Patents Examined by A. A. Turner
  • Patent number: 11875294
    Abstract: A method to provide multi-objective recommendations. The method includes receiving user input indicating a plurality of objectives, where each of the plurality of objectives indicates a desired goal for a field of interest, receiving user input indicating a plurality of actionable fields, receiving user input indicating selection of one of a plurality of records in a data set, determining, based on applying an evolutionary algorithm, one or more candidate changes to values of the plurality of actionable fields of the selected record, determining, for each of the one or more candidate changes, a multi-objective score for that candidate change, selecting one or more of the one or more candidate changes to recommend to a user based on the multi-objective scores of the one or more candidate changes, and providing, for display to the user, the selected one or more candidate changes as recommended changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Salesforce, Inc.
    Inventors: Lingtao Zhang, Chang Lu, Sybil Shim, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 11866203
    Abstract: Systems and methods to remove dust from an extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) worn by an astronaut in a deep space environment involve one or more ionic shower units installed external to an interior volume of a facility. Each ionic shower unit releases positively charged ions and negatively charged ions in a specified direction to neutralize the dust and generate neutralized dust. The interior volume of the facility is defined by an interior hatch that is separated from an exterior hatch by an airlock. One or more collection units is installed external to the interior volume. Each collection unit traps the neutralized dust to prevent the dust from entering the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julie Strickland, Nicholas Brophy
  • Patent number: 11865551
    Abstract: Provided are purification systems and methods of using such systems for purifying various environments, such as indoor air, outdoor air, vehicle emissions, and industrial emissions. A purification system comprises an ionizing purifier having a substrate and an active coating. The active coating comprises a pyroelectric and/or piezoelectric material. During the operation, an incoming stream is directed toward the active coating while controlling the average pressure exerting on the active coating. This contact between the incoming stream and the active coating generates negative ions from components of the incoming stream via change in temperature and pressure/force/vibration, etc. The negative ions then interact with pollutants, transforming them into safe, purified materials of the outgoing stream. Unlike the pollutants in the incoming stream, the purified materials are non-harmful, and/or can be easily removed from the outgoing stream, e.g., by filtering and/or other separation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rainlons Corp.
    Inventor: Mark DiCarlo
  • Patent number: 11862561
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a structure includes forming a first transistor and a second transistor over a first substrate; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the first transistor and the second transistor; etching at least a backside of the first substrate to expose the first transistor and the second transistor; forming a first backside via electrically connected to the first transistor; forming a second backside via electrically connected to the second transistor; depositing a dielectric layer over the first backside via and the second backside via; forming a first conductive line in the dielectric layer, the first conductive line being a power rail electrically connected to the first transistor through the first backside via; and forming a second conductive line in the dielectric layer, the second conductive line being a signal line electrically connected to the second transistor through the second backside via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shang-Wen Chang, Yi-Hsun Chiu, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Wei-Cheng Lin, Shih-Wei Peng, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11862622
    Abstract: An integrated circuit layout includes a first standard cell and a second standard cell. The first standard cell includes first gate lines arranged along a first direction and extending along a second direction. The second standard cell abuts to one side of the first standard cell along the second direction and includes second gate lines arranged along the first direction and extending along the second direction. A first gate line width of the first gate lines and a second gate line width of the second gate lines are different. A first cell width of the first standard cell and a second cell width of the second standard cell are integral multiples of a default gate line pitch of the first gate lines and the second gate lines. At least some of the second gate lines and at least some of the first gate lines are aligned along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Kun-Yuan Wu, Wei-Jen Wang, Chien-Fu Chen, Chen-Hsien Hsu, Chien-Hung Chen, Chun-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 11862465
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including operations of forming a first hard mask over an underlying layer on a substrate by a photolithographic and etching method, forming a sidewall spacer pattern having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion on opposing sides of the first hard mask, etching the first sidewall portion, etching the first hard mask and leaving the second sidewall portion bridging a gap of the etched first hard mask, and processing the underlying layer using the second hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Chun Huang, Chiu-Hsiang Chen, Ya-Wen Yeh, Yu-Tien Shen, Po-Chin Chang, Chien-Wen Lai, Wei-Liang Lin, Ya Hui Chang, Yung-Sung Yen, Li-Te Lin, Pinyen Lin, Ru-Gun Liu, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 11862700
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric feature extending along a first direction, the first dielectric feature comprising a first dielectric layer having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, a first semiconductor layer disposed adjacent the first sidewall, the first semiconductor layer extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second dielectric feature extending along the first direction, the second dielectric feature disposed adjacent the first semiconductor layer, and a first gate electrode layer surrounding at least three surfaces of the first semiconductor layer, and a portion of the first gate electrode layer is exposed to a first air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia-Ni Yu, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Mao-Lin Huang, Lung-Kun Chu, Chung-Wei Hsu, Chun-Fu Lu, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11854791
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a vertical stack of channel members, a gate structure over and around the vertical stack of channel members, and a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature. Each of the vertical stack of channel members extends along a first direction between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature. Each of the vertical stack of channel members is spaced apart from the first source/drain feature by a silicide feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Pei-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 11855225
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises semiconductor layers over a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layers are stacked up and separated from each other, each semiconductor layer includes a first portion in a first channel region of the substrate and a second portion in a second channel region of the substrate, epitaxial layers formed in a source/drain region between the first channel region and the second channel region, wherein the epitaxial layers are separated from each other and each epitaxial layer is formed between the first portion and the second portion of each semiconductor layer, and a conductive feature wrapping each of the epitaxial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Yeh Chen, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11855143
    Abstract: In one example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a device. The device includes an active region on a semiconductor substrate. The active region extends along a first direction. The device also includes a gate structure on the active region. The gate structure extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. Moreover, the gate structure engages with a channel on the active region. The device further includes a source/drain feature on the active region and connected to the channel. A projection of the source/drain feature onto the semiconductor substrate resembles a hexagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Ju Lee, Chun-Fu Cheng, Chung-Wei Wu, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11854892
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of inventive concepts, a substrate dicing method may include forming reformed patterns in a substrate using a laser beam, grinding a bottom surface of the substrate to thin the substrate, and expanding the substrate to divide the substrate into a plurality of semiconductor chips. The forming of the reformed patterns may include forming a first reformed pattern in the substrate and providing an edge focused beam to a region crossing the first reformed pattern to form a second reformed pattern in contact with the first reformed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junho Yoon, Jungchul Lee, Byungmoon Bae, Junggeun Shin, Hyunsu Sim
  • Patent number: 11854904
    Abstract: A method includes etching a first and a second semiconductor fin to form a first and a second recesses, epitaxially growing an n-type source/drain region comprising a first portion and a second portion from the first and the second recesses, and a first middle portion in between and having a concave top surface. A first contact opening is formed extending into the n-type source/drain region and having a first V-shaped bottom. The method further includes etching a third and a fourth semiconductor fin to form a third and a fourth recesses, and forming a p-type source/drain region including a third portion and a third portion grown from the third and the fourth recesses, and a second middle portion in between and having a convex top surface. A second contact opening is formed and has a second V-shaped bottom, with a tip of the second V-shaped bottom being downwardly pointing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shahaji B. More
  • Patent number: 11856767
    Abstract: A method includes planarizing a protective layer over gate materials overlying a recessed region in a substrate. The planarizing includes forming a first planarized surface by planarizing a sacrificial layer over the protective layer, and forming a second planarized surface of the protective layer by etching the first planarized surface of the sacrificial layer at an even rate across the recessed region. An etch mask layer is formed over the second planarized surface, and control gate stacks are formed in the recessed region by etching the gate materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Wei Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 11855094
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; semiconductor fins over the substrate and oriented lengthwise along a first direction; first multi-dielectric-layer (MDL) fins and second MDL fins over the substrate and oriented lengthwise along the first direction, wherein the first and the second MDL fins are intermixed with the semiconductor fins, wherein each of the first MDL fins and the second MDL fins includes an outer dielectric layer and an inner dielectric layer, wherein the outer dielectric layer and the inner dielectric layer have different dielectric materials; and gate structures oriented lengthwise along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the gate structures are spaced from each other along the first direction, and are separated by the first MDL fins along the second direction, wherein the gate structures engage the semiconductor fins and the second MDL fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11842810
    Abstract: A system is provided for providing real-time actionable feedback. The system comprises: a server in communication with a plurality of client devices, which server comprises a first module configured to process clinical care data using a machine learning algorithm trained model to identify: (i) performance metrics that impact a clinical care outcome in a selected field, and (ii) one or more actions that influence the performance metrics and are actionable to a selected clinical care provider; a second module for generating a real-time measurement of the one or more performance metrics of the selected clinical care provider; and a third module configured to dynamically display on the graphical user interface of a client device of the selected clinical care provider: (i) the real-time measurement of the one or more performance metrics of the selected clinical care provider, and (ii) an adjustment of the one or more actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: AGATHOS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Trees, Steven Waye, Terence Ensworth McDonnell, Michael Hoch
  • Patent number: 11842926
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of processing a substrate, having on one side a device area with a plurality of devices. The method includes attaching a first protective film to the one side of the substrate, so that at least a central area of a front surface of the first protective film is in direct contact with the one side of the substrate, and attaching a second protective film to the opposite side of the substrate. After attaching the second protective film, a laser beam is applied to the substrate from the opposite side of the substrate. The substrate and second protective film are transparent to the laser beam. The laser beam is applied to the substrate in a plurality of positions so as to form a plurality of modified regions in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensuke Nagaoka, Yasuyoshi Yubira
  • Patent number: 11842933
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first semiconductor strip over a substrate, the first semiconductor strip including a first channel region; a second semiconductor strip over the substrate, the second semiconductor strip including a second channel region; a dielectric strip disposed between the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip, a width of the dielectric strip decreasing along a first direction extending away from the substrate, the dielectric strip including a void; and a gate structure extending along the first channel region, along the second channel region, and along a top surface and sidewalls of the dielectric strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsai-Yu Huang, Han-De Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11843033
    Abstract: A method for the selective formation of epitaxial layers is described herein. In the method, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions around a horizontal gate all around (hGAA structure). The method includes co-flowing a combination of chlorinated silicon containing precursors, antimony containing precursors, and n-type dopant precursors. The resulting source and drain regions are selectively grown from crystalline nanosheets or nanowires of the hGAA structure over the non-crystalline gate structure and dielectric layers. The source and drain regions are predominantly grown in a <110> direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Ying Wu, Abhishek Dube, Yi-Chiau Huang
  • Patent number: 11839882
    Abstract: A method of generating a non-thermal microplasma, including the steps of providing a fibrous air-filter, arranging one or more pairs of elongated, adjacent, substantially parallel spaced-apart electrodes on the fibrous air-filter, wherein a discharge gap is defined between each pair; placing a component in signal communication with the electrodes for applying a voltage between each pair; and generating a non-thermal microplasma in a corresponding discharge gap and thereby removing one or more combustion byproducts from ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Justin McCarthy, Warren J. Jasper
  • Patent number: RE49774
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for conducting solid-phase binding assays. One example is an assay method having improved analyte specificity where specificity is limited by the presence of non-specific binding interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MESO SCALE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Eli N. Glezer, Sudeep Kumar, Pankaj Oberoi, George Sigal, Michael Tsionsky