Patents Examined by Quinton Brasfield
  • Patent number: 11443996
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a copper pillar. The method includes forming a layer of titanium tungsten (TiW) over a semiconductor wafer, forming a layer of zinc (Zn) over the layer of TiW, and forming a copper pillar over the via. In addition, the method includes performing an anneal to diffuse the layer of Zn into the copper pillar. A semiconductor device that includes a layer of TiW coupled to a via of a semiconductor wafer and a copper pillar coupled to the layer of TiW. The copper pillar has interdiffused Zn within its bottom portion. Another method for fabricating a copper pillar includes forming a layer of TiW over a semiconductor wafer, forming a first patterned photoresist, forming a layer of Zn, and then removing the first patterned photoresist. The method further includes forming a second patterned photoresist and forming a copper pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nazila Dadvand, Keith Edward Johnson, Christopher Daniel Manack, Salvatore Frank Pavone
  • Patent number: 11437298
    Abstract: An electronic module has a first substrate 11, an electronic element 13, 23 disposed on one side of the first substrate 11, a second substrate 21 disposed on one side of the electronic element 13, 23, a first coupling body 210 disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21, a second coupling body 220 disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21, and shorter than the first coupling body 210, and a sealing part 90 which seals at least the electronic element. The first coupling body 210 is not electrically connected to the electronic element. The second coupling body 220 is electrically connected to the electronic element 13, 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Matsuzaki, Kosuke Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11417543
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, an imaging unit and a moving device. The first holder is configured to hold a first substrate. The second holder is disposed to face the first holder and configured to hold a second substrate to be bonded to the first substrate. The imaging unit includes a first imaging device configured to image a first alignment mark formed on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and a second imaging device configured to image a second alignment mark formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The moving device is configured to move the imaging unit in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction within a plan region between the first holder and the second holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Otsuka, Munehisa Kodama, Yutaka Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11417645
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection structure includes a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device. The LDMOS device includes an embedded bipolar junction transistor. A gate, a source, a buried layer lead-out area, and a substrate lead-out area of the LDMOS device are grounded. A drain and a body region lead-out area of the LDMOS device are electrically connected to a pad input/output terminal. In an embodiment, the embedded bipolar junction transistor includes a PNP transistor operative to transmit a reverse electrostatic discharge current. An N+ drain, a gate, an N+ source, and a P+ substrate lead-out area form a grounded-gate NMOS (GGNMOS) operative to transmit a forward electrostatic discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhenghao Gan
  • Patent number: 11410890
    Abstract: A method includes providing a p-type S/D epitaxial feature and an n-type source/drain (S/D) epitaxial feature, forming a semiconductor material layer over the n-type S/D epitaxial feature and the p-type S/D epitaxial feature, processing the semiconductor material layer with a germanium-containing gas, where the processing of the semiconductor material layer forms a germanium-containing layer over the semiconductor material layer, etching the germanium-containing layer, where the etching of the germanium-containing layer removes the germanium-containing layer formed over the n-type S/D epitaxial feature and the semiconductor material layer formed over the p-type S/D epitaxial feature, and forming a first S/D contact over the semiconductor material layer remaining over the n-type S/D epitaxial feature and a second S/D contact over the p-type S/D epitaxial feature. The semiconductor material layer may have a composition similar to that of the n-type S/D epitaxial feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ding-Kang Shih, Pang-Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 11411085
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor structure comprise forming an opening through a stack of alternating tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials, and laterally removing a portion of each of the tier control gate materials to form control gate recesses. A charge blocking material comprising a charge trapping portion is formed on exposed surfaces of the tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials in the opening. The control gate recesses are filled with a charge storage material. The method further comprises removing the charge trapping portion of the charge blocking material disposed horizontally between the charge storage material and an adjacent tier dielectric material to produce air gaps between the charge storage material and the adjacent tier dielectric material. The air gaps may be substantially filled with dielectric material or conductive material. Also disclosed are semiconductor structures obtained from such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11398456
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described that includes an integrated circuit coupled to a first semiconductor substrate with a first set of passive devices (e.g., inductors) on the first substrate. A second semiconductor substrate with a second set of passive devices (e.g., capacitors) may be coupled to the first substrate. Interconnects in the substrates may allow interconnection between the substrates and the integrated circuit. The passive devices may be used to provide voltage regulation for the integrated circuit. The substrates and integrated circuit may be coupled using metallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Zhai
  • Patent number: 11355339
    Abstract: A method includes forming a silicon layer on a wafer, forming an oxide layer in contact with the silicon layer, and, after the oxide layer is formed, annealing the wafer in an environment comprising ammonia (NH3) to form a dielectric barrier layer between, and in contact with, the silicon layer and the oxide layer. The dielectric barrier layer comprises silicon and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Chung-Chi Ko
  • Patent number: 11328951
    Abstract: A transistor cell including a deep via that is at least partially lined with a dielectric material. The deep via may extend down to a substrate over which the transistor is disposed. The deep via may be directly connected to a terminal of the transistor, such as the source or drain, to interconnect the transistor with an interconnect metallization level disposed in the substrate under the transistor, or on at opposite side of the substrate as the transistor. Parasitic capacitance associated with the close proximity of the deep via metallization to one or more terminals of the transistor may be reduced by lining at least a portion of the deep via sidewall with dielectric material, partially necking the deep via metallization in a region adjacent to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Morrow, Mauro J. Kobrinsky, Rishabh Mehandru
  • Patent number: 11322427
    Abstract: A chip on film package including a chip and a flexible film. The chip includes bumps disposed on the chip and is mounted on the flexible film. The flexible film includes first vias, second vias, upper leads and lower leads. The first vias and the second vias penetrate the flexible film and are arranged on two opposite sides of a reference line respectively. A distance between one of the first vias and one of the second vias, which are closer to a first side of the chip, is longer than that between another one of the first vias and another one of the second, which are further from the first side. The upper leads are disposed on the upper surface connected between the vias and the bumps. The lower leads are disposed on the lower surface and connected to the vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hsien-Wen Lo, Wen-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 11302734
    Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench, filling a dielectric layer into the trench, with a void being formed in the trench and between opposite portions of the dielectric layer, etching the dielectric layer to reveal the void, forming a diffusion barrier layer on the dielectric layer, and forming a high-reflectivity metal layer on the diffusion barrier layer. The high-reflectivity metal layer has a portion extending into the trench. A remaining portion of the void is enclosed by the high-reflectivity metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chi Wu, Chun-Chieh Fang, Bo-Chang Su, Chien Nan Tu, Yu-Lung Yeh, Kun-Yu Lin, Shih-Shiung Chen
  • Patent number: 11302640
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first electrode extending in a first direction through the semiconductor substrate between the first surface and the second surface, a first wiring layer on the first surface and electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second wiring layer on the first wiring layer, the first wiring layer being between the semiconductor substrate and the second wiring layer in the first direction. The second wiring layer includes a connection region at which a second electrode is connected and a first air gap between the connection region and an outer edge of the second wiring layer in a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoshi Seto, Hitomi Kawaguchiya
  • Patent number: 11296036
    Abstract: A mark pattern includes unit cells immediately adjacent to each other and arranged in a form of dot matrix to form a register mark or an identification code, wherein each unit cell has configuration identical to functional devices of pMOS and nMOS, and each unit cell includes a first active region, a second active region isolated from the first active region, and first gate structures extending along a first direction and are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the first gate structures straddling the first active region and the second active region, contact structures disposed between the first gate structures on the first active region and the second active region, and via structures disposed on the contact structures and two opposite ends of the first gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Kai Kang, Sheng-Yuan Hsueh, Yi-Chung Sheng, Kuo-Yu Liao, Shu-Hung Yu, Hung-Hsu Lin, Hsiang-Hung Peng
  • Patent number: 11296204
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor devices may include a substrate, a pair of semiconductor patterns adjacent to each other on the substrate, a gate electrode on the pair of semiconductor patterns, a source/drain pattern connected to the pair of semiconductor patterns, and a ferroelectric pattern on surfaces of the pair of semiconductor patterns. The surfaces of the pair of semiconductor patterns may face each other, and the ferroelectric pattern may define a first space between the pair of semiconductor patterns. The gate electrode may include a work function metal pattern that is in the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Seungseok Ha, Gukil An, Keun Hwi Cho, Sungmin Kim
  • Patent number: 11282793
    Abstract: A method of forming a package assembly includes forming a first dielectric layer over a carrier substrate; forming a conductive through-via over the first dielectric layer; treating the conductive through-via with a first chemical, thereby roughening surfaces of the conductive through-via; and molding a device die and the conductive through-via in a molding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih Ting Lin, Szu-Wei Lu, Jing-Cheng Lin, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 11264405
    Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) strata including one or more transistor and one or more semiconductor diode. A transistor may include one or more non-planar semiconductor bodies in which there is a channel region while the diode also includes one or more non-planar semiconductor bodies in which there is a p-type region, an n-type region, or both. One IC stratum may be only hundreds of nanometers in thickness and include both front-side and back-side interconnect levels. The front-side interconnect level is disposed over a front side of one or more of the non-planar semiconductor bodies and is coupled to at least one terminal of the transistor. The back-side interconnect level is disposed over a back side of one or more of the non-planar semiconductor bodies and is coupled to at least one terminal of the semiconductor diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Morrow, Rishabh Mehandru, Nathan D. Jack
  • Patent number: 11251307
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, an insulating pattern on the substrate, a second electrode on an upper end of the insulating pattern, a two-dimensional (2D) material layer on a side surface of the insulating pattern, a gate insulating layer covering the 2D material layer, and a gate electrode contacting the gate insulting layer. The insulating pattern extends from the first electrode in a direction substantially vertical to the substrate. The 2D material layer includes at least one atomic layer of a 2D material that is substantially parallel to the side surface of the insulating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-jin Park, Jin-bum Kim, Bong-soo Kim, Kyu-pil Lee, Hyeong-sun Hong, Yoo-sang Hwang
  • Patent number: 11222973
    Abstract: A technique is provided for effectively suppressing a forward voltage shift due to occurrence of a stacking fault. A semiconductor device relating to the present technique includes a first well region of a second conductivity type, a second well region of the second conductivity type which is so provided as to sandwich the whole of a plurality of first well regions in a plan view and has an area larger than that of each of the first well regions, a third well region of the second conductivity type which is so provided as to sandwich the second well region in a plan view and has an area larger than that of the second well region, and a dividing region of a first conductivity type provided between the second well region and the third well region, having an upper surface which is in contact with an insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Hino, Koji Sadamatsu, Hideyuki Hatta, Yuichi Nagahisa, Kohei Ebihara
  • Patent number: 11217707
    Abstract: A Schottky device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate of a first conductivity type, a drift layer of the first conductivity type, a trench, a barrier layer of a second conductivity type, an electrically conductive material that at least partially fills the trench and contacts the barrier layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The drift layer is formed of SiC and is situated onto the SiC substrate. The trench extends from the top surface of the drift layer towards the SiC substrate. The barrier layer contacts the drifting layer and covers a sidewall and a bottom wall of the trench. The first electrode forms a Schottky junction with the drift layer and forms a low resistivity contact with the barrier layer and the electrically conductive material. The second electrode forms an ohmic contact with the SiC substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Wing Chong Tony Chau, Wing Kit Cheung, Wai Tien Chan
  • Patent number: 11211389
    Abstract: Memory devices are provided. A memory device includes one or more adjacent memory cells on a substrate. A memory cell includes first dielectric layer on the substrate, floating gate, second dielectric layer, control gate layer, and first mask layer. The control gate layer has a first portion and a second portion thereon. A silicide layer is in the control gate layer and covers at least a sidewall of the second portion of the control gate layer. In a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate, the silicide layer has a size smaller than the first portion of the control gate layer or a size of the floating gate layer. A fourth dielectric layer is on the substrate and on the memory cell. The fourth dielectric layer contains an opening exposing a portion of the substrate between adjacent memory cells. A conductive structure is in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Fen Chiu, Fansheng Kung