Abstract: A bonding tool includes a bonding monitoring system. The bonding monitoring system may include one or more sensors that are configured to generate bonding wave propagation data associated with a bonding operation. As a bond between a top semiconductor substrate and a bottom semiconductor substrate propagates from respective centers to respective perimeters of the top semiconductor substrate and the bottom semiconductor substrate, the one or more sensors of the bonding monitoring system generates the bonding wave propagation data. A controller that communicates with the one or more sensors receives the bonding wave propagation data from the one or more sensors. The controller may monitor the bonding wave propagation based on the bonding wave propagation data and/or may determine various performance parameters of the bonding operation, such as a bonding wave propagation rate and/or a bonding wave propagation uniformity, among other examples.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery charging system and method. The battery charging method includes: determining a degree of healthy of a battery module according to an evaluation mechanism; setting a charging standard according to the degree of healthy; by handshaking with a charger, setting a charging voltage for the charger according to the charging standard to charge the battery module; and by the charger, perform a charging operation on the battery module until a fully charged condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A system on chip (SoC) die package is attached to a redistribution structure of a semiconductor device package such that a top surface of the SoC die package is above a top surface of an adjacent memory die package. This may be achieved through the use of various attachment structures that increase the height of the SoC die package. After encapsulating the memory die package and the SoC die package in an encapsulation layer, the encapsulation layer is grinded down. The top surface of the SoC die package being above the top surface of the adjacent memory die package results in the top surface of the SoC die package being exposed through the encapsulation layer after the grinding operation. This enables heat to be dissipated through the top surface of the SoC die package.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: The battery pack with the plurality of batteries is determined to have been fully charged and set in a stationary state, the discharge operation proceeds according to specified relationships of the voltage of each battery, a first predetermined voltage difference, and a discharge starting voltage, or the balance operation proceeds according to specified relationships of the voltage of each battery, the first predetermined voltage difference, a balance starting voltage and a second predetermined voltage difference.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a shallow trench isolation structure, a dielectric layer, a gate, a source and a drain. The substrate includes a first region and a second region. The shallow trench isolation structure is arranged on the first region and the second region, and the shallow trench isolation structure is lower than a surface of the substrate and forms an opening. The dielectric layer is arranged in the opening and on the substrate, and a height of the dielectric layer in the second region is greater than that in the first region. The gate is arranged on the dielectric layer. The source is arranged on the substrate and located on a side of the gate. The drain is arranged on the substrate and located on the other side of the gate.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor device, a plurality of photo sensitive regions, a dielectric layer, a grid structure, and a plurality of convex dielectric lenses. The photo sensitive regions are in the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is over a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate. The grid structure is over a backside surface of the dielectric layer. The grid structure includes a plurality of grid lines. Each of the grid lines comprises a lower portion and an upper portion forming an interface with the lower portion. The convex dielectric lenses are alternately arranged with the grid lines over the backside surface of the dielectric layer. Apexes of the plurality of convex dielectric lenses are higher than an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion of each of the grid lines.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor device, a plurality of photo sensitive regions, a dielectric layer, a grid structure, and a plurality of convex dielectric lenses. The plurality of photo sensitive regions are in the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is on a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate facing away from the plurality of photo sensitive regions. The grid structure is on a backside surface of the dielectric layer facing away from the semiconductor substrate. The grid structure includes a plurality of grid lines spaced from each other. The plurality of convex dielectric lenses are alternately arranged with the plurality of grid lines of the grid structure on the backside surface of the dielectric layer. Apexes of the plurality of convex dielectric lenses are lower than top ends of the plurality of grid lines of the grid structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: An improved conductive feature for a semiconductor device and a technique for forming the feature are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate structure formed thereupon. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a growth control material disposed on a side surface of the gate structure, and a gate electrode fill material disposed on the growth control material. The gate electrode fill material is also disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure that is free of the growth control material. In some such embodiments, the gate electrode fill material contacts a first surface and a second surface that are different in composition.

Abstract: Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor device, a plurality of photo sensitive regions, a dielectric layer, a grid structure, and a plurality of convex dielectric lenses. The plurality of photo sensitive regions are in the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is on a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate facing away from the plurality of photo sensitive regions. The grid structure is on a backside surface of the dielectric layer facing away from the semiconductor substrate. The grid structure includes a plurality of grid lines spaced from each other. The plurality of convex dielectric lenses are alternately arranged with the plurality of grid lines of the grid structure on the backside surface of the dielectric layer. Apexes of the plurality of convex dielectric lenses are lower than top ends of the plurality of grid lines of the grid structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a substrate, a pixel circuit, a dielectric structure, a photo sensitive element, a grid, and a convex dielectric lens. The substrate has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The pixel circuit is disposed on the first side of the substrate. The dielectric structure is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The photo sensitive element is disposed between the pixel circuit and the dielectric structure. The grid is disposed on the dielectric structure. The convex dielectric lens is disposed on the dielectric structure. The convex dielectric lens has a convex side. A topmost of the convex side is above an interface between the dielectric structure and the grid.

Abstract: An improved conductive feature for a semiconductor device and a technique for forming the feature are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate structure formed thereupon. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a growth control material disposed on a side surface of the gate structure, and a gate electrode fill material disposed on the growth control material. The gate electrode fill material is also disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure that is free of the growth control material. In some such embodiments, the gate electrode fill material contacts a first surface and a second surface that are different in composition.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.

Abstract: An improved conductive feature for a semiconductor device and a technique for forming the feature are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate structure formed thereupon. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a growth control material disposed on a side surface of the gate structure, and a gate electrode fill material disposed on the growth control material. The gate electrode fill material is also disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure that is free of the growth control material. In some such embodiments, the gate electrode fill material contacts a first surface and a second surface that are different in composition.

Abstract: Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.