Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming a buried oxide stack on a semiconductor wafer. The buried oxide stack includes a first oxide layer, a nitride layer on the first oxide layer, and a second oxide layer on the nitride layer. A semiconductor layer is formed on the second oxide layer. First and second channel regions are formed in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing electrical isolation between closely spaced devices in a high density integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed herein. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate, a first device, a second device, and a trench in the substrate and a method of fabricating the same are also discussed. The trench is self-aligned between the first and second devices and comprises a first filled portion and a second filled portion. The first fined portion of the trench comprises a dielectric material that forms a buried trench isolation for providing electrical isolation between the first and second devices. The self-aligned placement of the buried trench isolation allows for higher packing density without negatively affecting the operation of closely spaced devices in a high density IC.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first FET structure and a second FET structure, both of which being formed over a silicon substrate. The first FET structure includes a high-k material layer, a layer of a first workfunction material formed over the high-k material layer, a layer of a barrier material formed over the first workfunction material layer; and a layer of a gate fill material formed over the barrier material layer. The entirety of the barrier material layer and the gate fill material layer are formed above the first workfunction material layer. The second FET structure includes a layer of the high-k material, a layer of a second workfunction material formed over the high-k material layer, a low-resistance material layer formed over the second workfunction material layer and a layer of the barrier material formed over the low-resistance material layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer within a first recess located between sidewall spacers of a first CMOS device and within a second recess located between sidewall spacers of a second CMOS device. A dummy titanium nitride layer is deposited on the high-k dielectric layer. Next, the high-k dielectric layer and the dummy titanium nitride layer are removed from the second recess in the second CMOS device. A silicon cap layer is deposited within the first recess and the second recess, the silicon cap layer is located above the high-k dielectric layer and dummy titanium nitride layer in the first CMOS device. Subsequently, dopants are implanted into the silicon cap layer located in the second recess of the second CMOS device.

Abstract: The semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first insulators in a substrate, a common insulating layer surrounding the sidewall and the bottom of said first insulators in said substrate, and suspended portions of said substrate on said common insulating layer.

Abstract: Methodologies for forming a cross coupling gate and a resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a plurality of gates extending vertically on a plurality of equally spaced horizontal positions of an IC; providing a cross-couple region of a gate of the plurality of gates, the cross-couple region including a portion of the gate extending from a first horizontal position of the horizontal positions to a second horizontal position of the horizontal positions; and providing at least one of the plurality of gates with an overlap of first and second segments of the at least one gate, the first and second segments being designated to be decomposed using different colors.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device, which includes a first fin on a substrate, a first gate insulating layer including a first trench disposed on the first fin, a first work function adjusting layer in the first trench, a first barrier layer covering a top surface of the first work function adjusting layer; and an interlayer insulating layer on the first barrier layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor substrate with a first semiconductor fin aligned end-to-end with a second semiconductor with a recess between facing ends of the first and second semiconductor fins. A first insulator pattern is formed adjacent sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins and a second insulator pattern is formed within the first recess. The second insulator pattern may have a top surface higher than a top surface of the first insulator pattern, such as to the height of the top surface of the fins (or higher or lower). First and second gates extend along sidewalls and a top surface of the first semiconductor fin. A dummy gate electrode may be formed on the top surface of the second insulator. Methods for manufacture of the same and modifications are also disclosed.

Abstract: When forming field effect transistors according to the gate-first HKMG approach, the cap layer formed on top of the gate electrode had to be removed before the silicidation step, resulting in formation of a metal silicide layer on the surface of the gate electrode and of the source and drain regions of the transistor. The present disclosure improves the manufacturing flow by skipping the gate cap removal process. Metal silicide is only formed on the source and drain regions. The gate electrode is then contacted by forming an aperture through the gate material, leaving the surface of the gate metal layer exposed.

Abstract: A MEMS apparatus has a substrate, a cap forming first and second chambers with the base, and movable microstructure within the first and second chambers. To control pressures, the MEMS apparatus also has a first outgas structure within the first chamber. The first outgas structure produces a first pressure within the first chamber, which is isolated from the second chamber, which, like the first chamber, has a second pressure. The first pressure is different from that in the second pressure (e.g., a higher pressure or lower pressure).

Abstract: A memory element having a layer structure, the layer structure includes: a memory layer whose magnetization direction is changed in accordance with information; a magnetization-fixed layer having magnetization perpendicular to a film surface to be a basis of the information stored in the memory layer; and an intermediate layer made of a non-magnetic material, disposed between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, wherein at least a periphery of the memory layer is covered with a magnetic material through a non-magnetic material among the layer structure.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a trench into a waveguide layer in a detector region of a semiconductor substrate. An avalanche photodetector diode is formed about the trench. Forming the avalanche photodetector diode includes forming a multiplication region in the waveguide layer laterally adjacent to the trench. An absorption region is formed at least partially disposed in the trench.

Abstract: An integrated waveguide structure with perforated chip edge seal and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The structure includes a guard ring structure surrounding an active region of an integrated circuit chip. The structure further includes a gap in the guard ring structure which is located at a predetermined level of the integrated circuit chip. The structure further includes a waveguide structure formed on a substrate of the integrated circuit chip. The structure further includes a fiber optic optically coupled to the waveguide structure through the gap formed in the guard ring structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a wiring layer that includes at least one low-dielectric rate interlayer insulating film layer; a guard ring that is formed by placing in series a wire and a via so as to be in contact with a through electrode, in a portion in which the through electrode passing through the wiring layer is formed; and the through electrode that is formed by being buried inside the guard ring.

Abstract: Conductive plug structures suitable for stacked semiconductor device package is provided, wherein large contact region between the conductive plug structures and the corresponding pads of devices can be achieved, to reduce electrical impedance. Therefore, package structures such as photosensitive device packages using the conductive plug structures have superior electrical performance and reliability.

Abstract: A single silicon wafer micromachined thermal conduction sensor is described. The sensor consists of a heat transfer cavity with a flat bottom and an arbitrary plane shape, which is created in a silicon substrate. A heated resistor with a temperature dependence resistance is deposed on a thin film bridge, which is the top of the cavity. A heat sink is the flat bottom of the cavity and parallel to the bridge completely. The heat transfer from the heated resistor to the heat sink is modulated by the change of the thermal conductivity of the gas or gas mixture filled in the cavity. This change can be measured to determine the composition concentration of the gas mixture or the pressure of the air in a vacuum system.

Abstract: An electrical contact and electrical interconnect network comprising graphene and a transition metal for a solid state device and an interconnect network for a circuit board or substrate are disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor diode includes a semiconductor body and trench structures extending from a surface of the semiconductor body into the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes a doped layer of a first conductivity type and a doped zone of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The doped zone is formed between the doped layer and a first surface of the semiconductor body. The trench structures are arranged between electrically connected portions of the semiconductor body. The trench structures do not include conductive structures that are both electrically insulated from the semiconductor body and electrically connected with another structure outside the trench structures.

Abstract: A methodology for forming contact areas by a multiple patterning process that provides increased yield and lower risk of contact-to-contact short at points of tight tip-to-tip spacing and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming one or more trench patterning layers on a planarized surface of a wafer, forming one or more trenches in the one or more trench patterning layers, forming a block mask at one or more points along the one or more trenches, extending the one or more trenches down to a substrate level of the wafer, and removing the block mask from the one or more points.

Abstract: A diode string having a plurality of diodes for ESD protection of a CMOS IC device comprises a first diode and a last diode in the diode string, wherein the first diode and the last diode are both formed on a bottom layer in a silicon substrate, and remaining diodes in the diode string. The remaining diodes are formed on a top layer placed on top of the bottom layer. The diode string further comprises a plurality of conductive lines that connect the first diode and the last diode on the bottom layer sequentially with the remaining diodes on the top layer to form a three dimensional (3D) structure of the diode string.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, emitter and collector regions disposed in the semiconductor substrate, having a first conductivity type, and laterally spaced from one another, and a composite base region disposed in the semiconductor substrate, having a second conductivity type, and including a base contact region, a buried region through which a buried conduction path between the emitter and collector regions is formed during operation, and a base link region electrically connecting the base contact region and the buried region. The base link region has a dopant concentration level higher than the buried region and is disposed laterally between the emitter and collector regions.

Abstract: An electronic fuse link with lower programming current for high performance and self-aligned methods of forming the same. The invention provides a horizontal e-fuse structure in the middle of the line. A reduced fuse link width is achieved by spacers on sides of pair of dummy or active gates, to create sub-lithographic dimension between gates with spacers to confine a fuse link. A reduced height in the third dimension on the fuse link achieved by etching the link, thereby creating a fuse link having a sub-lithographic size in all dimensions. The fuse link is formed over an isolation region to enhanced heating and aid fuse blow.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms of forming an inductor structure are provided. The inductor structure includes a substrate and a first dielectric layer formed over the substrate. The inductor structure includes a first metal layer formed in the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first metal layer. The inductor structure further includes a magnetic layer formed over the first dielectric layer, and the magnetic layer has a top surface, a bottom surface and sidewall surfaces between the top surface and the bottom surface, and the sidewall surfaces have at least two intersection points.

Abstract: An inductor structure includes a substrate, a protection layer, a patterned first conductive layer, copper bumps, a passivation layer, a diffusion barrier layer, and an oxidation barrier layer. The protection layer is located on the substrate. The bond pads of the substrate are respectively exposed through protection layer openings. The first conductive layer is located on the surfaces of the bond pads and the protection layer adjacent to the protection layer openings. The copper bumps are located on the first conductive layer. The passivation layer is located on the protection layer and the copper bumps. At least one of the copper bumps is exposed through a passivation layer opening. The diffusion barrier layer is located on the copper bump that is exposed through the passivation layer opening. The oxidation barrier layer is located on the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device and a manufacturing method thereof. The TVS device includes: a conductive layer; a P-type semiconductor substrate, which is formed on the conductive layer; an N-type buried layer, which is formed on the semiconductor substrate; a P-type lightly doped layer, which is formed on the buried layer; a P-type cap region, which is formed on the lightly doped layer; and an N-type reverse region, which is formed on the cap region, wherein a Zener diode includes the reverse region and the cap region, and an NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) includes the reverse region, the cap region, the lightly doped layer and the buried layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first fin in a p-FET device region of a semiconductor substrate and a second fin in an n-FET device region of the semiconductor substrate substantially parallel to the first fin. The first fin and the second fin each comprise a strained semiconductor material. Next, the second fin is amorphized to form a relaxed fin by implanting ions into the second fin while protecting the first fin.

Abstract: A self-healing crack stop structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The structure comprises a crack stop structure formed in one or more dielectric layers and surrounding an active region of an integrated circuit chip. The crack stop comprises self healing material which, upon propagation of a crack, is structured to seal the crack and prevent further propagation of the crack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a carrier, several dies disposed on a surface of the carrier and several scribing lines defined on the surface of the carrier. The scribing lines include several continuous lines along a first direction and several discontinuous lines along a second direction. Further, a method of dies singulation includes providing a carrier, disposing several dies on a surface of the carrier according to several scribing lines including several continuous lines along a first direction and several discontinuous lines along a second direction, cutting the carrier according to the continuous lines along the first direction, and cutting the carrier according to the discontinuous lines along the second direction.

Abstract: A method, and the resulting structure, to make a thinned substrate with backside redistribution wiring connected to through silicon vias of varying height. The method includes thinning a backside of a substrate to expose through silicon vias. Then a thick insulator stack, including an etch stop layer, is deposited and planarized. With a planar insulating surface in place, openings in the insulator stack can be formed by etching. The etch stop layer in the dielectric stack accommodates the differing heights vias. The etch stop is removed and a conductor having a liner is formed in the opening. The method gives a unique structure in which a liner around the bottom of the through silicon via remains in tact. Thus, the liner of the via and a liner of the conductor meet to form a double liner at the via/conductor junction.

Abstract: An improved through-silicon via (TSV) is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate has a a back-end-of-line (BEOL) stack formed thereon. The BEOL stack and semiconductor substrate has a TSV cavity formed thereon. A conformal protective layer is disposed on the interior surface of the TSV cavity, along the BEOL stack and partway into the semiconductor substrate. The conformal protective layer serves to protect the dielectric layers within the BEOL stack during subsequent processing, improving the integrated circuit quality and product yield.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a substrate-side electrode layer, an intermediate electrode layer, and a front-side electrode layer. The substrate includes a semiconductor layer and a projection portion, the projection portion being formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer. The substrate-side electrode layer is provided on the projection portion. The intermediate electrode layer extends from on a part of the substrate-side electrode layer, which part of the substrate-side electrode layer is located on the projection portion, to just above a region of the substrate in which region the projection portion is not provided. The front-side electrode layer is provided on a surface of the intermediate electrode layer. A Young's modulus E1 of the substrate-side electrode layer, a Young's modulus E2 of the intermediate electrode layer, and a Young's modulus E3 of the front-side electrode layer satisfy a relationship of E3>E1>E2.

Abstract: An article having alternating oxide layers and nitride layers is etched by an etch process. The etch process includes providing a first gas comprising C4F6H2 in a chamber of an etch reactor, ionizing the C4F6H2 containing gas to produce a plasma comprising a plurality of ions, and etching the article using the plurality of ions.

Abstract: A system-in-package includes a package carrier; a first semiconductor die having a die face and a die edge, the first semiconductor die being assembled face-down to a chip side of the package carrier, wherein a plurality of contact pads are situated on the die face; a second semiconductor die mounted on the package carrier and adjacent to the first semiconductor die; a rewiring laminate structure between the first semiconductor die and the package carrier, the rewiring laminate structure comprising a re-routed metal layer, wherein at least a portion of the re-routed metal layer projects beyond the die edge; and a plurality of copper pillar bumps arranged on the rewiring laminate structure for electrically connecting the first semiconductor die with the package carrier.

Abstract: Assembling a surface mount semiconductor device includes providing a lead frame structure with peripheral leads and additional bottom face contacts integral with frame members. Outer portions of the bottom face contact members are interposed between inner portions of adjacent pairs of the peripheral leads. A package body is formed by encapsulating the lead frame structure in which the frame members are positioned outside a side edge surface. The peripheral leads and the bottom face contact members project between the side edge surface of the package body and the frame members. The frame members are cut and the peripheral leads and the bottom face contact members are separated and electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip including a main surface electrode; a first mounting lead; a second mounting lead; a connection lead which overlaps with the main surface electrode, the first mounting lead and the second mounting lead when viewed in a thickness direction of the semiconductor chip and makes electrical conduction between the main surface electrode, the first mounting lead and the second mounting lead; and a resin portion which covers the semiconductor chip, the first mounting lead and the second mounting lead, wherein the resin portion has a resin bottom lying on the same plane as a bottom of the first mounting lead and a bottom of the second mounting lead.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a substrate having a heat conducting portion integrally formed with a heat dissipating portion. First and second integrated circuit dies are mounted to opposite sides of the heat conducting portion of the substrate. The first and second integrated circuit dies may each be packaged as flip-chip configurations. Electrical connections between contact pads on the first and second integrated circuit dies may be formed through openings formed in the heat conducting portion of the substrate. The heat dissipating portion may be positioned externally from a location between the first and second integrated circuit dies so that it dissipates heat away from the integrated circuit package into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device is a power semiconductor module of a liquid-cooled type, which substantially prevents a cooling liquid from leaking out without providing additional working on a casing and without a providing high precision in a process for forming a sealing member and a groove for fitting the sealing member. The semiconductor device has a groove for fitting a sealing member that is formed not at the casing but at the base plate. The sealing member and the groove have widths that bring the sealing member made of an elastic material into contact with side surfaces of the groove intermittently.

Abstract: A chip package is provided, the chip package including: a chip carrier; a chip disposed over and electrically connected to a chip carrier top side; an electrically insulating material disposed over and at least partially surrounding the chip; one or more electrically conductive contact regions formed over the electrically insulating material and in electrical connection with the chip; a further electrically insulating material disposed over a chip carrier bottom side; wherein an electrically conductive contact region on the chip carrier bottom side is released from the further electrically insulating material.

Abstract: Solder bump connections and methods for fabricating solder bump connections. A passivation layer is formed on a dielectric layer. Via openings extend through the passivation layer from a top surface of the passivation layer to a metal line in the passivation layer. A conductive layer is formed on the top surface of the passivation layer and within each via opening. When the passivation layer and the conductive layer are planarized, a plug is formed that includes sections in the via openings. Each section is coupled with the metal line.

Abstract: An apparatus relating generally to a substrate is disclosed. In this apparatus, a first metal layer is on the substrate. The first metal layer has an opening. The opening of the first metal layer has a bottom and one or more sides extending from the bottom. A second metal layer is on the first metal layer. The first metal layer and the second metal layer provide a bowl-shaped structure. An inner surface of the bowl-shaped structure is defined responsive to the opening of the first metal layer and the second metal layer thereon. The opening of the bowl-shaped structure is configured to receive and at least partially retain a bonding material during a reflow process.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonically bonding semiconductor elements includes the steps of: (a) aligning surfaces of a plurality of first conductive structures of a first semiconductor element to respective surfaces of a plurality of second conductive structures of a second semiconductor element, wherein the surfaces of each of the plurality of first conductive structures and the plurality of second conductive structures include aluminum; and (b) ultrasonically bonding ones of the first conductive structures to respective ones of the second conductive structures.

Abstract: A chip package includes a packaging substrate, a semiconductor chip, and a plurality of conductive structures. The semiconductor chip has a central region and an edge region that surrounds the central region. The conductive structures are between the packaging substrate and the semiconductor chip. The conductive structures have different heights, and the heights of the conductive structures are gradually increased from the central region of the semiconductor chip to the edge region of the semiconductor chip, such that a distance between the edge region of the semiconductor chip and the packaging substrate is greater than a distance between the central region of the semiconductor chip and the packaging substrate.

Abstract: Electrical connections for chip scale packaging are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a post-passivation layer disposed over a substrate, the substrate having a first direction of coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch. The semiconductor device includes a first opening through the post-passivation layer, the first opening comprising a plurality of elongated apertures. A longest of the plurality of elongated apertures comprises a first dimension, wherein the first dimension is aligned substantially perpendicular to the first direction of coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device includes forming an inter-level dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a transformative layer over the inter-level dielectric layer, forming a protective layer over the transformative layer without allowing the transformative layer to undergo a substantive transformation, and after forming the protective layer, causing the transformative layer to undergo a volume-increasing transformation. The volume-increasing transformation produces a high density material that provides an effective etch stop.

Abstract: A sequence of processing steps presented herein is used to embed an optical signal path within an array of nanowires, using only one lithography step. Using the techniques disclosed, it is not necessary to mask electrical features while forming optical features, and vice versa. Instead, optical and electrical signal paths can be created substantially simultaneously in the same masking cycle. This is made possible by a disparity in the widths of the respective features, the optical signal paths being significantly wider than the electrical ones. Using a damascene process, the structures of disparate widths are plated with metal that over-fills narrow trenches and under-fills a wide trench. An optical cladding material can then be deposited into the trench so as to surround an optical core for light transmission.

Abstract: A structure having first and second electrical conductors disposed on a surface of the structure and a bridging conductor connected between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor with portions disposed over the surface of the structure. The bridging conductor includes a plurality of stacked, multi-metal layers, each one of the multi-metal layers having: an electrically conductive layer; and a pair of barrier metal layers, the electrically conductive layer being disposed between and in direct contact with the pair of barrier metal layers.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a metal contact structure, an electrically conductive capping layer formed on the metal contact structure, and a conductive via electrically connected to the metal contact structure through the electrically conductive capping layer.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a capped interconnect for a microelectronic device which includes a sealing feature for any gaps between a capping layer and an interconnect and structures formed therefrom. The sealing features improve encapsulation of the interconnect, which substantially reduces or prevents electromigration and/or diffusion of conductive material from the capped interconnect.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an insulating material layer over a workpiece, patterning an upper portion of the insulating material layer with a conductive line pattern, and forming a stop layer comprising a metal oxide or a metal nitride over the patterned insulating material layer. A masking material is formed over the stop layer, and the masking material is patterned with a via pattern. The via pattern of the masking material is transferred to a lower portion of the insulating material layer.