Patents Examined by Ron Pompey
  • Patent number: 8455984
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure comprises the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; forming a hole extending from the first side of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate; filling the hole with conductive material; thinning the second side of the semiconductor substrate to a first predetermined thickness, so that the bottom of the hole does not protrude from the second side of the semiconductor substrate; and etching the second side of the semiconductor substrate to a second predetermined thickness, thereby exposing the bottom of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kee Wei Chung, Chiang Hung Lin, Neng Tai Shih
  • Patent number: 8455358
    Abstract: A first metal mask has a portion exposed at an opening of a second metal mask. The second metal mask is formed to be thicker than the first metal mask. The thickness of the first and second metal masks is such that the etching at an opening of the first mask reaches a source electrode when the etching at the opening of the second mask substantially reaches a semiconductor device forming layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kohei Miki
  • Patent number: 8440538
    Abstract: In making an airbridge structure, a second resist layer is applied over a first resist layer. The resist layers are exposed and developed to have a predetermined width W2. A third resist layer is applied. The third resist layer is also exposed and developed to have a predetermined width W3. An airbridge-forming material layer is applied to the layer stack structure consisting of the first, second, and third resist layers, forming an airbridge. The resist layers are removed, completing the manufacture of the airbridge, which has a stepped cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kosaka, Ko Kanaya, Yoshihiro Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 8415208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a peeling off method without giving damage to the peeled off layer, and aims at being capable of peeling off not only a peeled off layer having a small area but also a peeled off layer having a large area over the entire surface at excellent yield ratio. The metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided on the substrate, and further, the oxide layer 12 being contact with the foregoing metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided, and furthermore, if the lamination film formation or the heat processing of 500° C. or more in temperature is carried out, it can be easily and clearly separated in the layer or on the interface with the oxide layer 12 by the physical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Mayumi Mizukami, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8405176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a phosphorus paste for diffusion that is used in continuous printing of a phosphorus paste for diffusion on a substrate by screen printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion does not undergo a significant influence of ambient humidity on viscosity and has no possibility of thickening even after a large number of times of continuous printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion is coated on a substrate by screen printing for diffusion layer formation on the substrate. The phosphorus paste for diffusion includes a doping agent containing phosphorus as a dopant for the diffusion layer, a thixotropic agent containing an organic binder and a solid matter, and an organic solvent. The doping agent is an organic phosphorus compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintarou Tsukigata, Toshifumi Matsuoka, Kenji Yamamoto, Toyohiro Ueguri, Naoki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8394688
    Abstract: A repair layer forming process includes the following steps. Firstly, a substrate is provided, and a gate structure is formed on the substrate, wherein the gate structure at least includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate conductor layer. Then, a nitridation process is performed to form a nitrogen-containing superficial layer on a sidewall of the gate structure. Then, a thermal oxidation process is performed to convert the nitrogen-containing superficial layer into a repair layer. Moreover, a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor includes a substrate, a gate dielectric layer, a gate conductor layer and a repair layer. The gate dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. The gate conductor layer is formed on the gate dielectric layer. The repair layer is at least partially formed on a sidewall of the gate conductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Liang Lin, Ying-Wei Yen, Yu-Ren Wang
  • Patent number: 8389370
    Abstract: An enhanced shallow trench isolation method for fabricating radiation tolerant integrated circuit devices is disclosed. A layer of pad oxide is first deposited on a semiconductor substrate. A layer of pad nitride is then deposited on the pad oxide layer. A trench is defined within the semiconductor substrate by selectively etching the pad nitride layer, the pad oxide layer, and the semiconductor substrate. Boron ions are then implanted into both the bottom and along the sidewalls of the trench. Subsequently, a trench plug is formed within the trench by depositing an insulating material into the trench and by removing an excess portion of the insulating material. A p-well is implanted to a depth just below the depth of the bottom of the trench. This helps to keep the threshold voltage of the IC device below the trench at a high level, and thereby keep post-radiation leakage low. Then, an electrically neutral species is implanted into the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schilmass Co. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nadim Haddad, Frederick Brady, Jonathon Maimon
  • Patent number: 8377772
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods for fabricating dual supply voltage CMOS devices with a desired I/O transistor threshold voltage. The dual supply voltage CMOS devices can be fabricated in a semiconductor substrate that includes isolated regions for a logic NMOS transistor, a logic PMOS transistor, an I/O NMOS transistor, and an I/O PMOS transistor. Specifically, the fabrication can first set and/or adjust the threshold voltage (VT) of each of the I/O NMOS transistor and the I/O PMOS transistor to a desired level. Logic NMOS and logic PMOS transistors can then be formed with I/O NMOS and I/O PMOS transistors masked without affecting the set/adjusted VT of the I/O transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Weize Xiong, Greg Charles Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8372699
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer over the first semiconductor layer, and using only a first single mask patterning the first photoresist layer to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes using the first patterned photoresist layer etching the first semiconductor layer to form a select gate and forming a charge storage layer over the select gate and a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer over the charge storage layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second semiconductor layer, and using only a second single mask patterning the second photoresist layer to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes forming a control gate by anisotropically etching the second semiconductor layer and then subsequently isotropically etching the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Taeg Kang, Jane A. Yater
  • Patent number: 8372710
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure having U-shaped transistors includes source/drain regions at the tops of pairs of pillars defined by crossing trenches in the substrate. One pillar is connected to the other pillar in the pair by a ridge that extends above the surrounding trenches. The ridge and lower portions of the pillars define U-shaped channels on opposite sides of the U-shaped structure, facing a gate structure in the trenches on those opposite sides, forming a two sided surround transistor. Optionally, the space between the pillars of a pair is also filled with gate electrode material to define a three-sided surround gate transistor. One of the source/drain regions of each pair extending to a digit line and the other extending to a memory storage device, such as a capacitor. Methods of forming semiconductor structures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Patent number: 8367440
    Abstract: The present invention provides a peeling off method without giving damage to the peeled off layer, and aims at being capable of peeling off not only a peeled off layer having a small area but also a peeled off layer having a large area over the entire surface at excellent yield ratio. The metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided on the substrate, and further, the oxide layer 12 being contact with the foregoing metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided, and furthermore, if the lamination film formation or the heat processing of 500° C. or more in temperature is carried out, it can be easily and clearly separated in the layer or on the interface with the oxide layer 12 by the physical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Mayumi Mizukami, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8361876
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming first and second alignment marks by forming first and second alignment mark grooves on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate and filling the grooves with a material different from the semiconductor substrate; forming a first element on the first surface in alignment using the first alignment mark; bonding a support substrate to the first surface; reversing a bonded structure of the support substrate and the semiconductor substrate around a predetermined axis and thinning the semiconductor substrate from a second surface side of the semiconductor substrate at least until a thickness with which a position of the second alignment mark is detected by reflected light obtained by application of alignment light from the second surface side of the semiconductor substrate is obtained; and forming a second element on the second surface in alignment using the second alignment mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ishimaru, Kenji Takeo, Ryo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8361821
    Abstract: In one aspect of this invention, a pixel structure includes a scan line formed on a substrate and a data line formed over the substrate defining a pixel area, a switch formed inside the pixel area on the substrate, a shielding electrode having a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, and formed over the scan line, the data line and the switch, where the first portion is overlapped with the switch and the second portion is overlapped with the data line, and a pixel electrode having a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, and formed over the shielding electrode in the pixel area, where the first portion is overlapped with the first portion of the shielding electrode so as to define a storage capacitor therebetween and the second portion has no overlapping with the second portion of the shielding electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiang-Lin Lin, Ching-Huan Lin, Chih-Hung Shih, Wei-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 8350269
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure on bulk semiconductor starting wafer. Parallel semiconductor bodies are formed at the top surface of the wafer. An insulator layer is deposited and recessed. Exposed upper portions of the semiconductor bodies are used as seed material for growing epitaxial layers of semiconductor material laterally over the insulator layer, thereby creating a semiconductor layer. This semiconductor layer can be used to form one or more SOI devices (e.g., single-fin or multi-fin MUGFET, multiple series-connected single-fin, multi-fin MUGFETs). However, placement of SOI device components in and/or on portions of the semiconductor layer should be predetermined to avoid locations which might impact device performance (e.g., placement of any FET gate on a semiconductor fin formed from the semiconductor layer can be predetermined to avoid interfaces between joined epitaxial semiconductor material sections).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subramanian S. Iyer, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 8324099
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a landing plug in a semiconductor memory device, which in one embodiment includes forming a landing plug contact hole on a semiconductor substrate having an impurity region to expose the impurity region; forming a landing plug by filling the landing plug contact hole with a polysilicon layer, wherein the landing plug comprises a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, wherein the first region is disposed beneath the second region and doped with a first doping concentration, the second region is disposed above the first region and below the third region and is not doped, the third region is disposed above the second region and below the fourth region and is doped with a second doping concentration that is lower than the first doping concentration, and the fourth region is disposed above the third region and is doped with a third doping concentration that is higher than the first doping concentration; and annealing the resulting product formed with the landing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoung Bong Rouh
  • Patent number: 8313991
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a high-K metal gate MOS device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region, a gate oxide layer on the surface region, a sacrificial gate electrode on the gate oxide layer, and a covering layer on the sacrificial gate electrode, an inter-layer dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and the sacrificial gate electrode. The method also includes planarizing the inter-layer dielectric layer to expose a portion of the covering layer atop the sacrificial gate electrode, implanting nitrogen ions into the inter-layer dielectric layer until a depth of implantation is deeper than a thickness of the portion of the covering layer atop the sacrificial gate electrode and polishing the inter-layer dielectric layer to expose a surface of the sacrificial gate electrode, removing the sacrificial gate electrode, and depositing a metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Mingqi Li
  • Patent number: 8314007
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a heterostructure by bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, with the first wafer having a thermal expansion coefficient that is lower than the thermal expansion coefficient of the second wafer, and conducting at least one bond-strengthening annealing step. After the bonding step and before the bond-strengthening annealing step, at least one trimming step is conducted in which the first wafer is at least partially trimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Alexandre Vaufredaz
  • Patent number: 8288177
    Abstract: A method for detecting soft errors in an integrated circuit (IC) due to transient-particle emission, the IC comprising at least one chip and a substrate includes mixing an epoxy with a radioactive source to form a hot underfill (HUF); underfilling the chip with the HUF; sealing the underfilled chip; measuring a radioactivity of the HUF at an edge of the chip; measuring the radioactivity of the HUF on a test coupon; testing the IC for soft errors by determining a current radioactivity of the HUF at the time of testing based on the measured radioactivity; and after the expiration of a radioactive decay period of the radioactive source, using the IC in a computing device by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gaynes, Michael S. Gordon, Nancy C. LaBianca, Kenneth F. Latzko, Aparna Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 8283208
    Abstract: In a method of fabricating an integrated circuit device having a three-dimensional stacked structured, the step of fixing many chip-shaped semiconductor circuits to a support substrate or a circuit layer with a predetermined layout can be performed easily and efficiently with a desired accuracy. Temporary adhesion portions 12b of semiconductor chips 13 are temporarily adhered to corresponding temporary adhesion regions 72a of a carrier substrate 73a by way of water films 81. The carrier substrate 73a is then pressed toward a support substrate or a desired circuit layer, thereby contacting connecting portions 12 of the chips 13 on the carrier substrate 73a with corresponding predetermined positions on the support substrate or a circuit layer. Thereafter, by fixing the connecting portions 12 to the predetermined positions, the chips 13 are attached to the support substrate or the circuit layer with a desired layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Mitsumasa Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 8278136
    Abstract: A gate electrode, a gate insulation film and an inorganic oxide film are formed in this order on a substrate, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed to partially cover the inorganic oxide film. Then, oxidation treatment is applied to reduce the carrier density at a region of the inorganic oxide film which is not covered by the electrodes and is used as a channel region of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Kenichi Umeda, Kohei Higashi, Maki Nangu