Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip including a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The integrated chip further includes a first photodetector positioned in a first pixel region within the substrate. A floating diffusion region with a first doping concentration of a first polarity is positioned on the first side of the substrate in the first pixel region. A first body contact region with a second doping concentration of a second polarity different from the first polarity is positioned on the second side of the substrate in the first pixel region.

Abstract: A bonding structure that may be used to form 3D-IC devices is formed using first oblong bonding pads on a first substrate and second oblong bonding pads one a second substrate. The first and second oblong bonding pads are laid crosswise, and the bond is formed. Viewed in a first cross-section, the first bonding pad is wider than the second bonding pad. Viewed in a second cross-section at a right angle to the first, the second bonding pad is wider than the first bonding pad. Making the bonding pads oblong and angling them relative to one another reduces variations in bonding area due to shifts in alignment between the first substrate and the second substrate. The oblong shape in a suitable orientation may also be used to reduce capacitive coupling between one of the bonding pads and nearby wires.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a fin protruding above a substrate, where a top portion of the fin comprises a layer stack that includes alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material; forming a dummy gate structure over the fin; forming openings in the fin on opposing sides of the dummy gate structure; forming source/drain regions in the openings; removing the dummy gate structure to expose the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material under the dummy gate structure; performing a first etching process to selectively remove the exposed first semiconductor material, where after the first etching process, the exposed second semiconductor material form nanostructures, where each of the nanostructures has a first shape; and after the first etching process, performing a second etching process to reshape each of the nanostructures into a second shape different from the first shape.

Abstract: A method for making a memory device, includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode; forming a first void extending through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of an upper boundary of the bottom electrode; forming a first conductive structure lining along respective sidewalls of the first void and the exposed portion of the upper boundary of the bottom electrode; filling the first void with the first dielectric layer; and forming a phase change material layer over the first dielectric layer to cause the phase change material layer to contact at least a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer includes a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the first oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the second oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the third oxide film is curved.

Abstract: A method for making a memory device, includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode; forming a first void extending through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of an upper boundary of the bottom electrode; forming a first conductive structure lining along respective sidewalls of the first void and the exposed portion of the upper boundary of the bottom electrode; filling the first void with the first dielectric layer; and forming a phase change material layer over the first dielectric layer to cause the phase change material layer to contact at least a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer includes a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the first oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the second oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the third oxide film is curved.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer; and a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the first oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the second oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the third oxide film is curved.

Abstract: A method for making a memory device, includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode; forming a first void extending through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of an upper boundary of the bottom electrode; forming a first conductive structure lining along respective sidewalls of the first void and the exposed portion of the upper boundary of the bottom electrode; filling the first void with the first dielectric layer; and forming a phase change material layer over the first dielectric layer to cause the phase change material layer to contact at least a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A method for making a memory device, includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode; forming a first void extending through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of an upper boundary of the bottom electrode; forming a first conductive structure lining along respective sidewalls of the first void and the exposed portion of the upper boundary of the bottom electrode; filling the first void with the first dielectric layer; and forming a phase change material layer over the first dielectric layer to cause the phase change material layer to contact at least a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A trench is formed through a plurality of layers that are disposed over a first substrate. A first deposition process is performed to at least partially fill the trench with a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer delivers a tensile stress. A second deposition process is performed to form a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. A third deposition process is performed to form a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer delivers a first compressive stress.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer; and a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the first oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the second oxide film is planar. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure, wherein a top surface of the third oxide film is curved.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive structure over a first passivation layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a second passivation layer over the conductive structure and the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a first oxide film extending along a top surface of the first passivation layer, sidewalls and a top surface of the conductive structure. The second passivation layer further includes a second oxide film over a top surface of the first oxide film and a top surface of the conductive structure. The second passivation layer further includes a third oxide film extending along a top surface of the second oxide film, the sidewalls and the top surface of the conductive structure.

Abstract: A trench is formed through a plurality of layers that are disposed over a first substrate. A first deposition process is performed to at least partially fill the trench with a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer delivers a tensile stress. A second deposition process is performed to form a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. A third deposition process is performed to form a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer delivers a first compressive stress.

Abstract: A method for making a memory device, includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode; forming a first void extending through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of an upper boundary of the bottom electrode; forming a first conductive structure lining along respective sidewalls of the first void and the exposed portion of the upper boundary of the bottom electrode; filling the first void with the first dielectric layer; and forming a phase change material layer over the first dielectric layer to cause the phase change material layer to contact at least a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a conductive structure over a first passivation layer, depositing a first dielectric film continuously over the conductive structure, depositing a second dielectric film continuously over the first dielectric film, and depositing a third dielectric film over the second dielectric film. A portion of the third dielectric film is in contact with a portion of the first dielectric film.

Abstract: A memory device includes: a first conductive column structure extending through a first dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive column structure comprises a shell portion wrapping a core structure filled with a dielectric material and an end portion that is coupled to one end of the shell portion and disposed below the core structure; and a first phase change material layer formed over the first dielectric layer, wherein a lower boundary of the first phase change material layer contacts at least a first portion of the other end of the shell portion of the first conductive column structure.

Abstract: A memory device includes: a first conductive column structure extending through a first dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive column structure comprises a shell portion wrapping a core structure filled with a dielectric material and an end portion that is coupled to one end of the shell portion and disposed below the core structure; and a first phase change material layer formed over the first dielectric layer, wherein a lower boundary of the first phase change material layer contacts at least a first portion of the other end of the shell portion of the first conductive column structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a conductive structure over a first passivation layer, depositing a first dielectric film continuously over the conductive structure, depositing a second dielectric film continuously over the first dielectric film, and depositing a third dielectric film over the second dielectric film. A portion of the third dielectric film is in contact with a portion of the first dielectric film.