Abstract: A method of manufacturing an IC structure includes forming a first plurality of fins extending in a first direction on a substrate, a second plurality of fins extending adjacent to the first plurality of fins, a third plurality of fins extending adjacent to the second plurality of fins, and a fourth plurality of fins extending adjacent to the third plurality of fins. Each fin of the first and fourth pluralities of fins includes one of an n-type or p-type fin, each fin of the second and third pluralities of fins includes the other of the n-type or p-type fin, each of the first and third pluralities of fins includes a first total number of fins, and each of the second and fourth pluralities of fins includes a second total number of fins fewer than the first total number of fins.

Abstract: A method of backlight control for a display panel is provided. The display panel is configured to display with a variable refresh rate in a plurality of frame periods each having a fixed period and a variable period. The method includes steps of: generating a first backlight control signal in the fixed period of a frame period; determining whether a liquid crystal (LC) transition time corresponding to the frame period ends before an end time of the variable period of the frame period; generating a second backlight control signal in the variable period of the frame period when the LC transition time ends before the end time of the variable period of the frame period; and generating a compensation backlight control signal in a next frame period according to a backlight duty cycle of the frame period.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive pattern on a substrate, a second conductive pattern above the first conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern above the first conductive pattern, all extending along a first direction. The first conductive pattern is electrically connected in parallel to the second conductive pattern and the third conductive pattern.

Abstract: Packaged semiconductor devices including high-thermal conductivity molding compounds and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first redistribution structure; a first die over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; a first through via over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; an insulation layer extending along the first redistribution structure, the first die, and the first through via; and an encapsulant over the insulation layer, the encapsulant surrounding portions of the first through via and the first die, the encapsulant including conductive fillers at a concentration ranging from 70% to about 95% by volume.

Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks, the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) includes: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in a group of cut patterns which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.

Abstract: A system (for generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement) includes a processor and memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the system generating the layout diagram including: placing, relative to a given one of masks in a multi-patterning context, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining that the first candidate location results in an intra-row non-circular group of a given row which violates a design rule, the intra-row non-circular group including first and second cut patterns which abut a same boundary of the given row, and a total number of cut patterns in the being an even number; and temporarily preventing placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a first conductive feature in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer; depositing a blocking film over and physically contacting the first conductive feature; depositing a first dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first IMD layer; depositing a second dielectric layer over and physically contacting the first dielectric layer; removing the blocking film; depositing an etch stop layer over any physically contacting the first conductive feature and the second dielectric layer; forming a second IMD layer over the etch stop layer; etching an opening in the second IMD layer and the etch stop layer to expose the first conductive feature; and forming a second conductive feature in the opening.

Abstract: A 3D IC package is provided. The 3D IC package includes: a first IC die comprising a first substrate at a back side of the first IC die; a second IC die stacked at the back side of the first IC die and facing the first substrate; a TSV through the first substrate and electrically connecting the first IC die and the second IC die, the TSV having a TSV cell including a TSV cell boundary surrounding the TSV; and a protection module fabricated in the first substrate, wherein the protection module is electrically connected to the TSV, and the protection module is within the TSV cell.

Abstract: a transistor and an interconnect structure disposed over the transistor. The interconnect structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, a dielectric feature disposed in the first ESL, an electrode disposed over the dielectric feature, and a second ESL disposed on the first ESL and the electrode.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes removing a portion of a dielectric layer to form a trench in the dielectric layer. The method includes forming a barrier layer in the trench. The method includes forming a seed layer in the trench and over the barrier layer. The seed layer is doped with manganese. The method includes annealing the seed layer in a first process gas including a first hydrogen gas. A volume ratio of the first hydrogen gas to the first process gas ranges from about 50% to about 100%, and the manganese diffuses from the seed layer to the barrier layer during the annealing of the seed layer in the first process gas.

Abstract: A method includes forming a package, which includes forming a plurality of redistribution lines over a carrier, and forming a thermal dissipation block over the carrier. The plurality of redistribution lines and the thermal dissipation block are formed by common processes. The thermal dissipation block has a first metal density, and the plurality of redistribution lines have a second metal density smaller than the first metal density. The method further includes forming a metal post over the carrier, placing a device die directly over the thermal dissipation block, and encapsulating the device die and the metal post in an encapsulant. The package is then de-bonded from the carrier.

Abstract: A layout design methodology is provided for a device that includes two or more identical structures. Each device can have a first die, a second die stacked over the first die and a third die stacked over the second die. The second die can include a first through-silicon via (TSV) and a first circuit, and the third die can include a second TSV and a second circuit. The first TSV and the second TSV can be linearly coextensive. The first and second circuit can each be a logic circuit having a comparator and counter used to generate die identifiers. The counters of respective device die can be connected in series between the dice. Each die can be manufactured using the same masks but retain unique logical identifiers. A given die in a stack of dice can thereby be addressed by a single path in a same die layout.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes heat dissipating structures that can be formed either in functional or non-functional areas of three-dimensional system on integrated chip structures. In some embodiments, the heat dissipating structures maintain an average operating temperature of memory dies or chips below about 90° C. For example, a structure includes a stack with chip layers, where each chip layer includes one or more chips and an edge portion. The structure further includes a thermal interface material disposed on the edge portion of each chip layer, a thermal interface material layer disposed over a top chip layer of the stack, and a heat sink over the thermal interface material layer.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a display equipment, a brightness compensation device, and a brightness compensation method. The brightness compensation device includes a variable refresh rate (VRR) detection circuit and a control circuit. The VRR detection circuit and the control circuit receive a video stream from a video source device, and the video stream includes a VRR video frame. The VRR detection circuit detects a blanking period of the VRR video frame and generates a detection result. The control circuit outputs the frame data of the VRR video frame to the display device during the valid data period of the VRR video frame. The control circuit repeatedly outputs the frame data of the VRR video frame to the display device during the blanking period of the VRR video frame according to the detection result until the blanking period ends.

Abstract: A transistor and an interconnect structure disposed over the transistor. The interconnect structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, a dielectric feature disposed in the first ESL, an electrode disposed over the dielectric feature, and a second ESL disposed on the first ESL and the electrode.

Abstract: A system for generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks (the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium), at least one processor, at least one memory and computer program code (for one or more programs) of the system being configured to cause the system to execute generating the layout diagram including: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in at least one of a non-circular group or a cyclic group which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.

Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks, the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) includes: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in at least one of a non-circular group or a cyclic group which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing, if there is a violation, placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.

Abstract: a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first dielectric feature disposed directly on the first conductive feature; a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the second conductive feature, a first conductive layer disposed on and in contact with the first dielectric feature, a second ESL disposed over the first conductive layer, a second dielectric layer disposed directly on the first ESL and the second ESL, a first via extending through the second dielectric layer and the second ESL to contact with the first conductive feature, and a second via extending through the second dielectric layer and the first ESL to contact with the second conductive feature.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor wafer, a second semiconductor wafer, a first interconnect structure, a first through substrate via, and an under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer. The first semiconductor wafer has a first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The second semiconductor wafer is coupled to the first semiconductor wafer, and is over the first semiconductor wafer. The second semiconductor wafer has a first device in a first side of the second semiconductor wafer. The first interconnect structure is on a second side of the first semiconductor wafer opposite from the first side of the first semiconductor wafer. The first interconnect structure includes an inductor below the first semiconductor wafer. The first through substrate via extends through the first semiconductor wafer. The first through substrate via electrically couples the inductor to at least the first device. The UBM layer is on a surface of the first interconnect structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a first interconnect within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate, and forming a second ILD layer over the first ILD layer. The second ILD layer is patterned to form an interconnect opening that exposes the first interconnect. A blocking layer is formed onto the first interconnect. A barrier layer is formed within the interconnect opening and the blocking layer is removed to expose the first interconnect. A second interconnect is formed within the interconnect opening.