Abstract: A ferromagnetic layer is capped with a metallic oxide (or nitride) layer that provides a perpendicular-to-plane magnetic anisotropy to the layer. The surface of the ferromagnetic layer is treated with a plasma to prevent diffusion of oxygen (or nitrogen) into the layer interior. An exemplary metallic oxide layer is formed as a layer of metallic Mg that is plasma treated to reduce its grain size and enhance the diffusivity of oxygen into its interior. Then the plasma treated Mg layer is naturally oxidized and, optionally, is again plasma treated to reduce its thickness and remove the oxygen rich upper surface.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer, forming a first trench and a second trench through in the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, wherein a width of the second trench is different from a width of the first trench, forming a dielectric region in the first trench and forming a first gate region in the first trench and over the dielectric region, and a second gate region in the second trench.

Abstract: A tracking voltage generator, the latter including: a first transistor having a first leakage current and which is coupled with the flipped gate transistor so that a difference between a gate-source voltage (Vgs) of a flipped gate transistor and the first transistor is approximately equal to a bandgap voltage of a semiconductor material from which the tracking voltage generator is formed; an output node providing a tracking voltage which has a positive or negative temperature dependency based on the flipped gate transistor and the first transistor; and a second transistor connected to the output node and which has a second leakage current. A current reference includes: the tracking voltage generator; an amplifier to receive the tracking voltage and output an amplified signal; a control transistor to receive the amplified signal and conduct a reference current therethrough; and a control resistor connected in series with the control transistor.

Abstract: A frequency generator is disclosed. The frequency generator is for generating an oscillator clock according to a reference clock, and the frequency generator is used in a frequency hopping system that switches a carrier frequency among a plurality of channels, and the carrier frequency further carries a modulation frequency for data transmission. The frequency generator includes: a frequency hopping and modulation control unit, arranged for generating a current channel according to a channel hopping sequence and a frequency command word (FCW) based on the reference clock, a digital-controlled oscillator (DCO), arranged for to generating the oscillator clock according to an oscillator tuning word (OTW) Obtained according to the estimated DCO normalization value. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An interface device and an interface method for interfacing between a master device and a slave device is provided. The master device generates command and the slave device generates data according to the command. The interface device includes a master interface and a slave interface. The master interface is coupled to the master device and configured to send the command to the slave device and/or receive the data from the slave device. The slave interface is coupled to the slave device and configured to receive the command from the master device and/or send the data to the master device. The master interface and the slave interface are driven by a clock generated by a clock generator. The master interface and the slave interface are electrically connected by one or plurality of bonds and/or TSVs.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing are provided. In an embodiment a first nucleation layer is formed within an opening for a gate-last process. The first nucleation layer is treated in order to remove undesired oxygen by exposing the first nucleation layer to a precursor that reacts with the oxygen to form a gas. A second nucleation layer is then formed, and a remainder of the opening is filled with a bulk conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated device includes: providing a first via pillar file specifying a first via pillar; providing a second via pillar file specifying a second via pillar; arranging, by a processor, the first via pillar to electrically connect to a circuit cell in a first circuit; arranging an interconnecting path for electrical connection of the first via pillar to another circuit cell in the first circuit; arranging, by the processor, the second via pillar to replace the first via pillar when the first via pillar induces an electromigration (EM) phenomenon; re-routing the interconnecting path with replacement of the first via pillar to generate a second circuit when the first via pillar induces the EM phenomenon; and generating the integrated device according to the second circuit.

Abstract: A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell includes a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to, and parallel to, the first boundary, a first and a second pull-up transistor, a first and a second pull-down transistor forming cross-latched inverters with the first and the second pull-up transistors, and a first and a second pass-gate transistor. Each of the first and the second pull-up transistors, the first and the second pull-down transistors, and the first and the second pass-gate transistors includes a bottom plate as a first source/drain region, a channel over the bottom plate, and a top plate over the channel as a second source/drain region. The SRAM cell further includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth active region, each extending from the first boundary to the second boundary.

Abstract: A chip package including a first semiconductor die, conductive pillars, a dielectric structure, a second semiconductor die and insulating encapsulant is provided. The first semiconductor die includes a top surface having a first region and a second region. The conductive pillars are disposed over the second region of the first semiconductor die. The dielectric structure includes a first support portion disposed on the first region of the semiconductor die, and a second support portion physically separated from the first semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die is stacked over the first support portion and the second support portion, and is electrically connected to the first semiconductor die through the conductive pillars. The insulating encapsulant encapsulates the first semiconductor die, the second semiconductor die, the dielectric structure and the conductive pillars.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first dielectric layer over a front side of a wafer, the wafer having a plurality of dies at the front side of the wafer, the first dielectric layer having a first shrinkage ratio smaller than a first pre-determined threshold; curing the first dielectric layer at a first temperature, where after curing the first dielectric layer, a first distance between a highest point of an upper surface of the first dielectric layer and a lowest point of the upper surface of the first dielectric layer is smaller than a second pre-determined threshold; thinning the wafer from a backside of the wafer; and performing a dicing process to separate the plurality of dies into individual dies.

Abstract: A system (including a processor and memory with computer program code) configured to execute a method which includes generating a layout diagram including: generating first and second active area patterns on opposite sides of (and having long axes parallel to) a first symmetry axis; generating non-overlapping first, second and third conductive patterns (having long axes perpendicular to the first symmetry axis) which overlap the first and second active area patterns; centering the first conductive pattern between the second and third conductive patterns; generating a first cut-pattern for, and which overlaps, central regions of the second and third conductive patterns; centering the first cut-pattern relative to the first symmetry axis; generating a fourth conductive pattern over an area bounded by the first cut-pattern; and expanding the fourth conductive pattern to substantially overlap a portion of the first conductive pattern and a portion of the second or third conductive patterns.

Abstract: An IC device includes an anti-fuse device including a dielectric layer between a first gate structure and an active area, a first transistor including a second gate structure overlying the active area, and a second transistor including a third gate structure overlying the active area. The first gate structure is between the second gate structure and the third gate structure.

Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing a first arrangement of metal lines in a circuit layout into two sets of metal lines, a first set of metal lines in a peripheral area, and a second set of metal lines in a center area. The arrangement of metal lines is configured to electrically connect to contacts of a second layer of the circuit layout. The method includes adjusting a metal line perimeter of at least one metal line in the center area to make a second arrangement of metal lines, where each adjusted metal line perimeter is separated from contacts in the second layer of the integrated circuit layout by at least a check distance. Metal line material is deposited into a set of openings in a dielectric layer of the integrated circuit, the set of openings corresponding to the second arrangement of metal lines.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: an integrated circuit die; a through via adjacent the integrated circuit die; a molding compound encapsulating the integrated circuit die and the through via; and a redistribution structure including: a first conductive via extending through a first dielectric layer, the first conductive via electrically connected to the integrated circuit die, the first dielectric layer being over the integrated circuit die, the through via, and the molding compound; and a first conductive line over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive via, the first conductive via extending into the first conductive line.

Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram) includes generating a cell, representing at least part of a circuit in a semiconductor device, which is arranged at least in part according to second tracks of the M_2nd level (M_2nd tracks), and first tracks of the M_1st level (M_1st tracks). The generating the cell includes: selecting, based on a chosen site for the cell in the layout diagram, one of the M_2nd tracks; generating a first M_2nd pin pattern representing an output pin of the circuit; arranging a long axis of the first pin pattern substantially along the selected M_2nd track; generating second, third, fourth and fifth M_1st pin patterns representing corresponding input pins of the circuit; and arranging long axes of the second to fifth pin patterns substantially along corresponding ones of the M_1st tracks.

Abstract: A method includes forming an interposer, which includes a semiconductor substrate, and an interconnect structure over the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes bonding a device die to the interposer, so that a first metal pad in the interposer is bonded to a second metal pad in the device die, and a first surface dielectric layer in the interposer is bonded to a second surface dielectric layer in the device die. The method further includes encapsulating the device die in an encapsulating material, forming conductive features over and electrically coupling to the device die, and removing the semiconductor substrate. A part of the interposer, the device die, and portions of the conductive features in combination form a package.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a sense amplifier; a branched line selectively connectable to the sense amplifier; a recycling arrangement selectively connectable to the branched line; an array of memory cells; an array of bit lines connected to corresponding memory cells in the array of memory cells; a multiplexer configured to selectively connect the branched line to a selected one in the array of memory cells through a corresponding line amongst the array of bit lines; and a controller configured to control the recycling arrangement and the multiplexer to perform intra-sense-amplifier recycling of a gleaned amount of charge (gleaned charge) recovered from a first read operation to a second read operation.

Abstract: Provided is a package including a die, a redistribution layer (RDL) structure, and a plurality of conductive connectors. The RDL structure includes a dielectric layer, a conductive feature, and a protective layer. The conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the die. The protective layer is disposed between the dielectric layer and the conductive feature. The protective layer, the dielectric layer, and the conductive feature have different materials. The plurality of conductive connectors are electrically connected to the die through the RDL structure.

Abstract: A memory macro includes a first memory cell array, a first tracking circuit, a first and a second transistor. The first tracking circuit includes a first set of memory cells configured as a first set of loading cells responsive to a first control signal, a second set of memory cells configured as a first set of pull-down cells responsive to a second control signal, and a first tracking bit line extending over the first tracking circuit. The second control signal is inverted from the first control signal. At least the first set of pull-down cells or the first set of loading cells is configured to track a memory cell of the first memory cell array. The first and second transistor are coupled to the first tracking bit line, and are configured to charge the first tracking bit line to a pre-charge voltage level responsive to a third control signal.

Abstract: An optical transceiver including a photonic integrated circuit component, an electric integrated circuit component and an insulating encapsulant is provided. The photonic integrated circuit component includes at least one optical input/output portion and at least one groove located in proximity of the at least one optical input/output portion. The electric integrated circuit component is disposed on and electrically connected to the photonic integrated circuit component. The insulating encapsulant is disposed on the photonic integrated circuit component and laterally encapsulating the electric integrated circuit component. The at least one groove of the photonic integrated circuit component is revealed by the insulating encapsulant and is adapted for insertion of a photonic device.