Method and resistive structure is provided herein. The resistive structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more circuit elements and a first interconnect layer disposed on the substrate. The first interconnect layer is between a resistive layer and the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed between the first interconnect layer and the resistive layer. A via extending through the dielectric layer forms an electrical connection between the first interconnect layer and the resistive layer.

One feature pertains to an integrated circuit that includes an antifuse having a conductor-insulator-conductor structure. The antifuse includes a first conductor plate, a dielectric layer, and a second conductor plate, where the dielectric layer is interposed between the first and second conductor plates. The antifuse transitions from an open circuit state to a closed circuit state if a programming voltage V.sub.pp greater than or equal to a dielectric breakdown voltage V.sub.BD of the antifuse is applied to the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate. The first conductor plate has a total edge length that is greater than two times the sum of its maximum width and maximum length dimensions. The first conductor plate's top surface area may also be less than the product of its maximum length and maximum width.

A technique for making high performance low noise amplifiers, low cost high performance RF, microwave circuits and other devices by using a minimum of costly high performance semiconductors is described. By combining a single discrete portion of an expensive semiconductor with a less expensive GaAs carrier, MMIC devices with improved performance over their discrete counterparts are achieved.

Disclosed is a sheet resistor designed to operate in a high frequency environment. Unlike conventional sheet resistors, the equivalent series inductance (ESL) is minimized or even eliminated altogether when using the designed sheet resistor. As a result, better signal isolation can be achieved.

A thin-film device is provided with high reliability that prevents breakage of a thin-film resistance element due to stress caused by expansion of a resin layer. Thin-film resistance elements can be pressed against a substrate with a first constraint thin film that is formed on a resin layer arranged on a resin layer at the opposite side to the substrate so as to overlap with the thin-film resistance elements when seen in the plan view of the device. Therefore, bending stress that is applied to the thin-film resistance elements due to expansion of the resin layers in a high-temperature state can be moderated to thereby prevent breakage of the thin-film resistance elements due to stress caused by the expansion of the resin layers.

In one example an electronic device includes a first resistor and a second resistor. The first resistor includes a first resistive layer located over a substrate, the first resistive layer having a first sheet resistance. The second resistor includes a first portion of a second resistive layer located over the substrate, the second resistive layer having a second sheet resistance different from the first sheet resistance. The first resistive layer is located between the substrate and a second noncontiguous portion of the second resistive layer.

According to one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge semiconductor device includes one or more wiring layers first disposed over a substrate, including: a wiring electrically connected at a first connecting point of a pad, a second wiring electrically connected at a second connecting point of a ground wiring, and a third wiring electrically connected at a third connecting point of the ground wiring; a first transistor formed in the substrate comprising a first diffusion region electrically connected to the first wiring, a second diffusion region electrically connected to the second wiring, and a gate electrically connected to the ground wiring; and a second transistor formed in the substrate comprising the first diffusion region electrically connected to the first wiring, a third diffusion region electrically connected to the third wiring, and a gate electrically connected to the ground wiring, wherein, a first resistance value of a first current pathway leading from the first connecting point to the second connecting point via the first transistor is different from a second resistance value of a second current pathway leading from the first connecting point to the third connecting point via the second transistor.

A biosensor with a heater embedded therein is provided. A semiconductor substrate comprises a source region and a drain region. The heater is under the semiconductor substrate. A sensing well is over the semiconductor substrate, laterally between the source region and the drain region. A sensing layer lines the sensing well. A method for manufacturing the biosensor is also provided.

An embodiment is a device comprising a substrate, a metal pad over the substrate, and a passivation layer comprising a portion over the metal pad. The device further comprises a metal pillar over and electrically coupled to the metal pad, and a passive device comprising a first portion at a same level as the metal pillar, wherein the first portion of the passive device is formed of a same material as the metal pillar.

A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first resistive element and a second resistive element over the semiconductor substrate. A topmost surface of the second resistive element is higher than a topmost surface of the first resistive element. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature electrically connected to the first resistive element. The second resistive element is between and electrically isolated from the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first dielectric layer surrounding the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature.