A method includes placing a first package component. The first package component includes a first alignment mark and a first dummy alignment mark. A second package component is aligned to the first package component. The second package component includes a second alignment mark and a second dummy alignment mark. The aligning is performed using the first alignment mark for positioning the first package component, and using the second alignment mark for position the second package component. The second package component is bonded to the first package component to form a package, with the first alignment mark being bonded to the second dummy alignment mark.

Alignment of a first micro-electronic component to a receiving surface of a second micro-electronic component is realized by a capillary force-induced self-alignment, combined with an electrostatic alignment. The latter is accomplished by providing at least one first electrical conductor line along the periphery of the first component, and at least one second electrical conductor along the periphery of the location on the receiving surface of the second component onto which the component is to be placed. The contact areas surrounded by the conductor lines are covered with a wetting layer. The electrical conductor lines may be embedded in a strip of anti-wetting material that runs along the peripheries to create a wettability contrast. The wettability contrast helps to maintain a drop of alignment liquid between the contact areas so as to obtain self-alignment by capillary force. By applying appropriate charges on the conductor lines, electrostatic self-alignment is realized, which improves the alignment obtained through capillary force and maintains the alignment during evaporation of the liquid.

In a semiconductor device, an element forming region formed with a semiconductor element for controlling a current is defined on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A termination region is defined so as to surround the element forming region. In a gate electrode, a probe-contacting region and a wire region are defined. The probe-contacting region and the wire region are separated by an insulator formed on a surface of the gate electrode. Thus, the surface of the probe-contacting region and the surface of the wire region are located at the same height.

Alignment of a first micro-electronic component to a receiving surface of a second micro-electronic component is realized by a capillary force-induced self-alignment, combined with an electrostatic alignment. The latter is accomplished by providing at least one first electrical conductor line along the periphery of the first component, and at least one second electrical conductor along the periphery of the location on the receiving surface of the second component onto which the component is to be placed. The contact areas surrounded by the conductor lines are covered with a wetting layer. The electrical conductor lines may be embedded in a strip of anti-wetting material that runs along the peripheries to create a wettability contrast. The wettability contrast helps to maintain a drop of alignment liquid between the contact areas so as to obtain self-alignment by capillary force. By applying appropriate charges on the conductor lines, electrostatic self-alignment is realized, which improves the alignment obtained through capillary force and maintains the alignment during evaporation of the liquid.

An integrated circuit device can include a first Through Via (TV) region including first TV structures that are spaced apart from one another at a first pitch in first and second directions. A second TV region can include second TV structures that are spaced apart from one another at the first pitch in the first and second directions. A TV free region can separate directly adjacent first and second TV structures from one another by a spacing distance measured in the first or second direction that is greater than the first pitch and an alignment key can be defined as a geometric pattern including one of the second TV structures and the TV free region.

Alignment of a first micro-electronic component to a receiving surface of a second micro-electronic component is realized by a capillary force-induced self-alignment, combined with an electrostatic alignment. The latter is accomplished by providing at least one first electrical conductor line along the periphery of the first component, and at least one second electrical conductor along the periphery of the location on the receiving surface of the second component onto which the component is to be placed. The contact areas surrounded by the conductor lines are covered with a wetting layer. The electrical conductor lines may be embedded in a strip of anti-wetting material that runs along the peripheries to create a wettability contrast. The wettability contrast helps to maintain a drop of alignment liquid between the contact areas so as to obtain self-alignment by capillary force. By applying appropriate charges on the conductor lines, electrostatic self-alignment is realized, which improves the alignment obtained through capillary force and maintains the alignment during evaporation of the liquid.

A semiconductor device has a plurality of first semiconductor die mounted over an interface layer formed over a temporary carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the first die and carrier. A flat shielding layer is formed over the encapsulant. A channel is formed through the shielding layer and encapsulant down to the interface layer. A conductive material is deposited in the channel and electrically connected to the shielding layer. The interface layer and carrier are removed. An interconnect structure is formed over conductive material, encapsulant, and first die. The conductive material is electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The conductive material is singulated to separate the first die. A second semiconductor die can be mounted over the first die such that the shielding layer covers the second die and the conductive material surrounds the second die or the first and second die.

A method includes placing a first package component. The first package component includes a first alignment mark and a first dummy alignment mark. A second package component is aligned to the first package component. The second package component includes a second alignment mark and a second dummy alignment mark. The aligning is performed using the first alignment mark for positioning the first package component, and using the second alignment mark for position the second package component. The second package component is bonded to the first package component to form a package, with the first alignment mark being bonded to the second dummy alignment mark.

A semiconductor structure includes a first and second integrated circuit (IC) components stacked upon and electrically coupled to each other. The first IC component includes a first bonding structure including a first bonding dielectric layer and a first bonding feature disposed in the first bonding dielectric layer, and a first alignment pattern disposed in the first bonding dielectric layer. The second IC component includes a second bonding structure including a second bonding dielectric layer bonded to the first bonding dielectric layer and a second bonding feature disposed in the second bonding dielectric layer and bonded to the first bonding feature, and a second alignment pattern disposed in the second bonding dielectric layer and aligned with the first alignment pattern in a staggered manner. The second alignment pattern is disposed within a boundary of the first IC component in a top-down view.

In an embodiment, a structure includes: a first device including a first dielectric layer and a first alignment mark in the first dielectric layer, the first alignment mark including a first magnetic cross, the first magnetic cross having a first north pole and a first south pole; and a second device including a second dielectric layer and a second alignment mark in the second dielectric layer, the second alignment mark including a second magnetic cross, the second magnetic cross having a second north pole and a second south pole, the first north pole aligned with the second south pole, the first south pole aligned with the second north pole, the first dielectric layer bonded to the second dielectric layer by dielectric-to-dielectric bonds, the first alignment mark bonded to the second alignment mark by metal-to-metal bonds.