Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a microelectronic device and methods for forming a microelectronic device. In an embodiment, the microelectronic device includes a semiconductor die that has one or more die contacts that are each electrically coupled to a contact pad by a conductive trace. The semiconductor die may have a first elastic modulus. The microelectronic device may also include an encapsulation layer over the semiconductor die and the conductive trace. The encapsulation layer may have a second elastic modulus that is less than the first elastic modulus. The microelectronic device may also include a first strain redistribution layer within the encapsulation layer. The first strain redistribution layer may have a footprint that covers the semiconductor die and a portion of the conductive traces. The strain redistribution layer may have a third elastic modulus that is less than the first elastic modulus and greater than the second elastic modulus.

Abstract: Methods and structures formed thereby are described, of forming self-aligned contact structures for microelectronic devices. An embodiment includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of a transistor device disposed in a device layer, wherein the device layer is on a substrate, forming a fill material in the trench, forming a source/drain material on the fill material, forming a first source/drain contact on a first side of the source/drain material, and then forming a second source drain contact on a second side of the source/drain material.

Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) cell architectures including a crenellated interconnect trace layout. A crenellated trace layout may be employed where an IC cell includes transistor having a source/drain terminal interconnected through a back-side (3D) routing scheme that reduces front-side routing density for a given transistor footprint. In the crenellated layout, adjacent interconnect traces or tracks may have their ends staggered according to a crenellation phase for the cell. Crenellated tracks may intersect one cell boundary with adjacent tracks intersecting an opposite cell boundary. Track ends may be offset by at least the width of an underlying orthogonal interconnect trace. Crenellated track ends may be offset by the width of an underlying orthogonal interconnect trace and half a spacing between adjacent orthogonal interconnect traces.

Abstract: Transistor cell architectures including both front-side and back-side structures. A transistor may include one or more semiconductor fins with a gate stack disposed along a sidewall of a channel portion of the fin. One or more source/drain regions of the fin are etched to form recesses with a depth below the channel region. The recesses may extend through the entire fin height. Source/drain semiconductor is then deposited within the recess, coupling the channel region to a deep source/drain. A back-side of the transistor is processed to reveal the deep source/drain semiconductor material. One or more back-side interconnect metallization levels may couple to the deep source/drain of the transistor.

Abstract: Pore-filled dielectric materials for semiconductor structure fabrication, and methods of fabricating pore-filled dielectric materials for semiconductor structure fabrication, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a pore-filled dielectric material for semiconductor structure fabrication includes forming a trench in a material layer. The method also includes filling the trench with a porous dielectric material using a spin-on deposition process. The method also includes filling pores of the porous dielectric material with a metal-containing material using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process.

Abstract: Methods and structures formed thereby are described, of forming self-aligned contact structures for microelectronic devices. An embodiment includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of a transistor device disposed in a device layer, wherein the device layer is on a substrate, forming a fill material in the trench, forming a source/drain material on the fill material, forming a first source/drain contact on a first side of the source/drain material, and then forming a second source drain contact on a second side of the source/drain material.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for backside source/drain (S/D) replacement for semiconductor devices with metallization on both sides (MOBS). The techniques described herein provide methods to recover or otherwise facilitate low contact resistance, thereby reducing or eliminating parasitic external resistance that degrades transistor performance. In some cases, the techniques include forming sacrificial S/D material and a seed layer during frontside processing of a device layer including one or more transistor devices. The device layer can then be inverted and bonded to a host wafer. A backside reveal of the device layer can then be performed via grinding, etching, and/or CMP processes. The sacrificial S/D material can then be removed through backside S/D contact trenches using the seed layer as an etch stop, followed by the formation of relatively highly doped final S/D material grown from the seed layer, to provide enhanced ohmic contact properties. Other embodiments may be described and/or disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for backside contact resistance reduction for semiconductor devices with metallization on both sides (MOBS). In some embodiments, the techniques described herein provide methods to recover low contact resistance that would otherwise be present with making backside contacts, thereby reducing or eliminating parasitic external resistance that degrades transistor performance. In some embodiments, the techniques include adding an epitaxial deposition of very highly doped crystalline semiconductor material in backside contact trenches to provide enhanced ohmic contact properties. In some cases, a backside source/drain (S/D) etch-stop layer may be formed below the replacement S/D regions of the one or more transistors formed on the transfer wafer (during frontside processing), such that when backside contact trenches are being formed, the backside S/D etch-stop layer may help stop the backside contact etch process before consuming a portion or all of the S/D material.

Abstract: A conductive connector for a microelectronic structure may be formed in an opening in a dielectric layer, wherein a ruthenium/aluminum-containing liner is disposed between the dielectric layer and a substantially aluminum-free copper fill material within the opening. The ruthenium/aluminum-containing liner may be formed by depositing a ruthenium-containing liner and migrating aluminum into the ruthenium-containing liner with an annealing process. The aluminum may be presented as a layer formed either before or after the deposition of a copper fill material, or may be presented within a copper/aluminum alloy fill material wherein the annealing process migrates the aluminum out of the copper/aluminum alloy and into the ruthenium-containing liner.

Abstract: A transistor cell including a deep via that is at least partially lined with a dielectric material. The deep via may extend down to a substrate over which the transistor is disposed. The deep via may be directly connected to a terminal of the transistor, such as the source or drain, to interconnect the transistor with an interconnect metallization level disposed in the substrate under the transistor, or on at opposite side of the substrate as the transistor. Parasitic capacitance associated with the close proximity of the deep via metallization to one or more terminals of the transistor may be reduced by lining at least a portion of the deep via sidewall with dielectric material, partially necking the deep via metallization in a region adjacent to the transistor.

Abstract: Methods and structures formed thereby are described, of forming self-aligned contact structures for microelectronic devices. An embodiment includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of a transistor device disposed in a device layer, wherein the device layer is on a substrate, forming a fill material in the trench, forming a source/drain material on the fill material, forming a first source/drain contact on a first side of the source/drain material, and then forming a second source drain contact on a second side of the source/drain material.

Abstract: Photonic components are placed on the processor package to bring the optical signal close to the processor die. The processor package includes a substrate to which the processor die is coupled, and which allows the processor die to connect to a printed circuit board. The processor package also includes transceiver logic, electrical-optical conversion circuits, and an optical coupler. The electrical-optical conversion circuits can include laser(s), modulator(s), and photodetector(s) to transmit and receive and optical signal. The coupler interfaces to a fiber that extends off the processor package. Multiple fibers can be brought to the processor package allowing for a scalable high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnection to the processor.

Abstract: A conductive route structure may be formed comprising a conductive trace and a conductive via, wherein the conductive via directly contacts the conductive trace. In one embodiment, the conductive route structure may be formed by forming a dielectric material layer on the conductive trace. A via opening may be formed through the dielectric material layer to expose a portion of the conductive trace and a blocking layer may be from only on the exposed portion of the conductive trace. A barrier line may be formed on sidewalls of the via opening and the blocking layer may thereafter be removed. A conductive via may then be formed within the via opening, wherein the conductive via directly contacts the conductive trace.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a microelectronic device and methods for forming a microelectronic device. In an embodiment, the microelectronic device includes a semiconductor die that has one or more die contacts that are each electrically coupled to a contact pad by a conductive trace. The semiconductor die may have a first elastic modulus. The microelectronic device may also include an encapsulation layer over the semiconductor die and the conductive trace. The encapsulation layer may have a second elastic modulus that is less than the first elastic modulus. The microelectronic device may also include a first strain redistribution layer within the encapsulation layer. The first strain redistribution layer may have a footprint that covers the semiconductor die and a portion of the conductive traces. The strain redistribution layer may have a third elastic modulus that is less than the first elastic modulus and greater than the second elastic modulus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include interconnect structures with overhead vias and through vias that are self-aligned with interconnect lines and methods of forming such structures. In an embodiment, an interconnect structure is formed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD). One or more first interconnect lines may be formed in the ILD. The interconnect structure may also include one or more second interconnect lines in the ILD that arranged in an alternating pattern with the first interconnect lines. Top surfaces of each of the first and second interconnect lines may be recessed below a top surface of the ILD. The interconnect structure may include a self-aligned overhead via formed over one or more of the first interconnect lines or over one or more of the second interconnect lines. In an embodiment, a top surface of the self-aligned overhead via is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the ILD.

Abstract: Techniques and structure are disclosed for enhancing fracture resistance of back-end interconnects and other such interconnect structures by increasing via density. Increased via density can be provided, for example, within the filler/dummified portion(s) of adjacent circuit layers within a die. In some cases, an electrically isolated (floating) filler line of an upper circuit layer may include a via which lands on a floating filler line of a lower circuit layer in a region corresponding to where the filler lines cross/intersect. In some such cases, the floating filler line of the upper circuit layer may be formed as a dual-damascene structure including such a via. In some embodiments, a via similarly may be provided between a floating filler line of the upper circuit layer and a sufficiently electrically isolated interconnect line of the lower circuit layer. The techniques/structure can be used to provide mechanical integrity for the die.

Abstract: Photonic components are placed on the processor package to bring the optical signal close to the processor die. The processor package includes a substrate to which the processor die is coupled, and which allows the processor die to connect to a printed circuit board. The processor package also includes transceiver logic, electrical-optical conversion circuits, and an optical coupler. The electrical-optical conversion circuits can include laser(s), modulator(s), and photodetector(s) to transmit and receive and optical signal. The coupler interfaces to a fiber that extends off the processor package. Multiple fibers can be brought to the processor package allowing for a scalable high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnection to the processor.

Abstract: Photonic components are placed on the processor package to bring the optical signal close to the processor die. The processor package includes a substrate to which the processor die is coupled, and which allows the processor die to connect to a printed circuit board. The processor package also includes transceiver logic, electrical-optical conversion circuits, and an optical coupler. The electrical-optical conversion circuits can include laser(s), modulator(s), and photodetector(s) to transmit and receive and optical signal. The coupler interfaces to a fiber that extends off the processor package. Multiple fibers can be brought to the processor package allowing for a scalable high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnection to the processor.

Abstract: Techniques and structure are disclosed for enhancing fracture resistance of back-end interconnects and other such interconnect structures by increasing via density. Increased via density can be provided, for example, within the filler/dummified portion(s) of adjacent circuit layers within a die. In some cases, an electrically isolated (floating) filler line of an upper circuit layer may include a via which lands on a floating filler line of a lower circuit layer in a region corresponding to where the filler lines cross/intersect. In some such cases, the floating filler line of the upper circuit layer may be formed as a dual-damascene structure including such a via. In some embodiments, a via similarly may be provided between a floating filler line of the upper circuit layer and a sufficiently electrically isolated interconnect line of the lower circuit layer. The techniques/structure can be used to provide mechanical integrity for the die.

Abstract: Techniques and structure are disclosed for providing a MIM capacitor having a generally corrugated profile. The corrugated topography is provisioned using sacrificial, self-organizing materials that effectively create a pattern in response to treatment (heat or other suitable stimulus), which is transferred to a dielectric material in which the MIM capacitor is formed. The self-organizing material may be, for example, a layer of directed self-assembly material that segregates into two alternating phases in response to heat or other stimulus, wherein one of the phases then can be selectively etched with respect to the other phase to provide the desired pattern. In another example case, the self-organizing material is a layer of material that coalesces into isolated islands when heated. As will be appreciated in light of this disclosure, the disclosed techniques can be used, for example, to increase capacitance per unit area, which can be scaled by etching deeper capacitor trenches/holes.