A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a cell portion and an outer peripheral portion disposed around the cell portion, and a surface insulating film disposed in a manner extending across the cell portion and the outer peripheral portion, and in the cell portion, formed to be thinner than a part in the outer peripheral portion.

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for collecting and exchanging data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory device, which includes an interface for coupling the non-volatile memory device to a host system; non-volatile memory for storing data, including a plurality of executables at least two of which are executable on different operating systems or devices. The plurality of executables includes a data collection executable and a data transfer executable. The nonvolatile memory device also includes a controller to cause execution of at least one executable in the plurality of executables, including the data collection executable and the data transfer executable, where execution of the data collection executable causes data to be collected and stored in the non-volatile memory, and execution of which causes the collected data to be transferred to a location external to the non-volatile memory device.

A semiconductor device includes a first field effect transistor (FET) including a first gate dielectric layer and a first gate electrode. The first gate electrode includes a first lower metal layer and a first upper metal layer. The first lower metal layer includes a first underlying metal layer in contact with the first gate dielectric layer and a first bulk metal layer. A bottom of the first upper metal layer is in contact with an upper surface of the first underlying metal layer and an upper surface of the first bulk metal layer.

A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming fins in first and second regions defined on a substrate. The fins include first fin, second fin, third fin, and fourth fin. A dielectric layer is formed over fins and a work function adjustment layer is formed over dielectric layer. A hard mask is formed covering third and fourth fins. A first conductive material layer is formed over first fin and not over second fin. A second conductive material layer is formed over first and second fins. A first metal gate electrode fill material is formed over first and second fins. The hard mask covering third and fourth fins is removed. A third conductive material layer is formed over third fin and not over fourth fin. A fourth conductive material layer is formed over third and fourth fins, and a second metal gate electrode fill material is formed over third and fourth fins.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to methods for forming recesses in epitaxial source/drain regions for forming conductive features. In some embodiments, the recesses are formed in a two-step etching process including an anisotropic etch to form a vertical opening and an isotropic etch to expand an end portion of the vertical opening laterally and vertically. The recesses can have increased contact area between the source/drain region and the conductive feature, and can enable reduced resistance therebetween.

A semiconductor structure includes a high-k metal gate structure (HKMG) disposed over a channel region of a semiconductor layer formed over a substrate, where the HKMG includes an interfacial layer disposed over the semiconductor layer, a high-k dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial layer, and a gate electrode disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, where a length of the high-k dielectric layer is greater than a length of the gate electrode and where outer edges of the interfacial layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the gate electrode form a step profile. The semiconductor structure further includes gate spacers having sidewall portions contacting sidewalls of the gate electrode and bottom portions contacting top portions of the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer, and source/drain features disposed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the HKMG.

A semiconductor device includes a channel component of a transistor and a gate component disposed over the channel component. The gate component includes: a dielectric layer, a first work function metal layer disposed over the dielectric layer, a fill-metal layer disposed over the first work function metal layer, and a second work function metal layer disposed over the fill-metal layer.

A semiconductor device comprising a gate electrode on a substrate, a source/drain pattern on the substrate on a side of the gate electrode, and a gate contact plug on the gate electrode are disclosed. The gate contact plug may include a first gate contact segment, and a second gate contact segment that extends in a vertical direction from a top surface of the first gate contact segment. An upper width of the first gate contact segment may be greater than a lower width of the second gate contact segment.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate having an active region surrounded by an isolation layer; forming a first trench and a second trench in the active region, and a third trench and a fourth trench in the isolation layer; forming a bottom work-function layer in the third trench and the fourth trench, respectively; forming a middle work-function layer on the bottom work-function layer and in the first and the second trenches; forming a top work-function layer on the middle work-function layer; and forming a capping layer on the top work-function layer that fills a remaining region of the first, the second, the third and the fourth trenches.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a sacrificial gate over an active region of a substrate. The sacrificial gate is removed to form an opening. A gate dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the opening. A first work function layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer in the opening. A first protective layer is formed over the first work function layer in the opening. A first etch process is performed to widen an upper portion of the opening. The opening is filled with a conductive material.