Abstract: A method of backlight control for a display panel is provided. The display panel is configured to display with a variable refresh rate in a plurality of frame periods each having a fixed period and a variable period. The method includes steps of: generating a first backlight control signal in the fixed period of a frame period; determining whether a liquid crystal (LC) transition time corresponding to the frame period ends before an end time of the variable period of the frame period; generating a second backlight control signal in the variable period of the frame period when the LC transition time ends before the end time of the variable period of the frame period; and generating a compensation backlight control signal in a next frame period according to a backlight duty cycle of the frame period.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel between the first and second S/D regions, a gate engaging the channel, and a contact feature connecting to the first S/D region. The contact feature includes first and second contact layers. The first contact layer has a conformal cross-sectional profile and is in contact with the first S/D region on at least two sides thereof. In embodiments, the first contact layer is in direct contact with three or four sides of the first S/D region so as to increase the contact area. The first contact layer includes one of a semiconductor-metal alloy, an III-V semiconductor, and germanium.

Abstract: A package structure including a photonic, an electronic die, an encapsulant and a waveguide is provided. The photonic die includes an optical coupler. The electronic die is electrically coupled to the photonic die. The encapsulant laterally encapsulates the photonic die and the electronic die. The waveguide is disposed over the encapsulant and includes an upper surface facing away from the encapsulant. The waveguide includes a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion is optically coupled to the optical coupler, and the second end portion has a groove on the upper surface.

Abstract: A method for determining a standard depth value of a marker includes obtaining a maximum depth value of the marker. A reference depth value of the marker is obtained based on a depth image of the marker, and a Z-axis coordinate value of the marker is obtained based on a color image of the marker. When the reference depth value and the Z-axis coordinate value are both less than the maximum depth value, and a difference between the reference depth value and the Z-axis coordinate value is not greater than 0, the depth reference value is set as the standard depth value of the marker; and when the difference is greater than 0, the Z-axis coordinate value is set as the standard depth value of the marker.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate, a semiconductor structure, a gate insulating layer, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature. The gate insulating layer is located between the gate and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes at least one first metal oxide layer, a first oxide layer, and at least one second metal oxide layer. The first oxide layer is located between the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer. The first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature are electrically connected with the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a thin film transistor comprising an active layer over a substrate. An insulator is stacked with the active layer. A gate electrode structure is stacked with the insulator and includes a gate material layer having a first work function and a first interfacial layer. The first interfacial layer is directly between the insulator and the gate material layer, wherein the gate electrode structure has a second work function that is different from the first work function.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package including electrically floating metal lines and a method of forming are provided. The integrated circuit package may include integrated circuit dies, an encapsulant around the integrated circuit dies, a redistribution structure on the encapsulant, a first electrically floating metal line disposed on the redistribution structure, a first electrical component connected to the redistribution structure, and an underfill between the first electrical component and the redistribution structure. A first opening in the underfill may expose a top surface of the first electrically floating metal line.

Abstract: A package includes a photonic layer on a substrate, the photonic layer including a silicon waveguide coupled to a grating coupler; an interconnect structure over the photonic layer; an electronic die and a first dielectric layer over the interconnect structure, where the electronic die is connected to the interconnect structure; a first substrate bonded to the electronic die and the first dielectric layer; a socket attached to a top surface of the first substrate; and a fiber holder coupled to the first substrate through the socket, where the fiber holder includes a prism that re-orients an optical path of an optical signal.

Abstract: An SOT MRAM structure includes a word line. A second source/drain doping region and a fourth source/drain doping region are disposed at the same side of the word line. A first conductive line contacts the second source/drain doping region. A second conductive line contacts the fourth source/drain doping region. The second conductive line includes a third metal pad. A memory element contacts an end of the first conductive line. A second SOT element covers and contacts a top surface of the memory element. The third metal pad covers and contacts part of the top surface of the second SOT element.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: an integrated circuit die; an encapsulant at least partially surrounding the integrated circuit die, the encapsulant including fillers having an average diameter; a through via extending through the encapsulant, the through via having a lower portion of a constant width and an upper portion of a continuously decreasing width, a thickness of the upper portion being greater than the average diameter of the fillers; and a redistribution structure including: a dielectric layer on the through via, the encapsulant, and the integrated circuit die; and a metallization pattern having a via portion extending through the dielectric layer and a line portion extending along the dielectric layer, the metallization pattern being electrically coupled to the through via and the integrated circuit die.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure and method of forming the MEMS device, including forming a first metallization structure over a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) wafer, where the first metallization structure includes a first sacrificial oxide layer and a first metal contact pad. A second metallization structure is formed over a MEMS wafer, where the second metallization structure includes a second sacrificial oxide layer and a second metal contact pad. The first metallization structure and second metallization structure are then bonded together. After the first metallization structure and second metallization structure are bonded together, patterning and etching the MEMS wafer to form a MEMS element over the second sacrificial oxide layer. After the MEMS element is formed, removing the first sacrificial oxide layer and second sacrificial oxide layer to allow the MEMS element to move freely about an axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a three-dimensional (3D) trench capacitor, as well as methods for forming the same. In some embodiments, a first substrate overlies a second substrate so a front side of the first substrate faces a front side of the second substrate. A first trench capacitor and a second trench capacitor extend respectively into the front sides of the first and second substrates. A plurality of wires and a plurality of vias are stacked between and electrically coupled to the first and second trench capacitors. A first through substrate via (TSV) extends through the first substrate from a back side of the first substrate, and the wires and the vias electrically couple the first TSV to the first and second trench capacitors. The first and second trench capacitors and the electrical coupling therebetween collectively define the 3D trench capacitor.

Abstract: An acoustic wave element includes: a substrate; a bonding structure on the substrate; a support layer on the bonding structure; a first electrode including a lower surface on the support layer; a cavity positioned between the support layer and the first electrode and exposing a lower surface of the first electrode; a piezoelectric layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode on the piezoelectric layer, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a first layer and a second layer that the first layer has a first acoustic impedance and a first electrical impedance, the second layer has a second acoustic impedance and a second electrical impedance, wherein the first acoustic impedance is higher than the second acoustic impedance, and the second electrical impedance is lower than the first electrical impedance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel between the first and second S/D regions, a gate engaging the channel, and a contact feature connecting to the first S/D region. The contact feature includes first and second contact layers. The first contact layer has a conformal cross-sectional profile and is in contact with the first S/D region on at least two sides thereof. In embodiments, the first contact layer is in direct contact with three or four sides of the first S/D region so as to increase the contact area. The first contact layer includes one of a semiconductor-metal alloy, an III-V semiconductor, and germanium.

Abstract: A pixel of an image sensor includes: a semiconductor material substrate; a photosensitive region formed in the substrate, the photosensitive region generating photo-induced electrical charge in response to illumination with light; a storage node formed in the substrate proximate to the photosensitive region, the storage node selectively receiving and storing photo-induced electrical charge generated by the photosensitive region; and a shield formed over the storage node which inhibits light from reaching the storage node, the shield including an extension which protrudes into the substrate and surrounds an outer periphery of the storage node.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device and a semiconductor die are provided. The ferroelectric memory device includes a gate electrode; a channel layer, overlapped with the gate electrode; source/drain contacts, in contact with separate ends of the channel layer; a ferroelectric layer, lying between the gate electrode and the channel layer; and a first insertion layer, extending in between the ferroelectric layer and the channel layer, and comprising a metal carbonitride or a metal nitride.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor processing system including an overlay (OVL) shift measurement device. The OVL shift measurement device is configured to determine an OVL shift between a first wafer and a second wafer, where the second wafer overlies the first wafer. A photolithography device is configured to perform one or more photolithography processes on the second wafer. A controller is configured to perform an alignment process on the photolithography device according to the determined OVL shift. The photolithography device performs the one or more photolithography processes based on the OVL shift.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a first metal line extending along a first direction, a second metal line lengthwise aligned with and spaced apart from the first metal line, and a third metal line extending along the first direction. The third metal line includes a branch extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the branch partially extends between the first metal line and the second metal line.

Abstract: A device includes a first horizontal-gate-all-around (HGAA) transistor, a second HGAA transistor, a first vertical-gate-all-around (VGAA) transistor, and a second VGAA transistor. The first HGAA transistor and the second HGAA transistor are adjacent to each other. The first VGAA transistor is over the first HGAA transistor. The second VGAA transistor is over the second HGAA transistor. A top surface of the first VGAA transistor is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second VGAA transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a first metal line extending along a first direction, a second metal line lengthwise aligned with and spaced apart from the first metal line, and a third metal line extending along the first direction. The third metal line includes a branch extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the branch partially extends between the first metal line and the second metal line.