Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate comprising an interlayer dielectric (ILD) and a silicon layer disposed over the ILD, wherein the ILD comprises a conductive structure disposed therein, a dielectric layer disposed over the silicon layer, and a conductive plug electrically connected with the conductive structure and extended from the dielectric layer through the silicon layer to the ILD, wherein the conductive plug has a length extending from the dielectric layer to the ILD and a width substantially consistent along the length.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming a thin semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate without implantation radiation and/or plasma damage. In some embodiments, a device layer is epitaxially formed on a sacrificial substrate and an insulator layer is formed on the device layer. The insulator layer may, for example, be formed with a net charge that is negative or neutral. The sacrificial substrate is bonded to a handle substrate, such that the device layer and the insulator layer are between the sacrificial and handle substrates. The sacrificial substrate is removed, and the device layer is cyclically thinned until the device layer has a target thickness. Each thinning cycle comprises oxidizing a portion of the device layer and removing oxide resulting from the oxidizing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductive substrate; forming a gate structure over the semiconductive substrate; forming a first dielectric layer over the gate structure; forming a first through hole in the first dielectric layer adjacent to and spaced apart from a sidewall of the gate structure; filling the first through hole with a material; forming a via in the first dielectric layer by etching the material and the first dielectric layer; removing the material to form a second through hole in the first dielectric layer; and forming a conductive structure by filling the via and the second through hole with a conductive material.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate with a thick device layer and a thick insulator layer. In some embodiments, the method includes forming an insulator layer covering a handle substrate, and epitaxially forming a device layer on a sacrificial substrate. The sacrificial substrate is bonded to a handle substrate, such that the device layer and the insulator layer are between the sacrificial and handle substrates, and the sacrificial substrate is removed. The removal includes performing an etch into the sacrificial substrate until the device layer is reached. Because the device layer is formed by epitaxy and transferred to the handle substrate, the device layer may be formed with a large thickness. Further, because the epitaxy is not affected by the thickness of the insulator layer, the insulator layer may be formed with a large thickness.

Abstract: A method of fabricating self-aligned grids in a BSI image sensor is provided. The method includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a back surface of a substrate that has a plurality of photodiodes formed therein, forming a grid of trenches, and filling in the trenches with dielectric material to create a trench isolation grid. Here, a trench passes through the first dielectric layer and extends into the substrate. The method further includes etching back dielectric material in the trenches to a level that is below an upper surface of the first dielectric layer to form recesses overlaying the trench isolation grid, and filling in the recesses with metallic material to create a metallic grid that is aligned with the trench isolation grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming an image sensing element within a substrate. A dry etching process is performed on the substrate to form a plurality of intermediate protrusions defined by the substrate. A wet etching process is performed on the plurality of intermediate protrusions to form a plurality of protrusions from the plurality of intermediate protrusions.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a magnetic layer over a dielectric layer, and etching a first portion of the magnetic layer, in which a second portion of the magnetic layer that is directly under the first portion of the magnetic layer remains over the dielectric layer after etching the first portion of the magnetic layer. The second portion of the magnetic layer is etched.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming a thin semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate without implantation radiation and/or plasma damage. In some embodiments, a device layer is epitaxially formed on a sacrificial substrate and an insulator layer is formed on the device layer. The insulator layer may, for example, be formed with a net charge that is negative or neutral. The sacrificial substrate is bonded to a handle substrate, such that the device layer and the insulator layer are between the sacrificial and handle substrates. The sacrificial substrate is removed, and the device layer is cyclically thinned until the device layer has a target thickness. Each thinning cycle comprises oxidizing a portion of the device layer and removing oxide resulting from the oxidizing.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate with a thick device layer and a thick insulator layer. In some embodiments, the method includes forming an insulator layer covering a handle substrate, and epitaxially forming a device layer on a sacrificial substrate. The sacrificial substrate is bonded to a handle substrate, such that the device layer and the insulator layer are between the sacrificial and handle substrates, and the sacrificial substrate is removed. The removal includes performing an etch into the sacrificial substrate until the device layer is reached. Because the device layer is formed by epitaxy and transferred to the handle substrate, the device layer may be formed with a large thickness. Further, because the epitaxy is not affected by the thickness of the insulator layer, the insulator layer may be formed with a large thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductive substrate and a gate structure over the semiconductive substrate. The semiconductive substrate includes a photo-sensitive region adjacent to the gate structure, and the gate structure is configured to store electric charge generated from the photo-sensitive region. The semiconductor device also includes a conductive structure over the semiconductive substrate. The conductive structure circumscribes and is spaced apart from a sidewall of the gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an image sensor integrated chip. The image sensor integrated chip includes a substrate and an image sensing element disposed within the substrate. The substrate has sidewalls defining a plurality of protrusions over the image sensing element. A first one of the plurality of protrusions including a first sidewall having a first segment. A line that extends along the first segment intersects a second sidewall of the first one of the plurality of protrusions that opposes the first sidewall.

Abstract: An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two substrates, such as wafers, dies, or a wafer and a die, are bonded together. A first mask is used to form a first opening extending partially to an interconnect formed on the first wafer. A dielectric liner is formed, and then another etch process is performed using the same mask. The etch process continues to expose interconnects formed on the first substrate and the second substrate. The opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic core includes depositing a magnetic layer on a dielectric layer, forming a first photoresist layer on the magnetic layer and patterning the first photoresist layer, etching the magnetic layer through the patterned first photoresist layer, in which a first section of the magnetic layer exposed by the first photoresist layer remains on the dielectric layer after the magnetic layer is etched, removing the patterned first photoresist layer, forming a second photoresist layer on the magnetic layer and patterning the second photoresist layer, etching the magnetic layer through the patterned second photoresist layer, and removing the second photoresist layer.

Abstract: An FSI image sensor device structure is provided. The FSI image sensor device structure includes a pixel region formed in a substrate and a storage region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the pixel region. The FSI image sensor device structure further includes a first gate structure formed over the storage region and a metal shield structure formed over the first gate structure. The FSI image sensor device structure further includes a conductive structure formed adjacent to the first gate structure. In addition, the conductive structure is electrically connected to the metal shield structure through a via.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an image sensor integrated chip. The image sensor integrated chip includes a substrate and an image sensing element disposed within the substrate. The substrate has sidewalls defining a plurality of protrusions over the image sensing element. A first one of the plurality of protrusions including a first sidewall having a first segment. A line that extends along the first segment intersects a second sidewall of the first one of the plurality of protrusions that opposes the first sidewall.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming a thin semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate at low cost and with low total thickness variation (TTV). In some embodiments, an etch stop layer is epitaxially formed on a sacrificial substrate. A device layer is epitaxially formed on the etch stop layer and has a different crystalline lattice than the etch stop layer. The sacrificial substrate is bonded to a handle substrate, such that the device layer and the etch stop layer are between the sacrificial and handle substrates. The sacrificial substrate is removed. An etch is performed into the etch stop layer to remove the etch stop layer. The etch is performed using an etchant comprising hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductive substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a shallow trench isolation (STI) including a first portion at least partially disposed within the semiconductive substrate and tapered from the first surface towards the second surface, and a second portion disposed inside the semiconductive substrate, coupled with the first portion and extended from the first portion towards the second surface, and a void enclosed by the STI, wherein the void is at least partially disposed within the second portion of the STI.

Abstract: A backside illumination (BSI) image sensor and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a plurality of photosensitive pixels in a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the substrate having one or more active devices on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface is protected. A second portion of the second surface is patterned to form recesses in the substrate. An anti-reflective layer is formed on sidewalls of the recesses. A metal grid is formed over the second portion of the second surface, the anti-reflective layer being interposed between the substrate and the metal grid.

Abstract: An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two substrates, such as wafers, dies, or a wafer and a die, are bonded together. A first mask is used to form a first opening extending partially to an interconnect formed on the first wafer. A dielectric liner is formed, and then another etch process is performed using the same mask. The etch process continues to expose interconnects formed on the first substrate and the second substrate. The opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.

Abstract: An FSI image sensor device structure is provided. The FSI image sensor device structure includes a pixel region formed in a substrate and a storage region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the pixel region. The FSI image sensor device structure includes a storage gate structure formed over the storage region, and the storage gate structure includes a top surface and sidewall surfaces. The FSI image sensor device structure includes a metal shield structure formed on the storage gate structure, and the top surface and the sidewall surfaces of the storage gate structure are covered by the metal shield structure.