Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor having a photodiode and a first transistor in a sensor region and located in a first substrate, with the first transistor electrically coupled to the photodiode. The image sensor has logic circuits formed in a second substrate. The second substrate is stacked on the first substrate and the logic circuits are coupled to the first transistor through bonding pads, the bonding pads disposed outside of the sensor region.

Abstract: An image sensor device structure is provided. The image sensor device structure includes a substrate, and the substrate is doped with a first conductivity type. The image sensor device structure includes a light-sensing region formed in the substrate, and the light-sensing region is doped with a second conductivity type that is different from the first conductivity type. The image sensor device structure further includes a doping region extended into the light-sensing region, and the doping region is doped with the first conductivity type. The image sensor device structure also includes a plurality of color filters formed on the doping region.

Abstract: A photo diode includes a pixel unit, a photo conversion layer, and a dielectric layer. The pixel unit includes a pair of pixels. The photo conversion layer is above the pixel unit and has a pair of portions, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the pixels. The dielectric layer is between the portions of the photo conversion layer. A method of manufacturing the photo diode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes a first substrate including a first front side and a first back side, a first interconnect structure disposed over the first front side of the first substrate, a second substrate including a second front side and a second back side, a second interconnect structure disposed over the second front side of the second substrate, a third substrate including a third front side and a third back side, and a third interconnect structure disposed over the third front side of the third substrate. The first substrate includes a plurality of first sensing devices, and the second substrate includes a plurality of second sensing devices. The second back side of the second substrate faces the first front side of the first substrate, and the second front side of the second substrate faces the third front side of the third substrate.

Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate 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, a plurality of pixel regions is disposed within a substrate and respectively comprising a photodiode. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed between adjacent pixel regions, extending from a back-side of the substrate to a first depth within the substrate, and surrounding the photodiode. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed within the individual pixel region, extending from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate, and overlying the photodiode. A dielectric layer fills in a BDTI trench of the BDTI structure and a MDTI trench of the MDTI structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip including a first substrate and a first conductive feature formed over the first substrate, and a second semiconductor chip bonded to the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip includes a second substrate and a second conductive feature formed over the second substrate. A conductive plug is disposed through the first conductive feature and is coupled to the second conductive feature. The conductive plug includes a first portion disposed over the first conductive feature, the first portion having a first width, and a second portion disposed beneath or within the first conductive feature. The second portion has a second width. The first width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A chip includes a semiconductor substrate, integrated circuits with at least portions in the semiconductor substrate, and a surface dielectric layer over the integrated circuits. A plurality of metal pads is distributed substantially uniformly throughout substantially an entirety of a surface of the chip. The plurality of metal pads has top surfaces level with a top surface of the surface dielectric layer. The plurality of metal pads includes active metal pads and dummy metal pads. The active metal pads are electrically coupled to the integrated circuits. The dummy metal pads are electrically decoupled from the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor die, and a second semiconductor die bonded on the first semiconductor die. A through-substrate via penetrates through a semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A passivation layer is disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, wherein the passivation layer is directly bonded to the semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A conductive feature passes through the passivation layer, wherein the conductive feature is bonded to the through-substrate via. A barrier layer is disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation layer. The barrier layer covers sidewalls of the conductive feature and separates the surface of the conductive feature from a nearest neighboring surface of the first or second semiconductor die.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, with a first plurality of dielectric layers in the first wafer and a second plurality of dielectric layers in the second wafer bonded between a first substrate of the first wafer and a second substrate in the second wafer. A first opening is formed in the first substrate, and the first plurality of dielectric layers and the second wafer are etched through the first opening to form a second opening. A metal pad in the second plurality of dielectric layers is exposed to the second opening. A conductive plug is formed extending into the first and the second openings.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, and a method of fabrication, is introduced. In an embodiment, one or more passivation layers are formed over a first substrate. Recesses are formed in the passivation layers and a first plurality of bonding pads and a second plurality of bonding pads are formed in the recesses. In an embodiment, the first plurality of bonding pads have a first width and a first pitch, and the second plurality of bonding pads have the first width and are grouped into clusters. The first plurality of bonding pads and the second plurality of bonding pads in the first substrate are aligned to a third plurality of bonding pads in a second substrate and are bonded using a direct bonding method.

Abstract: An image-sensor device includes a substrate including a pixel region and a logic region. A logic transistor is disposed in the logic region and is surrounded by a logic isolation feature. A radiation-sensing region is disposed in the pixel region of the substrate. An epitaxial pixel isolation feature is disposed in the pixel region and surrounds the radiation-sensing region. A doped region with a same doping polarity as the radiation-sensing region is located between a bottom of the radiation-sensing region and the back surface of the substrate. The epitaxial pixel isolation feature is in direct contact with the doped region. The doped region extends continuously under the pixel region and the logic region. The epitaxial pixel isolation feature is in direct contact with the doped region, and the logic isolation feature is spaced apart from the doped region.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a pixel array, a control circuit, an interconnect structure, and a conductive layer. The pixel array is disposed on a device substrate within a pixel region. The control circuit disposed on the device substrate within a circuit region, the control circuit being adjacent and electrically coupled to the pixel array. The interconnect structure overlies and electrically connects the control circuit and the pixel array. The interconnect structure includes interconnect metal layers separated from each other by inter-metal dielectric layers and vias that electrically connect between metal traces of the interconnect layers. The conductive layer disposed over the interconnect structure and electrically connected to the interconnect structure by an upper via disposed through an upper inter-metal dielectric layer therebetween. The conductive layer extends laterally within outermost edges of the interconnect structure and within the pixel region and the circuit region.

Abstract: Methods for forming via last through-vias. A method includes providing an active device wafer having a front side including conductive interconnect material disposed in dielectric layers and having an opposing back side; providing a carrier wafer having through vias filled with an oxide extending from a first surface of the carrier wafer to a second surface of the carrier wafer; bonding the front side of the active device wafer to the second surface of the carrier wafer; etching the oxide in the through vias in the carrier wafer to form through oxide vias; and depositing conductor material into the through oxide vias to form conductors that extend to the active carrier wafer and make electrical contact to the conductive interconnect material. An apparatus includes a carrier wafer with through oxide vias extending through the carrier wafer to an active device wafer bonded to the carrier wafer.

Abstract: A circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface. A dielectric material extends from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate. A high-k dielectric layer is formed of a high-k dielectric material, wherein the high-k dielectric layer comprises a first portion on a sidewall of the dielectric material, and a second portion underlying the dielectric material.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming a multi-dimensional integrated chip. The method includes forming a first plurality of interconnect layers within a first dielectric structure on a front-side of a first substrate and forming a second plurality of interconnect layers within a second dielectric structure on a front-side of a second substrate. A first redistribution layer coupled to the first plurality of interconnect layers is bonded to a second redistribution layer coupled to the second plurality of interconnect layers along an interface. A recess is formed within a back-side of the second substrate and over the second plurality of interconnect layers. A bond pad is formed within the recess. The bond pad is laterally separated from the first redistribution layer by a non-zero distance.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an image sensor. The method includes implanting a dopant into a substrate to form a doped region and implanting one or more additional dopants into the substrate to form an image sensing element between the doped region and a front-side of the substrate. The doped region directly contacts a boundary of the image sensing element that is furthest from the front-side of the substrate. The method further includes etching the substrate to form one or more trenches extending into a back-side of the substrate. The back-side of the substrate opposes the front-side of the substrate. The method further includes filling the one or more trenches with one or more dielectric materials to form isolation structures.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region. The image sensor further includes a first isolation structure formed in the pixel region; the first isolation structure including a first trench having a first depth. The image sensor further includes a second isolation structure formed in the periphery region; the second isolation structure including a second trench having a second depth greater than the first depth.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes a first substrate including a first front side and a first back side, a first interconnect structure disposed over the first front side of the first substrate, a second substrate including a second front side and a second back side, a second interconnect structure disposed over the second front side of the second substrate, a third substrate including a third front side and a third back side, and a third interconnect structure disposed over the third front side of the third substrate. The first substrate includes a plurality of first sensing devices, and the second substrate includes a plurality of second sensing devices. The second back side of the second substrate faces the first front side of the first substrate, and the second front side of the second substrate faces the third front side of the third substrate.

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, a plurality of pixel regions is disposed within a substrate and respectively comprising a photodiode. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed between adjacent pixel regions, extending from a back-side of the substrate to a first depth within the substrate, and surrounding the photodiode. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed within the individual pixel region, extending from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate, and overlying the photodiode. A dielectric layer fills in a BDTI trench of the BDTI structure and a MDTI trench of the MDTI structure.