Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, transistors having metal gates formed in the first region, and at least one capacitor formed in the second region. The capacitor includes a top electrode having at least one stopping structure formed in the top electrode, the at least one stopping structure being of a different material from the top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a dielectric layer interposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A device and a method for forming a metal silicide is presented. A device, which includes a gate region, a source region, and a drain region, is formed on a substrate. A metal is disposed on the substrate, followed by a first anneal, forming a metal silicide on at least one of the gate region, the source region, and the drain region. The unreacted metal is removed from the substrate. The metal silicide is implanted with atoms. The implant is followed by a super anneal of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an array of unit metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Each of the unit MOS devices includes an active region laid out in a row direction and a gate electrode laid out in a column direction. The semiconductor structure further includes a first unit MOS device in the array and a second unit MOS device in the array, wherein active regions of the first and the second unit MOS devices have different conductivity types.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first gate dielectric is planar; and a first gate electrode over the first gate dielectric. The second MOS device includes a second gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate electrode over the second gate dielectric. The second gate electrode has a height greater than a height of the first gate electrode. The second gate dielectric includes a planar portion underlying the second gate electrode, and sidewall portions extending on sidewalls of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A method for defining a layout of 3-D devices, such as a finFET, is provided. The method includes determining an area required by a desired 3-D device and designing a circuit using planar devices having an equivalent area. The planar device corresponding to the desired 3-D device is used to layout a circuit design, thereby allowing circuit and layout designers to work at a higher level without the need to specify each individual fin or 3-D structure. Thereafter, the planar design may be converted to a 3-D design by replacing planar active areas with 3-D devices occupying an equivalent area.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first lattice constant; a gate dielectric on the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate; and a stressor having at least a portion in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate electrode. The stressor has a tilted sidewall on a side adjacent the gate electrode. The stressor includes a first stressor layer having a second lattice constant substantially different from the first lattice constant; and a second stressor layer on the first stressor layer, wherein the second stressor has a third lattice constant substantially different from the first and the second lattice constants.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an array of unit metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Each of the unit MOS devices includes an active region laid out in a row direction and a gate electrode laid out in a column direction. The semiconductor structure further includes a first unit MOS device in the array and a second unit MOS device in the array, wherein active regions of the first and the second unit MOS devices have different conductivity types.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for generating a user profile of a mobile device user are disclosed. One method includes tracking user stays of the user over time, wherein the user stays include at least one location, and generating the user profile based at least in part on at least one of an arrival time, a time duration or a frequency of visits of the user at each of the user stays. Another method includes determining a current state of a mobile device user. The method includes tracking locations of user stays of the mobile device user over time, and determining a current state of a mobile device user based on user stays within a predetermined time of a present time, wherein the predetermined time is dependent upon an application of the user device or an observed behavior of a user of the user device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for tracking points of interest of a user of a mobile device are disclosed. One method includes determining points of interest of a user of a mobile device. The method includes obtaining user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes spatial information about the user, and determining at least one point of interest of the user based on the user-related information. Another embodiment includes an apparatus for determining points of interest of a user. For one embodiment, the apparatus is a mobile device. The mobile device is operative to obtain user-related information, wherein the user-related information comprising spatial information about the user, and the mobile device is operative to determine at least one point of interest of the user based on the user-related information.

Abstract: A method of removing a silicon nitride or a nitride-based bottom etch stop layer in a copper damascene structure by etching the bottom etch stop layer is disclosed, with the method using a high density, high radical concentration plasma containing fluorine and oxygen to minimize back sputtering of copper underlying the bottom etch stop layer and surface roughening of the low-k interlayer dielectric caused by the plasma.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with local interconnects is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a first gate line structure and a second gate line structure disposed on a substrate and substantially collinear. A first pair of source/drain regions is formed in the substrate on both sides of the first gate line structure and a second pair of source/drain regions is formed in the substrate on both sides of the second gate line structure. A pair of conductive lines is disposed on the substrate on both sides of the first gate line structure and the second gate line structure, such that each conductive line is connected to one of the first pair of source/drain regions and one of the second pair of source/drain regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, transistors having metal gates formed in the first region, an isolation structure formed in the second region, at least one junction device formed proximate the isolation structure in the second region, and a stopping structure formed overlying the isolation structure in the second region.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing a substrate; forming a transistor in the substrate, the transistor having a dummy gate; forming a dielectric layer over the substrate and transistor; forming a contact feature in the dielectric layer; and after forming the contact feature, replacing the dummy gate of the transistor with a metal gate. An exemplary contact feature is a dual contact.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100), comprising an insulative housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a base portion (11) and a mating portion (12) in front of the base portion, the mating portion defines a plurality of receiving channels (124) extending along a mating direction. The contacts are received in the insulative housing, and inserted into the receiving channels along a front-to-back direction. Each contact has a soldering portion (21) extending through the receiving channel and assembled to the base portion of the insulative housing, a retaining portion (23) located in front of the soldering portion and held in the receiving channel, and a contacting portion (24) received in the mating portion of the insulative housing, the retaining portion has a higher barb (231) in the front and a lower barb (232) on a rear section thereof on both sides.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer adjacent to a sidewall of the gate stack; thinning the gate spacer; and forming a secondary gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate spacer after the step of thinning the gate spacer.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing a substrate; forming a transistor in the substrate, the transistor having a dummy gate; forming a dielectric layer over the substrate and transistor; forming a contact feature in the dielectric layer; and after forming the contact feature, replacing the dummy gate of the transistor with a metal gate. An exemplary contact feature is a dual contact.

Abstract: A method of reducing impurities in a high-k dielectric layer comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided. A high-k dielectric layer having impurities is formed over the substrate. The high-k dielectric layer being formed by an MOCVD or an ALCVD process. The high-k dielectric layer is annealed to reduce the impurities within the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer adjacent to a sidewall of the gate stack; thinning the gate spacer; and forming a secondary gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate spacer after the step of thinning the gate spacer.