width at the second height that is different from the first width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second fin active regions extruding from a substrate, where the first and second fin active regions are separated by an isolation feature. The semiconductor includes a first gate stack disposed on the first fin active region and a second gate stack disposed on the second fin active region. The semiconductor device includes first source/drain features formed on the first fin active region, second source/drain features formed on the second fin active region, and a dielectric layer disposed along sidewalls of the first fin active region but not along sidewalls of the second fin active region. The first source/drain features extend vertically into the first fin active region at a first depth, the second source/drain features extend vertically into the second fin active region at a second depth, and the first depth is greater than the second depth.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin extending a first height above a substrate, forming a dummy dielectric material over the semiconductor fin and over the substrate, forming a dummy gate material over the dummy dielectric material, the dummy gate material extending a second height above the substrate, etching the dummy gate material using multiple etching processes to form a dummy gate stack, wherein each etching process of the multiple etching processes is a different etching process, wherein the dummy gate stack has a first width at the first height, and wherein the dummy gate stack has a second width at the second height that is different from the first width.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an etch stop layer on a substrate, forming a metal oxide layer over the etch stop layer, and forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the metal oxide layer. The method further includes forming a trench etch opening over the ILD layer, forming a capping layer over the trench etch opening, and forming a via etch opening over the capping layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure on the substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a first fin active region; a second fin active region; and an isolation feature separating the first and second fin active regions; forming a first gate stack on the first fin active region and a second gate stack on the second fin active region; performing a first recessing process to a first source/drain region of the first fin active region by a first dry etch; performing a first epitaxial growth to form a first source/drain feature on the first source/drain region; performing a fin sidewall pull back (FSWPB) process to remove a dielectric layer on the second fin active region; and performing a second epitaxial growth to form a second source/drain feature on a second source/drain region of the second fin active region.

Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom source/drain contact plug in a bottom inter-layer dielectric. The bottom source/drain contact plug is electrically coupled to a source/drain region of a transistor. The method further includes forming an inter-layer dielectric overlying the bottom source/drain contact plug. A source/drain contact opening is formed in the inter-layer dielectric, with the bottom source/drain contact plug exposed through the source/drain contact opening. A dielectric spacer layer is formed to have a first portion extending into the source/drain contact opening and a second portion over the inter-layer dielectric. An anisotropic etching is performed on the dielectric spacer layer, and a remaining vertical portion of the dielectric spacer layer forms a source/drain contact spacer. The remaining portion of the source/drain contact opening is filled to form an upper source/drain contact plug.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure includes forming an opening through an insulating layer and forming a first work function metal layer in the opening. The method also includes recessing the first work function metal layer into the opening to form a recessed first work function metal layer, and forming a second work function metal layer in the opening and over the first work function metal layer. The second work function metal layer lines and overhangs the recessed first work function metal layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin in a substrate, the first semiconductor fin adjacent the second semiconductor fin, forming a dummy gate structure extending over the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, depositing a first dielectric material surrounding the dummy gate structure, replacing the dummy gate structure with a first metal gate structure, performing an etching process on the first metal gate structure and on the first dielectric material to form a first recess in the first metal gate structure and a second recess in the first dielectric material, wherein the first recess extends into the substrate, and wherein the second recess is disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, and depositing a second dielectric material within the first recess.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes placing a substrate including a material layer thereon in a plasma chamber. The plasma chamber includes a housing, a first electrode array including a plurality of first sub-electrodes, a plurality of first matching units each electrically connected to one of the first sub-electrodes, and a second electrode array disposed in the housing, the second electrode array including a plurality of second sub-electrodes. The method also includes supplying an etching gas into the plasma chamber and applying a first RF power source to the first sub-electrodes of the first electrode array by the first matching units to form an etching plasma from the etching gas. The method further includes adjusting a distance between each of the first sub-electrodes and the substrate to generate a plasma density distribution across the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure includes forming an opening through an insulating layer and forming a first work function metal layer in the opening. The method also includes recessing the first work function metal layer into the opening to form a recessed first work function metal layer, and forming a second work function metal layer in the opening and over the first work function metal layer. The second work function metal layer lines and overhangs the recessed first work function metal layer.