Abstract: Capacitive pressure sensors and other devices are disclosed. In an embodiment a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a cavity over the first electrode and a second electrode including a suspended membrane over the cavity and electrically conductive anchor trenches laterally surrounding the cavity, wherein the anchor trenches include an inner anchor trench and an outer anchor trench, the outer anchor trench having rounded corners.

Abstract: An exoskeleton system includes a first exoskeleton unit configured to support a first body part, a second exoskeleton unit configured to support a second body part, and a control device. The first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit are mechanically decoupled from each other. The control device is configured to control, based on a control model, at least one of the first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit. The control model is based on a multibody system that models the first exoskeleton unit, the second exoskeleton unit, and at least one of the first body part and the second body part.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor is disclosed. In an embodiment a semiconductor device includes a die including a capacitive pressure sensor integrated on a CMOS circuit, wherein the capacitive pressure sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from one another by a cavity, the second electrode including a suspended tensile membrane, and wherein the first electrode is composed of one or more aluminum-free layers containing Ti.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical sensor is provided. The method comprises providing an optical sensor arrangement which comprises at least two optical sensor elements on a carrier, where the optical sensor arrangement comprises a light entrance surface at the side of the optical sensor elements facing away from the carrier. The method further comprises forming a trench between two optical sensor elements in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to the main plane of extension of the carrier, where the trench extends from the light entrance surface of the sensor arrangement at least to the carrier. Moreover, the method comprises coating the trench with an opaque material, forming electrical contacts for the at least two optical sensor elements on a back side of the carrier facing away from the optical sensor elements, and forming at least one optical sensor by dicing the optical sensor arrangement along the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate and a first metallization stack arranged on the substrate. The substrate has and/or carries a plurality of electronic circuit elements. The first metallization stack has electrically insulating layers and at least one metallization layer. The semiconductor device further has a second metallization stack arranged on the first metallization stack and comprising further electrically insulating layers and an optical waveguide layer. The optical waveguide layer has at least one optical waveguide structure. Furthermore, one of the electrically insulating layers and one of the further electrically insulating layers are in direct contact with each other and form a pair of directly bonded layers.

Abstract: A top surface of a substrate is provided with a detection element for detecting electromagnetic radiation. A refractive element is formed by a portion of a cover element, which is attached to the substrate, so that the refractive element is arranged facing the detection element. The refractive element may be arranged within a recess of the cover element, so that a cavity is formed between the detection element and the refraction element.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device comprises a substrate body, a pressure sensor comprising a membrane, and a cap body comprising at least one opening. The pressure sensor is arranged between the substrate body and the cap body in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to the main plane of extension of the substrate body, and the mass of the substrate body equals approximately the mass of the cap body. Furthermore, a method for forming a pressure sensor device is provided.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor wafer with an integrated circuit, formed by a plurality of dies, a further semiconductor wafer, which differs from the semiconductor wafer in diameter and semiconductor material, the semiconductor wafer and the further semiconductor wafer being bonded to one another by means of a bonding layer, and an electrically conductive contact layer arranged on the further semiconductor wafer opposite to the bonding layer.

Abstract: A photosensor (2) is arranged in a semiconductor substrate (1) at a main surface (10), a dielectric layer (4) is arranged on or above the main surface, the dielectric layer including a metal layer (6) electrically connected with the photosensor, and an aperture layer (16) formed from an opaque or semitransparent material is arranged on or above the dielectric layer. The aperture layer is provided with an array of transparent aperture zones (18) above the photosensor, each of the aperture zones penetrating the aperture layer.

Abstract: A top surface of a substrate is provided with a detection element for detecting electromagnetic radiation. A refractive element is formed by a portion of a cover element, which is attached to the substrate, so that the refractive element is arranged facing the detection element. The refractive element may be arranged within a recess of the cover element, so that a cavity is formed between the detection element and the refraction element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate and a first metallization stack arranged on the substrate. The substrate has and/or carries a plurality of electronic circuit elements. The first metallization stack has electrically insulating layers and at least one metallization layer. The semiconductor device further has a second metallization stack arranged on the first metallization stack and comprising further electrically insulating layers and an optical waveguide layer. The optical waveguide layer has at least one optical waveguide structure. Furthermore, one of the electrically insulating layers and one of the further electrically insulating layers are in direct contact with each other and form a pair of directly bonded layers.

Abstract: According to the improved concept, a method for analyzing a semiconductor element comprising polymer residues located on a surface of the semiconductor element is provided. The method comprises marking at least a fraction of the residues by exposing the semiconductor element to a fluorescent substance and detecting the marked residues by visualizing the marked residues on the surface of the semiconductor element using fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: According to the improved concept, a method for analyzing a semiconductor element comprising polymer residues located on a surface of the semiconductor element is provided. The method comprises marking at least a fraction of the residues by exposing the semiconductor element to a fluorescent substance and detecting the marked residues by visualizing the marked residues on the surface of the semiconductor element using fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: A relief structure is formed on a surface of a carrier provided for accommodating a wafer, which is fastened to the carrier by a removable adhesive contacting the carrier. The relief structure, which may be spatially confined to the center of the carrier, reduces the strength of adhesion between the wafer and the carrier. If the adhesive is appropriately selected and maintains the connection between the wafer and the carrier at elevated temperatures, further process steps can be performed at temperatures of typically 300° C. or more. The subsequent mechanical separation of the adhesive joint is facilitated by the relief structure on the carrier.

Abstract: According to the improved concept, a method for analyzing a semiconductor element comprising polymer residues located on a surface of the semiconductor element is provided. The method comprises marking at least a fraction of the residues by exposing the semiconductor element to a fluorescent substance and detecting the marked residues by visualizing the marked residues on the surface of the semiconductor element using fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: A photosensor (2) is arranged in a semiconductor substrate (1) at a main surface (10), a dielectric layer (4) is arranged on or above the main surface, the dielectric layer including a metal layer (6) electrically connected with the photosensor, and an aperture layer (16) formed from an opaque or semitransparent material is arranged on or above the dielectric layer. The aperture layer is provided with an array of transparent aperture zones (18) above the photosensor, each of the aperture zones penetrating the aperture layer.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a substrate (1) of semiconductor material, a dielectric layer (2) above the substrate, a waveguide (3) arranged in the dielectric layer, and a mirror region (4) arranged on a surface of a mirror support (5) integrated on the substrate. A mirror is thus formed facing the waveguide. The surface of the mirror support and hence the mirror are inclined with respect to the waveguide.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor wafer with an integrated circuit, formed by a plurality of dies, a further semiconductor wafer, which differs from the semiconductor wafer in diameter and semiconductor material, the semiconductor wafer and the further semiconductor wafer being bonded to one another by means of a bonding layer, and an electrically conductive contact layer arranged on the further semiconductor wafer opposite to the bonding layer.

Abstract: According to the improved concept, a method for analyzing a semiconductor element comprising polymer residues located on a surface of the semiconductor element is provided. The method comprises marking at least a fraction of the residues by exposing the semiconductor element to a fluorescent substance and detecting the marked residues by visualizing the marked residues on the surface of the semiconductor element using fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: The method of wafer-scale integration of semiconductor devices comprises the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer (1), a further semiconductor wafer (2), which differs from the first semiconductor wafer in at least one of diameter, thickness and semiconductor material, and a handling wafer (3), arranging the further semiconductor wafer on the handling wafer, and bonding the further semiconductor wafer to the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor device may comprise an electrically conductive contact layer (6) arranged on the further semiconductor wafer (2) and a metal layer connecting the contact layer with an integrated circuit.