Abstract: A control system includes a plurality of pressure sensors, each to detect a pressure in a respective dynamic gas lock (DGL) nozzle control region of a plurality of DGL nozzle control regions. Each DGL nozzle control region includes one or more DGL nozzles. The control system includes a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs). Each MFC of the plurality of MFCs is to control a flow velocity in a respective DGL nozzle control region of the plurality of DGL nozzle control regions. The control system includes a controller to selectively cause one or more MFCs of the plurality of MFCs to adjust flow velocities in one or more DGL nozzle control regions of the plurality of DGL nozzle control regions based on pressures detected by the plurality of pressure sensors in DGL nozzle control regions of the plurality of DGL nozzle control regions.

Abstract: A blocking material is selectively deposited on a bottom surface of a back end of line (BEOL) conductive structure such that a barrier layer is selectively deposited on sidewalls of the BEOL conductive structure but not the bottom surface. The blocking material is etched such that copper from a conductive structure underneath is exposed, and a ruthenium layer is deposited on the barrier layer but less ruthenium is deposited on the exposed copper. Accordingly, the barrier layer prevents diffusion of metal ions from the BEOL conductive structure and is substantially absent from the bottom surface as compared to the sidewalls in order to reduce contact resistance. Additionally, the ruthenium layer reduces surface roughness within the BEOL conductive structure and is thinner at the bottom surface as compared to the sidewalls in order to reduce contact resistance.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a dual-processor electronic apparatus operation method used in a dual-processor electronic apparatus that includes steps outlined below. A first processor is activated in an initialization procedure. A second processor is activated by the first processor to enter an operation mode. The first processor is deactivated in the operation mode, and the second processor executes a predetermined procedure. Whether a predetermined event occurs during the execution of the predetermined procedure is determined by the second processor such that event information is stored when the predetermined event occurs and the first processor is activated. The event information is accessed and processed by the first processor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with dual side source/drain (S/D) contact structures and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second S/D regions, a nanostructured channel region disposed between the first and second S/D regions, a gate structure surrounding the nanostructured channel region, first and second contact structures disposed on first surfaces of the first and second S/D regions, a third contact structure disposed on a second surface of the first S/D region, and an etch stop layer disposed on a second surface of the second S/D region. The third contact structure includes a metal silicide layer, a silicide nitride layer disposed on the metal silicide layer, and a conductive layer disposed on the silicide nitride layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming liner-free or barrier-free conductive structures. The method includes depositing an etch stop layer on a cobalt contact disposed on a substrate, depositing a dielectric on the etch stop layer, etching the dielectric and the etch stop layer to form an opening that exposes a top surface of the cobalt contact, and etching the exposed top surface of the cobalt contact to form a recess in the cobalt contact extending laterally under the etch stop layer. The method further includes depositing a ruthenium metal to substantially fill the recess and the opening, and annealing the ruthenium metal to form an oxide layer between the ruthenium metal and the dielectric.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the fabrication of ruthenium conductive structures over cobalt conductive structures. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a first opening in a dielectric layer to expose a first cobalt contact and filling the first opening with ruthenium metal to form a ruthenium contact on the first cobalt contact. The method also includes forming a second opening in the dielectric layer to expose a second cobalt contact and a gate structure and filling the second opening with tungsten to form a tungsten contact on the second cobalt contact and the gate structure. Further, the method includes forming a copper conductive structure on the ruthenium contact and the tungsten contact, where the copper from the copper conductive structure is in contact with the ruthenium metal from the ruthenium contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second fin structures on a substrate, forming n- and p-type source/drain (S/D) regions on the first and second fin structures, respectively, forming first and second contact openings on the n- and p-type S/D regions, respectively, forming a carbon-based layer in the first and second contact openings, performing a remote plasma treatment with radicals on the carbon-based layer to form a remote plasma treated layer, selectively removing a portion of the remote plasma treated layer, forming a p-type work function metal (pWFM) silicide layer on the p-type S/D region, and forming an n-type work function metal (nWFM) silicide layer on the pWFM silicide layer and on the n-type S/D region.

Abstract: A titanium precursor is used to selectively form a titanium silicide (TiSix) layer in a semiconductor device. A plasma-based deposition operation is performed in which the titanium precursor is provided into an opening, and a reactant gas and a plasma are used to cause silicon to diffuse to a top surface of a transistor structure. The diffusion of silicon results in the formation of a silicon-rich surface of the transistor structure, which increases the selectivity of the titanium silicide formation relative to other materials of the semiconductor device. The titanium precursor reacts with the silicon-rich surface to form the titanium silicide layer. The selective titanium silicide layer formation results in the formation of a titanium silicon nitride (TiSixNy) on the sidewalls in the opening, which enables a conductive structure such as a metal source/drain contact to be formed in the opening without the addition of another barrier layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form a semiconductor device with backside contact structures. The method includes forming a semiconductor device on a first side of a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a source/drain (S/D) region. The method further includes etching a portion of the S/D region on a second side of the substrate to form an opening and forming an epitaxial contact structure on the S/D region in the opening. The second side is opposite to the first side. The epitaxial contact structure includes a first portion in contact with the S/D region in the opening and a second portion on the first portion. A width of the second portion is larger than the first portion.

Abstract: A reinforced prepreg which is applied to a wear-resistant layer structure of a braking track is provided. The reinforced prepreg includes a fiber fabric and a mixture mixed with the fiber fabric. The mixture includes a resin and a plurality of needle-shaped crystals having microscale or nanoscale sizes mixed with the resin.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming capping layers configured to prevent the migration of out-diffused cobalt atoms into upper metallization layers In some embodiments, the method includes depositing a cobalt diffusion barrier layer on a liner-free conductive structure that includes ruthenium, where depositing the cobalt diffusion barrier layer includes forming the cobalt diffusion barrier layer self-aligned to the liner-free conductive structure. The method also includes depositing, on the cobalt diffusion barrier layer, a stack with an etch stop layer and dielectric layer, and forming an opening in the stack to expose the cobalt diffusion barrier layer. Finally, the method includes forming a conductive structure on the cobalt diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures disposed on first and second fin structures, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed on the first and second fin structures, first and second contact structures disposed on the first and second S/D regions, and a dipole layer disposed at an interface between the first nWFM silicide layer and the first S/D region. The first contact structure includes a first nWFM silicide layer disposed on the first S/D region and a first contact plug disposed on the first nWFM silicide layer. The second contact structure includes a pWFM silicide layer disposed on the second S/D region, a second nWFM silicide layer disposed on the pWFM silicide layer, and a second contact plug disposed on the pWFM silicide layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to organotin cluster compounds having formula (I) and their use as photoresists in extreme ultraviolet lithography processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an intelligent virtual assistant for meetings are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for an intelligent virtual assistant for meeting may include a server comprising at least one computer processor executing a virtual assistant computer program; a communication server in communication with the server; and a plurality of communication devices in communication with the server and the communication server, wherein the communication server facilitates an electronic meeting with a plurality of attendees via the plurality of communication devices. The virtual assistant may receive at least an audio feed and a video feed of the electronic meeting in real-time, may transcribe the audio feed using a speech-recognition algorithm, may provide the transcription to at least one of the plurality of attendees, may receive an edited transcription, and may update the speech recognition algorithm based on the edited transcription.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a source/drain structure, a lower contact contacting either of the gate electrode or the source/drain structure, and an upper contact disposed in an opening formed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer and in direct contact with the lower contact. The upper contact is in direct contact with the ILD layer without an interposing conductive barrier layer, and the upper contact includes ruthenium.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming metallization layers that include a ruthenium metal liner and a cobalt metal fill. The method includes depositing a first dielectric on a substrate having a gate structure and source/drain (S/D) structures, forming an opening in the first dielectric to expose the S/D structures, and depositing a ruthenium metal on bottom and sidewall surfaces of the opening. The method further includes depositing a cobalt metal on the ruthenium metal to fill the opening, reflowing the cobalt metal, and planarizing the cobalt and ruthenium metals to form S/D conductive structures with a top surface coplanar with a top surface of the first dielectric.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming liner-free or barrier-free conductive structures. The method includes forming a liner-free conductive structure on a cobalt conductive structure disposed on a substrate, depositing a cobalt layer on the liner-free conductive structure and exposing the liner-free conductive structure to a heat treatment. The method further includes removing the cobalt layer from the liner-free conductive structure.

Abstract: An exemplary video processing method includes: receiving an omnidirectional content corresponding to a sphere; obtaining a plurality of projection faces from the omnidirectional content of the sphere according to a pyramid projection; creating at least one padding region; and generating a projection-based frame by packing the projection faces and the at least one padding region in a pyramid projection layout. The projection faces packed in the pyramid projection layout include a first projection face. The at least one padding region packed in the pyramid projection layout includes a first padding region. The first padding region connects with at least the first projection face, and forms at least a portion of one boundary of the pyramid projection layout.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures disposed on first and second fin structures, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed on the first and second fin structures, first and second contact structures disposed on the first and second S/D regions, and a dipole layer disposed at an interface between the first nWFM silicide layer and the first S/D region. The first contact structure includes a first nWFM silicide layer disposed on the first S/D region and a first contact plug disposed on the first nWFM silicide layer. The second contact structure includes a pWFM silicide layer disposed on the second S/D region, a second nWFM silicide layer disposed on the pWFM silicide layer, and a second contact plug disposed on the pWFM silicide layer.

Abstract: A voltage converter circuit, comprising: a bridge rectifier; a first transistor, having a first end, a second end and a third end; a second transistor, having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first transistor and the first end of second transistor are electrically connected to bridge rectifier, and the second end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first end of the second transistor; and a Zener diode, connected between the third end of the first transistor and the second end of the second transistor.