Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over a first portion of a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a laminated dielectric layer over at least a portion of a top surface of the gate stack. The laminated dielectric layer includes at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer. The first sublayer is formed of a material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of a material used to form the second sublayer and the material used to form the second sublayer has an etch selectivity higher than an etch selectivity of the material used to form the first sublayer.

Abstract: A method for defect inspection includes receiving a substrate having a plurality of patterns; obtaining a gray scale image of the substrate, wherein the gray scale image includes a plurality of regions, and each of the regions has a gray scale value; comparing the gray scale value of each region to a gray scale references to define a first group, a second group and an Nth group, wherein each of the first group, the second group and the Nth group has at least a region; performing a calculation to obtain a score; and when the score is greater than a value, the substrate is determined to have an ESD defect, and when the score is less than the value, the substrate is determined to be free of the ESD defect.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, a gate structure over the channel region of the active region, a source/drain contact over the source/drain region, a dielectric feature over the gate structure and including a lower portion adjacent the gate structure and an upper portion away from the gate structure, and an air gap disposed between the gate structure and the source/drain contact. A first width of the upper portion of the dielectric feature along a first direction is greater than a second width of the lower portion of the dielectric feature along the first direction. The air gap is disposed below the upper portion of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: An IC device includes first through third rows of fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs), wherein the second row is between and adjacent to each of the first and third rows, the FinFETs of the first row are one of an n-type or p-type, the FinFETs of the second and third rows are the other of the n-type or p-type, the FinFETs of the first and third rows include a first total number of fins, and the FinFETs of the second row include a second total number of fins one greater or fewer than the first total number of fins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for testing a chip, wherein the device includes a testing board and an interposer. The testing board has a plurality of pads for providing a plurality of test signals. The interposer board includes a plurality of passive components, and at least one of the passive components is coupled between a supply voltage and a ground voltage, and the supply voltage and the ground voltage are received from a power pad and a ground pad of the plurality of pads of the testing board, respectively; wherein the chip is positioned in the device, the chip receives the test signals including the supply voltage and the ground voltage from the power pad and the ground pad of the testing board, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for testing a chip, wherein the device includes a testing board and an interposer. The testing board has a plurality of pads for providing a plurality of test signals. The interposer board includes a plurality of passive components, and at least one of the passive components is coupled between a supply voltage and a ground voltage, and the supply voltage and the ground voltage are received from a power pad and a ground pad of the plurality of pads of the testing board, respectively; wherein the chip is positioned in the device, the chip receives the test signals including the supply voltage and the ground voltage from the power pad and the ground pad of the testing board, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for testing a chip, wherein the device includes a testing board and an interposer. The testing board has a plurality of pads for providing a plurality of test signals. The interposer board includes a plurality of passive components, and at least one of the passive components is coupled between a supply voltage and a ground voltage, and the supply voltage and the ground voltage are received from a power pad and a ground pad of the plurality of pads of the testing board, respectively; wherein the chip is positioned in the device, the chip receives the test signals including the supply voltage and the ground voltage from the power pad and the ground pad of the testing board, respectively.

Abstract: A microelectronic system includes a base and a semiconductor package mounted on the base. The base includes an internal conductive layer and a build-up layer on the internal conductive layer. The build-up layer includes a top conductive layer. A plurality of microvias is disposed in the build-up layer to electrically connect the top conductive layer with the internal conductive layer. A power/ground ball pad array is disposed in the top conductive layer. The power/ground ball pad array includes power ball pads and ground ball pads arranged in an array with a fixed ball pad pitch P, and the power/ground ball pad array includes a 4-ball pad unit area comprised of only one ground ball pad and three power ball pads, or comprised of only one power ball pad and three ground ball pads. The 4-ball pad unit area has a rectangular shape and a dimension of about 2P×2P.

Abstract: A memory module, comprising: a first pin, arranged to receive a first signal; a second pin, arranged to receive a second signal; a first conducting path, having a first end coupled to the first pin; at least one memory chip, coupled to the first conducting path for receiving the first signal; a predetermined resistor, having a first terminal coupled to a second end of the first conducting path; and a second conducting path, having a first end coupled to second pin for conducting the second to a second terminal of the predetermined resistor; wherein the first signal and the second are synchronous and configured to be a differential signal, for enabling a selected memory chip from the at least one memory chip to be accessed.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip package assembly includes a package substrate having a chip mounting surface; a plurality of solder pads disposed on the chip mounting surface; a first dummy pad and a second dummy pad spaced apart from the first dummy pad disposed on the chip mounting surface; a solder mask on the chip mounting surface and partially covering the solder pads, the first dummy pad, and the second dummy pad; a chip package mounted on the chip mounting surface and electrically connected to the package substrate through a plurality of solder balls on respective said solder pads; a discrete device having a first terminal and a second terminal disposed between the chip package and the package substrate; a first solder connecting the first terminal with the first dummy pad and the chip package; and a second solder connecting the second terminal with the second dummy pad and the chip package.

Abstract: A microelectronic system includes a base and a semiconductor package mounted on the base. The base includes an internal conductive layer and a build-up layer on the internal conductive layer. The build-up layer includes a top conductive layer. A plurality of microvias is disposed in the build-up layer to electrically connect the top conductive layer with the internal conductive layer. A power/ground ball pad array is disposed in the top conductive layer. The power/ground ball pad array includes power ball pads and ground ball pads arranged in an array with a fixed ball pad pitch P, and the power/ground ball pad array includes a 4-ball pad unit area comprised of only one ground ball pad and three power ball pads, or comprised of only one power ball pad and three ground ball pads. The 4-ball pad unit area has a rectangular shape and a dimension of about 2P×2P.

Abstract: A microelectronic system includes a printed circuit board and a semiconductor package mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a laminated core having an internal conductive layer and a build-up layer. The build-up layer includes a top conductive layer. Microvias are disposed in the build-up layer to connect the top conductive layer with the internal conductive layer. A power/ground ball pad array is disposed in the top conductive layer. The power/ground ball pad array includes power ball pads and ground ball pads arranged in an array with a fixed ball pad pitch P. The power/ground ball pad array includes a 4-ball pad unit area comprised of only one ground ball pad and three power ball pads, or comprised of only one power ball pad and three ground ball pads. The 4-ball pad unit area has a rectangular shape and a dimension of about 2P×2P.

Abstract: A quick connector includes a valve body and a rotatable ring fitting over the valve body. The rotatable ring is rotatable with respect to the valve body. When a sealing member of the rotatable ring is rotated to a full open position, an exit end and an entrance end of the valve body are both encompassed by an opening of the sealing member and communicating with each other. When the sealing member is rotated from the full open position to a full close position, one of the exit end and the entrance end is moved out of the opening and blocked by the sealing member, so that the entrance end and the exit end do not communicate with each other.

Abstract: A quick connector includes a valve body and a rotatable ring fitting over the valve body. The rotatable ring is rotatable with respect to the valve body. When a sealing member of the rotatable ring is rotated to a full open position, an exit end and an entrance end of the valve body are both encompassed by an opening of the sealing member and communicating with each other. When the sealing member is rotated from the full open position to a full close position, one of the exit end and the entrance end is moved out of the opening and blocked by the sealing member, so that the entrance end and the exit end do not communicate with each other.

Abstract: A hybrid system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a main surface, a package-on-package (PoP) having a bottom package mounted on the main surface of the PCB and a top package stacked on the bottom package, and a multi-chip package (MCP) on the main surface of the PCB. The bottom package includes a system-on-chip (SoC) and the top package includes at least one on-package dynamic random access memory (DRAM) die accessible to the SoC. The MCP includes at least one on-board DRAM die accessible to the SoC via a PCB trace.

Abstract: A printed circuit board for mobile platforms includes a core substrate having a first side, a ground plane covering on the first side, a first insulating layer covering the ground plane, and a plurality of first signal traces and a plurality of first ground traces, alternatively arranged on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer connecting to the first insulating layer, and a plurality of second signal traces separated from each other, disposed on the second insulating layer, wherein the second signal traces are disposed directly on spaces between the first signal traces and the first ground traces adjacent thereto, wherein coverage of the ground plane is corresponding to disposition of the first signal trace, the first ground trace, the second signal trace and the second ground trace.

Abstract: A microelectronic system includes a printed circuit board and a semiconductor package mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a laminated core having an internal conductive layer and a build-up layer. The build-up layer includes a top conductive layer. Microvias are disposed in the build-up layer to connect the top conductive layer with the internal conductive layer. A power/ground ball pad array is disposed in the top conductive layer. The power/ground ball pad array includes power ball pads and ground ball pads arranged in an array with a fixed ball pad pitch P. The power/ground ball pad array includes a 4-ball pad unit area comprised of only one ground ball pad and three power ball pads, or comprised of only one power ball pad and three ground ball pads. The 4-ball pad unit area has a rectangular shape and a dimension of about 2P×2P.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a laminated core including at least an internal conductive layer, and a build-up layer on the laminated core. The build-up layer includes a top conductive layer. A plurality of microvias is disposed in the build-up layer to electrically connect the top conductive layer with the internal conductive layer. A power/ground ball pad array is disposed in the top conductive layer. The power/ground ball pad array includes power ball pads and ground ball pads arranged in an array with a fixed ball pad pitch P. The power/ground ball pad array includes a 4-ball pad unit area that is comprised of only one ground ball pad and three power ball pads, or comprised of only one power ball pad and three ground ball pads. The 4-ball pad unit area has a rectangular shape and a dimension of about 2P×2P.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip package assembly includes a package substrate having a chip mounting surface; a plurality of solder pads disposed on the chip mounting surface; a first dummy pad and a second dummy pad spaced apart from the first dummy pad disposed on the chip mounting surface; a solder mask on the chip mounting surface and partially covering the solder pads, the first dummy pad, and the second dummy pad; a chip package mounted on the chip mounting surface and electrically connected to the package substrate through a plurality of solder balls on respective said solder pads; a discrete device having a first terminal and a second terminal disposed between the chip package and the package substrate; a first solder connecting the first terminal with the first dummy pad and the chip package; and a second solder connecting the second terminal with the second dummy pad and the chip package.