Provided is a die stack structure including a first die and a second die. The first die and the second die are bonded together through a hybrid bonding structure. At least one of a first test pad of the first die or a second test pad of the second die has a protrusion of the at least one of the first test pad or the second test pad, and a bonding insulating layer of the hybrid bonding structure covers and contacts with the protrusion, so that the first test pad and the second test pad are electrically isolated from each other.

A metal-dielectric bonding method includes providing a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes: a first semiconductor layer including a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a first metal layer on the first dielectric layer, the first metal layer having a metal bonding surface. The metal bonding surface is planarized and a plasma treatment is applied thereto. The second semiconductor structure includes a second semiconductor layer including a pixel wafer, and a second dielectric layer on the second semiconductor layer, the second dielectric layer having a dielectric bonding surface. The dielectric bonding surface is planarized and a plasma treatment is applied thereto. The first and second semiconductor structures are bonded together by bonding the metal bonding surface with the dielectric bonding surface.

A semiconductor device is described that includes an integrated circuit coupled to a first semiconductor substrate with a first set of passive devices (e.g., inductors) on the first substrate. A second semiconductor substrate with a second set of passive devices (e.g., capacitors) may be coupled to the first substrate. Interconnects in the substrates may allow interconnection between the substrates and the integrated circuit. The passive devices may be used to provide voltage regulation for the integrated circuit. The substrates and integrated circuit may be coupled using metallization.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure, including steps of providing a first substrate, and forming a first bonding layer on a surface of the first substrate, wherein a material of the first bonding layer includes dielectric material of silicon, nitrogen and carbon.

A method of manufacturing a die stack structure includes the following steps. A first bonding structure is formed over a front side of a first die. The method of forming the first bonding structure includes the following steps. A first bonding dielectric material is formed on a first test pad of the first die. A first blocking layer is formed over the first bonding dielectric material. A second bonding dielectric material and a first dummy metal layer are formed over the first blocking layer. The first dummy metal layer and the first test pad are electrically isolated from each other by the first blocking layer. Thereafter, a second bonding structure is formed over a front side of a second die. The first die and the second die are bonded through the first bonding structure and the second bonding structure.

In an embodiment, a method includes forming a device layer over a first substrate; forming a first interconnect structure over a front-side of the device layer; attaching a second substrate to the first interconnect structure; forming a second interconnect structure over a back-side of the device layer, the second interconnect structure comprising back-side memory elements, wherein the back-side memory elements and a first plurality of active devices of the device layer provide a first memory array; and forming conductive connectors over the second interconnect structure.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate 15, a first insulating film 13 provided above the substrate 15, a second insulating film 14 disposed between the substrate 15 and the first insulating film 13, a first metal pad 41 provided in the first insulating film 13, and a second metal pad 38 provided in the second insulating film 14, the second metal pad 38 being bonded to the first metal pad 41. A concentration of silicon atoms in a bonded portion B of the first metal pad 41 and the second metal pad 38 is greater than a concentration of silicon atoms in a first portion P1 of the first metal pad 41 and is greater than a concentration of silicon atoms in a second portion P2 of the second metal pad 38.

A metal-dielectric bonding method includes providing a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes: a first semiconductor layer including a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a first metal layer on the first dielectric layer, the first metal layer having a metal bonding surface. The metal bonding surface is planarized and a plasma treatment is applied thereto. The second semiconductor structure includes a second semiconductor layer including a pixel wafer, and a second dielectric layer on the second semiconductor layer, the second dielectric layer having a dielectric bonding surface. The dielectric bonding surface is planarized and a plasma treatment is applied thereto. The first and second semiconductor structures are bonded together by bonding the metal bonding surface with the dielectric bonding surface.

A semiconductor device is described that includes an integrated circuit coupled to a first semiconductor substrate with a first set of passive devices (e.g., inductors) on the first substrate. A second semiconductor substrate with a second set of passive devices (e.g., capacitors) may be coupled to the first substrate. Interconnects in the substrates may allow interconnection between the substrates and the integrated circuit. The passive devices may be used to provide voltage regulation for the integrated circuit. The substrates and integrated circuit may be coupled using metallization.

Methods of forming connectors and packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a connector is formed by forming a first photoresist layer over an interconnect structure, and patterning the first photoresist layer. The patterned first photoresist layer is used to form a first opening in an interconnect structure. The patterned first photoresist is removed, and a second photoresist layer is formed over the interconnect structure and in the first opening. The second photoresist layer is patterned to form a second opening over the interconnect structure in the first opening. The second opening is narrower than the first opening. At least one metal layer is plated through the patterned second photoresist layer to form the connector.