Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an image sensor device and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is an image sensor device including a first plurality of pickup regions in a photosensor array area of a substrate, each of first plurality of pickup regions having a first width and a first length, a second plurality of pickup regions in a periphery area of the substrate, the periphery area along at least one side of the photosensor array area, each of second plurality of pickup regions having a second width and a second length.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor device and a method of forming the stacked semiconductor device are provided. A plurality of integrated circuits are bonded to one another to form the stacked semiconductor device. After each bonding step to bond an additional integrated circuit to a stacked semiconductor device formed at the previous bonding step, a plurality of conductive plugs are formed to electrically interconnect the additional integrated circuit to the stacked semiconductor device formed at the previous bonding step.

Abstract: An image sensor structure that includes a first semiconductor substrate having a plurality of imaging sensors; a first interconnect structure formed on the first semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor substrate having a logic circuit; a second interconnect structure formed on the second semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the second semiconductor substrates are bonded together in a configuration that the first and second interconnect structures are sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor substrates; and a backside deep contact (BDCT) feature extended from the first interconnect structure to the second interconnect structure, thereby electrically coupling the logic circuit to the image sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having autofocus function and associated methods. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit has a photodiode array with a plurality of photodiodes disposed within a semiconductor substrate and a composite grid overlying the photodiode array and having a first plurality of openings and a second plurality of openings extending vertically through the composite grid. The integrated circuit further has an image sensing pixel array with a plurality of color filters disposed in the first plurality of openings. The integrated circuit further has a phase detection pixel array having a plurality of phase detection components that are smaller than the plurality of color filters and that have a low refractive index (low-n) material with a refractive index (n) smaller than a refractive index of the plurality of color filters, wherein the phase detection components are disposed in the second plurality of openings.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a Device Isolation (DI) region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric is disposed over an active region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate dielectric extends over the DI region. A gate electrode is disposed over the gate dielectric, wherein a notch of the gate electrode overlaps a portion of the DI region.

Abstract: Methods for improving hybrid bond yield for semiconductor wafers forming 3DIC devices includes first and second wafers having dummy and main metal deposited and patterned during BEOL processing. Metal of the dummy metal pattern occupies from about 40% to about 90% of the surface area of any given dummy metal pattern region. High dummy metal surface coverage, in conjunction with utilization of slotted conductive pads, allows for improved planarization of wafer surfaces presented for hybrid bonding. Planarized wafers exhibit minimum topographic differentials corresponding to step height differences of less than about 400 ?. Planarized first and second wafers are aligned and subsequently hybrid bonded with application of heat and pressure; dielectric-to-dielectric, RDL-to-RDL. Lithography controls to realize WEE from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm may be employed to promote topographic uniformity at wafer edges.

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: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a recess. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The recess passes through the first semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first wiring layer over the second surface. The semiconductor device structure includes a first bonding pad in the recess and extending to the first wiring layer so as to be electrically connected to the first wiring layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a nickel layer over the first bonding pad. The semiconductor device structure includes a gold layer over the nickel layer.

Abstract: A backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor for biased backside deep trench isolation (BDTI) and/or biased backside shielding is provided. A photodetector is arranged in a semiconductor substrate, laterally adjacent to a peripheral opening in the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure is arranged under the semiconductor substrate. A pad structure is arranged in the peripheral opening, and protrudes through a lower surface of the peripheral opening to the interconnect structure. A conductive layer is electrically coupled to the pad structure, and extends laterally towards the photodetector from over the pad structure. A method for manufacturing the BSI image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an image sensor device and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is an image sensor device including a first plurality of pickup regions in a photosensor array area of a substrate, each of first plurality of pickup regions having a first width and a first length, a second plurality of pickup regions in a periphery area of the substrate, the periphery area along at least one side of the photosensor array area, each of second plurality of pickup regions having a second width and a second length.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first chip bonded on a second chip. The first chip comprises a first substrate and first interconnection components formed in first IMD layers. The second chip comprises a second substrate and second interconnection components formed in second IMD layers. The device further comprises a first conductive plug formed within the first substrate and the first IMD layers, wherein the first conductive plug is coupled to a first interconnection component and a second conductive plug formed through the first substrate and the first IMD layers and formed partially through the second IMD layers, wherein the second conductive plug is coupled to a second interconnection component.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing cross-talk between photosensitive diodes is provided. In an embodiment a first color filter is formed over a first photosensitive diode and a second color filter is formed over a second photosensitive diode, and a gap is formed between the first color filter and the second color filter. The gap will serve to reflect light that otherwise would have crossed from the first color filter to the second color filter, thereby reducing cross-talk between the first photosensitive diode and the second photosensitive diode. A reflective grid may also be formed between the first photosensitive diode and the second photosensitive diode in order to assist in the reflection and further reduce the amount of cross-talk.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: An image sensor structure that includes a first semiconductor substrate having a plurality of imaging sensors; a first interconnect structure formed on the first semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor substrate having a logic circuit; a second interconnect structure formed on the second semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the second semiconductor substrates are bonded together in a configuration that the first and second interconnect structures are sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor substrates; and a backside deep contact (BDCT) feature extended from the first interconnect structure to the second interconnect structure, thereby electrically coupling the logic circuit to the image sensors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first trench and a second trench are formed in a substrate, and dopants of a first conductivity type are implanted along sidewalls and a bottom of the first trench and the second trench. The first and second trenches are filled with an insulating material, and a gate dielectric and a gate electrode over the substrate, the gate dielectric and the gate electrode extending over the first trench and the second trench. Source/drain regions are formed in the substrate on opposing sides of the gate dielectric and the gate electrode.

Abstract: Methods for improving hybrid bond yield for semiconductor wafers forming 3DIC devices includes first and second wafers having dummy and main metal deposited and patterned during BEOL processing. Metal of the dummy metal pattern occupies from about 40% to about 90% of the surface area of any given dummy metal pattern region. High dummy metal surface coverage, in conjunction with utilization of slotted conductive pads, allows for improved planarization of wafer surfaces presented for hybrid bonding. Planarized wafers exhibit minimum topographic differentials corresponding to step height differences of less than about 400 ?. Planarized first and second wafers are aligned and subsequently hybrid bonded with application of heat and pressure; dielectric-to-dielectric, RDL-to-RDL. Lithography controls to realize WEE from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm may be employed to promote topographic uniformity at wafer edges.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a multi-dimensional integrated chip having a redistribution structure vertically extending between integrated chip die at a location laterally offset from a bond pad. The integrated chip structure has a first die and a second die. The first die has a first plurality of interconnect layers arranged within a first dielectric structure disposed on a first substrate. The second die has a second plurality of interconnect layers arranged within a second dielectric structure disposed between the first dielectric structure and a second substrate. A bond pad is disposed within a recess extending through the second substrate. A redistribution structure electrically couples the first die to the second die at a position that is laterally offset from the bond pad.