Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a via-first process for connecting a contact to a gate electrode. In some embodiments, the contact is formed extending through a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to a source/drain region bordering the gate electrode. An etch stop layer (ESL) is deposited covering the first ILD layer and the contact, and a second ILD layer is deposited covering the ESL. A first etch is performed into the first and second ILD layers and the etch stop layer to form a first opening exposing the gate electrode. A series of etches is performed into the second ILD layer and the etch stop layer to form a second opening overlying the contact and overlapping the first opening, such that a bottom of the second opening slants downward from the contact to the first opening. A gate-to-contact (GC) structure is formed filling the first and second openings.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate, forming an ILD layer over the first conductive feature, patterning the ILD layer to form a trench, and forming a conductive layer over the patterned ILD layer to fill the trench. The method further includes polishing the conductive layer to form a via contact configured to interconnect the first conductive feature with a second conductive feature, where polishing the conductive layer exposes a top surface of the ILD layer, polishing the exposed top surface of the ILD layer, such that a top portion of the via contact protrudes from the exposed top surface of the ILD layer, and forming the second conductive feature over the via contact, such that the top portion of the via contact extends into the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A method of packaging a semiconductor device, comprising: attaching a plurality of dies to a carrier wafer, wherein each of the dies includes a top surface; forming a molding compound layer over the dies, wherein the top surface of the dies are covered by the molding compound layer; removing a first portion of the molding compound layer; removing a second portion of the molding compound layer such that the top surface of the dies is not covered by the molding compound layer; forming a redistribution layer (RDL) over the top surface of the dies; forming a plurality of solder balls over at least a portion of the RDL; and singulating the dies.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an endpoint of a grinding process includes a connecting device, a timer and a controller. The connecting device is connected to a sensor that periodically senses an interface of a reconstructed wafer comprising a plurality of dies of at least two types to generate a thickness signal comprising thicknesses from a surface of an insulating layer of the reconstructed wafer to the interface of the reconstructed wafer. The timer is configured to generate a clock signal having a plurality of pulses with a time interval. The controller is coupled to the sensor and the timer, and configured to filter the thickness signal according to the clock signal to output a thickness extremum among the thicknesses in the thickness signal within each time interval, wherein the thickness signal after the filtering is used to determine the endpoint of the grinding process being performed on the reconstructed wafer.

Abstract: A method for thinning a substrate is provided. The method includes at least the following steps. A substrate is disposed on a carrying surface of a chuck, where a first liquid supply unit surrounds the chuck to form a frame of the chuck, and an outlet of the first liquid supply unit is disposed aside the carrying surface of the chuck. A first liquid flows from a bottom of the frame to the outlet and discharges to fill a gap between the substrate and the carrying surface of the chuck. The substrate is thinned during the gap is filled.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a gate spacer layer formed on a sidewall of the gate structure. The FinFET device structure includes a gate contact structure formed over the gate structure, and a first isolation layer surrounding the gate contact structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure comprising a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, a conductive layer disposed over the metal gate structure, and a contact feature in direct contact with the top portion of the conductive layer, where the conductive layer includes a bottom portion disposed below a top surface of the metal gate structure and a top portion disposed over the top surface of the metal gate structure, and where the top portion laterally extends beyond a sidewall of the bottom portion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin extending from a substrate; forming a second fin extending from the substrate, the second fin being spaced apart from the first fin by a first distance; forming a metal gate stack over the first fin and the second fin; depositing a first inter-layer dielectric over the metal gate stack; and forming a gate contact extending through the first inter-layer dielectric to physically contact the metal gate stack, the gate contact being laterally disposed between the first fin and the second fin, the gate contact being spaced apart from the first fin by a second distance, where the second distance is less than a second predetermined threshold when the first distance is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a housing, a connector, a light source, a control module board, and an antenna. The housing includes an inner space. The light source is located in the inner space. The control module board is located in the connector, wherein an accommodation space is formed by the housing and the control module board. The antenna is located in the accommodation space.

Abstract: A method for treating hearing loss in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method includes providing a combination of transcription factors to induce generation of a hair cell-like cell, thereby treating the hearing loss in the subject. The generated hair cell-like cells exhibit characteristic of mature functional cells that is useful in cell replacement therapy for autologous transplantation.

Abstract: A method of electricity production using water thermal energy includes compressing an enclosed working fluid at a first vertical position relative to a surface of a body of water to cause the fluid to move to a second vertical position relative to the surface and subsequently move to the first position in a closed loop, an external environment at the second position having a greater temperature than an external environment at the first position such that the fluid transitions between a liquid phase at the first position and a vapor phase at the second position, the compressing using power from a battery, and expanding the fluid at the second position to generate electricity to charge the battery. The first and second positions may be two depths of the body of water or a height of an atmosphere above the body of water and a depth of the body of water.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and method of forming the same are disclosed herein. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a second contact feature over the first contact feature, a barrier layer between the second dielectric layer and the second contact feature, and a liner between the barrier layer and the second contact feature. An interface between the first contact feature and the second contact feature includes the liner but is free of the barrier layer.

Abstract: Vias, along with methods for fabricating vias, are disclosed that exhibit reduced capacitance and resistance. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact disposed in a dielectric layer. The first source/drain contact physically contacts a first source/drain feature and the second source/drain contact physically contacts a second source/drain feature. A first via having a first via layer configuration, a second via having a second via layer configuration, and a third via having a third via layer configuration are disposed in the dielectric layer. The first via and the second via extend into and physically contact the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, respectively. A first thickness of the first via and a second thickness of the second via are the same. The third via physically contacts a gate structure, which is disposed between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an endpoint of a grinding process includes a connecting device, a timer and a controller. The connecting device is connected to a sensor that periodically senses an interface of a reconstructed wafer comprising a plurality of dies of at least two types to generate a thickness signal comprising thicknesses from a surface of an insulating layer of the reconstructed wafer to the interface of the reconstructed wafer. The timer is configured to generate a clock signal having a plurality of pulses with a time interval. The controller is coupled to the sensor and the timer, and configured to filter the thickness signal according to the clock signal to output a thickness extremum among the thicknesses in the thickness signal within each time interval, wherein the thickness signal after the filtering is used to determine the endpoint of the grinding process being performed on the reconstructed wafer.

Abstract: A source/drain is disposed over a substrate. A source/drain contact is disposed over the source/drain. A first via is disposed over the source/drain contact. The first via has a laterally-protruding bottom portion and a top portion that is disposed over the laterally-protruding bottom portion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin extending from a substrate; forming a second fin extending from the substrate, the second fin being spaced apart from the first fin by a first distance; forming a metal gate stack over the first fin and the second fin; depositing a first inter-layer dielectric over the metal gate stack; and forming a gate contact extending through the first inter-layer dielectric to physically contact the metal gate stack, the gate contact being laterally disposed between the first fin and the second fin, the gate contact being spaced apart from the first fin by a second distance, where the second distance is less than a second predetermined threshold when the first distance is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature disposed in a semiconductor layer, a metal gate stack (MG) disposed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer and adjacent to the S/D feature, a second ILD layer disposed over the MG, and an S/D contact disposed over the S/D feature. The semiconductor structure further includes an air gap disposed between a sidewall of a bottom portion of the S/D contact and the first ILD layer, where a sidewall of a top portion of the S/D contact is in direct contact with the second ILD layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper material for producing a paper straw mainly, the paper material includes: a paper and a hot-melt adhesive material; wherein, the hot-melt adhesive material is provided on at least one surface of the paper, including an acrylic acid copolymer 40%˜45% w/w, an ammonia water less than 0.1% w/w or equal to 0.1% w/w and a water 55%˜60%. w/w The hot-melt adhesive material is presented as a dry hot-melt adhesive without viscosity and being transformed to a flow hot-melt adhesive with viscosity while being heated from 80° C.˜200° C.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure and an S/D contact structure formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure also includes an S/D conductive plug formed over the S/D contact structure, and the S/D conductive plug includes a first barrier layer and a first conductive layer. The FinFET device structure includes a gate contact structure formed over the gate structure, and the gate contact structure includes a second barrier layer and a second conductive layer. The FinFET device structure includes a first isolation layer surrounding the S/D conductive plug, and the first barrier layer is between the first isolation layer and the first conductive layer. A second isolation layer surrounding the gate contact structure, and the second barrier layer is between the second isolation layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a paper straw, the method comprising: a paper roll transmission step, a paper strip heating step, a bonding and shaping step and a cutting step. Wherein, a plurality of raw paper rolls face a connection position jointly to transmit a raw paper strip, the raw paper strip includes a paper material and a dry hot-melt adhesive. The dry hot-melt adhesive of the raw paper rolls is heated for changing into flow hot-melt adhesive. Then the raw paper rolls is transmitted to the connection position for rolling jointly, and the flow hot-melt adhesives are bounded on another raw paper strip to form a pipe. Finally, the pipe is cut to form at least one paper straw after the pipe exceeds a setting length.