Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) structure that includes a substrate having a circuit region and a chip corner region; IC devices formed on the substrate within the circuit region; a passivation layer formed over the IC devices; and a polyimide layer formed over the passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer and the polyimide layer include a stress-release pattern formed in the chip corner region.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, a semiconductor structure includes an Mx-1 layer including a first dielectric layer and first metal features, wherein the first metal features include a first set of first metal features in a first region and a second set of first metal features in a second region, wherein the first set has a first pattern density and the second set has a second pattern density being greater than the first pattern density. The structure further includes a Vx layer disposed over the Mx-1 layer, the Vx layer including first vias contacting the first set of the first metal features. The structure further includes an Mx layer disposed over the Vx layer, the Mx layer including a fuse element, wherein the fuse element has a first thickness in the first region less than a second thickness in the second region.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including a dielectric layer over a substrate. A conductive body is disposed within the dielectric layer. The conductive body has a bottom surface continuously extending between opposing sidewalls. A first liner layer is disposed between the conductive body and the dielectric layer. The first liner layer extends along the opposing sidewalls of the conductive body. The first liner layer is laterally offset from a central region of the bottom surface of the conductive body by a non-zero distance.

Abstract: a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first dielectric feature disposed directly on the first conductive feature; a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the second conductive feature, a first conductive layer disposed on and in contact with the first dielectric feature, a second ESL disposed over the first conductive layer, a second dielectric layer disposed directly on the first ESL and the second ESL, a first via extending through the second dielectric layer and the second ESL to contact with the first conductive feature, and a second via extending through the second dielectric layer and the first ESL to contact with the second conductive feature.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an exemplary semiconductor structure that includes a substrate having a conductive feature disposed in a top portion of the substrate, a metal line above the substrate and in electrical coupling with the conductive feature, a dielectric feature disposed on a sidewall of the metal line, an etch stop layer disposed on the dielectric feature and the meta line, and a via extending through the etch stop layer and in physical contact with top surfaces of the dielectric feature and the metal line. The metal line has a first metal, and the via has a second metal different from the first metal. The top surface of the dielectric feature is higher than the top surface of the metal line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer and a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature surrounded by the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a resistive element electrically connected to the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer surrounds a portion of the resistive element. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive via electrically connected to the second conductive feature. The second dielectric layer surrounds a portion of the conductive via, and a contact area between the resistive element and the first conductive feature is wider than a contact area between the conductive via and the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an aluminum-containing layer and an etch stop layer formed over the aluminum-containing layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a carbon-containing dielectric layer formed over the etch stop layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal line formed in an upper portion of the carbon-containing dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a conductive via formed in a lower portion of the carbon-containing dielectric layer and through the etch stop layer and the aluminum-containing layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a barrier layer interposing the first sidewall of the metal line and carbon-containing dielectric layer and interposing the second sidewall of the conductive via and the carbon-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a front side and a back side, one or more dielectric layers over the front side, and a conductive structure. The one or more dielectric layers include a thermal sensor region and two dummy regions sandwiching the thermal sensor region along a second direction from a top view. The thermal sensor region and the two dummy regions extend longitudinally along a first direction generally perpendicular to the second direction from the top view. The conductive structure is embedded in the thermal sensor region of the one or more dielectric layers. The conductive structure includes conductive lines parallel to each other and extending longitudinally along the first direction, and conductive bars and vias electrically connecting the conductive lines. The conductive lines in a same dielectric layer of the one or more dielectric layers are electrically connected one by one zigzaggedly from the top view.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes forming a first resistive element over a substrate, and the first resistive element has a first sidewall extending in a first direction and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall and extending in the first direction. The method further includes forming a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature over and electrically connected to the first resistive element and forming a second resistive element over the first resistive element and spaced apart from the first resistive element in a second direction. In addition, the second resistive element is located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the first resistive element in a top view, and the first resistive element and the second resistive element are made of different nitrogen-containing materials.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a first conductive feature in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer; depositing a blocking film over and physically contacting the first conductive feature; depositing a first dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first IMD layer; depositing a second dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first dielectric layer; removing the blocking film; depositing an etch stop layer over any physically contacting the first conductive feature and the second dielectric layer; forming a second IMD layer over the etch stop layer; etching an opening in the second IMD layer and the etch stop layer to expose the first conductive feature; and forming a second conductive feature in the opening.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a substrate; a first conductive feature at least partially embedded in the ILD layer; a dielectric layer disposed over and aligned with the ILD layer, wherein a top surface of the dielectric layer is above a top surface of the first conductive feature; an etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the dielectric layer and over the first conductive feature; and a second conductive feature disposed on the first conductive feature, wherein the second conductive feature includes a first portion having a first bottom surface contacting a top surface of the first conductive feature and a second portion having a second bottom surface contacting a top surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a substrate; a first conductive feature at least partially embedded in the ILD layer; a dielectric layer disposed over and aligned with the ILD layer, wherein a top surface of the dielectric layer is above a top surface of the first conductive feature; an etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the dielectric layer and over the first conductive feature; and a second conductive feature disposed on the first conductive feature, wherein the second conductive feature includes a first portion having a first bottom surface contacting a top surface of the first conductive feature and a second portion having a second bottom surface contacting a top surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a first conductive feature in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer; depositing a blocking film over and physically contacting the first conductive feature; depositing a first dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first IMD layer; depositing a second dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first dielectric layer; removing the blocking film; depositing an etch stop layer over any physically contacting the first conductive feature and the second dielectric layer; forming a second IMD layer over the etch stop layer; etching an opening in the second IMD layer and the etch stop layer to expose the first conductive feature; and forming a second conductive feature in the opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes removing a portion of a dielectric layer to form a trench in the dielectric layer. The method includes forming a barrier layer in the trench. The method includes forming a seed layer in the trench and over the barrier layer. The seed layer is doped with manganese. The method includes annealing the seed layer in a first process gas including a first hydrogen gas. A volume ratio of the first hydrogen gas to the first process gas ranges from about 50% to about 100%, and the manganese diffuses from the seed layer to the barrier layer during the annealing of the seed layer in the first process gas.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first dielectric layer over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature surrounded by the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a resistive element having a first portion over the second dielectric layer and a second portion penetrating through the second dielectric layer to be electrically connected to the first conductive feature. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes a conductive via penetrating through the second dielectric layer to be electrically connected to the second conductive feature. The second portion of the resistive element is wider than the conductive via.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including a dielectric layer over a substrate. A conductive body is disposed within the dielectric layer. The conductive body has a bottom surface continuously extending between opposing sidewalls. A first liner layer is disposed between the conductive body and the dielectric layer. The first liner layer extends along the opposing sidewalls of the conductive body. The first liner layer is laterally offset from a central region of the bottom surface of the conductive body by a non-zero distance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer and a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature surrounded by the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a resistive element electrically connected to the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer surrounds a portion of the resistive element. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive via electrically connected to the second conductive feature. The second dielectric layer surrounds a portion of the conductive via, and a contact area between the resistive element and the first conductive feature is wider than a contact area between the conductive via and the second conductive feature.

Abstract: a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first dielectric feature disposed directly on the first conductive feature; a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the second conductive feature, a first conductive layer disposed on and in contact with the first dielectric feature, a second ESL disposed over the first conductive layer, a second dielectric layer disposed directly on the first ESL and the second ESL, a first via extending through the second dielectric layer and the second ESL to contact with the first conductive feature, and a second via extending through the second dielectric layer and the first ESL to contact with the second conductive feature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a first interconnect within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate, and forming a second ILD layer over the first ILD layer. The second ILD layer is patterned to form an interconnect opening that exposes the first interconnect. A blocking layer is formed onto the first interconnect. A barrier layer is formed within the interconnect opening and the blocking layer is removed to expose the first interconnect. A second interconnect is formed within the interconnect opening.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a lower conductive structure within a first dielectric layer over a substrate. An upper dielectric structure is formed over the lower conductive structure. The upper dielectric structure comprises sidewalls defining an opening over the lower conductive structure. A first liner layer is selectively deposited along the sidewalls of the upper dielectric structure. A conductive body is formed within the opening and over the lower conductive structure. The conductive body has a bottom surface directly overlying a middle region of the lower conductive structure. The first layer is laterally offset from the middle region of the lower conductive structure by a non-zero distance.