Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method to form an air gap structure. An opening is formed in a first dielectric layer between adjacent conductors. A first dielectric layer is formed over the opening to fill a first portion of the opening. A remainder of the opening is free of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on a top surface of the first dielectric layer, with a remainder of the opening unfilled. The second dielectric layer is devoid of wiring. The remainder of the opening below the second dielectric layer defines an air gap structure. A wiring layer is formed above the air gap structure.

Abstract: An artificially oriented piezoelectric films for integrated filters and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a piezoelectric film with effective crystalline orientations of a polar axis rotated 90 degrees from a natural orientation for planar deposited piezoelectric films; and forming electrodes on a planar surface of the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric film has an effective crystalline orientation of the polar axis in a horizontal orientation, with respect to the electrodes, and an effective crystalline orientation of the polar axis in a vertical direction adjacent to an underlying substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method to form an air gap structure. An opening is formed in a first dielectric layer between adjacent conductors. A first dielectric layer is formed over the opening to fill a first portion of the opening. A remainder of the opening is free of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on a top surface of the first dielectric layer, with a remainder of the opening unfilled. The second dielectric layer is devoid of wiring. The remainder of the opening below the second dielectric layer defines an air gap structure. A wiring layer is formed above the air gap structure.

Abstract: A structure includes an air gap structure including: an opening in a first dielectric layer between adjacent conductors, and a non-conformal dielectric layer over the opening. In some cases, the non-conformal dielectric layer narrows an end portion of the opening of the air gap but may not seal the opening. In other cases, the non-conformal layer may seal the end portion of the opening and include a seam therein. The air gap structure may also include a conformal dielectric layer on the non-conformal dielectric layer. The conformal layer either seals the end portion of the opening or, if present, seals the seam. The structure may also include a wiring layer over the air gap structure.

Abstract: A structure includes an air gap structure including: an opening in a first dielectric layer between adjacent conductors, and a non-conformal dielectric layer over the opening. In some cases, the non-conformal dielectric layer narrows an end portion of the opening of the air gap but may not seal the opening. In other cases, the non-conformal layer may seal the end portion of the opening and include a seam therein. The air gap structure may also include a conformal dielectric layer on the non-conformal dielectric layer. The conformal layer either seals the end portion of the opening or, if present, seals the seam. The structure may also include a wiring layer over the air gap structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to artificially oriented piezoelectric films for integrated filters and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a piezoelectric film with effective crystalline orientations of the polar axis rotated 90 degrees from a natural orientation for planar deposited films; and a conductor pattern formed on a surface of the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: A seal ring structure of an integrated circuit including a first discontinuous seal wall circumscribing a first portion of the integrated circuit, the first seal wall forming a first pattern on a substrate, and a second discontinuous seal wall circumscribing a second portion of the integrated circuit, the second seal wall forming a second pattern on the substrate and the second portion being at least partially offset from the first portion, wherein the first pattern of the first seal wall interlocks with the second pattern of the second seal wall such that the patterns are interweaved without intersecting, wherein a space is formed between the seal walls, the space creating a non-linear path to the integrated circuit, and wherein the seal ring structure fully circumscribes the integrated circuit. A method of forming such a seal ring structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A time temperature monitoring system and method for use with a microchip or similar structure. A disclosed system includes: an active region; a dopant source located proximate the active region; an activation system for activating a diffusion of the dopant source into the active region; and a set of electrodes embedded in the active region of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured to detect the diffusion in the active region at varying distances from the dopant source to provide time temperature information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to artificially oriented piezoelectric films for integrated filters and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a piezoelectric film with effective crystalline orientations of the polar axis rotated 90 degrees from a natural orientation for planar deposited films; and a conductor pattern formed on a surface of the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to arc resistant crackstop structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a crackstop structure comprising dual rails surrounding an active area of an integrated circuit; and a through-BOx electrical contact electrically connecting each of the dual rails to an underlying substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to arc resistant crackstop structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a crackstop structure comprising dual rails surrounding an active area of an integrated circuit; and a through-BOx electrical contact electrically connecting each of the dual rails to an underlying substrate.

Abstract: A seal ring structure of an integrated circuit including a first discontinuous seal wall circumscribing a first portion of the integrated circuit, the first seal wall forming a first pattern on a substrate, and a second discontinuous seal wall circumscribing a second portion of the integrated circuit, the second seal wall forming a second pattern on the substrate and the second portion being at least partially offset from the first portion, wherein the first pattern of the first seal wall interlocks with the second pattern of the second seal wall such that the patterns are interweaved without intersecting, wherein a space is formed between the seal walls, the space creating a non-linear path to the integrated circuit, and wherein the seal ring structure fully circumscribes the integrated circuit. A method of forming such a seal ring structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A time temperature monitoring system and method for use with a microchip or similar structure. A disclosed system includes: a substrate having an active region; a dopant source located proximate the active region; an activation system for activating a diffusion of the dopant source into the active region; and a set of spatially distributed electrodes embedded in the active region of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured to detect the diffusion in the active region at varying distances from the dopant source to provide time temperature information.

Abstract: A metal interconnect structure, a system and method of manufacture, wherein a design layout includes results in forming at least two trenches of different trench depths. The method uses a slightly modified BEOL processing stack to prevent metal interconnect structures from encroaching upon an underlying hard mask dielectric or metallic hard mask layer. Thus two trench depths are obtained by tuning parameters of the system and allowing areas exposed by two masks to have deeper trenches. Here, the BEOL Stack processing is modified to enable two trench depths by using a hardmask that defines the lowest etch depth. The design may be optimized by software which optimizes a design for electromigration (or setup timing violations) by utilizing secondary trench depths, checking space opportunity around wires, pushing wires out to generate space and converting a wire to deep trench wire.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to artificially oriented piezoelectric films for integrated filters and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a piezoelectric film with effective crystalline orientations of the polar axis rotated 90 degrees from a natural orientation for planar deposited films; and a conductor pattern formed on a surface of the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: A time temperature monitoring system and method for use with a microchip or similar structure. A disclosed system includes: an active region; a dopant source located proximate the active region; an activation system for activating a diffusion of the dopant source into the active region; and a set of electrodes embedded in the active region of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured to detect the diffusion in the active region at varying distances from the dopant source to provide time temperature information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to continuous crackstop structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes a continuous crackstop having a wall which switches back (switchbacks) on itself multiple times to form an enclosure about an active area of a chip.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to segmented guard-ring and chip edge seals and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a guard ring structure formed in a low-k dielectric material; and an edge seal structure formed through the low-k dielectric material to at least a substrate underneath the low-k dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to segmented guard-ring and chip edge seals and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a guard ring structure formed in a low-k dielectric material; and an edge seal structure formed through the low-k dielectric material to at least a substrate underneath the low-k dielectric material.

Abstract: Approaches for detecting wear in integrated circuit chips are provided. An on-chip sensor system includes an integrated circuit chip including a plurality of sensor groups. Each respective one of the sensor groups is structured and arranged to detect a measure of wear corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of failure mechanisms.