Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, a first vertical structure and a second vertical structure formed over the substrate, and a conductive rail structure between the first and second vertical structures. A top surface of the conductive rail structure can be substantially coplanar with top surfaces of the first and the second vertical structures.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) incorporating a fin top hardmask on top of a channel region of a fin. Because of the presence of the fin top hardmask, a gate height of the FinFET can be reduced without affecting proper operations of vertical gate channels on sidewalls of the fin. Consequently, parasitic capacitance between a gate stack and source/drain contacts of the FinFET can be reduced by lowering the gate height of the FinFET.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first fin and a second fin over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode traversing over the first fin and the second fin, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer between the first fin and the first gate electrode and between the second fin and the second gate electrode. Further, the semiconductor device includes a dummy gate electrode over the substrate, and the dummy gate electrode is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. An upper portion of the dummy gate electrode is wider than a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode.

Abstract: A package includes a photonic layer on a substrate, the photonic layer including a silicon waveguide coupled to a grating coupler; an interconnect structure over the photonic layer; an electronic die and a first dielectric layer over the interconnect structure, where the electronic die is connected to the interconnect structure; a first substrate bonded to the electronic die and the first dielectric layer; a socket attached to a top surface of the first substrate; and a fiber holder coupled to the first substrate through the socket, where the fiber holder includes a prism that re-orients an optical path of an optical signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and a method to detect a polishing pad profile during a polish process and adjust the polishing process based on the detected profile. The apparatus can include a polishing pad configured to polishing a substrate, a substrate carrier configured to hold the substrate against the polishing pad, and a detection module configured to detect a profile of the polishing pad. The detection module can include a probe configured to measure a thickness of one or more areas on the polishing pad, and a beam configured to support the probe, where the probe can be further configured to move along the beam.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a supporting substrate to a semiconductor substrate of a wafer. A bonding layer is between, and is bonded to both of, the supporting substrate and the semiconductor substrate. A first etching process is performed to etch the supporting substrate and to form an opening, which penetrates through the supporting substrate and stops on the bonding layer. The opening has substantially straight edges. The bonding layer is then etched. A second etching process is performed to extend the opening down into the semiconductor substrate. A bottom portion of the opening is curved.

Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of measuring at least one of the film characteristics (e.g., thickness, resistance, and composition) in the deposition system. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, and a target enclosing the substrate process chamber. A shutter disk including an in-situ measuring device is provided.

Abstract: Gates having air gaps therein, and methods of fabrication thereof, are disclosed herein. An exemplary gate includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric. A first air gap is between and/or separates a first sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric, and a second air gap is between and/or separates a second sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric. A dielectric cap may be disposed over the gate electrode, and the dielectric cap may wrap a top of the gate electrode. The dielectric cap may fill a top portion of the first air gap and a top portion of the second air gap. The gate may be disposed between a first epitaxial source/drain and a second epitaxial source/drain, and a width of the gate is about the same as a distance between the first epitaxial source/drain and the second epitaxial source/drain.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an example layout and method for cell placement in an integrated circuit (IC) layout design. The layout includes a first semiconductor structure having a first channel with a first channel width and a second semiconductor structure having a second channel with a second channel width different from the first channel width. The first and second channels can be in contact with each other. The method includes disposing a first diffusion region in a layout area and disposing a second diffusion region in the layout area. The first diffusion region can have a first diffusion region width and the second diffusion region can have a second diffusion region width different from the first diffusion region width.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first chip bonded to a second chip. The first chip includes gate all around transistors on a substrate. The first chip includes backside conductive vias extending through the substrate to the gate all around transistors. The second chip includes electronic circuitry electrically connected to the transistors by the backside conductive vias.

Abstract: A method includes performing an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to form a dielectric layer on a wafer. The ALD process comprises an ALD cycle includes pulsing calypso ((SiCl3)2CH2), purging the calypso, pulsing ammonia, and purging the ammonia. The method further includes performing a wet anneal process on the dielectric layer, and performing a dry anneal process on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a fin element extending therefrom. In some embodiments, a gate structure is formed over the fin element, where the gate structure includes a dielectric layer on the fin element, a metal capping layer disposed over the dielectric layer, and a metal electrode formed over the metal capping layer. In some cases, first sidewall spacers are formed on opposing sidewalls of the metal capping layer and the metal electrode. In various embodiments, the dielectric layer extends laterally underneath the first sidewall spacers to form a dielectric footing region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of semiconductor structures and method of forming the same. An example semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature and a hybrid fin disposed between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature and extending lengthwise along a first direction. The hybrid fin includes an inner feature and an outer layer disposed around the inner feature. The outer layer includes silicon oxycarbonitride and the inner feature includes silicon carbonitride.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source and a method for patterning a resist layer on a substrate using the EUV light source are disclosed. For example, the EUV light source includes a droplet generator, a droplet catcher, a laser source, a plurality of vanes, and a bucket. The droplet generator is to generate tin droplets. The droplet catcher is opposite to the droplet generator to catch the tin droplets. The laser source is to generate a laser beam striking the tin droplets to form a plasma. The plurality of vanes are arranged around an axis to collect tin debris created from the plasma. The bucket is connected to the vanes and includes a cover, a vane bucket, and a heater. The cover has an opening. The vane bucket is surrounded by the cover. The heater is on a sidewall of the cover and spaced apart from the droplet catcher.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a circuit substrate, a chip package, and a stiffener ring is provided. The chip package is disposed on and electrically connected to the circuit substrate, the chip package includes a pair of first parallel sides and a pair of second parallel sides shorter than the pair of first parallel sides. The stiffener ring is disposed on the circuit substrate, the stiffener ring includes first stiffener portions extending along a direction substantially parallel with the pair of first parallel sides and second stiffener portions extending along the direction substantially parallel with the pair of second parallel sides. The first stiffener portions are connected to the second stiffener portions, and the second stiffener portions is mechanically weaker than the first stiffener portions. A semiconductor device including stiffener lids is also provided.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to a package that may be attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). In an embodiment, a structure includes a package. The package includes one or more dies and metal pads on an exterior surface of the package. At least some of the metal pads are first solder ball pads. The structure further includes pins, and each of the pins is attached to a respective one of the metal pads.

Abstract: Electronic system level (ESL) design and verification of the present disclosure is utilized to provide an electronic simulation and modeling of function safety and fault management of an electronic device. A method for simulating a safety circuit includes providing an electronic architectural design to perform one or more functional behaviors of the electronic device in accordance with an electronic design specification. The method further includes modeling the safety circuit of the electronic architectural design and one or more other electronic circuits of the electronic architectural design that communicate with the safety circuit. The method further includes simulating, using the modeling, operation of the safety circuit while the electronic architectural design is performing the one or more functional behaviors. The method also includes determining whether the simulated operation of the safety circuit satisfies the electronic design specification.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a device layer, an interconnect layer over the device layer, a conductive pad over the interconnect layer, a conductive seed layer directly on the conductive pad, and a passivation layer encapsulating the conductive pad and the conductive seed layer. The conductive pad is between the interconnect layer and the conductive seed layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer over the substrate, and an interconnect layer over the first dielectric layer. The interconnect layer includes a plurality of metal lines and a second dielectric layer filling space between the plurality of metal lines. The plurality of metal lines includes a first metal line having a first bulk metal layer of a noble metal and a second metal line having a second bulk metal layer of a non-noble metal.

Abstract: A package includes a first die that includes a first metallization layer, one or more first bond pad vias on the first metallization layer, wherein a first barrier layer extends across the first metallization layer between each first bond pad via and the first metallization layer, and one or more first bond pads on the one or more first bond pad vias, wherein a second barrier layer extends across each first bond pad via between a first bond pad and the first bond pad via, and a second die including one or more second bond pads, wherein a second bond pad is bonded to a first bond pad of the first die.