Patents Examined by Maria Ligai
  • Patent number: 9735259
    Abstract: Various particular embodiments include an integrated circuit (IC) structure including: a stack region; and a silicon substrate underlying and contacting the stack region, the silicon substrate including: a silicon region including a doped subcollector region; a set of isolation regions overlying the silicon region; a base region between the set of isolation regions and below the stack region, the base region including an intrinsic base contacting the stack region, an extrinsic base contacting the intrinsic base and the stack region, and an amorphized extrinsic base contact region contacting the extrinsic base; a collector region between the set of isolation regions; an undercut collector-base region between the set of isolation regions and below the base region; and a collector contact region contacting the collector region under the intrinsic base and the collector-base region via the doped subcollector region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Greco, Qizhi Liu, Aaron L. Vallett, Robert F. Vatter
  • Patent number: 9691621
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and methods of forming same. A representative structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate; a nanowire structure protruding from the substrate having a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; a pair of silicide regions extending into opposite sides of the source region, wherein each of the pair of silicide regions comprise a vertical portion adjacent to the source region and a horizontal portion adjacent to the substrate; and a metal gate surrounding a portion the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu, Chao-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 9687937
    Abstract: In the present invention, At least one row of lens arrays, in which a plurality of lenses are arranged in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction of a substrate to correspond to the plurality of TFT forming areas set in a matrix on the substrate, is shifted in the direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the substrate, to thereby align the lenses in the lens array with the TFT forming areas on the substrate based on the alignment reference position. The laser beams are irradiated onto the lens array when the substrate moves and the TFT forming areas reach the underneath of the corresponding lenses of the lens array, and the laser beams are focused by the plurality of lenses to anneal the amorphous silicon film in each TFT forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: V-TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Kajiyama, Michinobu Mizumura
  • Patent number: 9685496
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a main surface, an internal circuit including a plurality of transistors, formed on the main surface, a bonding pad electrically connected to the internal circuit, formed on the main surface, an inductor for communicating an external device in a non-contact manner, formed on the main surface, and a seal ring formed along an outer peripheral edge of the semiconductor chip to surround the internal circuit and the bonding pad in a plan view. The inductor has a configuration to surround the internal circuit and the bonding pad in the plan view and along the seal ring. The inductor is arranged inside the seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Nakashiba
  • Patent number: 9679908
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. In a semiconductor substrate located in a memory cell region, a memory cell of a nonvolatile memory is formed while, in the semiconductor substrate located in a peripheral circuit region, a MISFET is formed. At this time, over the semiconductor substrate located in the memory cell region, a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode each for the memory cell are formed first. Then, an insulating film is formed so as to cover the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Subsequently, the upper surface of the insulating film is polished to be planarized. Thereafter, a conductive film for the gate electrode of the MISFET is formed and then patterned to form a gate electrode or a dummy gate electrode for the MISFET in the peripheral circuit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9679983
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including isolation regions defining first and second active regions having a first and second conductivity type, respectively, first threshold voltage control regions in predetermined regions of the first active region, wherein the first threshold voltage control regions have the first conductivity type and a different impurity concentration from the first active region, a first gate trench extending across the first active region, wherein portions of side bottom portions of the first gate trench adjacent to the respective isolation region are disposed at a higher level than a central bottom portion of the first gate trench, and the first threshold voltage control regions remain in the first active region under the side bottom portions of the first gate trench adjacent to the respective isolation region, and a first gate pattern. Methods of manufacturing such semiconductor devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mueng-Ryul Lee, Sang-Bae Yi
  • Patent number: 9673255
    Abstract: A method for forming a resistive memory device includes providing a substrate comprising a first metal material, forming a conductive silicon-bearing layer on top of the first metal material, wherein the conductive silicon-bearing layer comprises an upper region and a lower region, and wherein the lower region is adjacent to the first metal material, forming an amorphous layer from the upper region of the conductive silicon-bearing layer, and disposing an active metal material above the amorphous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CROSSBAR, INC.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Jo, Kuk-Hwan Kim, Tanmay Kumar
  • Patent number: 9666239
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of wiring patterns of wiring lines disposed in parallel in a line-and-space pattern in a predetermined pitch and extend in a first direction in a first region, first bending patterns that extend pairs of the wiring lines in a second in a second region adjacent to the first region, second bending patterns extend the pairs of wiring lines in opposite directions along the orientation of the first direction in the second region, and dummy patterns separated from the two second bending patterns at a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroaki Naito, Tatsuya Fukumura
  • Patent number: 9665001
    Abstract: New photoresist are provided that comprises an Si-containing component and that are particularly useful for ion implant lithography applications. Photoresists of the invention can exhibit good adhesion to underlying inorganic surfaces such as SiON, silicon oxide, silicon nitride and other inorganic surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventor: Gerhard Pohlers
  • Patent number: 9653291
    Abstract: Native oxides and residue are removed from surfaces of a substrate by performing a multiple-stage native oxide cleaning process. In one example, the method for removing native oxides from a substrate includes supplying a first gas mixture including an inert gas onto a surface of a material layer disposed on a substrate into a first processing chamber, wherein the material layer is a III-V group containing layer for a first period of time, supplying a second gas mixture including an inert gas and a hydrogen containing gas onto the surface of the material layer for a second period of time, and supplying a third gas mixture including a hydrogen containing gas to the surface of the material layer while maintaining the substrate at a temperature less than 550 degrees Celsius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Chun Yan, Xinyu Bao
  • Patent number: 9653320
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for patterning a hardmask layer disposed on a metal layer, such as a copper layer, to form an interconnection structure in semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a method of patterning a hardmask layer on a metal layer disposed on a substrate includes supplying a first etching gas mixture comprising a carbon-fluorine containing gas and a chlorine containing gas into a processing chamber to etch a portion of a hardmask layer disposed on a metal layer formed on a substrate, supplying a second etching gas mixture comprising a hydrocarbon gas into the processing chamber to clean the substrate, and supplying a third etching gas mixture comprising a carbon-fluorine containing gas to remove a remaining portion of the hardmask layer until a surface of the metal layer is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sumit Agarwal, Chiu-pien Kuo, Shang-Ting Hsieh, Guochuan Hong
  • Patent number: 9633856
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a first region and a second region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer, the metal layer having a first work function, protecting the metal layer in the first region, treating the metal layer in the second region with a de-coupled plasma that includes carbon and nitrogen, and forming a first gate structure in the first region and a second gate structure in the second region. The first gate structure includes the high-k dielectric layer and the untreated metal layer. The second gate structure includes the high-k dielectric layer and the treated metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Su-Horng Lin
  • Patent number: 9634096
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a trench isolation. The trench isolation is located in the semiconductor substrate, and includes an epitaxial layer and a dielectric material. The epitaxial layer is in a trench of the semiconductor and is peripherally enclosed thereby, in which the epitaxial layer is formed by performing etch and epitaxy processes. The etch and epitaxy process includes etching out a portion of a sidewall of the trench and a portion of a bottom surface of the trench and forming the epitaxial layer conformal to the remaining portion of the sidewall and the remaining portion of the bottom surface. The dielectric material is peripherally enclosed by the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Cheng-Ta Wu, Yeur-Luen Tu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee, Tung-I Lin, Wei-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 9627495
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming fin-shaped semiconductor layers on a semiconductor substrate. First and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers are formed, and first and second control gates are formed around the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers, respectively. First and second selection gates are formed around the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers, respectively. First and second contact electrodes are formed around upper portions of the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9601410
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method are provided which utilizes a single mask to form openings for both a through substrate via as well as for a through dielectric via. In an embodiment a contact etch stop layer is deposited over and between a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. A dielectric material is deposited over the contact etch stop layer between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. The different materials of the contact etch stop layer and the dielectric material is utilized such that a single mask may be used to form a through substrate via through the first semiconductor device and also to form a through dielectric via through the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chun Tsai, Hung-Pin Chang, Ku-Feng Yang, Yi-Hsiu Chen, Wen-Chih Chiou
  • Patent number: 9598276
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides MEMS devices and their fabrication methods. A first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate including integrated circuits therein. One or more first metal connections and second metal connections are formed in the first dielectric layer and are electrically connected to the integrated circuits. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. An acceleration sensor is formed in the second dielectric layer to electrically connect to the one or more first metal connections. One or more first metal vias are formed in the second dielectric layer to electrically connect to the second metal connections. A pressure sensor is formed on the second dielectric layer to electrically connect to the first metal vias. The MEMS devices provided by the present disclosure are compact in size through the integration of the acceleration sensor and the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Xu, Guoan Liu
  • Patent number: 9594206
    Abstract: A complex substrate for a display apparatus, the complex substrate includes a lower base substrate including convex and concave patterns, the convex and concave patterns being integral with an upper side of the lower base substrate, a planarizing layer on the lower base substrate, the planarizing layer being integral with the convex and concave patterns, and the planarizing layer having different refractivity from the lower base substrate, and a wire grid pattern on the planarizing layer, the wire grid pattern including a plurality of nano wire metal patterns, each of the nano wire metal patterns having a width of no more than a micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang-Ho Jung, Hoon Kang, Chul-Won Park, Jin-Ho Ju
  • Patent number: 9590012
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to a self-aligned cross-point phase change memory-switch array and methods of fabricating same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jong Won Lee, Gianpaolo Spadini, Derchang Kau
  • Patent number: 9589900
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, a molding material molding the device die therein, and a plurality of redistribution lines overlying the device die and the molding material. A laser mark pad is coplanar with one of the plurality of redistribution lines, wherein the laser mark pad and the one of the plurality of redistribution layers are formed of the same conductive material. A polymer layer is over the laser mark pad and the plurality of redistribution lines. A tape is attached over the polymer layer. A laser mark penetrates through the tape and the polymer layer. The laser mark extends to a top surface of the laser mark pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: An-Jhih Su, Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9583569
    Abstract: Device structures for a bipolar junction transistor. A layer is formed on a top surface of a substrate. A trench is formed in the layer and has a plurality of sidewalls with a width between an opposite pair of the sidewalls that varies with increasing distance from the top surface of the substrate. A collector pedestal of the bipolar junction transistor is formed in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, David L. Harame, Vibhor Jain, Vikas K. Kaushal, Marwan H. Khater