Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having an integrated optical bio-sensor, and an associated method of fabrication. In some embodiments, the integrated optical bio-sensor has a sensing device arranged within a semiconductor substrate. An optical waveguide structure is located over a first side of the semiconductor substrate at a position over the sensing device. A dielectric structure is disposed onto the optical waveguide structure at a position that separates the optical waveguide structure from a sample retention area configured to receive a sample solution.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure is provided. The IC structure includes an IC substrate including active devices which are coupled together through a conductive interconnect structure arranged thereover. The conductive interconnect structure includes a series of horizontal conductive layers and dielectric regions arranged between neighboring horizontal conductive layers. The conductive interconnect structure includes an uppermost conductive horizontal region with a planar top surface region. A MEMS substrate is arranged over the IC substrate and includes a flexible or moveable structure that flexes or moves commensurate with a force applied to the flexible or moveable structure. The active devices of the IC substrate are arranged to establish analysis circuitry to facilitate electrical measurement of a capacitance between the uppermost conductive horizontal region and the flexible or moveable structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a light reflecting layer over a substrate. The method also includes forming a protection layer over the light reflecting layer. The method further includes forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer over the protection layer. The method additionally includes forming an opening in the ARC layer, the protection layer and the light reflecting layer exposing the substrate. The method also includes removing the ARC layer in a wet solution comprising H2O2, the ARC layer being exposed to the H2O2 at a flow rate greater than about 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bio-field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device may include a substrate; a gate structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate and an interface layer formed on the second surface of the substrate. The interface layer may allow for a receptor to be placed on the interface layer to detect the presence of a biomolecule or bio-entity.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device for manipulating and processing bio-entity samples and methods are described. The device includes a lower substrate, at least one optical signal conduit disposed on the lower substrate, at least one cap bonding pad disposed on the lower substrate, a cap configured to form a capped area, and disposed on the at least one cap bonding pad, a fluidic channel, wherein a first side of the fluidic channel is formed on the lower substrate and a second side of the fluidic channel is formed on the cap, a photosensor array coupled to sensor control circuitry, and logic circuitry coupled to the fluidic control circuitry, and the sensor control circuitry.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC and a second IC. The first IC includes a MEMS device and a first bonding structure. The second IC includes a second bonding structure. The first and second bonding structures are bonded together to couple the first IC to the second IC. A conformal barrier layer is disposed over a surface of the second IC nearest the first IC. An etch isolation structure is arranged beneath the surface of the second IC and encloses a sacrificial region which is arranged on either side of the second bonding structure and which is arranged in the second IC.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated microsystem with a protection barrier structure, and an associated method. In some embodiments, the integrated microsystem comprises a first die having a plurality of CMOS devices disposed thereon, a second die having a plurality of MEMS devices disposed thereon and a vapor hydrofluoric acid (vHF) etch barrier structure disposed between the first die and the second die. The second die is bonded to the first die at a bond interface region. The vHF etch barrier structure comprises a vHF barrier layer over an upper surface of the first die, and a stress reduction layer arranged between the vHF etch barrier layer and the upper surface of the first die.

Abstract: A MEMS transducer includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The first substrate includes a piezoelectric diaphragm and a conductive contact structure. The conductive contact structure is electrically connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm, and protrudes beyond a principal surface of the first substrate. The second substrate includes a conductive receiving feature and an active device. The conductive receiving feature is aligned with and further bonded to the conductive contact structure. The active device is electrically connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm through the conductive receiving feature and the conductive contact structure.

Abstract: An electronic device and a corresponding method for analyzing and playing sound signals are provided. The electronic device includes a microphone, a processor, and a speaker. The microphone receives a sound and generates a sound signal according to the sound. The processor is coupled to the microphone for analyzing the sound signal to obtain an analysis parameter, determining a dynamic range parameter according to the analysis parameter, and adjusting the sound signal according to the dynamic range parameter. The speaker is coupled to the processor for playing the adjusted sound signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biological field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET includes a microwells having a sensing layer, a top metal stack under the sensing layer, and a multi-layer interconnect (MLI) under the top metal stack. The top metal stack includes a top metal and a protective layer over and peripherally surrounding the top metal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sound recording are provided. The apparatus stores an equalizer and includes a housing, a microphone, and a processor. The microphone includes a plurality of sensors and receives a sound signal through an acoustical resonator in the housing. The microphone generates a plurality of electronic signals in response to the sound signal. The equalizer generates a plurality of equalized signals according to the electronic signals. The processor generates an output signal according to the equalized signals. The equalizer compensates the gain margin and the phase margin caused by the sound signal passing through the acoustical resonator in order to prevent the output signal from being affected by resonance of the sound signal in the acoustical resonator.

Abstract: A substrate structure for a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device, a semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. In various embodiments, the substrate structure for the MEMS device includes a substrate, the MEMS device, and an anti-stiction layer. The MEMS device is over the substrate. The anti-stiction layer is on a surface of the MEMS device, and includes amorphous carbon, polytetrafluoroethene, hafnium oxide, tantalum oxide, zirconium oxide, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device for manipulating and processing bio-entity samples and methods are described. The device includes a lower substrate, at least one optical signal conduit disposed on the lower substrate, at least one cap bonding pad disposed on the lower substrate, a cap configured to form a capped area, and disposed on the at least one cap bonding pad, a microfluidic channel, wherein a first side of the microfluidic channel is formed on the lower substrate and a second side of the microfluidic channel is formed on the cap, a photosensor array coupled to sensor control circuitry, and logic circuitry coupled to the fluidic control circuitry, and the sensor control circuitry.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device are provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate and a MEMS structure over the substrate, and the MEMS structure has a movable element. The movable element is surrounded by a cavity. The MEMS device also includes a fuse layer on the movable element.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC and a second IC. The first IC includes a MEMS device and a first bonding structure. The second IC includes a second bonding structure. The first and second bonding structures are bonded together to couple the first IC to the second IC. A conformal barrier layer is disposed over a surface of the second IC nearest the first IC. An etch isolation structure is arranged beneath the surface of the second IC and encloses a sacrificial region which is arranged on either side of the second bonding structure and which is arranged in the second IC.

Abstract: An electronic device and a corresponding method for analyzing and playing sound signals are provided. The electronic device includes a microphone, a processor, and a speaker. The microphone receives a sound and generates a sound signal according to the sound. The processor is coupled to the microphone for analyzing the sound signal to obtain an analysis parameter, determining a dynamic range parameter according to the analysis parameter, and adjusting the sound signal according to the dynamic range parameter. The speaker is coupled to the processor for playing the adjusted sound signal.

Abstract: An electronic device and a corresponding gain controlling method are provided. The gain controlling method includes the steps of receiving a sound signal, calculating a sound level according to each value of the sound signal in a past period, determining a gain value according to the sound level, using the gain value to amplify the sound signal, and then storing the sound signal.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a noise cancellation method for an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving an audio signal; applying a Fast Fourier Transform operation on the audio signal to generate a sound spectrum; acquiring a first spectrum corresponding to a noise and a second spectrum corresponding to a human voice signal from the sound spectrum; estimating a center frequency according to the first spectrum and the second spectrum; and applying a high pass filtering operation to the sound spectrum according to the center frequency.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a noise cancellation method for an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving an audio signal; applying a Fast Fourier Transform operation on the audio signal to generate a sound spectrum; acquiring a first spectrum corresponding to a noise and a second spectrum corresponding to a human voice signal from the sound spectrum; estimating a center frequency according to the first spectrum and the second spectrum; and applying a high pass filtering operation to the sound spectrum according to the center frequency.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device for manipulating and processing bio-entity samples is disclosed. The device includes a microfluidic channel that is coupled to fluidic control circuitry, a photosensor array coupled to sensor control circuitry, an optical component aligned with the photosensor array to manipulate a light signal before the light signal reaches the photosensor array, and a microfluidic grid coupled to the microfluidic channel and providing for transport of bio-entity sample droplets by electrowetting. The device further includes logic circuitry coupled to the fluidic control circuitry and the sensor control circuitry, with the fluidic control circuitry, the sensor control circuitry, and the logic circuitry being formed on a first substrate.