Patents Examined by Roy K. Potter
  • Patent number: 7973394
    Abstract: A semiconductor including a selectively plated lead frame is disclosed. The lead frame contains a die pad and a plurality of lead fingers, where each lead finger is formed with a bonding pad on the center portion of the lead finger by selective plating. The surface area of the lead finger material is increased so the adhesion to molding material is improved. The edges of the lead finger tips are half etched to further increase the surface area of lead finger material. A method of manufacturing the lead frame is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Blondwich Limited
    Inventor: Tung Lok Li
  • Patent number: 7964921
    Abstract: To provide a MOSFET which is increased in substrate bias effect ? without increasing parasitic capacitance and junction leak current, the MOSFET includes: a gate electrode (104) formed on a semiconductor substrate (101) and an insulating film (103); a sidewall insulating film (106) covering the side surface of the gate electrode (104); and source/drain regions surrounded by the sidewall insulating film (106) and a shallow trench isolation (102) in a self-alignment manner, in which an impurity concentration of a first conductivity type which is the same type as a well-forming impurity has a profile becoming, in a lower direction of the gate electrode (104), lower in a channel formation region, then higher and again lower, and a high-concentration first conductivity type impurity region (110) is provided, in which the impurity concentration of the first conductivity type is formed to be low in the source/drain regions and to be high below the gate electrode (104) sandwiched between the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Miyamura
  • Patent number: 7960839
    Abstract: An interconnection line of a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same using a dual damascene process are disclosed. An example interconnection line of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first interconnection line formed on the substrate, an insulating layer pattern formed on the substrate to expose a portion of the first interconnection line, and a metal pad layer formed on the exposed portion of the first interconnection line. The example interconnection line also includes an intermediate insulating layer formed on the entire surface of the substrate and having a via hole and a trench exposing the metal pad layer, and a second interconnection formed in the via hole and the trench and electrically connected to the first interconnection line through the metal pad layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Se-Yeul Bae
  • Patent number: 7960827
    Abstract: A thermal via heat spreader package includes an electronic component having an active surface including a nonfunctional region. A package body encloses the electronic component, the package body comprising a principal surface. Thermal vias extend from the principal surface through at least a portion of the package body and towards the nonfunctional region. A heat spreader is thermally connected to the thermal vias. Heat generated by the electronic component is dissipated to the thermal vias and to the heat spreader. The density of the thermal vias is increased in a hotspot of the electronic component thus maximizing heat transfer from the hotspot. In this manner, optimal heat transfer from the electronic component is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: August J. Miller, Jr., Jeffrey A. Miks, Christopher M. Scanlan, Mahmoud Dreiza
  • Patent number: 7960841
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is manufactured by, first, providing a wafer designated with a saw street guide. The wafer is taped with a dicing tape. The wafer is singulated along the saw street guide into a plurality of dies having a plurality of gaps between each of the plurality of dies. The dicing tape is stretched to expand the plurality of gaps to a predetermined distance. An organic material is deposited into each of the plurality of gaps. A top surface of the organic material is substantially coplanar with a top surface of a first die of the plurality of dies. A plurality of via holes is formed in the organic material. Each of the plurality of via holes is patterned to each of a plurality of bond pad locations on the plurality of dies. A conductive material is deposited in each of the plurality of via holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC, Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Tai Do, Heap Hoe Kuan
  • Patent number: 7955899
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices may be fabricated while being protected from damage by electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, a shorting circuit is connected to elements of the microelectronic device, where the microelectronic device is part of a chip-on-glass system. In one aspect of this embodiment, a portion of the shorting circuit is in an area of a substrate where a microchip is bonded. In another embodiment, shorting links of the shorting circuit are comprised of a fusible material, where the fusible material may be disabled by an electrical current capable of fusing the shorting links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chen-Jean Chou
  • Patent number: 7956463
    Abstract: An interconnect structure having reduced electrical resistance and a method of forming such an interconnect structure are provided. The interconnect structure includes a dielectric material including at least one opening therein. The at least one opening is filled with an optional barrier diffusion layer, a grain growth promotion layer, an agglomerated plating seed layer, an optional second plating seed layer a conductive structure. The conductive structure which includes a metal-containing conductive material, typically Cu, has a bamboo microstructure and an average grain size of larger than 0.05 microns. In some embodiments, the conductive structure includes conductive grains that have a (111) crystal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Daniel C. Edelstein, Takeshi Nogami, Stephen M. Rossnagel
  • Patent number: 7956464
    Abstract: A sputtering target includes a tungsten (W)-nickel (Ni) alloy, wherein the nickel (Ni) is present in an amount of between about 0.01 weight % and about 1 weight %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taek-jung Kim, Hee-sook Park, Jong-min Back, Su-kyoung Kim, Yu-gyun Shin, Sun-ghil Lee
  • Patent number: 7951712
    Abstract: Provided are an interconnection of a semiconductor device which includes a capping layer and a method for forming the interconnection. The interconnection of the semiconductor device is a copper damascene interconnection where the capping layer is formed as a dual layer of a silicon nitride layer and silicon carbide layer on a copper layer processed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high etching selectivity and a low dielectric constant of the silicon carbide layer while providing superior leakage suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-woo Lee, Soo-geun Lee, Ki-chul Park, Won-sang Song
  • Patent number: 7952208
    Abstract: A substrate on which an IC element is fixed includes: a plurality of metal posts arranged in a plurality of columns in a lengthwise direction and in a plurality of rows in a crosswise direction when viewed in a plan view, the plurality of metal posts having first faces and second faces that face an opposite side to a side that the first faces face; first marks each of the first marks being disposed on extending lines of the plurality of columns; and second marks, each of the second marks being disposed on extending lines of the plurality of rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fujita, Masanobu Shouji
  • Patent number: 7944029
    Abstract: Mobile ion diffusion causes a shift in the threshold voltage of non-volatile storage elements in a memory chip, such as during an assembly process of the memory chip. To reduce or avoid such shifts, a coating can be applied to a printed circuit board substrate or a leader frame to which the memory chip is surface mounted. An acrylic resin coating having a thickness of about 10 ?m may be used. A memory chip is attached to the coating using an adhesive film. Stacked chips may be used as well. Another approach provides metal barrier traces over copper traces of the printed circuit board, within a solder mask layer. The metal barrier traces are fabricated in the same pattern as the copper traces but are wider so that they at least partially envelop and surround the copper traces. Corresponding apparatuses and fabrication processes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yang, Qing Li, Albert Meeks, Kim Le
  • Patent number: 7944028
    Abstract: Two groups of interconnection devices and methods are described. Both provide columns between electronic packages and boards or between chips and substrates or the like. In the first group, called Thermal Flex Contact Carrier (TFCC), the column elements are carved out of a flat laminated structure and then formed to suit. In the second group, the carrier, which carries the connecting elements, is made out of a soluble or removable material, which acts at the same time, as a solder mask, to prevent the solder from wicking along the stem of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventors: Don Saunders, Gabe Cherian
  • Patent number: 7943930
    Abstract: In thin film transistors (TFTs) having an active layer of crystalline silicon adapted for mass production, a catalytic element is introduced into doped regions of an amorphous silicon film by ion implantation or other means. This film is crystallized at a temperature below the strain point of the glass substrate. Further, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are formed. Impurities are introduced by a self-aligning process. Then, the laminate is annealed below the strain point of the substrate to activate the dopant impurities. On the other hand, Neckel or other element is also used as a catalytic element for promoting crystallization of an amorphous silicon film. First, this catalytic element is applied in contact with the surface of the amorphous silicon film. The film is heated at 450 to 650° C. to create crystal nuclei. The film is further heated at a higher temperature to grow the crystal grains. In this way, a crystalline silicon film having improved crystallinity is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Toru Takayama, Yasuhiko Takemura, Akiharu Miyanaga, Hisashi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7939925
    Abstract: A semiconductor package having a molding unit that seals bonding wires connected to electrode pads of a semiconductor chip is provided with through electrode units comprising bonding wires embedded therein and penetrating the molding unit. A leading end of the respective through electrode units is exposed from an upper surface of the molding unit and a lower surface of the molding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Yuki Koide, Kouichi Meguro
  • Patent number: 7939927
    Abstract: The semiconductor memory apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wiring substrate arranged with a device mounting part and connection pads aligned along one exterior side of the wiring substrate, a plurality of semiconductor memory devices including electrode pads which are arranged along one external side of the wiring substrate, a semiconductor memory device group in which the plurality of semiconductor memory devices are stacked on the device mounting part of the wiring substrate so that pad arrangement sides all face in the same direction, and a controller device including the electrode pads arranged along at least one external side of the wiring substrate, wherein the electrode pads of the plurality of semiconductor memory devices and the electrode pads of the controller device are arranged parallel to an arrangement position of the connection pads of the wiring substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takashi Okada
  • Patent number: 7939928
    Abstract: A semiconductor package has a substrate with a plurality of contact pads. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate. First bond wires are formed between each of the center-row contact pads of the first semiconductor die and the substrate contact pads. The first bond wires include an electrically insulative coating formed over the shaft that covers a portion of a surface of a bumped end of the first bond wires. An epoxy material is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the epoxy material. Second bond wires are formed between each of the center-row contact pads of the second semiconductor die and the substrate contact pads. The second bond wires include an electrically insulative coating formed over the shaft of the second bond wires that covers a portion of a surface of a bumped end of the second bond wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: James Zaccardi
  • Patent number: 7939944
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a redistribution layer, and methods of forming same, are disclosed. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer, a tape assembly is applied onto a surface of the wafer, in contact with the surfaces of each semiconductor die on the wafer. The tape assembly includes a backgrind tape as a base layer, and a film assembly adhered to the backgrind tape. The film assembly in turn includes an adhesive film on which is deposited a thin layer of conductive material. The redistribution layer pattern is traced into the tape assembly, using for example a laser. Thereafter, the unheated portions of the tape assembly may be removed, leaving the heated redistribution layer pattern on each semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ko Liao, Chin-Tien Chiu, Jack Chang Chien, Cheeman Yu, Hem Takiar
  • Patent number: 7936060
    Abstract: An electronic device assembly is provided which includes a substrate, an interposer and an integrated circuit chip. The substrate is fabricated of a first material having a first thermal expansivity, and the interposer and integrated circuit chip are fabricated of a second material having a second thermal expansivity. The second thermal expansivity is different from the first thermal expansivity so that there is a coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the substrate and the interposer or chip. The interposer is coupled to the substrate via a first plurality of electrical contacts and an underfill adhesive at least partially surrounding the electrical contacts to bond the interposer to the substrate and thereby reduce strain on the first plurality of electrical contacts. The integrated circuit chip is coupled to the interposer via a second plurality of electrical contacts only, without use of an adhesive surrounding the second plurality of electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Stephen L. Buchwalter, George A. Katopis, John U. Knickerbocker, Stelios G. Tsapepas, Bucknell C. Webb
  • Patent number: 7936050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may be fabricated according to a method that reduces stain difference of a passivation layer in the semiconductor device. The method may include forming top wiring patterns in a substrate, depositing a primary undoped silicate glass (USG) layer on the top wiring patterns to fill a gap between the top wiring patterns, and coating a SOG layer on the substrate on which the primary USG layer has been deposited. Next, the SOG layer on the surface of the substrate may be removed until the primary USG layer is exposed, and a secondary USG layer may be deposited on the substrate on which the primary USG layer has been exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Wook Shin
  • Patent number: 7932566
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including type-1 cells and a type-2 cell is presented. The type-1 cells have poly lines with a default poly pitch. The type-2 cell has poly lines with a non-default poly pitch. A first boundary region has at least one isolation area that lies between the type-1 cells and the type-2 cell in the X-direction. The first boundary region includes at least one merged dummy poly line, wherein the at least one merged dummy poly line has a first portion that complies with the default poly pitch of the type-1 cells and a second portion that complies with the non-default poly pitch of the type-2 cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Chin Hou, Li-Chun Tien, Lee-Chung Lu, Ping Chung Li, Ta-Pen Guo