Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor wafer structure including a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed along the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric stack including a plurality of dielectric layers is arranged over the semiconductor substrate. A conductive interconnect structure is within the dielectric stack. A seal ring layer is over the dielectric stack and laterally surrounds the dielectric stack along a first sidewall of the dielectric stack. The seal ring layer includes a first protrusion that extends into a first trench in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A tunable plasma exclusion zone in semiconductor fabrication is provided. A semiconductor wafer is provided within a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus between a first plasma electrode and a second plasma electrode. A plasma is generated from a process gas within the chamber and an electric field between the first plasma electrode and the second plasma electrode. The plasma is at least partially excluded from an edge region of the semiconductor wafer by a plasma exclusion zone (PEZ) ring within the chamber. The plasma may be tuned toward a center of the semiconductor wafer by electrically coupling an electrode ring of the PEZ ring to a voltage potential.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a semiconductor device including a resistor structure. The resistor structure (e.g., a thin film resistor structure) includes a multi-layer film structure connecting contact structures of the resistor structure below the contact structures. The multi-layer film structure includes a capping layer, an upper resistive layer having a first concentration of silicon, and a lower resistive layer having a second concentration of silicon that is lesser relative to the first concentration. The multi-layer film structure may be subject to a lesser risk of oxidation relative to a single layer film structure that does not include the capping layer. Additionally, or alternatively, the combination of the upper and lower resistive layers (e.g., including the first and second concentrations of silicon) may allow for tuning of a mean resistive property and/or a temperature coefficient of resistance across the multi-layer film structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first integrated chip (IC) tier and a second IC tier. The second IC tier comprises a second plurality of conductors within a second insulating structure disposed on the second semiconductor body. A conductive pad is electrically coupled to the second plurality of conductors and has a conductive surface available to a side of the second semiconductor body facing away from the first semiconductor body. The IC first tier contacts the second IC tier along a bonding interface including one or more conductive regions and one or more insulating regions. The one or more conductive regions laterally outside of a bottom surface of the conductive pad.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes receiving a device substrate; forming an interconnect structure on a front side of the device substrate; and etching a recess into a backside of the device substrate until a portion of the interconnect structure is exposed. The recess has a recess depth and an edge of the recess is defined by a sidewall of the device substrate. A conductive bond pad is formed in the recess, and a first plurality of layers cover the conductive bond pad, extend along the sidewall of the device substrate, and cover the backside of the device substrate. The first plurality of layers collectively have a first total thickness that is less than the recess depth. A first chemical mechanical planarization is performed to remove portions of the first plurality of layers so remaining portions of the first plurality of layers cover the conductive bond pad.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric layer is over the conductive structure. A second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer. An interconnect structure is over the conductive structure and disposed in the first and second dielectric layers. The interconnect structure has a protrusion in direct contact with a sidewall of the conductive structure. The interconnect structure comprises an interconnect liner surrounding a conductive interconnect body. A sidewall spacer is disposed on the sidewall of the conductive structure.

Abstract: An information handling system can comprise first and second housings having pivotally coupled rear edge portions such that the housings are pivotable between open and closed states. A hinge cover can extend along at least a portion of each housing's rear edge portion. A flexible printed circuit having opposing upper and lower surfaces can extend between the housings. The circuit can include a cover segment in which the circuit's upper surface is fixed to the hinge cover's inner surface, two housing segments that are each fixed to a respective one of the housings, and two free segment that each connect a respective one of the housings segments to the cover segment, are movable relative to the hinge cover and to the housings when the housings pivot between the open and closed states, and underlie the inner surface of the hinge cover when the housings are in the open state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor wafer structure including a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed along the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric stack including a plurality of dielectric layers is arranged over the semiconductor substrate. A conductive interconnect structure is within the dielectric stack. A seal ring layer is over the dielectric stack and laterally surrounds the dielectric stack along a first sidewall of the dielectric stack. The seal ring layer includes a first protrusion that extends into a first trench in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed by bonding a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die at bonding pads in the first semiconductor die with bonding vias in the second semiconductor die, and by bonding dielectric layers in the first semiconductor die and in the second semiconductor die. Omitting bonding pads from the second semiconductor device, and instead using the bonding vias to bond the first and second semiconductor dies, provides a greater amount of spacing between the bonding vias of the second semiconductor die in that the bonding vias have lesser widths than bonding pads. This enables a greater amount of dielectric material of the dielectric layers of the second semiconductor device to be placed between the bonding vias without (or with minimally) increasing the lateral size of the second semiconductor die.

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: 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: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes the operations as follows. A first opening is formed at a surface of a semiconductor substrate to expose a portion of an isolation region embedded in the semiconductor substrate. A buffer layer is formed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate and lining the first opening. A second opening is formed at a bottom of the first opening. A barrier layer is formed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive pad is formed in the first and the second openings. The barrier layer includes an upper portion in contact with the buffer layer in the first opening and a lower portion lining the second opening. The lower portion of the barrier layer is free from surrounded by the buffer layer. A method for manufacturing a BSI image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are an integrated circuit (IC) and a method of forming the same. The IC includes a substrate; a conductive layer, disposed on the substrate; a barrier layer, disposed on the conductive layer; an etching stop layer, covering a sidewall of the barrier layer and extending on a first portion of a top surface of the barrier layer; and at least one capacitor structure, disposed on a second portion of the top surface of the barrier layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first and second transistors arranged over a substrate. The first transistor includes first channel structures extending between first and second source/drain regions. A first gate electrode is arranged between the first channel structures, and a first protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the first channel structures. The second transistor includes second channel structures extending between the second source/drain region and a third source/drain region. A second gate electrode is arranged between the second channel structures, and a second protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the second channel structures. The integrated chip further includes a first interconnect structure arranged between the substrate and the first and second channel structures, and a contact plug structure coupled to the second source/drain region and arranged above the first and second gate electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an associated process tool. The method includes generating electromagnetic radiation that is directed toward a perimeter of a pair of bonded workpieces and toward a radiation sensor that is arranged behind the perimeter of the pair of bonded workpieces. The electromagnetic radiation is scanned along a vertical axis. An intensity of the electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the radiation sensor is measured throughout the scanning. Measuring the intensity includes recording a plurality of intensity values of the electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of different positions along the vertical axis extending past top and bottom surfaces of the pair of bonded workpieces. A position of an interface between the pair of bonded workpieces is determined based on a maximum measured intensity value of the plurality of intensity values.

Abstract: A stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) structure is provided. The stacked CIS structure comprises a first die, a second die and a third die. The first die comprises a photodiode, a transfer gate, a selective conversion gain (SCG) switch, a reset switch, a floating node diffusion capacitor and a SCG diffusion capacitor. The second die comprises a source follower transistor and a row select switch. The third die comprises an image sensing circuit electrically connected to the third floating node.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a memory cell over a substrate, where the memory cell comprises a data storage structure. A conductive interconnect is over the data storage structure and comprises a first protrusion adjacent to a first side of the data storage structure, where the first protrusion comprises a flat bottom surface. A spacer structure is disposed on the first side of the data storage structure. The spacer structure directly contacts the flat bottom surface of the first protrusion.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate arranged over a back end of line (BEOL) metallization stack, and including a scribe line opening; a conductive pad having an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the conductive pad including an upper conductive region and a lower conductive region, the upper conductive region being confined to the scribe line opening substantially from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a bottom of the scribe line opening, and the lower conductive region protruding downward from the upper conductive region, through the BEOL metallization stack; a passivation layer arranged over the semiconductor substrate; and an array of pixel sensors arranged in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the conductive pad.

Abstract: Provided are an integrated circuit (IC) and a method of forming the same. The IC includes a substrate; a conductive layer, disposed on the substrate; a barrier layer, disposed on the conductive layer; an etching stop layer, covering a sidewall of the barrier layer and extending on a first portion of a top surface of the barrier layer; and at least one capacitor structure, disposed on a second portion of the top surface of the barrier layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a pixel sensor. The pixel sensor includes a substrate having a front-side opposite a back-side. An image sensor element comprises an active layer disposed within the substrate, where the active layer comprises germanium. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) structure overlies the back-side of the substrate. The ARC structure includes a first dielectric layer overlying the back-side of the substrate, a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer overlying the second dielectric layer. A first index of refraction of the first dielectric layer is less than a second index of refraction of the second dielectric layer, and a third index of refraction of the third dielectric layer is less than the first index of refraction.