Abstract: A method of forming semiconductor device includes forming an active layer in a substrate including forming components of one or more transistors; forming an MD and gate (MDG) layer over the active layer including forming a gate line; forming a metal-to-S/D (MD) contact structure; and forming a waveguide between the gate line and the MD contact structure; forming a first interconnection layer over the MDG layer including forming a first via contact structure over the gate line; forming a second via contact structure over the MD contact structure; and forming a heater between the first and second via contact structures and over the waveguide.

Abstract: In some embodiments, digital logic components, such as those found in standard cells in integrated circuit devices, are used to synthesize signals with controllable waveforms that result in transmitted signals that meet certain requirements, such as above-threshold high openings and below-threshold over/under-shooting. In some embodiments, driving buffers with logic controls and delay chains are used to achieve controllable slew rates at rising and falling edges to minimize over/under shooting behavior in signals. In some embodiments, control logic and delay chains produce controllable rising/falling “stair-type” edges to obtain optimized damping waveform.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a first dielectric layer over the substrate; a waveguide over the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and laterally surrounding the waveguide; a first conductive member and a second conductive member over the second dielectric layer and the waveguide, the first conductive member and the second conductive member being in contact with the waveguide; a conductive bump on one side of the substrate and electrically connected to the first conductive member or the second conductive member; and a conductive via extending through the substrate and electrically connecting the conductive bump to the first conductive member or the second conductive member. The waveguide is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.

Abstract: A method includes: forming an interconnect structure over a semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes: a magnetic core and a conductive coil winding around the magnetic core and electrically insulated from the magnetic core, wherein the conductive coil has horizontally-extending conductive lines and vertically-extending conductive vias electrically connecting the horizontally-extending conductive lines, wherein the magnetic core and the conductive coil are arranged in an inductor zone of the interconnect structure. The interconnect structure also includes a dielectric material electrically insulating the magnetic core from the conductive coil, and a connecting metal line adjacent to and on the outside of the inductor zone. The connecting metal line is electrical isolated from the inductor zone. The connecting metal line includes an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the second conductive vias and a bottom surface higher than a bottom surface of the first conductive vias.

Abstract: A method includes etching a silicon layer to form a silicon slab and an upper silicon region over the silicon slab, and implanting the silicon slab and the upper silicon region to form a p-type region, an n-type region, and an intrinsic region between the p-type region and the n-type region. The method further includes etching the p-type region, the n-type region, and the intrinsic region to form a trench. The remaining portions of the upper silicon region form a Multi-Mode Interferometer (MMI) region. An epitaxy process is performed to grow a germanium region in the trench. Electrical connections are made to connect to the p-type region and the n-type region.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a phase shifter includes: a light input end; a light output end; a p-type semiconductor material, and an n-type semiconductor material contacting the p-type semiconductor material along a boundary area, wherein the boundary area is greater than a length from the light input end to the light output end multiplied by a core width of the phase shifter.

Abstract: An optical attenuating structure is provided. The optical attenuating structure includes a substrate, a waveguide, doping regions, an optical attenuating member, and a dielectric layer. The waveguide is extended over the substrate. The doping regions are disposed over the substrate, and include a first doping region, a second doping region opposite to the first doping region and separated from the first doping region by the waveguide, a first electrode extended over the substrate and in the first doping region, and a second electrode extended over the substrate and in the second doping region. The first optical attenuating member is coupled with the waveguide and disposed between the waveguide and the first electrode. The dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate and covers the waveguide, the doping regions and the first optical attenuating member.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a transistor layer including components of at least one transistor, a waveguide having a long axis extending in a first direction, and an alpha interconnection layer over the waveguide; a stack of metallization layers over the transistor layer, the stack including one or more beta interconnection layers interposed between corresponding pairs of neighboring ones of the metallization layers; and a heater in the alpha interconnection layer or in one of the one or more beta interconnection layers; and wherein, relative to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the heater substantially overlaps at least a portion of the waveguide.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first circuit layer that includes a first wireless power transfer (WPT) device, a first chip electrically connected to the first circuit layer, and a first tracking circuit disposed in the first chip. The first WPT device may be configured to extract energy from an electromagnetic signal and provide an output voltage. The first tracking circuit may be powered by the output voltage of the first WPT device and may output tracking data in response to an instruction extracted from the electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A method includes etching a silicon layer to form a silicon slab and an upper silicon region over the silicon slab, and implanting the silicon slab and the upper silicon region to form a p-type region, an n-type region, and an intrinsic region between the p-type region and the n-type region. The method further includes etching the p-type region, the n-type region, and the intrinsic region to form a trench. The remaining portions of the upper silicon region form a Multi-Mode Interferometer (MMI) region. An epitaxy process is performed to grow a germanium region in the trench. Electrical connections are made to connect to the p-type region and the n-type region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure over the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes a magnetic core and a conductive coil winding around the magnetic core and electrically insulated from the magnetic core. The conductive coil includes horizontally-extending conductive lines and vertically-extending conductive vias electrically connecting the conductive lines.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit includes: a transformer defining an inductive footprint within a first layer; a grounded shield bounded by the inductive footprint within a second layer separate from the first layer; and a circuit component bounded by the inductive footprint within a third layer separate from the second layer, wherein: the circuit component is coupled with the transformer through the second layer, and the third layer is separated from the first layer by the second layer.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a dielectric layer and a waveguide. The waveguide is disposed on the dielectric layer. The waveguide includes an electrical coupling portion, a slab portion, and an optical coupling portion. The slab portion is directly in contact with both of the electrical coupling portion and the optical coupling portion. The slab portion has a first sub-portion and a second sub-portion connected to the first sub-portion. A top surface of the electrical coupling portion, a top surface of the first sub-portion, and a top surface of the second sub-portion are located at different level heights.

Abstract: A circuit includes a transmitter, a transmission channel communicatively coupled with the transmitter, and a receiver communicatively coupled with the transmission channel. The circuit further includes a combiner on a transmitter-side of the transmission channel, a decoupler on a receiver-side of the transmission channel, and a channel loss compensation circuit communicatively coupled between the transmitter and the receiver. The combiner is coupled between the transmitter and the transmission channel. The decoupler is coupled between the receiver and the transmission channel.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a dielectric layer and a waveguide. The waveguide is disposed on the dielectric layer. The waveguide includes an electrical coupling portion, a slab portion, and an optical coupling portion. The slab portion is sandwiched between the electrical coupling portion and the optical coupling portion. The slab portion has at least two sub-portions having different heights. A maximum height of the slab portion is smaller than a height of the electrical coupling portion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit includes: a transformer defining an inductive footprint within a first layer; a grounded shield bounded by the inductive footprint within a second layer separate from the first layer; and a circuit component bounded by the inductive footprint within a third layer separate from the second layer, wherein: the circuit component is coupled with the transformer through the second layer, and the third layer is separated from the first layer by the second layer.

Abstract: An optical attenuating structure is provided. The optical attenuating structure includes a substrate, a waveguide, doping regions, an optical attenuating member, and a dielectric layer. The waveguide is extended over the substrate. The doping regions are disposed over the substrate, and include a first doping region, a second doping region opposite to the first doping region and separated from the first doping region by the waveguide, a first electrode extended over the substrate and in the first doping region, and a second electrode extended over the substrate and in the second doping region. The first optical attenuating member is coupled with the waveguide and disposed between the waveguide and the first electrode. The dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate and covers the waveguide, the doping regions and the first optical attenuating member.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a buried oxide layer, a first dielectric layer disposed over the buried oxide layer, a first waveguide feature disposed in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first waveguide feature, a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, and a second waveguide feature disposed in the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer. The second waveguide feature is disposed over the second waveguide feature and a portion of the second waveguide feature vertically overlaps a portion of the first waveguide feature.

Abstract: An all-digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) receives an analog input supply voltage which is utilized to operate analog circuitry within the ADPLL. The ADPLL of the present disclosure scales this analog input supply voltage to provide a digital input supply voltage which is utilized to operate digital circuitry within the ADPLL. The analog circuitry includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) to measure phase errors within the ADPLL. The TDC can be characterized as having a resolution of the TDC which is dependent, at least in part, upon the digital input supply voltage. In some situations, process, voltage, and/or temperature (PVT) variations within the ADPLL can cause the digital input supply voltage to fluctuate, which in turn, can cause fluctuations in the resolution of the TDC. These fluctuations in the resolution of the TDC can cause in-band phase noise of the ADPLL to vary across the PVT variations.

Abstract: A transceiver disposed on a first die in a bidirectional differential die-to-die communication system is disclosed. The transceiver includes a transmission section configured to modulate a first data onto a carrier signal having a first frequency for transmission via a bidirectional differential transmission line; and a reception section configured to receive signals from the bidirectional differential transmission line, the reception section including a filter configured to pass frequencies within a first passband that includes a second frequency, the first frequency being outside of the first passband. According to some embodiments, the reception section is configured to receive, via the bidirectional differential transmission line, modulated data at the second frequency at a same time that the transmission section transmits the modulated data at the first frequency.