Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a redistribution layer including a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature, a first contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature, a second contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the second conductive feature, and a passivation feature extending from between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature between the first contact feature and the second contact feature. The passivation feature includes a dielectric feature and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on a planar top surface of the dielectric feature and a composition of the dielectric feature is different from a composition of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes etching a gate stack to form a trench extending into the gate stack, forming a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the gate stack, with the sidewall exposed to the trench, and etching the dielectric layer to remove a first portion of the dielectric layer at a bottom of the trench. A second portion of the dielectric layer on the sidewall of the gate stack remains after the dielectric layer is etched. After the first portion of the dielectric layer is removed, the second portion of the dielectric layer is removed to reveal the sidewall of the gate stack. The trench is filled with a dielectric region, which contacts the sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides compounds which inhibit bromodomain testis (BRDT). In some embodiments, the compounds inhibit bromodomain-2 of BRDT. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of inhibiting BRDT in a male subject, the method comprising administering to the male subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the method provides a contraceptive effect in the male subject.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a semiconductor device on a main region of the device substrate, the device substrate having a peripheral region surrounding the main region; forming a first filling layer on the peripheral region of the device substrate; forming a second filling layer over the first filling layer and the semiconductor device after forming the first filling layer, the second filling layer having a polishing rate different from that of the first filling layer; performing a planarization process over the second filling layer to remove a portion of the second filling layer so that a remaining portion of the second filling layer has a planarized surface opposite to the device substrate; and bonding the device substrate to a carrier substrate through the first filling layer and the remaining portion of the second filling layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing an interconnecting metal layer thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate layer, a dielectric layer, an insulating layer, an epitaxial layer, and a sidewall liner. The dielectric layer is disposed on one side of the gate layer, the insulating layer is disposed on another side of the gate layer, the epitaxial layer is located on the insulating layer, and the sidewall liner penetrates the dielectric layer and the gate layer, and one end of the sidewall liner is connected to the epitaxial layer. The sidewall liner is converted from a high-k material to a low-k material by hydrogen and oxygen plasma treatments.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer over a metal line and a redistribution layer (RDL) over the first dielectric layer. The RDL is electrically connected to the metal line. The RDL has a curved top surface and a footing feature, where the footing feature extends laterally from a side surface of the RDL. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the RDL, where the second dielectric layer also has a curved top surface.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a first passivation layer over the contact feature, a bottom conductor plate layer disposed over the first passivation layer and including a first plurality of sublayers, a second dielectric layer over the bottom conductor plate layer, a middle conductor plate layer disposed over the second dielectric layer and including a second plurality of sublayers, a third dielectric layer over the middle conductor plate layer, a top conductor plate layer disposed over the third dielectric layer and including a third plurality of sublayers, and a second passivation layer over the top conductor plate layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second metal-insulator-metal structures. The first metal-insulator-metal structure includes a first bottom conductor plate, a first portion of a first dielectric layer, a first middle conductor plate, a first portion of a second dielectric layer, and a first top conductor plate stacked up one over another. The second metal-insulator-metal structure includes a second bottom conductor plate, a second portion of the first dielectric layer, a second middle conductor plate, a second portion of the second dielectric layer, and a second top conductor plate stacked up one over another. In a cross-sectional view, the first bottom conductor plate is wider than the first middle conductor plate that is wider than the first top conductor plate, and the second bottom conductor plate is narrower than the second middle conductor plate that is narrower than the first top conductor plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuit board including a first circuit layer, a dielectric layer on the first circuit layer, and a seed layer on the dielectric layer and directly contacting the first circuit layer, in which a top surface of the seed layer includes a levelled portion. The circuit board also includes a second circuit layer on the levelled portion of the seed layer, in which a grain boundary density of the second circuit layer is lower than that of a portion of the seed layer directly contacting the first circuit layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a first conductive feature in a dielectric layer, forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor over the dielectric layer, forming a first passivation structure over the MIM capacitor, forming a first contact via opening extending through the first passivation structure and the MIM capacitor to expose the first conductive feature, depositing a conductive material to fill the first contact via opening, performing a first etching process to the conductive material to form a first metal feature, the first metal feature comprising a first portion filling the first contact via opening and a second portion over the first passivation structure, and performing a second etching process to trim the second portion of the first metal feature, after the second etching process, a shape of a cross-sectional view of the second portion of the first metal feature comprises a barrel shape.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor substrate, a first bonding structure and a memory cell. The second semiconductor device is stacked over the first semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor substrate, a second bonding structure in a second dielectric layer and a peripheral circuit between the second semiconductor substrate and the second bonding structure. The first bonding structure and the second bonding structure are bonded and disposed between the memory cell and the peripheral circuit, and the memory cell and the peripheral circuit are electrically connected through the first bonding structure and the second bonding structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure disposed on a substrate and extending in a first direction. The first gate structure includes a first gate electrode, a first cap insulating layer disposed over the first gate electrode, first sidewall spacers disposed on opposing side faces of the first gate electrode and the first cap insulating layer and second sidewall spacers disposed over the first sidewall spacers. The semiconductor device further includes a first protective layer formed over the first cap insulating layer, the first sidewall spacers and the second sidewall spacers. The first protective layer has a ?-shape having a head portion and two leg portions in a cross section along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, integrated circuits and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metal-insulator-metal structure which includes a bottom conductor plate layer including a first opening and a second opening, a first dielectric layer over the bottom conductor plate layer, a middle conductor plate layer over the first dielectric layer and including a third opening, a first dummy plate disposed within the third opening, and a fourth opening, a second dielectric layer over the middle conductor plate layer, and a top conductor plate layer over the second dielectric layer and including a fifth opening, a second dummy plate disposed within the fifth opening, a sixth opening, and a third dummy plate disposed within the sixth opening. The first opening, the first dummy plate, and the second dummy plate are vertically aligned.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over a substrate. The method includes forming a first conductive pad and a mask layer over the interconnect structure. The mask layer covers a top surface of the first conductive pad. The method includes forming a metal oxide layer over a sidewall of the first conductive pad. The method includes forming a second conductive pad over the first conductive pad and passing through the mask layer. The first conductive pad and the second conductive pad are made of different materials.

Abstract: An imaging system including an image acquisition device, a light-field imaging arrangement including an optical meta-device operable to facilitate imaging of a light-field of a target scene, and a structured-light imaging arrangement including an optical meta-device operable to facilitate generation of structured-light to be provided to a target scene to facilitate imaging of the target scene. The light-field imaging arrangement and the structured-light imaging arrangement are operably coupled with the image acquisition device such that the imaging system is selectively operable in, at least, a light-field imaging mode for performing light-field imaging of the target scene and a structured-light imaging mode for performing structured-light imaging of the target scene. The optical meta-device of the light-field imaging arrangement and the optical meta-device of the structured-light imaging arrangement may be provided by the same optical meta-device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the substrate, a first conductive feature disposed in the insulating layer, and a capacitor structure disposed on the insulating layer. The capacitor structure includes a first electrode, a first dielectric layer, a second electrode, a second dielectric layer, and a third electrode sequentially stacked. The semiconductor device also includes a first via connected to the first electrode and the third electrode, a second via connected to the second electrode, and a third via connected to the first conductive feature. A part of the first via is disposed in the insulating layer. A portion of the first conductive feature is directly under the capacitor structure.

Abstract: Metal gate cutting techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) device structure that includes a substrate, one or more fins disposed over the substrate, a plurality of gate structures disposed over the fins, a dielectric layer disposed between and adjacent to the gate structures, and a patterning layer disposed over the gate structures. The gate structures traverses the fins and includes first and second gate structures. The method further includes: forming an opening in the patterning layer to expose a portion of the first gate structure, a portion of the second gate structure, and a portion of the dielectric layer; and removing the exposed portion of the first gate structure, the exposed portion of the second gate structure, and the exposed portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first patterned conductive layer, a second patterned conductive layer, a first dielectric layer, a third patterned conductive layer, a fourth patterned conductive layer, a second dielectric layer, and an oxide structure. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and surrounds the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. The third patterned conductive layer is disposed on the first patterned conductive layer. The fourth patterned conductive layer is disposed on the second patterned conductive layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The oxide structure is in contact with the second dielectric layer, a side surface of the fourth patterned conductive layer, and a side surface of the third patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for predicting an immunogenic and/or therapeutic response to adalimumab 5 from a sample extracted from a rheumatoid arthritis patient by testing the sample for the presence of biomarkers, the biomarkers being autoantibodies to antigens comprising SSB, TROVE2 and ZHX2.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a semiconductor device on a main region of the device substrate, the device substrate having a peripheral region surrounding the main region; forming a first filling layer on the peripheral region of the device substrate; forming a second filling layer over the first filling layer and the semiconductor device after forming the first filling layer, the second filling layer having a polishing rate different from that of the first filling layer; performing a planarization process over the second filling layer to remove a portion of the second filling layer so that a remaining portion of the second filling layer has a planarized surface opposite to the device substrate; and bonding the device substrate to a carrier substrate through the first filling layer and the remaining portion of the second filling layer.