Patents Examined by Monica Lewis
  • Patent number: 7382009
    Abstract: To provide an amplification type solid state image pickup device enabling lower noise, higher gain, and higher sensitivity than any conventional amplification type solid state image pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 7381988
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a four-mask method of manufacturing an array substrate of a liquid crystal display device and the liquid crystal display device having the same array substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-chul Ahn, Byoung-ho Lim, Soon-Sung Yoo, Yong-wan Kim
  • Patent number: 7382060
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a thinned semiconductor die having protective polymer layers on up to six surfaces. The component also includes contact bumps on the die embedded in a circuit side polymer layer, and terminal contacts on the contact bumps in a dense area array. A method for fabricating the component includes the steps of providing a substrate containing multiple dice, forming trenches on the substrate proximate to peripheral edges of the dice, and depositing a polymer material into the trenches. In addition, the method includes the steps of planarizing the back side of the substrate to contact the polymer filled trenches, and cutting through the polymer trenches to singulate the components from the substrate. Prior to the singulating step the components can be tested and burned-in while they remain on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Alan G. Wood, Trung Tri Doan
  • Patent number: 7378717
    Abstract: An optical sensor and method for forming the same. The optical sensor structure includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes and (c) first, second, and third semiconducting regions. The first and fourth electrodes are at a first depth. The second and fifth electrodes are at a second depth. The third and sixth electrodes are at a third depth. The first depth is greater than the second depth, and the second depth is greater than the third depth. The first, second, and third semiconducting regions are disposed between and in contact with the first and fourth electrodes, second and fifth electrodes, and third and sixth electrodes, respectively. The first, second, and third semiconducting regions are in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Furukawa, Steven J. Holmes, David V. Horak, Charles W. Koburger, III
  • Patent number: 7375414
    Abstract: This invention provides a structure and method for improved transmission line operation on integrated circuits. One method of the invention includes forming transmission lines in an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first layer of electrically conductive material on a substrate. A first layer of insulating material is formed on the first layer of the electrically conductive material. A pair of layered high permeability shielding lines are formed on the first layer of insulating material. The pair of layered high permeability shielding lines include layered permalloy and/or Ni45Fe55 films. A transmission line is formed on the first layer of insulating material and between and parallel with the pair of layered high permeability shielding lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 7372069
    Abstract: In an embodiment of this invention, an adhesion layer is deposited on an encapsulation lid to provide strong adhesion with the UV-curable adhesive in order to improve encapsulation of an organic electronic device. The adhesion layer is comprised of a metallic layer or a ceramic layer that is thin enough to be nonopaque and thick enough to provide stronger adhesion at an interface with said UV-curable adhesive than said encapsulation lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Kyle D. Frischknecht
  • Patent number: 7342319
    Abstract: Integrated circuit packages that connect solder balls between solder ball pads of a die and substrate pads of a printed circuit board (PCB). The solder balls are electrically disconnected from any circuit of the die, i.e., “dummy” solder balls, and are used to temporarily hold the die in position with respect to the PCB until the circuit is wire bonded and an underfill material is cured between the die and the PCB to more permanently connect them together. The underfill material is selected to have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is substantially equal to the CTE of the solder balls to prevent thermal mismatch problems. An overmolding compound is disposed about the die and the underfill material and about the wire bonds to complete the package. Various arrangements of the solder ball pads on the die include columnar and row, corner, diagonal, cross, and periphery arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank L. Hall, Cary J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 7335931
    Abstract: A field effect transistor structure includes a single crystal substrate having: a source, gate and drain electrodes disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the gate electrode having a region thereof disposed between a region of the drain electrode and a region of the source electrode; a ground conductor disposed on a lower surface of the substrate; a plurality of electrically conductive vias passing through the substrate, each one of the vias having one end electrically connected to a different region of the ground conductor and having another end electrically connected to the gate electrode. The plurality of electrically conductive vias provide parallel and symmetric connections between the gate electrode and the ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Roberto W. Alm
  • Patent number: 7335987
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip, a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer. The semiconductor chip has an active surface and a plurality of pads disposed on the active surface. The first substrate layer is formed on the active surface of the semiconductor chip and has a plurality of first contacts electrically connected to the pads of the semiconductor chip. The second substrate layer is substantially smaller than the first substrate layer, is formed on the first substrate layer, and has a plurality of second contacts electrically connected to the first contacts of the first substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Yao Ting Huang
  • Patent number: 7329908
    Abstract: A GaN-based FET has a buffer layer structure including GaN first buffer layer and an AlGaN second buffer layer between a substrate and an active layer structure including a channel layer and a donor layer. The GaN first buffer layer and the AlGaN second buffer layer reduce dislocation defects in the active layer structure and allows the FET to have a lower leakage current and a satisfactory pinch-off characteristic. A plurality of GaN first buffer layers and a plurality of AlGaN second buffer layers may be deposited alternately one on another on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seikoh Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7329899
    Abstract: A semiconductor component configured for wafer-level testing includes a semiconductor die having at least one die contact electrically exposed for coupling with a redistribution circuit that electrically couples at least one die contact to an extended contact such as a bumped contact. A wafer-level redistribution circuit interconnects a plurality of dice and includes a redistribution circuit for coupling between a die contact on one of the dice and a corresponding bumped contact. The wafer-level redistribution circuit further includes a bus conductor traversing each of the plurality of dice for electrically coupling with at least another one of the plurality of dice. At least one other conductor couples the redistribution circuit to the bus conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Steven M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 7326956
    Abstract: A thin film transistor comprises a layer of organic semiconductor material comprising a tetracarboxylic diimide 3,4,9,10-perylene-based compound having, attached to each of the imide nitrogen atoms a carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic ring system substituted with one or more fluorine-containing groups. Such transistors can further comprise spaced apart first and second contact means or electrodes in contact with said material. Further disclosed is a process for fabricating ac thin film transistor device, preferably by sublimation or solution-phase deposition onto a substrate, wherein the substrate temperature is no more than 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Diane C. Freeman, Shelby F. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7327020
    Abstract: A multi-chip package, a semiconductor device used therein, and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The multi-chip package may include a substrate having a plurality of substrate bonding pads formed on an upper surface thereof, at least one first semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate, and at least one second semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate where the at least one first semiconductor chip may be mounted. The at least one second semiconductor chip may include at least one three-dimensional space so as to allow the at least one first semiconductor chip to be enclosed within the at least one three-dimensional space. The at least one three-dimensional space may be a cavity, a groove, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Heung-Kyu Kwon, Hee-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 7307344
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed above the semiconductor substrate, Cu wiring buried in the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed above the Cu wiring, and a discontinuous film made of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, W, Pd, Sn, Ni, Mg and Zn, or a metal oxide thereof and interposed at an interface between the Cu wiring and the second insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Gaku Minamihaba, Hiroyuki Yano, Nobuyuki Kurashima, Susumu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7304329
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region, a source region, and a drain region at an upper portion of the substrate. The active region is located between the source and drain regions. A gate electrode is located on the active region. A source electrode is located on the source region and forms an ohmic contact with the source region. A drain electrode has a base part on and in ohmic contact with the drain region and an extended part having edge close to the gate electrode and over a boundary between the active region and the drain region. An insulating film is located between the boundary and the extended part and has a thickness that increases along a direction from the drain electrode toward the gate electrode in a step-by-step or continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kamo, Tetsuo Kunii
  • Patent number: 7294892
    Abstract: A multi-transistor layout capable of saving area includes a substrate; a common drain comprising four sides formed over the substrate; four gates formed over the four sides of the common drain; and four sources formed over outer sides of the four gates corresponding to the common drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Faraday Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Hsin-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 7294858
    Abstract: A semiconductor device provided with a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, and an ohmic metal layer joined to one surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate in an ohmic contact and composed of a metal material whose silicide formation free energy and carbide formation free energy respectively take negative values. The ohmic metal layer is composed of, for example, a metal material such as molybdenum, titanium, chromium, manganese, zirconium, tantalum, or tungsten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Masashi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7291917
    Abstract: Methods of forming contact openings, making electrical interconnections, and related integrated circuitry are described. Integrated circuitry formed through one or more of the inventive methodologies is also described. In one implementation, a conductive runner or line having a contact pad with which electrical communication is desired is formed over a substrate outer surface. A conductive plug is formed laterally proximate the contact pad and together therewith defines an effectively widened contact pad. Conductive material is formed within a contact opening which is received within insulative material over the effectively widened contact pad. In a preferred implementation, a pair of conductive plugs are formed on either side of the contact pad laterally proximate thereof. The conductive plug(s) can extend away from the substrate outer surface a distance which is greater or less than a conductive line height of a conductive line adjacent which the plug is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles H. Dennison
  • Patent number: 7288824
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a MEMS device, and technique of fabricating or manufacturing a MEMS device, having mechanical structures encapsulated in a chamber prior to final packaging. The material that encapsulates the mechanical structures, when deposited, includes one or more of the following attributes: low tensile stress, good step coverage, maintains its integrity when subjected to subsequent processing, does not significantly and/or adversely impact the performance characteristics of the mechanical structures in the chamber (if coated with the material during deposition), and/or facilitates integration with high-performance integrated circuits. In one embodiment, the material that encapsulates the mechanical structures is, for example, silicon (polycrystalline, amorphous or porous, whether doped or undoped), silicon carbide, silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Aaron Partridge, Markus Lutz, Silvia Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 7285825
    Abstract: A support-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface is bonded to an active-layer-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface while making the major surfaces oppose each other. The active-layer-side substrate and part of the oxide film are selectively etched from a surface opposite to the major surface of the active-layer-side substrate to a halfway depth of the buried oxide film formed from the thermal oxide films at the bonding portion. A sidewall insulating film is formed on the etching side surface portion of the active-layer-side substrate. Then, the remaining buried oxide film except that immediately under the active-layer-side substrate is selectively etched. A single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed on the support-side substrate exposed by removing the buried oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hajime Nagano, Shinichi Nitta, Takashi Yamada, Tsutomu Sato, Katsujiro Tanzawa, Ichiro Mizushima