Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: first and second active regions extending in a first direction and separated by a gap relative to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and gate structures correspondingly over the first and second active regions, the gate structures extending in the second direction; and each of the gate structures extending at least unilaterally substantially beyond a first side of the corresponding first or second active region that is proximal to the gap or a second side of the corresponding first or second active region that is distal to the gap; and some but not all of the gate structures also extending bilaterally substantially beyond each of the first and second sides of the corresponding first or second active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing that includes a first etch stop layer and a second etch stop layer to prevent delamination and damage to underlying components. A first passivation layer and a second passivation layer are disposed on a substrate, with a metal pad exposed through the passivation layers and contacting a top metal component of the substrate. The first etch stop layer is then formed on the second passivation layer and the metal pad. A third passivation layer is then formed on the substrate with an opening to the metal pad, which is covered by the first etch stop layer. The second etch stop layer is then formed on the third passivation layer and in the opening on the second etch stop layer. A bottom metal film/conductive component is then formed on the second etch stop layer, photoresist is applied, and wet etching is performed. The metal pad is protected from damage caused by delamination of the second etch stop layer by the first etch stop layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor cleaning tool is provided. The cleaning tool comprises a nozzle. The nozzle is connected with a first inlet to receive a carrier gas and a second inlet to receive one or more fluids. The nozzle comprises a gas passageway connected to the first inlet; and fluid passageway connected to the second inlet. The gas passageway comprises gas passage branches and the fluid passageway comprises fluid passage branches. The gas passage branches and the fluid passage branches are arranged interweavingly in the nozzle. Individual gas/fluid passage branches are controllable indecently and separately including a flow rate, a temperature, an on/off state, a type of fluid(s) or carrier gas, a time period, a supply mode, and/or any other aspects of spraying the fluid(s) and carrier gas through the individual gas passage branches and the individual fluid passage branches.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having increased capacitance without increased fin height or increased chip area are disclosed. Grooves are formed across a width of the fin(s) to increase the overlapping surface area with the gate terminal, in particular with a length of the groove being less than or equal to the fin width. Methods of forming such grooved fins and semiconductor capacitor devices are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: first and second active regions extending in a first direction and separated by a gap relative to a second direction; and gate structures correspondingly over the first and second active regions, the gate structures extending in the second direction; and for each active region, a portion of each of some but not all of the gate structures (gate extension) extending partially into the gap; and when viewing the gate structures as a group, the group having a notched profile relative to the second direction, where notches in the notched profile correspond to ones of the gate structures which are substantially free of extending into the gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes first and second active regions extending in a first direction. The semiconductor structure further includes gate electrodes extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the gate electrodes includes a first segment over at least one of the first active region or the second active region; a gate extension extending beyond each of the first active region and the second active region, wherein the gate extension has a uniform width in the first direction, and a conductive element, wherein a width of the conductive element in the first direction increases as a distance from the gate extension increases along an entirety of the conductive element in the second direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structure and methods of forming the same are described. The structure includes a first dielectric layer including a first portion disposed over a source/drain region in an active region of a substrate and a modulation portion over an interlayer dielectric (ILD) in a resistor region of the substrate, the first portion of the first dielectric layer has a first composition, and the modulation portion of the first dielectric layer has a second composition different from the first composition. The structure further includes a resistor layer disposed on the modulation portion of the first dielectric layer in the resistor region and a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer in the active region and over the resistor layer in the resistor region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a first gate electrode, which includes a first section having a slanted sidewall and an imaginary sidewall, a second section extending radially from the imaginary sidewall of the first section, the second section has a curved bottom, and a third section extending downwardly from the first section, wherein the third section has a straight sidewall, and the slanted sidewall of the first section connects the straight sidewall of the third section to the curved bottom of the second section. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first gate dielectric layer in contact with the straight sidewall of the third section and the slanted sidewall of the first section, and a first gate spacer in contact with the first gate dielectric layer and the slanted sidewall of the first section.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an interconnection structure, a first conductive pad, a second conductive pad, a conductive material and a conductive coil. The first and second conductive pads are disposed over and electrically connected to the interconnection structure individually. The conductive material is electrically isolated from the interconnection structure, wherein bottom surfaces of the conductive material, the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad are substantially aligned. The conductive coil is disposed in the interconnection structure and overlapped by the conductive material. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a conductive feature includes following operations. A first insulating layer is formed over a substrate. The first insulating layer is patterned to form a first recess in the first insulating layer. The first recess is filled with a conductive material. A plurality of second recesses are formed in the conductive material. Each of the second recesses overlaps the first recess. A portion of the conductive material is removed to form a first conductive feature. A ratio of a sum of opening areas of the second recesses to an opening area of the first recess is less than 1%.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. The method may include several operations. A first layer is formed over a first region and a second region of a substrate. A first etching is performed on the first layer, thereby forming a first trench in the first region and a second trench in the second region. A first amorphization is performed on the first layer in the second region. A second etching is performed on the first layer, wherein an etching rate of the second etching in the second region is greater than an etching rate of the second etching in the first region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method are provided. The method includes patterning a substrate to form a first fin structure in a first region and a second fin structure in a second region, wherein a first width of the first fin structure is greater than a second width of the second fin structure; forming a protecting layer on the second fin structure; and forming a first oxide layer over the first fin structure and forming a second oxide layer over the protecting layer, wherein a width of the first oxide layer is greater than a width of the second oxide layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having increased capacitance without increased fin height or increased chip area are disclosed. Grooves are formed across a width of the fin(s) to increase the overlapping surface area with the gate terminal, in particular with a length of the groove being less than or equal to the fin width. Methods of forming such grooved fins and semiconductor capacitor devices are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of gate electrodes over a plurality of active regions. The method further includes increasing a width of a portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes between adjacent active regions of the plurality of active regions, wherein increasing the width of the portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes comprises increasing the width of less than an entirety of each of the plurality of gate electrodes between the adjacent active regions. The method further includes removing a central region of each of the plurality of gate electrodes, wherein the central region has the increased width, and removing the central region comprises removing less than an entirety of the portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: first and second active regions extending in a first direction and separated by a gap relative to a second direction; and gate structures correspondingly over the first and second active regions, the gate structures extending in the second direction; and for each active region, a portion of each of some but not all of the gate structures (gate extension) extending partially into the gap; and when viewing the gate structures as a group, the group having a notched profile relative to the second direction, where notches in the notched profile correspond to ones of the gate structures which are substantially free of extending into the gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiment. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first circuit region and a second circuit region; active regions extended from the semiconductor substrate and surrounded by isolation features; first transistors that include first gate stacks formed on the active regions and disposed in the first circuit region, the first gate stacks having a first gate pitch less than a reference pitch; and second transistors that include second gate stacks formed on the active regions and disposed in the second circuit region, the second gate stacks having a second pitch greater than the reference pitch. The second transistors are high-frequency transistors and the first transistors are logic transistors.

Abstract: A method (of manufacturing a semiconductor device) includes: forming active regions including spacing apart neighboring active regions resulting in corresponding gaps; forming gate structures (overlying the active regions and the gaps) including locating intra-gap segments of the gate structures over the gaps, arranging each intra-gap segment to include two end regions separated by a central region, and at intersections between active regions and gate structures that is designated to be non-functional (flyover intersection), preventing formation of a functional connection between the two; and removing selected portions of at least some of the intra-gap segments including removing central regions of first selected intra-gap segments substantially without removing portions of corresponding end regions of the first selected intra-gap segments, and removing central regions and portions of end regions of second selected intra-gap segments for which corresponding end regions of the second intra-gap segments abut fl

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiment. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first circuit region and a second circuit region; active regions extended from the semiconductor substrate and surrounded by isolation features; first transistors that include first gate stacks formed on the active regions and disposed in the first circuit region, the first gate stacks having a first gate pitch less than a reference pitch; and second transistors that include second gate stacks formed on the active regions and disposed in the second circuit region, the second gate stacks having a second pitch greater than the reference pitch. The second transistors are high-frequency transistors and the first transistors are logic transistors.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of gate electrodes over a plurality of active regions. The method further includes increasing a width of a portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes between adjacent active regions of the plurality of active regions, wherein increasing the width of the portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes comprises increasing the width of less than an entirety of each of the plurality of gate electrodes between the adjacent active regions. The method further includes removing a central region of each of the plurality of gate electrodes, wherein the central region has the increased width, and removing the central region comprises removing less than an entirety of the portion of each of the plurality of gate electrodes.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, removing the dummy gate stack to form a trench between gate spacers, forming a replacement gate dielectric extending into the trench, and forming a replacement gate electrode on the replacement gate dielectric. The forming the replacement gate electrode includes depositing a metal-containing layer. The depositing the metal-containing layer includes depositing a lower layer having a first average grain size, and depositing an upper layer over the lower layer. The lower layer and the upper layer are formed of a same material, and the upper layer has a second average grain size greater than the first average grain size. Source and drain regions are formed on opposing sides of the replacement gate electrode.