Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding proteins, such as antibodies and binding fragments thereof, that bind beta klotho, including human beta klotho, and methods of their use, including in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The present disclosure also provides exemplary specific sequences of complementarity determining regions, variable regions, heavy chains, and light chains of the antibodies and/or binding fragments thereof.

Abstract: A thin-film deposition system includes a top plate positioned above a wafer and configured to generate a plasma during a thin-film deposition process. The system includes a gap sensor configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a gap between the wafer and the top plate. The system includes a control system configured to adjust the gap during the thin-film deposition process responsive to the sensor signals.

Abstract: Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, an integrated semiconductor device having a MIM capacitor and methods of making. The MIM capacitor includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a dielectric layer located between the second metal layer and the first metal layer. The first metal layer, the second metal layer and the dielectric layer may be formed in a comb structure, wherein the comb structure include a first tine structure and at least a second tine structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first film having a first film stress type and a first film stress intensity over a substrate and forming a second film having a second film stress type and a second film stress intensity over the first film. The second film stress type is different than the first film stress type. The second film stress intensity is about same as the first film stress intensity. The second film compensates stress induced effect of non-flatness of the substrate by the first film.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip structure. The method may be performed by forming a plurality of interconnect layers within a first interconnect structure disposed over an upper surface of a first semiconductor substrate. An edge trimming process is performed to remove parts of the first interconnect structure and the first semiconductor substrate along a perimeter of the first semiconductor substrate. The edge trimming process results in the first semiconductor substrate having a recessed surface coupled to the upper surface by way of an interior sidewall disposed directly over the first semiconductor substrate. A dielectric capping structure is formed onto a sidewall of the first interconnect structure after performing the edge trimming process.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection structure, a color filter, and a first isolation structure. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The interconnection structure is disposed over the first surface, and the color filter is disposed over the second surface. The first isolation structure includes a bottom portion, an upper portion and a diffusion barrier layer surrounding a sidewall of the upper portion. A top surface of the upper portion of the first isolation structure extends into and is in contact with a dielectric layer of the interconnection structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface facing opposite to the front surface; a filling material extending from the front surface into the semiconductor substrate without penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, the filling material including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being in contact with the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial layer lined between the lower portion of the filling material and the semiconductor substrate. An associated manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor having a semiconductor substrate comprising a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A plurality of photodetectors is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure extends into the back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate and is disposed between adjacent photodetectors. The isolation structure includes a metal core, a conductive liner disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the metal core, and a first dielectric liner disposed between the conductive liner and the semiconductor substrate. The metal core comprises a first metal material and the conductive liner comprises the first metal material and a second metal material different from the first metal material.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming an integrated chip. The method comprises forming a plurality of semiconductor devices over a central region of a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer comprises a peripheral region laterally surrounding the central region and a circumferential edge disposed within the peripheral region. The semiconductor wafer comprises a notch disposed along the circumferential edge. Forming a stack of inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers over the semiconductor devices and laterally within the central region. Forming a bonding support structure over the peripheral region such that the bonding support structure comprises a bonding structure notch disposed along a circumferential edge of the bonding support structure. Forming the bonding support structure includes disposing the semiconductor wafer over a lower plasma exclusion zone (PEZ) ring that comprises a PEZ ring notch disposed along a circumferential edge of the lower PEZ ring.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an image sensor. The image sensor comprises a substrate. A photodetector is in the substrate and includes a semiconductor guard ring extending into a first side of the substrate. A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure extends into the first side of the substrate. An outer isolation structure extends into a second side of the substrate, opposite the first side of the substrate, to the STI structure. The STI structure and the outer isolation structure laterally surround the photodetector. An inner isolation structure extends into the second side of the substrate and overlies the photodetector. The inner isolation structure is vertically separated from the photodetector by the substrate. Further, the outer isolation structure laterally surrounds the inner isolation structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a dielectric stack disposed over a substrate. The dielectric stack has a first plurality of layers interleaved between a second plurality of layers. The dielectric stack has one or more surfaces that define a plurality of indentations recessed into a side of the dielectric stack at different vertical heights corresponding to the second plurality of layers. A capacitor structure lines the one or more surfaces of the dielectric stack. The capacitor structure includes conductive electrodes separated by a capacitor dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a semiconductor layer, a plurality of metal isolation features disposed in the semiconductor layer, a metal grid disposed directly over the plurality of metal isolation features, and a plurality of microlens features disposed over the metal grid.

Abstract: A device and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. For example, the device includes a sensor having a front side and a back side, a metal interconnect layer formed on the front side of the sensor, an anti-reflective coating formed on the back side of the sensor, a composite etch stop mask layer formed on the anti-reflective coating wherein the composite etch stop mask layer includes a hydrogen rich layer and a compressive high density layer, and a light filter formed on the composite etch stop mask layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a radiation-sensing region, and a first isolation structure. The radiation-sensing region is in the semiconductor substrate. The first isolation structure is in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the radiation-sensing region. The first isolation structure includes a bottom isolation portion in the semiconductor substrate, an upper isolation portion in the semiconductor substrate, and a diffusion barrier layer surrounding a sidewall of the upper isolation portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding agents, such as antibodies, that specifically bind HTRA1, including human HTRA1, as well as compositions comprising the binding agents, and methods of their use. The disclosure also provides related polynucleotides and vectors encoding the binding agents and cells comprising and expressing the binding agents.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an image sensor. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a pixel region and a peripheral region. A backside isolation structure extends into a backside of the semiconductor substrate and laterally surrounds the pixel region. The backside isolation structure includes a metal core, and a dielectric liner separates the metal core from the semiconductor substrate. A conductive feature is disposed over a front side of the semiconductor substrate. A through substrate via extends from the backside of the semiconductor substrate through the peripheral region to contact the conductive feature. The through substrate via is laterally offset from the backside isolation structure. A conductive bridge is disposed beneath the backside of the semiconductor substrate and electrically couples the metal core of the backside isolation structure to the through substrate via.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel and an isolation structure. The pixel includes a photosensitive region and a circuitry region next to the photosensitive region. The isolation structure is located over the pixel, where the isolation structure includes a conductive grid and a dielectric structure covering a sidewall of the conductive grid, and the isolation structure includes an opening or recess overlapping the photosensitive region. The isolation structure surrounds a peripheral region of the photosensitive region.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first image sensing element and a second image sensing element arranged over a substrate. A first micro-lens is arranged over the first image sensing element, and a second micro-lens is arranged over the second image sensing element. A composite deep trench isolation structure is arranged between the first and second image sensing elements. The composite deep trench isolation structure includes a lower portion arranged over the substrate and an upper portion arranged over the lower portion. The lower portion includes a first material, and the upper portion includes a second material that has a higher reflectivity than the first material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first film having a first film stress type and a first film stress intensity over a substrate and forming a second film having a second film stress type and a second film stress intensity over the first film. The second film stress type is different than the first film stress type. The second film stress intensity is about same as the first film stress intensity. The second film compensates stress induced effect of non-flatness of the substrate by the first film.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface facing opposite to the front surface; a filling material extending from the front surface into the semiconductor substrate without penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, the filling material including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being in contact with the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial layer lined between the lower portion of the filling material and the semiconductor substrate. An associated manufacturing method is also disclosed.