Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a ferroelectric layer and a semiconductor layer. Thee ferroelectric layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The semiconductor layer is formed on one of the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system includes a system housing, a speaker enclosure configured within the system housing, a speaker mounted to the speaker enclosure, and one or more damping elements coupling the speaker enclosure to the system housing. The one or more damping elements suspend the speaker enclosure within the system housing such that the speaker enclosure is isolated and separated from the system. In some cases, the one or more damping elements provide the only structural coupling between the speaker enclosure and the system housing. The damping elements are laterally attached directly to the speaker housing with a resilient element.

Abstract: A method of predicting an effect of a chemotherapy treatment on a cancer patient's cognitive status using the patient's predicted age difference (PAD) comprises acquiring at least one medical brain image of a patient's brain before a chemotherapy treatment; processing the medical brain image to obtain at least one feature of the image; generating a PAD value of the individual based on the at least one feature of the image; and predicting an effect of the chemotherapy treatment on a cancer patient's cognitive status using the PAD value.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a packaged integrated circuit device includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuit devices. Each integrated circuit device extends into the semiconductor wafer to a first depth. Prior to singulation of the integrated circuit devices on the semiconductor wafer, the method further includes forming a cut between the integrated circuit devices. The cut extends to at least the first depth, but does not extend completely through the semiconductor wafer. The cut exposes a plurality of edges of each of the integrated circuit devices. The method further includes depositing, on each integrated circuit device, a passivation layer on a top surface and on the edges.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for operating the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a calibration device, an adjustment device and a driver. The calibration device is configured to continuously generate a first signal including a first number of bits. The adjustment device is configured to continuously receive the first signal and generate a second signal according to the last two bits of the first signal The second signal includes a second number of bits, and the second number is different from the first number. The driver is electrically coupled to the adjustment device, wherein an output resistance of the driver is controllable in response to the second signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a redistribution layer (RDL) over an active side of a semiconductor die. A die pad of the semiconductor die is connected to an interconnect segment of the RDL by way of a bond wire. An encapsulating layer is formed over the active side of the semiconductor die such that exposed portions of the die pad and the bond wire are embedded in the encapsulating layer.

Abstract: Packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed, comprising: a semiconductor die having a top major surface with a plurality of contact pads thereon, and four sides, wherein the sides are stepped such that a lower portion of each side extends laterally beyond a respective upper portion; encapsulating material encapsulating the top major surface and the upper portion of each of the sides wherein the semiconductor die is exposed at the lower portion of each of the sides; a contact-redistribution structure on the encapsulating material over the top major surface of the semiconductor die; a plurality of metallic studs extending through the encapsulating material, and providing electrical contact between the contact pads and the contact-redistribution structure. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate dielectric, a second gate dielectric, and a third gate dielectric over a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the first gate dielectric, and depositing a second lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the second gate dielectric. The second lanthanum-containing layer is thinner than the first lanthanum-containing layer. An anneal process is then performed to drive lanthanum in the first lanthanum-containing layer and the second lanthanum-containing layer into the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric, respectively. During the anneal process, the third gate dielectric is free from lanthanum-containing layers thereon.

Abstract: A leadless semiconductor package includes an integrated circuit (IC) die having one or more contacts at an active surface facing a mounting surface of the leadless semiconductor package. The leadless semiconductor package further includes a plurality of dual-sided stud structures providing electrical connectivity between the IC die and the mounting surface, each dual-sided stud structure having at least one first conductive pillar structure extending from a corresponding contact at the active surface to a redistribution layer and having at least one second conductive pillar structure extending from a redistribution layer to an edge of the mounting surface, each first conductive pillar structure having a first dimension in a direction parallel to the mounting surface that is less than a corresponding second dimension of each second conductive pillar structure. Solder wettable flanks may be formed at the external sidewall edges of the second conductive pillar structures to facilitate soldering or inspection.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first transistor disposed over the substrate and including a first channel, a first interfacial layer over the first channel, a first gate dielectric layer over the first interfacial layer, and a first gate electrode layer over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second transistor disposed over the substrate and including a second channel, a second interfacial layer over the second channel, a second gate dielectric layer over the second interfacial layer, and a second gate electrode layer over the second gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer includes a first dipole material composition having a first maximum concentration at a half-thickness line of the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer includes a second dipole material composition having a second maximum concentration at a half-thickness line of the second gate dielectric layer and greater than the first maximum concentration.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes techniques for individually selecting the number of channel strips for a device. The channel strips are selected by defining a three-dimensional active region that include a surface active area and a depth/height. Semiconductor strips in the active region are selected as channel strips. Semiconductor strips contained in the active region will be configured to be channel strips. Semiconductor strips not included in the active region are not selected as channel strips and are separated from source/drain structures by an auxiliary buffer layer.

Abstract: Packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed, comprising: a semiconductor die having a top major surface with a plurality of contact pads thereon, and four sides, wherein the sides are stepped such that a lower portion of each side extends laterally beyond a respective upper portion; encapsulating material encapsulating the top major surface and the upper portion of each of the sides wherein the semiconductor die is exposed at the lower portion of each of the sides; a contact-redistribution structure on the encapsulating material over the top major surface of the semiconductor die; a plurality of metallic studs extending through the encapsulating material, and providing electrical contact between the contact pads and the contact-redistribution structure. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor located in a first region of a substrate and a second transistor located in a second region of the substrate. The first transistor includes first channel members vertically stacked above the substrate and a first gate structure wrapping around each of the first channel members. The first gate structure includes a first interfacial layer. The second transistor includes second channel members vertically stacked above the substrate and a second gate structure wrapping around each of the second channel members. The second gate structure includes a second interfacial layer. The second interfacial layer has a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer over the first sub-layer. The first and second sub-layers include different material compositions. A total thickness of the first and second sub-layers is larger than a thickness of the first interfacial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate structure and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate structure are provided. The semiconductor substrate structure includes a substrate, an electronic device, and a filling material. The substrate defines a cavity. The electronic device is disposed in the cavity and spaced apart from the substrate by a gap. The filling material is disposed in the gap and covers a first region of an upper surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a decision feedback equalizer are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method and apparatus for reduction of inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by communication channel impairments is disclosed. In some embodiments, a decision feedback equalizer includes a plurality of delay latches connected in series, a slicer circuit configured to receive an input signal from a communication channel and delayed feedback signals from the plurality of delay latches and determine a logical state of the received input signal, wherein the slicer circuit further comprises a dynamic threshold voltage calibration circuit configured to regulate a current flow between output nodes of the slicer circuit and ground based on the received delayed feedback signal and impulse response coefficients of the communication channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device package. The semiconductor device package includes a first conductive component, a second conductive component, a planarization layer and an antenna layer. The second conductive component is disposed adjacent to the first conductive component. The second conductive component and the first conductive component have different thicknesses. The planarization layer is disposed on the first conductive component. The antenna layer is disposed on the first conductive component and the second conductive component.

Abstract: A secure boot device includes a counter, a storage device and a comparator. The counter receives a clock. When the processor performs a verification of a firmware for the first time, the counter counts a first verification time taken by the processor to perform the verification of the firmware for the first time based on the clock to generate a first-time verification count value. When the processor performs the verification of the firmware for the non-first time, the counter counts a second verification time taken by the processor to perform the verification of the firmware at least once for the non-first time based on the clock to generate a count value. The storage device stores the first-time verification count value. The comparator is electrically connected to the counter and the storage device. When the processor performs the verification of the firmware for the non-first time, the comparator compares the count value with the first-time verification count value, and generates a comparison result.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device package. The semiconductor device package includes an antenna layer, a first circuit layer and a second circuit layer. The antenna layer has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The first circuit layer is disposed over the antenna layer. The first circuit layer has a second CTE. The second circuit layer is disposed over the antenna layer. The second circuit layer has a third CTE. A difference between the first CTE and the second CTE is less than a difference between the first CTE and the third CTE.

Abstract: A method for forming a packaged integrated circuit device includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuit devices, each integrated circuit device extending into the semiconductor wafer to a first depth, and grinding a backside of the silicon wafer to no more than the first depth. The method further includes forming a backside cut between the integrated circuit devices. The backside cut extends to within the first depth, but the backside cut does not extend completely through the semiconductor wafer. The backside cut exposes a plurality of edges of each of the integrated circuit devices. The method further includes depositing, on the backside of the wafer, a metallization layer on a bottom surface of the integrated circuit devices and on the edges.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor workpiece, forming a first patterned layer of a first dipole material on the dielectric layer, and performing a first thermal drive-in operation at a first temperature to form a diffusion feature in a first portion of the dielectric layer beneath the first patterned layer. The method also includes forming a second patterned layer of a second dipole material, where a first section of the second patterned layer is on the diffusion feature and a second section of the second patterned layer is offset from the diffusion feature. The method further includes performing a second thermal drive-in operation at a second temperature, where the second temperature is less than the first temperature. The method additionally includes forming a gate electrode layer on the dielectric layer.