A method of making a secure integrated-circuit system comprises providing a first integrated circuit in a first die having a first die size and providing a second integrated circuit in a second die. The second die size is smaller than the first die size. The second die is transfer printed onto the first die and connected to the first integrated circuit, forming a compound die. The compound die is packaged. The second integrated circuit is operable to monitor the operation of the first integrated circuit and provides a monitor signal responsive to the operation of the first integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit can be constructed in an insecure facility and the second integrated circuit can be constructed in a secure facility.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.

Image sensor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and semiconductor device manufacturing methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes bonding a first semiconductor wafer to a second semiconductor wafer, the first semiconductor wafer comprising a substrate and an interconnect structure coupled to the substrate. The method includes removing a portion of the substrate from the first semiconductor wafer to expose a portion of the interconnect structure.

Image sensor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and semiconductor device manufacturing methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes bonding a first semiconductor wafer to a second semiconductor wafer, the first semiconductor wafer comprising a substrate and an interconnect structure coupled to the substrate. The method includes removing a portion of the substrate from the first semiconductor wafer to expose a portion of the interconnect structure.

A method includes bonding a first device die with a second device die. The second device die is over the first device die. A passive device is formed in a combined structure including the first and the second device dies. The passive device includes a first and a second end. A gap-filling material is formed over the first device die, with the gap-filling material including portions on opposite sides of the second device die. The method further includes performing a planarization to reveal the second device die, with a remaining portion of the gap-filling material forming an isolation region, forming a first and a second through-vias penetrating through the isolation region to electrically couple to the first device die, and forming a first and a second electrical connectors electrically coupling to the first end and the second end of the passive device.

A method includes bonding a first device die with a second device die. The second device die is over the first device die. A passive device is formed in a combined structure including the first and the second device dies. The passive device includes a first and a second end. A gap-filling material is formed over the first device die, with the gap-filling material including portions on opposite sides of the second device die. The method further includes performing a planarization to reveal the second device die, with a remaining portion of the gap-filling material forming an isolation region, forming a first and a second through-vias penetrating through the isolation region to electrically couple to the first device die, and forming a first and a second electrical connectors electrically coupling to the first end and the second end of the passive device.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a first semiconductor chip comprising a first metallic structure, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; providing a second semiconductor chip comprising a second metallic structure; bonding the first semiconductor chip with the second semiconductor chip on the second surface; forming a first recessed portion including a first sidewall and a first bottom surface coplanar with a top surface of the first metallic structure; forming a second recessed portion including a second sidewall and a second bottom surface coplanar with a top surface of the second metallic structure; forming a dielectric layer over the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and forming a conductive material over the dielectric layer, the top surface of the first metallic structure and the top surface of the second metallic structure.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a first semiconductor chip comprising a first metallic structure, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; providing a second semiconductor chip comprising a second metallic structure; bonding the first semiconductor chip with the second semiconductor chip on the second surface; forming a first recessed portion including a first sidewall and a first bottom surface coplanar with a top surface of the first metallic structure; forming a second recessed portion including a second sidewall and a second bottom surface coplanar with a top surface of the second metallic structure; forming a dielectric layer over the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and forming a conductive material over the dielectric layer, the top surface of the first metallic structure and the top surface of the second metallic structure.

A semiconductor device comprises a first chip bonded on a second chip. The first chip comprises a first substrate and first interconnection components formed in first IMD layers. The second chip comprises a second substrate and second interconnection components formed in second IMD layers. The device further comprises a first conductive plug formed within the first substrate and the first IMD layers, wherein the first conductive plug is coupled to a first interconnection component and a second conductive plug formed through the first substrate and the first IMD layers and formed partially through the second IMD layers, wherein the second conductive plug is coupled to a second interconnection component.