Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece including a first fin-shaped structure and a second fin-shaped structure over a substrate, depositing a nitride liner over the substrate and sidewalls of the first fin-shaped structure and the second fin-shaped structure, forming an isolation feature over the nitride liner and between the first fin-shaped structure and the second fin-shaped structure, epitaxially growing a cap layer on exposed surfaces of the first fin-shaped structure and the second fin-shaped structure and above the nitride liner, crystalizing the cap layer, and forming a first source/drain feature over a first source/drain region of the first fin-shaped structure and a second source/drain feature over a second source/drain region of the second fin-shaped structure.

Abstract: A cantilever for gas flow direction control configured to support an electrode housing bowl in an associated etch process chamber. The cantilever may have a cross-section that is circular, elliptical, or airfoil shaped. The shape of the cantilever induces the flow of gas and etch products within the chamber around the cantilever, reducing turbulence around the edge of a wafer.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a high aspect ratio via for coupling a top electrode of a vertically oriented component to the substrate, where the top electrode of the component is coupled to the via by a conductive bridge, and where the bottom electrode of the component is coupled to substrate. Some embodiments provide for mounting the component by a component wafer and separating the components while mounted to the substrate. Some embodiments provide for mounting individual components to the substrate.

Abstract: An interconnect fabrication method is disclosed herein that utilizes a disposable etch stop hard mask over a gate structure during source/drain contact formation and replaces the disposable etch stop hard mask with a dielectric feature (in some embodiments, dielectric layers having a lower dielectric constant than a dielectric constant of dielectric layers of the disposable etch stop hard mask) before gate contact formation. An exemplary device includes a contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a first sidewall CESL portion and a second sidewall CESL portion separated by a spacing and a dielectric feature disposed over a gate structure, where the dielectric feature and the gate structure fill the spacing between the first sidewall CESL portion and the second sidewall CESL portion. The dielectric feature includes a bulk dielectric over a dielectric liner. The dielectric liner separates the bulk dielectric from the gate structure and the CESL.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing the semiconductor device and tools are disclosed herein. Some methods include providing an electrostatic chuck and placing an edge ring adjacent to the electrostatic chuck. The electrostatic chuck includes a first electrode to generate a sheath at a first distance over the electrostatic chuck. The edge ring includes a coil and a second electrode to generate an electric field control to maintain a portion of the sheath over the edge ring in a coplanar orientation with the portion of the sheath over the electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes nanostructures formed over a substrate. The structure also includes a gate structure formed over and around the nanostructures. The structure also includes a spacer layer formed over a sidewall of the gate structure over the nanostructures. The structure also includes a source/drain epitaxial structure formed adjacent to the spacer layer. The structure also includes a contact structure formed over the source/drain epitaxial structure with an air spacer formed between the spacer layer and the contact structure.

Abstract: A computing system with graphics processor boosting is shown. The computing system has a graphics processing unit controlling a display, a code memory storing instructions, and a processor operating the graphics processing unit to control the display. The processor is configured to execute the instructions retrieved from the code memory to implement a plurality of graphics processor boosting modules for the graphics processing unit, and implement an activation controller that controls activation of the different graphics processor boosting modules through different configuration interfaces with balances between the different graphics processor boosting modules.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a via in contact with a conductive line and extending through a first etch stop layer, a first inter-metal dielectric layer, and a second etch stop layer. The second etch stop layer is disposed over the first inter-metal dielectric layer, and the first inter-metal dielectric layer is disposed over the first etch stop layer. The semiconductor structure also includes a trench in contact with the via and extending through an insulating layer and a second inter-metal dielectric layer. The second inter-metal dielectric layer is disposed over the insulating layer which is disposed over the second etch stop layer.

Abstract: A method for performing automatic activation control regarding VRS and associated apparatus are provided. The method applicable to a processing circuit may include: utilizing a rendering classifier to intercept at least one set of original graphic commands on a command path to obtain at least one rendering property, for classifying rendering corresponding to the at least one set of original graphic commands; utilizing the rendering classifier to classify the rendering into at least one predetermined rendering type among multiple predetermined rendering types according to the at least one rendering property, in order to determine at least one shading rate corresponding to the at least one predetermined rendering type for the rendering; and utilizing a shading rate controller to control the processing circuit to selectively activate a VRS function of the processing circuit, for rendering at the at least one shading rate corresponding to the at least one predetermined rendering type.

Abstract: A microdevice including a first pedestal, a second pedestal parallel to the first pedestal, the second pedestal comprising a first protrusion on its top surface. The device also including a conformal dielectric layer and a metal structure formed over a portion of the conformal dielectric layer. The metal structure including a first portion surrounding the first protrusion, a second portion parallel to the top surface of the polysilicon pedestal, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: Manufacturing method of semiconductor package includes following steps. Bottom package is provided. The bottom package includes a die and a redistribution structure electrically connected to die. A first top package and a second top package are disposed on a surface of the redistribution structure further away from the die. An underfill is formed into the space between the first and second top packages and between the first and second top packages and the bottom package. The underfill covers at least a side surface of the first top package and a side surface of the second top package. A hole is opened in the underfill within an area overlapping with the die between the side surface of the first top package and the side surface of the second top package. A thermally conductive block is formed in the hole by filling the hole with a thermally conductive material.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form a strip including a first semiconductor material, forming an isolation region along a sidewall of the strip, an upper portion of the strip extending above the isolation region, forming a dummy structure along sidewalls and a top surface of the upper portion of the strip, performing a first etching process on an exposed portion of the upper portion of the strip to form a first recess, the exposed portion of the strip being exposed by the dummy structure, after performing the first etching process, reshaping the first recess to have a V-shaped bottom surface using a second etching process, wherein the second etching process is selective to first crystalline planes having a first orientation relative to second crystalline planes having a second orientation, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the reshaped first recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial region having a front side and a backside. The semiconductor structure includes an amorphous layer formed over the backside of the epitaxial region, wherein the amorphous layer includes silicon. The semiconductor structure includes a first silicide layer formed over the amorphous layer. The semiconductor structure includes a first metal contact formed over the first silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor interconnect structure includes a conductive line electrically coupled to an active semiconductor device, a first etch stop layer formed over the conductive line, a first dielectric layer formed over the first etch stop layer, a second etch stop layer formed over the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer formed over the second etch stop layer, and an interconnect structure electrically coupled to the via and extending through the first etch stop layer, the first dielectric layer, the second etch stop layer, and the second dielectric layer. The interconnect structure includes a via extending through the first etch stop layer, the second etch stop layer, and the first dielectric layer and a trench extending through the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flash memory controller configured to access a flash memory module. The flash memory controller includes a transmission interface circuit, a buffer memory and a microprocessor. The transmission interface circuit is coupled to a host device, and the transmission interface circuit includes a time queue, at least one virtual queue and a command processing circuit, wherein the command processing circuit is configured to receive a plurality commands from a host device, write information of the plurality of commands into the time queue in sequence, and write the information of at least part of the plurality of commands into the at least one virtual queue. The buffer memory is configured to store the plurality of commands. The microprocessor is configured to selectively read the time queue or the at least one virtual queue to read the information of the plurality of commands.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming semiconductor fins on a substrate. A first dummy gate is formed over the semiconductor fins. A recess is formed in the first dummy gate, and the recess is disposed between the semiconductor fins. A dummy fin material is formed in the recess. A portion of the dummy fin material is removed to expose an upper surface of the first dummy gate and to form a dummy fin. A second dummy gate is formed on the exposed upper surface of the first dummy gate.

Abstract: A transistor includes a gate structure that has a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first gate dielectric layer contains a first type of dielectric material that has a first dielectric constant. The second gate dielectric layer is disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer contains a second type of dielectric material that has a second dielectric constant. The second dielectric constant is greater than the first dielectric constant. The first dielectric constant and the second dielectric constant are each greater than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide.

Abstract: Example methods and systems to identify a suspicious cytology specimen including target cells have been disclosed. One example method includes obtaining a first image associated with a first region of the cytology specimen through a first object lens, obtaining a second set of one or more images associated with a first subregion of the first region through a second object lens, identifying a first number of target cells and determining whether the first number is greater than a threshold number. In response that the first number is greater than the threshold number, the example method prompts an alert. Otherwise, the example method further includes obtaining a third set of one or more images associated with a second subregion through the second object lens and identifying a second number of the target cells associated with the second subregion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first conductive structure having sidewalls and a bottom surface, the first conductive structure extending through one or more isolation layers formed on a substrate; and an insulation layer disposed between at least one of the sidewalls of the first conductive structure and respective sidewalls of the one or more isolation layers, wherein the first conductive structure is electrically coupled to a second conductive structure through at least the bottom surface.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography system detects debris travelling from an EUV generation chamber to a scanner. The photolithography system includes a detection light source and a sensor. The detection light source outputs a detection light across a path of travel of debris particles from the EUV generation chamber. The sensor senses debris particles by detecting interaction of the debris particles with the detection light.