Patents Examined by Asok Kumar Sarkar
  • Patent number: 7060518
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes a semiconductor substrate and a stacked body formed by at least a first cladding layer, an active region and a second cladding layer; wherein both sides of the stacked body are buried by a burying layer formed by a semi-insulating semiconductor crystal; the burying layer includes a first layer that is placed adjacent to both sides of the stacked body and a second layer that is placed adjacent to the first layer; the first layer includes Ru as a dopant; composition of the second layer is different from the composition of the first layer, or a dopant of the second layer is different from the dopant of the first layer. The device can also be configured such that the width of the active region is smaller than the width of the cladding layers of the stacked body; and a Ru-doped semi-insulating layer is provided in a space between the burying layer and the active region in both sides of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Kondo, Matsuyuki Ogasawara, Ryuzo Iga, Yasuhiro Kondo, Yoshio Noguchi, Masahiro Yuda, Ken Tsuzuki, Satoshi Oku
  • Patent number: 7056775
    Abstract: After a pattern is transferred on silicon film crystallized by annealing, the silicon film is annealed by radiation of intense rays for a short time. Especially, in the crystallizing process by annealing, an element which promotes crystallization such as nickel is doped therein. The area not crystallized by annealing is also crystallized by radiation of intense rays and a condensed silicon film is formed. After a metal element which promotes crystallization is doped, annealing by light for a short time is performed by radiating intense rays onto the silicon film crystallized by annealing in an atmosphere containing halide. After the surface of the silicon film is oxidized by heating or by radiating intense rays in a halogenated atmosphere and an oxide film is formed on the silicon film, the oxide film is then etched. As a result, nickel in the silicon film is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Hideto Ohnuma, Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 7056773
    Abstract: A method of producing a backgated FinFET having different dielectric layer thickness on the front and back gate sides includes steps of introducing impurities into at least one side of a fin of a FinFET to enable formation of dielectric layers with different thicknesses. The impurity, which may be introduced by implantation, either enhances or retards dielectric formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Omer H. Dokumaci, Hussein I. Hanafi, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7056782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a complementary metal oxide semiconductor integration process whereby a plurality of silicided metal gates are fabricated atop a gate dielectric. Each silicided metal gate that is formed using the integration scheme of the present invention has the same silicide metal phase and substantially the same height, regardless of the dimension of the silicide metal gate. The present invention also provides various methods of forming a CMOS structure having silicided contacts in which the polySi gate heights are substantially the same across the entire surface of a semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ricky S. Amos, Diane C. Boyd, Cyril Cabral, Jr., Richard D. Kaplan, Jakub T. Kedzierski, Victor Ku, Woo-Hyeong Lee, Ying Li, Anda C. Mocuta, Vijay Narayanan, An L. Steegen, Maheswaran Surendra
  • Patent number: 7057264
    Abstract: This invention is directed to compounds that can be used as antioxidants for exposed metal surfaces, and also as adhesion promoters for adhesive, coating or encapsulant resins that are applied to the metal substrates. These compounds include triazine or isocyanurate compounds bearing reactive or polymerizable functional groups, polyfunctional cyanate esters, and polyfunctional blocked-isocyanates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Renyi Wang, Bing Wu, Harry Richard Kuder
  • Patent number: 7052964
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a region of semiconductor material with first and second isolation trenches formed therein. The first isolation trench is lined with a first material having a low oxygen diffusion rate and is filled with an insulating material. The second isolation trench is not lined with the first material but is filled with an insulating material. A first transistor is formed adjacent the first isolation region and a second transistor formed adjacent the second isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yee-Chia Yeo, Chih-Hsin Ko, Wen-Chin Lee, Chenming Hu
  • Patent number: 7052973
    Abstract: A bonded semiconductor-on-insulator substrate for an integrated circuit. The bonded semiconductor-on-insulator substrate includes a wafer, a handle wafer and an insulating bond layer. The wafer has a first layer of monocrystalline semiconductor material adjacent a first surface of the wafer. The wafer also has a second layer of undamaged by implantation monocrystalline semiconductor material adjacent a second surface of the wafer. The wafer further has a substantially planar intrinsic gettering zone of substantially pure semiconductor material and active gettering sites positioned between the first and second layers formed by implanting ions of the semiconductor material through the first layer of monocrystalline semiconductor material. The insulating bond layer bonds the handle wafer to the first surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Jack H. Linn, William H. Speece, Michael G. Shlepr, George V. Rouse
  • Patent number: 7053010
    Abstract: This invention includes methods of depositing silicon dioxide comprising layers in the fabrication of integrated circuitry, methods of forming trench isolation, and methods of forming bit line over capacitor arrays of memory cells. In one implementation, a semiconductor substrate having an exposed outer first surface comprising silicon-nitrogen bonds and an exposed outer second surface comprising at least one of silicon and silicon dioxide is provided. A layer comprising a metal is deposited over at least the outer second surface. A silanol is flowed to the metal of the outer second surface and to the outer first surface effective to selectively deposit a silicon dioxide comprising layer over the outer second surface as compared to the outer first surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Weimin Li, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7049200
    Abstract: A method of forming a sidewall spacer on a gate electrode of a metal oxide semiconductor device that includes striking a first plasma to form an oxide layer on a side of the gate electrode, where the first plasma is generated from a oxide gas that includes O3 and bis-(tertiarybutylamine)silane, and striking a second plasma to form a carbon-doped nitride layer on the oxide layer, where the second plasma may be generated from a nitride gas that includes NH3 and the bis-(tertiarybutylamine)silane. The first and second plasmas may be formed using plasma CVD and the bis-(tertiarybutylamine)silane flows uninterrupted between the striking of the first plasma and the striking of the second plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Arghavani, Ken MacWilliams, Hichem M'Saad
  • Patent number: 7049192
    Abstract: Dielectric layers containing a chemical vapor deposited hafnium oxide and an electron beam evaporated lanthanide oxide and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer produce a reliable dielectric layer having an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. Forming a layer of hafnium oxide by chemical vapor deposition and forming a layer of a lanthanide oxide by electron beam evaporation, where the layer of hafnium oxide is adjacent and in contact with the layer of lanthanide, provides a dielectric layer with a relatively high dielectric constant as compared with silicon dioxide. Forming the layer of hafnium oxide by chemical vapor deposition using precursors that do not contain carbon permits the formation of the dielectric layer without carbon contamination. The dielectric can be formed as a nanolaminate of hafnium oxide and a lanthanide oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7049250
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a multilayer semiconductor wafer having a central region and a peripheral edge each having a surface. The method includes selecting thickness values for the layers of the wafer to provide substantially equivalent heat absorption coefficients both in the central region and the edge of the wafer. This results in a substantially equivalent temperature being attained over the surface of the central region and the peripheral edge during thermal treatment. In turn, that prevents the appearance of slip lines on those surfaces while also preventing deformation of the wafer due to the thermal treatment. To achieve the desired thickness, layers or portions of layers can be selectively added or otherwise provided upon the central region or peripheral edge of the wafer, or on both, to modify the heat absorption coefficient of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Neyret, Christophe Maleville
  • Patent number: 7045472
    Abstract: A method for selectively altering dielectric properties of a semi-conductor device. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes applying energy to a local region of interest, the local region of interest including a thermally alterable dielectric such that said heating caused by the applied energy causes a dielectric constant of the thermally alterable dielectric to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, William T. Motsiff
  • Patent number: 7045466
    Abstract: Multi-level structures are formed in a semiconductor substrate by first forming a pattern of lines or structures of different widths. Width information on the pattern is decoded by processing steps into level information to form a MEMS structure. The pattern is etched to form structures having a first floor. The structures are oxidized until structures of thinner width are substantially fully oxidized. A portion of the oxide is then etched to expose the first floor. The first floor is then etched to form a second floor. The oxide is then optionally removed, leaving a multi-level structure. In one embodiment, high aspect ratio comb actuators are formed using the multi-level structure process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Xiaojun T. Huang, Noel C. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7041577
    Abstract: A process for producing a substrate is described. The process includes providing an assembly having a first layer weakly bonded to a temporary support at an interface therebetween. At least a portion of the first layer is selectively etched substantially to the interface to create an etched zone. A second layer is then bonded to un-etched portions of the first layer to cover the etched zone and to form a closed cavity. The first layer is detached from the temporary support at the weak bond by providing a raised pressure in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Rayssac, Fabrice Letertre
  • Patent number: 7042010
    Abstract: An intermediate semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate and an oxide-based layer over the substrate. The oxide-based layer has an activated catalytic surface on at least one selected area thereof which is adapted for electroless plating. The intermediate may also include high aspect ratio capacitor containers, trenches, vias, and other openings whose surfaces can be made conductive by selectively electrolessly plating a metal or metal alloy thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nishant Sinha
  • Patent number: 7037789
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a trench in a predetermined layer of a semiconductor substrate; heating the substrate having the trench in a non-oxidizing and non-nitridizing atmosphere containing a dopant or a compound that includes the dopant in order to smooth the surfaces defining the trench and to maintain the dopant concentration in the predetermined layer to be a predetermined concentration before the heating is treated; and forming an epitaxially grown film to fill the trench. The conductivity type of the dopant contained in the non-oxidizing and non-nitridizing atmosphere is the same as that of the dopant initially contained in the predetermined layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamauchi, Hitoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7037811
    Abstract: Concentration of metal element which promotes crystallization of silicon and which exists within a crystalline silicon film obtained by utilizing the metal element is reduced. A first heat treatment for crystallization is performed after introducing nickel to an amorphous silicon film 103. Then, laser light is irradiated to diffuse nickel element which is concentrated locally. After that, another heat treatment is performed within an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature higher than that of the previous heat treatment. At this time, HCl or the like is added to the atmosphere. A thermal oxide film 106 is formed in this step. At this time, gettering of the nickel element into the thermal oxide film 106 takes place. Then, the thermal oxide film 106 is removed. Thereby, a crystalline silicon film 107 having low concentration of the metal element and a high crystallinity can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Satoshi Teramoto, Jun Koyama, Yasushi Ogata, Masahiko Hayakawa, Mitsuaki Osame
  • Patent number: 7037816
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a portion of an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate. The method includes cleaning the surface of the substrate, and forming a thin insulate over the substrate. The method also includes depositing a high dielectric constant (high-k) material over the thin insulate, and then performing a hydrogen-based anneal on the high-k material. The method further includes performing an oxygen-based anneal on the high-k material, wherein the hydrogen-based and oxygen-based anneals occur sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Min Lin, Ming-Fang Wang, Kun-Chih Lee, Ming-Ho Yang, Liang-Gi Yo, Shih-Chang Chen, Karen L. Mai
  • Patent number: 7033853
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a vertically emitting laser and a method of manufacturing such a laser having a current aperture and a semiconductor relief. The semiconductor relief and the current aperture are defined in the same processing operation, thereby causing the semiconductor relief and the current aperture to be substantially self-aligned with respect to one another. In addition, such processing results in an area ratio of the semiconductor relief and the current aperture to be substantially self-scaling with respect to processing variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Supper
  • Patent number: 7033919
    Abstract: For fabricating dual gate structures of complementary transistors, a gate material is deposited into an opening disposed over a P-well and an N-well having the complementary transistors formed therein. An ion species is implanted into a portion of the gate material to form a first gate structure over one of the P-well or the N-well. The gate material remains to form a second gate structure over the other one of the P-well or the N-well. A thermal anneal is performed such that the ion species and the gate material react within the first gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, James Pan