Abstract: Lined conductive via structures for trench contact are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate structures over corresponding ones of a plurality of vertical stacks of horizontal nanowires. The integrated circuit structure also includes a plurality of conductive trench contact structures alternating with the plurality of gate structures, each of the plurality of conductive contact structures having an upper portion over a lower portion, the upper portion of each of the plurality of conductive trench contact structures having a length between ends. The integrated circuit structure also includes a dielectric liner in lateral contact with sides along the length of the upper portion of each of the plurality of conductive contact structures, wherein the dielectric liner is not in contact with the ends of the upper portion of each of the plurality of conductive contact structures.

Abstract: Materials and techniques for recessing heterogenous materials in integrated circuit (IC) dies. A first etch may reveal a surface at a desired depth, and a second etch may remove material laterally to reveal sidewalls down to the desired depth of the recess. The first etch may be a cyclical etch, and the second etch may be a continuous etch. The first and second etches may occur in a same chamber. The first and second etches may each be selective to materials with similarities. An IC die may have different, substantially coplanar materials at a recessed surface between and below sidewalls of another material. The recess may have squared profile. The recess may be over transistor structures.

Abstract: Integrated circuit structures having gate volume reduction, and methods of fabricating integrated circuit structures having gate volume reduction, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a sub-fin structure beneath a stack of nanowires, the stack of nanowires having a first side and a second side. A dielectric backbone structure is along the first side of the stack of nanowires. The dielectric backbone structure has a bottom above a bottom of the sub-fin. A gate electrode is over the stack of nanowires and is along the second side of the stack of nanowires. A gate dielectric structure is between the gate electrode and the stack of nanowires.

Abstract: A method of verifying that a user is authorized to access a secured area via an entry point includes receiving at a first computer and from a user device associated with the user, check-in request information that includes: a membership number associated with the user and a travel event; and a lounge location. The method also includes generating a time stamp for the receipt of the check-in request; verifying that the membership number is a valid membership number; and verifying that the time stamp is within a predetermined window of time. The method also includes sending, in response to the verification, instructions from the first computer to a second computer positioned near the entry point to display a window that includes user information associated with the user.

Abstract: Contact over active gate (COAG) structures with uniform and conformal gate insulating cap layers, and methods of fabricating contact over active gate (COAG) structures using uniform and conformal gate insulating cap layers, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a gate structure. An epitaxial source or drain structure is laterally spaced apart from the gate structure. A dielectric spacer is laterally between the gate structure and the epitaxial source or drain structure, the dielectric spacer having an uppermost surface below an uppermost surface of the gate structure. A gate insulating cap layer is on the uppermost surface of the gate structure and along upper portions of sides of the gate structure, the gate insulating cap layer distinct from the dielectric spacer.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form semiconductor devices that use uniform topside dielectric plugs as masking structures to form conductive contacts to various source or drain regions. In an example, a plurality of semiconductor devices each include one or more semiconductor regions extending in a first direction between corresponding source or drain regions. The source or drain regions are adjacent to one another along a second direction different from the first direction. Conductive contacts are formed over the source or drain regions of the semiconductor devices. A dielectric fill is between one or more adjacent pairs of conductive contacts and dielectric masking structures having a substantially uniform thickness are present over the dielectric fill between adjacent pairs of conductive contacts. This uniform thickness characteristic applies to all of the masking structures regardless of their length along the second direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. An end of the second gate stack is spaced apart from an end of the first gate stack by a gap. A first dielectric gate spacer is laterally around the first gate stack and has a portion along an end of the first gate stack and in the gap. A second dielectric gate spacer is laterally around the second gate stack and has a portion along an end of the second gate stack and in the gap. The portion of the second dielectric gate spacer is laterally merged with the portion of the first dielectric gate spacer in the gap.