Abstract: An optical integrated circuit (IC) structure includes: a substrate including a fiber slot formed in an upper surface of the substrate and extending from an edge of the substrate, and an undercut formed in the upper surface and extending from the fiber slot; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric structure disposed on the semiconductor layer; an interconnect structure disposed in the dielectric structure; a plurality of vents that extend through a coupling region of the dielectric structure and expose the undercut; a fiber cavity that extends through the coupling region of dielectric structure and exposes the fiber slot; and a barrier ring disposed in the dielectric structure, the barrier ring surrounding the interconnect structure and routed around the perimeter of the coupling region.

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. An angle between the optical fiber and a top surface of the chip ranges from about 92-degrees to about 88-degrees. The chip includes a grating configured to receive the optical signal; and a waveguide, wherein the grating is configured to receive the optical signal and redirect the optical signal along the waveguide. ms.

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: At least one doped silicon region is formed in a silicon layer of a semiconductor substrate, and a silicon oxide layer is formed over the silicon layer. A germanium-containing material portion is formed in the semiconductor substrate to provide a p-n junction or a p-i-n junction including the germanium-containing material portion and one of the at least one doped silicon region. A capping material layer that is free of germanium is formed over the germanium-containing material portion. A first dielectric material layer is formed over the silicon oxide layer and the capping material layer. The first dielectric material layer includes a mesa region that is raised from the germanium-containing material portion by a thickness of the capping material layer. The capping material layer may be a silicon capping layer, or may be subsequently removed to form a cavity. Dark current is reduced for the germanium-containing material portion.

Abstract: A method includes following steps. A first III-V compound layer is epitaxially grown over a semiconductive substrate. The first III-V compound layer has an energy gap in a gradient distribution. A source/drain contact is formed over the first III-V compound layer. A gate structure is formed over the first III-V compound layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photonic device includes: forming a photonic device structure that includes a SOI substrate, which includes a bulk substrate layer, a buried oxide layer on the bulk substrate layer and an active semiconductor layer on the buried oxide layer; forming an electrically conducting layer in electrical contact of the buried oxide layer, and forming a BEOL structure on a surface of the active silicon layer.

Abstract: At least one doped silicon region is formed in a silicon layer of a semiconductor substrate, and a silicon oxide layer is formed over the silicon layer. A germanium-containing material portion is formed in the semiconductor substrate to provide a p-n junction or a p-i-n junction including the germanium-containing material portion and one of the at least one doped silicon region. A capping material layer that is free of germanium is formed over the germanium-containing material portion. A first dielectric material layer is formed over the silicon oxide layer and the capping material layer. The first dielectric material layer includes a mesa region that is raised from the germanium-containing material portion by a thickness of the capping material layer. The capping material layer may be a silicon capping layer, or may be subsequently removed to form a cavity. Dark current is reduced for the germanium-containing material portion.

Abstract: A method includes epitaxially growing a first III-V compound layer over a semiconductive substrate. A second III-V compound layer is epitaxially grown over the first III-V compound layer. A source/drain contact is formed over the second III-V compound layer. A gate structure is formed over the second III-V compound layer. A pattern is formed shielding the gate structure and the source/drain contact, in which a portion of the second III-V compound layer is free from coverage by the pattern.

Abstract: An optical structure may be provided by forming a silicon grating structure over a dielectric material layer, depositing at least one dielectric material layer over the silicon grating structure, and depositing at least one dielectric etch stop layer over the at least one dielectric material layer. The at least one dielectric etch stop layer includes at least one dielectric material selected from silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride. A passivation dielectric layer may be formed over the at least one dielectric etch stop layer, and a patterned etch mask layer may be formed over the passivation dielectric layer. An opening may be formed through an unmasked portion of the passivation dielectric layer by performing an anisotropic etch process that etches the dielectric material selective to a silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride using the patterned etch mask layer as a masking structure. The at least one etch mask layer minimizes overetching.

Abstract: A photonic device includes an optical coupler, a waveguide structure, a metal-dielectric stack, and a protection layer. The optical coupler is over a semiconductor substrate. The waveguide structure is over the semiconductor substrate and laterally connected to the optical coupler. A top of the waveguide structure is lower than a top of the optical coupler. The metal-dielectric stack is over the optical coupler and the waveguide structure. The metal-dielectric stack has a hole above the optical coupler. The protection layer lines the hole of the metal-dielectric stack.

Abstract: At least one doped silicon region is formed in a silicon layer of a semiconductor substrate, and a silicon oxide layer is formed over the silicon layer. A germanium-containing material portion is formed in the semiconductor substrate to provide a p-n junction or a p-i-n junction including the germanium-containing material portion and one of the at least one doped silicon region. A capping material layer that is free of germanium is formed over the germanium-containing material portion. A first dielectric material layer is formed over the silicon oxide layer and the capping material layer. The first dielectric material layer includes a mesa region that is raised from the germanium-containing material portion by a thickness of the capping material layer. The capping material layer may be a silicon capping layer, or may be subsequently removed to form a cavity. Dark current is reduced for the germanium-containing material portion.

Abstract: An optical structure may be provided by forming a silicon grating structure over a dielectric material layer, depositing at least one dielectric material layer over the silicon grating structure, and depositing at least one dielectric etch stop layer over the at least one dielectric material layer. The at least one dielectric etch stop layer includes at least one dielectric material selected from silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride. A passivation dielectric layer may be formed over the at least one dielectric etch stop layer, and a patterned etch mask layer may be formed over the passivation dielectric layer. An opening may be formed through an unmasked portion of the passivation dielectric layer by performing an anisotropic etch process that etches the dielectric material selective to a silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride using the patterned etch mask layer as a masking structure. The at least one etch mask layer minimizes overetching.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a photonic device is provided. The method includes forming an optical coupler and a waveguide structure connected to the optical coupler over a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal-dielectric stack over the optical coupler and the waveguide structure; etching a hole in the metal-dielectric stack and vertically overlapping the optical coupler; and forming a protection layer on a sidewall and a bottom of the hole.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a photonic device is provided. The method includes forming an optical coupler and a waveguide structure connected to the optical coupler over a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal-dielectric stack over the optical coupler and the waveguide structure; etching a hole in the metal-dielectric stack and vertically overlapping the optical coupler; and forming a protection layer on a sidewall and a bottom of the hole.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a photonic device is provided. The method includes patterning a semiconductor layer to form a waveguide structure, a semiconductor structure connected to the waveguide structure, and a dummy semiconductor structure disconnected from the waveguide structure and the semiconductor structure; epitaxially growing an epitaxial semiconductor feature over the semiconductor structure and a dummy epitaxial semiconductor feature over the dummy semiconductor structure; depositing a first capping film over the epitaxial semiconductor feature and the dummy epitaxial semiconductor feature; depositing a second capping film over the first capping film, wherein an oxide concentration of the second capping film is greater than an oxide concentration of the first capping film; and patterning the first and second capping films to form at least a dummy composite capping layer over the dummy epitaxial semiconductor feature.

Abstract: A method includes epitaxially growing a first III-V compound layer over a semiconductive substrate. A second III-V compound layer is epitaxially grown over the first III-V compound layer. A source/drain contact is formed over the second III-V compound layer. A gate structure is formed over the second III-V compound layer. A pattern is formed shielding the gate structure and the source/drain contact, in which a portion of the second III-V compound layer is free from coverage by the pattern.

Abstract: An infrared image sensor component includes a semiconductor substrate, an active pixel region disposed on the semiconductor substrate for receiving an infrared ray, and a transistor coupled to the active pixel region. The transistor includes a gate and a source/drain stressor disposed adjacent to the gate. The active pixel region includes a III-V compound material.

Abstract: A method of making a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor includes forming a copper bulk layer in a base layer, wherein the copper bulk layer includes a hillock extending from a top surface thereof. The method further includes depositing an etch stop layer over the base layer and the copper bulk layer. The method further includes depositing an oxide-based dielectric layer over the etch stop layer. The method further includes forming a capacitor over the oxide-based dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a contact extending through the oxide-based dielectric layer and the etch stop layer to contact the copper bulk layer, wherein the forming of the contact removes the hillock.

Abstract: An infrared image sensor component includes a semiconductor substrate, an active pixel region disposed on the semiconductor substrate for receiving an infrared ray, and a transistor coupled to the active pixel region. The transistor includes a gate and a source/drain stressor disposed adjacent to the gate. The active pixel region includes a III-V compound material.

Abstract: An infrared image sensor component includes at least one III-V compound layer on the semiconductor substrate, in which the portion of the III-V compound layer(s) uncovered by the patterns is utilized as active pixel region for detecting the incident infrared ray. The infrared image sensor component includes at least one transistor coupled to the active pixel region, and charge generated by the active pixel region is transmitted to the transistor.