An apparatus and method for efficiently routing power signals across a semiconductor die. In various implementations, an integrated circuit includes, at a first node that receives a power supply reference, a first micro through silicon via (TSV) that traverses through a silicon substrate layer to a backside metal layer. The integrated circuit includes, at a second node that receives the power supply reference, a second micro TSV that physically contacts at least one source region. The integrated circuit includes a first power rail that connects the first micro TSV to the second micro TSV. This power rail replaces contacts between the micro TSVs and a second power rail such as the frontside metal zero (M0) layer. Each of the first power rail, the second power rail, and the backside metal layer provides power connection redundancy that increases charge sharing, improves wafer yield, and reduces voltage droop.

A 3D semiconductor device including: a first level including a first single crystal layer and first transistors, which each include a single crystal channel; a first metal layer with an overlaying second metal layer; a second level including second transistors, overlaying the first level; a third level including third transistors, overlaying the second level; a fourth level including fourth transistors, overlaying the third level, where the second level includes first memory cells, where each of the first memory cells includes at least one of the second transistors, where the fourth level includes second memory cells, where each of the second memory cells includes at least one of the fourth transistors, where the first level includes memory control circuits, where second memory cells include at least four memory arrays, each of the four memory arrays are independently controlled, and at least one of the second transistors includes a metal gate.

A semiconductor device includes a first die including a first stack of layers in a first region on a backside of the first die and a second stack of layers in a second region on the backside of the first die. The first stack of layers has a smaller number of different layers than the second stack of layers. A contact structure is formed in the first region on the backside of the first die. The contact structure extends through the first stack of layers and is configured to conductively connect a first conductive structure on a face side of the first die with a second conductive structure on the backside of the first die. The face side is opposite to the backside.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and a first conductive layer including a first metal layer and a second metal layer, the first metal layer covering the second main surface, the second metal layer covering the first metal layer and including dendrites, wherein a via hole extending through the substrate and having an inner wall surface is formed in the substrate, and wherein the first metal layer, which is covered with the second metal layer, covers the inner wall surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for forming TSV structures. In some embodiments, buffering structures are formed adjacent dummy devices in the TSV region. By introducing buffering structures adjacent the end gate structures of the dummy device in the TSV region, residual metallic material may be eliminated, thereby, avoiding arcing in fabrication of TSV structures.

An integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor substrate includes active devices at its front surface and power delivery tracks on its back surface. The active devices are powered through mutually parallel buried power rails, with the power delivery tracks running transversely with respect to the power rails, and connected to the power rails by a plurality of Through Semiconductor Via connections, which run from the power rails to the back of the substrate. The TSVs are elongate slit-shaped TSVs aligned to the power rails and arranged in a staggered pattern, so that any one of the power delivery tracks is connected to a first row of mutually parallel TSVs, and any power delivery track directly adjacent to the power delivery track is connected to another row of TSVs which are staggered relative to the TSVs of the first row. A method of producing an IC chip includes producing the slit-shaped TSVs before the buried power rails.

An integrated circuit (IC) chip package and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The IC chip package includes a device layer on a first surface of a substrate, a first interconnect structure on the device layer, and a second interconnect structure on the second surface of the substrate. The first interconnect structure includes a fault detection line in a first metal line layer and configured to emit an electrical or an optical signal that is indicative of a presence or an absence of a defect in the device layer, a metal-free region on the fault detection line, and a metal line adjacent to the fault detection line in the first metal line layer. The fault detection line is electrically connected to the device layer.

A semiconductor integrated-circuit (IC) chip comprises a memory cell including: a latch circuit comprising first and second inverters coupling to each other, a first latch node coupling to an input point of the first inverter and an output point of the second inverter and a second latch node coupling to an input point of the second inverter and an output point of the first inverter; a first N-type MOS transistor having a first terminal coupling to the first latch node, a second terminal coupling to a first output point of the memory cell, and a first gate terminal for controlling coupling between the first latch node and the first output point of the memory cell; a second N-type MOS transistor having a third terminal coupling to the second latch node, a fourth terminal coupling to a second output point of the memory cell, and a second gate terminal for controlling coupling between the second latch node and the second output point of the memory cell; and a P-type MOS transistor having a fifth terminal coupling to the first latch node, a sixth terminal coupling to a third output point of the memory cell, and a third gate terminal for controlling coupling between the first latch node and the third output point of the memory cell.

An integrated circuit device includes a substrate, having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, and a fin-type active region defined by a trench in the front surface, a device separation layer filling the trench, a source/drain region on the fin-type active region, a first conductive plug arranged on the source/drain region and electrically connected to the source/drain region, a power wiring line at least partially arranged on a lower surface of the substrate, a buried rail connected to the power wiring line through the device separation layer and decreasing in horizontal width toward the power wiring line, and a power via connecting the buried rail to the first conductive plug.

Disclosed herein are methods for direct bonding. In some embodiments, the direct bonding method includes microwave annealing a dielectric bonding layer of a first element by exposing the dielectric bonding layer to microwave radiation and then directly bonding the dielectric bonding layer of the first element to a second element without an intervening adhesive. The bonding method also includes depositing the dielectric bonding layer on a semiconductor portion of the first element at a first temperature and microwave annealing the dielectric bonding layer at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.