Patents Examined by Caleen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10243105
    Abstract: A multilayer structure including a hexagonal epitaxial layer, such as GaN or other group III-nitride (III-N) semiconductors, a <111> oriented textured layer, and a non-single crystal substrate, and methods for making the same. The textured layer has a crystalline alignment preferably formed by the ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD) texturing process and can be biaxially aligned. The in-plane crystalline texture of the textured layer is sufficiently low to allow growth of high quality hexagonal material, but can still be significantly greater than the required in-plane crystalline texture of the hexagonal material. The IBAD process enables low-cost, large-area, flexible metal foil substrates to be used as potential alternatives to single-crystal sapphire and silicon for manufacture of electronic devices, enabling scaled-up roll-to-roll, sheet-to-sheet, or similar fabrication processes to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: iBeam Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Matias
  • Patent number: 10230062
    Abstract: A display device including a display panel that displays an image at a first surface thereof; a first member on a second surface of the display panel, the first member having a first density; and a second member between the display panel and the first member, the second member having a second density that is less than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youn Joon Kim, Se Bong Kim, Gyeong Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 10224350
    Abstract: A deposition mask includes a deposition pattern through which a deposition material passes and a distal end extended in a length direction of the deposition mask from the deposition pattern. The distal end includes a dummy pattern between a clamping groove and the deposition pattern in the length direction. The clamping groove and the dummy pattern are provided in plural along a second direction crossing the length direction. In the length direction of the deposition mask, the number of clamping grooves and dummy patterns correspond to each other, the clamping grooves respectively overlap a corresponding dummy pattern, a distal end area at which clamping grooves overlap the corresponding dummy pattern defines a second area of the distal end, and a distal end area at which the clamping grooves do not overlap the corresponding dummy pattern defines a first area of the distal end to which a clamp is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sanghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10224482
    Abstract: A method for pixel patterning and pixel position inspection of an organic light-emitting display device includes: forming, on a substrate using a first mask, a thin film layer of a first color corresponding to a first pixel pattern and a first pixel positioning pattern for inspecting a position of a first pixel; shifting, by a determined pitch, the first mask from a position associated with forming the thin film layer of the first color; aligning the shifted first mask with respect to the substrate; and forming, on the substrate using the shifted first mask, a thin film layer of a second color corresponding to the first pixel pattern and another first pixel positioning pattern for inspecting a position of a second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangshin Lee, Dongjin Ha, Mingoo Kang, Ohseob Kwon, Sangmin Yi
  • Patent number: 10217845
    Abstract: A vertical fin field-effect-transistor and a method for fabricating the same. The vertical fin field-effect-transistor includes a substrate, a first source/drain layer including a plurality of pillar structures, and a plurality of fins disposed on and in contact with the plurality of pillar structures. A doped layer epitaxially grown from the first source/drain layer is in contact with the plurality of fins and the plurality of pillar structures. A gate structure is disposed in contact with two or more fins in the plurality of fins. The gate structure includes a dielectric layer and a gate layer. A second source/drain layer is disposed on the gate structure. The method includes epitaxially growing a doped layer in contact with a plurality of fins and a plurality of pillar structures. A gate structure is formed in contact with two or more fins. A second source/drain layer is formed on the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 10211210
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer insulating structure on a substrate, forming a contact hole that penetrates the interlayer insulating structure to expose the substrate, forming an amorphous silicon layer including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion covering a top surface of the substrate exposed by the contact hole, the second portion covering a sidewall of the contact hole, providing hydrogen atoms into the amorphous silicon layer, and crystallizing the first portion using the substrate as a seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinwon Ma, Jun-Noh Lee, Dong-Hyun Im, Youngseok Kim, Kongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10204830
    Abstract: Previous layer self-aligned via and plug patterning for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects are described. In an example, an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes a first layer disposed above a substrate. The first layer of the interconnect structure includes a grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a first direction. A second layer of the interconnect structure is disposed above the first layer. The second layer includes a grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. Each metal line of the grating of the second layer is disposed on a recessed dielectric line composed of alternating distinct regions of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material corresponding to the alternating metal lines and dielectric lines of the first layer of the interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Wallace, Paul A. Nyhus, Elliot N. Tan, Swaminathan Sivakumar
  • Patent number: 10199409
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor substrate with a first transistor therein. The first transistor includes a first source-drain formed by a doped region in the first semiconductor substrate. An intermediary insulating layer is formed on and above the first semiconductor substrate. A second semiconductor substrate is formed on and above the intermediary insulating layer. A second transistor is formed in the second semiconductor substrate, and includes a second source-drain formed by a doped region in the second semiconductor substrate. A trench is formed in the second semiconductor substrate and in contact with the doped region for the second semiconductor substrate. The trench has a thickness equal to that of the second semiconductor substrate. Metal wiring extends from a contact with the doped region for the first source-drain, through the intermediary insulating layer and the trench, to make electrical contact with the doped region for the second source-drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Francois Roy
  • Patent number: 10192799
    Abstract: A first set of test structures for a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor that includes N field plates is disclosed, where N is an integer and X is an integer between 0 and N inclusive. A test structure TSX of the first set of test structures includes a GaN substrate, a dielectric material overlying the GaN substrate, a respective source contact abutting the GaN substrate and a respective drain contact abutting the GaN substrate. The test structure TSX also includes a respective gate overlying the substrate and lying between the respective source contact and the respective drain contact and X respective field plates corresponding to X of the N field plates of the GaN transistor, the X respective field plates including field plates that are nearest to the GaN substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dong Seup Lee, Jungwoo Joh, Sameer Pendharkar
  • Patent number: 10192853
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a semiconductor apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die stacked onto the first semiconductor die in a horizontally shifted manner. The first semiconductor die includes a first chip selection terminal and a first lower terminal electrically connected to the first chip selection terminal. The second semiconductor die includes a second chip selection terminal electrically connected to a first upper terminal of the first semiconductor die via a second lower terminal of the second semiconductor die. The first upper terminal which is electrically connected to the second chip selection terminal is not electrically connected to the first lower terminal which is electrically connected to the first chip selection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Po-Chun Lin, Chin-Lung Chu
  • Patent number: 10186426
    Abstract: Methods are provided for integrating atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition by performing both processes in the same chamber or reactor. Methods involve sequentially alternating between atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition processes to prevent feature degradation during etch, improve selectivity, and encapsulate sensitive layers of a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Keren Jacobs Kanarik, Jeffrey Marks, Harmeet Singh, Samantha Tan, Alexander Kabansky, Wenbing Yang, Taeseung Kim, Dennis M. Hausmann, Thorsten Lill
  • Patent number: 10186617
    Abstract: A thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the same, an array substrate and a display device are disclosed. The method of fabricating the thin film transistor comprises: forming a semiconductor layer; forming a conductive film that does not react with acid solution on the semiconductor layer to be employed as a protective layer; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the protective layer; and removing a portion of the protective layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode to expose a portion of the semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jincheng Gao, Bin Zhang, Xiaolong He, Xiangchun Kong, Qi Yao, Zhanfeng Cao, Zhengliang Li
  • Patent number: 10177016
    Abstract: A pre-screening method, manufacturing method, device and electronic apparatus of micro-LED. The method for pre-screening defect micro-LEDs comprises: obtaining a defect pattern of defect micro-LEDs on a laser-transparent substrate (S6100); and irradiating the laser-transparent substrate with laser from the laser-transparent substrate side in accordance with the defect pattern (S6200), to lift-off the defect micro-LEDs from the laser-transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventors: Quanbo Zou, Zhe Wang
  • Patent number: 10170468
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. A semiconductor substrate has a first conductivity type. A first well is formed in the semiconductor substrate and has a second conductivity type. A first well includes a first region and a second region. The dopant concentration of the first region is higher than the dopant concentration of the second region. A second well has the first conductivity type and is formed in the first region. A first doped region is formed in the first region and has the second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type. The second doped region has the first conductivity type and is formed in the second well. A third doped region has the first conductivity type and is formed in the second region. A fourth doped region has the second conductivity type and is formed in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Hsin Lin, Shin-Cheng Lin, Cheng-Tsung Wu, Yu-Hao Ho
  • Patent number: 10170213
    Abstract: There is provided a silver powder, which is able to obtain a conductive paste having a high thixotropic ratio and a high Casson yield value and which is able to form a conductive pattern having a low resistance, and a method for producing the same. An aliphatic amine such as hexadecylamine is added to a silver powder, the surface of which is coated with a fatty acid such as stearic acid, to be stirred and mixed to form the aliphatic amine on the outermost surface of the silver powder while allowing the fatty acid to react with the aliphatic amine to form an aliphatic amide such as hexadecanamide between the fatty acid and the aliphatic amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Dowa Electronics Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Michiaki, Hiroshi Kamiga
  • Patent number: 10170590
    Abstract: Provided is a method for forming a semiconductor structure. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the method includes forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate and decreasing a width of the semiconductor fin. The method further includes forming a spacer layer on a surface of the substrate and forming a high dielectric constant layer on exposed surfaces of the semiconductor fin and the spacer layer. The method also includes forming a work function metal layer on the high dielectric constant layer. The method also includes removing portions of the work function metal layer and the high dielectric constant layer to expose portions of the spacer layer. A thickness of the remaining work function metal layer on sidewalls of the semiconductor fin is uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10169835
    Abstract: An approach is provided for attributing energy usage to individual occupants in an area, such as a building or office space. The approach receives current locations of occupants from sensors deployed in the area being monitored. Identifiers corresponding to various occupants are determined, such as by tracking the occupants' mobile telephone location, biometrics such as facial recognition, or other device-enabled means of identifying people. Energy consumption values corresponding to energy consuming devices are received and device locations are identified. The approach further attributes the amount of energy consumed by each of the occupants, with the energy attribution being based on the occupants' current locations and the device locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Gu, Inseok Hwang, Su Liu, Yaoguang Wei
  • Patent number: 10163914
    Abstract: A method of reducing fin width in an integrated circuit (IC) including oxidizing an exposed portion of at least one fin in an array of fins resulting in a reduction in the width of the exposed portion of the at least one fin. A first hard mask may be located over the array of fins except the exposed portion of the at least one fin during oxidation. A second hard mask may be optionally located over the array of fins, under the first hard mask, and covering a portion of the exposed portion of the at least one fin during the oxidizing of the exposed portion of the at least one fin. The oxidizing the exposed portion of the at least one fin may occur before forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) between pairs of fins in the array of fins, after forming the STI between the pairs of fins in the array of fins, and/or after removing a dummy gate during a replacement metal gate process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoqiang Zhang, Hui Zang, Ratheesh R. Thankalekshmi, Randy W. Mann
  • Patent number: 10163885
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices disclosed herein have minimum spacings that correlate with spacer widths. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate and a target layer disposed over the substrate. The target layer includes a first target feature, a second target feature, and a third target feature. The second target feature is spaced a first distance from the first target feature, and the third target feature is spaced a second distance from the first target feature. The first distance corresponds with a first width of a first spacer fabricated during a first spacer patterning process, and the second distance corresponds with a second width of a second spacer fabricated during a second spacer patterning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Ming Chang, Ming-Feng Shieh, Ru-Gun Liu, Tsai-Sheng Gau
  • Patent number: 10163682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for the manufacture of a high resistivity semiconductor substrate, comprising the following stages: providing a first substrate with an in-depth weakened layer; providing a second substrate with a layer of an oxide at the surface; attaching the first substrate to the second substrate so as to form a compound substrate comprising a layer of buried oxide; and cleaving the compound substrate at the level of the weakened layer. The process additionally comprises at least one stage of stabilization, in particular, a stabilization heat treatment, of the second substrate with the layer of oxide before the stage of cleaving at the level of the weakened layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Cédric Malaquin, Ludovic Ecarnot, Damien Parissi