Abstract: A detection circuit is provided herein, which includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a light sensor, a capacitor, and a fourth transistor. The first transistor has a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the control terminal. The third transistor is coupled to the control terminal and the second terminal. The light sensor is coupled to the control terminal. The capacitor is coupled to the control terminal. The fourth transistor is coupled to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method for making a IC is provided, including: identifying, in a schematic, first and second edge elements, which edge elements including devices whose layout patterns are configured to conform to a first layout grid; identifying all the elements between the first and second edge elements, at least one of the identified elements including a device whose layout pattern is configured to conform to a second layout grid that is finer than the first layout grid; and calculating a spatial quantity of a combined layout pattern of the identified elements between the first and second edge elements to determine whether the combined layout pattern conforms to the first layout grid.

Abstract: A method for making a IC is provided, including: identifying, in a schematic, first and second edge elements, which edge elements including devices whose layout patterns are configured to conform to a first layout grid; identifying all the elements between the first and second edge elements, at least one of the identified elements including a device whose layout pattern is configured to conform to a second layout grid that is finer than the first layout grid; and calculating a spatial quantity of a combined layout pattern of the identified elements between the first and second edge elements to determine whether the combined layout pattern conforms to the first layout grid.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for a silicon photonic (SiPh) structure comprising the integration of an electrical integrated circuit (EIC); a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) disposed on top of the EIC; two or more polymer waveguides (PWGs) disposed on top of the PIC and formed by layers of cladding polymer and core polymer; and an integration fan-out redistribution (InFO RDL) layer disposed on top of the two or more PWGs. The operation of PWGs is based on the refractive indexes of the cladding and core polymers. Inter-layer optical signals coupling is provided by edge-coupling, reflective prisms and grating coupling. A wafer-level system implements a SiPh structure die and provides inter-die signal optical interconnections among the PWGs.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a first dielectric layer surrounding an optical component. The method further includes forming a thermal control mechanism adjacent to the optical component and at least partially surrounded by the first dielectric layer. Forming the thermal control mechanism includes forming a first thermoelectric member having a first conductivity type, forming a second thermoelectric member having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, wherein the second thermoelectric member is opposite to the first thermoelectric member; and forming a conductive structure over and electrically connected to the thermal control mechanism. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and surrounding the conductive structure.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes defining an opening extending from a first side of a substrate to a second side of the substrate, wherein the first side of the substrate is opposite the second side of the substrate. The method further includes depositing a dielectric material into the opening, wherein the dielectric material has a first refractive index. The method further includes etching the dielectric material to define a core opening extending from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate. The method further includes depositing a core material into the core opening, wherein the core material has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and the core material is optically transparent. The method further includes removing excess core material from a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes heat dissipating structures that can be formed either in functional or non-functional areas of three-dimensional system on integrated chip structures. In some embodiments, the heat dissipating structures maintain an average operating temperature of memory dies or chips below about 90° C. For example, a structure includes a stack with chip layers, where each chip layer includes one or more chips and an edge portion. The structure further includes a thermal interface material disposed on the edge portion of each chip layer, a thermal interface material layer disposed over a top chip layer of the stack, and a heat sink over the thermal interface material layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor wafer, a second semiconductor wafer, a first interconnect structure, a first through substrate via, and an under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer. The first semiconductor wafer has a first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The second semiconductor wafer is coupled to the first semiconductor wafer, and is over the first semiconductor wafer. The second semiconductor wafer has a first device in a first side of the second semiconductor wafer. The first interconnect structure is on a second side of the first semiconductor wafer opposite from the first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The first interconnect structure includes an inductor below the first semiconductor wafer. The first through substrate via extends through the first semiconductor wafer. The first through substrate via electrically couples the inductor to at least the first device. The UBM layer is on a surface of the first interconnect structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a waveguide on a first side of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a photodetector (PD) on a second side of the substrate, opposite the first side of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an optical through via (OTV) optically connecting the PD with the waveguide, wherein the OTV extends through the substrate from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes heat dissipating structures that can be formed either in functional or non-functional areas of three-dimensional system on integrated chip structures. In some embodiments, the heat dissipating structures maintain an average operating temperature of memory dies or chips below about 90° C. For example, a structure includes a stack with chip layers, where each chip layer includes one or more chips and an edge portion. The structure further includes a thermal interface material disposed on the edge portion of each chip layer, a thermal interface material layer disposed over a top chip layer of the stack, and a heat sink over the thermal interface material layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for a silicon photonic (SiPh) structure comprising the integration of an electrical integrated circuit (EIC); a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) disposed on top of the EIC; two or more polymer waveguides (PWGs) disposed on top of the PIC and formed by layers of cladding polymer and core polymer; and an integration fan-out redistribution (InFO RDL) layer disposed on top of the two or more PWGs. The operation of PWGs is based on the refractive indexes of the cladding and core polymers. Inter-layer optical signals coupling is provided by edge-coupling, reflective prisms and grating coupling. A wafer-level system implements a SiPh structure die and provides inter-die signal optical interconnections among the PWGs.

Abstract: A method and a system for verifying an integrated circuit stack having a silicon photonic (SIPH) device is introduced. A single first dummy layer is added to at least one terminal of the SIPH device in a first layout of the first integrated circuit, wherein a shape of the single first dummy layer added to the at least one terminal of the SIPH device maps a shape of the at least one terminal of the SIPH device. A first layout versus schematic (LVS) check is performed on the first integrated circuit based on the single first dummy layer added to the at least one terminal of the SIPH device to verify a connection of the SIPH device in the first integrated circuit.

Abstract: An optical circuit includes one or more input waveguides, a plurality of output waveguides, and a reflector structure. At least a portion of the reflector structure forms an interface with the one or more input waveguides. The portion of the reflector structure has a smaller refractive index than the one or more input waveguides. An electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the optical circuit. The electrical circuit generates and sends different electrical signals to the reflector structure. In response to the reflector structure receiving the different electrical signals, a carrier concentration level at or near the interface or a temperature at or near the interface changes, such that incident radiation received from the one or more input waveguides is tunably reflected by the reflector structure into a targeted output waveguide of the plurality of output waveguides.

Abstract: A photonic heater is provided. The photonic heater includes a current source and a transfer circuit. The transfer circuit connected to the current source. The photonic heater further includes a heating element. The heating element is connected to the transfer circuit. The transfer circuit is operable to regulate an amount of current being transferred from the current court to the heating element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method, and more particularly to a semiconductor interposer device. The semiconductor interposer device includes a substrate and a first metallization layer formed on the substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed on the first metallization layer and a second metallization layer is formed on the substrate. A first conducting line is formed in the first metallization layer and second and third conducting lines are formed in the second metallization layer. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is formed in the first dielectric layer and over the first conducting line.

Abstract: A method and a system for verifying an integrated circuit stack having at least one silicon photonic device is introduced. A dummy layer and a dummy layer text are added to a terminal of at least one silicon photonic device of the integrated circuit. The method may perform a layout versus schematic check of the integrated circuit including the dummy layer and the dummy layer text.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor wafer, a second semiconductor wafer, a first interconnect structure, an inductor, and a through substrate via. The first semiconductor wafer has a first device in a first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The second semiconductor wafer is over the first semiconductor wafer. The first interconnect structure is on a second side of the first semiconductor wafer opposite from the first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The inductor is below the first semiconductor wafer, and at least a portion of the inductor is within the first interconnect structure. The through substrate via extends through the first semiconductor wafer. The inductor is coupled to at least the first device by at least the through substrate via.

Abstract: An optical circuit includes one or more input waveguides, a plurality of output waveguides, and a reflector structure. At least a portion of the reflector structure forms an interface with the one or more input waveguides. The portion of the reflector structure has a smaller refractive index than the one or more input waveguides. An electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the optical circuit. The electrical circuit generates and sends different electrical signals to the reflector structure. In response to the reflector structure receiving the different electrical signals, a carrier concentration level at or near the interface or a temperature at or near the interface changes, such that incident radiation received from the one or more input waveguides is tunably reflected by the reflector structure into a targeted output waveguide of the plurality of output waveguides.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active area in a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode, source and drain regions in the active area on opposite sides of the gate electrode to form a transistor, an active conductive pattern connected to a first plurality of electrical contacts for applying electrical signals to the transistor, and a dummy conductive pattern connected to a first plurality of thermal contacts for removing heat from the first active area, where the thermal contacts are electrically isolated from receiving the electrical signals applied to the electrical contacts.

Abstract: An entangled inductor structure generates opposite polarity internal magnetic fields therein to substantially reduce, or cancel, external magnetic fields propagating outside of the entangled inductor structure. These reduced external magnetic fields propagating outside of the entangled inductor structure effectively reduce a keep out zone (KOZ) between the entangled inductor structure and other electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components. This allows the entangled inductor structure to be situated closer to these other electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components within the IC as compared to conventional inductors which generate larger external magnetic fields.