Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate structure, wherein the metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode; performing a surface treatment to a top surface of the metal gate structure, wherein the surface treatment converts a top portion of the gate electrode to an oxidation layer; forming a conductive layer above the gate electrode, wherein the forming of the conductive layer includes substituting oxygen in the oxidation layer with a metallic element; and forming a contact feature above the metal gate structure, wherein the contact feature is in direct contact with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor including forming a source/drain region on a side of a dummy gate stack, forming a first Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) covering the source/drain region, and replacing the dummy gate stack with a replacement gate stack. The method further includes forming a second ILD over the first ILD and the replacement gate stack, and forming a lower source/drain contact plug electrically coupling to the source/drain region. The lower source/drain contact plug penetrates through both the first ILD and the second ILD. A third ILD is formed over the second ILD. A gate contact plug is formed in the second ILD and the third ILD. An upper source/drain contact plug is formed overlapping and contacting the lower source/drain contact plug. The upper source/drain contact plug penetrates through the third ILD. The upper source/drain contact plug and the gate contact plug are formed of different materials.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first and a second dummy gate stack crossing over a semiconductor region, forming an ILD to embed the first and the second dummy gate stacks therein, replacing the first and the second dummy gate stacks with a first and a second replacement gate stack, respectively, performing a first etching process to form a first opening. A portion of the first replacement gate stack and a portion of the second replacement gate stack are removed. The method further includes filling the first opening to form a dielectric isolation region, performing a second etching process to form a second opening, with the ILD being etched, and the dielectric isolation region being exposed to the second opening, forming a contact spacer in the second opening, and filling a contact plug in the second opening. The contact plug is between opposite portions of the contact spacer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first and a second dummy gate stack crossing over a semiconductor region, forming an ILD to embed the first and the second dummy gate stacks therein, replacing the first and the second dummy gate stacks with a first and a second replacement gate stack, respectively, performing a first etching process to form a first opening. A portion of the first replacement gate stack and a portion of the second replacement gate stack are removed. The method further includes filling the first opening to form a dielectric isolation region, performing a second etching process to form a second opening, with the ILD being etched, and the dielectric isolation region being exposed to the second opening, forming a contact spacer in the second opening, and filling a contact plug in the second opening. The contact plug is between opposite portions of the contact spacer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure each extending from a substrate; a first gate segment over the first fin structure and a second gate segment over the second fin structure; a first isolation feature separating the first and second gate segments; a first source/drain (S/D) feature over the first fin structure and adjacent to the first gate segment; a second S/D feature over the second fin structure and adjacent to the second gate segment; and a second isolation feature also disposed in the trench. The first and second S/D features are separated by the second isolation feature, and a composition of the second isolation feature is different from a composition of the first isolation feature.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure that includes a substrate; first and second gate structures over the substrate; first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the substrate; a first dielectric layer over sidewalls of the first and second gate structures and the first and second S/D features; and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The first and second S/D features are adjacent to the first and second gate structures respectively. The first and second S/D features comprise different materials. The method further includes etching the first and second dielectric layers to expose the first and second S/D features; doping a p-type dopant to the first and second S/D features; and performing a selective etching process to the first and second S/D features after the doping of the p-type dopant. The selective etching process recesses the first S/D feature faster than it recesses the second S/D feature.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a first gate structure formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure also includes a first capping layer formed over the first gate structure and a first etching stop layer over the first capping layer and the first gate structure. The FinFET device structure further includes a first source/drain (S/D) contact structure formed over the fin structure and adjacent to the first gate structure. A portion of the first etching stop layer which is directly above the first capping layer is higher than another portion of the first etching stop layer which is directly above the first gate spacer layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures and methods for forming the same are provided. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure includes forming a dummy gate structure over a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate around the dummy gate structure. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure further includes removing the dummy gate structure and removing a portion of the dielectric layer to form a funnel shaped trench. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure further includes forming a gate structure in a bottom portion of the funnel shaped trench and filling a hard mask material in a top portion of the funnel shaped trench to form a funnel shaped hard mask structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layer having a semiconductive material. The layer includes an outwardly-protruding fin structure. An isolation structure is disposed over the layer but not over the fin structure. A first spacer and a second spacer are each disposed over the isolation structure and on sidewalls of the fin structure. The first spacer is disposed on a first sidewall of the fin structure. The second spacer is disposed on a second sidewall of the fin structure opposite the first sidewall. The second spacer is substantially taller than the first spacer. An epi-layer is grown on the fin structure. The epi-layer protrudes laterally. A lateral protrusion of the epi-layer is asymmetrical with respect to the first side and the second side.

Abstract: The present application provides methods and systems for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An exemplary system for launching a UAV includes a detector configured to detect acceleration of the UAV in a launch mode. The exemplary system may also include a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to: obtain a signal configured to notify the UAV to enter the launch mode, determine whether the acceleration of the UAV satisfies a condition corresponding to threshold acceleration in the launch mode, and responsive to the determination that the acceleration of the UAV satisfies the condition, turn on a motor of the UAV.

Abstract: The present application provides a system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parachute landing. An exemplary system includes a detector configured to detect at least one of a flight speed, a wind speed, a wind direction, a position, a height, and a voltage of a UAV. The system also includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to: determine whether to open a parachute of the UAV in accordance with a criterion, responsive to the determination to open the parachute of the UAV, stop a motor of the UAV that spins a propeller of the UAV, and open the parachute of the UAV after stopping the motor of the UAV for a first period.

Abstract: The present application provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for a long duration flight. An exemplary UAV may include a UAV body assembly. The UAV may also include a flight control system (FCS) coupled to the UAV body assembly. The UAV may further include a motor coupled to the UAV body assembly at one end and coupled to a propeller at the other end. The FCS is communicatively connected to the motor. A center of gravity (CG) of the UAV is at a point between 21% and 25% of a mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) of the UAV.

Abstract: A method for semiconductor fabrication includes providing a device structure having an isolation structure, a fin adjacent the isolation structure, gate structures over the fin and the isolation structure, one or more dielectric layers over the isolation structure and the fin and between the gate structures, a first contact hole over the fin, and a second contact hole over the isolation structure. The method further includes depositing a protection layer and treating it with a plasma so that the protection layer in the first contact hole and the protection layer in the second contact hole have different etch selectivity in an etching process; and etching the protection layer to etch through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the first contact hole without etching through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the second contact hole.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a first gate structure formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure also includes a first capping layer formed over the first gate structure and a first etching stop layer over the first capping layer and the first gate structure. The FinFET device structure further includes a first source/drain (S/D) contact structure formed over the fin structure and adjacent to the first gate structure. A portion of the first etching stop layer which is directly above the first capping layer is higher than another portion of the first etching stop layer which is directly above the first gate spacer layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure each extending from a substrate; a first gate segment over the first fin structure and a second gate segment over the second fin structure; first isolation feature separating the first and second gate segments; a first source/drain (S/D) feature over the first fin structure and adjacent to the first gate segment; a second S/D feature over the second fin structure and adjacent to the second gate segment; and a second isolation feature also disposed in the trench. The first and second S/D features are separated by the second isolation feature, and a composition of the second isolation feature is different from a composition of the first isolation feature.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiments, the method includes providing a structure that includes a substrate, a first gate structure and a second gate structure over the substrate, a first source/drain (S/D) feature comprising silicon adjacent to the first gate structure, a second S/D feature comprising silicon germanium (SiGe) adjacent to the second gate structure; and one or more dielectric layers over sidewalls of the first and second gate structures and over the first and second S/D features. The method further includes etching the one or more dielectric layers to form openings exposing the first and second S/D features, forming a masking layer over the first S/D feature, implanting gallium (Ga) into the second S/D feature while the masking layer is over the first S/D feature, removing the masking layer; and etching the first and second S/D features with an oxygen-atom-containing etchant.

Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a fin structure. The method also includes forming an S/D contact structure over a S/D structure and depositing a protection layer over the S/D contact structure. The portion layer and the S/D contact structure are made of different materials. The method further includes forming an etching stop layer over the protection layer and forming a dielectric layer over the etching stop layer. The method includes forming a first recess through the dielectric layer and the etching stop layer to expose the protection layer and forming an S/D conductive plug in the first recess. The S/D conductive plug includes a barrier layer directly on the protection layer, and the protection layer and the barrier layer are made of different materials.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact structure of a gate structure is provided. In the method, an oxidation layer and a first sidewall layer disposed between a first metal gate and a second metal gate are etched to expose an underlying silicon substrate. A silicide portion defined by a contact profile is deposited in the exposed portion of the silicon substrate. A second sidewall layer substantially covers the first sidewall layer and at least partially covering the silicide portion is formed after depositing the silicide portion. A metal glue layer is deposited around the first metal gate and the second metal gate defining a trench above the silicide portion. A metal plug is deposited within the trench.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor including forming a source/drain region on a side of a dummy gate stack, forming a first Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) covering the source/drain region, and replacing the dummy gate stack with a replacement gate stack. The method further includes forming a second ILD over the first ILD and the replacement gate stack, and forming a lower source/drain contact plug electrically coupling to the source/drain region. The lower source/drain contact plug penetrates through both the first ILD and the second ILD. A third ILD is formed over the second ILD. A gate contact plug is formed in the second ILD and the third ILD. An upper source/drain contact plug is formed overlapping and contacting the lower source/drain contact plug. The upper source/drain contact plug penetrates through the third ILD. The upper source/drain contact plug and the gate contact plug are formed of different materials.