An integrated circuit includes a first and second active region, a first conductive structure, an insulating region, a set of gates and a set of contacts. The first and second active region are in a substrate, extend in a first direction, are located on a first level, and being separated from one another in a second direction. The first conductive structure extends in the first direction, is located on the first level, and is between the first and second active region. The insulating region is located on at least the first level, and is between the first and second active region and the first conductive structure. The set of gates extend in the second direction, overlap the first conductive structure, and is located on a second level. The set of contacts extend in the second direction, overlap the first conductive structure, and is located on the second level.

An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a capacitor. The STI region is embedded in the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor includes first and second conductive stacks. The first conductive stack includes a first dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and a plurality of first metal dummy gate contacts landing on the first metal capacitor strip. The second conductive stack includes a second dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and extending in parallel with the first dummy gate strip, and a plurality of second dummy gate contacts landing on the second dummy gate strip, wherein the first conductive stack is electrically isolated from the second conductive stack.

An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a capacitor. The STI region is embedded in the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor includes first and second conductive stacks. The first conductive stack includes a first dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and a plurality of first metal dummy gate contacts landing on the first metal capacitor strip. The second conductive stack includes a second dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and extending in parallel with the first dummy gate strip, and a plurality of second dummy gate contacts landing on the second dummy gate strip, wherein the first conductive stack is electrically isolated from the second conductive stack.

A method and an apparatus for bonding semiconductor substrates are provided. The method includes at least the following steps. A first position of a first semiconductor substrate on a first support is gauged by a gauging component embedded in the first support and a first sensor facing towards the gauging component. A second semiconductor substrate is transferred to a position above the first semiconductor substrate by a second support. A second position of the second semiconductor substrate is gauged by a second sensor mounted on the second support and located above the first support. The first semiconductor substrate is positioned based on the second position of the second semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate is bonded to the first semiconductor substrate.

A method and an apparatus for bonding semiconductor substrates are provided. The method includes at least the following steps. A first position of a first semiconductor substrate on a first support is gauged by a gauging component embedded in the first support and a first sensor facing towards the gauging component. A second semiconductor substrate is transferred to a position above the first semiconductor substrate by a second support. A second position of the second semiconductor substrate is gauged by a second sensor mounted on the second support and located above the first support. The first semiconductor substrate is positioned based on the second position of the second semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate is bonded to the first semiconductor substrate.

Packaged semiconductor devices and methods of packaging semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaged semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit die, a molding compound disposed around the integrated circuit die, and an interconnect structure disposed over the integrated circuit die and the molding compound. The molding compound is thicker than the integrated circuit die.

Packaged semiconductor devices and methods of packaging semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaged semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit die, a molding compound disposed around the integrated circuit die, and an interconnect structure disposed over the integrated circuit die and the molding compound. The molding compound is thicker than the integrated circuit die.

Embodiments herein describe techniques for an integrated circuit (IC). The IC may include a lower device layer that includes a first transistor structure, an upper device layer above the lower device layer including a second transistor structure, and an isolation wall that extends between the upper device layer and the lower device layer. The isolation wall may be in contact with an edge of a first gate structure of the first transistor structure and an edge of a second gate structure of the second transistor structure, and may have a first width to the edge of the first gate structure at the lower device layer, and a second width to the edge of the second gate structure at the upper device layer. The first width may be different from the second width. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a capacitor. The STI region is embedded in the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor includes first and second conductive stacks. The first conductive stack includes a first dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and a plurality of first metal dummy gate contacts landing on the first metal capacitor strip. The second conductive stack includes a second dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and extending in parallel with the first dummy gate strip, and a plurality of second dummy gate contacts landing on the second dummy gate strip, wherein the first conductive stack is electrically isolated from the second conductive stack.

An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a capacitor. The STI region is embedded in the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor includes first and second conductive stacks. The first conductive stack includes a first dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and a plurality of first metal dummy gate contacts landing on the first metal capacitor strip. The second conductive stack includes a second dummy gate strip disposed entirely within the STI region and extending in parallel with the first dummy gate strip, and a plurality of second dummy gate contacts landing on the second dummy gate strip, wherein the first conductive stack is electrically isolated from the second conductive stack.