Abstract: Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a gate stack of a NVM transistor in a NVM region of a substrate including the NVM region and a plurality of MOS regions; and depositing a high-k dielectric material over the gate stack of the NVM transistor and the plurality of MOS regions to concurrently form a blocking dielectric comprising the high-k dielectric material in the gate stack of the NVM transistor and high-k gate dielectrics in the plurality of MOS regions. In one embodiment, a first metal layer is deposited over the high-k dielectric material and patterned to concurrently form a metal gate over the gate stack of the NVM transistor, and a metal gate of a field effect transistor in one of the MOS regions.

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory bit cells that decouple source line layout from access transistor node size to facilitate reduced contact resistance are disclosed. In one example, an MTJ memory bit cell is provided that includes a source plate disposed above and in contact with a source contact for a source node of an access transistor. A source line is disposed above and in electrical contact with the source plate to electrically connect the source line to the source node. The source plate allows the source line to be provided in a higher metal level from the source and drain contacts of the access transistor such that the source line is not in physical contact with (i.e., decoupled from) the source contact. This allows pitch between the source line and drain column to be relaxed from the width of the source and drain nodes without having to increase contact resistance.

Abstract: A bonding structure including a first substrate, a second substrate, and an adhesive layer is provided. The first substrate has a plurality of first trenches. The adhesive layer is located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the first trenches are filled with the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a chip package includes providing a chip with a plurality of first bumps, wherein the plurality of first bumps has a first height. The method further includes providing a substrate with a plurality of second bumps, wherein the plurality of second bumps has a second height. The method further includes bonding the plurality of first bumps to the plurality of second bumps to form a first bump structure of the chip package, wherein the first bump structure has a standoff, wherein a ratio of a sum of the first height and the second height to the standoff is equal to or greater than about 0.6 and less than 1.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a plurality of trenches, including an emitter electrode; a floating layer of a first conduction type provided between adjacent trenches; and a low-dielectric-constant film provided between the floating layer and the emitter electrode, in which a dielectric constant of the low-dielectric-constant film is less than 3.9. Also provided is a semiconductor device further including a gate electrode formed in the trenches, in which capacitance between the gate electrode and the floating layer is greater than capacitance between the emitter electrode and the floating layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided including providing a semiconductor substrate with a semiconductor layer, forming a first gate electrode over the semiconductor layer, forming a second gate electrode over the semiconductor layer, forming a mask layer between the first and second gate electrodes, etching a cavity into the semiconductor layer between the first and second gate electrodes using the mask layer as an etching mask, and forming a semiconductor material in the etched cavities.

Abstract: The performance of a solid state image sensor which is formed by performing divided exposure that exposes the entire chip by a plurality of times of exposure and in which each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel array portion has a plurality of photodiodes is improved. In the divided exposure performed when the solid state image sensor is manufactured, a dividing line that divides an exposure region is defined to be located between a first photodiode and a second photodiode aligned in a first direction in an active region in a pixel and is defined to be along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Interconnect fuse structures including a fuse with a necked line segment, as well as methods of fabricating such structures. A current driven by an applied fuse programming voltage may open necked fuse segments to affect operation of an IC. In embodiments, the fuse structure includes a pair of neighboring interconnect lines equidistant from a center interconnect line. In further embodiments, the center interconnect line, and at least one of the neighboring interconnect lines, include line segments of lateral widths that differ by a same, and complementary amount. In further embodiments, the center interconnect line is interconnected at opposite ends of a necked line segment. In further embodiments, the necked line segment is fabricated with pitch-reducing spacer-based patterning process.

Abstract: Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a gate stack of a NVM transistor in a NVM region of a substrate including the NVM region and a plurality of MOS regions; and depositing a high-k dielectric material over the gate stack of the NVM transistor and the plurality of MOS regions to concurrently form a blocking dielectric comprising the high-k dielectric material in the gate stack of the NVM transistor and high-k gate dielectrics in the plurality of MOS regions. In one embodiment, a first metal layer is deposited over the high-k dielectric material and patterned to concurrently form a metal gate over the gate stack of the NVM transistor, and a metal gate of a field effect transistor in one of the MOS regions.

Abstract: Provided is a package structure including a substrate, N dies, N first pads, N vertical wires, and a second pad. The N dies are stacked alternatively on the substrate, so as to form a multi-die stack structure. The N dies include, from bottom to top, first to Nth dies, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. The first die is a bottom die, and the Nth die is a top die. The first pads are disposed on an active surface of the dies respectively. The vertical wires are disposed on the first pads respectively. The second pad is disposed on the top die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate, a semiconductor element mounted on the wiring substrate, a heat dissipation plate arranged on an upper surface of the semiconductor element with an adhesive arranged in between, and an encapsulation resin filling a gap between the heat dissipation plate and the wiring substrate. The heat dissipation plate includes a body and a projection. The body is overlapped with the semiconductor element in a plan view and has a larger planar shape than the semiconductor element. The projection is formed integrally with the body. The projection projects outward from an end of the body and is located below the body. The encapsulation resin covers upper and lower surfaces of the projection. The body includes an upper surface exposed from the encapsulation resin.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a silicon dioxide etch stop layer on and in contact with a source/drain region and adjacent silicon nitride sidewall spacers positioned on two laterally spaced-apart transistors having silicon dioxide gate cap layers, performing a first etching process through an opening in a layer of insulating material to remove the silicon nitride material positioned above the source/drain region, performing a second etching process to remove a portion of the silicon dioxide etch stop layer and thereby expose a portion of the source/drain region, and forming a conductive self-aligned contact that is conductively coupled to the source/drain region.

Abstract: A method for fabricating isolation device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) in the substrate, the STI includes a first STI and a second STI, and the first STI surrounds a first device region and the second STI surrounds a second device region; forming a first doped region between and contact the first STI and the second STI; and forming a first gate structure on the first doped region, the first STI and the second STI.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes alternately stacked conductive layers and the insulating layers, an opening passing through the conductive layers and insulating layers, a first semiconductor layer formed in the opening, a second semiconductor layer formed in the first semiconductor layer, a capping layer formed in the opening and disposed over the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and a liner layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and protruding through the capping layer relative to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a first fin and a second fin extending upward from a substrate major surface to a first height, forming an insulation layer comprising a top surface extending upward from the substrate major surface to a second height less than the first height, selectively forming a bulbous epitaxial layer covering a portion of each fin, annealing the substrate to convert at least a portion of the bulbous epitaxial layer to silicide and depositing a metal layer at least in the cavity. The first fin and the second fin are adjacent. A portion of the first fin and a portion of the second fin extend beyond the top surface of the insulation layer. The bulbous epitaxial layer defines an hourglass shaped cavity between adjacent fins.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate containing a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged into a pixel array. A color filter layer including a plurality of color filter segments is disposed above the photoelectric conversion elements. A partition grid includes a plurality of partitions, and each of the partitions is disposed between two adjacent color filter segments. The color filter layer and the partition grid are disposed in the same layer. In addition, the partitions include a first partition disposed at a center line of the pixel array and a second partition disposed at an edge of the pixel array. The second partition has a top width that is larger than the top width of the first partition.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a junction field effect transistor having a channel region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, deeper than one of a source region and a drain region, the method includes a first step of forming a first mask having a first opening portion over the semiconductor substrate in which a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type is disposed, a second step of forming a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type defined as the channel region, in the first semiconductor region by implantation of ions of second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type using the first mask, and a third step of forming a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type defined as the one of the source region and the drain region, by implantation of ions of the second conductivity type, using the first mask.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a display device, an optical mask, and a method for manufacturing a display device using the same. The display device including: a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; a first insulating layer disposed on the thin film transistor; and a light blocking member disposed on the first insulating layer. The light blocking member includes a spacer for maintaining a cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate and a main light blocking portion having an upper surface that is lower than an upper surface of the spacer, and the light blocking member further includes a furrow at a border between the spacer and the main light blocking portion, the furrow having a surface lower than the upper surface of the main light blocking portion.

Abstract: An integrated circuit wafer and fabrication method includes a probe pad structure in saw lanes between integrated circuits. The probe pad structure includes a probe pad with a plurality of pad segments. The pad segments are elements of an interconnect level of the wafer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a plug, a variable resistance film provided on the plug, and an electrode provided on the variable resistance film. The variable resistance film includes, a first portion having a superlattice structure, and a second portion having an amorphous structure.