Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide semiconductor device structures and methods of forming the same. The structure includes a first source/drain region disposed in a PFET region and a second source/drain region disposed in an NFET region. The second source/drain region comprises a dipole region. The structure further includes a first silicide layer disposed on and in contact with the first source/drain region, a second silicide layer disposed on and in contact with the first silicide layer, and a third silicide layer disposed on and in contact with the dipole region of the second source/drain region. The first, second, and third silicide layers include different materials. The structure further includes a first conductive feature disposed over the first source/drain region, a second conductive feature disposed over the second source/drain region, and an interconnect structure disposed on the first and second conductive features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, and an interconnect structure extending through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes a low-k dielectric material which includes silicon carbonitride having a carbon content ranging from about 30 atomic % to about 45 atomic %. The semiconductor device further includes a thermal dissipation feature extending through the dielectric layer and disposed to be spaced apart from the interconnect structure.

Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, a hard mask layer, a conductive layer, and a capping layer. The first conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive feature. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the conductive layer is disposed over at least a first portion of the hard mask layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are formed by different materials. The capping layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes preparing a dielectric structure formed with trenches respectively defined by lateral surfaces of the dielectric structure, forming spacer layers on the lateral surfaces, filling an electrically conductive material into the trenches to form electrically conductive features, selectively depositing a blocking layer on the dielectric structure, selectively depositing a dielectric material on the electrically conductive features to form a capping layer, removing the blocking layer and the dielectric structure to form recesses, forming sacrificial features in the recesses, forming a sustaining layer to cover the sacrificial features; and removing the sacrificial features to obtain the semiconductor structure formed with air gaps confined by the sustaining layer and the spacer layers.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a reflective optical element arranged in the vacuum chamber and configured to reflect an extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light, and a cleaning module positioned in the vacuum chamber. the cleaning module is operable to provide a mitigation gas flowing towards the reflective optical element and provide a hydrogen-containing gas flowing towards the reflective optical element. The mitigation gas mitigates, by chemical reaction, contamination of the reflective optical element.

Abstract: A package structure including a redistribution circuit structure, a wiring substrate, first conductive terminals, an insulating encapsulation, and a semiconductor device is provided. The redistribution circuit structure includes stacked dielectric layers, redistribution wirings and first conductive pads. The first conductive pads are disposed on a surface of an outermost dielectric layer among the stacked dielectric layers, the first conductive pads are electrically connected to outermost redistribution pads among the redistribution wirings by via openings of the outermost dielectric layer, and a first lateral dimension of the via openings is greater than a half of a second lateral dimension of the outermost redistribution pads. The wiring substrate includes second conductive pads. The first conductive terminals are disposed between the first conductive pads and the second conductive pads. The insulating encapsulation is disposed on the surface of the redistribution circuit structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thin film including a first thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) elastomer which is anhydride-grafted. The present disclosure further provides a method for manufacturing the thin film, a laminated material and a method for adhesion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for integrated circuit (IC) layout validation. A plurality of IC patterns are collected which include a first set of patterns capable of being manufactured and a second set of patterns incapable of being manufactured. A machine learning model is trained using the plurality of IC patterns. The machine learning model generates a prediction model for validating IC layouts. The prediction model receives data including a set of test patterns comprising scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of IC patterns. Design violations associated with an IC layout are determined based on the SEM images and the plurality of IC patterns. A summary of the design violations is provided for further characterization of the IC layout.

Abstract: A wireless communication includes a control circuit and a receiver (RX) circuit. The control circuit obtains indicator information from another wireless communication system, identifies a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) packet delivery scenario as one of a packet overlapping scenario and a packet non-overlapping scenario according to the indicator information, and generates RX gain control information in response to the TX and RX packet delivery scenario. The RX circuit refers to the RX gain control information to set an RX gain used for receiving data.

Abstract: A directional patterning method includes following steps. A substrate is provided with a mask layer thereon, and the mask layer has at least one opening pattern therein. A cyclic deposition and etching process is performed to increase a length of the at least one opening pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two source/drain features, a gate structure, a first contact plug, a second contact plug, a conductive line, and a nitride capping layer. The two source/drain features are laterally arranged to each other. The one or more channel layers connects the two source/drain features. The gate structure engages the one or more channel layers and interposes the two source/drain features. The first contact plug extends from above a first source/drain feature of the two source/drain features to the first source/drain feature. The second contact plug extends from below a second source/drain feature of the two source/drain features to the second source/drain feature. The conductive line is disposed underneath the second contact plug and electrically coupled to the second contact plug. The nitride capping layer is disposed between the second contact plug and the conductive line.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide for generation of a collaborative contextual summary interface in association with an audio-video conferencing interface service. An example embodiment is configured to monitor an active audio-video conference presentation that is configured for display to participating client devices by the audio-video conferencing interface service, identify a first capture content request associated with the active audio-video conference presentation, generate a first captured content data object based at least in part on the first capture content request, correlate a first captured content interface indicator to the first captured content data object, and generate a collaborative contextual summary interface based at least in part on the first captured content data object, wherein the collaborative contextual summary interface comprises the first captured content interface indicator.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor structure, a conductive nitride feature, a third dielectric feature, and a conductive line feature. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, two source/drain regions disposed in the substrate, a first dielectric feature disposed over the substrate, a gate structure disposed in the first dielectric feature and between the source/drain regions, a second dielectric feature disposed over the first dielectric feature, and a contact feature disposed in the second dielectric feature and being connected to at least one of the source/drain regions and the gate structure. The conductive nitride feature includes metal nitride or alloy nitride, is disposed in the second dielectric feature, and is connected to the contact feature. The third dielectric feature is disposed over the second dielectric feature. The conductive feature is disposed in the third dielectric feature and is connected to the conductive nitride feature opposite to the contact feature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including operations of forming a first hard mask over an underlying layer on a substrate by a photolithographic and etching method, forming a sidewall spacer pattern having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion on opposing sides of the first hard mask, etching the first sidewall portion, etching the first hard mask and leaving the second sidewall portion bridging a gap of the etched first hard mask, and processing the underlying layer using the second hard mask.

Abstract: Semiconductor device packages and method are provided. A semiconductor device package according to the present disclosure includes a substrate including a first region, a passive device disposed over the first region of the substrate, a contact pad disposed over the passive device, a passivation layer disposed over the contact pad, a recess through the passivation layer, and an under-bump metallization (UBM) layer. The recess exposes the contact pad and the UBM layer includes an upper portion disposed over the passivation layer and a lower portion disposed over a sidewall of the recess. A projection of the upper portion of the UBM layer along a direction perpendicular to the substrate falls within an area of the contact pad.

Abstract: A chip structure is provided. The chip structure includes a substrate. The chip structure includes a redistribution layer over the substrate. The chip structure includes a bonding pad over the redistribution layer. The chip structure includes a shielding pad over the redistribution layer and surrounding the bonding pad. The chip structure includes an insulating layer over the redistribution layer and the shielding pad. The chip structure includes a bump over the bonding pad and the insulating layer. A sidewall of the bump is over the shielding pad.

Abstract: A flushing switch device with automatic pressing stroke detection is provided, which is applied to the flushing switches of a toilet. The flushing switch device with automatic pressing stroke detection includes a capacitive sensor, an actuator, and a protector. The capacitive sensor senses a user's hand movements to generate a sensing signal. The actuator includes a driver and a pressing mechanism; the driver drives the pressing mechanism to press one of the flushing switches. The protector includes a detector and a controller; the detector detects a load variation during an operation of the actuator to generate a detection signal; the controller receives the sensing signal and correspondingly generates a control signal to control the actuator according to the sensing signal and the detection signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a source/drain region disposed in the substrate, a silicide structure disposed on the source/drain region, a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, a conductive contact disposed in the first dielectric layer and over the silicide structure, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, a via contact disposed in the second dielectric layer and connected to the conductive contact, and a first metal surrounding the via contact.

Abstract: Provided are devices with conductive contacts and methods for forming such devices. A method includes forming a lower conductive contact in a dielectric material and over a structure, wherein the lower conductive contact has opposite sidewalls that extend to and terminate at a top surface. The method also includes separating an upper portion of each sidewall from the dielectric material and locating a barrier material between the upper portion of each sidewall and the dielectric material. Further, the method includes forming an upper conductive contact over the lower conductive contact.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an integrated circuit includes a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store executable instructions, and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium. The processor is configured to execute the executable instructions for placing a set of gate layout patterns on a first layout level, and generating a cut feature layout pattern extending in the first direction. The set of gate layout patterns correspond to fabricating a set of gate structures of the integrated circuit. The cut feature layout pattern is on the first layout level, and overlap each of the layout patterns of the set of gate layout patterns at a same position in the second direction. The cut feature layout pattern identifies a location of a removed portion of a gate structure of the set of gate structures.