There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: one or more photoelectric conversion elements provided on side of a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; a through electrode coupled to the one or more photoelectric conversion elements, and provided between the first surface and a second surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an amplifier transistor and a floating diffusion provided on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, in which the one or more photoelectric conversion elements are coupled to a gate of the amplifier transistor and the floating diffusion via the through electrode.

A semiconductor device, including a substrate, a deposition layer deposited on the substrate, a semiconductor region selectively provided in the deposition layer, a semiconductor layer provided on the deposition layer and the semiconductor region, a first region and a second region selectively provided in the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode provided on the second region and the semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film, a source electrode in contact with the semiconductor layer and the second region, an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrode, a drain electrode provided on the substrate, a plating film selectively provided on the source electrode at portions thereof on which the protective film is not provided, and a pin-shaped electrode connected to the plating film via solder. The second region is not formed directly beneath a portion where the plating film, the protective film and the source electrode are in contact with one another.

A process comprises bonding a semiconductor wafer to an inorganic wafer. The semiconductor wafer is opaque to a wavelength of light to which the inorganic wafer is transparent. After the bonding, a damage track is formed in the inorganic wafer using a laser that emits the wavelength of light. The damage track in the inorganic wafer is enlarged to form a hole through the inorganic wafer by etching. The hole terminates at an interface between the semiconductor wafer and the inorganic wafer. An article is also provided, comprising a semiconductor wafer bonded to an inorganic wafer. The semiconductor wafer is opaque to a wavelength of light to which the inorganic wafer is transparent. The inorganic wafer has a hole formed through the inorganic wafer. The hole terminates at an interface between the semiconductor wafer and the inorganic wafer.

Methods of forming bonded semiconductor structures include providing a first semiconductor structure including a device structure, bonding a second semiconductor structure to the first semiconductor structure below about 400° C., forming a through wafer interconnect through the second semiconductor structure and into the first semiconductor structure, and bonding a third semiconductor structure to the second semiconductor structure on a side thereof opposite the first semiconductor structure. In additional embodiments, a first semiconductor structure is provided. Ions are implanted into a second semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure is bonded to the first semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure is fractured along an ion implant plane, a through wafer interconnect is formed at least partially through the first and second semiconductor structures, and a third semiconductor structure is bonded to the second semiconductor structure on a side thereof opposite the first semiconductor structure. Bonded semiconductor structures are formed using such methods.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing metal contacts under ground-up contact pads within a device. A device may comprise a bottom metal layer with a bottom metal contact, a top metal layer with a top metal contact, and a plurality of middle metal layers. Any given metal layer of the plurality of middle metal layers comprises a metal contact, the metal contact is substantially vertically below the top metal contact, substantially vertically above the bottom metal contact, and substantially vertically above a metal contact in any metal layer that is below the given metal layer. The metal contacts may be of various and different shapes. All the metal contacts in the plurality of middle metal layers and the bottom metal contact may be smaller than the top metal contact, therefore occupying less area and saving more area for other functions such as device routing.

Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a layer disposed over a substrate. A conductive body extends through the layer. A plurality of bar or pillar structures are spaced apart from one another and laterally surround the conductive body. The plurality of bar or pillar structures are generally concentric around the conductive body.

An apparatus comprising a substrate with multiple electronic devices. An interconnect structure formed on a first side of the substrate interconnects the electronic devices. Dummy TSVs each extend through the substrate and form an alignment mark on a second side of the substrate. Functional TSVs each extend through the substrate and electrically connect to the electronic devices. A redistribution layer (RDL) formed on the second side of the substrate interconnects ones of the dummy TSVs with ones of the functional TSVs. Step heights of the RDL over the functional TSVs are less than a predetermined value, whereas step heights of the RDL over the dummy TSVs are greater than the predetermined value.

An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two integrated circuits are bonded together. A first opening is formed through one of the substrates. A multi-layer dielectric film is formed along sidewalls of the first opening. One or more etch processes form one or more spacer-shaped structures along sidewalls of the first opening. A second opening is formed extending from the first opening to pads in the integrated circuits. A dielectric liner is formed, and the opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.

A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die with a conductive layer formed over the first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die is disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor die with a side surface and the conductive layer of the first semiconductor die contacting a side surface and the conductive layer of the second semiconductor die. An interconnect, such as a conductive material, is formed across a junction between the conductive layers of the first and second semiconductor die. The conductive layer may extend down the side surface of the first semiconductor die and further down the side surface of the second semiconductor die. An extension of the side surface of the first semiconductor die can interlock with a recess of the side surface of the second semiconductor die. The conductive layer extends over the extension and into the recess.

An object of the present invention is to reduce wire inductance without damaging manufacturability of a power converter. A power converter according to the present invention includes a power semiconductor module, a capacitor, and DC bus bars and. The capacitor smooths a DC power. The DC bus bars and transmit the DC power. The DC bus bars and include a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal connects to the power semiconductor module. The second terminal connects to the capacitor. The DC bus bars and form a module opening portion to insert the power semiconductor module. The DC bus bars and form a closed circuit such that a DC current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal flows to an outer periphery of the module opening portion.