Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer over a first conductive line and a second conductive line, a high resistance layer over a portion of the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer on the high resistance layer, a low-k dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, a first conductive via extending through the low-k dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and a second conductive via extending through the low-k dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer to the first conductive line. The first conductive via extends into the high resistance layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes performing a first plasma deposition to form a buffer layer over a first side of a first integrated circuit device, the first integrated circuit device comprising a first substrate and a first interconnect structure; performing a second plasma deposition to form a first bonding layer over the buffer layer, wherein a plasma power applied during the second plasma deposition is greater than a plasma power applied during the first plasma deposition; planarizing the first bonding layer; forming a second bonding layer over a second substrate; pressing the second bonding layer onto the first bonding layer; and removing the first substrate.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a front side of a substrate, in which the transistor comprises a channel region, a gate region over the channel region, and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the gate region; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the transistor, wherein the front-side interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer and conductive features; and bonding the front-side interconnect structure to a carrier substrate via a bonding layer, in which the bonding layer is between the front-side interconnect structure and the carrier substrate, and the bonding layer has a higher thermal conductivity than the dielectric layer of the front-side interconnect structure.

Abstract: Back-end-of-line (BEOL) passive device structures and methods of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes a first lower contact feature in a first dielectric layer, an etch stop layer on the first dielectric layer, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor formed over the etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer over the MIM capacitor, a first contact via extending through both the second dielectric layer and the MIM capacitor and electrically coupled to the first lower contact feature, and a first upper contact feature over and electrically coupled to the first contact via, where a bottom plate of the MIM capacitor is in direct contact with the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor chip includes the following steps. A bonding material layer is formed on a first wafer substrate and is patterned to form a first bonding layer having a strength adjustment pattern. A semiconductor component layer and a first interconnect structure layer are formed on a second wafer substrate. The first interconnect structure layer is located. A second bonding layer is formed on the first interconnect structure layer. The second wafer substrate is bonded to the first wafer substrate by contacting the second bonding layer with the first bonding layer. A bonding interface of the second bonding layer and the first bonding layer is smaller than an area of the second bonding layer. A second interconnect structure layer is formed on the semiconductor component layer. A conductor terminal is formed on the second interconnect structure layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first electrode layer having a first opening, with the first opening having a first lateral dimension, forming a first capacitor insulator over the first electrode layer, and forming a second electrode layer over the first capacitor insulator, with the second electrode layer having a second opening. The first opening is directly underlying the second opening. The second opening has a second lateral dimension greater than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer over the second electrode layer, and forming a contact opening, which comprises a first portion including the first opening, and a second portion including the second opening. A conductive plug is formed in the contact opening.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor chip includes the following steps. A bonding material layer is formed on a first wafer substrate and is patterned to form a first bonding layer having a strength adjustment pattern. A semiconductor component layer and a first interconnect structure layer are formed on a second wafer substrate. The first interconnect structure layer is located. A second bonding layer is formed on the first interconnect structure layer. The second wafer substrate is bonded to the first wafer substrate by contacting the second bonding layer with the first bonding layer. A bonding interface of the second bonding layer and the first bonding layer is smaller than an area of the second bonding layer. A second interconnect structure layer is formed on the semiconductor component layer. A conductor terminal is formed on the second interconnect structure layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature and a first punch stop layer, where the conductive feature has a first top surface, and where the first punch stop layer has a second top surface that is substantially level with the first top surface. The method further includes forming a resistive element over the first punch stop layer. The method further includes etching through a first portion of the resistive element to form a first trench that exposes both the second top surface of the first punch stop layer and a first sidewall surface of the resistive element. The method further includes forming a first conductive via within the first trench, where the first conductive via contacts the first sidewall surface of the resistive element.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first electrode layer having a first opening, with the first opening having a first lateral dimension, forming a first capacitor insulator over the first electrode layer, and forming a second electrode layer over the first capacitor insulator, with the second electrode layer having a second opening. The first opening is directly underlying the second opening. The second opening has a second lateral dimension greater than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer over the second electrode layer, and forming a contact opening, which comprises a first portion including the first opening, and a second portion including the second opening. A conductive plug is formed in the contact opening.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices are described herein. A method includes forming an interconnect structure over a device wafer. The device wafer includes a first integrated circuit, a semiconductor substrate, and a redistribution structure. The method further includes forming a metallization layer and a group of dummy insertion structures having a stepped pattern density in a topmost dielectric layer of the interconnect structure. The group of dummy insertion structures and the metallization layer are planarized with the dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a first bonding layer over the group of dummy insertion structures, the metallization layer, and the dielectric layer. The method further includes bonding a carrier wafer to the first bonding layer, forming an opening through the semiconductor substrate, and forming a conductive via in the opening and electrically coupled to the redistribution structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes performing a first plasma deposition to form a buffer layer over a first side of a first integrated circuit device, the first integrated circuit device comprising a first substrate and a first interconnect structure; performing a second plasma deposition to form a first bonding layer over the buffer layer, wherein a plasma power applied during the second plasma deposition is greater than a plasma power applied during the first plasma deposition; planarizing the first bonding layer; forming a second bonding layer over a second substrate; pressing the second bonding layer onto the first bonding layer; and removing the first substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor chip includes the following steps. A bonding material layer is formed on a first wafer substrate and is patterned to form a first bonding layer having a strength adjustment pattern. A semiconductor component layer and a first interconnect structure layer are formed on a second wafer substrate. The first interconnect structure layer is located. A second bonding layer is formed on the first interconnect structure layer. The second wafer substrate is bonded to the first wafer substrate by contacting the second bonding layer with the first bonding layer. A bonding interface of the second bonding layer and the first bonding layer is smaller than an area of the second bonding layer. A second interconnect structure layer is formed on the semiconductor component layer. A conductor terminal is formed on the second interconnect structure layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature and a first punch stop layer, where the conductive feature has a first top surface, and where the first punch stop layer has a second top surface that is substantially level with the first top surface. The method further includes forming a resistive element over the first punch stop layer. The method further includes etching through a first portion of the resistive element to form a first trench that exposes both the second top surface of the first punch stop layer and a first sidewall surface of the resistive element. The method further includes forming a first conductive via within the first trench, where the first conductive via contacts the first sidewall surface of the resistive element.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a front side of a substrate, in which the transistor comprises a channel region, a gate region over the channel region, and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the gate region; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the transistor, wherein the front-side interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer and conductive features; and bonding the front-side interconnect structure to a carrier substrate via a bonding layer, in which the bonding layer is between the front-side interconnect structure and the carrier substrate, and the bonding layer has a higher thermal conductivity than the dielectric layer of the front-side interconnect structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first electrode layer having a first opening, with the first opening having a first lateral dimension, forming a first capacitor insulator over the first electrode layer, and forming a second electrode layer over the first capacitor insulator, with the second electrode layer having a second opening. The first opening is directly underlying the second opening. The second opening has a second lateral dimension greater than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer over the second electrode layer, and forming a contact opening, which comprises a first portion including the first opening, and a second portion including the second opening. A conductive plug is formed in the contact opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature and a first punch stop layer, where the conductive feature has a first top surface, and where the first punch stop layer has a second top surface that is substantially level with the first top surface. The method further includes forming a resistive element over the first punch stop layer. The method further includes etching through a first portion of the resistive element to form a first trench that exposes both the second top surface of the first punch stop layer and a first sidewall surface of the resistive element. The method further includes forming a first conductive via within the first trench, where the first conductive via contacts the first sidewall surface of the resistive element.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer over a first conductive line and a second conductive line, a high resistance layer over a portion of the first dielectric layer, a low-k dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer on the high resistance layer, a first conductive via extending through the low-k dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and a second conductive via extending through the low-k dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer to the first conductive line. The first conductive via extends into the high resistance layer.

Abstract: Integrated circuit methods are described. The methods include providing a photomask that includes two main features for two via openings and further includes an optical proximity correction (OPC) feature linking the two main features; forming a hard mask layer on a substrate, the hard mask layer including two trench openings; forming a patterned resist layer over the hard mask layer using the photomask, wherein the patterned resist layer includes a peanut-shaped opening with two end portion aligned with the two trench openings of the hard mask layer, respectively; and performing a first etch process to the substrate using the hard mask layer and the patterned resist layer as a combined etch mask.

Abstract: Integrated circuit methods are described. The methods include providing a photomask that includes two main features for two via openings and further includes an optical proximity correction (OPC) feature linking the two main features; forming a hard mask layer on a substrate, the hard mask layer including two trench openings; forming a patterned resist layer over the hard mask layer using the photomask, wherein the patterned resist layer includes a peanut-shaped opening with two end portion aligned with the two trench openings of the hard mask layer, respectively; and performing a first etch process to the substrate using the hard mask layer and the patterned resist layer as a combined etch mask.

Abstract: Integrated circuit methods are described. The methods include providing a photomask that includes two main features for two via openings and further includes an optical proximity correction (OPC) feature linking the two main features; forming a hard mask layer on a substrate, the hard mask layer including two trench openings; forming a patterned resist layer over the hard mask layer using the photomask, wherein the patterned resist layer includes a peanut-shaped opening with two end portion aligned with the two trench openings of the hard mask layer, respectively; and performing a first etch process to the substrate using the hard mask layer and the patterned resist layer as a combined etch mask.