Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure, a source or drain region over the isolation structure, a channel layer connecting to the source or drain region, a gate structure over the isolation structure and engaging the channel layer, an isolating layer below the channel layer and the gate structure, a dielectric cap below the isolating layer, and a contact structure having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the contact structure extends through the isolation structure, and the second portion of the contact structure extends from the first portion of the contact structure, through the dielectric cap and the isolating layer, and to the source or drain region. The first portion of the contact structure is below the second portion and wider than the second portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for forming backside metal contacts with reduced Cgd and increased speed. Particularly, source/drain features on the drain side, or source/drain features without backside metal contact, are recessed from the backside to the level of the inner spacer to reduce Cgd. Some embodiments of the present disclosure use a sacrificial liner to protect backside alignment feature during backside processing, thus, preventing shape erosion of metal conducts and improving device performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor device structure. The method includes forming a trench in a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a bottom metal feature of a first metal in a lower portion of the trench by a selective deposition; depositing a barrier layer in an upper portion of the trench, the barrier layer directly contacting both a top surface of the bottom metal feature and sidewalls of the dielectric layer; and forming a top metal feature of a second metal on the barrier layer, filling in the upper portion of the trench, wherein the second metal is different from the first metal in composition.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a first conductive structure over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first dielectric layer surrounding the first conductive structure and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second conductive structure partially surrounded by the second dielectric layer and partially surrounded by the first conductive structure. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes an interfacial layer separating the first conductive structure from the second conductive structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel regions disposed within a substrate and respectively comprising a photodiode configured to receive radiation that enters the substrate from a back-side. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed at boundary regions of the pixel regions surrounding the photodiode. The BDTI structure extends from the back-side of the substrate to a first depth within the substrate. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed at inner regions of the pixel regions overlying the photodiode. The MDTI structure extends from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate smaller than the first depth. The MDTI structure is a continuous integral unit having a ring shape.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate at a front side of the integrated circuit. A first gate all around transistor is disposed on the substrate. The first gate all around transistor includes a channel region including at least one semiconductor nanostructure, source/drain regions arranged at opposite sides of the channel region, and a gate electrode. A shallow trench isolation region extends into the integrated circuit from the backside. A backside gate plug extends into the integrated circuit from the backside and contacts the gate electrode of the first gate all around transistor. The backside gate plug laterally contacts the shallow trench isolation region at the backside of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection structure, a color filter, and a first isolation structure. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The interconnection structure is disposed over the first surface, and the color filter is disposed over the second surface. The first isolation structure includes a bottom portion, an upper portion and a diffusion barrier layer surrounding a sidewall of the upper portion. A top surface of the upper portion of the first isolation structure extends into and is in contact with a dielectric layer of the interconnection structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a device having a semiconductor substrate including a frontside and a backside. On the frontside of the semiconductor substrate are a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A gate electrode is arranged on the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and includes a horizontal portion, a first vertical portion, and a second vertical portion. The horizontal portion is arranged over the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and between the first and second source/drain regions. The first vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate and contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure. The second vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate, contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure, and is separated from the first vertical portion by a channel region of the substrate.

Abstract: A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based true random number generator (TRNG), a method for generating true random numbers, and an associated electronic device are provided. The PUF based TRNG may include a first obfuscation circuit, a cryptography circuit coupled to the first obfuscation circuit, and a second obfuscation circuit coupled to the cryptography circuit. The first obfuscation circuit obtains a first PUF value from a PUF pool of the electronic device, and performs a first obfuscation function on a preliminary seed based on the first PUF value to generate a final seed. The cryptography circuit utilizes the final seed as a key of a cryptography function to generate preliminary random numbers. The second obfuscation circuit obtains a second PUF value from the PUF pool, and performs a second obfuscation function on the preliminary random numbers based on the second PUF value to generate final random numbers.

Abstract: A method provides a structure having a fin oriented lengthwise and widthwise along first and second directions respectively, an isolation structure adjacent to sidewalls of the fin, and first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the fin. The method includes forming an etch mask exposing a first portion of the fin under the first S/D feature and covering a second portion of the fin under the second S/D feature; removing the first portion of the fin, resulting in a first trench; forming a first dielectric feature in the first trench; and removing the second portion of the fin to form a second trench. The first dielectric feature and the isolation structure form first and second sidewalls of the second trench respectively. The method includes laterally etching the second sidewalls, thereby expanding the second trench along the second direction and forming a via structure in the expanded second trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with dual side source/drain (S/D) contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a superlattice structure on the fin structure, forming first and second S/D regions within the superlattice structure, forming a gate structure between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second contact structures on first surfaces of the first and second S/D regions, and forming a third contact structure, on a second surface of the first S/D region, with a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer and a dual metal liner. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the first S/D region and the WFM silicide layer has a work function value closer to a conduction band energy than a valence band energy of a material of the first S/D region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with dual side source/drain (S/D) contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a superlattice structure on the fin structure, forming first and second S/D regions within the superlattice structure, forming a gate structure between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second contact structures on first surfaces of the first and second S/D regions, and forming a third contact structure, on a second surface of the first S/D region, with a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer and a dual metal liner. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the first S/D region and the WFM silicide layer has a work function value closer to a conduction band energy than a valence band energy of a material of the first S/D region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode layer disposed between the source region and the drain region. The gate electrode layer includes a first surface facing the source region, and the first surface includes an edge portion having a first height. The gate electrode layer further includes a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the drain region. The second surface includes an edge portion having a second height. The second height is different from the first height.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer, disposed over a substrate. A source electrode of a metal nitride is disposed on the oxide semiconductor layer. A drain electrode of the metal nitride is disposed on the oxide semiconductor layer. A metal-nitride oxidation layer is formed on a surface of the source electrode and the drain electrode. A ratio of a thickness of the metal-nitride oxidation layer to a thickness of the drain electrode or the source electrode is equal to or less than 0.2.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices with a 3D NAND memory array having a plurality of pages, an on-die cache coupled to the memory array on a same chip and configured to cache a plurality of batches of program data between a host and the memory array, the on-die cache having SRAM cells, and a controller coupled to the on-die cache on the same chip. The controller is configured to check a status of an (N?2)th batch of program data, N being an integer equal to or greater than 2, program an (N?1)th batch of program data into respective pages in the 3D NAND memory array, and cache an Nth batch of program data in respective space in the on-die cache as a backup copy of the Nth batch of program data.

Abstract: A method performed by an electronic device includes retrieving, from a first computing environment, a first set of structured documents that contains metadata for a first version of a workflow to be performed by a workflow engine, the first version of the workflow including a first set of workflow elements. The method further including retrieving, from a second computing environment, a second set of structured documents. The method determines whether a rule is to be applied, based on one but not both of the first and second sets of structured documents including at least one section for a workflow element having a type to which the rule applies, and generating a description of a change in the second version of the workflow relative to the first version of the workflow.

Abstract: A self-monitoring tire includes a tire body and a tire pressure sensor. The tire body includes a tread rubber for contact with ground, a bead for coupling to a rim, and a sidewall structure including two portions disposed at opposite sides of the tread rubber, and extending from opposite sides of the tread rubber to the bead. The tire pressure sensor is disposed between respective outward surfaces of the two portions of the sidewall structure, and secured on or embedded in either one of the two portions of the sidewall structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a stack of channel structures over a base structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure sandwiching the channel structures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack wrapped around each of the channel structures 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. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes an insulating spacer between a sidewall of the base structure and the backside conductive contact.

Abstract: An IC structure includes a source epitaxial structure, a drain epitaxial structure, a first silicide region, a second silicide region, a source contact, a backside via rail, a drain contact, and a front-side interconnection structure. The first silicide region is on a front-side surface and a first sidewall of the source epitaxial structure. The second silicide region is on a front-side surface of the drain epitaxial structure. The source contact is in contact with the first silicide region and has a protrusion extending past a backside surface of the source epitaxial structure. The backside via rail is in contact with the protrusion of the source contact. The drain contact is in contact with the second silicide region. The front-side interconnection structure is on a front-side surface of the source contact and a front-side surface of the drain contact.

Abstract: A multi-package system includes a first semiconductor package and a second semiconductor package. The first semiconductor package includes a first die and a second die. The second semiconductor package includes a third die. A first processing circuit of the first die communicates with a second processing circuit of the second die through a first configurable input/output (IO) interface circuit of the first die and a third configurable IO interface circuit of the second die that are configured to perform single-ended intra-package communication. The first processing circuit of the first die communicates with a third processing circuit of the third die through a second configurable IO interface circuit of the first die and a fourth configurable IO interface circuit of the third die that are configured to perform differential inter-package communication. The first configurable IO interface circuit and the second configurable IO interface circuit have a same circuit design.