Abstract: The reflectance of a low-reflectance alignment mark is increased by coating the alignment mark with a high-reflectance film layer. This improves the strength of the light signal and reduces variation in the light signal.

Abstract: A field effect transistor contains a semiconductor material layer including a source-side doped well, a source region, and a drain region. A shallow trench isolation structure is embedded in the semiconductor material layer and extends between the source region and the drain region. Agate dielectric layer overlies the semiconductor material layer. A horizontally-extending portion of a gate electrode overlies the gate dielectric layer, and at least one downward-protruding portion of the gate electrode extends downward from a bottom surface of the horizontally-extending portion into an upper region of the shallow trench isolation structure. The gate electrode is vertically spaced from a bottom surface of the shallow trench isolation structure modifies electrical field in a semiconductor channel to reduce hot carrier injection.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a drift region, a source area, a well region, a drain area, and a dielectric film. The drift region and the source area are formed in the semiconductor layer. The well region is formed in the semiconductor layer and between the drift region and the source area. The drain area is formed in the drift region. The dielectric film is formed in the drift region and is located between the source area and the drain area. The dielectric film includes a proximate end portion and a distal end portion which are proximate to and distal from the source area, respectively, and which are asymmetrical to each other.

Abstract: A layer stack including a first bonding dielectric material layer, a dielectric metal oxide layer, and a second bonding dielectric material layer is formed over a top surface of a substrate including a substrate semiconductor layer. A conductive material layer is formed by depositing a conductive material over the second bonding dielectric material layer. The substrate semiconductor layer is thinned by removing portions of the substrate semiconductor layer that are distal from the layer stack, whereby a remaining portion of the substrate semiconductor layer includes a top semiconductor layer. A semiconductor device may be formed on the top semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a high voltage semiconductor device (HVSD) on a frontside of a semiconductor body and further comprises an electrode on a backside of the semiconductor body opposite the frontside. The HVSD may for example, be a transistor or some other suitable type of semiconductor device. The electrode has one or more gaps directly beneath the HVSD. The one or more gaps enhance the effectiveness of the electrode for improving the breakdown voltage of the HVSD.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer and a gate structure on the semiconductor layer. The gate structure includes a multi-stepped gate dielectric on the semiconductor layer and a gate electrode on the multi-stepped gate dielectric. The multi-stepped gate dielectric includes a first gate dielectric segment having a first thickness and a second gate dielectric segment having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: A layer stack including a first bonding dielectric material layer, a dielectric metal oxide layer, and a second bonding dielectric material layer is formed over a top surface of a substrate including a substrate semiconductor layer. A conductive material layer is formed by depositing a conductive material over the second bonding dielectric material layer. The substrate semiconductor layer is thinned by removing portions of the substrate semiconductor layer that are distal from the layer stack, whereby a remaining portion of the substrate semiconductor layer includes a top semiconductor layer. A semiconductor device may be formed on the top semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Devices and method for forming a switch including a heater layer including a first heater pad, a second heater pad, and a heater line connecting the first heater pad and the second heater pad, a phase change material (PCM) layer positioned in a same vertical plane as the heater line, and a floating spreader layer including a first portion positioned in the same vertical plane as the heater line and the PCM layer, in which the first portion has a first width that is less than or equal to a distance between proximate sidewalls of the first heater pad and the second heater pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer and a gate structure on the semiconductor layer. The gate structure includes a multi-stepped gate dielectric on the semiconductor layer and a gate electrode on the multi-stepped gate dielectric. The multi-stepped gate dielectric includes a first gate dielectric segment having a first thickness and a second gate dielectric segment having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor die package includes a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer over a device region of a first semiconductor die that is bonded with a second semiconductor die in a wafer on wafer (WoW) configuration. A through silicon via (TSV) structure may be formed through the device region. The high-k dielectric layer has an intrinsic negative charge polarity that provides a coupling voltage to modify the electric potential in the device region. In particular, the electron carriers in high-k dielectric layer attracts hole charge carriers in device region, which suppresses trap-assist tunnels that result from surface defects formed during etching of the recess for the TSV structure. Accordingly, the high-k dielectric layer described herein reduces the likelihood of (and/or the magnitude of) current leakage in semiconductor devices that are included in the device region of the first semiconductor die.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a high voltage semiconductor device (HVSD) on a frontside of a semiconductor body and further comprises an electrode on a backside of the semiconductor body opposite the frontside. The HVSD may, for example, be a transistor or some other suitable type of semiconductor device. The electrode has one or more gaps directly beneath the HVSD. The one or more gaps enhance the effectiveness of the electrode for improving the breakdown voltage of the HVSD.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a drift region, a dielectric film, and an anti-type doping layer. The drift region has a first type conductivity. The anti-type doping layer is located between the drift region and the dielectric film, and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity so as to change a current path of a current in the drift region, to thereby prevent the current from being influenced by the dielectric film. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for reducing an influence of a dielectric film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a drift region, a dielectric film, and an anti-type doping layer. The drift region has a first type conductivity. The anti-type doping layer is located between the drift region and the dielectric film, and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity so as to change a current path of a current in the drift region, to thereby prevent the current from being influenced by the dielectric film. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for reducing an influence of a dielectric film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A phase change device includes a substrate with a top surface. A heater structure is disposed on the substrate. The heater structure has first and second sidewalls on opposite sides of the heater structure. A phase change element is disposed over the heater structure. The phase change element includes three connected portions. A first portion is disposed over the heater structure. A second portion is disposed over the first sidewall of the heater structure. A third portion is over a first portion of the top surface of the substrate adjacent to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the heater structure.

Abstract: Phase change material (PCM) switches and methods of fabrication thereof that provide improved thermal confinement within a phase change material layer. A PCM switch may include a dielectric capping layer between a heater pad and the phase change material layer of the PCM switch that is laterally-confined such opposing sides of the dielectric capping layer the heater pad may form continuous surfaces extending transverse to the signal transmission pathway across the PCM switch. Heat transfer from the heater pad through the dielectric capping layer to the phase change material layer may be predominantly vertical, with minimal thermal dissipation along a lateral direction. The localized heating of the phase change material may improve the efficiency of the PCM switch enabling lower bias voltages, minimize the formation of regions of intermediate resistivity in the PCM switch, and improve the parasitic capacitance characteristics of the PCM switch.

Abstract: A dielectric isolation layer having a top surface may be formed over a substrate. A heater line, a phase change material (PCM) line, and an in-process conductive barrier plate may be formed over the dielectric isolation layer. An electrode material layer may be formed over the in-process conductive barrier plate. The electrode material layer and the in-process conductive barrier plate may be patterned such that patterned portions of the in-process conductive barrier plate include a first conductive barrier plate contacting a first area of a top surface of the PCM line, and a second conductive barrier plate contacting a second area of the top surface of the PCM line, and patterned portions of the electrode material layer include a first electrode contacting the first conductive barrier plate and a second electrode contacting the second conductive barrier plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure that includes a well region and a semiconductor substrate. The well region is disposed within the semiconductor substrate. The well region includes a plurality of first regions separated by a plurality of second regions, where the plurality of first regions is of a first doping and the plurality of second regions are of a second doping different than the first doping. A gate electrode overlies the well region where the gate electrode is disposed laterally over a portion of the plurality of first regions and a portion of the plurality of second regions.

Abstract: A layer stack including a first bonding dielectric material layer, a dielectric metal oxide layer, and a second bonding dielectric material layer is formed over a top surface of a substrate including a substrate semiconductor layer. A conductive material layer is formed by depositing a conductive material over the second bonding dielectric material layer. The substrate semiconductor layer is thinned by removing portions of the substrate semiconductor layer that are distal from the layer stack, whereby a remaining portion of the substrate semiconductor layer includes a top semiconductor layer. A semiconductor device on the top semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a drift region, a source area, a well region, a drain area, and a dielectric film. The drift region and the source area are formed in the semiconductor layer. The well region is formed in the semiconductor layer and between the drift region and the source area. The drain area is formed in the drift region. The dielectric film is formed in the drift region and is located between the source area and the drain area. The dielectric film includes a proximate end portion and a distal end portion which are proximate to and distal from the source area, respectively, and which are asymmetrical to each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor film and a gate structure on the semiconductor film. The gate structure includes a multi-stepped gate dielectric on the semiconductor film and a gate electrode on the multi-stepped gate dielectric. The multi-stepped gate dielectric includes a first gate dielectric segment having a first thickness and a second gate dielectric segment having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.