Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a first passivation layer over the substrate; a second passivation layer over the first passivation layer; and a magnetic core in the second passivation layer; wherein the magnetic core includes a first magnetic material layer and a second magnetic material layer over the first magnetic material layer, the first magnetic material layer and the second magnetic material layer are separated by a high resistance isolation layer, and the high resistance isolation layer has a resistivity greater than about 1.3 ohm-cm.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.

Abstract: A structure and a method of forming are provided. The structure includes a first dielectric layer overlying a first substrate. A first connection pad is disposed in a top surface of the first dielectric layer and contacts a first redistribution line. A first dummy pad is disposed in the top surface of the first dielectric layer, the first dummy pad contacting the first redistribution line. A second dielectric layer overlies a second substrate. A second connection pad and a second dummy pad are disposed in the top surface of the second dielectric layer, the second connection pad bonded to the first connection pad, and the first dummy pad positioned in a manner that is offset from the second dummy pad so that the first dummy pad and the second dummy pad do not contact each other.

Abstract: A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material.

Abstract: A memory cell with an etch stop layer is provided. The memory cell comprises a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A switching dielectric is disposed over the bottom electrode and having a variable resistance. A top electrode is disposed over the switching dielectric. A sidewall spacer layer extends upwardly along sidewalls of the bottom electrode, the switching dielectric, and the top electrode. A lower etch stop layer is disposed over the lower dielectric layer and lining an outer sidewall of the sidewall spacer layer. The lower etch stop layer is made of a material different from the sidewall spacer layer and protects the top electrode from damaging during manufacturing processes. A method for manufacturing the memory cell is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a first passivation layer over the substrate; a second passivation layer over the first passivation layer; and a magnetic core in the second passivation layer; wherein the magnetic core includes a first magnetic material layer and a second magnetic material layer over the first magnetic material layer, the first magnetic material layer and the second magnetic material layer are separated by a high resistance isolation layer, and the high resistance isolation layer has a resistivity greater than about 1.3 ohm-cm.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate arranged over a back end of line (BEOL) metallization stack, and including a scribe line opening; a conductive pad having an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the conductive pad including an upper conductive region and a lower conductive region, the upper conductive region being confined to the scribe line opening substantially from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a bottom of the scribe line opening, and the lower conductive region protruding downward from the upper conductive region, through the BEOL metallization stack; a passivation layer arranged over the semiconductor substrate; and an array of pixel sensors arranged in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the conductive pad.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of alignment marks for a non-STI CMOS image sensor is introduced. In some embodiments, zero layer alignment marks and active are alignment marks may be simultaneously formed on a wafer. A substrate of the wafer may be patterned to form one or more recesses in the substrate. The recesses may be filled with a dielectric material using, for example, a field oxidation method and/or suitable deposition methods. Structures formed by the above process may correspond to elements of the zero layer alignment marks and/or to elements the active area alignment marks.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes providing a first wafer having a plurality of first dummy pads exposed along a first surface of the first wafer. The first dummy pads contact a first metallization layer of the first water. The method also includes providing a second wafer having a plurality of second dummy pads exposed along a first surface of the second wafer. The second dummy pads contact a second metallization layer of the second wafer. The method also includes bonding the first wafer to the second wafer in a manner that the first surface of the first wafer contacts the first surface of the second wafer and the plurality of first dummy pads are interleaved with the plurality of second dummy pads but do not contact the plurality of second dummy pads.

Abstract: A memory device includes a dielectric structure, a tungsten plug, a bottom electrode, a resistance switching element and a top electrode. The dielectric structure has an opening. The tungsten plug is embedded in the opening of the dielectric structure. The bottom electrode extends along top surfaces of the dielectric structure and the tungsten plug. The resistance switching element is present over the bottom electrode. The top electrode is present over the resistance switching element.

Abstract: A memory device includes a dielectric structure, a tungsten plug, a bottom electrode, a resistance switching element and a top electrode. The dielectric structure has an opening. The tungsten plug is embedded in the opening of the dielectric structure. The bottom electrode extends along top surfaces of the dielectric structure and the tungsten plug. The resistance switching element is present over the bottom electrode. The top electrode is present over the resistance switching element.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method to simplify the scribe line opening filling processes, and to further improve the surface uniformity of the conductive pad fabrication process. A passivation layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a scribe line opening is formed through the passivation layer and the semiconductor substrate. To fill the scribe line opening, a first dielectric layer is formed within the scribe line opening over the conductive pad and extending over the passivation layer. The first dielectric layer is formed by a selective deposition process such that the first dielectric layer is formed on the conductive pad at a deposition rate greater than that formed on the passivation layer.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method to simplify the scribe line opening filling processes, and to further improve the surface uniformity of the conductive pad fabrication process. A passivation layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a scribe line opening is formed through the passivation layer and the semiconductor substrate. To fill the scribe line opening, a first dielectric layer is formed within the scribe line opening over the conductive pad and extending over the passivation layer. The first dielectric layer is formed by a selective deposition process such that the first dielectric layer is formed on the conductive pad at a deposition rate greater than that formed on the passivation layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of bonding a first substrate and a second substrate are provided. In an embodiment a first wafer chuck has a first curved surface and a second wafer chuck has a second curved surface. A first wafer is placed on the first wafer chuck and a second wafer is placed on a second wafer chuck, such that both the first wafer and the second wafer are pre-warped prior to bonding. Once the first wafer and the second wafer have been pre-warped, the first wafer and the second wafer are bonded together.

Abstract: A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material.

Abstract: Methods for improving hybrid bond yield for semiconductor wafers forming 3DIC devices includes first and second wafers having dummy and main metal deposited and patterned during BEOL processing. Metal of the dummy metal pattern occupies from about 40% to about 90% of the surface area of any given dummy metal pattern region. High dummy metal surface coverage, in conjunction with utilization of slotted conductive pads, allows for improved planarization of wafer surfaces presented for hybrid bonding. Planarized wafers exhibit minimum topographic differentials corresponding to step height differences of less than about 400 ?. Planarized first and second wafers are aligned and subsequently hybrid bonded with application of heat and pressure; dielectric-to-dielectric, RDL-to-RDL. Lithography controls to realize WEE from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm may be employed to promote topographic uniformity at wafer edges.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductive substrate and an interconnect structure over the semiconductive substrate. The semiconductor structure also comprises a bond pad in the semiconductive substrate and coupled to the metal layer. The bond pad comprises two conductive layers.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, image sensors, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a high dielectric constant (k) insulating material disposed over a workpiece, the high k insulating material having a dielectric constant of greater than about 3.9. A barrier layer is disposed over the high k insulating material. A buffer oxide layer including a porous oxide film is disposed between the high k insulating material and the barrier layer. The porous oxide film has a first porosity, and the barrier layer or the high k insulating material has a second porosity. The first porosity is greater than the second porosity.

Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor having a passivation layer is provided. The CMOS image sensor includes a sensing device substrate. Isolation structures are positioned within trenches of the sensing device substrate. The isolation structures are arranged along opposing sides of a plurality of image sensing devices. The CMOS image sensor also includes a passivation layer. The passivation layer includes passivation sidewalls arranged along the sidewalls of the isolation structures. A metallic grid overlies the passivation layer. The metallic grid includes a metal framework surrounding openings overlying the plurality of image sensing devices. The passivation layer further includes passivation section underlying the openings.