Abstract: A gimbal for a conditioning system for a CMP tool is configured to maintain a conditioning disk in contact with a polishing pad of the CMP tool. The gimbal includes an arm coupling for coupling to a conditioning swing arm of the CMP tool; and a disk holder for holding the conditioning disk. A flexible diaphragm extends between the arm coupling and the disk holder. The flexible diaphragm allows the disk holder to flex relative to the arm coupling. The flexible diaphragm is made of a metal or metal alloy.

Abstract: Fabrication methods and device structures for a heterojunction bipolar transistor. A trench isolation region is formed that surrounds an active region of semiconductor material, a collector is formed in the active region, and a base layer is deposited that includes a first section over the trench isolation region, a second section over the active region, and a third section over the active region that connects the first section and the second section. An emitter is arranged over the second section of the base layer, and an extrinsic base layer is arranged over the first section of the base layer and the third section of the base layer. The extrinsic base layer includes a first section containing polycrystalline semiconductor material and a second section containing single-crystal semiconductor material. The first and second sections of the extrinsic base layer intersect along an interface that extends over the trench isolation region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to poly gate extension source to body contact structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a substrate having a doped region; a gate structure over the doped region, the gate structure having a main body and a gate extension region; and a body contact region straddling over the gate extension region and remote from the main body of the gate structure.

Abstract: Processes form integrated circuit apparatuses that include parallel fins, wherein the fins are patterned in a first direction, and parallel gate structures intersect the fins in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, source/drain structures are positioned on the fins between the gate structures, source/drain contacts are positioned on the source/drain structures, sidewall insulators are positioned between the gate structures and the source/drain contacts (wherein the sidewall insulators have a lower portion adjacent to the fins and an upper portion distal to the fins), and upper sidewall spacers are positioned between the upper portion of the sidewall insulators and the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: Structures and static random access memory bit cells including complementary field effect transistors and methods of forming such structures and bit cells. A first complementary field-effect transistor has a first storage nanosheet transistor, a second storage nanosheet transistor stacked over the first storage nanosheet transistor, and a first gate electrode shared by the first storage nanosheet transistor and the second storage nanosheet transistor. A second complementary field-effect transistor has a third storage nanosheet transistor, a fourth storage nanosheet transistor stacked over the third storage nanosheet transistor, and a second gate electrode shared by the third storage nanosheet transistor and the fourth storage nanosheet transistor. The first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are arranged in a spaced arrangement along a longitudinal axis. All gate electrodes of the SRAM bitcell may be arranged in a 1CPP layout.

Abstract: Structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming structures for a field-effect transistor. A source/drain region is connected with a channel layer, and a gate structure extends across the channel layer. The channel layer is composed of a two-dimensional material.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The IC structure may include a semiconductor structure including two source/drain regions; a metal gate positioned on the semiconductor structure adjacent to and between the source/drain regions; a metal cap with a different metal composition than the metal gate and having a thickness in the range of approximately 0.5 nanometer (nm) to approximately 5 nm positioned on the metal gate; a first dielectric cap layer positioned above the semiconductor structure; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) positioned above the semiconductor structure and laterally abutting both the metal cap and the metal gate, wherein an upper surface of the ILD has a greater height above the semiconductor structure than an upper surface of the metal gate; a second dielectric cap layer positioned on the ILD and above the metal cap; and a contact on and in electrical contact with the metal cap.

Abstract: A reticle inspection system and related method are disclosed. The system includes a concave spherical mirror positioned adjacent a side of the reticle that is configured to reflect inspection light transmitted through the reticle back towards and through the reticle. A sensor is configured to create at least one of: a first inspection image representative of a circuit pattern of the reticle based on transmission of the inspection light through the first side of the reticle and a reflection thereof by the concave spherical mirror through the second side of the reticle, and a second inspection image representative of the circuit pattern of the reticle based on the reflection of the inspection light from the first side of the reticle. A controller is configured to identify a defect in the reticle based on at least one of the first inspection image and the second inspection image.

Abstract: Structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming a field-effect transistor. A first gate electrode has a first plurality of segments arranged in series to define a first non-rectilinear chain. A second gate electrode is arranged adjacent to the first gate electrode. The second gate electrode includes a second plurality of segments arranged in series to define a second non-rectilinear chain. A source/drain region is laterally arranged between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A method for forming self-aligned contacts includes patterning a mask between fin regions of a semiconductor device, etching a cut region through a first dielectric layer between the fin regions down to a substrate and filling the cut region with a first material, which is selectively etchable relative to the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is isotropically etched to reveal source and drain regions in the fin regions to form trenches in the first material where the source and drain regions are accessible. The isotropic etching is super selective to remove the first dielectric layer relative to the first material and relative to gate structures disposed between the source and drain regions. Metal is deposited in the trenches to form silicide contacts to the source and drain regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor detectors for use in optoelectronic devices and integrated circuit (IC) chips, and methods for forming same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to integration of semiconductor detectors with Bragg reflectors. The photodetector of the present disclosure includes a substrate, a Bragg reflector disposed on the substrate, and a semiconductor detector disposed on the Bragg reflector. The Bragg reflector includes alternating layers of a semiconductor material and a dielectric material.

Abstract: Structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming structures for a field-effect transistor. A layer stack includes nanosheet channel layers arranged to alternate with sacrificial layers. First and second gate structures are formed that extend across the layer stack and that are separated by a first gap. First and second sidewall spacers are formed over the layer stack and within the first gap respectively adjacent to the first and second gate structures, and the layer stack is subsequently etched to form first and second body features that are separated by a second gap. The sacrificial layers are recessed relative to the nanosheet channel layers to define indents in the first and second body features, and the first and second sidewall spacers are subsequently removed. After removing the first and second sidewall spacers, a conformal layer is deposited in the second gap that fills the indents to define inner spacers.

Abstract: Structures for a grating coupler and methods of fabricating a structure for a grating coupler. The grating coupler includes a first plurality of grating structures and a second plurality of grating structures that alternate with the first plurality of grating structures in an interleaved arrangement. The first plurality of grating structures are composed of a dielectric material or a semiconductor material. The second plurality of grating structures are composed of a tunable material having a refractive index that changes with an applied voltage.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor device is provided, which includes a first die, a second die and a heat dissipating layer. The first die has a pre-determined size. The second die is bonded to the first die using a dielectric material, wherein the second die is smaller than the first die. The heat dissipating layer is surrounding the second die, wherein the heat dissipating layer has an outer dimension that is equal to the size of the first die.

Abstract: Structures for a waveguide bend and methods of fabricating a structure for a waveguide bend. A waveguide core has a first section, a second section, and a waveguide bend connecting the first section with the second section. The waveguide core includes a first side surface and a second side surface, the first side surface extends about an inner radius of the waveguide bend, and the second side surface extends about an outer radius of the waveguide bend. The waveguide bend includes a central region and a side region that is arranged adjacent to the central region at the first side surface or the second side surface. The central region has a first thickness, and the side region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure which includes a first metal layer patterned as a mandrel, a dielectric spacer on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer on the dielectric spacer.

Abstract: An electrical device including a first semiconductor device having a silicon and germanium containing source and drain region, and a second semiconductor device having a silicon containing source and drain region. A first device contact to at least one of said silicon and germanium containing source and drain region of the first semiconductor device including a metal liner of an aluminum titanium and silicon alloy and a first tungsten fill. A second device contact is in contact with at least one of the silicon containing source and drain region of the second semiconductor device including a material stack of a titanium oxide layer and a titanium layer. The second device contact may further include a second tungsten fill.

Abstract: Structures for an edge coupler and methods of fabricating a structure for an edge coupler. A waveguide core and a coupler are formed over a layer stack that includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The coupler includes a first plurality of grating structures and a transition structure including a second plurality of grating structures that are positioned between the first plurality of grating structures and the waveguide core. The first plurality of grating structures include respective widths that vary as a function of position relative to the transition structure.

Abstract: Structures with waveguides in multiple levels and methods of fabricating a structure that includes waveguides in multiple levels. A waveguide crossing has a first waveguide and a second waveguide arranged to intersect the first waveguide. A third waveguide is displaced vertically from the waveguide crossing, The third waveguide includes a portion having an overlapping arrangement with a portion of the first waveguide. The overlapping portions of the first and third waveguides are configured to transfer optical signals between the first waveguide and the third waveguide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal gate (e.g., a replacement metal gate (RMG) for a field effect transistor (FET) and a method of forming the metal gate. The method includes depositing a conformal dielectric layer to line a gate opening and performing a series of unclustered and clustered conformal metal deposition and chamfer processes to selectively adjust the heights of conformal metal layers within the gate opening. By selectively controlling the heights of the conformal metal layers, the method provides improved overall gate height control and gate quality particularly when the metal gate has a small critical dimension (CD) and/or a high aspect ratio (AR). The method can also include using different etch techniques during the different chamfer processes and, particularly, when different materials and/or different material interfaces are exposed to an etchant in order to ensure an essentially uniform etch rate of the conformal metal layer(s) at issue in a direction that is essentially vertical.