Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell. The method forms a bottom electrode over a bottom electrode via. The method further forms a variable resistive dielectric layer over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode over the variable resistive dielectric layer. The method forms a top electrode via vertically extending outward from an upper surface of the top electrode at a position centered along a first axis that is laterally offset from a second axis centered upon the bottom electrode via. The top electrode via has a smaller width than the top electrode. Laterally offsetting the top electrode via from the bottom electrode via provides the top electrode via with good contact resistance.

Abstract: A method of density-controlled floorplan design for integrated circuits having a plurality of blocks includes positioning decoupling capacitor (DCAP) cells at least partially around a pattern density sensitive block. The method also includes changing at least a portion of a pattern density insensitive block adjacent to the pattern density sensitive block according to at least one pattern density rule.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitive sensor having a back-plate, wherein the back-plate forms a first capacitor plate of the capacitive sensor. The back-plate is a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive membrane is spaced apart from the semiconductor substrate by an air-gap. A capacitance of the capacitive sensor is configured to change in response to a movement of the polysilicon membrane.

Abstract: A planarization method is provided. The planarization method includes providing a wafer, in which the wafer includes a work function layer, a surface layer formed on the work function layer and oxidized from the work function layer, and a planarization layer disposed on or above the surface layer, performing a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process on the planarization layer, providing an incident light to a surface of the wafer under the CMP process, detecting absorption of the incident light by the surface layer; and stopping the CMP process in response to an increase in the detected absorption of the incident light.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing semiconductor substrates provides a substrate stage being a rotatable disc with a solid surface and a terraced edge with upper, intermediate and lower portions of increasing diameter. A hollow edge ring rests on the intermediate edge portion and a substrate disposed on the rotatable disc is lifted and transported by robot blades positioned beneath the edge ring and which lift the edge ring which holds the substrate around its edges. The rotatable disc and edge ring find application in MOCVD and other semiconductor manufacturing tools.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming an image sensor device are provided. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate and one photodetector formed in the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor device also includes one gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes multiple polysilicon layers.

Abstract: A package includes a package substrate, which includes a middle layer selected from the group consisting of a core and a middle metal layer, a top metal layer overlying the middle layer, and a bottom metal layer underlying the middle layer. All metal layers overlying the middle layer have a first total metal density that is equal to a sum of all densities of all metal layers over the middle layer. All metal layers underlying the middle layer have a second total metal density that is equal to a sum of all densities of all metal layers under the middle layer. An absolute value of a difference between the first total metal density and the second total metal density is lower than about 0.1.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and a method of forming the interconnect structure are provided. Two wafers (and/or dies) are bonded together. A multi-via interconnect structure is formed extending from a backside of a first substrate to interconnect structures in the metallization layers on the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit. The multi-via interconnect structure may be formed by thinning a first substrate of a first wafer and forming a first opening through the first substrate. A second opening extends from the first opening to a first interconnect structure on the first wafer, and a third opening extends from the first interconnect structure on the first wafer to a second interconnect structure on the second wafer. The first, second, and third openings are filled with a conductive material, thereby forming a multi-via interconnect structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to method of forming a MIM (metal-insulator-metal) structure having a buffer cap layer that reduces stress induced by an overlying stress-inducing protective layer, and an associated apparatus. The method is performed by forming a lower conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the lower conductive layer, and forming an upper conductive layer over the dielectric layer. A buffer cap layer is formed over the upper conductive layer and a stress-inducing protective layer is formed onto the buffer cap layer. The buffer cap layer reduces a stress induced onto the upper conductive layer by the stress-inducing protective layer, thereby reducing leakage current between the lower and upper conductive layers.

Abstract: A package includes an interposer, which includes a first substrate free from through-vias therein, redistribution lines over the first substrate, and a first plurality of connectors over and electrically coupled to the redistribution lines. A first die is over and bonded to the first plurality of connectors. The first die includes a second substrate, and through-vias in the second substrate. A second die is over and bonded to the plurality of connectors. The first die and the second die are electrically coupled to each other through the redistribution lines. A second plurality of connectors is over the first die and the second die. The second plurality of connectors is electrically coupled to the first plurality of connectors through the through-vias in the second substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for reducing CMP dishing in integrated circuits. In some embodiments, the structure has a semiconductor substrate with an embedded memory region and a periphery region. one or more dummy structures are formed between the memory region and the periphery region. Placement of the dummy structures between the embedded memory region and the periphery region causes the surface of a deposition layer therebetween to become more planar after being polished without resulting in a dishing effect. The reduced recess reduces metal residue formation and thus leakage and shorting of current due to metal residue. Further, less dishing will reduce the polysilicon loss of active devices. In some embodiments, one of the dummy structures is formed with an angled sidewall which eliminates the need for a boundary cut etch process.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) which includes a heterojunction structure arranged over a semiconductor substrate. The heterojunction structure includes a binary III/V semiconductor layer made of a first III-nitride material to act as a channel region of the e-HEMT, and a ternary III/V semiconductor layer arranged over the binary III/V semiconductor layer and made of a second III-nitride material to act as a barrier layer. Source and drain regions are arranged over the ternary III/V semiconductor layer and are spaced apart laterally from one another. A gate structure is arranged over the heterojunction structure and is arranged between the source and drain regions. The gate structure is made of a third III-nitride material. A first passivation layer is disposed about sidewalls of the gate structure and is made of a fourth III-nitride material.

Abstract: Various source/drain stressors that can enhance carrier mobility, and methods for manufacturing the same, are disclosed. An exemplary source/drain stressor includes a seed layer of a first material disposed over a substrate of a second material, the first material being different than the second material; a relaxed epitaxial layer disposed over the seed layer; and an epitaxial layer disposed over the relaxed epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes an isolation structure formed around the fin structure and a gate structure formed across the fin structure. In addition, the gate structure includes a first portion formed over the fin structure and a second portion formed over the isolation structure, and the second portion of the gate structure includes an extending portion extending into the isolation structure.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a first gate stack and a second gate stack over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first doped structure over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the first gate stack. The first doped structure includes a III-V compound semiconductor material and a dopant. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second doped structure over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the second gate stack. The second doped structure includes the III-V compound semiconductor material and the dopant. One of the first doped structure and the second doped structure is an n-type semiconductor structure, and the other one of the first doped structure and the second doped structure is a p-type semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a gate structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure formed in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure further includes an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the substrate to cover the gate structure, the first source/drain structure, and the second source/drain structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a first conductive structure formed in the interlayer dielectric layer over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a second conductive structure formed in the interlayer dielectric layer over the second source/drain structure.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a semiconductor alloy layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the semiconductor alloy layer, forming source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate structure, removing at least a portion of the semiconductor alloy layer overlying the source and drain regions, and forming a metal silicide region over the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a first trench between a first active region and a second active region of the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation structure in the first trench. The isolation structure includes a liner layer, an insulating layer, and an isolation layer. The liner layer covers an inner wall and a bottom surface of the first trench. The insulating layer covers the liner layer and has a second trench in the first trench. The isolation layer is over the insulating layer and fills the second trench. A first thickness of the insulating layer is greater than a second thickness of the liner layer.

Abstract: A method comprises: accessing data representing a layout of a layer of an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a plurality of polygons defining circuit patterns to be divided among a number (N) of photomasks for multi-patterning a single layer of a semiconductor substrate, where N is greater than one. For each set of N parallel polygons in the layout closer to each other than a minimum separation for patterning with a single photomask, at least N?1 stitches are inserted in each polygon within that set to divide each polygon into at least N parts, such that adjacent parts of different polygons are assigned to different photomasks from each other. Data representing assignment of each of the parts in each set to respective photomasks are stored in a non-transitory, computer readable storage medium that is accessible for use in a process to fabricate the N photomasks.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a fin structure over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a gate stack over a portion of the fin structure, and the fin structure includes an intermediate portion under the gate stack and upper portions besides the intermediate portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact layer over the fin structure. The contact layer includes a metal material, and the upper portions of the fin structure also include the metal material.