Patents Examined by B. William Baumeister
  • Patent number: 7344907
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for enabling wafer-scale encapsulation of microelectromechanical (MEM) devices (e.g., resonators, filters) to protect the MEMs from the ambient and to provide either a controlled ambient or a reduced pressure. In particular, methods for wafer-scale encapsulation of MEM devices are provided, which enable encapsulation of MEM devices under desired ambient conditions that are not determined by the deposition conditions of a sealing process in which MEM release via holes are sealed or pinched-off, and which prevent sealing material from being inadvertently deposited on the MEM device during the sealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan G. Colgan, Bruce K. Furman, Christopher V. Jahnes
  • Patent number: 7341960
    Abstract: A method for making a MOS device includes: forming a titanium dioxide film on a semiconductor substrate; and subjecting the titanium dioxide film to a fluorine-containing ambient, and conducting passivation of grain boundary defects of the titanium dioxide film through reaction of fluorine and titanium dangling bonds in the titanium dioxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-Sen University
    Inventors: Ming-Kwei Lee, Jung-Jie Huang, Chih-Feng Yen, Tsung-Shiun Wu
  • Patent number: 7339184
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods to harvest, integrate and exploit nanomaterials, and particularly elongated nanowire materials. The invention provides methods for harvesting nanowires that include selectively etching a sacrificial layer placed on a nanowire growth substrate to remove nanowires. The invention also provides methods for integrating nanowires into electronic devices that include placing an outer surface of a cylinder in contact with a fluid suspension of nanowires and rolling the nanowire coated cylinder to deposit nanowires onto a surface. Methods are also provided to deposit nanowires using an ink-jet printer or an aperture to align nanowires. Additional aspects of the invention provide methods for preventing gate shorts in nanowire based transistors. Additional methods for harvesting and integrating nanowires are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc
    Inventors: Linda T. Romano, Jian Chen, Xiangfeng Duan, Robert S. Dubrow, Stephen A. Empedocles, Jay L. Goldman, James M. Hamilton, David L. Heald, Francesco Lemmi, Chunming Niu, Yaoling Pan, George Pontis, Vijendra Sahi, Erik C. Scher, David P. Stumbo, Jeffery A. Whiteford
  • Patent number: 7338903
    Abstract: A method for forming a barrier layer upon a copper containing conductor layer employs a hydrogen containing plasma treatment of the copper containing conductor layer followed by an argon plasma treatment of the copper containing conductor layer. The barrier layer may be formed employing a chemical vapor deposition method, such as an atomic layer deposition method. When the deposition method employs a metal and carbon containing source material, the two-step plasma pretreatment provides the barrier layer with enhanced electrical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Hsien Peng, Jing-Cheng Lin, Ching-Hua Hsieh, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 7338827
    Abstract: A method for fabricating nitride semiconductor devices according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) providing a nitride semiconductor substrate, which will be split into chip substrates, which includes device portions that will function as the respective chip substrates when the substrate is split and interdevice portions that connect the device portions together, and in which the average thickness of the interdevice portions is smaller than the thickness of the device portions; (B) defining a masking layer, which has striped openings over the device portions, on the upper surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate; (C) selectively growing nitride semiconductor layers on portions of the upper surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate, which are exposed through the openings of the masking layer; and (D) cleaving the nitride semiconductor substrate along the interdevice portions of the nitride semiconductor substrate, thereby forming nitride semiconductor devices on the respectively sp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gaku Sugahara, Yasutoshi Kawaguchi, Akihiko Ishibashi, Isao Kidoguchi, Toshiya Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 7335518
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, a main body wafer is formed, and a monitor wafer on which a monitor element is formed is provided. Characteristics of the main body wafer are copied onto the monitor element by simultaneously processing the main body wafer and the monitor wafer. The characteristic of the monitor element is measured by checking a process influence of the monitor element. Manufacturing conditions are set in accordance with the process influence of the monitor element. Variations in electric characteristics of the main body wafer are reduced in accordance with the set manufacturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ishii, Jun Osanai, Yuichiro Kitajima, Yukimasa Minami, Keisuke Uemura, Miwa Wake
  • Patent number: 7335538
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing liquid crystal display substrates comprises the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a transparent electrode layer and a metal layer; (b) forming a patterned photoresist layer through half-tone or diffraction; (c) defining signal line area and thin film diode area, or pixel area and conductive electrode-lines by etching; and (d) forming an oxidized layer on partial surface of the metal layer. The disclosure here provides a patterning process of lithography and etching with one photolithography of one single mask in the manufacturing of liquid crystal display substrates. Furthermore, the method disclosed here can effectively increase the yield of manufacturing, and reduce the cost of manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Weng-Bing Chou, Ko-Ching Yang
  • Patent number: 7335526
    Abstract: A ChemFET Sensing system is Described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin F Peters, Xiaofeng Yang
  • Patent number: 7332443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In order to provide for a high carrier mobility in an active region of the device, germanium atoms are implanted into a surface of a semiconductor substrate such that a germanium-containing layer inside the semiconductor substrate is formed. Then, the surface of the semiconductor surface is oxidized down to and including the upper part of the germanium-containing layer, thereby pushing the implanted germanium atoms from the surface down into the semiconductor substrate and thereby enhancing the germanium concentration inside the remaining germanium-containing layer and forming a layer with enhanced germanium concentration inside the semiconductor substrate. The fabrication of the semiconductor device is concluded such that the active region of the device is placed at least partly within the layer with enhanced germanium concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Ralph Stoemmer
  • Patent number: 7329909
    Abstract: A multi-layered structure in which a p-3C-SiC layer 102 is formed above a p-Si substrate 101 is formed, above which an I-GaN layer (channel layer) 103, an n-AlGaN layer (barrier layer) 104 are formed. A source electrode 201, a drain electrode 202, and a gate electrode 203 are formed above the n-AlGaN layer 104. The source electrode 201 and the drain electrode 202 form an ohmic contact with the n-AlGaN layer 104. The gate electrode 203 forms a Schottky junction with the n-AlGaN layer 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wataru Saito, Ichiro Omura, Kouhei Morizuka
  • Patent number: 7329918
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to embodiments of the invention includes storage nodes and resistors. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor memory device according to some embodiments of the invention includes forming an interlayer insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate including a memory cell array area and a core/perimeter area; forming a first etch stop layer thereon; forming a plurality of contact plugs arranged linearly in at least one direction on the memory cell array area; forming a first conductive layer on the resultant structure; forming a second etch stop layer thereon; etching the second etch stop layer and the first conductive layer and forming landing pads and resistors arranged non-linearly in at least one direction; and forming storage nodes on the entire outer lateral surfaces of which are exposed, on the landing pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Cho, Tae-Young Chung, Yong-Seok Ahn
  • Patent number: 7329558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DNR (differential negative resistance) exhibiting device that can be programmed to store information as readable current amplitudes and to methods of making such a device. The stored data is semi-volatile. Generally, information written to a device in accordance with the invention can maintain its memory for a matter of minutes, hours, or days before a refresh is necessary. The power requirements of the device are far reduced compared to DRAM. The memory function of the device is highly stable, repeatable, and predictable. The device can be produced in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristy A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7329552
    Abstract: The present invention includes field effect transistors, field emission apparatuses, thin film transistors, and methods of forming field effect transistors. According to one embodiment, a field effect transistor includes a semiconductive layer configured to form a channel region; a pair of spaced conductively doped semiconductive regions in electrical connection with the channel region of the semiconductive layer; a gate intermediate the semiconductive regions; and a gate dielectric layer intermediate the semiconductive layer and the gate, the gate dielectric layer being configured to align the gate with the channel region of the semiconductive layer. In one aspect, chemical-mechanical polishing self-aligns the gate with the channel region. According to another aspect, a field emission device includes a transistor configured to control the emission of electrons from an emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Ung Lee, John Lee, Benham Moradi
  • Patent number: 7329916
    Abstract: The invention is related to a DRAM cell arrangement with vertical MOS transistors. Channel regions arranged along one of the columns of a memory cell matrix are parts of a rib which is surrounded by a gate dielectric layer. Gate electrodes of the MOS transistors belonging to one row are parts of a strip-like word line, so that at each crossing point of the memory cell matrix there is a vertical dual-gate MOS transistor with gate electrodes of the associated word line formed in the trenches on both sides of the associated rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Till Schlösser, Brian S. Lee
  • Patent number: 7329576
    Abstract: Double-sided container capacitors are formed using sacrificial layers. A sacrificial layer is formed within a recess in a structural layer. A lower electrode is formed within the recess. The sacrificial layer is removed to create a space to allow access to the sides of the structural layer. The structural layer is removed, creating an isolated lower electrode. The lower electrode can be covered with a capacitor dielectric and upper electrode to form a double-sided container capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Kevin R. Shea, Chris W. Hill, Kevin J. Torek
  • Patent number: 7329599
    Abstract: Methods are provided for semiconductor devices having low contact resistance. The method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises forming an insulating layer overlying a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a device region therein. An opening is formed through the insulating layer to expose a portion of the device region, and the portion of the device region is then electrically contacted by a metallic liner layer. To reduce the resistance of the liner layer and hence the contact, ions of a conductivity determining impurity are implanted into the metallic liner layer. A metal layer is then deposited overlying the metallic liner layer to fill the opening through the insulating layer and to form a conductive plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Wirbeleit, Tibor Bolom, Johannes Van Meer
  • Patent number: 7329941
    Abstract: The mobility of charge carriers in a bipolar (BJT) device is increased by creating compressive strain in the device to increase mobility of electrons in the device, and creating tensile strain in the device to increase mobility of holes in the device. The compressive and tensile strain are created by applying a stress film adjacent an emitter structure of the device and atop a base film of the device. In this manner, the compressive and tensile strain are located in close proximity to an intrinsic portion of the device. A suitable material for the stress film is nitride. The emitter structure may be “T-shaped”, having a lateral portion atop an upright portion, a bottom of the upright portion forms a contact to the base film, and the lateral portion overhangs the base film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dureseti Chidambarrao, Gregory G. Freeman, Marwan H. Khater
  • Patent number: 7326260
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for fabricating a solid electrolytic capacitor of the chip type which process includes the steps of plating a fabrication frame comprising an anode terminal member and a cathode terminal member projecting from a pair of side frame members respectively so as to be opposed to each other, the anode terminal member being stepped so as to provide a lower portion toward the cathode terminal member, a hole extending vertically and being formed in each of the anode terminal member and a higher portion of the cathode terminal member, joining an anode lead of a capacitor element to an upper surface of the cathode terminal member and a bottom surface of the capacitor element to an upper surface of the lower portion of the cathode terminal member, forming a packaging resin portion around the capacitor element without permitting resin to ingress into the holes, and cutting the anode and cathode terminal members along vertical planes extending through the respective holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electronic Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eizo Fujii, Hideki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7326982
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device comprising, a magneto-resistance effect element that is provided at an intersection between a first write line and a second write line. And the magneto-resistance effect element having, an easy axis that extends in a direction of extension of the first write line, and a first conductive layer for electrical connection to the magneto-resistance effect element, the first conductive layer having sides which are in flush with sides of the magneto-resistance effect element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Iwata, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tadashi Kai
  • Patent number: 7327012
    Abstract: A method of forming bipolar transistors by using the same mask to form the collector region in a substrate of an opposite conductivity type as to form the base in the collector region. More specifically, impurities of a first conductivity type are introduced into a region of a substrate of a second conductivity type through a first aperture in a first mask to form a collector region. Impurities of the second conductivity type are introduced in the collector through the first aperture in the first mask to form the base region. Impurities of the first conductivity type are then introduced into the base region through a second aperture in a second mask to form the emitter region. The minimum dimension of the first aperture of the first mask is selected for a desired collector to base breakdown voltage. This allows tuning of the breakdown voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: James Douglas Beasom