Abstract: A circuit includes a base silicon layer, a base oxide layer, a first top silicon layer, a second top silicon layer, a first semiconductor device, and a second semiconductor device. The base oxide layer is formed over the base silicon layer. The first top silicon layer is formed over a first region of the base oxide layer and has a first thickness. The second top silicon layer is formed over a second region of the base oxide layer and has a second thickness less than the first thickness. The first semiconductor device is formed over the first top silicon layer and the second semiconductor device is formed over the second top silicon layer. The ability to fabricate a top silicon layers with differing thicknesses can provide a single substrate having devices with different characteristics, such as having both fully depleted and partially depleted devices on a single substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stacked gate structure, a plurality of stacks and a first conductive layer. The stacks are disposed aside the stacked gate structure and arranged along both a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the stacks are extended continuously along the first direction and segmented in the second direction. The first conductive layer is disposed between segmented portions of the stacks along the second direction, wherein top surfaces of the segmented portions of the stacks are higher than a top surface of the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for image processing is provided. The method includes: capturing and receiving a first set of photo frames; storing the first set of photo frames into a storage unit; performing image processing on the first set of photo frames; and capturing and receiving a second set of photo frames. The performing image processing on the first set of photo frames and the capturing and receiving the second set of photo frames are performed simultaneously. The performing image processing on the first set of photo frames includes: reading the first set of photo frames from the storage unit; storing the first set of photo frames into a temporary storage unit; performing image processing on the first set of photo frames by using an image processing algorithm; and outputting a first output picture.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a substrate; forming a front-side interconnection structure over the transistor; after forming the front-side interconnection structure, removing the substrate; after removing the substrate, forming a backside via to be electrically connected to the transistor; depositing a dielectric layer to cover the backside via; forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the backside via; forming a spacer structure on a sidewall of the opening; after forming a spacer structure, forming a conductive feature in the opening to be electrically connected to the backside via; and after forming the conductive feature, forming an air gap in the spacer structure.

Abstract: A high-speed, uniform and high-quality surface treatment apparatus is described. The surface treatment apparatus includes a fixed hollow cylindrical chamber body and a rotatable polygonal prism inside the chamber body. Several flat-substrate holders are symmetrically disposed on the prism surface. The substrate holders revolve as the prism rotates. On the fixed chamber wall, several gas inlet channels, pumping channels and processing units are installed according to the symmetric configuration of the substrate holders. Then, as the substrate holders revolve, the surface treatment processes will occur periodically, including the injection of gas reactants into, the activation of gases in, and the pumping of after-reaction gases out of the processing spaces, defined by the substrate holders and the chamber wall. The substrates will therefore undergo many cycles of periodic surface treatment processes.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods which utilize a treatment process of a bottom anti-reflective layer are provided. The treatment process may be a physical treatment process in which material is added in order to fill holes and pores within the material of the bottom anti-reflective layer or else the treatment process may be a chemical treatment process in which a chemical reaction is used to form a protective layer. By treating the bottom anti-reflective layer the diffusion of subsequently applied chemicals is reduced or eliminated, thereby helping to prevent defects that arise from such diffusion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a stack of channel structures over a base structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure sandwiching the channel structures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack wrapped around each of the channel structures and a backside conductive contact connected to the second epitaxial structure. A first portion of the backside conductive contact is directly below the base structure, and a second portion of the backside conductive contact extends upwards to approach a bottom surface of the second epitaxial structure. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes an insulating spacer between a sidewall of the base structure and the backside conductive contact.

Abstract: A level shifter includes a buffer circuit, a first shift circuit, and a second shift circuit. The buffer circuit provides a first signal and a first inverted signal to the first shift circuit, such that the first shift circuit provides a second signal and a second inverted signal to the second shift circuit. The second shift circuit generates a plurality of output signals according to the second signal and the second inverted signal. The first shift circuit includes a plurality of first stacking transistors and a first voltage divider circuit. The first voltage divider circuit is electrically coupled between a first system high voltage terminal and a system low voltage terminal. The first voltage divider circuit is configured to provide a first inner bias to gate terminals of the first stacking transistors.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form a backside power rail (BPR) semiconductor device with an air gap. The method includes forming a fin structure on a first side of a substrate, forming a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the fin structure, forming a first S/D contact structure on the first side of the substrate and in contact with the S/D region, and forming a capping structure on the first S/D contact structure. The method further includes removing a portion of the first S/D contact structure through the capping structure to form an air gap and forming a second S/D contact structure on a second side of the substrate and in contact with the S/D region. The second side is opposite to the first side.

Abstract: A wireless communication device and an antenna matching circuit are provided. The wireless communication device includes an RF transceiver, a first SPDT switch, a low noise amplifier, a power amplifier, and the antenna matching circuit. The antenna matching circuit includes a second SPDT switch, a first antenna element, a second antenna element, a first transmission path, a second transmission path, and a plurality of SPST switches. The second SPDT switch is connected to the first SPDT switch. When the antenna matching circuit is switched to a first mode, the second SPDT switch is switched to the first transmission path, and the first antenna element is used to generate a first radiation pattern. When the antenna matching circuit is switched to a second mode, the second SPDT switch is switched to the second transmission path, and the second antenna element is used to generate a second radiation pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Cu ion sensor, which greatly improves the sensitivity to Cu by a nitrogen-rich surface of a copper nitride thin film doped with a metal material. The present invention also relates to a Cu ion sensing method, in which Cu2+ is detected by contacting the Cu ion sensor of the present invention with the solution to be tested, and using the change in electrical conductivity of a copper nitride film doped with a metal material in the presence of Cu2+ in the solution.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a processing tool. The tool includes a housing enclosing a processing chamber, and an input/output port configured to pass a wafer through the housing into and out of the processing chamber. A back-side macro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image a back side of the wafer. A front-side macro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image a front side of the wafer according to a first image resolution. A front-side micro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image the front side of the wafer according to a second image resolution which is higher than the first image resolution.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, a gate structure over the channel region of the active region, a source/drain contact over the source/drain region, a dielectric feature over the gate structure and including a lower portion adjacent the gate structure and an upper portion away from the gate structure, and an air gap disposed between the gate structure and the source/drain contact. A first width of the upper portion of the dielectric feature along a first direction is greater than a second width of the lower portion of the dielectric feature along the first direction. The air gap is disposed below the upper portion of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain feature comprising a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface. The structure also includes a dielectric layer having a continuous surface in contact with the entire second surface of the source/drain feature, a semiconductor layer having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface, wherein the sidewall of the semiconductor layer is in contact with the sidewall of the source/drain feature. The structure also includes a gate dielectric layer in contact with the continuous surface of the dielectric layer and the second surface of the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with dual side source/drain (S/D) contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a superlattice structure on the fin structure, forming first and second S/D regions within the superlattice structure, forming a gate structure between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second contact structures on first surfaces of the first and second S/D regions, and forming a third contact structure, on a second surface of the first S/D region, with a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer and a dual metal liner. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the first S/D region and the WFM silicide layer has a work function value closer to a conduction band energy than a valence band energy of a material of the first S/D region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a device, a first dielectric material disposed over the device, and an opening is formed in the first dielectric material. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive structure disposed in the opening, and the conductive structure includes a first sidewall. The semiconductor device structure further includes a surrounding structure disposed in the opening, and the surrounding structure surrounds the first sidewall of the conductive structure. The surrounding structure includes a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer adjacent the first spacer layer. The first spacer layer is separated from the second spacer layer by an air gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that mitigates the formation of facets in source/drain silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layers. The method includes forming an isolation region around a semiconductor layer and a gate structure partially over the semiconductor layer and the isolation region. Disposing first photoresist structures over the gate structure, a portion of the isolation region, and a portion of the semiconductor layer and doping, with germanium (Ge), exposed portions of the semiconductor layer and exposed portions of the isolation region to form Ge-doped regions that extend from the semiconductor layer to the isolation region. The method further includes disposing second photoresist structures over the isolation region and etching exposed Ge-doped regions in the semiconductor layer to form openings, where the openings include at least one common sidewall with the Ge-doped regions in the isolation region. Finally the method includes growing a SiGe epitaxial stack in the openings.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, a stack of semiconductor layers disposed over the first dielectric layer, a gate structure wrapping around each of the semiconductor layers and extending lengthwise along a direction, and a dielectric fin structure and an isolation structure disposed on opposite sides of the stack of semiconductor layers and embedded in the gate structure. The dielectric fin structure has a first width along the direction smaller than a second width of the isolation structure along the direction. The isolation structure includes a second dielectric layer extending through the gate structure and the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer extending through the first dielectric layer and disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure and a sidewall of the first dielectric layer.