Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprising a first layer, a metal layer and a second layer is disclosed. The first layer comprises a recessed surface. The metal layer is above a portion of the recessed surface. The second layer is above the metal layer and confined by the recessed surface. The second layer comprises a top surface, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The etch rate of an etchant with respect to the metal layer is greater than the etch rate of the etchant with respect to the second layer. The thickness of the second layer in the middle of the second layer is less than the thickness of the second layer at the first lateral side or the second lateral side. A method of forming a semiconductor structure is disclosed.

Abstract: A die includes a first plurality of edges, and a semiconductor substrate in the die. The semiconductor substrate includes a first portion including a second plurality of edges misaligned with respective ones of the first plurality of edges. The semiconductor substrate further includes a second portion extending from one of the second plurality of edges to one of the first plurality of edges of the die. The second portion includes a first end connected to the one of the second plurality of edges, and a second end having an edge aligned to the one of the first plurality of edges of the die.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including receiving a FinFET precursor including a fin structure formed between isolation regions, and a gate structure formed over a portion of the fin structure such that a sidewall of the fin structure is in contact with a gate spacer of the gate structure; patterning the fin structure to comprise a pattern of at least one upward step rising from the isolation region; forming a capping layer over the fin structure, the isolation region, and the gate structure; performing an annealing process on the FinFET precursor to form at least two dislocations along the upward step; and removing the capping layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a metal gate stack over a semiconductor substrate. The method also includes performing a hydrogen-containing plasma treatment on the metal gate stack to modify a surface of the metal gate stack. The hydrogen-containing plasma treatment includes exciting a gas mixture including a first hydrogen-containing gas and a second hydrogen-containing gas to generate a hydrogen-containing plasma.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more image sensors and techniques for forming such image sensors are provided. An image sensor comprises a photodiode array configured to detect light. The image sensor comprises a calibration region configured to detect a color level for image reproduction, such as a black calibration region configured to detect a black level for an image detected by the photodiode array. The image sensor comprises a dielectric film that is formed over the photodiode array and the calibration region. The dielectric film is configured to balance stress between the photodiode and the calibration region in order to improve accuracy of the calibration region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an impurity diffusion stop layer formed in a recess of the substrate between the source region and the drain region, wherein the impurity diffusion stop layer covers bottom and sidewalls of the recess. The semiconductor device further includes a channel layer formed over the impurity diffusion stop layer and in the recess, and a gate stack formed over the channel layer.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including receiving a FinFET precursor including a fin structure formed between isolation regions, and a gate structure formed over a portion of the fin structure such that a sidewall of the fin structure is in contact with a gate spacer of the gate structure; patterning the fin structure to comprise a pattern of at least one upward step rising from the isolation region; forming a capping layer over the fin structure, the isolation region, and the gate structure; performing an annealing process on the FinFET precursor to form at least two dislocations along the upward step; and removing the capping layer.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a dual shallow trench isolation structure, a substrate is provided, and a mask layer is formed on the substrate. The mask layer is patterned by using a photomask to form at least one first hole and at least one second hole in the mask layer, in which a depth of the at least one first hole is different from a depth of the at least one second hole. The mask layer and the substrate are etched to form at least one first trench having a first depth and at least one second trench having a second depth, in which the first depth is different from the second depth. The remaining mask layer is removed. A first isolation layer and A second isolation layer are respectively formed in the at least one first trench and the at least one second trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active region and a trench isolation. The active region is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The trench isolation is disposed adjacent to the active region. The trench isolation includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is located on the lower portion. The upper portion has a width gradually decreased from a junction between the upper portion and the lower portion toward a top of the trench isolation. In a method for fabricating the semiconductor device, at first, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a trench in the semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulator fills the trench to form the trench isolation. Thereafter, the gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a recess adjacent to the trench isolation. Thereafter, at least one doped epitaxial layer grows in the recess.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes an isolation structure in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding an active region of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device includes a gate over the semiconductor substrate. The gate has an intermediate portion over the active region and two end portions connected to the intermediate portion. Each of the end portions has a first gate length longer than a second gate length of the intermediate portion and is located over the isolation structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an impurity diffusion stop layer formed in a recess of the substrate between the source region and the drain region, wherein the impurity diffusion stop layer covers bottom and sidewalls of the recess. The semiconductor device further includes a channel layer formed over the impurity diffusion stop layer and in the recess, and a gate stack formed over the channel layer. The impurity diffusion stop layer substantially prevents impurities of the substrate and the source and drain regions from diffusing into the channel layer.

Abstract: A photodiode structure includes a photodiode and a concave reflector disposed below the photodiode. The concave reflector is arranged to reflect incident light from above back toward the photodiode.

Abstract: A die includes a first plurality of edges, and a semiconductor substrate in the die. The semiconductor substrate includes a first portion including a second plurality of edges misaligned with respective ones of the first plurality of edges. The semiconductor substrate further includes a second portion extending from one of the second plurality of edges to one of the first plurality of edges of the die. The second portion includes a first end connected to the one of the second plurality of edges, and a second end having an edge aligned to the one of the first plurality of edges of the die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first material formed on a substrate. The first material includes a first alignment mark. The first alignment mark includes alignment lines in at least three directions. The semiconductor device further includes a second material comprising a second alignment mark. The second alignment mark corresponds to the first alignment mark such that when the second alignment mark is aligned with the first alignment mark, the second material is aligned with the first material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having an open profile gate electrode, and a method of manufacture, are provided. A funnel-shaped opening is formed in a dielectric layer and a gate electrode is formed in the funnel-shaped opening, thereby providing a gate electrode having an open profile. In some embodiments, first and second gate spacers are formed alongside a dummy gate electrode. The dummy gate electrode is removed and upper portions of the first and second gate spacers are removed. The first and second gate spacers may be formed of different materials having different etch rates.

Abstract: A die includes a first plurality of edges, and a semiconductor substrate in the die. The semiconductor substrate includes a first portion including a second plurality of edges misaligned with respective ones of the first plurality of edges. The semiconductor substrate further includes a second portion extending from one of the second plurality of edges to one of the first plurality of edges of the die. The second portion includes a first end connected to the one of the second plurality of edges, and a second end having an edge aligned to the one of the first plurality of edges of the die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an impurity diffusion stop layer formed in a recess of the substrate between the source region and the drain region, wherein the impurity diffusion stop layer covers bottom and sidewalls of the recess. The semiconductor device further includes a channel layer formed over the impurity diffusion stop layer and in the recess, and a gate stack formed over the channel layer. The impurity diffusion stop layer substantially prevents impurities of the substrate and the source and drain regions from diffusing into the channel layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device having a channel region comprising a sandwich film stack with a plurality of different layers that improve device performance, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by selectively etching a semiconductor substrate to form a recess along a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A sandwich film stack having a plurality of nested layers is formed within the recess. At least two of the nested layers include different materials that improve different aspects of the performance of the transistor device. A gate structure is formed over the sandwich film stack. The gate structure controls the flow of charge carriers in a channel region having the sandwich film stack, which is laterally positioned between a source region and a drain region disposed within the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit (IC) including one or more field-effect transistor devices. A field effect transistor device includes source/drain regions disposed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate and separated from one another along a first direction by a channel region. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region, which has an upper STI surface, laterally surrounds the active region. The STI region includes trench regions, which have lower trench surfaces below the upper STI surface and which extend from opposite sides of the channel region in a second direction which intersects the first direction. A metal gate electrode extends in the second direction and has lower portions which are disposed in the trench regions and which are separated from one another by the channel region. The metal gate electrode has an upper portion bridging over the channel region to couple the lower portions to one another.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active region and a trench isolation. The active region is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The trench isolation is disposed adjacent to the active region. The trench isolation includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is located on the lower portion. The upper portion has a width gradually decreased from a junction between the upper portion and the lower portion toward a top of the trench isolation. In a method for fabricating the semiconductor device, at first, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a trench in the semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulator fills the trench to form the trench isolation. Thereafter, the gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a recess adjacent to the trench isolation. Thereafter, at least one doped epitaxial layer grows in the recess.