Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a gate extension structure, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature, a vertical stack of channel members extending between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature along a direction, and a gate structure wrapping around each of the vertical stack of channel members. The gate extension structure is in direct contact with the first source/drain feature.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit, including forming a n-type doped well (N-well) and a p-type doped well (P-well) disposed side by side on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first fin active region extruded from the N-well and a second fin active region extruded from the P-well, forming a first isolation feature inserted between and vertically extending through the N-well and the P-well, and forming a second isolation feature over the N-well and the P-well and laterally contacting the first and the second fin active regions.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, a first transistor and a second transistor, a first word line, a second word line, and a bit line. The first transistor and the second transistor are over the substrate and are electrically connected to each other, in which each of the first and second transistors includes first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers, a gate structure, and source/drain structures, in which the first semiconductor layers are in contact with the second semiconductor layers, and a width of the first semiconductor layers is narrower than a width of the second semiconductor layers. The first word line is electrically connected to the gate structure of the first transistor. The second word line is electrically connected to the gate structure of the second transistor. The bit line is electrically connected to a first one of the source/drain structures of the first transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for memory cell placement. The method can include placing a memory cell region in a layout area and placing a well pick-up region and a first power supply routing region along a first side of the memory cell region. The method also includes placing a second power supply routing region and a bitline jumper routing region along a second side of the memory cell region, where the second side is on an opposite side to that of the first side. The method further includes placing a device region along the second side of the memory cell region, where the bitline jumper routing region is between the second power supply routing region and the device region.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate including a circuit region and a well strap region, forming a mandrel extending from the circuit region to the well strap region, depositing mandrel spacers on sidewalls of the mandrel, removing the mandrel in the circuit region, while the mandrel in the well strap region remains intact, patterning the substrate with the mandrel spacers in the circuit region and the mandrel in the well strap region as an etch mask, thereby forming at least a first fin in the circuit region and a second fin in the well strap region, and epitaxially growing a first epitaxial feature over the first fin in the circuit region and a second epitaxial feature over the second fin in the well strap region. A width of the second fin is larger than a width of the first fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first source/drain feature on a front side of a substrate. The device includes a first backside metal line under the first source/drain feature and extending lengthwise along a first direction. The device includes a first backside via disposed between the first source/drain feature and the first backside metal line. The first backside metal line is a first bit line of a first static random access memory (SRAM) cell and is connected to the first source/drain feature through the first backside via. The first backside metal line includes a first portion and a second portion each extending widthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first portion is wider than the second portion, and the first portion partially lands on the first backside via. The first and the second portions are substantially aligned on one side along the first direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip (IC) having a device section and a pick-up section. The IC includes a semiconductor substrate. A first fin of the semiconductor substrate is disposed in the device section. A second fin of the semiconductor substrate is disposed in the pick-up section and laterally spaced from the first fin in a first direction. A gate structure is disposed in the device section and laterally spaced from the second fin in the first direction. The gate structure extends laterally over the semiconductor substrate and the first fin in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A pick-up region is disposed on the second fin. The pick-up region continuously extends from a first sidewall of the second fin to a second sidewall of the second fin. The first sidewall is laterally spaced from the second sidewall in the first direction.

Abstract: Gate structures having neutral zones to minimize metal gate boundary effects and methods of fabricating thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary metal gate includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion. The first portion includes a first gate dielectric layer, a first p-type work function layer, and a first n-type work function layer. The second portion includes a second gate dielectric layer and a second p-type work function layer. The third portion includes a third gate dielectric layer, a third p-type work function, and a second n-type work function layer. The second p-type work function layer separates the first n-type work function layer from the second n-type work function layer, such that the first n-type work function layer does not share an interface with the second n-type work function layer.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, a first transistor and a second transistor, a Schottky diode, a first word line, a second word line, and a bit line. The first transistor and the second transistor are over the substrate, wherein a first source/drain structure of the first transistor is electrically connected to a first source/drain structure of the second transistor. The Schottky diode is electrically connected to a gate structure of the first transistor. The first word line is electrically connected to the gate structure of the first transistor through the Schottky diode. The second word line is electrically connected to a gate structure of the second transistor. The bit line is electrically connected to a second source/drain structure of the second transistor.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate, a dummy fin, and a stack of semiconductor channel layers; forming an interfacial layer wrapping around each of the semiconductor channel layers; depositing a high-k dielectric layer, wherein a first portion of the high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer is spaced away from a second portion of the high-k dielectric layer on sidewalls of the dummy fin by a first distance; depositing a first dielectric layer over the dummy fin and over the semiconductor channel layers, wherein a merge-critical-dimension of the first dielectric layer is greater than the first distance thereby causing the first dielectric layer to be deposited in a space between the dummy fin and a topmost layer of the stack of semiconductor channel layers, thereby providing air gaps between adjacent layers of the stack of semiconductor channel layers and between the dummy fin and the stack of semiconductor channel layers.

Abstract: A test structure on a wafer is provided. The test structure includes a plurality of cells under test, a first output pad and a second output pad coupled to different cells, a plurality of first input pads, and a plurality of second input pads. The cells are arranged in rows and columns of a test array. Each of the first input pads is coupled to the cells in respective column of the test array. Each of the second input pads is coupled to the cells in respective row of the test array. A first voltage is applied to one of the first input pads and a second voltage is applied to one of the second input pads to turn on a cell, and a current flowing through the turned-on cell is measured.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells is connected to a word line to apply a first signal to select the memory cell to read data from or write the data to the memory cell and a bit line to read the data from the memory cell or provide the data to write to the memory cell upon selecting the memory cell by the word line. A first bit line portion of the bit line connected to a first memory cell of the plurality of memory cells abuts a second bit line portion of the bit line connected to a second memory cell of the plurality of memory cells. The first memory cell is adjacent to the second memory cell.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a workpiece. The workpiece includes a first dummy gate, a second dummy gate adjacent the first dummy gate, a first gate spacer disposed along sidewalls of the first dummy gate, and a second gate spacer disposed along sidewalls of the second dummy gate. The method further includes removing the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate to form a first gate trench and a second gate trench, respectively, enlarging the first gate trench and the second gate trench, forming a first metal gate structure in the enlarged first gate trench, and forming a second metal gate structure in the enlarged second gate trench. The enlarged second gate trench is wider than the enlarged first gate trench.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a memory structure including a memory cell array. The memory cell array includes memory cells and first n-type wells extending in a first direction. The memory structure also includes a second n-type well formed in a peripheral region of the memory structure. The second n-type well extends in a second direction and is in contact with a first n-type well of the first n-type wells. The memory structure further includes a pick-up region formed in the second n-type well. The pick-up region is electrically coupled to the first n-type well of first n-type wells.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, an active region, a first gate structure, a second gate structure, a first word line, and a second word line. The active region protrudes from a top surface of the substrate. The active region has at least one ring structure, in which when viewed from above, the ring structure has a first linear portion, a second linear portion, a first curved portion, and a second curved portion, the first curved portion connects first sides of the first and second linear portions, and the second curved portion connects second sides of the first and second linear portions. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are over the substrate and cross the active region. The first word line and the second word line are electrically connected to the first gate structure and the second gate structure, respectively.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate, a dummy fin, and a stack of semiconductor channel layers; forming an interfacial layer wrapping around each of the semiconductor channel layers; depositing a high-k dielectric layer, wherein a first portion of the high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer is spaced away from a second portion of the high-k dielectric layer on sidewalls of the dummy fin by a first distance; depositing a first dielectric layer over the dummy fin and over the semiconductor channel layers, wherein a merge-critical-dimension of the first dielectric layer is greater than the first distance thereby causing the first dielectric layer to be deposited in a space between the dummy fin and a topmost layer of the stack of semiconductor channel layers, thereby providing air gaps between adjacent layers of the stack of semiconductor channel layers and between the dummy fin and the stack of semiconductor channel layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a program word line and a read word line over an active region. Each of the program word line and the read word line extends along a line direction. Moreover, the program word line engages a first transistor channel and the read word line engages a second transistor channel. The semiconductor device also includes a first metal line over and electrically connected to the program word line and a second metal line over and electrically connected to the read word line. The semiconductor device further includes a bit line over and electrically connected to the first active region. Additionally, the program word line has a first width along a channel direction perpendicular to the line direction; the read word line has a second width along the channel direction; and the first width is less than the second width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth active regions each extending lengthwise along a first direction, and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gates each extending lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first, second, third, and fourth active regions comprise channel regions and source/drain (S/D) regions of first, second, third, and fourth transistors respectively, and the fifth active region comprises channel regions and S/D regions of fifth and sixth transistors. The first through sixth gates are configured to engage the channel regions of the first through sixth transistors respectively. The first, second, and fifth gates are electrically connected. The fifth active region is disposed between the second and third active regions.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, an active region, a first gate structure, a second gate structure, a first word line, and a second word line. The active region protrudes from a top surface of the substrate. The active region has at least one ring structure, in which when viewed from above, the ring structure has a first linear portion, a second linear portion, a first curved portion, and a second curved portion, the first curved portion connects first sides of the first and second linear portions, and the second curved portion connects second sides of the first and second linear portions. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are over the substrate and cross the active region. The first word line and the second word line are electrically connected to the first gate structure and the second gate structure, respectively.

Abstract: Test structures on a wafer are provided. A plurality of cells are arranged in rows and columns of a test array. First and second output pads are formed on opposite sides of the test array. A first output pad is coupled to the cells in one half of the rows of the test array. A second output pad is coupled to the cells in the other half of the rows of the test array. Each first input pad is coupled to the cells in respective column of the test array. Each second input pad is coupled to the cells in respective row of the test array. When a first voltage is applied to one of the first input pads and a second voltage is applied to one of the second input pads, current flowing through the turned-on cell is measured through the first or second output pad.