Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates an integrated chip including a substrate. A conductive interconnect feature is arranged over the substrate. The conductive interconnect feature has a base feature portion with a base feature width and an upper feature portion with an upper feature width. The upper feature width is narrower than the base feature width such that the conductive interconnect feature has tapered outer feature sidewalls. An interconnect via is arranged over the conductive interconnect feature. The interconnect via has a base via portion with a base via width and an upper via portion with an upper via width. The upper via width is wider than the base via width such that the interconnect via has tapered outer via sidewalls.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip may comprise a first metal line disposed over a substrate. A via may be disposed directly over a top of the first metal line and the via may comprise a first lower surface and a second lower surface above the first lower surface. A first dielectric structure may be disposed laterally adjacent to the first metal line and may be disposed along a sidewall of the first metal line. A first protective etch-stop structure may be disposed directly over a top of the first dielectric structure and the first protective etch-stop structure may vertically separate the second lower surface of the via from the top of the first dielectric structure.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece including a semiconductor substrate, a first ILD layer over the semiconductor substrate, and a first metal feature in the first ILD layer; depositing a second metal feature over the workpiece such that the second metal feature is electrically coupled to the first metal feature; patterning the second metal feature to form a first trench adjacent to the first metal feature; depositing a blocking layer over the workpiece, wherein the blocking layer selectively attaches to the first ILD layer; depositing a barrier layer over the workpiece, wherein the barrier layer selectively forms over the second metal feature relative to the first ILD layer; and depositing a second ILD layer over the workpiece.

Abstract: A package structure includes a first RDL, an adhesive layer and a first electronic component. Upper bumps and conductive pads are provided on a first upper surface and a first lower surface of the first RDL, respectively. The adhesive layer is located on the first upper surface of the first RDL and surrounds the upper bumps. The first electronic component is mounted on the adhesive layer and includes conductors which are visible from an active surface of the first electronic component and joined to the upper bumps, the active surface of the first electronic component faces toward the first upper surface of the first RDL. Two adhesive surfaces of the adhesive layer are adhered to the first upper surface of the first RDL and the active surface of the first electronic component, respectively.

Abstract: An optical photographing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has two surfaces being both aspheric. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein two surfaces thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof, wherein two surfaces thereof are aspheric.

Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with an interconnect structure and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, the method includes receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate and an interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes a first conductive feature disposed within a first inter-level dielectric layer. A blocking layer is selectively formed on the first conductive feature without forming the blocking layer on the first inter-level dielectric layer. An alignment feature is selectively formed on the first inter-level dielectric layer without forming the alignment feature on the blocking layer. The blocking layer is removed from the first conductive feature, and a second inter-level dielectric layer is formed on the alignment feature and on the first conductive feature. The second inter-level dielectric layer is patterned to define a recess for a second conductive feature, and the second conductive feature is formed within the recess.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The method comprises providing a substrate including a conductive feature; forming aluminum (Al)-containing dielectric layer on the conductive feature; forming a low-k dielectric layer on the Al-containing dielectric layer; and etching the low-k dielectric layer to form a contact trench aligned with the conductive feature. A bottom of the contact trench is on a surface of the Al-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, a hard mask layer, a conductive layer, and a capping layer. The first conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive feature. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the conductive layer is disposed over at least a first portion of the hard mask layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are formed by different materials. The capping layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes preparing a dielectric structure formed with trenches respectively defined by lateral surfaces of the dielectric structure, forming spacer layers on the lateral surfaces, filling an electrically conductive material into the trenches to form electrically conductive features, selectively depositing a blocking layer on the dielectric structure, selectively depositing a dielectric material on the electrically conductive features to form a capping layer, removing the blocking layer and the dielectric structure to form recesses, forming sacrificial features in the recesses, forming a sustaining layer to cover the sacrificial features; and removing the sacrificial features to obtain the semiconductor structure formed with air gaps confined by the sustaining layer and the spacer layers.

Abstract: A layout of a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate and a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). The TCAM is disposed on the substrate and includes a plurality of TCAM bit cells, where at least two of the TCAM bit cells are mirror-symmetrical along an axis of symmetry, and each of the TCAM bit cells includes two storage units electrically connected to two word lines respectively, and a logic circuit electrically connected to the storage units. The logic circuit includes two first reading transistors, and two second reading transistors, where each of the second reading transistors includes a gate and source and drain regions, the source and drain regions of the second reading transistors are electrically connected to two matching lines and the first reading transistors, respectively, where the word lines are disposed parallel to and between the matching lines.

Abstract: An optical module includes a micro spectrometer. The micro spectrometer includes an optical crystal, a lens, and a photosensitive assembly. The optical crystal is configured to receive detection light and covert the detection light into interference light. The optical crystal is surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeve configured to fix a position of the optical crystal. The lens is configured for receiving the interference light and focusing the interference light. The photosensitive assembly is configured for imaging the interference light into an interference image. The optical module further comprises a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the photosensitive assembly, and the controller is used to convert the interference image into light wavelength signals and light intensity signals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a lower dielectric arranged over a substrate. An interconnect wire is arranged over the dielectric layer, and a first interconnect dielectric layer is arranged outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire. A protection liner that includes graphene is arranged directly on the outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire and on a top surface of the interconnect wire. The integrated chip further includes a first etch stop layer arranged directly on upper surfaces of the first interconnect dielectric layer, and a second interconnect dielectric layer arranged over the first interconnect dielectric layer and the interconnect wire. Further, an interconnect via extends through the second interconnect dielectric layer, is arranged directly over the protection liner, and is electrically coupled to the interconnect wire.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive feature, a second conductive feature, and a first dielectric layer positioned between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. An etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. A cap layer is over the first conductive feature, the second conductive feature, and the etch stop layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip may comprise a first metal line disposed over a substrate. A via may be disposed directly over a top of the first metal line and the via may comprise a first lower surface and a second lower surface above the first lower surface. A first dielectric structure may be disposed laterally adjacent to the first metal line and may be disposed along a sidewall of the first metal line. A first protective etch-stop structure may be disposed directly over a top of the first dielectric structure and the first protective etch-stop structure may vertically separate the second lower surface of the via from the top of the first dielectric structure.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming an enhanced metal capping layer includes forming a portion of a multi-level metal interconnect network over a substrate. In some embodiments, the portion of the multi-level metal interconnect network includes a plurality of metal regions. In some cases, a dielectric region is disposed between each of the plurality of metal regions. By way of example, a metal capping layer may be deposited over each of the plurality of metal regions. Thereafter, in some embodiments, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) may be deposited, where the SAM forms selectively on the metal capping layer, while the dielectric region is substantially free of the SAM. In various examples, after selectively forming the SAM on the metal capping layer, a thermal process may be performed, where the SAM prevents diffusion of the metal capping layer during the thermal process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and an interconnect layer disposed over the substrate. The interconnect layer includes a dielectric layer, an interconnect structure disposed in the dielectric layer, and an etch stop layer which is disposed on a lower end surface of the interconnect structure and which includes silicon carbonitride represented by a general formula of SixCyNz, wherein x is a silicon content ranging from 30 atomic % to 60 atomic %, y is a carbon content ranging from 25 atomic % to 60 atomic %, z is a nitrogen content ranging from 10 atomic % to 20 atomic %, and a sum of x, y, and z is 100 atomic %.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a self-aligned via is presented. In one embodiment, an inhibitor layer is selectively deposited on the lower conductive region. In one embodiment, a dielectric is selectively deposited on the lower conductive region. In one embodiment, the deposited dielectric may be selectively etched. In one embodiment, an inhibitor is selectively deposited on the lower dielectric region. In one embodiment, a dielectric is selectively deposited on the lower dielectric region. In one embodiment, the deposited dielectric over the lower conductive region has a different etch rate than the deposited dielectric over the lower dielectric region which may lead to a via structure that is aligned with the lower conductive region.

Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, a hard mask layer, a conductive layer, and a capping layer. The first conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive feature. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the conductive layer is disposed over at least a first portion of the hard mask layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are formed by different materials. The capping layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate. A first conductive wire is over the substrate. A second conductive wire is over the substrate and is adjacent to the first conductive wire. A first dielectric cap is laterally between the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The first dielectric cap laterally separates the first conductive wire from the second conductive wire. The first dielectric cap includes a first dielectric material. A first cavity is directly below the first dielectric cap and is laterally between the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The first cavity is defined by one or more surfaces of the first dielectric cap.

Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure includes forming a first conductive layer over a dielectric layer, forming one or more openings in the first conductive layer to expose portions of dielectric surface of the dielectric layer and conductive surfaces of the first conductive layer, wherein the one or more openings separates the first conductive layer into one or more portions.