Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a planar lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the planar lower surface of the dielectric grid opening.

Abstract: According to one example, a device includes a semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a plurality of color filters disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a plurality of micro-lenses disposed above the set of color filters, each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses being configured to direct light radiation. The device further includes a structure that is configured to block light radiation that is traveling towards a region between adjacent micro-lenses. The structure and the color filters are level at respective top surfaces and bottom surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing thereof, and image sensor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip comprising an array region, a periphery region, and a through-via disposed therein. The semiconductor device comprises a guard structure disposed in the semiconductor chip between the array region and the through-via or between the through-via and a portion of the periphery region.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a Device Isolation (DI) region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric is disposed over an active region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate dielectric extends over the DI region. A gate electrode is disposed over the gate dielectric, wherein a notch of the gate electrode overlaps a portion of the DI region.

Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate structure.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a sensor portion and an ASIC portion bonded to the sensor portion. The sensor portion includes a first substrate having radiation-sensing pixels, a first interconnect structure, a first isolation layer, and a first dielectric layer. The ASIC portion includes a second substrate, a second isolation layer, and a second dielectric layer. The material compositions of the first and second isolation layers and the first and second dielectric layers are configured such that the first and second isolation layers may serve as barrier layers to prevent copper diffusion into oxide. The first and second isolation layers may also serve as etching-stop layers in the formation of the image sensor.

Abstract: A two-sided, staged programming operation is applied to a memory having first and second stacks of memory cells C1(i) and C2(i), i being the physical level of a cell. The staged programming operation includes applying a preliminary program stage S1, an intermediate program stage S2, and a final program stage S3 to memory cells in the first and second stacks. In a programming order the final program stage S3 is applied to memory cells in the first and second stacks at each level (i) for which the intermediate program stage S2 has already been applied to the memory cells in any neighboring levels (levels i+1 and i?1). The intermediate program stage S2 is applied only to memory cells for which the preliminary program stage S1 has already been applied to the cells in any neighboring levels (levels i+1 and i?1).

Abstract: An image sensor includes a sensor portion and an ASIC portion bonded to the sensor portion. The sensor portion includes a first substrate having radiation-sensing pixels, a first interconnect structure, a first isolation layer, and a first dielectric layer. The ASIC portion includes a second substrate, a second isolation layer, and a second dielectric layer. The material compositions of the first and second isolation layers and the first and second dielectric layers are configured such that the first and second isolation layers may serve as barrier layers to prevent copper diffusion into oxide. The first and second isolation layers may also serve as etching-stop layers in the formation of the image sensor.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing thereof, and image sensor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip comprising an array region, a periphery region, and a through-via disposed therein. The semiconductor device comprises a guard structure disposed in the semiconductor chip between the array region and the through-via or between the through-via and a portion of the periphery region.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via.

Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate structure.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating semiconductor devices is provided. An embodiment comprises an isolation region that is laterally removed from source/drain regions of semiconductor devices and has a dielectric material extending over the isolation implant between the source/drain regions. The isolation region may be formed by forming an opening through a layer over the substrate, depositing a dielectric material along the sidewalls of the opening, implanting ions into the substrate after the deposition, and filling the opening with another dielectric material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing thereof, and image sensor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip comprising an array region, a periphery region, and a through-via disposed therein. The semiconductor device comprises a guard structure disposed in the semiconductor chip between the array region and the through-via or between the through-via and a portion of the periphery region.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a planar lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the planar lower surface of the dielectric grid opening.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of alignment marks for a non-STI CMOS image sensor is introduced. In some embodiments, zero layer alignment marks and active are alignment marks may be simultaneously formed on a wafer. A substrate of the wafer may be patterned to form one or more recesses in the substrate. The recesses may be filled with a dielectric material using, for example, a field oxidation method and/or suitable deposition methods. Structures formed by the above process may correspond to elements of the zero layer alignment marks and/or to elements the active area alignment marks.