Abstract: Semiconductor device design methods and conductive bump pattern enhancement methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of designing a semiconductor device includes designing a conductive bump pattern design, and implementing a conductive bump pattern enhancement algorithm on the conductive bump pattern design to create an enhanced conductive bump pattern design. A routing pattern is designed based on the enhanced conductive bump pattern design. A design rule checking (DRC) procedure is performed on the routing pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bonding pad on a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a passivation layer covering a peripheral portion of the bonding pad while exposing a middle portion of the bonding pad. Additionally, the semiconductor device includes a stress buffer layer over the passivation layer where the stress buffer layer exposes a portion of the bonding pad, and where a wall of the stress buffer layer extends, in steps, upwardly from the exposed portion of the bonding pad. Furthermore, the semiconductor device includes an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer over the stress buffer layer, where the UBM layer contacts a portion of the bonding pad.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure is a structure comprising an interposer. The interposer has a test structure extending along a periphery of the interposer, and at least a portion of the test structure is in a first redistribution element. The first redistribution element is on a first surface of a substrate of the interposer. The test structure is intermediate and electrically coupled to at least two probe pads.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure is a structure comprising an interposer. The interposer has a test structure extending along a periphery of the interposer, and at least a portion of the test structure is in a first redistribution element. The first redistribution element is on a first surface of a substrate of the interposer. The test structure is intermediate and electrically coupled to at least two probe pads.

Abstract: A first embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising clustering processing tools of a processing stage into a tool cluster based on processing data and forming a prediction model for processing a semiconductor wafer based on the tool cluster. A second embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising providing cluster routes between first stage tool clusters and second stage tool clusters, assigning a comparative optimization ranking to each cluster route, and scheduling processing of wafers. The comparative optimization ranking identifies comparatively which cluster routes provide for high wafer processing uniformity.

Abstract: Semiconductor device design methods and conductive bump pattern enhancement methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of designing a semiconductor device includes designing a conductive bump pattern design, and implementing a conductive bump pattern enhancement algorithm on the conductive bump pattern design to create an enhanced conductive bump pattern design. A routing pattern is designed based on the enhanced conductive bump pattern design. A design rule checking (DRC) procedure is performed on the routing pattern.

Abstract: A first embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising clustering processing tools of a processing stage into a tool cluster based on processing data and forming a prediction model for processing a semiconductor wafer based on the tool cluster. A second embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising providing cluster routes between first stage tool clusters and second stage tool clusters, assigning a comparative optimization ranking to each cluster route, and scheduling processing of wafers. The comparative optimization ranking identifies comparatively which cluster routes provide for high wafer processing uniformity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bonding pad on a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a passivation layer covering a peripheral portion of the bonding pad while exposing a middle portion of the bonding pad. Additionally, the semiconductor device includes a stress buffer layer over the passivation layer where the stress buffer layer exposes a portion of the bonding pad, and where a wall of the stress buffer layer extends, in steps, upwardly from the exposed portion of the bonding pad. Furthermore, the semiconductor device includes an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer over the stress buffer layer, where the UBM layer contacts a portion of the bonding pad.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a semiconductor device is formed to include a stepwise stress buffer layer under a stepwise UBM structure.

Abstract: Interposers for semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interposer includes a substrate, a contact pad disposed on the substrate, and a first through-via in the substrate coupled to the contact pad. A first fuse is coupled to the first through-via. A second through-via in the substrate is coupled to the contact pad, and a second fuse is coupled to the second through-via.

Abstract: An interposer includes a first surface on a first side of the interposer and a second surface on a second side of the interposer, wherein the first and the second sides are opposite sides. A first probe pad is disposed at the first surface. An electrical connector is disposed at the first surface, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be used for bonding. A through-via is disposed in the interposer. Front-side connections are disposed on the first side of the interposer, wherein the front-side connections electrically couple the through-via to the probe pad.

Abstract: An analytical system includes a laser disposed to direct light toward a microfluidic feature disposed in a feature layer of a multiple layer test cartridge, a sensor to receive reflections from capping layers disposed about the microfluidic feature in the feature layer, and a controller to determine a depth of the microfluidic feature as a function of the received reflections.

Abstract: A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical absorbance measurement channel is described. The optical absorbance measurement channel includes a plasma separation region and at least one sub channel including a cuvette that is in fluid communication with the plasma separation region and configured to receive a plasma portion of a blood sample that has been passed through the plasma separation region. A negative pressure may be applied to the cartridge to draw the sample through the plasma separation region and into the sub channel including the cuvette.

Abstract: A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical light scattering measurement channel is described. In use, processed sample may be introduced into a sheath fluid channel at an angle, ?, of approximately 90 degrees, relative to the direction of flow of the sheath fluid. In addition, delivering the sample from the side into the sheath fluid may facilitate better positioning of the core within the hydrodynamic focusing channel for measurement.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. A capacitor is formed in the substrate and includes a first capacitor plate; a first insulation layer encircling the first capacitor plate; and a second capacitor plate encircling the first insulation layer. Each of the first capacitor plate, the first insulation layer, and the second capacitor plate extends from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. A capacitor is formed in the substrate and includes a first capacitor plate; a first insulation layer encircling the first capacitor plate; and a second capacitor plate encircling the first insulation layer. Each of the first capacitor plate, the first insulation layer, and the second capacitor plate extends from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for a near non-adaptive virtual metrology for wafer processing control. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing control comprises diagnosing a chamber of a processing tool that processes a wafer to identify a key chamber parameter, and controlling the chamber based on the key chamber parameter if the key chamber parameter can be controlled, or compensating a prediction model by changing to a secondary prediction model if the key chamber parameter cannot be sufficiently controlled.

Abstract: A bump structure for electrically coupling semiconductor components is provided. The bump structure includes a first bump on a first semiconductor component and a second bump on a second semiconductor component. The first bump has a first non-flat portion (e.g., a convex projection) and the second bump has a second non-flat portion (e.g., a concave recess). The bump structure also includes a solder joint formed between the first and second non-flat portions to electrically couple the semiconductor components.

Abstract: A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical light scattering measurement channel is described. In use, processed sample may be introduced into a sheath fluid channel at an angle, ?, of approximately 90 degrees, relative to the direction of flow of the sheath fluid. In addition, delivering the sample from the side into the sheath fluid may facilitate better positioning of the core within the hydrodynamic focusing channel for measurement.

Abstract: A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical absorbance measurement channel is described. The optical absorbance measurement channel includes a plasma separation region and at least one sub channel including a cuvette that is in fluid communication with the plasma separation region and configured to receive a plasma portion of a blood sample that has been passed through the plasma separation region. A negative pressure may be applied to the cartridge to draw the sample through the plasma separation region and into the sub channel including the cuvette.