Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure having a top surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion that is surrounded by the planar portion, and includes a conductive structure including a plurality of conductive lines contacting at least a part of the top surface of the via structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having an optical transceiver include a cladding on a substrate, a protrusion vertically extending trough the cladding and materially in continuity with the substrate, and a coupler on the cladding and the protrusion.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first substrate including a driving element, a first insulation layer on the first substrate and on the driving element, a second substrate including a photoelectric conversion element, and a second insulation layer on the second substrate and on the photoelectric conversion element. A surface of the second insulation layer is on an upper surface of the first insulation layer. The image sensor includes a conductive connector penetrating the second insulation layer and a portion of the first insulation layer. Methods of forming image sensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: Optical input/output (I/O) devices, which include a substrate including a trench, a waveguide within the trench of the substrate; and a photodetector within the trench and optically connected to the waveguide. An upper surface of the photodetector is at a same level as an upper surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: A photo-electric integrated circuit device comprises an on-die optical input/output device. The on-die optical input/output device comprises a substrate having a trench, a lower cladding layer disposed in the trench and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the substrate, and a core disposed on the lower cladding layer at a distance from sidewalls of the trench and having an upper surface at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: Optical waveguide and coupler devices and methods include a trench formed in a bulk semiconductor substrate, for example, a bulk silicon substrate. A bottom cladding layer is formed in the trench, and a core region is formed on the bottom cladding layer. A reflective element, such as a distributed Bragg reflector can be formed under the coupler device and/or the waveguide device. Because the optical devices are integrated in a bulk substrate, they can be readily integrated with other devices on a chip or die in accordance with silicon photonics technology. Specifically, for example, the optical devices can be integrated in a DRAM memory circuit chip die.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon based optical waveguide can include forming a silicon-on-insulator structure including a non-crystalline silicon portion and a single crystalline silicon portion of an active silicon layer in the structure. The non-crystalline silicon portion can be replaced with an amorphous silicon portion and maintaining the single crystalline silicon portion and the amorphous portion can be crystallized using the single crystalline silicon portion as a seed to form a laterally grown single crystalline silicon portion including the amorphous and single crystalline silicon portions.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first substrate including a driving element, a first insulation layer on the first substrate and on the driving element, a second substrate including a photoelectric conversion element, and a second insulation layer on the second substrate and on the photoelectric conversion element. A surface of the second insulation layer is on an upper surface of the first insulation layer. The image sensor includes a conductive connector penetrating the second insulation layer and a portion of the first insulation layer. Methods of forming image sensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure having a top surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion that is surrounded by the planar portion, and includes a conductive structure including a plurality of conductive lines contacting at least a part of the top surface of the via structure.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first substrate including a driving element, a first insulation layer on the first substrate and on the driving element, a second substrate including a photoelectric conversion element, and a second insulation layer on the second substrate and on the photoelectric conversion element. A surface of the second insulation layer is on an upper surface of the first insulation layer. The image sensor includes a conductive connector penetrating the second insulation layer and a portion of the first insulation layer. Methods of forming image sensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a light guide layer with improved transmission reliability in a semiconductor substrate, the method including forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate, forming a cladding layer and a preliminary light guide layer in the trench such that only one of opposite side end portions of the preliminary light guide layer is in contact with an inner sidewall of the trench, and performing a thermal treatment on the substrate to change the preliminary light guide layer into the light guide layer.

Abstract: A photo-electric integrated circuit device comprises an on-die optical input/output device. The on-die optical input/output device comprises a substrate having a trench, a lower cladding layer disposed in the trench and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the substrate, and a core disposed on the lower cladding layer at a distance from sidewalls of the trench and having an upper surface at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: A conductive layer buried-type substrate is disclosed. The substrate includes a silicon oxidation layer bonded to a supporting substrate, an adhesion promotion layer that is formed on the silicon oxidation layer and improves an adhesion between the silicon oxidation layer and a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is formed on the adhesion promotion layer and comprises a metal layer, and a single crystal semiconductor layer formed on the conductive layer.

Abstract: A wafer temporary bonding method using silicon direct bonding (SDB) may include preparing a carrier wafer and a device wafer, adjusting roughness of a surface of the carrier wafer, and combining the carrier wafer and the device wafer using the SDB. Because the method uses SDB, instead of an adhesive layer, for a temporary bonding process, a module or process to generate and remove an adhesive is unnecessary. Also, a defect in a subsequent process, for example, a back-grinding process, due to irregularity of the adhesive may be prevented.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having an optical transceiver include a cladding on a substrate, a protrusion vertically extending trough the cladding and materially in continuity with the substrate, and a coupler on the cladding and the protrusion.

Abstract: Optical input/output (I/O) devices, which include a substrate including a trench, a waveguide within the trench of the substrate; and a photodetector within the trench and optically connected to the waveguide. An upper surface of the photodetector is at a same level as an upper surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a buried wiring type substrate comprises implanting hydrogen ions into a single crystalline substrate through a first surface thereof to form an ion implantation region, forming a conductive layer comprising a metal on the first surface of the single crystalline substrate, forming an insulation layer comprising silicon oxide on the conductive layer, bonding the insulation layer to a support substrate to form a preliminary buried wiring type substrate, and separating the single crystalline substrate at the ion implantation region to form a single crystalline semiconductor layer on the conductive layer.