Abstract: A method for fabricating an advanced metal conductor structure is described. A pattern in a dielectric layer is provided. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is created over the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is deposited over the adhesion promoting layer. Using a physical vapor deposition process, a cobalt layer is deposited over the ruthenium layer. A thermal anneal is performed which reflows the cobalt layer to fill the set of features to form a set of metal conductor structures. In another aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit device is formed using the method.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an advanced metal conductor structure is described. A pattern in a dielectric layer is provided. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is created over the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is deposited over the adhesion promoting layer. Using a physical vapor deposition process, a cobalt layer is deposited over the ruthenium layer. A thermal anneal is performed which reflows the cobalt layer to fill the set of features to form a set of metal conductor structures. In another aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit device is formed using the method.

Abstract: A package structure includes an encapsulant, an active component, a first lead frame segment, and a second lead frame segment. The active component is encapsulated within the encapsulant and includes first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes are respectively disposed on and electrically connected to the first and second lead frame segments. The first and second lead frame segments respectively have first and second exposed surfaces. The first exposed surface and the first electrode are respectively located on opposite sides of the first lead frame segment. The second exposed surface and the second electrode are respectively located on opposite sides of the second lead frame segment. The first and second exposed surfaces are exposed outside the encapsulant. A minimal distance from the first electrode to the second electrode is less than a minimal distance from the first exposed surface to the second exposed surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion element, a first isolation insulating film, and a current blocking region. The first isolation insulating film is formed around the photoelectric conversion element. The current blocking region is formed in a region between the photoelectric conversion element and the first isolation insulating film. The current blocking region includes an impurity diffusion layer, and a defect extension preventing layer disposed in contact with the impurity diffusion layer to form a twin with the impurity diffusion layer. The defect extension preventing layer has a different crystal structure from that of the impurity diffusion layer. At least a part of the current blocking region is disposed in contact with the first isolation insulating film.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit (FIG. 3C) is disclosed. The circuit includes a bipolar transistor (304) having a base, collector, and emitter. Each of a plurality of diodes (308-316) has a first terminal coupled to the base and a second terminal coupled to the collector. The collector is connected to a first terminal (V+). The emitter is connected to a first power supply terminal (V?).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a capacitive micro- machined transducer (100), in particular a CMUT, the method comprising depositing a first electrode layer (10) on a substrate (1), depositing a first dielectric film (20) on the first electrode layer (10), depositing a sacrificial layer (30) on the first dielectric film (20), the sacrificial layer (30) being removable for forming a cavity (35) of the transducer, depositing a second dielectric film (40) on the sacrificial layer (30), depositing a second electrode layer (50) on the second dielectric film (40), and patterning at least one of the deposited layers and films (10, 20, 30, 40, 50), wherein the depositing steps are performed by Atomic Layer Deposition. The present invention further relates to a capacitive micro-machined transducer (100), in particular a CMUT, manufactured by such method.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolation structure and a manufacturing method thereof for a high-voltage device in a high-voltage BCD process, the isolation structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first type of doping; an epitaxial layer having a second type of doping over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first type of doping is opposite to the second type of doping; an isolation region having the first type of doping, wherein the isolation region extends through the epitaxial layer into the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the isolation region has a doping concentration on the same order as a doping concentration of the epitaxial layer; a field oxide layer over the isolation region. This invention effectively isolates the epitaxial island where the BCD high-voltage device is located, thereby increasing the breakdown voltage of the high-voltage device in the BCD process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the embodiment includes an SiC layer of 4H—SiC structure having a surface inclined at an angle from 0 degree to 30 degrees relative to {11-20} face or {1-100} face, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film provided between the surface and the gate electrode, a n-type first SiC region provided in the SiC layer, a n-type second SiC region provided in the SiC layer, a channel forming region provided in the SiC layer between the first SiC region and the second SiC region, the channel forming region provided adjacent to the surface, and the channel forming region having a direction inclined at an angle from 60 degrees to 90 degrees relative to a <0001> direction or a <000-1> direction.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first inter-layer dielectric layer formed over a front side of a substrate including photoelectric conversion regions; isolation structures each of which penetrates through the first inter-layer dielectric layer and has a portion buried in the substrate; first metal lines formed over the first inter-layer dielectric layer to correspond to the photoelectric conversion regions; and an optical filter and a light condenser formed over a back side of the substrate.

Abstract: To reduce parasitic capacitance in a semiconductor device having a transistor including an oxide semiconductor. The transistor includes a first gate electrode, a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film over the first gate insulating film, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film includes a first oxide semiconductor film on the first gate electrode side and a second oxide semiconductor film over the first oxide semiconductor film. The atomic proportion of In is larger than the atomic proportion of M (M is Ti, Ga, Sn, Y, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, or Hf) in the first oxide semiconductor film, and the atomic proportion of In in the second oxide semiconductor film is smaller than that in the first oxide semiconductor film.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an interconnect structure, including a substrate, a first conductive feature over the substrate, a second conductive feature over the first conductive feature, and a dielectric layer surrounding the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. A width of the first conductive feature and a width of the second conductive feature are between 10 nm and 50 nm. The present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing an interconnect structure, including (1) forming a via opening and a line trench in a dielectric layer, (2) forming a 1-dimensional conductive feature in the via opening, (3) forming a conformal catalyst layer over a sidewall of the line trench, a bottom of the line trench, and a top of the 1-dimensional conductive feature, and (4) removing the conformal catalyst layer from the bottom of the line trench and the top of the 1-dimensional conductive feature.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor structure includes: a substrate; a multilayer wire structure, disposed on the substrate to form a passive sensing circuit; and a semiconductor chip, formed thereon a control circuit, fixedly mounted on a surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the multilayer wire structure.

Abstract: A structure having: a plurality of field effect transistors (FETs) connected between a common input and a common output, each one of the field effect transistors comprises: a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode for controlling carriers through a channel region of a transistor region of the structure between the source region and the drain region; a plurality of diodes, each one of the diodes being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of FETs, each one of the diodes having an electrode in Schottky contact with a diode region of the corresponding one of the FETs. The gate electrode and the diode electrode extend along parallel lines. The source region, the drain region, the channel region, and a diode region having therein the diode are disposed along a common line.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor package includes a first substrate, first conductive layers, first semiconductor chips, a second conductive layer, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The first substrate has a first surface. The first conductive layers are provided on the first surface. Each of the first semiconductor chips includes a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first conductive layers is connected to at least one of the first electrodes. The second conductive layer is provided on the first surface to be separated from the first conductive layers. The second conductive layer is connected to a plurality of the second electrodes. The first terminal is connected to the first conductive layers. Inductances between the first extension unit and each of the first conductive layers are substantially equal to each other. The second terminal is connected to the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a drift region extending from a first surface into a semiconductor portion. A body region between two portions of the drift region forms a first pn junction with the drift region. A source region forms a second pn junction with the body region. The pn junctions include sections perpendicular to the first surface. Gate structures extend into the body regions and include a gate electrode. Field plate structures extend into the drift region and include a field electrode separated from the gate electrode. A gate shielding structure is configured to reduce a capacitive coupling between the gate structures and a backplate electrode directly adjoining a second surface.

Abstract: A memory device may include a memory unit having multiple channel structures connected to a common source and drain in parallel. The memory unit can include floating gate structures including control gates connected to word lines and charge trap layers to store charge to form tiered floating gate memory cells. In some embodiments, rows and columns of memory units can be connected to form a three dimensional memory device. A method of fabricating a memory unit having tiered channel structures utilizing common source and drain elements and 3D memory device utilizing rows and columns of memory units having multiple channel structures connected to the common source and drain elements in parallel is disclosed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thin-film transistor and a method of manufacturing the thin-film transistor provided herein achieve enhanced reliability by preventing a disconnection in a gate insulating film at a position corresponding to an end surface of an oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes a channel region, a source region, and a drain region. The channel region is placed between the source region and the drain region. The gate insulating film covers the oxide semiconductor layer in a range from at least a part of an upper surface to an end surface continuous with the upper surface of the oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer is formed so as to have an oxygen concentration that becomes lower from a top side to a bottom side and the end surface is inclined so as to diverge from the top side to the bottom side.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming dislocations in source and drain regions of finFET devices are provided. The mechanisms involve recessing fins and removing the dielectric material in the isolation structures neighboring fins to increase epitaxial regions for dislocation formation. The mechanisms also involve performing a pre-amorphous implantation (PAI) process either before or after the epitaxial growth in the recessed source and drain regions. An anneal process after the PAI process enables consistent growth of the dislocations in the source and drain regions. The dislocations in the source and drain regions (or stressor regions) can form consistently to produce targeted strain in the source and drain regions to improve carrier mobility and device performance for NMOS devices.

Abstract: This invention relates to field photodiodes based on PN junctions that suffer from dark current leakage. An NBL is added to prove a second PN junction with the anode. The second PN junction is reversed biased in order to remove dark current leakage. The present solution requires no additional masks or thin films steps relative to a conventional CMOS process flow.

Abstract: A thin film transistor and its manufacturing method, an array substrate and its manufacturing method, and a display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, an active layer and a gate insulation layer. The gate insulation layer is provided above the active layer, the gate, the source electrode and the drain electrode are provided on a same layer above the gate insulation layer, the active layer and the source electrode are connected through a first connection electrode, and the active layer and the drain electrode are connected through a second connection electrode. The thin film transistor can be formed by three times of patterning processes, by which the process time period is shortened, the process yield is improved, and the process cost is reduced, and so on.