Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure electrically connected to a semiconductor device; forming a tantalum-based barrier layer over the interconnect structure; oxidizing the tantalum-based barrier layer to form a tantalum oxide over the tantalum-based barrier layer; and forming a metal layer over the tantalum oxide.

Abstract: Systematic fault localization systems and methods are provided which utilize computational GDS-assisted navigation to accelerate physical fault analysis to identify systematic fault locations and patterns. In some embodiments, a method includes detecting a plurality of electrical fault regions of a plurality of dies of a semiconductor wafer. Decomposed Graphic Database System (GDS) cross-layer clips are generated which are associated with the plurality of electrical fault regions. A plurality of cross-layer common patterns is identified based on the decomposed GDS cross-layer clips. Normalized differentials may be determined for each of the cross-layer common patterns, and locations of hotspots in each of the dies may be identified based on the determined normalized differentials.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a first formation site and a second formation site for forming a first conductive bump and a second conductive bump; when a first environmental density corresponding to the first formation site is greater than a second environmental density corresponding to the second formation site, a cross sectional area of the second formation site is greater than a cross sectional area of the first formation site; wherein the first environmental density is determined by a number of formation sites around the first formation site in a predetermined range and the second environmental density is determined by a number of formation sites around the second formation site in the predetermined range; wherein a first area having the first environmental density forms an ellipse layout while a second area having the second environmental density forms a strip layout surrounding the ellipse layout.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a photonics structure that includes a ring optical waveguide on a substrate; a rail optical waveguide configured to couple a light into the ring optical waveguide; and enhancement features configured around the ring optical waveguide and the rail optical waveguide to enhancement the photonic structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunction chamber having a multifunctional shutter disk. The shutter disk includes a lamp device, a DC/RF power device, and a gas line on one surface of the shutter disk. With this configuration, simplifying the chamber type is possible as the various specific, dedicated chambers such as a degas chamber, a pre-clean chamber, a CVD/PVD chamber are not required. By using the multifunctional shutter disk, the degassing function and the pre-cleaning function are provided within a single chamber. Accordingly, a separate degas chamber and a pre-clean chamber are no longer required and the overall transfer time between chambers is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A probe card for high-frequency testing is provided. The probe card includes a substrate, a flexible substrate, a probe, and at least one movable conductive pillar. The substrate has a first surface, a second surface, and at least one first through hole. The flexible substrate is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and has at least one second through hole. The second through hole and the first through hole correspond to each other. The probe is disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and is electrically connected to the flexible substrate. The movable conductive pillar movably passes through the first through hole and the second through hole.

Abstract: A system and a method for detecting abnormality of a thin-film deposition process are provided. In the method, a thin-film is deposited on a substrate in a thin-film deposition chamber by using a target, a dimension of a collimator mounted between the target and the substrate is scanned by using at least one sensor disposed in the thin-film deposition chamber to derive an erosion profile of the target, and abnormality of the thin-film deposition process is detected by analyzing the erosion profile with an analysis model trained with data of a plurality of erosion profiles derived under a plurality of deposition conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes determining a first bump map indicative of a first set of positions of bumps. The method includes determining, based upon the first bump map, a first plurality of bump densities associated with a plurality of regions of the first bump map. The method includes smoothing the first plurality of bump densities to determine a second plurality of bump densities associated with the plurality of regions of the first bump map. The method includes determining, based upon the second plurality of bump densities, a second bump map indicative of the first set of positions of the bumps and a set of sizes of the bumps.

Abstract: An adaptor includes non-volatile memory that stores a scan engine. A removable storage device is connected to the adaptor, which in turn is connected to a host computer. Files being copied between the removable storage device and the host computer through the adaptor are scanned for malware using the scan engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunction chamber having a multifunctional shutter disk. The shutter disk includes a lamp device, a DC/RF power device, and a gas line on one surface of the shutter disk. With this configuration, simplifying the chamber type is possible as the various specific, dedicated chambers such as a degas chamber, a pre-clean chamber, a CVD/PVD chamber are not required. By using the multifunctional shutter disk, the degassing function and the pre-cleaning function are provided within a single chamber. Accordingly, a separate degas chamber and a pre-clean chamber are no longer required and the overall transfer time between chambers is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A package includes a first package component including a semiconductor die, wherein the semiconductor die includes conductive pads, wherein the semiconductor die is surrounded by an encapsulant; an adaptive interconnect structure on the semiconductor die, wherein the adaptive interconnect structure includes conductive lines, wherein each conductive line physically and electrically contacts a respective conductive pad; and first bond pads, wherein each first bond pad physically and electrically contacts a respective conductive line; and a second package component including an interconnect structure, wherein the interconnect structure includes second bond pads, wherein each second bond pad is directly bonded to a respective first bond pad, wherein each second bond pad is laterally offset from a corresponding conductive pad which is electrically coupled to that second bond pad.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first ring resonator with a first radius, a second ring resonator with a second radius, and an optical waveguide feeding the first and second ring resonators in parallel. The first and second ring resonators are positioned on opposing sides of the optical waveguide. The first and second ring resonators and the optical waveguide are disposed above a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A precursor supply system for thin film deposition is provided. The precursor supply system includes a precursor source container, and the precursor source container includes: a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall circumferentially connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the precursor source container has a three-dimensional (3D) pattern; an inlet configured to allow introduction of a carrier gas into the precursor source container; and an outlet configured to allow exit of a precursor vapor generated in the precursor source container.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first ring resonator positioned in a first plane, a first optical waveguide positioned in the first plane and configured to provide photons to the first ring resonator, a second ring resonator positioned in a second plane that is below the first plane, and a second optical waveguide positioned in the second plane. The second optical waveguide is configured to receive photons escaping from the second ring resonator.

Abstract: An optical device includes a ring resonator, a first optical waveguide with an end portion merged into a circumference of the ring resonator, and a second optical waveguide free of contact with the circumference of the ring resonator. The first optical waveguide is configured to receive photons. The second optical waveguide is configured to output photons coupled from the ring resonator.

Abstract: A thin-film deposition system includes a thin-film deposition chamber. A magnetron assembly is positioned within the thin-film deposition chamber to assist in thin-film deposition processes. A magnetic sensor apparatus is positioned adjacent to the magnetron assembly. The magnetic sensor apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic sensors that each sense the magnetic field in a particular location within the thin-film deposition chamber. The control system generates a magnetic field distribution based on the sensor signals from the magnetic sensors. An analysis model that has been trained with a machine learning process analyzes the magnetic field distribution and determines whether or not an abnormal magnetic field distributions process. The control system can stop the thin-film deposition process based on the output of the analysis model.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask, an original pattern layout including a plurality of patterns, each of which is defined by an opaque area, is obtained, a lower bound of an image-log-slope (ILS) is determined, sizes of the plurality of patterns are adjusted such that an exposure dose for the plurality of patterns decreases, while ILS values of the plurality of patterns do not fall below the lower bound of the ILS, an optical proximity correction (OPC) operation is performed on the plurality of patterns of which sizes have been adjusted to obtain mask data, and a photo mask is manufactured by using the mask data.

Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of cleaning itself by removing a target material deposited on a surface of a collimator. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, a target enclosing the substrate process chamber, and a collimator having a plurality of hollow structures disposed between the target and the substrate, a vibration generating unit, and cleaning gas outlet.

Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of measuring at least one of the film characteristics (e.g., thickness, resistance, and composition) in the deposition system. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, and a target enclosing the substrate process chamber. A shutter disk including an in-situ measuring device is provided.

Abstract: A device for removing particles in a gas stream includes a first cylindrical portion configured to receive the gas stream containing a target gas and the particles, a rotatable device disposed within the first cylindrical portion and configured to generate a centrifugal force when in a rotational action to divert the particles away from the rotatable device, a second cylindrical portion coupled to the first cylindrical portion and configured to receive the target gas, and a third cylindrical portion coupled to the first cylindrical portion and surrounding the second cylindrical portion, the third cylindrical portion being configured to receive the diverted particles.