Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature in a first dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop layer. The second dielectric layer and the etch stop layer are patterned to form an opening, where a portion of the etch stop layer is interposed between a bottom of the opening and the first conductive feature. The portion of the etch stop layer is sputtered to extend the opening toward the first conductive feature and form an extended opening, where the extended opening exposes the first conductive feature. The extended opening is filled with a conductive material to form a second conductive feature in the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A representative method for selective radical-component etching of exposed nitride-containing material comprises the steps of: disposing a substrate in an etch processing region; producing a plasma in a plasma region; flowing a radical component of the plasma into the etch processing region while substantially excluding charged ions of the plasma from entering the etch processing region; flowing an unexcited gas into the etch processing region; and etching an exposed nitride-containing material with reaction products of the radical component of the plasma and the unexcited gas. Etch selectivity for nitride-containing material may be more than about 10 times that of oxide-containing material. In a representative aspect, etching proceeds without producing, or otherwise substantially reducing, residue on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, method, and tool of manufacture includes a semiconductor manufacturing tool. The semiconductor manufacturing tool includes push pins in a chuck and an edge ring over the chuck. The push pins are configured to hold a wafer, and are operable to vary a height of the wafer with respect to the chuck. The edge ring has a first width at a base proximate the chuck, and a second width at a point distal the chuck. The first width is greater than the second width. A distance from the wafer to the edge ring varies when the push pins vary the height of the wafer with respect to the chuck.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a mandrel masking structure over a target layer. The method also includes patterning the mandrel masking structure to form mandrel lines parallel to each other, and forming spacer structures on sidewalls of the respective mandrel lines to define first openings. Each of the spacer structures includes a first spacer and a second spacer between the first spacer and the corresponding mandrel line. The method also includes removing the mandrel lines to define second openings, and etching the target layer through the first and second openings to form a target pattern therein.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a mask layer over a substrate, forming a material layer over the mask layer, forming a first blocking structure and a second blocking structure in the material layer separated from each other, and forming a first opening and a second opening in the material layer aligned with the first blocking structure. The method further includes forming a first spacer on sidewalls of the first opening and a second spacer on sidewalls of the second opening, forming a third opening and a fourth opening in the material layer aligned with the second blocking structure, etching the mask layer through the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure includes forming an opening through an insulating layer and forming a first work function metal layer in the opening. The method also includes recessing the first work function metal layer into the opening to form a recessed first work function metal layer, and forming a second work function metal layer in the opening and over the first work function metal layer. The second work function metal layer lines and overhangs the recessed first work function metal layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing and supporting multiple Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) serial over local area network (SOL) sessions in a management controller. The system includes a management controller used to manage multiple nodes, and at least one remote computing device connected to the management controller via a local area network (LAN). In operation, the management controller configures multiple serial ports for the nodes, so the management controller is communicatively connectable to each of the nodes respectively via one of the serial ports. When the management controller receives a SOL request from the remote computing device to establish a SOL session to access a specific node, the management controller may accordingly establish the SOL session between the specific node and the remote computing device sending the SOL request. Thus, the management controller may support multiple SOL sessions, and may store information of each of the SOL sessions independently.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first interlayer dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. First recesses are formed in the first interlayer dielectric layer. First metal wirings are formed in the first recesses. A first etch-resistance layer is formed in a surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer between the first metal wirings but not on upper surfaces of the first metal wirings. A first insulating layer is formed on the first etch-resistance layer and the upper surfaces of the first metal wirings.

Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, fins, insulators, at least one gate stack and strained material portions is described. The insulators are disposed in trenches of the substrate and between the fins. The upper portion of the fin is higher than a top surface of the insulator and the upper portion has a substantially vertical profile, while the lower portion of the fin is lower than the top surface of the insulator and the lower portion has a tapered profile. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the fins and on the insulators. The strained material portions are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and a spacer element over a sidewall of the gate stack. The spacer element is substantially free of oxygen. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, and the dielectric layer surrounds the gate stack and the spacer element. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive contact penetrating through the dielectric layer and electrically connected to a conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. An angle between a sidewall of the conductive contact and a top surface of the spacer element is in a range from about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees, and the conductive contact covers a portion of the spacer element.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form an opening, forming a replacement gate stack in the opening, recessing the replacement gate stack to form a recess, filling the recess with a conductive material, and performing a planarization to remove excess portions of the conductive material over the gate spacer. A remaining portion of the conductive material forms a gate contact plug.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a mask layer over a substrate, forming a material layer over the mask layer, forming a first blocking structure and a second blocking structure in the material layer separated from each other, and forming a first opening and a second opening in the material layer aligned with the first blocking structure. The method further includes forming a first spacer on sidewalls of the first opening and a second spacer on sidewalls of the second opening, forming a third opening and a fourth opening in the material layer aligned with the second blocking structure, etching the mask layer through the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening.

Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a first trench and a second trench. A remaining portion of the semiconductor substrate is left between the first trench and the second trench as a semiconductor region. A doped dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls of the semiconductor region and over a top surface of the semiconductor region. The doped dielectric layer includes a dopant. The first trench and the second trench are filled with a dielectric material. An anneal is then performed, and a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant in the doped dielectric layer is diffused into the semiconductor region to form a diffused semiconductor region.

Abstract: A method includes performing an implantation on a portion of a first layer to form an implanted region, and removing un-implanted portions of the first layer. The implanted region remains after the un-implanted portions of the first layer are removed. An etching is then performed on a second layer underlying the first layer, wherein the implanted region is used as a portion of a first etching mask in the etching. The implanted region is removed. A metal mask is etched using the second layer to form a patterned mask. An inter-layer dielectric is then etched to form a contact opening, wherein the patterned mask is used as a second etching mask.

Abstract: Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for providing an intuitive user interface (UI) for device or vendor independent network switch management via a management controller. The management controller is communicatively connected to a network switch through a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface. The management controller provides a web UI. When a remote computing device request the web UI, the management controller sends the web UI to the remote computing device. Thus, a user at the remote computing device may upload the parsed information of the MIB file to the management controller through the UI. The management controller then processes the parsed information of the MIB file, and displays the processed parsed information in a hierarchical organization through the UI. Then the management controller establishes a communication between the management controller and the network switch through the SNMP interface based on the parsed information of the MIB file.

Abstract: Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for network switch management via a management controller using a management information base (MIB) to JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) parser. At a computing device, an administrator provides a MIB file corresponding to a network switch to be managed. Then the administrator utilizes a parser application to parse the MIB file at the computing device to retrieve Object Identifiers (OIDs) from the MIB file, and then converts the OIDs to JSON objects, in order to generate parsed information of the MIB file including the JSON objects. Thus, the administrator may use a browser to access a web user interface at a management controller to upload the parsed information of the MIB file to the management controller. The management controller may then manage and configure the network switch through a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface based on the parsed information of the MIB file.

Abstract: Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for device or vendor independent network switch management on a management controller. The management controller is communicatively connected to a network switch through a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface. The management controller receives parsed information of a management information base (MIB) file corresponding to the network switch, and establishes a communication between the management controller and the network switch through the SNMP interface based on the parsed information of the MIB file, in which the management controller functions as a client and the network switch functions as a server of the communication. Then the management controller receives an input to manage and configure the network switch, and manages and configures the network switch via the communication through the SNMP interface based on the input and the parsed information of the MIB file.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base and a fin structure over the base. The fin structure has sidewalls. The semiconductor device structure includes a passivation layer over the sidewalls. The passivation layer includes dopants. The dopants include at least one element selected from group 4A elements, and the dopants and the substrate are made of different materials. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer over the base and surrounding the fin structure and the passivation layer. A first upper portion of the fin structure and a second upper portion of the passivation layer protrude from the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate electrode over the first upper portion of the fin structure and the second upper portion of the passivation layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a spacer layer and a dielectric layer over a substrate. The spacer layer has an opening exposing the substrate, and the dielectric layer surrounds the spacer layer. The method includes forming a metal silicon nitride layer over a sidewall and a bottom surface of the opening. The method includes forming a first work function metal layer over the metal silicon nitride layer. The method includes removing a first top portion of the first work function metal layer. The method includes, after the removal of the first top portion, removing a second top portion of the metal silicon nitride layer. The method includes forming a conductive layer in the opening. The method includes removing a third top portion of the conductive layer and a fourth top portion of the metal silicon nitride layer.