Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for forming a stacked die product including two or more integrated circuit dies. A bond interface between two integrated circuit dies that are included in the stacked die product includes a layered structure. As part of the layered structure, respective layers of a sealant material are directly on co-facing surfaces of the two integrated circuit dies. The layered structure further includes one or more bonding layers between the respective layers of the sealant material that are directly on the co-facing surfaces of the two integrated circuit dies. The layered structure may reduce lateral stresses throughout the bond interface to reduce a likelihood of warpage of the two integrated circuit dies.

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: 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: Some implementations herein describe a chemical-mechanical planarization tool including a polishing pad. The chemical-mechanical planarization tool including the polishing pad may perform a polishing operation to a semiconductor substrate. The polishing operation may generate, along a perimeter of the semiconductor substrate, a roll-off profile that satisfies a threshold. The polishing pad includes two or more regions, where each region includes a different pad surface pattern. Each region including a different pad surface pattern may correspond to a different polishing rate. Techniques using the polishing pad having such zone and pad surface pattern combinations allow for a focused and a controlled polishing of the semiconductor substrate, including along the perimeter of the semiconductor substrate to tightly control the roll-off profile.

Abstract: A sealing layer is formed around a contact structure of a resistor in a semiconductor device. The sealing layer fills in and occupies areas around the contact structure in which an overhang of a hard mask layer occurs as a result of lateral etching of the contact structure during formation of the contact structure. The sealing layer may include a material that can be selectively deposited on sidewalls of the contact structure and not on other layers and/or structures in the semiconductor device. The sealing layer may reduce the likelihood of void formation, in a dielectric layer, that might otherwise occur due to the overhang of the hard mask layer. The reduced likelihood of void formation may enable the dielectric layer to fully fill in the areas around the resistor in the semiconductor device, thereby increasing the structural integrity of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A bonded assembly of a first wafer including a first semiconductor substrate and a second wafer including a second semiconductor substrate may be formed. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a first thickness, and an inter-wafer moat trench may be formed at a periphery of the bonded assembly. A protective material layer may be formed in the inter-wafer moat trench and over the backside surface of the second semiconductor substrate. A peripheral portion of the second semiconductor substrate located outside the inter-wafer moat trench may be removed, and a cylindrical portion of the protective material layer laterally surrounds a remaining portion of the bonded assembly. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a second thickness by performing at least one thinning process while the cylindrical portion of the protective material layer protects the remaining portion of the bonded assembly.

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: A thin film resistor (TFR) is provided. The thin film resistor includes: a first insulator layer; a silicon chromium (SiCr) thin film disposed on the first insulator layer, an oxidation prevention layer disposed on the SiCr thin film; and a first contact structure and a second contact structure disposed on the oxidation prevention layer. The oxidation prevention layer is operable to prevent the SiCr thin film from being oxidized during a wet etching process.

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: 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: 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: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of trimming an annular portion of a wafer. The method includes aligning the wafer over a wafer chuck. The method uses a rotating blade having a first rotational speed to remove the annular portion from an upper surface of the wafer. While the rotating blade is removing the annular portion of the upper surface of the wafer, measuring a parameter of the wafer at a position adjacent to the rotating blade. Lastly, the method involves changing the first rotation speed of the rotating blade to a second rotational speed when the parameter is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Image sensors and methods for forming the same are provided. 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: Some implementations described herein include systems and techniques for fabricating a stacked die product. The systems and techniques include using a supporting fill mixture that includes a combination of types of composite particulates in a lateral gap region of a stack of semiconductor substrates and along a perimeter region of the stack of semiconductor substrates. One type of composite particulate included in the combination may be a relatively smaller size and include a smooth surface, allowing the composite particulate to ingress deep into the lateral gap region. Properties of the supporting fill mixture including the combination of types of composite particulates may control thermally induced stresses during downstream manufacturing to reduce a likelihood of defects in the supporting fill mixture and/or the stack of semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: A structure and a method of forming are provided. The structure includes a first dielectric layer overlying a first substrate. A first connection pad is disposed in a top surface of the first dielectric layer and contacts a first redistribution line. A first dummy pad is disposed in the top surface of the first dielectric layer, the first dummy pad contacting the first redistribution line. A second dielectric layer overlies a second substrate. A second connection pad and a second dummy pad are disposed in the top surface of the second dielectric layer, the second connection pad bonded to the first connection pad, and the first dummy pad positioned in a manner that is offset from the second dummy pad so that the first dummy pad and the second dummy pad do not contact each other.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a wafer edge trimming apparatus that includes a processing chamber defined by chamber housing. Within the processing chamber is a wafer chuck configured to hold onto a wafer structure. Further, a blade is arranged near an edge of the wafer chuck and configured to remove an edge potion of the wafer structure and to define a new sidewall of the wafer structure. A laser sensor apparatus is configured to direct a laser beam directed toward a top surface of the wafer chuck. The laser sensor apparatus is configured to measure a parameter of an analysis area of the wafer structure. Control circuitry is to the laser sensor apparatus and the blade. The control circuitry is configured to start a damage prevention process when the parameter deviates from a predetermined threshold value by at least a predetermined shift value.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein include systems and techniques for fabricating a wafer-on-wafer product using a filled lateral gap between beveled regions of wafers included in a stacked-wafer assembly and along a perimeter region of the stacked-wafer assembly. The systems and techniques include a deposition tool having an electrode with a protrusion that enhances an electromagnetic field along the perimeter region of the stacked-wafer assembly during a deposition operation performed by the deposition tool. Relative to an electromagnetic field generated by a deposition tool not including the electrode with the protrusion, the enhanced electromagnetic field improves the deposition operation so that a supporting fill material may be sufficiently deposited.

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: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.

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.