Abstract: Semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature, a first metal line disposed in a first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first source/drain feature, a second metal line disposed in the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the second source/drain feature, and a first memory element disposed over the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first source/drain feature by way of the first metal line. A width of the first metal line is different from a width of the second metal line. By changing the widths of the first metal line and the second metal line, a source line series resistance of a semiconductor device can be advantageously reduced without changing a pitch of two metal lines.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to an embodiment includes forming a conductive feature and a first conductive plate over a substrate, conformally depositing a dielectric layer over the conductive feature and the first conductive plate, conformally depositing a conductive layer over the conductive feature and the first conductive plate, and patterning the conductive layer to form a second conductive plate over the first conductive plate and a resistor, the resistor includes a conductive line extending along a sidewall of the conductive feature. By employing the method, a high-resistance resistor may be formed along with a capacitor regardless of the resolution limit of, for example, lithography.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first passivation layer disposed over a metal line, a copper-containing RDL disposed over the first passivation layer, where the copper-containing RDL is electrically coupled to the metal line and where a portion of the copper-containing RDL in contact with a top surface of the first passivation layer forms an acute angle, and a second passivation layer disposed over the copper-containing RDL, where an interface between the second passivation layer and a top surface of the copper-containing RDL is curved. The semiconductor structure may further include a polymeric layer disposed over the second passivation layer, where a portion of the polymeric layer extends to contact the copper-containing RDL, a bump electrically coupled to the copper-containing RDL, and a solder layer disposed over the bump.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor structure disposed over a substrate, a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over the transistor structure, a second ILD layer disposed over the first ILD layer, and a first resistor wire disposed on the second ILD layer, and a second resistor wire disposed on the second ILD layer. A sheet resistance of the first resistor wire is different from a sheet resistance of the second resistor wire.

Abstract: Disclosed semiconductor device manufacturing processes improve the flatness of a passivation layer deposited above a redistribution layer (RDL). When a thin passivation layer is deposited above the RDL, its top surface tends to become very uneven due to the large gaps that typically form over the etched portions of the RDL, particularly when the RDL is disposed over an underlying super high density metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. In order to reduce the incidence of stress concentration areas on the uneven surface, a thicker passivation layer is instead deposited to minimize gap formation therein, and a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process is then performed to further smooth the top surface thereof. Reduction of the stress in this manner reduces the incidence of cracking of the underlying MIM, which improves the overall pass rates of semiconductor devices so manufactured.

Abstract: A method and semiconductor device including a substrate having one or more semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the device further includes a first passivation layer disposed over the one or more semiconductor devices. The device may further include a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure formed over the first passivation layer. In addition, the device may further include a second passivation layer disposed over the MIM capacitor structure. In various examples, a stress-reduction feature is embedded within the second passivation layer. In some embodiments, the stress-reduction feature includes a first nitrogen-containing layer, an oxygen-containing layer disposed over the first nitrogen-containing layer, and a second nitrogen-containing layer disposed over the oxygen containing layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and fabrication processes are provided. A semiconductor according to the present disclosure includes a first region including a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin extending along a first direction, and a second region abutting the first region. The second region includes a fourth fin and a fifth fin extending along the first direction. The first fin is aligned with the fourth fin and the second fin is aligned with the fifth fin. The third fin terminates at an interface between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a dielectric layer including a top surface, a plurality of magneto-resistive memory cells disposed in the dielectric layer and including top electrodes, a first etch stop layer disposed over the dielectric layer, a common electrode extending through the first etch stop layer to be in direct contact with the top electrodes, and a second etch stop layer disposed on the first etch stop layer and the common electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a fin spacer alongside a fin structure, a source/drain structure over the fin structure, and a salicide layer along a surface of the source/drain structure. A bottom portion of the salicide layer is in contact with the fin spacer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a capping layer over the salicide layer. A portion of the capping layer directly below the bottom portion of the salicide layer is in contact with the fin spacer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric layer over the capping layer. The dielectric layer is made of a different material than the capping layer.

Abstract: A method and semiconductor device including a substrate having one or more semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the device further includes a first passivation layer disposed over the one or more semiconductor devices. The device may further include a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure formed over the first passivation layer. In addition, the device may further include a second passivation layer disposed over the MIM capacitor structure. In various examples, a stress-reduction feature is embedded within the second passivation layer. In some embodiments, the stress-reduction feature includes a first nitrogen-containing layer, an oxygen-containing layer disposed over the first nitrogen-containing layer, and a second nitrogen-containing layer disposed over the oxygen containing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate. A gate structure is disposed over the substrate in a vertical direction. The gate structure extends in a first horizontal direction. An air spacer is disposed adjacent to a first portion of the gate structure in a second horizontal direction that is different from the first horizontal direction. The air spacer has a vertical boundary in a cross-sectional side view defined by the vertical direction and the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second metal-insulator-metal structures. The first metal-insulator-metal structure includes a first bottom conductor plate, a first portion of a first dielectric layer, a first middle conductor plate, a first portion of a second dielectric layer, and a first top conductor plate stacked up one over another. The second metal-insulator-metal structure includes a second bottom conductor plate, a second portion of the first dielectric layer, a second middle conductor plate, a second portion of the second dielectric layer, and a second top conductor plate stacked up one over another. In a cross-sectional view, the first bottom conductor plate is wider than the first middle conductor plate that is wider than the first top conductor plate, and the second bottom conductor plate is narrower than the second middle conductor plate that is narrower than the first top conductor plate.

Abstract: A method for forming a chip structure is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive line, and a first dielectric layer. The method includes forming a first conductive layer over the first dielectric layer. The method includes forming a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer. The method includes forming a second dielectric layer over the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. The method includes forming a first through hole passing through the second dielectric layer, the first conductive layer, and the first dielectric layer. The method includes forming a first conductive structure in and over the first through hole.

Abstract: A method includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack over a substrate. The MTJ stack including a top magnetic layer, a barrier layer, and a bottom magnetic layer. The method also includes patterning the top magnetic layer in a first etch process, after the patterning of the top magnetic layer depositing a spacer on sidewalls of the patterned top magnetic layer, and patterning the bottom magnetic layer in a second etch process.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a first passivation layer over the contact feature, a bottom conductor plate layer disposed over the first passivation layer and including a first plurality of sublayers, a second dielectric layer over the bottom conductor plate layer, a middle conductor plate layer disposed over the second dielectric layer and including a second plurality of sublayers, a third dielectric layer over the middle conductor plate layer, a top conductor plate layer disposed over the third dielectric layer and including a third plurality of sublayers, and a second passivation layer over the top conductor plate layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The MIM capacitor includes: electrodes including one or more first electrodes and one or more second electrodes; and one or more insulating layers disposed between adjacent electrodes. The MIM capacitor is disposed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a substrate. The one or more first electrodes are connected to a side wall of a first via electrode disposed in the ILD layer, and the one or more second electrodes are connected to a side wall of a second via electrode disposed in the ILD layer. In one or more of the foregoing or following embodiments, the one or more insulating layers include a high-k dielectric material.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, a first layer made of a conductive material is formed over a substrate. A second layer for a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack is formed over the first conductive layer. A third layer is formed over the second layer. A first hard mask pattern is formed by patterning the third layer. The MTJ stack is formed by patterning the second layer by an etching operation using the first hard mask pattern as an etching mask. The etching operation stops at the first layer. A sidewall insulating layer is formed over the MTJ stack. After the sidewall insulating layer is formed, a bottom electrode is formed by patterning the first layer to form the MRAM cell including the bottom electrode, the MTj stack and the first hard mask pattern as an upper electrode.

Abstract: A device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The device structure includes a structure, a first passivation layer disposed on the structure, a buffer layer disposed on the first passivation layer, a barrier layer disposed on a first portion of the buffer layer, a redistribution layer disposed over the barrier layer, an adhesion layer disposed on the barrier layer and on side surfaces of the redistribution layer, and a second passivation layer disposed on a second portion of the buffer layer. The second passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer, the adhesion layer, and the redistribution layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device packages and method are provided. A semiconductor device package according to the present disclosure includes a substrate including a first region, a passive device disposed over the first region of the substrate, a contact pad disposed over the passive device, a passivation layer disposed over the contact pad, a recess through the passivation layer, and an under-bump metallization (UBM) layer. The recess exposes the contact pad and the UBM layer includes an upper portion disposed over the passivation layer and a lower portion disposed over a sidewall of the recess. A projection of the upper portion of the UBM layer along a direction perpendicular to the substrate falls within an area of the contact pad.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The MIM capacitor structure includes a first electrode layer formed over a substrate, and a first spacer formed on a sidewall of the first electrode layer. The MIM capacitor structure also includes a first dielectric layer formed on the first spacers, and an end of the first dielectric layer is in direct contact with the first pacer.