A damascene method for manufacturing a thin film resistor (TFR) module is provided. A pair of heads are formed spaced apart from each other. A dielectric region is deposited over the pair of heads, and an opening extending over both heads is formed in the dielectric region. A TFR layer is deposited over the dielectric region and extending into the opening to define a cup-shaped TFR layer structure including (a) a laterally-extending TFR element base conductively connected to both heads and (b) vertical ridges extending upwardly from the laterally-extending TFR element base. A high density plasma (HDP) ridge removal process is performed to remove or shorten the vertical ridges from the cup-shaped TFR layer structure, thereby defining a TFR element having removed or shorted vertical ridges. The removal or shortening of the vertical ridges may improve the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) characteristic of the TFR element.

A three-dimensional thermistor device and a manufacturing method thereof. The three-dimensional thermistor device comprising a thermistor array formed on a base layer extending in first and second directions. Where the thermistor array comprises: thermistor pattern layers and insulating layers stacked alternately on the base layer in a third direction; each thermistor pattern layer including a continuous electrically conductive first trace disposed along a first path extending in both the first and second directions, and each insulating layer including an electrically conductive first via extending through the insulating layer in the third direction to electrically connect the first traces to each other. Where successive electrical connections between the respective first vias on the stacked insulating layers and the respective first traces on the stacked thermistor layers form a continuous electrical first thermistor element extending in the first, second and third directions across multiple of the thermistor pattern layers.

An electronic smoking article, a method of manufacturing an electronic smoking article, and a method of achieving a smoking experience without combusting tobacco are disclosed. The electronic smoking article includes an authenticated first section, which includes an aerosol generation unit having at least one heater; an authenticated second section, which includes a power supply operable to apply voltage to the at least one heater for heating a liquid in at least a portion of the aerosol generation unit to form an aerosol; and a conductive ink circuit embedded within the first and second sections, and wherein the power supply and the aerosol generation unit are electrically connected upon joining the first and second sections, and wherein each of the first and second sections has a portion of the conductive ink circuit.

An electronic smoking article, a method of manufacturing an electronic smoking article, and a method of achieving a smoking experience without combusting tobacco are disclosed. The electronic smoking article includes an authenticated first section, which includes an aerosol generation unit having at least one heater; an authenticated second section, which includes a power supply operable to apply voltage to the at least one heater for heating a liquid in at least a portion of the aerosol generation unit to form an aerosol; and a conductive ink circuit embedded within the first and second sections, and wherein the power supply and the aerosol generation unit are electrically connected upon joining the first and second sections, and wherein each of the first and second sections has a portion of the conductive ink circuit.

Provided is a thermistor which has a smaller change in resistance value between before and after a heat resistance test and from which a high B constant is obtained, a method for manufacturing the same, and a thermistor sensor. The thermistor is a thermistor formed on a substrate and includes: an intermediate stacked portion formed on the substrate; and a main metal nitride film layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride on the intermediate stacked portion, wherein the intermediate stacked portion includes a base thermistor layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride and an intermediate oxynitride layer formed on the base thermistor layer, the main metal nitride film layer is formed on the intermediate oxynitride layer, and the intermediate oxynitride layer is a metal oxynitride layer formed through oxidation of the thermistor material of the base thermistor layer immediately below the intermediate oxynitride layer.

Provided is a thermistor which has a smaller change in resistance value between before and after a heat resistance test and from which a high B constant is obtained, a method for manufacturing the same, and a thermistor sensor. The thermistor is a thermistor formed on a substrate and includes: an intermediate stacked portion formed on the substrate; and a main metal nitride film layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride on the intermediate stacked portion, wherein the intermediate stacked portion includes a base thermistor layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride and an intermediate oxynitride layer formed on the base thermistor layer, the main metal nitride film layer is formed on the intermediate oxynitride layer, and the intermediate oxynitride layer is a metal oxynitride layer formed through oxidation of the thermistor material of the base thermistor layer immediately below the intermediate oxynitride layer.

Self-cooling semiconductor resistor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The resistor comprises: multiple N-type and P-type wells in a semiconductor substrate, first polysilicon gates on each N-type well, second polysilicon gates on each P-type well, and metal interconnect layers. The multiple N-type and P-type wells are arranged alternately in row and column direction, respectively. N-type and P-type deep doped regions are formed on each N-type and P-type well, respectively. The first and second polysilicon gates are N-type and P-type deep doped respectively, and there is no gate oxide layer between the first and second polysilicon gates and the semiconductor substrate. The metal interconnect layers connect the multiple first and second polysilicon gates as an S-shaped structure. In the present application, the flow direction of heat is from the inside of the resistor to its surface, thereby realizing heat dissipation and cooling.

A method is provided for forming a thin film resistor (TFR) in an integrated circuit (IC) device. A TFR film is formed and annealed over an IC structure including IC elements and IC element contacts. At least one TFR cap layer is formed, and a TFR etch defines a TFR element from the TFR film. A TFR contact etch forms TFR contact openings over the TFR element, and a metal layer is formed over the IC structure and extending into the TFR contact openings to form metal contacts to the IC element contacts and the TFR element. The TFR cap layer(s), e.g., SiN cap and/or oxide cap formed over the TFR film, may (a) provide an etch stop during the TFR contact etch and/or (b) provide a hardmask during the TFR etch, which may eliminate the use of a photomask and thereby eliminate post-etch removal of photomask polymer.

An electronic component of the present disclosure includes a first insulating layer that includes impurities, a thin film resistor formed on the first insulating layer, and a barrier layer that is formed in at least one part of a region between the thin film resistor and the first insulating layer and that obstructs transmission of the impurities. The first insulating layer includes a first surface and a concave portion that is hollowed with respect to the first surface, and the barrier layer may include a first part embedded in the concave portion and a second part formed along the first surface of the first insulating layer from an upper area of the first part.

A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, a first conductive film, a second conductive film and a thin-film resistor. The insulating layer has a penetrating portion. The first conductive film is formed in the penetrating portion such that a recess is formed at an upper part of the penetration portion. The second conductive film is formed on an upper surface of the first conductive film and an inner surface of the penetrating portion. The thin-film resistor includes silicon and metal. The thin-film resistor is formed on the second conductive film and the insulating layer.