Abstract: A trimming method is provided. The trimming method includes the following steps. A first wafer including a substrate and a device layer over a first side of the substrate is provided. The first wafer is bonded to a second wafer with the first side of the substrate facing toward the second wafer. An edge trimming process is performed to remove a trimmed portion of the substrate from a second side opposite to the first side vertically downward toward the first side in a first direction along a perimeter of the substrate, wherein the edge trimming process results in the substrate having a flange pattern laterally protruding from the device layer and laterally surrounding an untrimmed portion of the substrate along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture comprise placing an etch stop layer of a material such as aluminum oxide over a conductive element, placing a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and placing a hardmask of a material such as titanium nitride over the dielectric layer. Openings are formed to the etch stop layer, the hardmask material is selectively removed, and the openings are then the material of the etch stop layer is then selectively removed to extend the openings through the etch stop layer.

Abstract: An image feature extraction method for a 360° image includes the following steps: projecting the 360° image onto a cube model to generate an image stack including a plurality of images having a link relationship; using the image stack as an input of a neural network, wherein when operation layers of the neural network performs padding operation on one of the plurality of images, the link relationship between the plurality of adjacent images is used such that the padded portion at the image boundary is filled with the data of neighboring images in order to retain the characteristics of the boundary portion of the image; and by the arithmetic operation of the neural network of such layers with the padded feature map, an image feature map is generated.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature in a first dielectric layer, forming one or more dielectric layers over the first dielectric layer, and forming a via opening in the one or more dielectric layers, a bottom of the via opening exposing the conductive feature. The method further includes cleaning the via opening using a chemical mixture, and rinsing the via opening using basic-ion doped water after cleaning the via opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature in a first dielectric layer, forming one or more dielectric layers over the first dielectric layer, and forming a via opening in the one or more dielectric layers, a bottom of the via opening exposing the conductive feature. The method further includes cleaning the via opening using a chemical mixture, and rinsing the via opening using basic-ion doped water after cleaning the via opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture comprise placing an etch stop layer of a material such as aluminum oxide over a conductive element, placing a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and placing a hardmask of a material such as titanium nitride over the dielectric layer. Openings are formed to the etch stop layer, the hardmask material is selectively removed, and the openings are then the material of the etch stop layer is then selectively removed to extend the openings through the etch stop layer.