Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the formation of mirror micro-structures on radiation-sensing regions of image sensor devices. The method includes forming an opening within a front side surface of a substrate; forming a conformal implant layer on bottom and sidewall surfaces of the opening; growing a first epitaxial layer on the bottom and the sidewall surfaces of the opening; depositing a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer to fill the opening, where the second epitaxial layer forms a radiation-sensing region. The method further includes depositing a stack on exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial layer, where the stack includes alternating pairs of a high-refractive index material layer and a low-refractive index material layer.

Abstract: A connection port module includes a fixed frame and a connection port. The fixed frame includes a main body portion, a first holding portion, and a second holding portion. The first holding portion is connected to one side of the main body portion and includes a first holding surface. The second holding portion is connected to the other side of the main body portion and includes a second holding surface. The first holding surface faces the second holding surface. The connection port is disposed in the fixed frame, and is located between the first holding surface and the second holding surface. A connector is adapted to be inserted into the connection port. The first holding surface and the second holding surface are adapted to abut against the connector to fix the connector on the fixed frame.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for managing the scope of permissions granted by users to application that includes collecting a set of permissions for an application from an application provider publication; and collecting a process flow for functional steps of the application from a review of the application that is published on a product review type publication. The computer implemented method further includes dividing the functional steps of the application into a plurality of journeys, each of said plurality of journeys having a function associated with a stage of a functional step from a perspective of a user; and matching permissions from the set of permissions for each journey of said plurality of journeys to provide matched permissible permissions to journeys stored in a customer journey store.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first semiconductor fin extending from a substrate; a second semiconductor fin extending from the substrate; a hybrid fin over the substrate, the second semiconductor fin disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the hybrid fin; a first isolation region between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; and a second isolation region between the second semiconductor fin and the hybrid fin, a top surface of the second isolation region disposed further from the substrate than a top surface of the first isolation region.

Abstract: Semiconductor processing apparatuses and methods are provided in which an electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention layer is utilized to prevent or reduce ESD events from occurring between a semiconductor wafer and one or more components of the apparatuses. In some embodiments, a semiconductor processing apparatus includes a wafer handling structure that is configured to support a semiconductor wafer during processing of the semiconductor wafer. The apparatus further includes an ESD prevention layer on the wafer handling structure. The ESD prevention layer includes a first material and a second material, and the second material has an electrical conductivity that is greater than an electrical conductivity of the first material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a pad layer. The pad layer includes a first portion over a first part of a semiconductor substrate, and a second portion over a second part of the semiconductor substrate. The first portion has a first thickness, and the second portion has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. The semiconductor substrate is then annealed to form a first oxide layer over the first part of the semiconductor substrate, and a second oxide layer over the second part of the semiconductor substrate. The pad layer, the first oxide layer, and the second oxide layer are removed. A semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown over and contacting the first part and the second part of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first semiconductor fin extending from a substrate; a second semiconductor fin extending from the substrate; a hybrid fin over the substrate, the second semiconductor fin disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the hybrid fin; a first isolation region between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; and a second isolation region between the second semiconductor fin and the hybrid fin, a top surface of the second isolation region disposed further from the substrate than a top surface of the first isolation region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a photodetector. The photodetector includes one or more dielectric structures positioned in a trench in a semiconductor substrate. The photodetector includes a photosensitive material positioned in the trench and covering the one or more dielectric structures. A dielectric layer covers the photosensitive material. The photosensitive material has an index of refraction that is greater than the indices of refraction of the dielectric structures and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: To reduce a thickness variation of a spin-on coating (SOC) layer that is applied over a plurality of first and second trenches with different pattern densities as a bottom layer in a photoresist stack, a two-step thermal treatment process is performed on the SOC layer. A first thermal treatment step in the two-step thermal treatment process is conducted at a first temperature below a cross-linking temperature of the SOC layer to cause flow of the SOC layer, and a second thermal treatment step in the two-step thermal treatment process is conducted at a second temperature to cause cross-linking of the SOC layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor disposed over a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate, a distributed Bragg reflector disposed over an opposing second main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive via disposed in the distributed Bragg reflector. The field effect transistor includes a gate structure and a source/drain region. The conductive via passes through the semiconductor substrate and is in direct electrical contact with the source/drain region. A metal silicide is formed in a portion of the source/drain region that is in contact with the conductive via, and thus can reduce contact resistance between the source/drain region and the conductive via. The source/drain region is laser annealed through an opening formed through the distributed Bragg reflector. The distributed Bragg reflector reduces or prevents thermal damage to other regions of the semiconductor device that are protected by the distributed Bragg reflector.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first semiconductor strip over a substrate, the first semiconductor strip including a first channel region; a second semiconductor strip over the substrate, the second semiconductor strip including a second channel region; a dielectric strip disposed between the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip, a width of the dielectric strip decreasing along a first direction extending away from the substrate, the dielectric strip including a void; and a gate structure extending along the first channel region, along the second channel region, and along a top surface and sidewalls of the dielectric strip.

Abstract: To reduce a thickness variation of a spin-on coating (SOC) layer that is applied over a plurality of first and second trenches with different pattern densities as a bottom layer in a photoresist stack, a two-step thermal treatment process is performed on the SOC layer. A first thermal treatment step in the two-step thermal treatment process is conducted at a first temperature below a cross-linking temperature of the SOC layer to cause flow of the SOC layer, and a second thermal treatment step in the two-step thermal treatment process is conducted at a second temperature to cause cross-linking of the SOC layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first semiconductor strip over a substrate, the first semiconductor strip including a first channel region; a second semiconductor strip over the substrate, the second semiconductor strip including a second channel region; a dielectric strip disposed between the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip, a width of the dielectric strip decreasing along a first direction extending away from the substrate, the dielectric strip including a void; and a gate structure extending along the first channel region, along the second channel region, and along a top surface and sidewalls of the dielectric strip.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a first oxide layer over a semiconductor fin structure; performing a first nitridation process to convert the first oxide layer to an oxynitride layer; depositing a silicon-containing layer over the oxynitride layer; performing a first anneal on the silicon-containing layer, wherein after performing the first anneal, the oxynitride layer has a higher nitrogen atomic concentration at an interface with the semiconductor fin structure than in a bulk region of the oxynitride layer; and forming a dummy gate structure over the silicon-containing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin protruding from a substrate and extending in a first direction, a gate structure extending on the fin in a second direction, and a seal layer located on the sidewall of the gate structure. A first peak carbon concentration is disposed in the seal layer. A first spacer layer is located on the seal layer. A second peak carbon concentration is disposed in the first spacer layer. A second spacer layer is located on the first spacer layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin protruding over a substrate; forming an isolation structure over the substrate; depositing a first metal oxide layer over the isolation structure; depositing a first oxide layer over the first metal oxide layer; depositing a second metal oxide layer over the first oxide layer, in which the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer comprise amorphous structures; performing a chemical mechanism polishing (CMP) process to the first metal oxide layer, the first oxide layer, and the second metal oxide layer; after the CMP process is completed, performing an annealing process such that the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer are transferred from the amorphous structures into crystalline structures; forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin; and forming source/drain structures over the substrate and on opposite sides of the gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of fabricating a semiconductor device. A method according to one embodiment includes forming, on a substrate, a first fin formed of a first semiconductor material and a second fin formed of a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material, forming a semiconductor cap layer over the first fin and the second fin, and annealing the semiconductor cap layer at a first temperature while at least a portion of the semiconductor cap layer is exposed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one epitaxial layer over a substrate; patterning the epitaxial layer into a semiconductor fin; depositing a conformal semiconductor capping layer over the semiconductor fin, wherein the conformal semiconductor capping layer has a first portion that is amorphous; performing a thermal treatment such that the first portion of the conformal semiconductor capping layer is converted from amorphous into crystalline; depositing a dielectric material over the conformal semiconductor capping layer; annealing the dielectric material, such that the conformal semiconductor capping layer is converted into a semiconductor-containing oxide layer; recessing the dielectric material and the semiconductor-containing oxide layer to form an isolation structure around the semiconductor fin; and forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin and the isolation structure.

Abstract: The method includes performing a well implantation process to dope a dopant into a semiconductor substrate; after performing the well implantation process, performing a flash anneal on the semiconductor substrate, the flash anneal including a first preheat step and a first annealing step after the first preheat step, the first preheat step performed at a preheat temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 800° C., the first annealing step having a peak temperature ramp profile, the peak temperature ramp profile having a peak temperature ranging from about 1000° C. to about 1200° C.; after performing the flash anneal, performing a rapid thermal anneal (RTA) on the semiconductor substrate, the RTA including a second preheat step, the first preheat step of the flash anneal being performed for a shorter duration than the second preheat step of the RTA.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one epitaxial layer over a substrate; forming a mask over the epitaxial layer; patterning the epitaxial layer into a semiconductor fin; depositing a semiconductor capping layer over the semiconductor fin and the mask, wherein the semiconductor capping layer has a first portion that is amorphous on a sidewall of the mask; performing a thermal treatment such that the first portion of the semiconductor capping layer is converted from amorphous into crystalline; forming an isolation structure around the semiconductor fin; and forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin.