Abstract: A semiconductor process system etches thin films on semiconductor wafers. The semiconductor process system includes a machine learning based analysis model. The analysis model dynamically selects process conditions for an etching process by receiving static process conditions and target thin-film data. The analysis model identifies dynamic process conditions data that, together with the static process conditions data, result in predicted remaining thin-film data that matches the target thin-film data. The process system then uses the static and dynamic process conditions data for the next etching process.

Abstract: An electrode controls transmittance of a blocking layer over a photodiode of a pixel sensor (e.g., a photodiode of a small pixel detector) by changing oxidation of a metal material included in the blocking layer. By using the electrode to adjust transmittance of the blocking layer, pixel sensors for different uses and/or products may be produced using a single manufacturing process. As a result, power and processing resources are conserved that otherwise would have been expended in switching manufacturing processes. Additionally, production time is decreased (e.g., by eliminating downtime that would otherwise have been used to reconfigure fabrication machines.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application disclose path traffic allocation methods and network devices. One of the disclosed path traffic allocation methods includes sending, by an ingress node, a measurement packet to an egress node on each of at least two paths, where the at least two paths are paths between the ingress node and the egress node, and the measurement packet on each path indicates path information of each path. The disclosed method further includes receiving, by the ingress node, a response packet from the egress node, where the response packet indicates traffic adjustment information of each path, and determining, by the ingress node, to-be-sent traffic on each path based on the traffic adjustment information of each path.

Abstract: A method and wafer stack that includes a first wafer component, a second wafer component, and third wafer component. The first wafer component includes a frontside and a backside. The wafer stack also includes a second wafer component having a frontside and a backside, such that the frontside of the second wafer component is bonded to the frontside of the first wafer component. In addition, the wafer stack includes a third wafer component having a frontside and a backside, such that the frontside of the third wafer component is bonded to the backside of the second wafer component. The first wafer component includes a composite metal grid array with one or more photodiodes formed on the backside.

Abstract: A device comprises a substrate, a semiconductor channel over the substrate, and a gate structure over and laterally surrounding the semiconductor channel. The gate structure comprises a first dielectric layer comprising a first dielectric material including dopants. A second dielectric layer is on the first dielectric layer, and comprises a second dielectric material substantially free of the dopants. A metal fill layer is over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: In fabrication of a phase change random access memory (PCRAM), a field effect transistor (FET) logic layer is formed on a first wafer, including a heating FET for each storage cell. The FET logic layer is transferred from the first wafer to a carrier wafer. Thereafter, a storage layer of the PCRAM is formed on the exposed surface of the FET logic layer, including a region of a phase change material for each storage cell that is electrically connected to a channel of the heating FET of the storage cell. The storage layer further includes a second heating transistor for each storage cell that is electrically connected to a channel of the second heating transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device may include a chamber, a chuck provided in the chamber, and a biased power supply physically connected with the chuck. The apparatus may include a target component provided over the chuck and the biased power supply, and a magnetron assembly provided over the target component. The magnetron assembly may include a plurality of outer magnetrons and a plurality of inner magnetrons, and a spacing between each adjacent magnetrons of the plurality of outer magnetrons may be different from a spacing between each adjacent magnetrons of the plurality of inner magnetrons.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a semiconductor channel over the substrate, and a gate structure over and laterally surrounding the semiconductor channel. The gate structure includes a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor channel, a first work function metal layer over the first dielectric layer, a first protection layer over the first work function metal layer, a second protection layer over the first protection layer, and a metal fill layer over the second protection layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first chip bonded to a second chip. The first chip includes gate all around transistors on a substrate. The first chip includes backside conductive vias extending through the substrate to the gate all around transistors. The second chip includes electronic circuitry electrically connected to the transistors by the backside conductive vias.

Abstract: A semiconductor process system etches thin films on semiconductor wafers. The semiconductor process system includes a machine learning based analysis model. The analysis model dynamically selects process conditions for an etching process by receiving static process conditions and target thin-film data. The analysis model identifies dynamic process conditions data that, together with the static process conditions data, result in predicted remaining thin-film data that matches the target thin-film data. The process system then uses the static and dynamic process conditions data for the next etching process.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first chip bonded to a second chip. The first chip includes an array of memory cells. Each memory cell includes a transistor and phase change memory element. The transistor is between the phase change memory element and the second chip.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first conductive structure having sidewalls and a bottom surface, the first conductive structure extending through one or more isolation layers formed on a substrate; and an insulation layer disposed between at least one of the sidewalls of the first conductive structure and respective sidewalls of the one or more isolation layers, wherein the first conductive structure is electrically coupled to a second conductive structure through at least the bottom surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal managing system for a battery pack to prevent the thermal run away, comprising: a battery pack comprising a heat conducting shell; a vapor chamber module, comprising a evaporating surface and a condensing surface, wherein the evaporating surface is thermally connected to a corresponding area of the heat conducting shell, and a two-phase flow heat transfer between the evaporating surface and the condensing surface occurs in a direction one-way outwardly from the evaporating surface to the condensing surface; a phase change material module, comprising a container and a phase change material, wherein the container is thermally connected to the condensing surface and contains the phase change material, wherein when a phase change occurs, the phase change material comprises a latent heat, wherein the phase change material is capable of being heated by the two-phase flow heat transfer, wherein when the phase change material is melting, conducting dominates heat transferring rather t

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to gate-all-around (GAA) transistor structures with a low level of leakage current and low power consumption. For example, the GAA transistor includes a semiconductor layer with a first source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structure and a second S/D epitaxial structure disposed thereon, where the first and second S/D epitaxial structures are spaced apart by semiconductor nano-sheet layers. The semiconductor structure further includes isolation structures interposed between the semiconductor layer and each of the first and second S/D epitaxial structures. The GAA transistor further includes a gate stack surrounding the semiconductor nano-sheet layers.

Abstract: A thin-film deposition system deposits thin films on semiconductor wafers. The thin-film deposition system includes a machine learning based analysis model. The analysis model dynamically selects process conditions for a next deposition process by receiving static process conditions and target thin-film data. The analysis model identifies dynamic process conditions data that, together with the static process conditions data, result in predicted thin-film data that matches the target thin-film data. The deposition system then uses the static and dynamic process conditions data for the next thin-film deposition process.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first and second transistors arranged over a substrate. The first transistor includes first channel structures extending between first and second source/drain regions. A first gate electrode is arranged between the first channel structures, and a first protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the first channel structures. The second transistor includes second channel structures extending between the second source/drain region and a third source/drain region. A second gate electrode is arranged between the second channel structures, and a second protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the second channel structures. The integrated chip further includes a first interconnect structure arranged between the substrate and the first and second channel structures, and a contact plug structure coupled to the second source/drain region and arranged above the first and second gate electrodes.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate. A first nanostructure is over the substrate, and includes a semiconductor having a first resistance. A second nanostructure is over the substrate, is offset laterally from the first nanostructure, is at about the same height above the substrate as the first nanostructure, and includes a conductor having a second resistance lower than the first resistance. A first gate structure is over and wrapped around the first nanostructure, and a second gate structure is over and wrapped around the second nanostructure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate all around (GAA) device overlying the substrate, and a thin film transistor (TFT) overlying the GAA device, and a passive device overlying the TFT. The substrate, the GAA device, the TFT, and the passive device is subsequently stacked on each other and at least partially overlap with each other. A via includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion of the via that is located between the first end and the second end of the via. The first end of the via is connected to the passive device and the second end of the via is connected to one layer of the GAA device. The middle portion of the via is laterally spaced apart from the TFT and the passive device.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form a trench in the dielectric layer, depositing a metal layer extending into the trench, performing a nitridation process on the metal layer to convert a portion of the metal layer into a metal nitride layer, performing an oxidation process on the metal nitride layer to form a metal oxynitride layer, removing the metal oxynitride layer, and filling a metallic material into the trench using a bottom-up deposition process to form a contact plug.