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: An image sensing device includes a germanium sensor within a semiconductor body and a metalens formed in the back side of the semiconductor body. The metalens is structured to focus infrared light on the germanium sensor and may have a lower profile than an equivalent microlens. Optionally, the metalens is combined with a microlens to achieve a desired focal length. The metalens, or the metalens in combination with a microlens, overcomes a manufacturing process limitation on the focal length of the microlens, which in turn eliminates the need for, or reduces the thickness of, a spacer between the microlens and the germanium sensor. Eliminating the spacer or reducing its thickness improves the angular response of the image sensing device.

Abstract: A device includes a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer have different material compositions. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure is embedded in the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is disposed over the second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer have different material compositions. The first dielectric layer or the third dielectric layer may contain silicon nitride (SiN), the second dielectric layer may contain silicon oxide (SiO2).

Abstract: A method and semiconductor device including a substrate having one or more semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the device further includes a first passivation layer disposed over the one or more semiconductor devices, and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure formed over the first passivation layer. In some embodiments, the MIM capacitor structure includes a first conductor plate layer, an insulator layer on the first conductor plate layer, and a second conductor plate layer on the insulator layer. In some examples, the insulator layer includes a metal oxide sandwich structure.

Abstract: A photomask set including a first photomask and a second photomask is provided. The first photomask includes a first pattern. The first pattern includes a first main portion and a first stitching portion connected to each other. The first stitching portion includes a first matching portion and a first overlapping portion connected to each other. The second photomask includes a second pattern. The second pattern includes a second main portion and a second stitching portion connected to each other. The second stitching portion includes a second matching portion and a second overlapping portion connected to each other. After the first photomask is aligned with the second photomask, the first matching portion matches the second matching portion, the first overlapping portion overlaps the second pattern, and the second overlapping portion overlaps the first pattern.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry and methods of performing CMP process on a substrate comprising metal features are described herein. The CMP slurry may be manufactured using a balanced concentration ratio of chelator additives to inhibitor additives, the ratio being determined based on an electro potential (Ev) value of a metal material of the substrate. The CMP process may be performed on the substrate based on the balanced concentration ratio of chelator additives to inhibitor additives of the CMP slurry.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises: a semiconductor substrate; one or more first implant layers disposed in the semiconductor substrate and forming a circuit portion and a first test portion, the circuit portion forming an at least partially formed semiconductor circuit; and one or more second implant layers disposed in the semiconductor substrate and further forming the circuit portion and a second test portion, wherein the first and second test portions are spaced apart. A first implantation profile of the one or more first implant layers of the first test portion is obtained during a testing procedure, and the first implantation profile is a representation of a second implantation profile of the one or more first implant layers of the circuit portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a signal relay apparatus having frequency locking mechanism that includes a receiving circuit, a frequency generation circuit, a frequency tracking circuit and a transmission circuit. The receiving circuit receives a receiving signal to retrieve data included therein according a corresponding receiving frequency signal. The frequency generation circuit receives a source clock signal and generates a target frequency signal according to a conversion parameter. The frequency tracking circuit calculates a frequency difference between the receiving frequency signal and the target frequency signal to adjust the conversion parameter accordingly. The transmission circuit generates a transmission signal that includes the data according to the target frequency signal.

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: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor device including a first image sensor element and a second image sensor element disposed within a substrate. An interconnect structure is disposed along a front-side surface of the substrate and comprises a plurality of conductive wires, a plurality of conductive vias, and a first absorption structure. The first image sensor element is configured to generate electrical signals from electromagnetic radiation within a first range of wavelengths. The second image sensor element is configured to generate electrical signals from the electromagnetic radiation within a second range of wavelengths that is different than the first range of wavelengths. The second image sensor element is laterally adjacent to the first image sensor element. Further, the first image sensor element overlies the first absorption structure and is spaced laterally between opposing sidewalls of the first absorption structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a CMOS image sensor disposed on a substrate. A plurality of pixel regions comprising a plurality of photodiodes, respectively, are configured to receive radiation that enters a back-side of the substrate. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed at boundary regions of the pixel regions, and includes a first set of BDTI segments extending in a first direction and a second set of BDTI segments extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to laterally surround the photodiode. The BDTI structure comprises a first material. A pixel deep trench isolation (PDTI) structure is disposed within the BDTI structure and overlies the photodiode. The PDTI structure comprises a second material that differs from the first material, and includes a first PDTI segment extending in the first direction such that the first PDTI segment is surrounded by the BDTI structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a substrate and a pixel. The pixel includes a photodetector. The photodetector is in the substrate. The integrated chip further includes a first inner trench isolation structure and an outer trench isolation structure that extend into the substrate. The first inner trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the photodetector in a first closed loop. The outer trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the first inner trench isolation structure along a boundary of the pixel in a second closed loop and is laterally separated from the first inner trench isolation structure. Further, the integrated chip includes a scattering structure that is defined, at least in part, by the first inner trench isolation structure and that is configured to increase an angle at which radiation impinges on the outer trench isolation structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-fullerene acceptor compound containing benzoselenadiazole, and organic optoelectronic devices comprising the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving design performance of a layout design through placement of functional and spare cells by leveraging layout dependent effect (LDE) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: importing a plurality of technology files associated with the layout design into an EDA system; importing a netlist associated with the layout design into the EDA system; importing a standard cell library containing pattern-S timing information of the functional cells and the spare cells; performing floorplan and spare cell insertion, wherein the spare cells are distributed uniformly across the floorplan; and conducting placement and optimization through re-placement of the at least one functional cells and the spare cells to form pattern-S with at least one timing critical cells to improve an overall timing performance of the layout design.

Abstract: A backlight module includes a film, a light guide plate disposed under the film, and a circuit board disposed under the light guide plate and provided with a light-emitting unit. The film includes a single-key transparent area, a light-shielding area disposed around the single-key transparent area, and a side transparent area disposed adjacent to or along an edge of the film. The light guide plate has a first microstructure group and a through hole correspondingly disposed under the single-key transparent area, a second microstructure group correspondingly disposed under the side transparent area, and a light-transmitting area partially correspondingly disposed under the light-shielding area. The light-emitting unit is accommodated in the through hole. A number of microstructures or a light-emitting area of the second microstructure group is greater than a number of microstructures or a light emitting area of the first microstructure group.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a transistor having a plurality of stacked channels. The transistor includes a source/drain region in contact with the channel regions. The transistor includes a silicide in contact with the top of the source/drain region and extending vertically along a sidewall of the silicide. A source/drain contact is in contact with a top of the silicide and extending vertically along a sidewall of the silicide.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming first and second fins over a substrate. The fin includes first and second semiconductor layers alternating stacked. The method further includes forming a dummy gate structure over the first and second fins, forming first source/drain features on opposite sides of the dummy gate structures and over the first fin, forming second source/drain features on opposite sides of the dummy gate structures and over the second fin, forming a dielectric layer over and between the first and second source/drain features, replacing the dummy gate structure and the first semiconductor layers with a gate structure wrapping around the first semiconductor layers, forming first silicide features over the first source/drain features, and forming second silicide features over the second source/drain features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a semiconductor stack and a first contact structure. The semiconductor stack includes an active layer and has a first surface and a second surface. The first contact structure is located on the first surface and includes a first semiconductor layer, a first metal element-containing structure and a first p-type or n-type layer. The first metal element-containing structure includes a first metal element. The first p-type or n-type layer physically contacts the first semiconductor layer and the first metal element-containing structure. The first p-type or n-type layer includes an oxygen element (O) and a second metal element and has a thickness less than or equal to 20 nm, and the first semiconductor layer includes a phosphide compound or an arsenide compound.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes first channel members over a first backside dielectric feature, second channel members over a second backside dielectric feature, a first epitaxial feature abutting the first channel members and over the first backside dielectric feature, a second epitaxial feature abutting the second channel members and over the second backside dielectric feature, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the first channel members, a second gate structure wrapping around each of the second channel members, and an isolation feature laterally stacked between the first backside dielectric feature and the second backside dielectric feature. A bottommost portion of the isolation feature is below bottom surfaces of the first and second gate structures, and a topmost portion of the isolation feature is above top surfaces of the first and second gate structures.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a shock wave in an extreme ultraviolet light source includes irradiating a target droplet in the extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus of an extreme ultraviolet lithography tool with ionizing radiation to generate a plasma and to detect a shock wave generated by the plasma. One or more operating parameters of the extreme ultraviolet light source is adjusted based on the detected shock wave.