Patents by Inventor Robert L. Bruce

Robert L. Bruce 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).

  • Publication number: 20180218908
    Abstract: A gas is ionized into a plasma. A compound of a dopant is mixed into the plasma, forming a mixed plasma. Using a semiconductor device fabrication system, a layer of III-V material is exposed to the mixed plasma to dope the layer with the dopant up to a depth in the layer, forming a shallow doped portion of the layer. The depth of the dopant is controlled by a second layer of the dopant formed at the shallow doped portion of the layer. The second layer is exposed to a solution, where the solution is prepared to erode the dopant in the second layer at a first rate. After an elapsed period, the solution is removed from the second layer, wherein the elapsed period is insufficient to erode a total depth of the layer and the shallow doped portion by more than a tolerance erosion amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Kevin K. Chan, Sebastian U. Engelmann, Dario L. Goldfarb, Marinus Hopstaken, Mahmoud Khojasteh, George G. Totir, Hongwen Yan, Masahiro Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20180218909
    Abstract: A gas is ionized into a plasma. A compound of a dopant is mixed into the plasma, forming a mixed plasma. Using a semiconductor device fabrication system, a layer of III-V material is exposed to the mixed plasma to dope the layer with the dopant up to a depth in the layer, forming a shallow doped portion of the layer. The depth of the dopant is controlled by a second layer of the dopant formed at the shallow doped portion of the layer. The second layer is exposed to a solution, where the solution is prepared to erode the dopant in the second layer at a first rate. After an elapsed period, the solution is removed from the second layer, wherein the elapsed period is insufficient to erode a total depth of the layer and the shallow doped portion by more than a tolerance erosion amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Kevin K. Chan, Sebastian U. Engelmann, Dario L. Goldfarb, Marinus Hopstaken, Mahmoud Khojasteh, George G. Totir, Hongwen Yan, Masahiro Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20180204759
    Abstract: Integrated circuits including at least two electrically conductive interconnect lines and methods of manufacturing generally include a surface of the integrated circuit. At least two electrically conductive interconnect lines are separated by a space of less than 90 nm and are formed on the surface. Each of the at least two interconnect lines includes a metal cap, a copper conductor having an average grain size greater than a line width of the interconnect. A liner layer is provided, wherein the liner layer and the metal cap encapsulate the copper conductor. A dielectric layer overlaying the at least two electrically conductive interconnect lines and extending along sidewalls thereof is provided, wherein the dielectric layer is configured to provide an airgap between the at least two interconnect lines at the spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: ROBERT L. BRUCE, ALFRED GRILL, ERIC A. JOSEPH, TEDDIE P. MAGBITANG, HIROYUKI MIYAZOE, DEBORAH A. NEUMAYER
  • Publication number: 20180205017
    Abstract: A phase change memory array and method for fabricating the same. The phase change memory array includes a plurality of bottom electrodes, top electrodes, and memory pillars. Each of the memory pillars includes phase change material surrounded by a dielectric casing. The phase change material is positioned between, and in series circuit with, a respective bottom electrode from the bottom electrodes and a respective top electrode from the top electrodes. A continuous layer of selector material is positioned between the memory pillars and the plurality of bottom electrodes. The selector material is configured to conduct electricity only when a voltage across the selector material exceeds a voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Fabio Carta, Wanki Kim, Chung H. Lam
  • Patent number: 9977002
    Abstract: A metal structure including a first metal end region, a second metal end region, and an intermediate region between the first metal end region and the second metal end region, wherein the intermediate region comprises a metal nanostructure having a plurality of pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Yann Astier, Jingwei Bai, Robert L. Bruce, Aaron D. Franklin, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180122649
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for hydrofluorocarbon gas-assisted plasma etch for interconnect fabrication includes providing a layer of a dielectric material and etching a trench in the layer of the dielectric material, by applying a mixture of an aggressive dielectric etch gas and a polymerizing etch gas to the layer of the dielectric material. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor devices and a plurality of conductive lines connecting the plurality of semiconductor devices. A pitch of the plurality of conductive lines is approximately twenty-eight nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Eric A. Joseph, Joe Lee, Takefumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9934984
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for hydrofluorocarbon gas-assisted plasma etch for interconnect fabrication includes providing a layer of a dielectric material and etching a trench in the layer of the dielectric material, by applying a mixture of an aggressive dielectric etch gas and a polymerizing etch gas to the layer of the dielectric material. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor devices and a plurality of conductive lines connecting the plurality of semiconductor devices. A pitch of the plurality of conductive lines is approximately twenty-eight nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Eric A. Joseph, Joe Lee, Takefumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9868119
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20170373149
    Abstract: A method for forming an overlap transistor includes forming a gate structure over a III-V material, wet cleaning the III-V material on side regions adjacent to the gate structure and plasma cleaning the III-V material on the side regions adjacent to the gate structure. The III-V material is plasma doped on the side regions adjacent to the gate structure to form plasma doped extension regions that partially extend below the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Kevin K. Chan, Sebastian U. Engelmann, Renee T. Mo, Christopher Scerbo, Hongwen Yan, Jeng-Bang Yau
  • Publication number: 20170365511
    Abstract: An article may include a structure including a patterned metal on a surface of a substrate, the patterned metal including metal features separated by gaps of an average dimension of less than about 1000 nm. A porous low dielectric constant material having a dielectric value of less than about 2.7 substantially occupies all gaps. An interface between the metal features and the porous low dielectric constant material may include less than about 0.1% by volume of voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Geraud J. Dubois, Gregory Fritz, Teddie P. Magbitang, Hiroyuki Miyazoe, Willi Volksen
  • Publication number: 20170350855
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of microelectronics, and more particularly to a structure and method of forming a biosensor having a nucleotide attracting surface formed to reduce false detection of nucleotides and enabling electrical detection of nucleotides. The biosensor may include an analyte-affinity layer on an upper surface of a substrate. A conductive layer may extend a length of the substrate below and in contact with the analyte-affinity layer. The conductive layer may be electrically connected to one or more transistors. The analyte-affinity layer may have dimensions tailored for a target analyte. A distance between a first analyte-affinity layer and a second analyte-affinity layer may range from approximately 50% of a length of a target analyte to approximately 300% of a length of a target analyte. The analyte-affinity layer may have an upper surface with a diameter ranging from approximately 3 nm to approximately 20 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Payel Das, HsinYu Tsai, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20170349941
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for identifying a surface area size of a biosensing structure, for use in a biosensor device, based on a plurality of nucleotides structures under test. A first set of properties are determined comprising: reaction coordinate values, and potential of mean force (PMF) values, for the plurality of nucleotide structures based on a first set of testing conditions comprising a first surface area material, a first surface area pattern, and a first surface area size. A second set of properties is determined comprising reaction coordinate values, and PMF values, for the plurality of nucleotide structures based on a second set of testing conditions comprising a second surface area material, a second surface area pattern, a second surface area size, or a combination thereof and a target population of nucleotide structures among the plurality of nucleotide structures are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Payel Das, HsinYu Tsai, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20170350820
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of microelectronics, and more particularly to a structure and method of forming a biosensor having a nucleotide attracting surface tailored to reduce false detection of nucleotides and enabling optical detection of nucleotides. The biosensor may include an analyte-affinity layer on an upper surface of a dielectric layer. The analyte-affinity layer may include a plurality of cylindrical gold portions with dimensions tailored for a target analyte. A distance between adjacent portions of the plurality of portions may range from approximately 50% of a length of a target analyte to approximately 300% of a length of a target analyte. The plurality of portions of the analyte-affinity layer have an upper surface with a diameter ranging from approximately 3 nm to approximately 20 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Payel Das, HsinYu Tsai, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20170287717
    Abstract: Various methods for fabricating a semiconductor device by selective in-situ cleaning of a target surface of a semiconductor substrate by selective dry surface atomic layer etching of the target surface film, selectively removing one or more top layers of atoms from the target surface film of the semiconductor substrate. The selective in-situ cleaning of a target surface can be followed by deposition on the cleaned target surface such as to form a cap layer, a conductive contact layer, or a gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. BRUCE, Hiroyuki MIYAZOE, John ROZEN
  • Patent number: 9773698
    Abstract: An article may include a structure including a patterned metal on a surface of a substrate, the patterned metal including metal features separated by gaps of an average dimension of less than about 1000 nm. A porous low dielectric constant material having a dielectric value of less than about 2.7 substantially occupies all gaps. An interface between the metal features and the porous low dielectric constant material may include less than about 0.1% by volume of voids. A method may include depositing a filling material including a silicon-based resin having a molecular weight of less than about 30,000 Da and a porogen having a molecular weight greater than about 400 Da onto a structure comprising a patterned metal. The deposited filling material may be subjected to a first thermal treatment to substantially fill all gaps, and subjected to a second thermal treatment and a UV radiation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Geraud J. Dubois, Gregory Fritz, Teddie P. Magbitang, Hiroyuki Miyazoe, Willi Volksen
  • Publication number: 20170205329
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20170179023
    Abstract: In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a layer of a first conductive metal, via a subtractive etch process, to form a plurality of lines for connecting semiconductor devices on the integrated circuit. A large feature area is formed outside of the plurality of conductive lines via a metal fill process using a second conductive metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Gregory M. Fritz, Eric A. Joseph, Hiroyuki Miyazoe
  • Publication number: 20170154815
    Abstract: In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a layer of a first conductive metal, via a subtractive etch process, to form a plurality of lines for connecting semiconductor devices on the integrated circuit. A large feature area is formed outside of the plurality of conductive lines via a metal fill process using a second conductive metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Gregory M. Fritz, Eric A. Joseph, Hiroyuki Miyazoe
  • Patent number: 9653395
    Abstract: In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a layer of a first conductive metal, via a subtractive etch process, to form a plurality of lines for connecting semiconductor devices on the integrated circuit. A large feature area is formed outside of the plurality of conductive lines via a metal fill process using a second conductive metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Gregory M. Fritz, Eric A. Joseph, Hiroyuki Miyazoe
  • Patent number: 9646881
    Abstract: In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a layer of a first conductive metal, via a subtractive etch process, to form a plurality of lines for connecting semiconductor devices on the integrated circuit. A large feature area is formed outside of the plurality of conductive lines via a metal fill process using a second conductive metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Bruce, Gregory M. Fritz, Eric A. Joseph, Hiroyuki Miyazoe