Methods and structures of connecting at least two integrated circuits in a 3D arrangement by a zigzag conductive chain are disclosed. The zigzag conductive chain, acting as a spring or self-adaptive contact structure (SACS) in a wafer bonding process, is designed to reduce bonding interface stress, to increase bonding interface reliability, and to have an adjustable height to close undesirable opens or voids between contacts of the two integrated circuits.

Methods and structures of connecting at least two integrated circuits in a 3D arrangement by a zigzag conductive chain are disclosed. The zigzag conductive chain, acting as a spring or self-adaptive contact structure (SACS) in a wafer bonding process, is designed to reduce bonding interface stress, to increase bonding interface reliability, and to have an adjustable height to close undesirable opens or voids between contacts of the two integrated circuits.

Methods and structures of connecting at least two integrated circuits in a 3D arrangement by a zigzag conductive chain are disclosed. The zigzag conductive chain, acting as a spring or self-adaptive contact structure (SACS) in a wafer bonding process, is designed to reduce bonding interface stress, to increase bonding interface reliability, and to have an adjustable height to close undesirable opens or voids between contacts of the two integrated circuits.

An optical inspection system for pre-bonding inspection system includes a stage on which a sample to be inspected is placed, a sensor, optical assemblies, each including an optical head having optics to direct a sample field-of-view (FOV) to a portion of the sample, a first light source configured to illuminate the sample at a first oblique angle, a second light source configured to illuminate the sample at a second oblique angle, a focusing lens to focus a first optical image of the portion of the sample generated by the first light source, and a second optical image of the portion of the sample generated by the second light source onto a segment of the sensor, and a controller configured to combine the first optical image and the second optical image generated by each optical assembly, and generate a map of point defects on the sample.

An optical inspection system for pre-bonding inspection includes a stage having a surface on which a sample to be inspected is placed, the surface of the sample having at least parts with a two dimensional (2D) periodic pattern which may include defects, an optical head including optics, a dark-field illuminator configured to illuminate the surface of the sample at an first angle, wherein the first angle is an oblique angle, a bright-field illuminator configured to illuminate the surface at a second angle, a dark-field collection path, a bright-field collection path, and a sensor configured to detect light transmitted from the dark-field illuminator, scattered at the surface of the sample, collected by the optical head, and relayed through the dark-field collection path, and light transmitted from the bright-field illuminator, reflected at the surface of the sample, and relayed through the bright-field collection path.

An inter-substrate bond structure includes an adhesion layer that attached to a first substrate, and an outer gas-permeable layer coupled to the adhesion layer. The outer gas-permeable layer expands and fractures in response to absorbing a gas. The inter-substrate bond structure includes an outer bond layer coupled to the outer gas-permeable layer. The outer bond layer forms an initial thermocompression bond with a mating layer on a second substrate. The initial thermocompression bond bonds the first substrate to the second substrate with the inter-substrate bond structure. The fracture in the inter-substrate bond structure debonds the first substrate from the second substrate while leaving a first portion of the inter-substrate bond structure attached to the first substrate.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first metal pad in each of a plurality of first regions on a first substrate so that warpage is generated on the first substrate. The method further includes forming a second metal pad in each of a plurality of second regions on a second substrate via a predetermined pattern. The method further includes bonding, after forming the first metal pad and the second metal pad, the first substrate with the second substrate. Moreover, the method further includes: making a correction, at a time of forming the predetermined pattern in each of the plurality of second regions on the second substrate, to change a position of the predetermined pattern in each of the plurality of second regions in a direction of being closer to a center of the second substrate for a first direction and to change the position of the predetermined pattern in a direction of being farther from the center of the second substrate for a second direction.