Abstract: A bonded assembly may be formed by: providing a substrate and a semiconductor chip in a low-oxygen ambient having an oxygen partial pressure that is lower than 17 kPa; disposing the semiconductor chip on the substrate; performing a plasma treatment process on a copper-containing surface of a chip bonding pad on the semiconductor chip in the low-oxygen ambient by directing a plasma jet to the chip bonding pad; and attaching a bonding wire to the semiconductor chip and to the substrate such that a first end of the bonding wire is attached to the copper-containing surface and a second end of the bonding wire is attached to a substrate bonding pad on the substrate.

Abstract: A bonded assembly may be formed by providing at least a first packaging substrate in a low-oxygen ambient; providing at least a first semiconductor package in the low-oxygen ambient; performing a first plasma package-treatment process on the first semiconductor package in the low-oxygen ambient by directing at least one first plasma jet to first solder material portions bonded to the first semiconductor package; and bringing the first solder material portions onto, or in proximity to, first substrate-side bonding structures located on the first packaging substrate while the at least one first plasma jet is directed to the first solder material portions. The first substrate-side bonding structures are treated with the first plasma jet. The first semiconductor package is bonded to the first packaging substrate while, or after, the first substrate-side bonding structures are treated with the first plasma jet.

Abstract: A bonded assembly may be formed by providing a wafer comprising at least a first packaging substrate and a second packaging substrate in a low-oxygen ambient; performing a first plasma package-treatment process on the first semiconductor package in the low-oxygen ambient while performing a first substrate-treatment process on the first packaging substrate in a low-oxygen ambient having an oxygen partial pressure that is lower than 17 kPa; and performing a second plasma package-treatment process on the second semiconductor package while performing a second substrate-treatment process on the second packaging substrate and while bonding the first semiconductor package to the first packaging substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a bottom dielectric feature on a substrate, a plurality of channel members directly over the bottom dielectric feature, a gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of channel members, two first epitaxial features sandwiching the bottom dielectric feature along a first direction, and two second epitaxial features sandwiching the plurality of channel members along the first direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial region having a front side and a backside. The semiconductor structure includes an amorphous layer formed over the backside of the epitaxial region, wherein the amorphous layer includes silicon. The semiconductor structure includes a first silicide layer formed over the amorphous layer. The semiconductor structure includes a first metal contact formed over the first silicide layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first gate structure disposed over a first backside dielectric feature, a second gate structure disposed over a second backside dielectric feature, and a gate cut feature extending continuously from laterally between the first gate structure and the second gate structure to laterally between the first backside dielectric feature and the second backside dielectric feature. The gate cut feature includes an air gap laterally between the first gate structure and the second gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a bottom dielectric feature on a substrate, a plurality of channel members directly over the bottom dielectric feature, a gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of channel members, two first epitaxial features sandwiching the bottom dielectric feature along a first direction, and two second epitaxial features sandwiching the plurality of channel members along the first direction.

Abstract: A bonding tool and a bonding method are provided. The method includes attaching a semiconductor die to a bonding tool having a first surface, wherein the bonding tool comprises a bending member movably arranged in a trench of the bonding tool, and the bending member protrudes from the first surface and bends the semiconductor die; moving the semiconductor die toward a semiconductor wafer to cause a retraction of the bending member and a partial bonding at a portion of the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer; and causing a full bonding between the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the partial bonding.

Abstract: An input/output circuit (I/O circuit) includes the following elements. An input/output pad (I/O pad) has a plurality of operation mode, including an output mode, a normal input mode and a tolerance mode of an input mode. A first control circuit provides a first control signal in response to a pad voltage of the I/O pad and a supply voltage. A first P-type transistor has a first body region to receive a first control signal. A second P-type transistor has a second body region to receive the first control signal. In the input mode, when the pad voltage is lower than or equal to the supply voltage, the I/O pad operates in the normal input mode, and, when the pad voltage is higher than the supply voltage, the I/O pad operates in the tolerance mode, and voltage of the first control signal is equal to pad voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a stack of semiconductor nanostructures over a base structure and a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure sandwiching the semiconductor nanostructures. The semiconductor device structure also includes a gate stack wrapped around each of the semiconductor nanostructures and a backside conductive contact connected to the second epitaxial structure. A first portion of the backside conductive contact is directly below the base structure, and a second portion of the backside conductive contact extends upwards to approach a bottom surface of the second epitaxial structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes an insulating spacer between a sidewall of the base structure and the backside conductive contact.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly and a stopping assembly. The fixed assembly has a main axis. The movable assembly is configured to connect an optical element, and the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The stopping assembly is configured to limit the movement of the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly within a range of motion.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece including a frontside and a backside. The workpiece includes a substrate, a first plurality of channel members over a first portion of the substrate, a second plurality of channel members over a second portion of the substrate, an isolation feature sandwiched between the first and second portions of the substrate. The method also includes forming a joint gate structure to wrap around each of the first and second pluralities of channel members, forming a pilot opening in the isolation feature, extending the pilot opening through the join gate structure to form a gate cut opening that separates the joint gate structure into a first gate structure and a second gate structure, and depositing a dielectric material into the gate cut opening to form a gate cut feature.

Abstract: An optical system is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable element and a driving module. The fixed assembly has a main axis. The movable element is movable relative to the fixed assembly and coupled to a first optical element. The driving module is configured to drive the movable element to move relative to the fixed assembly. The driving module includes a first driving assembly and a second driving assembly, and the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly are individually operable.

Abstract: A dummy gate electrode and a dummy gate dielectric are removed to form a recess between adjacent gate spacers. A gate dielectric is deposited in the recess, and a barrier layer is deposited over the gate dielectric. A first work function layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A first anti-reaction layer is formed over the first work function layer, the first anti-reaction layer reducing oxidation of the first work function layer. A fill material is deposited over the first anti-reaction layer.

Abstract: A die bonding tool includes a bond head that secures a semiconductor die against a planar surface of the bond head, an actuator system that moves the bond head and the semiconductor die towards a surface of a target substrate, and at least one contact sensor configured to detect an initial contact between a first region of the semiconductor die and the surface of the target substrate, where in response to detecting the initial contact between the semiconductor die and the target substrate, the actuator tilts the planar surface of the bond head and the semiconductor die to bring a second region of the semiconductor die into contact with the surface of the target substrate and thereby provide improved contact between the semiconductor die and the target substrate and more effective bonding including instances where the planar surface of the bond head and the target substrate surface are not parallel.

Abstract: A bonding tool and a bonding method are provided. The method includes attaching a semiconductor die to a bonding tool having a first surface, wherein the bonding tool comprises a bending member movably arranged in a trench of the bonding tool, and the bending member protrudes from the first surface and bends the semiconductor die; moving the semiconductor die toward a semiconductor wafer to cause a retraction of the bending member and a partial bonding at a portion of the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer; and causing a full bonding between the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the partial bonding.

Abstract: A bonding tool and a bonding method are provided. The method includes attaching a semiconductor die to a bonding tool having a first surface, wherein the bonding tool comprises a bending member movably arranged in a trench of the bonding tool, and the bending member protrudes from the first surface and bends the semiconductor die; moving the semiconductor die toward a semiconductor wafer to cause a retraction of the bending member and a partial bonding at a portion of the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer; and causing a full bonding between the semiconductor die and the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the partial bonding.

Abstract: A die dipping structure includes a plate including a first recessed portion having a first depth and filled with a first flux material. The plate further includes a second recessed portion, isolated from the first recessed portion, with a second depth and filled with a second flux material. The second depth is different from the first depth. The die dipping structure further includes a motor configured to move the plate so as to simultaneously dip a first die and a second die into the flux of the first recessed portion and the flux of the second recessed portion, respectively.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a wafer stage, a first chip stage, a first chip transporting device, a second stage and a second chip transporting device. The wafer stage is used for holding a wafer. The first chip stage is used for holding at least one first chip. The first chip transporting device is used for transporting the first chip from the first chip stage onto the wafer. The second chip stage is used for holding at least one second chip. The second chip transporting device is used for transporting the second chip from the second chip stage onto the wafer.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a wafer stage, a first chip stage, a first transporting device, a second stage and a second transporting device. The wafer stage is used for holding a wafer. The first chip stage is used for holding at least one first chip. The first transporting device is used for transporting the first chip from the first chip stage onto the wafer. The second chip stage is used for holding at least one second chip. The second transporting device is used for transporting the second chip from the second chip stage onto the wafer.