Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic module with at least one component embedded in insulating material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a front face, a back face and an active zone at the front face. A front surface metallization layer having a front face and a back face is disposed over the semiconductor body so that the back face of the front surface metallization layer faces the front face of the semiconductor body and is electrically connected to the active zone. An upper barrier layer made of amorphous molybdenum nitride is disposed on the front face of the front surface metallization layer.

Abstract: Test key structures, integrated circuit packages and methods of forming the same are disclosed. One of the test key structures includes a first pattern over a polymer layer, and at least one second pattern covering the first pattern. Besides, the second pattern and the first pattern have substantially the same outer profile, one of the first pattern and the second pattern includes a dielectric material and the other of the first pattern and the second pattern includes a metal material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are described, along with methods and systems that include them. One such device includes a diffusion region in a semiconductor material, a terminal coupled to the diffusion region, and a field plate coupled to the terminal and extending from the terminal over the diffusion region to shield the diffusion region. Additional embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of formation of such interconnect structures are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming an interconnect includes: depositing a silicon-aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON) layer atop a first layer of a substrate, wherein the first layer comprises a first feature filled with a first conductive material; depositing a dielectric layer over the silicon-aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON) layer; and forming a second feature in the dielectric layer and the silicon-aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON) layer to expose the first conductive material.

Abstract: The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; field-effect devices disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the field-effect devices include gates with elongated shape oriented in a first direction; a first metal layer disposed over the gates; a second metal layer disposed over the first metal layer; and a third metal layer disposed over the second metal layer. The first metal layer includes a plurality of first metal lines oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second metal layer includes a plurality of second metal lines oriented in the first direction. The third metal layer includes a plurality of third metal lines oriented in the second direction. The first metal lines have a first thickness, the second metal lines have a second thickness, the third metal lines have a third thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness and the third thickness.

Abstract: A method for forming a direct hybrid bond and a device resulting from a direct hybrid bond including a first substrate having a first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, capped by a conductive barrier, and having a first non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the first substrate, a second substrate having a second set of metallic bonding pads capped by a second conductive barrier, aligned with the first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, and having a second non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the second substrate, and a contact-bonded interface between the first and second set of metallic bonding pads capped by conductive barriers formed by contact bonding of the first non-metallic region to the second non-metallic region.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a self-aligned via structure includes forming a tri-layer mask on an ILD layer over a lower metal wiring layer, the tri-layer mask includes first and second insulating layers and a metal layer in between the insulating layers; defining a trench pattern through the first insulating layer and metal layer, the trench pattern having a first width; defining a first via pattern in a lithographic mask over the trench pattern, the first via pattern having a second width that is larger than the first width; growing a metal capping layer on an exposed sidewall of the trench pattern to decrease the first width to a third width that defines a second via pattern; transferring the trench pattern into the ILD layer to form a trench; and transferring the second via pattern through the ILD layer and into the metal wiring layer to form a via.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a conductive layer on the substrate. A patterned hard mask and a catalyst layer are formed on the conductive layer. The method further includes growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the catalyst layer and etching the conductive layer by using the CNTs and the patterned hard mask as an etching mask to form metal features.

Abstract: A system-on-a-chip, such as a logical PHY, may be divided into hard IP blocks with fixed routing, and soft IP blocks with flexible routing. Each hard IP block may provide a fixed number of lanes. Using p hard IP blocks, where each block provides n data lanes, h=n*p total hard IP data lanes are provided. Where the system design calls for k total data lanes, it is possible that k?h, so that ?k/n? hard IP blocks provide h=n*p available hard IP data lanes. In that case, h?k lanes may be disabled. In cases where lane reversals occur, such as between hard IP and soft IP, bowtie routing may be avoided by the use of a multiplexer-like programmable switch within the soft IP.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate including a display area and a terminal area, a second substrate opposed to the display area, a first sealing member formed between the first and second substrate and surrounding the display area, a second sealing member formed between the first sealing member and a first edge of the second substrate located at the terminal area side, and a first spacer formed between the first and second sealing member and formed at least in contact with the second sealing member. The first spacer includes a first side surface at the second sealing member side and a second side surface at the first sealing member side, and the first side surface at least partly projects toward the first edge.

Abstract: A guard ring structure having a semiconductor substrate with a circuit region encircled by a first ring and a second ring. At least one of the first and second ring includes: a plurality of separated doping regions formed in various top portions of the semiconductor substrate, providing P-N junction or N-P junction on bottom of the plurality of separated doping regions; and an interconnect element formed over the semiconductor substrate, covering at least portion of the plurality of separated doping regions.

Abstract: A conductor trace is formed on a base insulating layer. The conductor trace includes two terminal portions and one wiring portion. The wiring portion is formed to connect the two terminal portions to each other and extend from each terminal portion. A metal cover layer is formed to cover the terminal portion and the wiring portion of the conductor trace and continuously extend from a surface of the terminal portion to a surface of the wiring portion. The metal cover layer is made of metal having magnetism lower than magnetism of nickel, and is made of gold, for example. A cover insulating layer is formed on the base insulating layer to cover a portion, of the metal cover layer formed on the conductor trace, covering the wiring portion and not to cover a portion of the metal cover layer covering the terminal portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a hard mask layer on a substrate includes forming an amorphous carbon layer using nitrous oxide (N2O). A source of carbon and the nitrous oxide (N2O) are introduced to the substrate under a plasma ambient of an inert gas. The amorphous carbon layer has a nitrogen content ranging from about 0.05 at % to about 30 at % and an oxygen content ranging from about 0.05 at % to about 10 at %. In forming a semiconductor device, the hard mask layer is patterned, and a target layer beneath the hard mask layer is etched using the patterned hard mask layer as an etch mask.

Abstract: Systems that include integrated circuit dies and voltage regulator units are disclosed. Such systems may include a voltage regulator module and an integrated circuit mounted in a common system package. The voltage regulator module may include a voltage regulator circuit and one or more passive devices mounted to a common substrate, and the integrated circuit may include a System-on-a-chip. The system package may include an interconnect region that includes wires fabricated on multiple conductive layers within the interconnect region. At least one power supply terminal of the integrated circuit may be coupled to an output of the voltage regulator module via a wire included in the interconnect region.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate and an interposer associated with the substrate. The apparatus further includes a first device disposed within the substrate or within the interposer and a second device disposed within the interposer. The first device and the second device are arranged in a stacked configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display apparatus comprising the array substrate an array substrate, which can avoid poor displays due to large coupling capacitance between a data line and a pixel electrode in an array substrate in the prior art. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: S1, forming a data line metal layer on a substrate, and forming a pattern of a data line by a patterning process; S2, forming a semiconductor layer on the substrate formed with the data line thereon, and forming a pattern of an active layer by a patterning process, wherein the data line is connected with the active layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device may include a light emitting package. A light emitting package may include a light emitting stack including a sequential stack of a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer. An encapsulation layer may at least partially surround the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and a wavelength conversion layer may cover the first conductivity type semiconductor layer. One or more of the encapsulation layer and the wavelength conversion layer may have a greater coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than a GaN-based compound semiconductor. The semiconductor light emitting device may include a stress applying structure that may apply a tensile stress to the light emitting stack. The light emitting stack may have reduced thermal droop at an operation temperature and improved luminous efficiency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor arrangement comprises a stacked interconnect structure comprising a first interconnect structure and a second interconnect structure. The stacked interconnect structure has a relatively larger aspect ratio than the first interconnect structure or the second interconnect structure, which reduces resistivity and improves performance. In some embodiments, a duplicate interconnect path is inserted into a design layout for a semiconductor arrangement. The duplicated interconnect path provides an additional path between a first net and a second net connected by an interconnect path. Connecting the first net and the second net by the interconnect path and the duplicated interconnect path reduces resistivity and improves performance. In some embodiments, a semiconductor arrangement comprises cell pin operatively coupled to a duplicate cell pin. The cell pin and the duplicate cell pin are operatively coupled to a logic structure to reduce resistivity and improve performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor cell includes a dielectric layer. An array of parallel metal lines is disposed in a longitudinal direction within the dielectric layer. The metal lines having line widths that are substantially equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum line width. Line spacers are disposed between the metal lines. The line spacers having line spacer widths that are substantially equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum line spacer width. The array of metal lines includes a signal line having a continuity cut disposed across its entire line width and a power line adjacent the signal line. The power line has a line width that is greater than twice the minimum line width. The power line has a notch disposed partially across its line width. The notch is aligned with the continuity cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the metal lines.

Abstract: A 3D semiconductor device including: a first layer including a first monocrystalline layer, the first layer including first logic cells; a second layer including a monocrystalline semiconductor layer, the second layer overlying the first layer, the second layer including second transistors, where the logic cells include a Look-Up-Table logic cell, and where the second transistors are aligned to the first logic cells with less than 200 nm alignment error.

Abstract: The present application relates to an organic light emitting device including a flexible substrate, and a preparing method thereof, and the method includes: 1) forming a polyimide layer on a carrier substrate; 2) forming a plastic substrate on the carrier substrate and the polyimide layer; 3) forming an organic light emitting device on the plastic substrate; and 4) separating the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A package carrier includes a substrate, at least one heat conducting element, an insulating material, a first patterned circuit layer and a second patterned circuit layer. The substrate has an upper surface, a lower surface and a through hole. The heat conducting element is disposed inside the through hole and has a first surface and a second surface. The insulating material has a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one cavity extending from the top surface to the heat conducting element. The heat conducting element is fixed in the through hole by the insulating material, and the cavity exposes a portion of the first surface of the heat conducting element. The first patterned circuit layer is disposed on the upper surface and the top surface, and the second patterned circuit layer is disposed on the lower surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a substrate, a first transistor and a first patterned conductive layer. The first transistor has a source region, a drain region in the substrate and a gate region on the substrate. The first patterned conductive layer is electrically connected to the drain region of the first transistor. The first patterned conductive layer includes a first section, a second section and a fusible device.

Abstract: Integrated circuits having copper bonding structures with silicon carbon nitride passivation layers and methods for making the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a substrate and a copper bonding structure having a contact surface. The copper bonding structure overlies the substrate. A passivation layer formed of silicon carbon nitride is disposed on the contact surface.

Abstract: A stack-type semiconductor device includes a lower device and an upper device disposed on the lower device. The lower device includes a lower substrate, a lower interconnection on the lower substrate, a lower pad on the lower interconnection, and a lower interlayer insulating layer covering side surfaces of the lower interconnection and the lower pad. The upper device includes an upper substrate, an upper interconnection under the upper substrate, an upper pad under the upper interconnection, and an upper interlayer insulating layer covering side surfaces of the upper interconnection and the upper pad. Each of the pads has a thick portion and a thin portion. The thin portions of the pads are bonded to each other, the thick portion of the lower pad contacts the bottom of the upper interlayer insulating layer, and the thick portion of the upper pad contacts the top of the lower interlayer insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes providing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal layer to fill up the opening, and removing the portion of the metal layer formed above the top surface of the dielectric layer by polishing. A metal oxide layer is formed on the surface of the metal layer after polishing. The method further includes removing the metal oxide layer from the top surface of the metal layer, forming a metal barrier layer on the top surface of the metal layer after the removal of the metal oxide layer to provide a more uniform thickness and a denser texture, and converting the metal barrier layer to a metal cap layer by introducing a silicon-containing gas onto a surface of the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a infrared sensor capable of being integrated into a IR focal plane array. It includes of a CMOS based readout circuit with preamplification, noise filtering, and row/column address control. Using either a microbolometer device structure with either a thermal sensing element of vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon, a nanocomposite is fabricated on top of either of these materials comprising aligned or unaligned carbon nanotube films with IR trans missive layer of silicon nitride followed by one to five monolayers of graphene. These layers are connected in series minimizing the noise sources and enhancing the NEDT of each film. The resulting IR sensor is capable of NEDT of less than 1 mK. The wavelength response is from 2 to 12 microns. The approach is low cost using a process that takes advantage of the economies of scale of wafer level CMOS.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a method of fabrication and a semiconductor structure comprising a Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The method of fabrication includes depositing a first conductive material on a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric material is deposited on the first conductive material. A second conductive material is deposited on the first dielectric material. The top plate is formed by etching the second conductive material. The bottom plate is formed by etching a portion of the first conductive material. At least one opening is formed in the first dielectric layer down to the first conductive material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a substrate having a first dielectric material layer and first conductive features that are laterally separated from each other by segments of the first dielectric material layer; depositing a first etch stop layer on the first dielectric material layer and the first conductive features, thereby forming the first etch stop layer having oxygen-rich portions self-aligned with the segments of the first dielectric material layer and oxygen-poor portions self-aligned with the first conductive features; performing a selective removal process to selectively remove the oxygen-poor portions of the first etch stop layer; forming a second etch stop layer on the first conductive features and the oxygen-rich portions of the first etch stop layer; forming a second dielectric material layer on the second etch stop layer; and forming a conductive structure in the second dielectric material layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a gate line including a gate electrode; a data line including a source electrode; a drain electrode; an organic layer on the gate and data lines and the drain electrode, and a first opening defined therein; a first electrode on the organic layer, and a second opening defined therein; and a passivation layer on the first electrode, and a contact hole defined therein exposing the drain electrode. An interval taken in a first direction between a first edge of the gate electrode, the first edge parallel to a second direction in which the gate line is extended and which is different than the first direction, and a second edge of the first electrode second opening, the second edge parallel to the second direction and adjacent to the gate electrode first edge is 0 micrometer to about 6 micrometers.

Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a rectangular or substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped stack in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are alternately stacked and an external electrode provided on a portion of a surface of the stack and electrically connected to the internal electrode. The external electrode includes an inner external electrode covering a portion of the surface of the stack and including a mixture of a resin component and a metal component and an outer external electrode covering the inner external electrode and including a metal component. The inner external electrode includes a plurality of holes. An average opening diameter of the plurality of holes is not greater than about 2.5 ?m. Some or all of the plurality of holes are embedded with the metal component of the outer external electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a layered dipole structure formed upon a fin sidewall within a fin trench. The layered dipole structure includes a dipole layer of opposite polarity relative to the polarity of the fin and reduces source to drain leakage. A semiconductor structure may include a first layered dipole structure formed within a gate trench within a first polarity region of the semiconductor structure. A second layered dipole structure is formed within a gate trench within a second polarity region of the semiconductor structure and formed upon the first layered dipole structure. The layered dipole structure nearest to the bottom of the gate trench includes a dipole layer of opposite polarity relative to the polarity region of the semiconductor structure where the gate trench is located and reduces source to drain leakage.

Abstract: The electronic package includes a substrate that includes a plurality of dielectric layers and conductive routings between the plurality of dielectric layers; wherein the substrate further includes a plurality of thermal finned vias that electrically connect the conductive routings within the substrate to one another; and an electronic component mounted on the substrate, wherein the finned via transfers heat from the electronic component to the substrate and electrically connects the conductive routings within the substrate to the electronic component.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, forming at least two pixels in the front side, forming a shallow trench isolation in the front side between the at least two pixels, forming a deep trench in the back side at a location above the shallow trench isolation, and depositing a dielectric layer in the deep trench to form a crosstalk reduction element.

Abstract: An article may include a structure including a patterned metal on a surface of a substrate, the patterned metal including metal features separated by gaps of an average dimension of less than about 1000 nm. A porous low dielectric constant material having a dielectric value of less than about 2.7 substantially occupies all gaps. An interface between the metal features and the porous low dielectric constant material may include less than about 0.1% by volume of voids. A method may include depositing a filling material including a silicon-based resin having a molecular weight of less than about 30,000 Da and a porogen having a molecular weight greater than about 400 Da onto a structure comprising a patterned metal. The deposited filling material may be subjected to a first thermal treatment to substantially fill all gaps, and subjected to a second thermal treatment and a UV radiation treatment.

Abstract: A device embedded substrate (20), includes: an insulation layer (12) including an insulation resin material; an electric or electronic device (4) embedded in the insulation layer (12); a terminal (15) serving as an electrode included in the device (4); a conductor pattern (18) formed on the surface of the insulation layer (12); and a conducting via (21) for electrically connecting the conductor pattern (18) and the terminals (15) with each other. The conducting via (21) is made up of a large-diameter section (21a) having a large diameter and a small-diameter section (21b) having a smaller diameter than that of the large-diameter section (21a), in order starting from the conductor pattern (18) toward the terminal (15). A stepped section (17) is formed between the large-diameter section (21a) and the small-diameter section (21b). The large-diameter section (21a) is formed so as to penetrate a sheet-shaped glass cloth (11) disposed in the insulation layer (12).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stacked semiconductor package in which semiconductor chips having various sizes are stacked. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a stacked semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip structure provided with a first semiconductor chip, a first mold layer surrounding the first semiconductor chip, and a first penetration electrode passing through the first mold layer and electrically connected to the first semiconductor chip, and a second semiconductor chip structure vertically stacked on the first semiconductor chip structure and provided with a second semiconductor chip and a second penetration electrode electrically connected to the first penetration electrode, wherein the first semiconductor chip structure may have the same size as the second semiconductor chip structure.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods of forming conformal liners on patterned substrates having high height-to-width aspect ratio gaps. Layers formed according to embodiments outlined herein have been found to inhibit diffusion and electrical leakage across the conformal liners. The liners may comprise nitrogen and be described as nitride layers according to embodiments. The conformal liners may comprise silicon and nitrogen and may consist of silicon and nitrogen in embodiments. Methods described herein may comprise introducing a silicon-containing precursor and a nitrogen-containing precursor into a substrate processing region and concurrently applying a pulsed plasma power capacitively to the substrate processing region to form the conformal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises a first non-volatile memory cell, a second non-volatile memory cell, an active region between the first and second memory cells, and an electrically conductive contact touching the active region, wherein the contact has a horizontal cross-section that is at least five percent smaller in a first dimension than in a second dimension.

Abstract: Source/drain contact structures that exhibit low contact resistance and improved electromigration properties are provided. After forming a first contact conductor portion comprising a metal having a high resistance to electromigration such as tungsten at a bottom portion of source/drain contact trench to form direct contact with a source/drain region of a field effect transistor, a second contact conductor portion comprising a highly conductive metal such as copper or a copper alloy is formed over the first contact conductor portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high voltage LED flip chip is provided, including: providing a substrate; forming an epitaxy stacking layer on the substrate; etching the epitaxy stacking layer to form a first groove and a Mesa-platform on each chip-unit region; forming a first electrode on each of the Mesa-platforms, wherein the first electrodes on two neighboring chip-unit regions form a second groove; forming a first insulation layer covering the Mesa-platforms and the first electrodes, filling the second groove and partially filling the first grooves to form a third groove; etching the first insulation layer to form fourth groove; and forming an interconnection electrode, wherein the interconnection electrode fills the third groove and the fourth groove, two neighboring interconnection electrodes form a fifth groove, the interconnection electrode connects the first electrode on one chip-unit region and the first semiconductor layer on the other chip-unit region. LED formed has improved performance.

Abstract: A method of preparing a surface for deposition of a thin film thereon, wherein the surface including a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom and having shadowed regions, includes locally treating at least one of the protrusions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes receiving a substrate with two sections of conductors thereon that are adjacent to each other, and a valley between the two sections of the conductors, filling the valley with a first passivation material to form a passivation valley, applying a second passivation material overlying the two sections of conductors and the passivation valley and over the substrate, and removing the second passivation material overlying the two sections of conductors and the passivation valley, and the second passivation material over the substrate but not in contact with the two sections of conductors and the passivation valley.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of inhibiting oxidation of a Cu wiring even in a high temperature operation. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a Cu electrode which is selectively formed on a side of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an antioxidant film formed on an upper surface of the Cu electrode except an end portion thereof, an organic resin film which is formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and covers a side surface of the Cu electrode and the end portion of the upper surface thereof, and a diffusion prevention film formed between the organic resin film and the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and between the organic resin film and the side surface and the end portion of the upper surface of the Cu electrode, being in contact therewith.

Abstract: Methods of forming microelectronic interconnect under device structures are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a device layer in a first substrate, forming at least one routing layer in a second substrate, and then coupling the first substrate with the second substrate, wherein the first substrate is bonded to the second substrate.

Abstract: A system-on-chip includes a substrate, a plurality of unit cells on the substrate, a first power mesh, and a second power mesh. The first power mesh includes a power rail that is connected to power terminals of the plurality of unit cells and is provided in a first metallization layer. The first power mesh also includes a power strap in a second metallization layer. The second power mesh is provided in a third metallization layer and a fourth metallization layer.

Abstract: A modified trench metal-semiconductor alloy formation method involves depositing a layer of a printable dielectric or a sacrificial carbon material within a trench structure and over contact regions of a semiconductor device, and then selectively removing the printable dielectric or sacrificial carbon material to segment the trench and form plural contact vias. A metallization layer is formed within the contact vias and over the contact regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with fine pitch redistribution layers is disclosed and may include a semiconductor die with a bond pad and a first passivation layer comprising an opening above the bond pad. A redistribution layer (RDL) may be formed on the passivation layer with one end of the RDL electrically coupled to the bond pad and a second end comprising a connection region. A second passivation layer may be formed on the RDL with an opening for the connection region of the RDL. An under bump metal (UBM) may be formed on the connection region of the RDL and a portion of the second passivation layer. A bump contact may be formed on the UBM, wherein a width of the RDL is less than a width of the opening in the second passivation layer and may be constant from the bond pad through at least a portion of the opening.