Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes fin field-effect transistor (FinFETs) having shaped fins and regular fins. Shaped fins have top portions that may be smaller, larger, thinner, or shorter than top portions of regular fins. The bottom portions of shaped fins and regular fins are the same. FinFETs may have only one or more shaped fins, one or more regular fins, or a mixture of shaped fins and regular fins. A semiconductor manufacturing process to shape one fin includes forming a photolithographic opening of one fin, optionally doping a portion of the fin, and etching a portion of the fin.

Abstract: System and method for hierarchy reconstruction from a flattened layout are described. In one embodiment, a method for producing a reconstructed layout for an integrated circuit design from an original layout and a revised layout includes, for each pattern of the original layout, determining a pattern of the revised layout that corresponds to the pattern of the original layout; and assigning the corresponding pattern of the revised layout to a temporary instance, the temporary instance corresponding to an instance of the pattern of the original layout and citing to a temporary cell. The method further includes creating a temporary reconstructed layout from the temporary instances; and producing the reconstructed layout from the temporary reconstructed layout, wherein a hierarchy of the reconstructed layout is similar to a hierarchy of the original layout.

Abstract: This description relates to a fin field-effect-transistor (FinFET) including a substrate and a fin structure on the substrate. The fin structure includes a channel between a source and a drain, wherein the source, the drain, and the channel have a first type dopant, and the channel comprises at least one of a Ge, SiGe, or III-V semiconductor. The FinFET further includes a gate dielectric layer over the channel and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. The FinFET further includes a nitride spacer on the substrate adjacent the gate and an oxide layer between the nitride spacer and the gate and between the nitride spacer and the substrate.

Abstract: A lateral-vertical bipolar junction transistor (LVBJT) includes a well region of a first conductivity type over a substrate; a first dielectric over the well region; and a first electrode over the first dielectric. A collector of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type is in the well region and on a first side of the first electrode, and is adjacent the first electrode. An emitter of the second conductivity type is in the well region and on a second side of the first electrode, and is adjacent the first electrode, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. A collector extension region having a lower impurity concentration than the collector adjoins the collector and faces the emitter. The LVBJT does not have any emitter extension region facing the collector and adjoining the emitter.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes an LCD panel, and a common voltage generating circuit configured for providing common voltages to the LCD panel. The common voltage generating circuit includes a microprocessor, a timer, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a look up table. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the timer, the look up table, and the voltage adjustment circuit. The timer is configured for recording a continuous operated time of the LCD panel. The look up table is configured for storing optimal common voltages corresponding to each continuous operated time. The microprocessor is configured for reading the optimal common voltage at set intervals corresponding to the continuous operated time, and controlling the voltage adjustment circuit to provide the corresponding optimal common voltage to the LCD panel.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated in a matching fashion. The resulting FinFET structures are then optimized. Dummy patterns and a new metal layer may be generated before the FinFET layout is verified and outputted.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated in a matching fashion. The resulting FinFET structures are then optimized. Dummy patterns and a new metal layer may be generated before the FinFET layout is verified and outputted.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated in a matching fashion. The resulting FinFET structures are then optimized. Dummy patterns and a new metal layer may be generated before the FinFET layout is verified and outputted.

Abstract: A FinFET includes a substrate and a fin structure on the substrate. The fin structure includes a channel between a source and a drain, wherein the source, the drain, and the channel have the first type dopant. The channel includes a Ge, SiGe, or III-V semiconductor. A gate dielectric layer is located over the channel and a gate is located over the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of fins on a semiconductor substrate includes depositing a spacer layer to fill in gaps between the plurality of fins, the fins comprising a first material and the spacer layer comprising a second material. A first area is defined where the fins need to be broadened and a second area is defined where the fins do not need to be broadened. The method also includes patterning the spacer layer to remove spacers in the first area where the fins need to be broadened and applying an epitaxy process at a predetermined rate to grow a layer of the first material on fins in the first area. The spacer layer is removed in the second area where the fins do not need broadening.

Abstract: A semiconductor FinFET device includes a plurality of gate lines formed in a first direction, and two types of fin structures. A first type of fin structures is formed in a second direction, and a second type of fin structures formed perpendicular to the first type of fin structures. A contact hole couples to one or more of the second type of fin structures.

Abstract: A method includes growing a plurality of parallel mandrels on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, each mandrel having at least two laterally opposite sidewalls and a predetermined width. The method further includes forming a first type of spacers on the sidewalls of the mandrels, wherein the first type of spacers between two adjacent mandrels are separated by a gap. The predetermined mandrel width is adjusted to close the gap between the adjacent first type of spacers to form a second type of spacers. The mandrels are removed to form a first type of fins from the first type of spacers, and to form a second type of fins from spacers between two adjacent mandrels. The second type of fins are wider than the first type of fins.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. A plurality of elongate mandrels is defined in a plurality of active regions. Where adjacent active regions are partially-parallel and within a specified minimum spacing, connective elements are added to a portion of the space between the adjacent active regions to connect the mandrel ends from one active region to another active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate stack; an air-gap under the gate stack; a semiconductor layer vertically between the gate stack and the air-gap; and a first dielectric layer underlying and adjoining the semiconductor layer. The first dielectric layer is exposed to the air-gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate stack; an air-gap under the gate stack; a semiconductor layer vertically between the gate stack and the air-gap; and a first dielectric layer underlying and adjoining the semiconductor layer. The first dielectric layer is exposed to the air-gap.

Abstract: A FinFET device and method for fabricating a FinFET device is disclosed. An exemplary FinFET device includes a semiconductor substrate; a fin structure disposed over the semiconductor substrate; and a gate structure disposed on a portion of the fin structure. The gate structure traverses the fin structure and separates a source region and a drain region of the fin structure, the source and drain region defining a channel therebetween. The source and drain region of the fin structure include a strained source and drain feature. The strained source feature and the strained drain feature each include: a first portion having a first width and a first depth; and a second portion disposed below the first portion, the second portion having a second width and a second depth. The first width is greater than the second width, and the first depth is less than the second depth.

Abstract: A data correction apparatus, a data correction method and a tangible machine-readable medium thereof are provided. The data correction method comprises the following steps: receiving a plurality of packets; determining that all of the packets are erroneous packets according to cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information thereof; retrieving any number of pairs among the packets to proceed an exclusive-OR (XOR) logical calculation to generate a plurality of error patterns; obtaining an overall error pattern according to an OR logical calculation of the error patterns; and calculating a correct packet according to one or more of the packets and the overall error pattern.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a FinFET device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an initial layout containing an active region that has an edge extending in a first direction. The method includes designating a portion of the layout as a first region. The first region contains the active region. The method includes designating an elongate portion of the first region as a second region that extends in the first direction. The method includes designating a different elongate portion of the first region as a third region that extends in the first direction and that is adjacent to the second region in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes enlarging the active region if the edge of the active region falls inside the third region, and shrinking the active region if the edge of the active region falls outside the third region.

Abstract: A method for generating a layout for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first layout. A portion of the first layout is defined as a first FinFET region. The first FinFET region has first and second sides that each extend approximately in a first direction. The method includes performing a first design rule check (DRC) simulation. The method includes obtaining a first DRC simulation result. The method includes defining a second FinFET region by moving the first side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes performing a second DRC simulation. The method includes obtaining a second DRC simulation result. The method includes selecting one of the first and second FinFET regions based on the first and second DRC simulation results. The method includes generating a second layout using the selected FinFET region.