Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of nanosheets, a plurality of source/drain (S/D) features, and a gate stack. The substrate includes a first fin and a second fin. The first fin has a first width less than a second width of the second fin. The plurality of nanosheets is disposed on the first fin and the second fin. The plurality of source/drain (S/D) features are located on the first fin and the second fin and abutting the plurality of nanosheets. A bottom surface of the plurality of source/drain (S/D) features on the first fin is equal to or lower than a bottom surface of the plurality of source/drain (S/D) features on the second fin. The gate stack wraps each of the plurality of nanosheets.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a forksheet structure in a semiconductor device and methods of manufacturing thereof. The forksheet structure according to the present disclosure includes a dielectric wall disposed between two channel regions inside a gate structure and without extending through the sidewall spacers to the source/drain regions. In some embodiments, a cut metal gate (CMG) dielectric structure is formed in the gate structure along with the dielectric walls. A gate dielectric layer is in contact with the dielectric wall. In some embodiments, the dielectric layer surrounds semiconductor channels in the channel region. In other embodiments, the gate dielectric layer surrounds a portion of the semiconductor channels in the channel region, for example forming a ?-shape cross sectional profile around the semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a plurality of semiconductor layers having a first group of semiconductor layers, a second group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the first group of semiconductor layers, and a third group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the second group of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers and a second source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers. The first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers is different from the second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers.

Abstract: Methods and semiconductor devices are provided. A method includes determining a location of a polyimide opening (PIO) corresponding to an under-bump metallization (UBM) feature in a die. The die includes a substrate and an interconnect structure over the substrate. The method also includes determining a location of a stacked via structure in the interconnect structure based on the location of the PIO. The method further includes forming, in the interconnect structure, the stacked via structure comprising at most three stacked contact vias at the location of the PIO.

Abstract: Devices and method for forming a switch including a heater layer including a first heater pad, a second heater pad, and a heater line connecting the first heater pad and the second heater pad, a phase change material (PCM) layer positioned in a same vertical plane as the heater line, and a floating spreader layer including a first portion positioned in the same vertical plane as the heater line and the PCM layer, in which the first portion has a first width that is less than or equal to a distance between proximate sidewalls of the first heater pad and the second heater pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric wall, a plurality of first semiconductor layers vertically stacked and extending outwardly from a first side of the first dielectric wall, each first semiconductor layer has a first width, a plurality of second semiconductor layers vertically stacked and extending outwardly from a second side of the first dielectric wall, each second semiconductor layer has a second width, a plurality of third semiconductor layers disposed adjacent the second side of the first dielectric wall, each third semiconductor layer has a third width greater than the second width, a first gate electrode layer surrounding at least three surfaces of each of the first semiconductor layers, the first gate electrode layer having a first conductivity type, and a second gate electrode layer surrounding at least three surfaces of each of the second semiconductor layers, the second gate electrode layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode structure over a channel region, wherein the gate electrode structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the first channel region, a gate electrode disposed over the gate dielectric layer, and insulating spacers disposed over opposing sidewalls of the gate electrode, wherein the gate dielectric layer is disposed over opposing sidewalls of the gate electrode. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed over opposing sidewalls of the insulating spacers. The insulating spacers are removed from an upper portion of the opposing sidewalls of the gate electrode to form trenches between the opposing sidewalls of the upper portion of the gate electrode and the interlayer dielectric layer, and the trenches are filled with an insulating material.

Abstract: An image sensor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of image sensing elements, a reflective element, and a high-k dielectric structure. The image sensing elements are in the semiconductor substrate. The reflective element is in the semiconductor substrate and between the image sensing elements. The high-k dielectric structure is between the reflective element and the image sensing elements.

Abstract: A method of process technology assessment is provided. The method includes: defining a scope of the process technology assessment, the scope comprising an original process technology and a first process technology; modeling a first object in an integrated circuit into a resistance domain and a capacitance domain; generating a first resistance scaling factor and a first capacitance scaling factor based on the modeling, the original process technology, and the first process technology; and utilizing, by an electronic design automation (EDA) tool, the first resistance scaling factor and the first capacitance scaling factor for simulation of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first stack structure formed over a substrate, and the first stack structure includes a plurality of nanostructures that extend along a first direction. The semiconductor structure includes a second stack structure formed adjacent to the first stack structure, and the second stack structure includes a plurality of nanostructures that extend along the first direction. The semiconductor structure includes a first gate structure formed over the first stack structure, and the first gate structure extends along a second direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric wall between the first stack structure and the second stack structure, and the dielectric wall includes a low-k dielectric material, and the dielectric wall is connected to the first stack structure and the second stack structure.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a reflective optical element arranged in the vacuum chamber and configured to reflect an extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light, and a cleaning module positioned in the vacuum chamber. the cleaning module is operable to provide a mitigation gas flowing towards the reflective optical element and provide a hydrogen-containing gas flowing towards the reflective optical element. The mitigation gas mitigates, by chemical reaction, contamination of the reflective optical element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first gate structure and a second gate structure aligned along a direction, a first metal layer disposed over the first gate structure, a second metal layer disposed over the second gate structure, and a gate isolation structure extending between the first gate structure and the second gate structure as well as between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

Abstract: A method of smart and energy-saving environmental control includes the following steps: collecting a plurality of physiological information and location information of users and environmental information through a plurality of sensors; identifying an active state of each of the users according to the physiological information and the location information, and getting a metabolic rate corresponding to the active state; determining a plurality of weights based on types or levels of the users, and selecting one model from the energy-saving regulation models to serve as a selected model according to the number of the users and the weights; setting an energy-saving regulation value based on the active states, the weights and the selected model; regulating environmental control devices according to the energy-saving regulation value.

Abstract: A method for classifying defect images is provided. Defect images are processed through an automatic optical detection. The present invention integrates image analysis and data mining. Defects are found on the images without using human eye. The defects are classified for reducing product defect rate. Thus, the present invention effectively enhances performance on finding and classifying defects with increased consistency, correctness and reliability.

Abstract: A method for classifying defect images is provided. Defect images are processed through an automatic optical detection. The present invention integrates image analysis and data mining. Defects are found on the images without using human eye. The defects are classified for reducing product defect rate. Thus, the present invention effectively enhances performance on finding and classifying defects with increased consistency, correctness and reliability.

Abstract: In the manufacturing of VLSI circuits, production of overlay is a critical step. To obtain a higher resolution and alignment accuracy in microlithographic process, overlay errors must be measured so that overlay errors can be reduced to a tolerable level. This invention provides an overlay error model and a sampling strategy. Utilizing the overlay model and sampling strategy, a device for measuring overlay errors is also designed.

Abstract: In the manufacturing of VLSI circuits, production of overlay is a critical step. To obtain a higher resolution and alignment accuracy in microlithographic process, overlay errors must be measured so that overlay errors can be reduced to a tolerable level. This invention provides an overlay error model and a sampling strategy. Utilizing the overlay model and sampling strategy, a device for measuring overlay errors is also designed.