Abstract: Manufacturing flexibility and efficiency are obtained with a method, and resulting structure, in which RDL contact features can be formed and aligned to through silicon vias (TSV's) regardless of any potential mismatch in the respective critical dimensions (CD's) between the manufacturing process for forming the TSV's and the manufacturing process for forming the contact features. Various processes for a self-aligned exposure of the underlying TSV's, without the need for additional photolithography steps are provided.

Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a first workpiece that includes a first substrate and a first interconnect structure, providing a second workpiece that includes a second substrate, a second interconnect structure, and a through via extending through a portion of the second substrate and a portion of the second interconnect structure, forming a first bonding layer on the first interconnect structure, forming a second bonding layer on the second interconnect structure, bonding the second workpiece to the first workpiece by directly bonding the second bonding layer to the first bonding layer, thinning the second substrate, forming a protective film over the thinned second substrate, forming a backside via opening through the protective film and the thinned second substrate to expose the through via, and forming a backside through via in the backside via opening to physically couple to the through via.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel between the first and second S/D regions, a gate engaging the channel, and a contact feature connecting to the first S/D region. The contact feature includes first and second contact layers. The first contact layer has a conformal cross-sectional profile and is in contact with the first S/D region on at least two sides thereof. In embodiments, the first contact layer is in direct contact with three or four sides of the first S/D region so as to increase the contact area. The first contact layer includes one of a semiconductor-metal alloy, an III-V semiconductor, and germanium.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a first dielectric layer overlying a substrate and a first conductive interconnect within the first dielectric layer. A bonding layer is over the first dielectric layer. The bonding layer includes a bonding dielectric layer and a bonding interconnect in the bonding dielectric layer. A first charged dielectric layer is along a bottom of the first dielectric layer. A second charged dielectric layer is along a top of the first dielectric layer. The first charged dielectric layer and the second charged dielectric layer have a same polarity.

Abstract: Methods of forming vias for coupling source/drain regions to backside interconnect structures in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices including the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a conductive feature adjacent a gate structure; a dielectric layer on the conductive feature and the gate structure; a metal via embedded in the dielectric layer; and a liner layer between and in contact with the metal via and the dielectric layer, the liner layer being boron nitride.

Abstract: A circuit board utilizing thermocouples for improved heat dissipation performance from circuit boards includes a heat dissipation module which itself includes a first circuit substrate, a thermocouple, and a second circuit substrate. The first circuit substrate includes a first wiring layer comprising first and second wiring portions. The thermocouple includes a P-type and an N-type semiconductor. The second circuit substrate includes a second wiring layer with a third wiring portion. Conductive members electrically connect the P-type semiconductor with the first wiring portion, connect the P-type semiconductor with the third wiring portion, connect the N-type semiconductor with the second wiring portion, and connect the N-type semiconductor with the third wiring portion, to transfer away heat generated by working elements mounted on the board.

Abstract: Techniques performed by a data processing system for matching a customer service ambassador (CSA) with a customer include receiving a service request for technical assistance from the customer, analyzing estimated working hours information for the customer and estimated working hours information for each of the plurality of CSAs to produce a compatibility score for each CSA, the compatibility score for a respective one of the CSAs providing an indication of how closely the working hours of the customer and of the respective one of the CSAs align, reordering an available CSA queue identifying the plurality of CSAs based on the compatibility scores of each of the CSAs, and selecting a CSA from the queue to provide technical assistance to the customer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method to embed planar field-effect transistor (FETs) with fin field-effect transistors (finFETs). A semiconductor substrate is patterned to define a mesa and a fin. A trench isolation structure is formed overlying the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the mesa and the fin. A first gate dielectric layer is formed on the mesa, but not the fin. The trench isolation structure recessed around the fin, but not the mesa, after the forming the first gate dielectric layer. A second gate dielectric layer is deposited overlying the first gate dielectric layer at the mesa and further overlying the fin. A first gate electrode is formed overlying the first and second gate dielectric layers at the mesa and partially defining a planar FET. A second gate electrode is formed overlying the second gate dielectric layer at the fin and partially defining a finFET.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes a first dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, a floating gate disposed on the dielectric layer, a control gate and a second dielectric layer disposed between the floating gate and the control gate. The second dielectric layer includes one of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer and a multi-layer thereof. The first dielectric layer includes a first-first dielectric layer formed on the substrate and a second-first dielectric layer formed on the first-first dielectric layer. The second-first dielectric layer includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constant higher than silicon nitride.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, the IC has a plurality of logic devices disposed on a logic region of a substrate, including a first logic device configured to operate at a first voltage and comprising a first logic gate electrode separated from the substrate by a first logic gate dielectric. The first logic gate dielectric is disposed along sidewall and bottom surfaces of a logic device trench of the substrate, and the first logic gate electrode is disposed conformally along the first logic gate dielectric within the logic device trench. A hard mask layer is disposed on the first logic gate electrode within the logic device trench.

Abstract: A method includes forming first IC devices on a first frontside of a first semiconductor substrate and second IC devices on a second frontside of a second semiconductor substrate; forming a first contact pad over the first IC devices from the first frontside and a second contact pad over the second IC device from the second frontside; bonding the first and second contact pads such that the first and second IC devices are electrically connected; and forming a conductive structure on a first backside of the first semiconductor substrate. The conductive structure includes a through via (TV), a backside metal (BSM) feature, and a backside redistribution layer (BRDL). The TV is extending through the first semiconductor substrate and electrically connected the first and second IC devices to the BRDL, and the BSM feature is extended into a portion of the first semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the TV.

Abstract: Transistor gate isolation structures and methods of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a device includes: an isolation region; a first gate structure on the isolation region; a second gate structure on the isolation region; and a gate isolation structure between the first gate structure and the second gate structure in a first cross-section, an upper portion of the gate isolation structure having a first concentration of an element, a lower portion of the gate isolation structure having a second concentration of the element, the first concentration different from the second concentration, the lower portion extending continuously along a sidewall of the first gate structure, beneath the upper portion, and along a sidewall of the second gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor feature includes: a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric structure and a semiconductor device disposed on the semiconductor substrate; an interconnecting structure disposed in the dielectric structure and connected to the semiconductor device; an STI structure disposed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the semiconductor device; two DTI structures penetrating the semiconductor substrate and the STI structure and surrounding the semiconductor device; a passivation structure connected to the semiconductor substrate and the DTI structures and located opposite to the interconnecting structure; and a conductive structure surrounded by the passivation structure, penetrating the semiconductor substrate and the STI structure into the dielectric structure, located between the DTI structures and electrically connected to the semiconductor device via the interconnecting structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes receiving a silicon substrate having an isolation feature disposed on the substrate and a well adjacent the isolation feature, wherein the well includes a first dopant. The method also includes etching a recess to remove a portion of the well and epitaxially growing a silicon layer (EPI layer) in the recess to form a channel, wherein the channel includes a second dopant. The method also includes forming a barrier layer between the well and the EPI layer, the barrier layer including at least one of either silicon carbon or silicon oxide. The barrier layer can be formed either before or after the channel. The method further includes forming a gate electrode disposed over the channel and forming a source and drain in the well.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes a first dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, a floating gate disposed on the dielectric layer, a control gate and a second dielectric layer disposed between the floating gate and the control gate. The second dielectric layer includes one of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer and a multi-layer thereof. The first dielectric layer includes a first-first dielectric layer formed on the substrate and a second-first dielectric layer formed on the first-first dielectric layer. The second-first dielectric layer includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constant higher than silicon nitride.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a base device having a top dielectric layer, forming a sacrificial layer on the top dielectric layer, and patterning the sacrificial layer to form openings. The method also includes depositing first protective dielectric layer and a low-K dielectric layer in the opening and performing planarization to form a first planarized structure including sacrificial regions and low k regions separated by a first protective layer. Next, top portions of the low-k dielectric layer are replaced with a second protective dielectric layer to form a second planarized structure that includes enclosed dielectric structures separated by sacrificial regions. The method further includes replacing the remaining portions of the sacrificial layer with a target metal interconnect material to form a third planarized structure that includes metal interconnect material disposed between enclosed dielectric structures.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a two-tiered trench isolation structure under the epitaxial regions (e.g., epitaxial source/drain regions) of a nano-FET transistor device, and methods of forming the same. The first tier provides an isolation structure with a low k value. The second tier provides an isolation structure with a higher k value, with material greater density, and greater etch resistivity than the first tier isolation structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: depositing a protective layer on a source/drain region and a gate mask, the gate mask disposed on a gate structure, the gate structure disposed on a channel region of a substrate, the channel region adjoining the source/drain region; etching an opening through the protective layer, the opening exposing the source/drain region; depositing a metal in the opening and on the protective layer; annealing the metal to form a metal-semiconductor alloy region on the source/drain region; and removing residue of the metal from the opening with a cleaning process, the protective layer covering the gate mask during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A stacked via structure disposed on a conductive pillar of a semiconductor die is provided. The stacked via structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductive via, a first redistribution wiring, a second dielectric layer, a second conductive via, and a second redistribution wiring. The first dielectric layer covers the semiconductor die. The first conductive via is embedded in the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the conductive pillar. The first redistribution wiring covers the first conductive via and the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer covers the first dielectric layer and the first redistribution wiring. The second conductive via is embedded in the second dielectric layer and landed on the first redistribution wiring. The second redistribution wiring covers the second conductive via and the second dielectric layer. A lateral dimension of the first conductive via is greater than a lateral dimension of the second conductive via.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first doped region and a second doped region disposed within a substrate. A ferroelectric material is arranged over the substrate and between the first doped region and the second doped region. An isolation structure is arranged within the substrate along a first side of the ferroelectric material. The isolation structure has a first width measured along an uppermost surface of the isolation structure and a second width measured along a horizontal line below the uppermost surface of the isolation structure. The second width is larger than the first width.