Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric pad extending from a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate up into the semiconductor substrate. A low-k dielectric layer is disposed underlying the semiconductor substrate. A first non-low-k dielectric layer is underlying the low-k dielectric layer. A metal pad is underlying the first non-low-k dielectric layer. A second non-low-k dielectric layer is underlying the metal pad. An opening extends from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate down to penetrate through the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric pad, and the low-k dielectric layer, wherein the opening lands on a top surface of the metal pad. A passivation layer includes a portion on a sidewall of the opening, wherein a portion of the passivation layer at a bottom of the opening is removed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an image sensor device and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is an image sensor device including a first plurality of pickup regions in a photosensor array area of a substrate, each of first plurality of pickup regions having a first width and a first length, a second plurality of pickup regions in a periphery area of the substrate, the periphery area along at least one side of the photosensor array area, each of second plurality of pickup regions having a second width and a second length.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, with a first plurality of dielectric layers in the first wafer and a second plurality of dielectric layers in the second wafer bonded between a first substrate of the first wafer and a second substrate in the second wafer. A first opening is formed in the first substrate, and the first plurality of dielectric layers and the second wafer are etched through the first opening to form a second opening. A metal pad in the second plurality of dielectric layers is exposed to the second opening. A conductive plug is formed extending into the first and the second openings.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a pixel array, a control circuit, an interconnect structure, and a conductive layer. The pixel array is disposed on a device substrate within a pixel region. The control circuit disposed on the device substrate within a circuit region, the control circuit being adjacent and electrically coupled to the pixel array. The interconnect structure overlies and electrically connects the control circuit and the pixel array. The interconnect structure includes interconnect metal layers separated from each other by inter-metal dielectric layers and vias that electrically connect between metal traces of the interconnect layers. The conductive layer disposed over the interconnect structure and electrically connected to the interconnect structure by an upper via disposed through an upper inter-metal dielectric layer therebetween. The conductive layer extends laterally within outermost edges of the interconnect structure and within the pixel region and the circuit region.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region. The image sensor further includes a first isolation structure formed in the pixel region; the first isolation structure including a first trench having a first depth. The image sensor further includes a second isolation structure formed in the periphery region; the second isolation structure including a second trench having a second depth greater than the first depth.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a first semiconductor chip on a second semiconductor chip, applying an etching process to the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip until a metal surface of the second semiconductor chip is exposed, wherein as a result of applying the etching process, an opening is formed in the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip and plating a conductive material in the opening to from a conductive plug.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a first substrate, an interconnect structure, a conductive layer, a conductive via and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first region including a pixel array and a second region including a circuit. The interconnect structure is over the pixel array or the circuit. The interconnect structure electrically connecting the circuit to the pixel array. The conductive layer is on the interconnect structure. The conductive via passes through the second substrate and at least partially embedded in the conductive layer. The second substrate is over the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, with a first plurality of dielectric layers in the first wafer and a second plurality of dielectric layers in the second wafer bonded between a first substrate of the first wafer and a second substrate in the second wafer. A first opening is formed in the first substrate, and the first plurality of dielectric layers and the second wafer are etched through the first opening to form a second opening. A metal pad in the second plurality of dielectric layers is exposed to the second opening. A conductive plug is formed extending into the first and the second openings.

Abstract: An image-sensor device is provided. The image-sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image-sensor device also includes a radiation-sensing region operable to detect incident radiation that enters the substrate through the back side. The image-sensor device further includes a deep-trench isolation structure extending from the back side towards the front side. The deep-trench isolation structure includes a dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer contains hafnium or aluminum.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a multi-dimensional integrated chip structure. The structure includes a first interconnect layer within a first dielectric structure on a first substrate, and a second interconnect layer within a second dielectric structure on a second substrate. A bonding structure is between the first dielectric structure and the second substrate. An inter-tier interconnect structure extends through the second substrate and between a top of the first interconnect layer and a bottom of the second interconnect layer. The inter-tier interconnect structure includes a first region having substantially vertical sidewalls extending through the second substrate and a second region below the first region and having tapered sidewalls surrounded by the bonding structure.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first chip bonded on a second chip. The first chip comprises a first substrate and first interconnection components formed in first IMD layers. The second chip comprises a second substrate and second interconnection components formed in second IMD layers. The device further comprises a first conductive plug formed within the first substrate and the first IMD layers, wherein the first conductive plug is coupled to a first interconnection component and a second conductive plug formed through the first substrate and the first IMD layers and formed partially through the second IMD layers, wherein the second conductive plug is coupled to a second interconnection component.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region. The image sensor further includes a first isolation structure formed in the pixel region; the first isolation structure including a first trench having a first depth. The image sensor further includes a second isolation structure formed in the periphery region; the second isolation structure including a second trench having a second depth. The second depth is greater than the first depth.

Abstract: A method for forming an FSI image sensor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a pixel region in a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate. The method includes forming a trench through the dielectric layer, and the trench includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and the trench is directly above the pixel region. The method includes forming a protection layer in the bottom portion of the trench and enlarging a top width of the top portion of the trench, and the trench has a wide top portion and a narrow bottom portion. The wide top portion has top sidewall surfaces, the narrow bottom portion has bottom sidewall surfaces, and the top sidewall surfaces taper gradually toward the bottom sidewall surfaces. The method includes filling a transparent dielectric layer in the trench to form a light pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first semiconductor chip including a first substrate, a plurality of first inter-metal dielectric layers and a plurality of first metal lines, a second semiconductor chip having a surface in contact with a surface of the first semiconductor chip, wherein the second semiconductor chip comprises a second substrate, a plurality of second inter-metal dielectric layers and a plurality of second metal lines and a conductive plug coupled between the first metal lines and the second metal lines, wherein the conductive plug comprises a first portion over a first side of a hard mask layer and a second portion over a second side of the hard mask layer, wherein the hard mask layer is a ring-shaped layer, and wherein the conductive plug is formed in a center opening of the ring-shaped layer.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: An image-sensor device is provided. The image-sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a radiation-sensing region in the semiconductor substrate. The image-sensor device also includes a doped isolation region adjacent to the radiation-sensing region. The image-sensor device further includes a dielectric film extending into the doped isolation region from a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A portion of the doped isolation region is between the dielectric film and the radiation-sensing region.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming a plurality of interconnect layers within a dielectric structure over an upper surface of a substrate. A passivation structure is formed over the dielectric structure. The passivation structure has sidewalls and a horizontally extending surface defining has a recess within an upper surface of the passivation structure. A bond pad is formed having a lower surface overlying the horizontally extending surface and one or more protrusions extending outward from the lower surface. The one or more protrusions extend through one or more openings within the horizontally extending surface to contact a first one of the plurality of interconnect layers. An upper passivation layer is deposited on sidewalls and an upper surface of the bond pad and on sidewalls and the upper surface of the passivation structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a multi-dimensional integrated chip having tiers connected in a front-to-back configuration, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming one or more semiconductor devices within a first substrate, forming one or more image sensing elements within a second substrate, and bonding a first dielectric structure over the first substrate to a back-side of the second substrate by way of a bonding structure. An inter-tier interconnect structure, comprising a plurality of different segments, respectively having sidewalls with different sidewall angles, is formed to extend through the bonding structure and the second substrate. The inter-tier interconnect structure is configured to electrically couple a first metal interconnect layer over the first substrate to a second metal interconnect layer over the second substrate.