Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first substrate having a first horizontally extending surface and a second horizontally extending surface above the first horizontally extending surface as viewed in a cross-sectional view. The first horizontally extending surface continuously wraps around an outermost perimeter of the second horizontally extending surface in a closed loop as viewed in a plan-view. A second substrate is disposed over the first substrate and includes a third horizontally extending surface above the second horizontally extending surface as viewed in the cross-sectional view. The second horizontally extending surface continuously wraps around an outermost perimeter of the third horizontally extending surface in a closed loop as viewed in the plan-view.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor wafer structure including a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed along the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric stack including a plurality of dielectric layers is arranged over the semiconductor substrate. A conductive interconnect structure is within the dielectric stack. A seal ring layer is over the dielectric stack and laterally surrounds the dielectric stack along a first sidewall of the dielectric stack. The seal ring layer includes a first protrusion that extends into a first trench in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor having a semiconductor substrate comprising a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A plurality of photodetectors is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure extends into the back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate and is disposed between adjacent photodetectors. The isolation structure includes a metal core, a conductive liner disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the metal core, and a first dielectric liner disposed between the conductive liner and the semiconductor substrate. The metal core comprises a first metal material and the conductive liner comprises the first metal material and a second metal material different from the first metal material.

Abstract: The present disclosure for wafer bonding, including forming an epitaxial layer on a top surface of a first wafer, forming a sacrificial layer over the epitaxial layer, trimming an edge of the first wafer, removing the sacrificial layer, forming an oxide layer over the top surface of the first wafer subsequent to removing the sacrificial layer, and bonding the top surface of the first wafer to a second wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an associated process tool. The method includes generating electromagnetic radiation that is directed toward a perimeter of a pair of bonded workpieces and toward a radiation sensor that is arranged behind the perimeter of the pair of bonded workpieces. The electromagnetic radiation is scanned along a vertical axis. An intensity of the electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the radiation sensor is measured throughout the scanning. Measuring the intensity includes recording a plurality of intensity values of the electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of different positions along the vertical axis extending past top and bottom surfaces of the pair of bonded workpieces. A position of an interface between the pair of bonded workpieces is determined based on a maximum measured intensity value of the plurality of intensity values.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an associated process tool. The method includes generating electromagnetic radiation that is directed toward a perimeter of a pair of bonded workpieces and toward a radiation sensor that is arranged behind the perimeter of the pair of bonded workpieces. The electromagnetic radiation is scanned along a vertical axis. An intensity of the electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the radiation sensor is measured throughout the scanning. Measuring the intensity includes recording a plurality of intensity values of the electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of different positions along the vertical axis extending past top and bottom surfaces of the pair of bonded workpieces. A position of an interface between the pair of bonded workpieces is determined based on a maximum measured intensity value of the plurality of intensity values.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor having a semiconductor substrate comprising a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A plurality of photodetectors is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure extends into the back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate and is disposed between adjacent photodetectors. The isolation structure includes a metal core, a conductive liner disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the metal core, and a first dielectric liner disposed between the conductive liner and the semiconductor substrate. The metal core comprises a first metal material and the conductive liner comprises the first metal material and a second metal material different from the first metal material.

Abstract: Some implementations herein provide for a system and methods for in-line monitoring of a sealant being dispensed by a jet nozzle in a beveled region along a perimeter of a stack of semiconductor substrates. The system includes an automated optical inspection system. During the dispensing of the sealant by the jet nozzle, the automated optical inspection system may monitor an amount of an accumulation of the sealant within the beveled region.

Abstract: A bonded assembly of a first wafer including a first semiconductor substrate and a second wafer including a second semiconductor substrate may be formed. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a first thickness, and an inter-wafer moat trench may be formed at a periphery of the bonded assembly. A protective material layer may be formed in the inter-wafer moat trench and over the backside surface of the second semiconductor substrate. A peripheral portion of the second semiconductor substrate located outside the inter-wafer moat trench may be removed, and a cylindrical portion of the protective material layer laterally surrounds a remaining portion of the bonded assembly. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a second thickness by performing at least one thinning process while the cylindrical portion of the protective material layer protects the remaining portion of the bonded assembly.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for forming a stacked die product including two or more integrated circuit dies. A bond interface between two integrated circuit dies that are included in the stacked die product includes a layered structure. As part of the layered structure, respective layers of a sealant material are directly on co-facing surfaces of the two integrated circuit dies. The layered structure further includes one or more bonding layers between the respective layers of the sealant material that are directly on the co-facing surfaces of the two integrated circuit dies. The layered structure may reduce lateral stresses throughout the bond interface to reduce a likelihood of warpage of the two integrated circuit dies.

Abstract: Some implementations herein describe a chemical-mechanical planarization tool including a polishing pad. The chemical-mechanical planarization tool including the polishing pad may perform a polishing operation to a semiconductor substrate. The polishing operation may generate, along a perimeter of the semiconductor substrate, a roll-off profile that satisfies a threshold. The polishing pad includes two or more regions, where each region includes a different pad surface pattern. Each region including a different pad surface pattern may correspond to a different polishing rate. Techniques using the polishing pad having such zone and pad surface pattern combinations allow for a focused and a controlled polishing of the semiconductor substrate, including along the perimeter of the semiconductor substrate to tightly control the roll-off profile.

Abstract: A bonded assembly of a first wafer including a first semiconductor substrate and a second wafer including a second semiconductor substrate may be formed. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a first thickness, and an inter-wafer moat trench may be formed at a periphery of the bonded assembly. A protective material layer may be formed in the inter-wafer moat trench and over the backside surface of the second semiconductor substrate. A peripheral portion of the second semiconductor substrate located outside the inter-wafer moat trench may be removed, and a cylindrical portion of the protective material layer laterally surrounds a remaining portion of the bonded assembly. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a second thickness by performing at least one thinning process while the cylindrical portion of the protective material layer protects the remaining portion of the bonded assembly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of trimming an annular portion of a wafer. The method includes aligning the wafer over a wafer chuck. The method uses a rotating blade having a first rotational speed to remove the annular portion from an upper surface of the wafer. While the rotating blade is removing the annular portion of the upper surface of the wafer, measuring a parameter of the wafer at a position adjacent to the rotating blade. Lastly, the method involves changing the first rotation speed of the rotating blade to a second rotational speed when the parameter is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein include systems and techniques for fabricating a stacked die product. The systems and techniques include using a supporting fill mixture that includes a combination of types of composite particulates in a lateral gap region of a stack of semiconductor substrates and along a perimeter region of the stack of semiconductor substrates. One type of composite particulate included in the combination may be a relatively smaller size and include a smooth surface, allowing the composite particulate to ingress deep into the lateral gap region. Properties of the supporting fill mixture including the combination of types of composite particulates may control thermally induced stresses during downstream manufacturing to reduce a likelihood of defects in the supporting fill mixture and/or the stack of semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a wafer edge trimming apparatus that includes a processing chamber defined by chamber housing. Within the processing chamber is a wafer chuck configured to hold onto a wafer structure. Further, a blade is arranged near an edge of the wafer chuck and configured to remove an edge potion of the wafer structure and to define a new sidewall of the wafer structure. A laser sensor apparatus is configured to direct a laser beam directed toward a top surface of the wafer chuck. The laser sensor apparatus is configured to measure a parameter of an analysis area of the wafer structure. Control circuitry is to the laser sensor apparatus and the blade. The control circuitry is configured to start a damage prevention process when the parameter deviates from a predetermined threshold value by at least a predetermined shift value.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for polishing a perimeter region of a semiconductor substrate so that a roll-off profile at or near the perimeter region of the semiconductor substrate satisfies a threshold. The described implementations include depositing a first layer of a first oxide material across the semiconductor substrate followed by depositing a second layer of a second oxide material over the first layer of the first oxide material and around a perimeter region of the semiconductor substrate. The described implementations further include polishing the second layer of the second oxide material over the perimeter region using a chemical mechanical planarization tool including one or more ring-shaped polishing pads oriented vertically over the perimeter region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes bonding a first semiconductor wafer to a second semiconductor wafer. A bond interface is disposed between the first and second semiconductor wafers. The first semiconductor wafer has a peripheral region laterally surrounding a central region. A support structure is formed between a first outer edge of the first semiconductor wafer and a second outer edge of the second semiconductor wafer. The support structure is disposed within the peripheral region. A thinning process is performed on the second semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor wafer structure including a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed along the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric stack including a plurality of dielectric layers is arranged over the semiconductor substrate. A conductive interconnect structure is within the dielectric stack. A seal ring layer is over the dielectric stack and laterally surrounds the dielectric stack along a first sidewall of the dielectric stack. The seal ring layer includes a first protrusion that extends into a first trench in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A bonded assembly of a first wafer including a first semiconductor substrate and a second wafer including a second semiconductor substrate may be formed. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a first thickness, and an inter-wafer moat trench may be formed at a periphery of the bonded assembly. A protective material layer may be formed in the inter-wafer moat trench and over the backside surface of the second semiconductor substrate. A peripheral portion of the second semiconductor substrate located outside the inter-wafer moat trench may be removed, and a cylindrical portion of the protective material layer laterally surrounds a remaining portion of the bonded assembly. The second semiconductor substrate may be thinned to a second thickness by performing at least one thinning process while the cylindrical portion of the protective material layer protects the remaining portion of the bonded assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first substrate having a first horizontally extending surface and a second horizontally extending surface above the first horizontally extending surface as viewed in a cross-sectional view. The first horizontally extending surface continuously wraps around an outermost perimeter of the second horizontally extending surface in a closed loop as viewed in a plan-view. A second substrate is disposed over the first substrate and includes a third horizontally extending surface above the second horizontally extending surface as viewed in the cross-sectional view. The second horizontally extending surface continuously wraps around an outermost perimeter of the third horizontally extending surface in a closed loop as viewed in the plan-view.