Abstract: A light sensing method having a sensing order adjusting mechanism is provided. The method includes steps of: in a previous sensing cycle, sensing a first light signal that is emitted by both of an ambient light source and a light-emitting component and then is reflected by a tested object; in the previous sensing cycle, sensing a second light signal that is emitted by both of the ambient light source and the light-emitting component and then is reflected by the tested object; in the previous sensing cycle, sensing an ambient light signal emitted by only the ambient light source; and in a next sensing cycle, sensing the first light signal, the second light signal and the ambient light signal in an order different from that in the previous sensing cycle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor device structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device structure includes a plurality of semiconductor layers vertically stacked, a plurality of inner spacers, each being disposed between two adjacent semiconductor layers. The structure also includes a source/drain feature in contact with each of the inner spacers, a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of each of the plurality of the semiconductor layers, and a cap layer disposed between the source/drain feature and each of the plurality of the semiconductor layers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for selectively forming a seed layer over semiconductor fins. Some embodiments provide forming the selective seed layer using a mono-silane at an increased temperature. Some embodiments provide depositing a hetero-crystalline silicon cap layer over the bottom-up gap layer to improve gap filling and tune profiles of fin structures.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive features within a dielectric layer overlying a substrate, a barrier layer disposed between each of the plurality of the conductive features and the dielectric layer, a protection layer between sidewalls of the barrier layer and the dielectric layer and a void disposed within the dielectric layer at a position between two adjacent conductive features of the plurality of the conductive features.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening. A first conductive feature underlying the dielectric layer is exposed to the opening. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited to extend into the opening. The sacrificial spacer layer is patterned. A bottom portion of the sacrificial spacer layer at a bottom of the opening is removed to reveal the first conductive feature, and a vertical portion of the sacrificial spacer layer in the opening and on sidewalls of the dielectric layer is left to form a ring. A second conductive feature is formed in the opening. The second conductive feature is encircled by the ring, and is over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature. At least a portion of the ring is removed to form an air spacer.

Abstract: A patterning process that can be utilized in order to help form conductive lines within a dielectric layer of a metallization layer is provided. In an embodiment a first interfacial layer is patterned a first time, the first interfacial layer being located over a first hard mask layer over a dielectric layer, the patterning the first interfacial layer the first time forming a first opening, which is filled with a first dielectric material. The first interfacial layer is patterned a second time, the patterning the first interfacial layer the second time forming second openings in the first interfacial layer, at least one of the second openings exposing the first dielectric material. The first dielectric material is removed, and the dielectric layer is patterned a second time after the removing the first dielectric material using the first interfacial layer as a mask, the patterning the dielectric layer extending the second openings.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening. A first conductive feature underlying the dielectric layer is exposed to the opening. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited to extend into the opening. The sacrificial spacer layer is patterned. A bottom portion of the sacrificial spacer layer at a bottom of the opening is removed to reveal the first conductive feature, and a vertical portion of the sacrificial spacer layer in the opening and on sidewalls of the dielectric layer is left to form a ring. A second conductive feature is formed in the opening. The second conductive feature is encircled by the ring, and is over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature. At least a portion of the ring is removed to form an air spacer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a hard mask layer overlying a device layer of a semiconductor device, a mandrel underlayer over hard mask layer, and a mandrel layer over mandrel underlayer. The mandrel layer has a plurality of mandrel lines extending along a first direction. A plurality of openings are formed in mandrel underlayer extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to first direction. A spacer layer is formed over mandrel underlayer and layer. Spacer layer fills plurality of openings in underlayer. Portions of spacer layer are removed to expose an upper surface of underlayer and mandrel layer, and mandrel layer is removed. By using remaining portions of spacer layer as a mask, underlayer and hard mask layer are removed, to form a hard mask pattern with first hard mask pattern lines extending along first direction and second hard mask pattern lines extending along second direction.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a mandrel layer over a target layer to form first mandrels and second mandrels, the first mandrels having a larger width than the second mandrels. A spacer layer is formed over the first mandrels and the second mandrels, and altered so that a thickness of the spacer layer over the first mandrels is greater than a thickness of the spacer layer over the second mandrels. Spacers are formed from the spacer layer which have a greater width adjacent the first mandrels than the spacers which are adjacent the second mandrels. The spacers are used to etch a target layer.

Abstract: In one example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method. The method includes receiving a workpiece having a conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial material layer over the conductive feature, removing first portions of the sacrificial material layer to form line trenches and to expose a top surface of the conductive feature in one of the line trenches; forming line features in the line trenches, removing second portions of the sacrificial material layer to form gaps between the line features, and forming dielectric features in the gaps, the dielectric features enclosing an air gap.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method that includes depositing multiple hard mask layers over an interconnect dielectric layer. A first patterning layer is deposited over the multiple hard mask layers, and a first masking structure is formed over the first masking structure. The first masking structure has openings formed by a first extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process. Portions of the first patterning layer are removed according to the first masking structure. A second masking structure is formed within the patterned first patterning layer. A third masking structure is formed over a topmost one of the hard mask layers and has openings formed by a second EUV lithography process. Removal processes are performed to pattern the multiple hard mask layers to form openings in the interconnect dielectric layer, and interconnect wires having rounded corners are formed within the openings of the interconnect dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of forming the same are provided. The method includes: forming a plurality of mandrel patterns over a dielectric layer; forming a first spacer and a second spacer on sidewalls of the plurality of mandrel patterns, wherein a first width of the first spacer is larger than a second width of the second spacer; removing the plurality of mandrel patterns; patterning the dielectric layer using the first spacer and the second spacer as a patterning mask; and forming conductive lines laterally aside the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A particle removal method includes loading a particle attracting member with a coating layer into a processing chamber of a processing apparatus. The processing chamber is configured to perform a lithography exposure process on a semiconductor wafer. The method also includes fixing the particle attracting member on a reticle holder in the processing chamber in a cleaning cycle, attracting particles in the processing chamber by the coating layer of the particle attracting member due to a potential difference between the particles and the coating layer, and loading the particle attracting member with the coating layer and the attracted particles out of the processing chamber, after the cleaning cycle. The method also includes loading the semiconductor wafer into the processing chamber, and performing the lithography exposure process on the semiconductor wafer in the processing chamber using a reticle fixed on the reticle holder after the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A driving and resistance control system for a permanent-magnet synchronous motor is disclosed. A control device includes a processing unit, a motor driving circuit, a resistance controller, and an interlock switch. In a first operation mode, the interlock switch makes the motor driving circuit and the permanent-magnet synchronous motor open-circuiting, and connecting stator windings of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor to the resistance controller, and under this condition, the external rotor of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor is rotated by spinning of a flywheel, so that the permanent-magnet synchronous motor is operating in a generator mode to generate a resisting force to the flywheel by mesas of a resistance generation device.

Abstract: A method includes forming a photoresist layer over a wafer. The photoresist layer is exposed to a pattern of radiation using a photomask. The photoresist layer is developed after the photoresist layer is exposed to the pattern of radiation. The photomask includes a substrate and at least one opaque main feature. The substrate has a recessed region recessed from a first surface of the substrate and has a first width. The at least one opaque main feature protrudes from the first surface of the substrate and has a second width greater than the first width of the recessed region of the substrate. A height of the at least one opaque main feature is greater than a depth of the recess region of the substrate.

Abstract: A light sensing method having a sensing order adjusting mechanism is provided. The method includes steps of: in a previous sensing cycle, sensing a first light signal that is emitted by both of an ambient light source and a light-emitting component and then is reflected by a tested object; in the previous sensing cycle, sensing a second light signal that is emitted by both of the ambient light source and the light-emitting component and then is reflected by the tested object; in the previous sensing cycle, sensing an ambient light signal emitted by only the ambient light source; and in a next sensing cycle, sensing the first light signal, the second light signal and the ambient light signal in an order different from that in the previous sensing cycle.

Abstract: In one example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method. The method includes receiving a workpiece having a conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial material layer over the conductive feature, removing first portions of the sacrificial material layer to form line trenches and to expose a top surface of the conductive feature in one of the line trenches; forming line features in the line trenches, removing second portions of the sacrificial material layer to form gaps between the line features, and forming dielectric features in the gaps, the dielectric features enclosing an air gap.

Abstract: A photomask includes a substrate, an opaque filling formed embedded in the substrate, and an opaque main feature over the substrate. The opaque filling has a first width. The opaque main has a second width greater than the first width of the opaque filling. The opaque filling and the opaque main feature comprise same material.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing system includes a semiconductor processing apparatus. The semiconductor processing apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to perform a semiconductor process on a semiconductor wafer, and a transferring module configured to transfer the semiconductor wafer into and out of the processing chamber. The semiconductor manufacturing system also includes a particle attracting member. The semiconductor manufacturing system also includes a monitoring device configured to control the transferring module to load the particle attracting member into the processing chamber in a cleaning cycle while the semiconductor wafer is not in the processing chamber, and control the transferring module to load the particle attracting member out of the processing chamber after the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes followings. A metal layer is formed to embedded in a first dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed over the metal layer and the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop layer. A portion of the second dielectric layer is removed to expose a portion of the etch stop layer and to form a via by a dry etching process. The portion of the etch stop layer exposed by the second dielectric layer is removed to expose the metal layer and to form a damascene cavity by a wet etching process. A damascene structure is formed in the damascene cavity.