Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a photodiode region disposed within a substrate having a first semiconductor material. A second semiconductor material is disposed on the substrate. A doped region is between the substrate and a part of the second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material includes a projection extending outward from a surface of the second semiconductor material and towards the photodiode region. The projection extends through the doped region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip. The image sensor integrated chip includes a photodiode region disposed within a substrate having a first semiconductor material region. A second semiconductor material region is disposed onto the substrate. A patterned doped layer is arranged between the substrate and the second semiconductor material region. The second semiconductor material region includes a sidewall connecting to a bottom surface of the second semiconductor material region. The sidewall extends through the patterned doped layer. A bottom surface of the second semiconductor material region is directly over the photodiode region.

Abstract: Depositing an oxide material on sidewalls of trenches between etching cycles allows narrower trenches to be etched to increased depths without causing over-etching of wider trenches. As a result, efficiency of a device including the trenches (e.g., a silicon photonics (SiPh) device or a pixel device, among other examples) is increased. For example, because light leakage and light scattering is reduced in an SiPh device, power is conserved at a transmission device that can decrease transmit power on account of the increased efficiency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of performing an etching process. The method includes generating a plasma within a plasma chamber in communication with a processing chamber. Ions from the plasma are accelerated toward a workpiece within the processing chamber to generate an ion beam. The ion beam performs an etching process that etches a material on the workpiece. A by-product from the etching process is moved to directly below one or more baffles within the processing chamber.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a conductive structure arranged within a substrate or a first dielectric layer. A first barrier layer is arranged on outermost sidewalls and a bottom surface of the conductive structure. A second barrier layer is arranged on outer surfaces of the first barrier layer. The second barrier layer separates the first barrier layer from the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is arranged over the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A via structure extends through the second dielectric layer, is arranged directly over topmost surfaces of the first and second barrier layers, and is electrically coupled to the conductive structure through the first and second barrier layers.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a conductive structure arranged within a substrate or a first dielectric layer. A first barrier layer is arranged on outermost sidewalls and a bottom surface of the conductive structure. A second barrier layer is arranged on outer surfaces of the first barrier layer. The second barrier layer separates the first barrier layer from the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is arranged over the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A via structure extends through the second dielectric layer, is arranged directly over topmost surfaces of the first and second barrier layers, and is electrically coupled to the conductive structure through the first and second barrier layers.

Abstract: An RRAM cell stack is formed over an opening in a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is sufficiently thick and the opening is sufficiently deep that an RRAM cell can be formed by a planarization process. The resulting RRAM cells may have a U-shaped profile. The RRAM cell area includes contributions from a bottom portion in which the RRAM cell layers are stacked parallel to the substrate and a side portion in which RRAM cell layers are stacked roughly perpendicular to the substrate. The combined side and bottom portions of the curved RRAM cell provide an increased area in comparison to a planar cell stack. The increased area lowers forming and set voltages for the RRAM cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip. The image sensor integrated chip includes a photodiode region disposed within a substrate having a first semiconductor material region. A second semiconductor material region is disposed onto the substrate. A patterned doped layer is arranged between the substrate and the second semiconductor material region. The second semiconductor material region includes a sidewall connecting to a bottom surface of the second semiconductor material region. The sidewall extends through the patterned doped layer. A bottom surface of the second semiconductor material region is directly over the photodiode region.

Abstract: A memory device including a first array of rail structures that extend along a first horizontal direction, in which each of the rail structures are formed to serve as a bottom electrode, and a second array of rail structures that laterally extend along a second horizontal direction and are laterally spaced apart along the first horizontal direction. Each of the rail structures in the second array are formed to server as a top electrode. The memory device also includes a continuous dielectric memory layer located between the first array of rail structures and the second array of rail structures. The continuous dielectric memory layer providing protection from current leakage between the rail structures of the first array and the rail structures of the second array.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a conductive structure arranged within a substrate or a first dielectric layer. A first barrier layer is arranged on outermost sidewalls and a bottom surface of the conductive structure. A second barrier layer is arranged on outer surfaces of the first barrier layer. The second barrier layer separates the first barrier layer from the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is arranged over the substrate or the first dielectric layer. A via structure extends through the second dielectric layer, is arranged directly over topmost surfaces of the first and second barrier layers, and is electrically coupled to the conductive structure through the first and second barrier layers.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an etching apparatus. The etching apparatus includes a substrate holder disposed within a processing chamber and having a workpiece reception surface configured to hold a workpiece. A lower surface of the processing chamber has a first region that is directly below the workpiece reception surface and that is configured to receive a byproduct from an etching process. A baffle extends outward from a sidewall of the processing chamber at a vertical position between the substrate holder and the lower surface of the processing chamber. The baffle covers a second region of the lower surface. A byproduct redistributor is configured to move the byproduct from the first region of the lower surface to the second region of the lower surface that is directly below the baffle.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an ion beam etching apparatus. The ion beam etching apparatus includes a substrate holder disposed within a processing chamber and a plasma source in communication with the processing chamber. A vacuum pump is coupled to the processing chamber by way of an inlet. One or more baffles are arranged between the substrate holder and a lower surface of the processing chamber. A by-product redistributor is configured to move a by-product from an etching process from outside of the one or more baffles to directly below the one or more baffles.

Abstract: A memory device including a first array of rail structures that extend along a first horizontal direction, in which each of the rail structures are formed to serve as a bottom electrode, and a second array of rail structures that laterally extend along a second horizontal direction and are laterally spaced apart along the first horizontal direction. Each of the rail structures in the second array are formed to server as a top electrode. The memory device also includes a continuous dielectric memory layer located between the first array of rail structures and the second array of rail structures. The continuous dielectric memory layer providing protection from current leakage between the rail structures of the first array and the rail structures of the second array.

Abstract: An RRAM cell stack is formed over an opening in a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is sufficiently thick and the opening is sufficiently deep that an RRAM cell can be formed by a planarization process. The resulting RRAM cells may have a U-shaped profile. The RRAM cell area includes contributions from a bottom portion in which the RRAM cell layers are stacked parallel to the substrate and a side portion in which RRAM cell layers are stacked roughly perpendicular to the substrate. The combined side and bottom portions of the curved RRAM cell provide an increased area in comparison to a planar cell stack. The increased area lowers forming and set voltages for the RRAM cell.

Abstract: An RRAM cell stack is formed over an opening in a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is sufficiently thick and the opening is sufficiently deep that an RRAM cell can be formed by a planarization process. The resulting RRAM cells may have a U-shaped profile. The RRAM cell area includes contributions from a bottom portion in which the RRAM cell layers are stacked parallel to the substrate and a side portion in which RRAM cell layers are stacked roughly perpendicular to the substrate. The combined side and bottom portions of the curved RRAM cell provide an increased area in comparison to a planar cell stack. The increased area lowers forming and set voltages for the RRAM cell.

Abstract: An RRAM cell stack is formed over an opening in a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is sufficiently thick and the opening is sufficiently deep that an RRAM cell can be formed by a planarization process. The resulting RRAM cells may have a U-shaped profile. The RRAM cell area includes contributions from a bottom portion in which the RRAM cell layers are stacked parallel to the substrate and a side portion in which RRAM cell layers are stacked roughly perpendicular to the substrate. The combined side and bottom portions of the curved RRAM cell provide an increased area in comparison to a planar cell stack. The increased area lowers forming and set voltages for the RRAM cell.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an ion beam etching apparatus. The ion beam etching apparatus includes a substrate holder disposed within a processing chamber and a plasma source in communication with the processing chamber. A vacuum pump is coupled to the processing chamber by way of an inlet. One or more baffles are arranged between the substrate holder and a lower surface of the processing chamber. A byproduct redistributor is configured to move a byproduct from an etching process from outside of the one or more baffles to directly below the one or more baffles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pattern verifying method. First, a target pattern is decomposed into a first pattern and a second pattern. A first OPC process is performed for the first pattern to form a first revised pattern, and a second OPC process is performed for the second pattern to form a second revised pattern. An inspection process is performed, wherein the inspection process comprises an after mask inspection (AMI) process, which comprises considering the target pattern, the first pattern and the second pattern.

Abstract: A method for optimizing an integrated circuit layout design includes the following steps. A first integrated circuit layout design including a metal line feature having several metal lines and a second integrated circuit layout design including a hole feature having several holes are obtained. A line-end hole feature of the hole feature is selected by piecing the metal line feature with the hole feature. The line-end hole feature is classified into a single hole feature and a redundant hole feature by spacings between the adjacent holes by a computer system.

Abstract: A method for optimizing an integrated circuit layout design includes the following steps. A first integrated circuit layout design including a metal line feature having several metal lines and a second integrated circuit layout design including a hole feature having several holes are obtained. A line-end hole feature of the hole feature is selected by piecing the metal line feature with the hole feature. The line-end hole feature is classified into a single hole feature and a redundant hole feature by spacings between the adjacent holes by a computer system.