Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate structure sandwiched between and in contact with a first spacer feature and a second spacer feature, a top surface of the first spacer feature and a top surface of the second spacer feature extending above a top surface of the gate structure, a gate self-aligned contact (SAC) dielectric feature over the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature, a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate SAC dielectric feature, a dielectric layer over the CESL, a gate contact feature extending through the dielectric layer, the CESL, the gate SAC dielectric feature, and between the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature to be in contact with the gate structure, and a liner disposed between the first spacer feature and the gate contact feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a source/drain region and a first conductive feature disposed below the source/drain region. The first conductive feature is electrically connected to the source/drain region. The structure further includes a second conductive feature disposed over the source/drain region, and the second conductive feature is electrically connected to the source/drain region. The structure further includes a third conductive feature disposed on and in contact with a first portion of the second conductive feature and a dielectric layer disposed on and in contact with a second portion of the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device has a stack of parallel metal gates formed on a first side of a substrate, a first pair of insulation regions extending across the stack of parallel metal gates, a second pair of insulation regions replacing two of the parallel metal gates, a first isolated region enclosed by the first and second pairs of insulation layers, a first via formed within the isolated region, and an insulation layer replacing the metal gates located within the isolated region. Tree or more metal gates are located within the isolated region, and the first via extends through a portion of a center one of the three metal gates within the isolated region.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes an isolation layer formed around the first fin structure and covering a sidewall of the first fin structure and a gate stack formed over the first fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure and spaced apart from the gate stack and a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, the contact structure and the dielectric structure has a first slope interface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the contact structure to a top surface of the isolation layer.

Abstract: A collapsible electric vehicle includes a front vehicle member, a vehicle frame pivotally coupled to the front vehicle member, a seat disposed at the vehicle frame, a power supply, a set of wheels disposed at the front vehicle member and the vehicle frame respectively, and a drive motor eclectically connected to the power supply. The drive motor is connected to at least one of the wheels to drive the wheel to rotate. The collapsible electric vehicle has an expanded state and a collapsed state. In the expanded state, a first supporting frame is expanded and maintained upright to support the seat to be at a suitable position while the front vehicle member is expanded to be positioned apart from the vehicle frame. In the collapsed state, the first supporting frame is collapsed to a main frame, and the front vehicle member is collapsed to the first supporting frame.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are described. The device includes semiconductor channel sheets, source and drain regions and a gate structure. The semiconductor channel sheets are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from one another. The source and drain regions are disposed beside the semiconductor channel sheets. The gate structure is disposed around and surrounding the semiconductor channel sheets. The silicide layer is disposed on the source region or the drain region. A contact structure is disposed on the silicide layer on the source region or the drain region. The contact structure includes a metal contact and a liner, and the silicide layer is in contact with the metal contact, and the liner is separate from the silicide layer by the metal contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes parallel channel members, a gate structure, source/drain features, a silicide layer, and a source/drain contact. The parallel channel members are spaced apart from one another. The gate structure is wrapping around the channel members. The source/drain features are disposed besides the channel members and at opposite sides of the gate structure. The silicide layer is disposed on and in direct contact with the source/drain features. The source/drain contact is disposed on the silicide layer, wherein the source/drain contact includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact stacked on the first source/drain contact, and the second source/drain contact is separate from the silicide layer by the first source/drain contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form a backside power rail (BPR) semiconductor device with an air gap. The method includes forming a fin structure on a first side of a substrate, forming a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the fin structure, forming a first S/D contact structure on the first side of the substrate and in contact with the S/D region, and forming a capping structure on the first S/D contact structure. The method further includes removing a portion of the first S/D contact structure through the capping structure to form an air gap and forming a second S/D contact structure on a second side of the substrate and in contact with the S/D region. The second side is opposite to the first side.

Abstract: A spatial positioning method is provided. The method includes steps of: dividing an activity space into a plurality of activity regions; selecting a plurality of positions in the activity space or within a distance range of the activity space as a plurality of base station candidate positions; predicting connection states between the plurality of base stations that are disposed respectively at the plurality of station candidate positions and a mobile robot moving to each of the plurality of activity regions; selecting some of the base station candidate positions as a plurality of base station positions according to the connection states; disposing the plurality of base stations respectively at the plurality of base station positions; and wirelessly connecting the mobile robot respectively moving to the plurality of activity regions to some of the plurality of base stations to position the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure includes forming nanostructures over a front side of a substrate. The method also includes forming a gate structure surrounding the nanostructures. The method also includes forming a source/drain structure beside the gate structure. The method also includes forming a trench though the substrate from a back side of the substrate. The method also includes forming a first silicide layer in contact with the source/drain structure. The method also includes forming a second silicide layer over the first silicide layer and the sidewalls of the trench. The method also includes depositing a first conductive material over the second silicide layer. The method also includes etching back the first conductive material. The method also includes etching back the second silicide layer. The method also includes depositing a second conductive material in the trench.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. Two wafers are first bonded by oxide bonding. Next, the thickness of a first wafer is reduced using an ion implantation and separation approach, and a second wafer is thinned by using a removal process. First devices are formed on the first wafer, and a carrier is then attached over the first wafer, and an alignment process is performed from the bottom of the second wafer to align active regions of the second wafer for placement of the second devices with active regions of the first wafer for placement of the first devices. The second devices are then formed in the active regions of the second wafer. Furthermore, a via structure is formed through the first wafer, the second wafer and the insulation layer therebetween to connect the first and second devices on the two sides of the insulation layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor strip and semiconductor layers vertically stacked over a front side of the semiconductor strip; forming a gate structure over the semiconductor layers; etching the semiconductor strip to form recesses in the semiconductor strip and on opposite sides of the gate structure; forming epitaxial layers in the recesses, respectively; forming isolation layers over the epitaxial layers, respectively; forming epitaxial source/drain structures over the isolation layers, respectively; performing an etching process from a backside of the semiconductor strip to form a via opening extending through the semiconductor strip, one of the epitaxial layer, and one of the isolation layer, wherein one of the epitaxial source/drain structures is exposed through the via opening; and forming a backside via in the via opening.

Abstract: A method includes forming first semiconductor layers vertically stacked over a substrate; forming a gate structure over the first semiconductor layers; etching portions of the first semiconductor layers and the substrate uncovered by the substrate to form recesses; forming a spacer layer covering sidewalls of portions of the first semiconductor layers, while a bottommost one of the first semiconductor layers is uncovered by the spacer layer; etching the bottommost one of the first semiconductor layers to form a gap; forming a blocking dielectric in the gap; and forming source/drain epitaxy structures in the recesses and on opposite sides of the gate structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure formed over a substrate, and a source/drain (S/D) structure formed adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure includes a gate spacer formed adjacent to the gate structure, and an etching stop layer adjacent to the gate spacer. The semiconductor structure also includes a gate mask layer formed over the gate structure, and a topmost surface of the gate mask layer is higher than a top surface of the etching stop layer.

Abstract: The ability of a grounded gate NMOS (ggNMOS) device to withstand and protect against human body model (HBM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) events is greatly increased by resistance balancing straps. The resistance balancing straps are areas of high resistance formed in the substrate between an active area that includes a MOSFET of the ggNMOS device and a bulk ring that surrounds the active area. A Vss rail is coupled to the substrate beneath the MOSFET through the bulk ring. The substrate beneath the MOSFET provides base regions for parasitic transistors that switch on for the ggNMOS device to operate. The straps inhibit low resistance pathways between the base regions and the bulk ring and prevent a large portion of the ggNMOS device from being switched off while a remaining portion of the ggNMOS device remains switched on. The strap may be divided into segments inserted at strategic locations.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two source/drain features, a gate structure, a first contact plug, a second contact plug, a conductive line, and a nitride capping layer. The two source/drain features are laterally arranged to each other. The one or more channel layers connects the two source/drain features. The gate structure engages the one or more channel layers and interposes the two source/drain features. The first contact plug extends from above a first source/drain feature of the two source/drain features to the first source/drain feature. The second contact plug extends from below a second source/drain feature of the two source/drain features to the second source/drain feature. The conductive line is disposed underneath the second contact plug and electrically coupled to the second contact plug. The nitride capping layer is disposed between the second contact plug and the conductive line.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a channel member having a longitudinal axis in a first direction, and the channel member has a first portion and a second portion separated from each other by a blank region. The semiconductor structure also includes a first gate structure formed over the blank region and having a longitudinal axis in a second direction different from the first direction and an isolation structure formed in the blank region and abutting the first gate structure in the second direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a through via structure formed through the isolation structure. In addition, the through via structure includes a first conductive filling layer, and a first air gap is sandwiched between the first conductive filling layer and the isolation structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate structure sandwiched between and in contact with a first spacer feature and a second spacer feature, a top surface of the first spacer feature and a top surface of the second spacer feature extending above a top surface of the gate structure, a gate self-aligned contact (SAC) dielectric feature over the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature, a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate SAC dielectric feature, a dielectric layer over the CESL, a gate contact feature extending through the dielectric layer, the CESL, the gate SAC dielectric feature, and between the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature to be in contact with the gate structure, and a liner disposed between the first spacer feature and the gate contact feature.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, gate stacks, source/drain (S/D) features over the substrate, S/D contacts over the S/D features, and one or more dielectric layers over the gate stacks and the S/D contacts. A via structure penetrates the one or more dielectric layers and electrically contacts one of the gate stacks and the S/D contacts. And a ferroelectric (FE) stack is over the via structure and directly contacting the via structure, wherein the FE stack includes an FE feature and a top electrode over the FE feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided, and includes a first fin structure, a second fin structure, and a third fin structure over a substrate. The second fin structure is located between the first fin structure and the third fin structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a fin isolation structure formed between the first fin structure and the third fin structure; and a gate structure formed over the first fin structure, the second fin structure, the third fin structure and the fin isolation structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a plurality of epitaxial structures formed over the first fin structure, the second fin structure and the third fin structure. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric material over the first epitaxial structure, the second epitaxial structure, and the third epitaxial structure; and a contact formed in the dielectric material and connected to the first epitaxial structure and the third epitaxial structure.