Abstract: An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two substrates, such as wafers, dies, or a wafer and a die, are bonded together. A first mask is used to form a first opening extending partially to an interconnect formed on the first wafer. A dielectric liner is formed, and then another etch process is performed using the same mask. The etch process continues to expose interconnects formed on the first substrate and the second substrate. The opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.

Abstract: An embodiment method includes forming a first plurality of bond pads on a device substrate, depositing a spacer layer over and extending along sidewalls of the first plurality of bond pads, and etching the spacer layer to remove lateral portions of the spacer layer and form spacers on sidewalls of the first plurality of bond pads. The method further includes bonding a cap substrate including a second plurality of bond pads to the device substrate by bonding the first plurality of bond pads to the second plurality of bond pads.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method in which a functional layer is formed over an upper semiconductor surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a capping layer is formed over the functional layer. A first etchant is used to form a recess through the capping layer and through the functional layer. The recess has a first depth and exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate there through. A protective layer is formed along a lower surface and inner sidewalls of the recess. A second etchant is used to remove the protective layer from the lower surface of the recess and to extend the recess below the upper semiconductor surface to a second depth to form a deep trench. To prevent etching of the functional layer, the protective layer remains in place along the inner sidewalls of the recess while the second etchant is used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip having a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure having a reflective element. In some embodiments, the image sensor integrated chip includes an image sensing element arranged within a substrate. A plurality of protrusions are arranged along a first side of the substrate over the image sensing element and one or more absorption enhancement layers are arranged over and between the plurality of protrusions. A plurality of DTI structures are arranged within trenches disposed on opposing sides of the image sensing element and extend from the first side of the substrate to within the substrate. The plurality of DTI structures respectively include a reflective element having one or more reflective regions configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation. By reflecting electromagnetic radiation using the reflective elements, cross-talk between adjacent pixel regions is reduced, thereby improving performance of the image sensor integrated chip.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an SOI substrate. The method may be performed by epitaxially forming a silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer over a sacrificial substrate and epitaxially forming a first active layer on the SiGe layer. The first active layer has a composition different than the SiGe layer. The sacrificial substrate and is flipped and the first active layer is bonded to an upper surface of a dielectric layer formed over a first substrate. The sacrificial substrate and the SiGe layer are removed and the first active layer is etched to define outermost sidewalls and to expose an outside edge of an upper surface of the dielectric layer. A contiguous active layer is formed by epitaxially forming a second active layer on the first active layer. The first active layer and the second active layer have a substantially same composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an SOI substrate. The method may be performed by epitaxially forming a silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer over a sacrificial substrate and epitaxially forming a first active layer on the SiGe layer. The first active layer has a composition different than the SiGe layer. The sacrificial substrate and is flipped and the first active layer is bonded to an upper surface of a dielectric layer formed over a first substrate. The sacrificial substrate and the SiGe layer are removed and the first active layer is etched to define outermost sidewalls and to expose an outside edge of an upper surface of the dielectric layer. A contiguous active layer is formed by epitaxially forming a second active layer on the first active layer. The first active layer and the second active layer have a substantially same composition.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical detector configured to receive scattered light signals from a surface of a wafer including a plurality of sensor arrays, each of which has a boundary smaller than a boundary of a laser beam, a light source optically coupled to the surface of the wafer, wherein light from the light source hits the surface with a small incident angle and a processor configured to measure a distance between a sensor array boundary and a laser beam boundary, wherein a laser annealing process is recalibrated if the distance is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate including a first semiconductive region of a first conductive type and gate structures over the first semiconductive region, where a gap between the gate structures exposes a portion of the first semiconductive region; and forming a second semiconductive region of a second conductive type in the gap starting from the exposed portion of the first semiconductive region. The forming of the second semiconductive region includes: growing, in a chamber, an epitaxial silicon-rich layer with a first growth rate around a sidewall adjacent to the gate structures that is greater than a second growth rate at a central portion; and, in the chamber, partially removing the epitaxial silicon-rich layer with an etchant with a first etching rate around the sidewall adjacent to the gate structures that is greater than a second etching rate at the central portion.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate includes a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure. The multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure includes a plurality of polycrystalline silicon layers stacked over one another, and a native oxide layer between each adjacent pair of polycrystalline silicon layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a debonding apparatus. In some embodiments, the debonding apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to hold a pair of bonded substrates on a chuck top surface. The debonding apparatus further comprises a pair of separating blades including a first separating blade and a second separating blade placed at edges of the pair of bonded substrates diametrically opposite to each other. The first separating blade has a first thickness that is smaller than a second thickness of the second separating blade. The debonding apparatus further comprises a flex wafer assembly placed above the pair of bonded substrates and configured to pull the pair of bonded substrates upwardly to separate a second substrate from a first substrate of the pair of bonded substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.

Abstract: Backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor devices are described as having pixel isolation structures formed on a sacrificial substrate. A photolayer is epitaxially grown over the pixel isolation structures. Radiation-detecting regions are formed in the photolayer adjacent to the pixel isolation structures. The pixel isolation structures include a dielectric material. The radiation-detecting regions include photodiodes. A backside surface of the BSI image sensor device is produced by planarized removal of the sacrificial substrate to physically expose the pixel isolation structures or at least optically expose the photolayer.

Abstract: A backside illumination (BSI) image sensor and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a plurality of photosensitive pixels in a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the substrate having one or more active devices on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface is protected. A second portion of the second surface is patterned to form recesses in the substrate. An anti-reflective layer is formed on sidewalls of the recesses. A metal grid is formed over the second portion of the second surface, the anti-reflective layer being interposed between the substrate and the metal grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method is performed by forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate having a first photodetector region and forming a gate material over the gate dielectric layer. A dielectric protection layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer and a first sidewall spacer is formed along a side of the gate material. The dielectric protection layer extends from a first location directly over the first photodetector region to a second location between the first sidewall spacer and the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: An image sensor device is disclosed. The image sensor device includes: a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a radiation-sensing region formed in the substrate; an opening extending from the back surface of the substrate into the substrate; a first metal oxide film including a first metal, the first metal oxide film being formed on an interior surface of the opening; and a second metal oxide film including a second metal, the second metal oxide film being formed over the first metal oxide film; wherein the electronegativity of the first metal is greater than the electronegativity of the second metal. An associated fabricating method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate comprising an interlayer dielectric (ILD) and a silicon layer disposed over the ILD, wherein the ILD comprises a conductive structure disposed therein, a dielectric layer disposed over the silicon layer, and a conductive plug electrically connected with the conductive structure and extended from the dielectric layer through the silicon layer to the ILD, wherein the conductive plug has a length extending from the dielectric layer to the ILD and a width substantially consistent along the length.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip having a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure having a reflective element. In some embodiments, the image sensor integrated chip includes an image sensing element arranged within a substrate. A plurality of protrusions are arranged along a first side of the substrate over the image sensing element and one or more absorption enhancement layers are arranged over and between the plurality of protrusions. A plurality of DTI structures are arranged within trenches disposed on opposing sides of the image sensing element and extend from the first side of the substrate to within the substrate. The plurality of DTI structures respectively include a reflective element having one or more reflective regions configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation. By reflecting electromagnetic radiation using the reflective elements, cross-talk between adjacent pixel regions is reduced, thereby improving performance of the image sensor integrated chip.

Abstract: A photo-sensitive device includes a uniform layer, a gradated buffer layer over the uniform layer, a silicon layer over the gradated buffer layer, a photo-sensitive light-sensing region in the uniform layer and the silicon layer, a device layer on the silicon layer, and a carrier wafer bonded to the device layer.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, a trench is etched in a semiconductor substrate having a top surface, and a lining oxide layer is formed conformal to the trench. A negatively-charged liner covering the lining oxide layer and conformal to the trench is formed. The trench is partially filled with a flowable oxide to a level below the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the flowable oxide in the trench is cured. The negatively-charged liner above the cured flowable oxide is optionally removed. A silicon oxide is deposited in the remaining portion of the trench, and a planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon oxide over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a package component, which further includes a non-porous dielectric layer having a first porosity, and a porous dielectric layer over and contacting the non-porous dielectric layer, wherein the porous dielectric layer has a second porosity higher than the first porosity. A bond pad penetrates through the non-porous dielectric layer and the porous dielectric layer. A dielectric barrier layer is overlying, and in contact with, the porous dielectric layer. The bond pad is exposed through the dielectric barrier layer. The dielectric barrier layer has a planar top surface. The bond pad has a planar top surface higher than a bottom surface of the dielectric barrier layer.

Abstract: A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material.