Patents Examined by Jordan Klein
  • Patent number: 9530714
    Abstract: An integrated circuit system includes a heat spreader that is thermally coupled to a semiconductor chip and has a cavity or opening formed in the heat spreader. The cavity or opening is positioned so that capacitors and/or other passive components mounted to the same packaging substrate as the semiconductor chip are at least partially disposed in the cavity or opening. Because the passive components are disposed in the cavity or opening, the integrated circuit system has a reduced package thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Shantanu Kalchuri, Abraham F. Yee, Leilei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9524826
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include a capacitance forming layer including dielectric layers and internal electrodes disposed on the dielectric layers; a lower cover layer disposed below the capacitance forming layer; an upper cover layer disposed above the capacitance forming layer; and a plurality of crack inducing air gaps disposed in the lower cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 9496418
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including the following elements is provided. A first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are disposed on a substrate and separated from each other. A patterned hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive layer and exposes a sharp tip of the first conductive layer. A third conductive layer is disposed on the substrate at one side of the first conductive layer away from the second conductive layer. The third conductive layer is located on a portion of the first conductive layer and covers the sharp tip, and the third conductive layer and the first conductive layer are isolated from each other. A first doped region is disposed in the substrate below the third conductive layer. A second doped region is disposed in the substrate at one side of the second conductive layer away from the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Powerchip Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Da Sung, Cheng-Yuan Hsu, Jian-Ming Jaw, Hui-Huang Chen
  • Patent number: 9496399
    Abstract: A method including patterning a continuous fin having a first segment and a second segment in a semiconductor layer, the first segment is arranged at an angle relative to the second line segment, and forming a first gate and a second gate substantially parallel to each other, the first gate substantially covering sides and a top of a portion of the first segment of the continuous fin, the second gate substantially covering sides and a top of a portion of the second segment of the continuous fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Effendi Leobandung, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9478515
    Abstract: A semiconductor package may include a main substrate, a sub-substrate spaced apart from the main substrate by a gap, and a semiconductor chip disposed on the main substrate. The semiconductor package may include an interconnection member configured to connect the semiconductor chip to the sub-substrate and including twisted wires of a plurality of strands. The semiconductor package may include a main molding member covering the main substrate and the semiconductor chip, and a sub-molding member covering the sub-substrate. The semiconductor package may include a stress buffer layer configured to fill the gap between the main substrate and the sub-substrate, and surround the interconnection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Jung Tae Jeong
  • Patent number: 9470652
    Abstract: A sensing device includes a sensor die having a sensing region formed at a first surface of the sensor die. The sensing device further includes an encapsulant covering the sensing die, the encapsulant having a cavity formed therein, wherein the cavity exposes the sensing region. A sensitive membrane material is deposited within the cavity over the sensing region. A method of manufacturing sensing devices entails mounting a plurality of sensing dies to a carrier, encapsulating the dies in an encapsulant, forming cavities in the encapsulant, the cavities exposing a sensing region of each sensor die, and depositing the sensitive membrane material within each of the cavities. The encapsulating and forming operations can be performed simultaneously using a film-assisted molding (FAM) process, and the depositing operation is performed following FAM at an ambient temperature that is lower than the temperature needed to perform FAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Hooper, Leo M. Higgins, III, Raymond M. Roop
  • Patent number: 9472607
    Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate having a base substrate, a semiconductor layer and a dielectric layer disposed therebetween, the base substrate being reduced in thickness. First devices are formed in the semiconductor layer, the first devices being connected to first metallizations on a first side of the dielectric layer. Second devices are formed in the base substrate, the second devices being connected to second metallizations formed on a second side of the dielectric layer opposite the first side. A through via connection is configured to connect the first metallizations to the second metallizations through the dielectric layer. Pixel circuits and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Tak H. Ning, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9472573
    Abstract: Forming a set of semiconductor fins is disclosed. Forming the set of semiconductor fins can include forming a base structure including a silicon substrate, an insulator layer stacked on the silicon substrate, and a plurality of silicon semiconductor fins each stacked directly on the insulator layer. Forming the set of semiconductor fins can include depositing a first atomic layer of germanium atoms on a first set of semiconductor fins in the plurality of semiconductor fins and annealing the first atomic layer and the first set of semiconductor fins. Forming the set of semiconductor fins can include forming, from the annealing, a first set of silicon-germanium semiconductor fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9472754
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory cell that includes a reference layer formed from a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) reference layer and an interfacial reference layer. The MTJ further includes a free layer and a tunnel barrier positioned between the interfacial reference layer and the free layer. The tunnel barrier is configured to enable electrons to tunnel through the tunnel barrier between the interfacial reference layer and the free layer. A first in-situ alignment is provided between a tunnel barrier lattice structure of the tunnel barrier and an interfacial reference layer lattice structure of the interfacial reference layer. A second in-situ alignment is provided between the tunnel barrier lattice structure of the tunnel barrier and a free layer lattice structure of the free layer. The PMA reference layer lattice structure is not aligned with the interfacial reference layer lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 9448216
    Abstract: A gas sensor device may include a gas sensor integrated circuit (IC) having a gas sensing surface, and bond pads adjacent to the gas sensing surface, and a frame having gas passageways extending therethrough adjacent the gas sensing surface. The gas sensor device may include leads, each having a proximal end spaced from the frame and bonded to a respective bond pad, and a distal end extending downwardly from the proximal end, and encapsulation material filling the space between the proximal ends of the leads and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yonggang Jin, Ravi Shankar
  • Patent number: 9437731
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, a plurality of pillars extending to a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a stress providing layer formed in the semiconductor substrate between pillars and forming a junction with the semiconductor substrate below each pillar to cause lattice deformation in the pillar, a source region having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor substrate below the pillar, a drain region having the second conductivity type formed in an upper portion of the pillar, a gate insulating layer formed on a lateral surface of the pillar and a surface of the stress providing layer, and a gate electrode formed to surround the lateral surface of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 9437771
    Abstract: A monolithic active pixel radiation detector including a method of fabricating thereof. The disclosed radiation detector can include a substrate comprising a silicon layer upon which electronics are configured. A plurality of channels can be formed on the silicon layer, wherein the plurality of channels are connected to sources of signals located in a bulk part of the substrate, and wherein the signals flow through electrically conducting vias established in an isolation oxide on the substrate. One or more nested wells can be configured from the substrate, wherein the nested wells assist in collecting charge carriers released in interaction with radiation and wherein the nested wells further separate the electronics from the sensing portion of the detector substrate. The detector can also be configured according to a thick SOA method of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
    Inventor: Grzegorz W. Deptuch
  • Patent number: 9431317
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board, and a circuit package mounted to the printed circuit board. The circuit package has a thermal pad. A first heat sink structure of the module is associated with the printed circuit board and has a wall defining a contact surface that contacts and thermally couples with the thermal pad. The wall includes at least one aperture there-through. Solder paste is provided between the contact surface and the thermal pad to bond the contact surface to the thermal pad, with the at least one aperture being constructed and arranged to aid in outgassing of the solder paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongguo Chen, Hujiao Wang, David A. Holtzclaw, Wei Qi, Benjamin Lee Davis, John MacKay
  • Patent number: 9431580
    Abstract: A method for producing an optoelectronic component comprising the steps of providing a semiconductor layer sequence having at least one active region, wherein the active region is suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation during operation, and applying at least one layer on a first surface of the semiconductor layer sequence by means of an ion assisted application method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Härle, Christine Höss, Alfred Lell, Uwe Strauss
  • Patent number: 9418871
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for annealing a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an energy-converting structure proximate a semiconductor structure, the energy-converting structure comprising a material having a loss tangent larger than that of the semiconductor structure; providing a heat reflecting structure between the semiconductor structure and the energy-converting structure; and providing microwave radiation to the energy-converting structure and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron-doped silicon germanium, silicon phosphide, titanium, nickel, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, n-type doped silicon, and aluminum capped silicon carbide. The heat reflecting structure may include a material substantially transparent to microwave radiation and having substantial reflectivity with respect to infrared radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Zi-Wei Fang, Chao-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 9409768
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing localized heating as well as protection for a vibrating MEMS device. A cap over a MEMS gyroscope includes an embedded temperature sensor and a heater. The temperature sensor is a trace made of a material with a known temperature/resistance coefficient, which loops back along itself to reduce electromagnetic interference. The heater is a resistive metal trace which also loops back along itself. The temperature sensor and the heater provide localized temperature stabilization for the MEMS gyroscope to reduce temperature drift in the MEMS gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. DeNatale, Philip A. Stupar
  • Patent number: 9412869
    Abstract: An integrated circuit contains a transistor with a stress enhancement region on the source side only. In a DeMOS transistor, forming the stress enhancement region on the source side only and not forming a stress enhancement region in the drain extension increases the resistance of the drain extension region enabling formation of a DeMOS transistor with reduced area. In a MOS transistor, by forming the stress enhancement region on the source side only and eliminating the stress enhancement region from the drain side, transistor leakage is reduced and CHC reliability improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Samuel Zafar Nawaz, Shaofeng Yu, Jeffrey E. Brighton, Song Zhao
  • Patent number: 9406771
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a first and a second ion implantation regions of a first conductive type; a source and a drain diffusion regions formed in the first and the second ion implantation regions respectively; a channel diffusion region formed between the first and the second ion implantation regions; a gate layer disposed above the channel diffusion region and located between the source and the drain diffusion regions; and a third ion implantation region of a second conductive type formed in the gate layer, which extends in a first direction. The third ion implantation region is located above and covers two side portions of the channel diffusion region, the two side portions are adjacent to two edges, extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, of the channel diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shih-Yin Hsiao, Hsueh-Chun Hsiao, Tzu-Yun Chang, Ching-Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 9406717
    Abstract: A method for forming a back-illuminated image sensor includes forming a higher doped crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate, growing a lower doped crystalline layer on the higher doped crystalline layer and forming a photodiode and component circuitry from the lower doped crystalline layer. Metallization structures are formed to make connections to and between components. The crystalline substrate is removed to expose the higher doped crystalline layer. An optical component structure is provided on an exposed surface of the higher doped crystalline layer to receive light therein such that the higher doped crystalline layer provides a passivation layer for the photodiode and the component circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9396953
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate is comprised in a wafer. The method further includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess, forming a gate dielectric layer in the recess, and forming a metal layer in the recess. The metal layer is over the gate dielectric layer. The formation of the metal layer includes placing the wafer against a target, applying a DC power to the target, and applying an RF power to the target, wherein the DC power and the RF power are applied simultaneously. A remaining portion of the recess is then filled with metallic materials, wherein the metallic materials are overlying the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Hung, Kuan-Ting Liu, Yu-Sheng Wang, Ching-Hwanq Su