Alignment systems, and wafer bonding alignment systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an alignment system for a wafer bonding system includes means for monitoring an alignment of a first wafer and a second wafer, and means for adjusting a position of the second wafer. The alignment system includes means for feeding back a relative position of the first wafer and the second wafer to the means for adjusting the position of the second wafer before and during a bonding process for the first wafer and the second wafer.

Alignment systems, and wafer bonding alignment systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an alignment system for a wafer bonding system includes means for monitoring an alignment of a first wafer and a second wafer, and means for adjusting a position of the second wafer. The alignment system includes means for feeding back a relative position of the first wafer and the second wafer to the means for adjusting the position of the second wafer before and during a bonding process for the first wafer and the second wafer.

Alignment systems, and wafer bonding alignment systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an alignment system for a wafer bonding system includes means for monitoring an alignment of a first wafer and a second wafer, and means for adjusting a position of the second wafer. The alignment system includes means for feeding back a relative position of the first wafer and the second wafer to the means for adjusting the position of the second wafer before and during a bonding process for the first wafer and the second wafer.

Representative implementations provide techniques and systems for processing integrated circuit (IC) dies. Dies being prepared for intimate surface bonding (to other dies, to substrates, to another surface, etc.) may be processed with a minimum of handling, to prevent contamination of the surfaces or the edges of the dies. The techniques include processing dies while the dies are on a dicing sheet or other device processing film or surface. Systems include integrated cleaning components arranged to perform multiple cleaning processes simultaneously.

A bonding method can include polishing a first bonding layer of a first element for direct bonding, the first bonding layer comprises a first conductive pad and a first non-conductive bonding region. After the polishing, a last chemical treatment can be performed on the polished first bonding layer. After performing the last chemical treatment, the first bonding layer of the first element can be directly bonded to a second bonding layer of a second element without an intervening adhesive, including directly bonding the first conductive pad to a second conductive pad of the second bonding layer and directly bonding the first non-conductive bonding region to a second nonconductive bonding region of the second bonding layer. No treatment or rinse is performed on the first bonding layer between performing the last chemical treatment and directly bonding.

A semiconductor structure includes a memory die including memory-side bonding pads. The memory-side bonding pads include first-type memory-side bonding pads electrically connected to a respective one of word lines or bit lines, and second-type memory-side bonding pads electrically connected to a source layer. Each of the first-type memory-side bonding pads has a first bonding surface area, and each of the second-type memory-side bonding pads has a second bonding surface area greater than the first bonding surface area.

An apparatus for bonding a first substrate to a second substrate includes a heatable mounting stage configured to accommodate a first semiconductor substrate on an upward-facing surface and a first stack of semiconductor materials on the first semiconductor substrate; a heatable bond head configured to accommodate a second semiconductor substrate on a downward-facing surface and a second stack of semiconductor materials on the second semiconductor substrate; and a collet disposed on the downward-facing surface of the heatable bond head and configured to receive the second semiconductor substrate and the second stack of semiconductor materials. The heatable bond head is configured to have a vacuum applied thereto to deformably accommodate the second semiconductor substrate and the second stack of semiconductor materials against the collet. The heatable bond head is configured to be pressed against the heatable mounting stage to bond the semiconductor materials.