A method of preparing a substrate for substrate bonding is provided. The method comprises: forming a recess in a substrate surface of the substrate, and forming a bondable dielectric layer on the substrate surface of the substrate. The bondable dielectric layer has a bonding surface on an opposite side of the bondable dielectric layer to the substrate surface, wherein the recess and the bondable dielectric layer define a dielectric cavity having a dielectric cavity volume. A plug is formed configured to make electrical contact to the substrate in the dielectric cavity volume. The plug has a plug volume which is less than the dielectric cavity volume, wherein the plug extends from the dielectric cavity beyond the bonding surface in a direction generally normal to the bonding surface. The plug is coined by compressing the substrate between opposing planar surfaces such that a contact surface of the plug is made co-planar with the bonding surface.

A discrete 3-D processor comprises first and second dice. The first die comprises three-dimensional memory (3D-M) arrays, whereas the second die comprises logic circuits and at least an off-die peripheral-circuit component of the 3D-M array(s). The first die does not comprise the off-die peripheral-circuit component. The first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections. The preferred discrete 3-D processor can be applied to mathematical computing, computer simulation, configurable gate array, pattern processing and neural network.

A semiconductor device including a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate and including a trench, at least one via structure penetrating the substrate and protruding above a bottom surface of the trench, and a conductive structure surrounding the at least one via structure in the trench may be provided.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor structure includes a first chip and a second chip. A first conductive connection wire of the first chip is connected to a first conductive contact pad, and a second conductive connection wire of the second chip is connected to a second conductive contact pad. In addition, the first conductive contact pad includes a first conductor and a second conductor, and the second conductive contact pad includes a third conductor and a fourth conductor. The first conductor is directly opposite to the fourth conductor, and the second conductor is directly opposite to the third conductor. Therefore, pre-connection of the first conductive contact pad and the second conductive contact pad may be implemented and then the first chip and second chip that are pre-connected are transferred for bonding.

A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor comprises communicatively coupled first and second dice. The first die comprises 3-D memory (3D-M) arrays, whereas the second die comprises at least a non-memory circuit and at least an off-die peripheral-circuit component of the 3D-M arrays. The first die does not comprise said off-die peripheral-circuit component. The non-memory circuit on the second die is not part of a memory.

Semiconductor apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor apparatus are provided. Semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having metal pads, a first passivation layer, a second passivation layer, an under bump metal layer, a stress buffer layer, a copper pillar and a solder structure. First passivation layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and covers a portion of each metal pad, the first passivation layer has first passivation layer openings to expose a first portion of each metal pad. Second passivation layer is formed on the first passivation layer, the second passivation layer has second passivation layer openings to expose a second portion of each metal pad. Under bump metal layer is formed on the second portion of each metal pad exposed by the second passivation layer opening. Stress buffer layer is formed on the under bump metal layer, and the copper pillar is disposed on the stress buffer layer.

Layer structures for making direct metal-to-metal bonds at low temperatures and shorter annealing durations in microelectronics are provided. Example bonding interface structures enable direct metal-to-metal bonding of interconnects at low annealing temperatures of 150° C. or below, and at a lower energy budget. The example structures provide a precise metal recess distance for conductive pads and vias being bonded that can be achieved in high volume manufacturing. The example structures provide a vertical stack of conductive layers under the bonding interface, with geometries and thermal expansion features designed to vertically expand the stack at lower temperatures over the precise recess distance to make the direct metal-to-metal bonds. Further enhancements, such as surface nanotexture and copper crystal plane selection, can further actuate the direct metal-to-metal bonding at lowered annealing temperatures and shorter annealing durations.

The present application provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a first stress-relieving structure including a first conductive frame above the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of first insulating pillars within the first conductive frame, forming a second stress-relieving structure comprising a plurality of second conductive pillars above the first stress-relieving structure and a second insulating frame, the plurality of second conductive pillars are disposed within the second conductive frame, wherein the plurality of second conductive pillars is disposed correspondingly above the plurality of first insulating pillars, and the second insulating frame is disposed correspondingly above the first conductive frame; and forming a conductive structure including a supporting portion above the second stress-relieving structure, a conductive portion adjacent to the supporting portion, and a plurality of spacers attached to two sides of the conductive portion.

A semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip on a top surface thereof. The first semiconductor chip may include a first bonding pad on a top surface of a first semiconductor substrate and a first penetration via on a bottom surface of the first bonding pad and penetrating the first semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor chip may include a second interconnection pattern on a bottom surface of a second semiconductor substrate and a second bonding pad on a bottom surface of the second interconnection pattern and coupled to the second interconnection pattern. The second bonding pad may be directly bonded to the first bonding pad. A width of the first penetration via may be smaller than that of the first bonding pad, and a width of the second interconnection pattern may be larger than that of the second bonding pad.

A semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor substrate; a through electrode that penetrates the semiconductor substrate; a first pad disposed on the through electrode; and a dielectric structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein a lower portion of the dielectric structure at least partially surrounds the through electrode, wherein an upper portion of the dielectric structure at least partially surrounds the first pad, wherein the dielectric structure includes: a first dielectric pattern; an etch stop pattern disposed on the first dielectric pattern; and a second dielectric pattern spaced apart from the first dielectric pattern by the etch stop pattern, wherein the first pad is in contact with the through electrode, the first dielectric pattern, the etch stop pattern, and second dielectric pattern, and wherein a top surface of the through electrode is at a level higher than a level of a top surface of the first dielectric pattern.