Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, an isolation feature disposed on the substrate and on sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins, a gate structure disposed on the isolation feature. The semiconductor device also includes a dielectric fin disposed on the isolation feature and sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor fins. A middle portion of the dielectric fin separates the gate structure into a first gate structure segment engaging the first semiconductor fin and a second gate structure segment engaging the second semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate structure includes forming a trench within an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD) that is disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the trench exposing a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming an interfacial layer at a bottom of the trench, forming a dielectric layer within the trench, forming a work function metal layer on the dielectric layer, forming an in-situ nitride layer on the work function metal layer in the trench, performing a first cobalt deposition process to form a cobalt layer within the trench, performing a second cobalt deposition process to increase a thickness of the cobalt layer within the trench, and performing an electrochemical plating (ECP) process to fill the trench with cobalt.

Abstract: A method of operating a semiconductor apparatus includes generating an air flow that flows from a covering structure; causing a photomask to move over the covering structure such that particles attached to the photomask are blown away from the photomask by the air flow; and irradiating the photomask with light through a light transmission region of the covering structure.

Abstract: A probe card includes a circuit board, a fixing member, and a plurality of probes. The fixing member is fixed on the circuit board and has a through opening therein. The fixing member has opposite first and second sidewalls defining the through opening. Each of the probes includes an arm portion and a tip portion. One end of the arm portion is connected to the circuit board. The tip portion extends from the arm portion. The arm portions of the probes extend in substantially a same direction inclined to a direction perpendicular to the first sidewall of the fixing member in a top view.

Abstract: A mask layout containing a non-Manhattan pattern is received. The received mask layout is processed. An edge of the non-Manhattan pattern is identified. A plurality of two-dimensional kernels is generated based on processed pre-selected mask layout samples. The two-dimensional kernels each have a respective rotational symmetry. The two-dimensional kernels are applied to the edge of the non-Manhattan pattern to obtain a correction field for the non-Manhattan pattern. A thin mask model is applied to the non-Manhattan pattern. The thin mask model contains a binary modeling of the non-Manhattan pattern. A near field of the non-Manhattan pattern is determined by applying the correction field to the non-Manhattan pattern having the thin mask model applied thereon. An optical model is applied to the near field to obtain an aerial image on a wafer. A resist model is applied to the aerial image to obtain a final resist image on the wafer.

Abstract: An ion collector includes a plurality of segments and a plurality of integrators. The plurality of segments are physically separated from one another and spaced around a substrate support. Each of the segments includes a conductive element that is designed to conduct a current based on ions received from a plasma. Each of the plurality of integrators is coupled to a corresponding conductive element. Each of the plurality of integrators is designed to determine an ion distribution for a corresponding conductive element based, at least in part, on the current conducted at the corresponding conductive element. An example benefit of this embodiment includes the ability to determine how uniform the ion distribution is across a wafer being processed by the plasma.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating an integrated circuit (IC). The method includes receiving an IC layout having a first pattern layer that includes first source/drain (S/D) contacts and second S/D contacts, the first and second S/D contacts are spaced away from each other by a spacing along a first direction, and each of the first and second S/D contacts have elongated shapes extending lengthwise in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes constructing a conductive feature on a second pattern layer of the IC layout, the conductive feature having an initial rectangular shape with a length and a width, the length extending along the first direction. And the method includes modifying the conductive feature to form a modified conductive feature that is overlapped with the first S/D contacts and distanced away from the second S/D contacts.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first lithography process using a first pattern of a first photomask to form a first photoresist pattern on a front side of a device substrate; performing a first implantation process using the first pattern as a mask to form first isolation regions in the device substrate; after performing the first implantation process, performing a second lithography process using a second pattern of a second photomask to form a second photoresist pattern on the front side of the device substrate, the second pattern being shifted from the first pattern by a distance less than the first pitch and in the first direction; performing a second implantation process using the second photoresist pattern as a mask to form second isolation regions in the device substrate and spaced apart from the first isolation regions; and forming pixels between the first and second isolation regions.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a semiconductor feature over a substrate, the semiconductor feature includes a conductive region; forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor feature; patterning the dielectric layer to form a contact opening exposing a top surface of the conductive region; forming a monolayer over the dielectric layer, the top surface of the conductive region remaining exposed; and depositing a conductive material in the contact opening.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes depositing a germanium layer over a silicon substrate; forming an oxide capping layer over the germanium layer; after forming the oxide capping layer, annealing the germanium layer to diffuse germanium atoms of the germanium layer into the silicon substrate, such that a portion of the silicon substrate is turned into a silicon germanium layer; and forming a gate structure over the silicon germanium layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a power rail, a first source/drain feature disposed over the power rail, a via connecting the power rail to the first source/drain feature; an isolation feature disposed over the first source/drain feature, and a second source/drain feature disposed over the isolation feature, where the first and the second source/drain features are of opposite conductivity types.

Abstract: A method for processing an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of transistors. The method utilizes a reversed tone patterning process to selectively drive dipoles into the gate dielectric layers of some of the transistors while preventing dipoles from entering the gate dielectric layers of other transistors. This process can be repeated to produce a plurality of transistors each having different threshold voltages.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device layer, a semiconductor layer, a sensor element, a dielectric layer, a color filter layer, and a micro-lens. The semiconductor layer is over the device layer. The semiconductor layer has a plurality of microstructures thereon. Each of the microstructures has a substantially triangular cross-section. The sensor element is under the microstructures of the semiconductor layer and is configured to sense incident light. The dielectric layer is over the microstructures of the semiconductor layer. The color filter layer is over the dielectric layer. The micro-lens is over the color filter layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a plurality of fins adjacent to a substrate, the plurality of fins comprising a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin; forming a first insulation material adjacent to the plurality of fins; reducing a thickness of the first insulation material; after reducing the thickness of the first insulation material, forming a second insulation material adjacent to the first insulation material and the plurality of fins; and recessing the first insulation material and the second insulation material to form a first shallow trench isolation (STI) region.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first metallization layer over a substrate, the substrate including active devices; a first bit line over the first metallization layer, the first bit line connected to first interconnects of the first metallization layer, the first bit line extending in a first direction, the first direction parallel to gates of the active devices; a first phase-change random access memory (PCRAM) cell over the first bit line; a word line over the first PCRAM cell, the word line extending in a second direction, the second direction perpendicular to the gates of the active devices; and a second metallization layer over the word line, the word line connected to second interconnects of the second metallization layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer. A gate structure is disposed over the semiconductor layer. A spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure. A height of the spacer is greater than a height of the gate structure. A liner is disposed on the gate structure and on the spacer. The spacer and the liner have different material compositions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor fin protruding from a substrate, an S/D feature disposed over the semiconductor fin, and a first dielectric fin and a second dielectric fin disposed over the substrate, where the semiconductor fin is disposed between the first dielectric fin and the second dielectric fin, where a first air gap is enclosed by a first sidewall of the epitaxial S/D feature and the first dielectric fin, and where a second air gap is enclosed by a second sidewall of the epitaxial S/D feature and the second dielectric fin.

Abstract: Techniques in accordance with embodiments described herein are directed to semiconductor devices including a layer of aluminum nitride AlN or aluminum gallium nitride AlGaN as a ferroelectric layer and a method of making a thin film of AlN/AlGaN that possesses ferroelectric properties. In a ferroelectric transistor, a thin film of AlN/AlGaN that exhibits ferroelectric properties is formed between a gate electrode and a second semiconductor layer, e.g., of GaN.

Abstract: Embodiments include packages and methods for forming packages which include interposers having a substrate made of a dielectric material. The interposers may also include a redistribution structure over the substrate which includes metallization patterns which are stitched together in a patterning process which includes multiple lateral overlapping patterning exposures.

Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench and a semiconductor strip. A sidewall of the semiconductor strip is exposed to the trench. The method further includes depositing a silicon-containing layer extending into the trench, wherein the silicon-containing layer extends on the sidewall of the semiconductor strip, filling the trench with a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric material is on a sidewall of the silicon-containing layer, and oxidizing the silicon-containing layer to form a liner. The liner comprises oxidized silicon. The liner and the dielectric material form parts of an isolation region. The isolation region is recessed, so that a portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than a top surface of the isolation region and forms a semiconductor fin.