Abstract: A warp scheduling method includes: storing multiple first warps issued to a streaming multiprocessor in an instruction buffer module; marking multiple second warps which are able to be scheduled in the first warps by a schedulable warp indication window, wherein the number of the marked second warps is the size of the schedulable warp indication window; sampling a load/store unit stall cycle in each time interval to obtain a load/store unit stall cycle proportion; comparing the load/store unit stall cycle proportion with a stall cycle threshold value, and adjusting the size of the schedulable warp indication window and determining the second warps according to the comparison result; and issuing the second warps from the instruction buffer module to a processing module for execution.

Abstract: A warp scheduling method includes: storing plural of first warps issued to a streaming multiprocessor in an instruction buffer module; marking plural of second warps which are able to be scheduled in the first warps by a schedulable warp indication window, wherein the number of the marked second warps is the size of the schedulable warp indication window; sampling the read/storage unit stall cycle in each time interval to obtain a read/storage unit stall cycle proportion; comparing the read/storage unit stall cycle proportion with the stall cycle threshold, and adjusting the size of the schedulable warp indication window and determining the second warps according to the comparison result; issuing the second warps from the instruction buffer module to a corresponding one of the processing modules for execution.

Abstract: A die stack structure includes a first die, a dielectric material layer, a first bonding dielectric layer and a second die. The first die has an active surface and a rear surface opposite to the active surface. The first die includes a through-substrate via (TSV) therein. The TSV protrudes from the rear surface of the first die. The dielectric material layer surrounds and wraps around the first die. The first bonding dielectric layer is disposed on a top surface of the dielectric material layer and the rear surface of the first die and covers the TSV, wherein the TSV penetrates through the first bonding dielectric layer. The second die is disposed on the first die and has an active surface and a rear surface opposite to the active surface. The second die has a second bonding dielectric layer and a conductive feature disposed in the second bonding dielectric layer.

Abstract: A die stack structure includes a first die, a dielectric material layer, a first bonding dielectric layer and a second die. The first die has an active surface and a rear surface opposite to the active surface. The first die includes a through-substrate via (TSV) therein. The TSV protrudes from the rear surface of the first die. The dielectric material layer surrounds and wraps around the first die. The first bonding dielectric layer is disposed on a top surface of the dielectric material layer and the rear surface of the first die and covers the TSV, wherein the TSV penetrates through the first bonding dielectric layer. The second die is disposed on the first die and has an active surface and a rear surface opposite to the active surface. The second die has a second bonding dielectric layer and a conductive feature disposed in the second bonding dielectric layer.

Abstract: A frame rate control method is provided. The frame rate control method includes the following step: detecting a frame rate of an image signal generated by an image processing apparatus to generate a first detection result; detecting a system load on the image processing apparatus to generate a second detection result; and determining whether to provide a frame rate limit to limit the frame rate according to at least the first detection result and the second detection result.

Abstract: Concepts and examples pertaining to scenario-based policy for performance and power management in an electronic apparatus are described. A processor of an electronic apparatus determines whether an application currently executed on the electronic apparatus is of a predefined type of applications. The processor controls one or more aspects of operations of the electronic apparatus in executing the application responsive to the determining indicating the application being of the predefined type of applications.

Abstract: A frame rate control method is provided. The frame rate control method includes the following step: detecting a frame rate of an image signal generated by an image processing apparatus to generate a first detection result; detecting a system load on the image processing apparatus to generate a second detection result; and determining whether to provide a frame rate limit to limit the frame rate according to at least the first detection result and the second detection result.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate having a first area and a second area; a through substrate via (TSV) in the substrate penetrating the first area of the substrate; an isolation layer over the second area of the substrate, the isolation layer having a recess; and a conductive material in the recess of the isolation layer, the isolation layer being disposed between the conductive material and the substrate in the recess.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate having a first area and a second area; a through substrate via (TSV) in the substrate penetrating the first area of the substrate; an isolation layer over the second area of the substrate, the isolation layer having a recess; and a conductive material in the recess of the isolation layer, the isolation layer being disposed between the conductive material and the substrate in the recess.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate having a first area and a second area; a through substrate via (TSV) in the substrate penetrating the first area of the substrate; an isolation layer over the second area of the substrate, the isolation layer having a recess; and a conductive material in the recess of the isolation layer, the isolation layer being disposed between the conductive material and the substrate in the recess.

Abstract: A multi-layer interconnect structure for stacked die configurations is provided. Through-substrate vias are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned to expose the through-substrate vias. An isolation film is formed over the backside of the semiconductor substrate and the exposed portion of the through-substrate vias. A first conductive element is formed electrically coupled to respective ones of the through-substrate vias and extending over the isolation film. One or more additional layers of isolation films and conductive elements may be formed, with connection elements such as solder balls being electrically coupled to the uppermost conductive elements.

Abstract: A multi-layer interconnect structure for stacked die configurations is provided. Through-substrate vias are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned to expose the through-substrate vias. An isolation film is formed over the backside of the semiconductor substrate and the exposed portion of the through-substrate vias. A first conductive element is formed electrically coupled to respective ones of the through-substrate vias and extending over the isolation film. One or more additional layers of isolation films and conductive elements may be formed, with connection elements such as solder balls being electrically coupled to the uppermost conductive elements.

Abstract: A multi-layer interconnect structure for stacked die configurations is provided. Through-substrate vias are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned to expose the through-substrate vias. An isolation film is formed over the backside of the semiconductor substrate and the exposed portion of the through-substrate vias. A first conductive element is formed electrically coupled to respective ones of the through-substrate vias and extending over the isolation film. One or more additional layers of isolation films and conductive elements may be formed, with connection elements such as solder balls being electrically coupled to the uppermost conductive elements.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate having a first area and a second area; a through substrate via (TSV) in the substrate penetrating the first area of the substrate; an isolation layer over the second area of the substrate, the isolation layer having a recess; and a conductive material in the recess of the isolation layer, the isolation layer being disposed between the conductive material and the substrate in the recess.

Abstract: A multi-layer interconnect structure for stacked die configurations is provided. Through-substrate vias are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned to expose the through-substrate vias. An isolation film is formed over the backside of the semiconductor substrate and the exposed portion of the through-substrate vias. A first conductive element is formed electrically coupled to respective ones of the through-substrate vias and extending over the isolation film. One or more additional layers of isolation films and conductive elements may be formed, with connection elements such as solder balls being electrically coupled to the uppermost conductive elements.

Abstract: A multi-step cleaning procedure cleans phase shift photomasks and other photomasks and Mo-containing surfaces. In one embodiment, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light produced by an Xe2 excimer laser converts oxygen to ozone that is used in a first cleaning operation. The VUV/ozone clean may be followed by a wet SC1 chemical clean and the two-step cleaning procedure reduces phase-shift loss and increases transmission. In another embodiment, the first step may use other means to form a molybdenum oxide on the Mo-containing surface. In another embodiment, the multi-step cleaning operation provides a wet chemical clean such as SC1 or SPM or both, followed by a further chemical or physical treatment such as ozone, baking or electrically ionized water.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for depositing a Black Diamond layer in a CVD chamber. Trimethylsilane, O2, and Ar are flowed into the chamber at 300° C. to 400° C. with an O2:Ar:trimethylsilane flow rate ratio that is preferably 1:1.5:6. The resulting low k dielectric layer is formed with a higher deposition rate than when Ar is omitted and has a k value of about 3 that increases only slightly in O2 plasma. A higher density, hardness, and tensile strength are achieved in the Black Diamond layer when Ar is included in the deposition process. The addition of Ar in the deposition maintains film thickness uniformity below 2% for a longer period so that PM cleaning operations are less frequent and affords a lower fluorocarbon plasma etch rate to enable improved trench depth control in a damascene scheme. A lower leakage current and higher breakdown voltage in achieved in the resulting metal interconnect.