An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least one first trench extending into the first semiconductor substrate from the first surface and having a first depth, at least one second trench extending into the first semiconductor substrate from the first surface and having a second depth greater than the first depth, a thinned semiconductor region with a first recessed region extending in the first semiconductor substrate from the second surface and having a first thickness, a second recessed region in the first semiconductor substrate extending from the second surface to the first surface, and a bulk dielectric layer covering the second surface of the first semiconductor substrate.

A device includes a plurality of tracks, wherein at least one of the plurality of tracks comprises a first power rail for a first voltage. The device further includes a first via in electrical contact with the power rail. The device further includes a first contact in electrical contact with the first via. The device further includes a first transistor in electrical contact with the first contact. The device further includes a second transistor in electrical isolation with the first transistor. The device further includes a second contact in electrical contact with the second transistor. The device further includes a second via in electrical contact with the second contact. The device further includes a second power rail in electrical contact with the second via, wherein the second power rail is configured to carry a second voltage.

A method for producing a 3D semiconductor device including: providing a first level, including a single crystal layer; forming memory control circuits in and/or on the first level which include first single crystal transistors and at least two interconnection metal layers; forming at least one second level disposed above the memory control circuits; performing a first etch step into the second level; forming at least one third level on top of the second level; performing additional processing steps to form first memory cells within the second level and second memory cells within the third level, where each of the first memory cells include at least one second transistor including a metal gate, where each of the second memory cells include at least one third transistor; and performing bonding of the first level to the second level, where the bonding includes oxide to oxide bonding.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes following steps. Firstly, a first transistor is formed on a first surface of a substrate. Next, a thinning process is performed on the second surface of the substrate which is opposite to the first surface, to form a third surface. Then, a second transistor is formed on the third surface, in which the second transistor and the first transistor are electrically connected to each other through a through-silicon via penetrating through the first surface and the third surface.

The present application teaches, inter alia, methods and circuits for operating B-TRANs (double-base bidirectional bipolar junction transistors). Base drive circuits provide high-impedance drive to the base contact region on whichever side of the device is (instantaneously) operating as the collector. (B-TRANs, unlike other bipolar junction transistors, are controlled by applied voltage, not applied current.) Control signals operate preferred drive circuits, providing diode-mode turn-on and pre-turnoff operation, and a hard ON state with a low voltage drop (the transistor-ON state). In some (not necessarily all) preferred embodiments, a self-synchronizing rectifier circuit provides an adjustable low voltage for the gate drive circuit. Also, in some preferred embodiments, the base drive voltage used to drive the c-base region (on the collector side) is varied while monitoring the base current at that terminal, so that no more base current than necessary is applied. This solves the difficult challenge of optimizing base drive in B-TRANs.

The present application teaches, among other innovations, methods and circuits for operating a B-TRAN (double-base bidirectional bipolar junction transistor). A base drive circuit is described which provides high-impedance drive to the base contact region on whichever side of the device is operating as the collector (at a given moment). (The B-TRAN, unlike other bipolar junction transistors, is controlled by applied voltage rather than applied current.) The preferred implementation of the drive circuit is operated by control signals to provide diode-mode turn-on and pre-turnoff operation, as well as a hard ON state with a low voltage drop (the transistor-ON state). In some but not necessarily all preferred embodiments, an adjustable low voltage for the gate drive circuit is provided by a self-synchronizing rectifier circuit. Also, in some but not necessarily all preferred embodiments, the base drive voltage used to drive the c-base region (on the collector side) is varied while the base current at that terminal is monitored, so that no more base current than necessary is applied. This solves the difficult challenge of optimizing base drive in a B-TRAN.

A 3D semiconductor device, including: a first layer including first transistors; a second layer overlaying the first layer, the second layer including second transistors, where the second layer includes at least one thru layer via with a diameter less than 200 nm, where the second layer includes an oscillator, and where the oscillator has a frequency stability of less than 100 ppm error/ C.

A method of fabricating a switched-capacitor converter includes providing a semiconductor layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, forming switching elements on the top surface of the semiconductor layer, forming a first insulation layer and first interconnection patterns on the switching elements, forming a second insulation layer over the first insulation layer and the first interconnection patterns, forming a second interconnection pattern over the second insulation layer, forming a third insulation layer over the second insulation layer and the second interconnection pattern, forming third interconnection patterns and a lower interconnection pattern over the bottom surface of the semiconductor layer, forming a capacitor over the lower interconnection pattern, forming a fourth insulation layer over the bottom surface of the semiconductor layer to expose an upper electrode pattern of the capacitor, forming a fifth insulation layer covering the capacitor, and forming pads in the fifth insulation layer.

A semiconductor package in an embodiment includes a semiconductor device which has a first semiconductor element, a second semiconductor element, and a common first electrode between the first and second semiconductor elements. A second electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor element. A third electrode extends through the second semiconductor element and electrically connects to the first electrode. A fourth electrode is electrically connected to the second semiconductor element. A first terminal of the package is electrically connected to the third electrode. A second terminal of the package is electrically connected to the second electrode and the fourth electrode. An insulating material surrounds the semiconductor device.

Circuits and devices for bidirectional normally-off switches are described. A circuit for a bidirectional normally-off switch includes a depletion mode transistor and an enhancement mode transistor. The depletion mode transistor includes a first source/drain node, a second source/drain node, a first gate, and a second gate. The enhancement mode transistor includes a third source/drain node and a fourth source/drain node, and a third gate. The third source/drain node is coupled to the first source/drain node.