Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a fin disposed over a substrate, a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the fin, such that the gate structure traverses source/drain regions of the fin, a device-level interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer of a multi-layer interconnect structure disposed over the substrate, wherein the device-level ILD layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, wherein a material of the third dielectric layer is different than a material of the second dielectric layer and a material of the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further comprises a gate contact to the gate structure disposed in the device-level ILD layer and a source/drain contact to the source/drain regions disposed in the device-level ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure, a first gate spacer disposed on a first side of the metal gate structure, a source/drain feature disposed adjacent to the first gate spacer, a dielectric structure disposed over the source/drain feature, the first gate spacer, and the metal gate structure, and a contact feature disposed in the dielectric structure and electrically connected to the metal gate structure and the source/drain feature. The first gate spacer is between the source/drain feature and the metal gate structure. The contact feature straddles over the first gate spacer and has a tilted sidewall intersecting with the metal gate structure.

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 includes providing a semiconductor structure having metal gate structures (MGs), gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the MGs, and source/drain (S/D) features disposed adjacent to the gate spacers; forming a first dielectric layer over the MGs and forming S/D contacts (MDs) over the S/D features; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, where portions of the second dielectric layer contact the MDs and the second dielectric layer is different from the first dielectric layer in composition; removing the portions of the second dielectric layer that contact the MDs; forming a conductive layer over the MDs and over the first dielectric layer; and removing portions of the conductive layer to form conductive features over the MDs.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a first source/drain contact plug over and electrically coupling to a source/drain region of a transistor, forming a first dielectric hard mask overlapping a gate stack, recessing the first source/drain contact plug to form a first recess, forming a second dielectric hard mask in the first recess, recessing an inter-layer dielectric layer to form a second recess, and forming a third dielectric hard mask in the second recess. The third dielectric hard mask contacts both the first dielectric hard mask and the second dielectric hard mask.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a fin disposed over a substrate, a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the fin, such that the gate structure traverses source/drain regions of the fin, a device-level interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer of a multi-layer interconnect structure disposed over the substrate, wherein the device-level ILD layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, wherein a material of the third dielectric layer is different than a material of the second dielectric layer and a material of the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further comprises a gate contact to the gate structure disposed in the device-level ILD layer and a source/drain contact to the source/drain regions disposed in the device-level ILD layer.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first conductive line and a second conductive line in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, each having a planar top surface, applying an etch-back process to the first dielectric layer until a dielectric portion between the first conductive line and the second conductive line has been removed, and the first conductive line and the second conductive line have respective cross sectional shapes including a rounded surface and two rounded corners and depositing a second dielectric layer over the substrate, while leaving a first air gap between the first conductive line and the second conductive line.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a fin disposed over a substrate, a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the fin, such that the gate structure traverses source/drain regions of the fin, a device-level interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer of a multi-layer interconnect structure disposed over the substrate, wherein the device-level ILD layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, wherein a material of the third dielectric layer is different than a material of the second dielectric layer and a material of the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further comprises a gate contact to the gate structure disposed in the device-level ILD layer and a source/drain contact to the source/drain regions disposed in the device-level ILD layer.

Abstract: An illumination system provides an illumination light beam and includes a light source device providing a first light beam, a dichroic element, a lens module, and a wavelength conversion element disposed on a transmission path of the first light beam and configured to convert the first light beam into a second light beam. The dichroic element is disposed between the light source device and the wavelength conversion element, guides the first light beam from the light source device to the wavelength conversion element, and transmits the second light beam from the wavelength conversion element. The lens module is disposed between the dichroic element and the wavelength conversion element. The lens module includes a first lens element including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a Fresnel structure surface.

Abstract: A correction method for image color range conversion and an image-processing system are provided. In the correction method, when an image is received, an actual color range of the image can be obtained by counting a pixel value of the image. A color range can be a full color range or a limited color range. If the actual color range is inconsistent with the color range recorded in an image packet, the image-processing system performs a color-range correction procedure. A linear mapping method can be incorporated for converting pixels of the image from the limited color range to the full color range. In particular, the color-range correction procedure can be gradually performed in a multi-stage manner, so as to accurately and smoothly convert the color range of the image for a subsequent image-processing procedure.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a first source/drain contact plug over and electrically coupling to a source/drain region of a transistor, forming a first dielectric hard mask overlapping a gate stack, recessing the first source/drain contact plug to form a first recess, forming a second dielectric hard mask in the first recess, recessing an inter-layer dielectric layer to form a second recess, and forming a third dielectric hard mask in the second recess. The third dielectric hard mask contacts both the first dielectric hard mask and the second dielectric hard mask.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature on a substrate, forming a via that contacts the first conductive feature, the via comprising a conductive material, performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process to a top surface of the via, depositing an Interlayer Dielectric (ILD) layer on the via, forming a trench within the ILD layer to expose the via, and filling the trench with a second conductive feature that contacts the via, the second conductive feature comprising a same material as the conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes first forming a metal gate (MG) over a semiconductor layer, a gate spacer on a sidewall of the MG, and a source/drain (S/D) feature disposed in the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the MG, forming an S/D contact (MD) over the S/D feature, forming a first ILD layer over the MG and the MD, and subsequently patterning the first ILD layer to form an opening. The method further includes forming a metal layer in the opening, such that the metal layer contacts both the MG and the MD, removing a top portion of the metal layer to form a trench, filling the trench with a dielectric layer, and subsequently forming a second ILD layer over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a gate stack formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a source/drain structure formed adjacent to the gate stack and a contact structure vertically overlapping the source/drain structure. In addition, the contact structure has a first sidewall slopes downwardly from its top surface to its bottom surface, and an angle between the first sidewall and a bottom surface of the contact structure is smaller than 89.5°.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a conductive feature on the substrate, and an electrical connection structure on the conductive feature. The electrical connection includes a first grain made of a first metal material, and a first inhibition layer made of a second metal layer that is different than the first metal material. The first inhibition layer extends vertically along a first side of a grain boundary of the first grain and laterally along a bottom of the grain boundary of the first grain.

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 contact stack of a semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature, a silicide layer wrapping around the source/drain feature, a seed metal layer in direct contact with the silicide layer, and a conductor in contact with the seed metal layer. The contact stack excludes a metal nitride layer in direct contact with the silicide layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes an isolation layer formed around the first fin structure and covering a sidewall of the first fin structure and a gate stack formed over the first fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure and spaced apart from the gate stack and a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, the contact structure and the dielectric structure has a first slope interface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the contact structure to a top surface of the isolation layer.

Abstract: An interconnect structure including a dielectric structure, plugs, and conductive lines is provided. The dielectric structure is disposed on a substrate. The plugs are disposed in the dielectric structure. The conductive lines are disposed in the dielectric structure and are electrically connected to the plugs. The sidewall of at least one of the conductive lines is in direct contact with the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a transistor, a conductive feature on the transistor, a dielectric layer over the conductive feature, and an electrical connection structure in the dielectric layer and on the conductive feature. The electrical connection structure includes a first grain of a first metal material and a first inhibition layer extending along a grain boundary of the first grain of the first metal material, the first inhibition layer is made of a second metal material, and the first metal material and the second metal material have different oxidation/reduction potentials.