Patents by Inventor Angelo Pinto

Angelo Pinto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6958523
    Abstract: An integrated circuit programmable structure (60) is formed for use a trim resistor and/or a programmable fuse. The programmable structure comprises placing heating elements (70) in close proximity to the programmable structure (60) to heat the programmable structure (60) during programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Angelo Pinto, Gregory E. Howard, Philipp Steinmann, Scott Balster
  • Patent number: 6927428
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (30) in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is disclosed. The transistor collector (28), heterojunction base region (20), and intrinsic emitter region (25) are formed in the thin film silicon layer (6) overlying the buried insulator layer (4). A base electrode (10) is formed of polysilicon, and has a polysilicon filament (10f) that extends over the edge of an insulator layer (8) to contact the silicon layer (6). After formation of insulator filaments (12) along the edges of the base electrode (10) and insulator layer (8), the thin film silicon layer (6) is etched through, exposing an edge. An angled ion implantation then implants the heterojunction species, for example germanium and carbon, into the exposed edge of the thin film silicon layer (6), which after anneal forms the heterojunction base region (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Angelo Pinto, Gregory E. Howard
  • Patent number: 6905932
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (100) and a method for constructing a semiconductor device (100) are disclosed. A trench isolation structure (112) and an active region (110) are formed proximate an outer surface of a semiconductor layer (108). An epitaxial layer (111) is deposited outwardly from the trench isolation structure (112). A first insulator layer (116) and a second insulator layer (118) are grown proximate to the epitaxial layer (111). A gate stack (123) that includes portions of the first insulator layer (116 and the second insulator layer (118) is formed outwardly from the epitaxial layer (111). The gate stack (123) also includes a gate (122) with a narrow region (130) and a wide region (132) formed proximate the second insulator layer (118. The epitaxial layer (111) is heated to a temperature sufficient to allow for the epitaxial layer (111) to form a source/drain implant region (126) in the active region (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Jeffrey Babcock, Angelo Pinto
  • Patent number: 6894366
    Abstract: An improved BJT is described that maximizes both Bvceo and Ft/Fmax for optimum performance. Scattering centers are introduced in the collector region (80) of the BJT to improve Bvceo. The inclusion of the scattering centers allows the width of the collector region WCD (90) to be reduced leading to an improvement in Ft/Fmax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Jeffrey Babcock, Angelo Pinto, Scott Balster
  • Publication number: 20050098093
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an epitaxial silicon-germanium layer for an integrated semiconductor device comprises the step of depositing an arsenic in-situ doped silicon-germanium layer, wherein arsenic and germanium are introduced subsequently into different regions of said silicon-germanium layer during deposition of said silicon-germanium layer. By separating arsenic from germanium any interaction between arsenic and germanium is avoided during deposition thereby allowing fabricating silicon-germanium layers with reproducible doping profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey Babcock, Scott Balster, Alfred Haeusler, Angelo Pinto, Manfred Schiekofer, Philipp Steinmann, Badih El-Kareh
  • Patent number: 6887765
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method used in manufacturing an intermediate structure in a bipolar junction transistor includes implanting a base dopant in a semiconductor substrate to form a base, forming a dielectric layer outwardly from the semiconductor substrate, etching a portion of the dielectric layer to form an emitter region, forming an emitter polysilicon layer on the semiconductor substrate, and after forming the emitter polysilicon layer, annealing the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Angelo Pinto
  • Publication number: 20050037588
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a buried layer of a semiconductor substrate. An active region is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. A first isolation structure is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. A second isolation structure is formed adjacent at least a portion of the active region. A base layer is formed adjacent at least a portion of the active region. A dielectric layer is formed adjacent at least a portion of the base layer, and then at least part of the dielectric layer is removed at an emitter contact location and at a sinker contact location. An emitter structure is formed at the emitter contact location. Forming the emitter structure includes etching the semiconductor device at the sinker contact location to form a sinker contact region. The sinker contact region has a first depth. The method may also include forming a gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Angelo Pinto, Jeffrey Babcock, Michael Schober, Scott Balster, Christoph Dirnecker
  • Patent number: 6838348
    Abstract: High-voltage bipolar transistors (30, 60) in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integrated circuits are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, an collector region (28) is formed in epitaxial silicon (24, 25) disposed over a buried insulator layer (22). A base region (32) and emitter (36) are disposed over the collector region (28). Buried collector region (31) are disposed in the epitaxial silicon (24) away from the base region (32). The transistor may be arranged in a rectangular fashion, as conventional, or alternatively by forming an annular buried collector region (31). According to another disclosed embodiment, a high voltage transistor (60) includes a central isolation structure (62), so that the base region (65) and emitter region (66) are ring-shaped to provide improved performance. A process for fabricating the high voltage transistor (30, 60) simultaneously with a high performance transistor (40) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Gregory E. Howard, Angelo Pinto, Phillipp Steinmann, Scott G. Balster
  • Publication number: 20040207046
    Abstract: High-voltage bipolar transistors (30, 60) in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integrated circuits are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, an collector region (28) is formed in epitaxial silicon (24, 25) disposed over a buried insulator layer (22). A base region (32) and emitter (36) are disposed over the collector region (28). Buried collector region (31) are disposed in the epitaxial silicon (24) away from the base region (32). The transistor may be arranged in a rectangular fashion, as conventional, or alternatively by forming an annular buried collector region (31). According to another disclosed embodiment, a high voltage transistor (60) includes a central isolation structure (62), so that the base region (65) and emitter region (66) are ring-shaped to provide improved performance. A process for fabricating the high voltage transistor (30, 60) simultaneously with a high performance transistor (40) is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Gregory E. Howard, Angelo Pinto, Phillipp Steinmann, Scott G. Balster
  • Publication number: 20040209433
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a buried layer of a semiconductor substrate. An active region is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. At least part of the active region is removed to form a shallow trench opening. A dielectric layer is formed proximate the active region at least partially within the shallow trench opening. At least part of the dielectric layer is removed to form a collector contact region. A collector contact may be formed at the collector contact region. The collector contact may be operable to electrically contact the buried layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Christoph Dirnecker, Angelo Pinto, Scott G. Balster, Michael Schober, Alfred Haeusler
  • Patent number: 6806159
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a buried layer of a semiconductor substrate. An active region is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. A first isolation structure is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. A second isolation structure is formed adjacent at least a portion of the active region. A base layer is formed adjacent at least a portion of the active region. A dielectric layer is formed adjacent at least a portion of the base layer, and then at least part of the dielectric layer is removed at an emitter contact location and at a sinker contact location. An emitter structure is formed at the emitter contact location. Forming the emitter structure includes etching the semiconductor device at the sinker contact location to form a sinker contact region. The sinker contact region has a first depth. The method may also include forming a gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Angelo Pinto, Jeffrey A. Babcock, Michael Schober, Scott G. Balster, Christoph Dirnecker
  • Publication number: 20040188802
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (30) in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is disclosed. The transistor collector (28), heterojunction base region (20), and intrinsic emitter region (25) are formed in the thin film silicon layer (6) overlying the buried insulator layer (4). A base electrode (10) is formed of polysilicon, and has a polysilicon filament (10f) that extends over the edge of an insulator layer (8) to contact the silicon layer (6). After formation of insulator filaments (12) along the edges of the base electrode (10) and insulator layer (8), the thin film silicon layer (6) is etched through, exposing an edge. An angled ion implantation then implants the heterojunction species, for example germanium and carbon, into the exposed edge of the thin film silicon layer (6), which after anneal forms the heterojunction base region (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Angelo Pinto, Gregory E. Howard
  • Patent number: 6794237
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (30) in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is disclosed. The transistor collector (28), heterojunction base region (20), and intrinsic emitter region (25) are formed in the thin film silicon layer (6) overlying the buried insulator layer (4). A base electrode (10) is formed of polysilicon, and has a polysilicon filament (10f) that extends over the edge of an insulator layer (8) to contact the silicon layer (6). After formation of insulator filaments (12) along the edges of the base electrode (10) and insulator layer (8), the thin film silicon layer (6) is etched through, exposing an edge. An angled ion implantation then implants the heterojunction species, for example germanium and carbon, into the exposed edge of the thin film silicon layer (6), which after anneal forms the heterojunction base region (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Angelo Pinto, Gregory E. Howard
  • Patent number: 6774455
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a buried layer of a semiconductor substrate. An active region is formed adjacent at least a portion of the buried layer. At least part of the active region is removed to form a shallow trench opening. A dielectric layer is formed proximate the active region at least partially within the shallow trench opening. At least part of the dielectric layer is removed to form a collector contact region. A collector contact may be formed at the collector contact region. The collector contact may be operable to electrically contact the buried layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Christoph Dirnecker, Angelo Pinto, Scott G. Balster, Michael Schober, Alfred Haeusler
  • Patent number: 6770952
    Abstract: High-voltage bipolar transistors (30, 60) in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integrated circuits are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, an collector region (28) is formed in epitaxial silicon (24, 25) disposed over a buried insulator layer (22). A base region (32) and emitter (36) are disposed over the collector region (28). Buried collector region (31) are disposed in the epitaxial silicon (24) away from the base region (32). The transistor may be arranged in a rectangular fashion, as conventional, or alternatively by forming an annular buried collector region (31). According to another disclosed embodiment, a high voltage transistor (60) includes a central isolation structure (62), so that the base region (65) and emitter region (66) are ring-shaped to provide improved performance. A process for fabricating the high voltage transistor (30, 60) simultaneously with a high performance transistor (40) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Gregory E Howard, Angelo Pinto, Phillipp Steinmann, Scott G. Balster
  • Publication number: 20040106270
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (100) and a method for constructing a semiconductor device (100) are disclosed. A trench isolation structure (112) and an active region (110) are formed proximate an outer surface of a semiconductor layer (108). An epitaxial layer (111) is deposited outwardly from the trench isolation structure (112). A first insulator layer (116) and a second insulator layer (118) are grown proximate to the epitaxial layer (111). A gate stack (123) that includes portions of the first insulator layer (116 and the second insulator layer (118) is formed outwardly from the epitaxial layer (111). The gate stack (123) also includes a gate (122) with a narrow region (130) and a wide region (132) formed proximate the second insulator layer (118. The epitaxial layer (111) is heated to a temperature sufficient to allow for the epitaxial layer (111) to form a source/drain implant region (126) in the active region (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Jeffrey Babcock, Angelo Pinto
  • Patent number: 6734073
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a bipolar junction transistor includes implanting a first base dopant in a semiconductor substrate, forming an epitaxial layer outwardly from the semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric layer outwardly from the epitaxial layer. The method also includes etching a first portion of the dielectric layer to form an emitter region, forming an emitter polysilicon layer on the semiconductor substrate, and implanting an emitter dopant in the emitter polysilicon layer. The method further includes etching a portion of the emitter polysilicon layer and a second portion of the dielectric layer to form an emitter polysilicon region having sidewalls, forming nitride regions on the sidewalls, and implanting a second base dopant in the semiconductor substrate. After implanting the second base dopant, an annealing process is performed for the semiconductor substrate to form an emitter and a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Angelo Pinto
  • Patent number: 6680504
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (100) and a method for constructing a semiconductor device (100) are disclosed. A trench isolation structure (112) and an active region (110) are formed proximate an outer surface of a semiconductor layer (108). An epitaxial layer (111) is deposited outwardly from the trench isolation structure (112). A first insulator layer (116) and a second insulator layer (118) are grown proximate to the epitaxial layer (111). A gate stack (123) that includes portions of the first insulator layer (116 and the second insulator layer (118) is formed outwardly from the epitaxial layer (111). The gate stack (123) also includes a gate (122) with a narrow region (130) and a wide region (132) formed proximate the second insulator layer (118. The epitaxial layer (111) is heated to a temperature sufficient to allow for the epitaxial layer (111) to form a source/drain implant region (126) in the active region (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory E. Howard, Jeffrey Babcock, Angelo Pinto
  • Publication number: 20040004270
    Abstract: A vertical structure high carrier mobility transistor on a substrate of crystalline silicon doped with impurities of the N type, the transistor having a collector region located at a lower portion of the substrate. The transistor includes a heterostructure alloy region positioned in the substrate and comprised of a heterostructure alloy of silicon and germanium. A base region is positioned in the substrate above the first conducting region and doped with P-type impurities. A first dielectric layer is positioned on, and directly contacts, the heterostructure alloy region, and defines a first window directly above the heterostructure alloy region. The transistor also includes an emitter positioned in the heterostructure alloy region and between the first window and the base region. The emitter is comprised of the heterostructure alloy doped with impurities of the first type and directly contacts the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Lombardo, Maria Concetta Nicotra, Angelo Pinto
  • Patent number: 6667226
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for constructing a semiconductor device is disclosed. A deep trench isolation structure (108) is formed proximate a surface of a semiconductor substrate (106). A deep trench plug (122) layer is deposited within the deep trench isolation structure (108). A shallow trench isolation structure (130) is formed where the deep trench isolation structure (108) meets the surface of the semiconductor substrate (106). A shallow trench plug layer (133) is deposited within the shallow trench isolation structure (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Angelo Pinto, Ricardo A. Romani, Gregory E. Howard