Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a dielectric stack disposed over a substrate. The dielectric stack has a first plurality of layers interleaved between a second plurality of layers. The dielectric stack has one or more surfaces that define a plurality of indentations recessed into a side of the dielectric stack at different vertical heights corresponding to the second plurality of layers. A capacitor structure lines the one or more surfaces of the dielectric stack. The capacitor structure includes conductive electrodes separated by a capacitor dielectric.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate having a first pair of opposing sidewalls that define a trench. The trench extends into a front-side surface of the substrate. A first source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A second source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A gate structure is disposed within the trench and is arranged laterally between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The gate structure fills the trench and extends along the first pair of opposing sidewalls to an upper surface of the substrate. A bottom surface of the gate structure is disposed below a bottom surface of the first source/drain region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device. The method includes forming a bond bump and a bond ring over a substrate. A semiconductor die is bonded to the bond ring. A molding layer is formed around the semiconductor die. The molding layer is laterally offset from a cavity between the semiconductor die and the substrate. A VCSEL structure is formed over the bond bump.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for opening a source line in a memory device. An erase gate line (EGL) and the source line are formed elongated in parallel. The source line underlies the EGL and is separated from the EGL by a dielectric layer. A first etch is performed to form a first opening through the EGL and stops on the dielectric layer. A second etch is performed to thin the dielectric layer at the first opening, wherein the first and second etches are performed with a common mask in place. A silicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the source line at the first opening, wherein the silicide process comprises a third etch with a second mask in place and extends the first opening through the dielectric layer. A via is formed extending through the EGL to the silicide layer.

Abstract: A method includes: forming a masking layer on a backside of a substrate, the substrate including pixel regions having photodetectors, transistors being positioned on or in a frontside of the substrate; forming a mask opening in the masking layer by exposing the masking layer to patterned light, the opening including: mask pixel regions that mask the pixel regions; and mask protrusion regions that extend from the mask pixel regions toward a mask crossroad region; forming a substrate opening in the substrate by etching the substrate through the mask opening; and forming an isolation structure in the substrate opening.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) including a capacitor. The capacitor is disposed over a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of capacitor dielectric layers vertically stacked over one another. A contact structure overlies the plurality of electrodes, wherein the contact structure continuously extends from above a top surface of the plurality of electrodes to contact a first electrode in the plurality of electrodes. A first conductive via overlies and contacts the contact structure, wherein the first conductive via is directly electrically coupled to the first electrode by way of the contact structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor. The image sensor comprises a plurality of photodetectors disposed within a substrate. A metal grid layer is disposed over the substrate. The metal grid layer comprises a metal grid structure overlying a central pixel region of the substrate. The metal grid layer continuously extends from the central pixel region to a peripheral pixel region of the substrate that laterally encloses the central pixel region. An upper metal structure is disposed over the metal grid layer. The upper metal structure overlies the peripheral pixel region. The upper metal structure is laterally offset from the metal grid structure. A lower surface of the upper metal structure is disposed vertically over an upper surface of the metal grid structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit (IC) disposed on a silicon substrate, which includes a well region having a first conductivity type. An epitaxial pillar of SiGe or Ge extends upward from the well region. The epitaxial pillar includes a lower epitaxial region having the first conductivity type and an upper epitaxial region having a second conductivity type, which is opposite the first conductivity type. A dielectric layer is arranged over an upper surface of the substrate and is disposed around the lower epitaxial region to extend over outer edges of the well region. The dielectric layer has inner sidewalls that contact outer sidewalls of the epitaxial pillar. A dielectric sidewall structure has a bottom surface that rests on an upper surface of the dielectric layer and has inner sidewalls that extend continuously from the upper surface of the dielectric layer to a top surface of the epitaxial pillar.

Abstract: A novel integrated circuit and method thereof are provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of first interconnect pads, a plurality of second interconnect pads, a first inter-level dielectric layer, a thin film resistor, and at least two end-caps. The end-caps, which are connectors for the thin film resistor, are positioned at the same level with the plurality of second interconnect pads. Therefore, an electrical connection between the end-caps and the plurality of second interconnect pads can be formed by directly connection of them. An integrated circuit with a thin film resistor can be made in a cost benefit way accordingly, so as to overcome disadvantages mentioned above.

Abstract: A device includes an active region, a select gate, a control gate, a first metal alloy layer, and a second metal alloy layer. The active region has a source region and a drain region. The select gate is over the active region and between the source region and the drain region. The control gate is over the active region and between the source region and the select gate. The first metal alloy layer is in contact with the source region. The second metal alloy layer is in contact with the drain region and higher than a top surface of the control gate.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a dielectric stack disposed over a substrate. The dielectric stack has a first plurality of layers interleaved between a second plurality of layers. The dielectric stack has one or more surfaces that define a plurality of indentations recessed into a side of the dielectric stack at different vertical heights corresponding to the second plurality of layers. A capacitor structure lines the one or more surfaces of the dielectric stack. The capacitor structure includes conductive electrodes separated by a capacitor dielectric.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate having a first top surface disposed at a first height, a second top surface disposed at a second height that is less than the first height, and a connecting surface extending from the first top surface to the second top surface. A first source/drain region is disposed along the first top surface of the substrate. A second source/drain region is disposed along the second top surface of the substrate and is laterally separated from the first source/drain region by a channel region of the substrate. A gate structure is arranged between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The gate structure extends from over the first top surface of the substrate to over the connecting surface of the substrate. The gate structure also extends below the first top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate having a first pair of opposing sidewalls that define a trench. The trench extends into a front-side surface of the substrate. A first source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A second source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A gate structure is disposed within the trench and is arranged laterally between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The gate structure extends along the first pair of opposing sidewalls to an upper surface of the substrate. A bottom surface of the gate structure is disposed below a bottom surface of the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and forming method thereof are provided. A substrate includes a first region, a second region, and a boundary region defined between the first region and the second region. An isolation structure is disposed in the boundary region. An upper surface of the isolation structure has a stepped profile. A first boundary dielectric layer and a second boundary dielectric layer are disposed over the isolation structure. The first boundary dielectric layer is substantially conformal with respect to the stepped profile of the isolation structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a waveguide and a heater structure. The waveguide is disposed on a substrate and comprises an active region that extends continuously along a first distance. The heater structure overlies the waveguide. The heater structure comprises a conductive structure over the active region and a vertical structure disposed between the conductive structure and the substrate. The vertical structure comprises a conductive upper vertical segment and a lower vertical segment. The conductive structure and the conductive upper vertical segment continuously laterally extend across a second distance that is greater than or equal to the first distance. The first distance is greater than a width of the conductive structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device having radiation-sensing regions separated by trench isolation structures. The semiconductor structure includes a first trench fill structure on a substrate and a second trench fill structure on the substrate. The first trench fill structure has a first width and a convex bottom surface. The second trench fill structure has a concave bottom surface and a second width greater than the first width.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a display device. The display device includes an isolation structure disposed over a reflector electrode, an additional electrode disposed over the isolation structure, and an optical emitter structure disposed over the additional electrode. A via structure includes a lower horizontal segment disposed on the reflector electrode, a vertical segment extending along a sidewall of the isolation structure, and an upper horizontal segment disposed over the isolation structure. The upper horizontal segment is connected to the lower horizontal segment by the vertical segment.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and method of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device includes a substrate that includes a memory region and a peripheral region, a transistor including a metal gate located in the peripheral region, a composite dielectric film structure located over the metal gate of the transistor, the composite dielectric film structure including a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, where the second dielectric layer has a greater density than a density of the first dielectric layer, and at least one memory cell located in the memory region. The composite dielectric film structure provides enhanced protection of the metal gate against etching damage and thereby improves device performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor. The image sensor includes a substrate and a photodetector in the substrate. The image sensor further includes an absorption enhancement structure. The absorption enhancement structure is defined by a substrate depression along a first side of the substrate. The substrate depression is defined by a first plurality of sidewalls that slope toward a first common point and by a second plurality of sidewalls that slope toward a second common point. The first plurality of sidewalls extend over the second plurality of sidewalls.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip (IC) including a conductive structure disposed within a dielectric structure along a first side of a semiconductor substrate, an insulating structure disposed along inner sidewalls of the semiconductor substrate, the inner sidewalls of the semiconductor substrate extending through the semiconductor substrate, a blocking layer disposed along inner sidewalls of the insulating structure, and a through-substrate via (TSV) comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from a second side of the semiconductor substrate to a horizontally-extending surface of the insulating structure that protrudes outward from the inner sidewalls of the insulating structure, the second portion extending from the first portion to the conductive structure and has a maximum width less than that of the first portion.