Patents Examined by Matthew Gordon
  • Patent number: 9685395
    Abstract: A method of forming photo masks having rectangular patterns and a method for forming a semiconductor structure using the photo masks is provided. The method for forming the photo masks includes determining a minimum spacing and identifying vertical conductive feature patterns having a spacing less than the minimum spacing value. The method further includes determining a first direction to expand and a second direction to shrink, and checking against design rules to see if the design rules are violated for each of the vertical conductive feature patterns identified. If designed rules are not violated, the identified vertical conductive feature pattern is replaced with a revised vertical conductive feature pattern having a rectangular shape. The photo masks are then formed. The semiconductor structure can be formed using the photo masks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Kong-Beng Thei, Chih-Tsung Yao, Heng-Kai Liu, Ming-Jer Chiu, Chien-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 9679991
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor with improved electrical characteristics. According to embodiments of the disclosure, self-aligned contact plugs may be effectively formed using a metal hard mask portion disposed on a gate portion. In addition, a process margin of a photoresist mask for the formation of the self-aligned contact plugs may be improved by using the metal hard mask portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwi-Chan Jun, Deok-Han Bae, Hyun-Seung Song, Seung-Seok Ha
  • Patent number: 9679877
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a MOSFET including a PN junction diode. A unipolar device is connected in parallel to the MOSFET and has two terminals. A first wire connects the PN junction diode to one of the two terminals of the unipolar device. A second wire connects the one of the two terminals of the unipolar device to an output line, so that the output line is connected to the MOSFET and the unipolar device via the first wire and the second wire. In one embodiment the connection of the first wire to the diode is with its anode, and in another the connection is with the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Okumura
  • Patent number: 9680104
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup unit of the invention includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion layer; and first and second electrodes provided with the photoelectric conversion layer in between, the photoelectric conversion layer including a first organic semiconductor of a first conductive type and a second organic semiconductor of a second conductive type, and being configured by addition of a third organic semiconductor made of a derivative or an isomer of one of the first and second organic semiconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Udaka, Masaki Murata, Osamu Enoki, Masayoshi Aonuma, Sae Miyaji, Takuya Ito, Miki Sudou, Rui Morimoto, Hiroto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9679954
    Abstract: The EL substrate includes semiconductor layers of TFTs, a pixel electrode, and an upper part electrode of a Cs section which are provided on a gate insulating film. The semiconductor layers are covered with a protective film which has openings via which the pixel electrode and the upper part electrode are exposed. The semiconductor layers are an oxide semiconductor layer, and the pixel electrode and the upper part electrode are reduction electrodes of the oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Takamaru
  • Patent number: 9680129
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting element equipped with a transparent substrate, an internal light extracting layer, and a transparent metal electrode includes: forming the internal light extracting layer on the transparent substrate, and forming the transparent metal electrode on the internal light extracting layer. The step of forming the internal light extracting layer includes: applying a coating solution onto the transparent substrate into a predetermined pattern, the coating solution containing a light scattering particle having an average particle size of 0.2 ?m or more and less than 1 ?m and a refractive index of 1.7 or more and less than 3.0 and a hydroxy-containing solvent, and drying the applied patterned coating solution through irradiation with infrared light having a proportion of 5% or less of a spectral radiance at a wavelength of 5.8 ?m to a spectral radiance at a wavelength of 3.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takaaki Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9673274
    Abstract: A NAND memory is provided that includes a memory cell region and a peripheral region. The peripheral region includes a shallow trench isolation trench disposed in a substrate. The shallow trench isolation trench has a first tab extension and a second tab extension. The first tab extension is disposed at a top portion of the shallow trench isolation trench, and extends in a first direction from the shallow trench isolation trench. The second tab extension is disposed at a top portion of the shallow trench isolation trench, and extends in a second direction from the shallow trench isolation trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Yusuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9673098
    Abstract: Methods of packaging semiconductor devices and structures thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of packaging a semiconductor device includes providing a carrier wafer, providing a plurality of dies, and forming a die cave material over the carrier wafer. A plurality of die caves is formed in the die cave material. At least one of the plurality of dies is placed within each of the plurality of die caves in the die cave material. A plurality of packages is formed, each of the plurality of packages being formed over a respective at least one of the plurality of dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing-Cheng Lin, Jui-Pin Hung, Yi-Hang Lin, Tsan-Hua Tung
  • Patent number: 9666512
    Abstract: A semiconductor package with a leadframe to mount a transistor device prevents malfunction. The semiconductor package includes a leadframe including at least one or more transistor die attach pads where a first transistor device and a second transistor device are arranged, a driver die attach pad where a driver semiconductor chip is arranged, a first driver lead electrically connected to the driver semiconductor chip, and a second driver lead arranged between the first driver lead and the at least one or more transistor die attach pads, a chip bonding wire electrically connecting the first transistor device with the driver semiconductor chip, a first transistor bonding wire electrically connecting the first driver lead with the second transistor device, and a first insulator arranged on the second driver lead to insulate the second driver lead and the first transistor bonding wire from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-won Im, O-seob Jeon, Joon-seo Son
  • Patent number: 9666567
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a base member; a light emitting element disposed on the base member via at least one first electrically conductive joining member such that a space is located between the light emitting element and a surface of the base member; and a protective element disposed on the base member via at least one second electrically conductive joining member. The protective element is located in the space. A light reflecting resin is located in the space and covers the protective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroto Nagano
  • Patent number: 9659901
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer including a main IGBT cell and a sense IGBT cell connected in parallel to each other, a first resistance portion having a first resistance value formed using a gate wiring portion of the sense IGBT cell and a second resistance portion having a second resistance value higher than the first resistance value, a gate wiring electrically connected through mutually different channels to the first resistance portion and the second resistance portion, a first diode provided between the gate wiring and the first resistance portion, a second diode provided between the gate wiring and the second resistance portion in a manner oriented reversely to the first diode, an emitter electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer, electrically connected to an emitter of the main IGBT cell, and a sense emitter electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer, electrically connected to an emitter of the sense IGBT cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Hikasa
  • Patent number: 9653579
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second spaced apart semiconductor active regions with an insulating region therebetween, forming at least one sacrificial gate line extending between the first and second spaced apart semiconductor active regions and over the insulating region, and forming sidewall spacers on opposing sides of the at least one sacrificial gate line. The method may further include removing portions of the at least one sacrificial gate line within the sidewall spacers and above the insulating region defining at least one gate line end recess, filling the at least one gate line end recess with a dielectric material, and forming respective replacement gates in place of portions of the at least one sacrificial gate line above the first and second spaced apart semiconductor active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc, International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Xiuyu Cai, Chun-chen Yeh, Kejia Wang
  • Patent number: 9653447
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PNP ESD integrated circuit, including a substrate, an active region formed within the substrate, the active region including at least one base region of a second conductivity type, a plurality of collector regions of a first conductivity type formed within the active region, a plurality of emitter regions of the first conductivity type formed within the active region, and a local interconnect layer (LIL) contacting the plurality of emitter regions and the plurality of collector regions, the LIL including cooling fin contacts formed on the collector regions to enhance the current handling capacity of the collector regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Albert Jan Huitsing, Jan Claes
  • Patent number: 9653394
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a plurality of conductive areas formed on the substrate at a first vertical level; a first wiring layer formed on the substrate at a second vertical level which is higher than the first vertical level, the first wiring layer including first lines that extend in a first direction, one first line of the first lines connected to a first conductive area selected from the plurality of conductive areas through a via contact; a second wiring layer formed on the substrate at a third vertical level which is higher than the second vertical level, the second wiring layer including second lines that extend in a second direction that crosses the first direction, one second line of the second lines connected to a second conductive area selected from the plurality of conductive areas; and a deep via contact spaced apart from lines of the first wiring layer in a horizontal direction and extending from the second conductive area to the one second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Vincent Chun Fai Lau, Jung-ho Do, Byung-sung Kim, Chul-hong Park
  • Patent number: 9640436
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source and drain on a substrate; a first and second gate on the source, and the second gate and a third gate on the drain; a source contact over the source and between the first and second gates, the source contact including first and second portions, the first portion in contact with the source and extending between the first and second gates, and the second portion contacting the first portion and extending over the first and second gates; and a drain contact formed over the drain and between the second and third gates, the drain contact including first and second portions, the first portion contacting the drain, extending between second and third gates, and recessed with respect to the first portion of the source contact, and the second portion in contact with the first portion and extending between and over the second and third gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9634079
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device includes a first transistor, a power supply line layer connected to one current terminal of the first transistor, a capacitive element including a first capacitive electrode connected to a gate of the first transistor, and a second capacitive electrode, a signal line, and a pixel electrode connected to the other current terminal of the first transistor, the first capacitive electrode is provided on a layer over the gate of the first transistor, and the power supply line layer is provided on a layer between the first capacitive electrode and the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ota, Ryoichi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 9633955
    Abstract: A semiconductor IC structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a multi-layered dielectric structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer disposed in the multi-layered dielectric structure, and a second conductive layer disposed on the multi-layered dielectric structure. The multi-layered dielectric structure further includes a first dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. A coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the first dielectric layer is larger than zero, and a CTE of the second dielectric layer is smaller than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jhih-Rong Huang, Bin-Siang Tsai
  • Patent number: 9634245
    Abstract: Disclosed technology relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to structures incorporating and methods of forming metal lines including tungsten and carbon, such as conductive lines for memory arrays. In one aspect, a memory device comprises a lower conductive line extending in a first direction and an upper conductive line extending in a second direction and crossing the lower conductive line, wherein at least one of the upper and lower conductive lines comprises tungsten and carbon. The memory device additionally comprises a memory cell stack interposed at an intersection between the upper and lower conductive lines. The memory cell stack includes a first active element over the lower conductive line and a second active element over the first active element, wherein one of the first and second active elements comprises a storage element and the other of the first and second active elements comprises a selector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Andrea Gotti, F. Daniel Gealy, Innocenzo Tortorelli, Enrico Varesi
  • Patent number: 9627214
    Abstract: A stratified gate dielectric stack includes a first high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric comprising a first high-k dielectric material, a band-gap-disrupting dielectric comprising a dielectric material having a different band gap than the first high-k dielectric material, and a second high-k gate dielectric comprising a second high-k dielectric material. The band-gap-disrupting dielectric includes at least one contiguous atomic layer of the dielectric material. Thus, the stratified gate dielectric stack includes a first atomic interface between the first high-k gate dielectric and the band-gap-disrupting dielectric, and a second atomic interface between the second high-k gate dielectric and the band-gap-disrupting dielectric that is spaced from the first atomic interface by at least one continuous atomic layer of the dielectric material of the band-gap-disrupting dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Paul C. Jamison
  • Patent number: 9620505
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes: a substrate; a first set of fins above the substrate of a first semiconductor material; a second set of fins above the substrate and of a second semiconductor material different than the first semiconductor material; and an isolation region positioned between the first and second sets of fins, the isolation region having a nitride layer. The isolation region may be an isolation pillar or an isolation trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, STMicroelectronics, Inc., GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie, Chun-chen Yeh, Kejia Wang, Daniel Chanemougame