Abstract: A mask for use in a semiconductor lithography process includes a substrate, a mask pattern disposed on the substrate, and a light absorbing border surrounding the mask pattern. The light absorbing border is inset from at least two edges of the substrate to define a peripheral region outside of the light absorbing border. In some designs, a first peripheral region extends from an outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a first edge of the substrate, and a second peripheral region that extends from the outer perimeter of the light absorbing border to a second edge of the substrate, where the first edge of the substrate and the second edge of the substrate are on opposite sides of the mask pattern.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nanosheet semiconductor device includes forming a poly gate on a nanosheet stack which includes at least one first nanosheet and at least one second nanosheet alternating with the at least one first nanosheet; recessing the nanosheet stack to form a source/drain recess proximate to the poly gate; forming an inner spacer laterally covering the at least one first nanosheet; and selectively etching the at least one second nanosheet.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a way of treating source/drain recesses with a high heat treatment and an optional hydrogen plasma treatment. The high heat treatment smooths the surfaces inside the recesses and remove oxides and etching byproducts. The hydrogen plasma treatment enlarges the recesses vertically and horizontally and inhibits further oxidation of the surfaces in the recesses.

Abstract: A method includes forming a test pattern and a reference pattern in an absorption layer of a photomask structure. The test pattern has a first trench and a second trench, the reference pattern has a third trench and a fourth trench, the test pattern and the reference pattern have substantially the same dimension in a top view, and the second trench is deeper than the first trench, the third trench, and the fourth trench. The method further includes emitting a light beam to the test pattern to obtain a first interference pattern reflected from the test pattern, emitting the light beam to the reference pattern to obtain a second interference pattern reflected from the reference pattern; and comparing the first interference pattern with the second interference pattern to obtain a measured complex refractive index of the absorption layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an attenuated phase shift mask, a photo resist pattern is formed over a mask blank. The mask blank includes a transparent substrate, an etch stop layer on the transparent substrate, a phase shift material layer on the etch stop layer, a hard mask layer on the phase shift material layer and an intermediate layer on the hard mask layer. The intermediate layer is patterned by using the photo resist pattern as an etching mask, the hard mask layer is patterned by using the patterned intermediate layer as an etching mask, and the phase shift material layer is patterned by using the patterned hard mask layer as an etching mask. The intermediate layer includes at least one of a transition metal, a transition metal alloy, or a silicon containing material, and the hard mask layer is made of a different material than the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional device structure includes a first die including a first semiconductor substrate, a second die disposed on the first die and including a second semiconductor substrate, a dielectric encapsulation (DE) layer disposed on the first die and surrounding the second die, a redistribution layer structure disposed on the second die and the DE layer, and an integrated passive device (IPD) embedded in the DE layer and electrically connected to the first die and the redistribution layer structure.

Abstract: A coupling system includes an optical fiber configured to carry an optical signal. The coupling system further includes a chip in optical communication with the optical fiber. The chip includes a substrate. The chip further includes a grating on a first side of the substrate, wherein the grating is configured to receive the optical signal. The chip further includes an interconnect structure over the grating on the first side of the substrate, wherein the interconnect structure defines a cavity aligned with the grating. The chip further includes a first polysilicon layer on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side of the substrate is opposite to the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A photonic device includes a silicon layer, wherein the silicon layer extends from a waveguide region of the photonic device to a device region of the photonic device, and the silicon layer includes a waveguide portion in the waveguide region. The photonic device further includes a cladding layer over the waveguide portion, wherein the device region is free of the cladding layer. The photonic device further includes a low refractive index layer in direct contact with the cladding layer, wherein the low refractive index layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbon oxynitride, aluminum oxide or hafnium oxide. The photonic device further includes an interconnect structure over the low refractive index layer.

Abstract: The invention is related to a real-time platform for blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring based on the Internet of Things (IoT), which may collect real-time blood oxygen and heart rate information of patients for analysis, and use it to predict the probability of a patient's health emergency, so as to facilitate medical personnel to quickly grasp the situation and quickly intervene in treatment. On the other hand, the real-time information collected from patients can also be used as statistical and training data for analysis and warning to further optimize the early warning capability of the platform.

Abstract: A three-dimensional device structure includes a die including a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a through silicon via (TSV) structure that extends through the semiconductor substrate and electrically contacts a metal feature of the interconnect structure, and an integrated passive device (IPD) embedded in the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the TSV structure.

Abstract: A method of using a coupling system includes aligning an optical fiber with a cavity in a chip, wherein aligning the optical fiber comprises orienting the fiber within an angle ranging from about 88-degrees to about 92-degrees with respect to a top surface of the chip. The method further includes emitting an optical signal from the optical fiber. The method further includes redirecting the optical signal into a waveguide using a grating positioned on an opposite side of the cavity from the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of making a chip includes depositing a first polysilicon layer on a top surface and a bottom surface of a substrate. The method further includes patterning the first polysilicon layer to define a recess, wherein the first polysilicon layer is completed removed from the recess. The method further includes implanting dopants into the substrate to define an implant region. The method further includes depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) in the recess, wherein the CESL covers the implant region. The method further includes patterning the CESL to define a CESL block. The method further includes forming a waveguide and a grating in the substrate. The method further includes forming an interconnect structure over the waveguide, the grating and the CESL block. The method further includes etching the interconnect structure to define a cavity aligned with the grating.

Abstract: A package comprises an interposer, comprising an interposer substrate including at least one layer, and a plurality of RDLs formed through at least a portion of the interposer substrate. The package also includes a die device structure comprising at least one device die, and a first test line (TL) structure interposed between the interposer and the die device structure. The first TL structure includes at least one first test line electrically coupled to the at least one device die, at least a portion of the at least one first test line extending beyond a peripheral edge of the die device structure to provide an electrical interface with the at least one device die.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of using calcium channel blockers as a prophylaxis in a predetermined population susceptible to tuberculosis. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions useful for preventing or reducing the risk of activating latent TB in a patient infected with HIV, and a computer-aided drug development method for developing and optimizing a pharmaceutical composition useful for preventing or reducing the risk of activating latent TB.

Abstract: A method of making a photonic device includes depositing a cladding layer over a silicon layer. The method further includes patterning the cladding layer to expose a first portion of the silicon layer, wherein a second portion of the silicon layer is covered by the patterned cladding layer, and a waveguide portion is in the second portion of the silicon layer. The method further includes depositing a low refractive index layer directly over the patterned cladding layer, wherein a refractive index of the low refractive index layer is less than a refractive index of silicon nitride.

Abstract: A die includes: a semiconductor substrate having a front side and an opposing back side; a dielectric structure including a substrate oxide layer disposed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate and interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers disposed on the substrate oxide layer; an interconnect structure disposed in the dielectric structure; a through-silicon via (TSV) structure extending in a vertical direction from the back side of the semiconductor substrate through the front side of the semiconductor substrate, such that a first end of the TSV structure is disposed in the interconnect structure; and a TSV barrier structure including a barrier line that contacts the first end of the TSV structure, and a first seal ring disposed in the substrate oxide layer and that surrounds the TSV structure in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

Abstract: A moat trench laterally surrounding a device region is formed in a substrate. A conductive metallic substrate enclosure structure is formed in the moat trench. Deep trenches are formed in the substrate, and a trench capacitor structure is formed in the deep trenches. The substrate may be thinned by removing a backside portion of the substrate. A backside surface of the conductive metallic substrate enclosure structure is physically exposed. A backside metal layer is formed on a backside surface of the substrate and a backside surface of the conductive metallic substrate enclosure structure. A metallic interconnect enclosure structure and a metallic cap plate may be formed to provide a metallic shield structure configured to block electromagnetic radiation from impinging into the trench capacitor structure.

Abstract: A three-dimensional device structure includes a die including a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a through silicon via (TSV) structure that extends through the semiconductor substrate and electrically contacts a metal feature of the interconnect structure, and an integrated passive device (IPD) embedded in the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the TSV structure.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a capacitor device within a recessed portion of a substrate. The recessed portion has sidewalls and a bottom surface below a top surface of the substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric material disposed below the capacitor device and within the recessed portion. The semiconductor structure includes a first conductive structure adjacent one or more of the sidewalls of the recessed portion. The first conductive structure may include a conductive portion of the substrate or a conductive material disposed within the recessed portion. The semiconductor structure includes a second conductive structure coupled to the first conductive structure, where the second conductive structure provides an electrical connection from the first conductive structure to a voltage source or a voltage drain.

Abstract: A photonic device includes an optical coupler, a photodetector, a waveguide structure, a metal-dielectric stack, a contact, an interlayer dielectric layer, and a protection layer. The optical coupler, the photodetector, and the waveguide structure are over a substrate. The waveguide structure is laterally connected to the optical couple. A top of the waveguide structure is lower than a top of the optical coupler. The metal-dielectric stack is over the optical coupler, the photodetector, and the waveguide structure. The metal-dielectric stack has a hole above the optical coupler. The contact connects the photodetector to the metal-dielectric stack. The interlayer dielectric layer is below the metal-dielectric stack and surrounds the contact. The protection layer lines the hole of the metal-dielectric stack. A bottom surface of the protection layer is lower than a top surface of the contact.