Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Gates

Stephen M. Gates 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: 9472710
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a coupler system having an interposer configured to couple optical signals. The interposer includes at least one optoelectronic component formed on a glass substrate. The interposer further includes at least one waveguide formed on the glass substrate and configured to couple the optical signals to or from the at least one optoelectronic component, wherein the at least one waveguide comprises a waveguide material having grain diameters greater than about one micron and an optical loss less than about one decibel per centimeter of optical propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Joyeeta Nag, Jason S. Orcutt, Jean-Olivier Plouchart, Spyridon Skordas
  • Patent number: 9425298
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor comprises a semiconductor layer disposed on an insulating material, at least a portion of the semiconductor layer forming a base region. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor emitter laterally disposed on a first side of the base region, where in the transistor emitter is a first doping type and has a first width, and wherein the first width is a lithographic feature size. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor collector laterally disposed on a second side of the base region, wherein the transistor collector is the first doping type and the first width. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a central base contact laterally disposed on the base region between the transistor emitter and the transistor collector, wherein the central base contact is a second doping type and has a second width, and wherein the second width is a sub-lithographic feature size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fabio Carta, Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Tak H. Ning
  • Publication number: 20160218200
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor comprises a semiconductor layer disposed on an insulating material, at least a portion of the semiconductor layer forming a base region. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor emitter laterally disposed on a first side of the base region, where in the transistor emitter is a first doping type and has a first width, and wherein the first width is a lithographic feature size. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor collector laterally disposed on a second side of the base region, wherein the transistor collector is the first doping type and the first width. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a central base contact laterally disposed on the base region between the transistor emitter and the transistor collector, wherein the central base contact is a second doping type and has a second width, and wherein the second width is a sub-lithographic feature size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Fabio Carta, Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Tak H. Ning
  • Patent number: 9349687
    Abstract: After forming a manganese (Mn)-containing cap layer over interconnects embedded in an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer, a lithographic stack is formed over the Mn-containing cap layer. The lithographic stack is subsequently patterned to expose a portion of the Mn-containing cap layer that overlies a subset of the interconnects between which the air gaps are to be formed. A portion of the ILD layer located between the subset of the interconnects is damaged through the exposed portion of the Mn-containing cap layer. The damaged portion of the ILD layer is subsequently removed to form openings between the subset of the interconnects. The Mn-containing cap layer acts as a temporary protection layer preventing erosion of the underlying interconnects during the air gap formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Elbert E. Huang, Joe Lee, Son V. Nguyen, Brown C. Peethala, Christopher J. Penny, Deepika Priyadarshini
  • Publication number: 20160133575
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate including one or more conductors is provided. A first layer and a second layer are deposited on the top surface of the conductors. A dielectric cap layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate and air gaps are etched into the dielectric layer. The result is a bilayer cap air gap structure with effective electrical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Elbert E. Huang, Dimitri R. Kioussis, Christopher J. Penny, Deepika Priyadarshini
  • Publication number: 20160133508
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate including one or more conductors is provided. A first layer and a second layer are deposited on the top surface of the conductors. A dielectric cap layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate and air gaps are etched into the dielectric layer. The result is a bilayer cap air gap structure with effective electrical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Elbert E. Huang, Dimitri R. Kioussis, Christopher J. Penny, Deepika Priyadarshini
  • Patent number: 9318415
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor device layers monolithically integrated on the substrate, and a metal wiring layer with vias interconnecting the plurality of semiconductor device layers. The semiconductor device layers are devoid of bonding or joining interface with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M Gates, Daniel C. Edelstein, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Patent number: 9305836
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate including one or more conductors is provided. A first layer and a second layer are deposited on the top surface of the conductors. A dielectric cap layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate and air gaps are etched into the dielectric layer. The result is a bilayer cap air gap structure with effective electrical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Elbert E. Huang, Dimitri R. Kioussis, Christopher J. Penny, Deepika Priyadarshini
  • Patent number: 9275936
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a monolithic integrated circuit using a single substrate, the method including forming a first semiconductor layer from a substrate, fabricating semiconductor devices on the substrate, fabricating at least one metal wiring layer on the semiconductor devices, forming at least one dielectric layer in integral contact with the at least one metal wiring layer, forming contact openings through the at least one dielectric layer to expose regions of the at least one metal wiring layer, integrally forming, from the substrate, a second semiconductor layer on the dielectric layer, and in contact with the at least one metal wiring layer through the contact openings, and forming a plurality of non-linear semiconductor devices in said second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Daniel C. Edelstein, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Patent number: 9219037
    Abstract: A porous SiCOH dielectric film in which the stress change caused by increased tetrahedral strain is minimized by post treatment in unsaturated Hydrocarbon ambient. The p-SiCOH dielectric film has more —(CHx) and less Si—O—H and Si—H bonding moieties. Moreover, a stable pSiOCH dielectric film is provided in which the amount of Si—OH (silanol) and Si—H groups at least within the pores has been reduced by about 90% or less by the post treatment. A p-SiCOH dielectric film is produced that is flexible since the pores include stabilized crosslinking —(CHx)— chains wherein x is 1, 2 or 3 therein. The dielectric film is produced utilizing an annealing step subsequent deposition that includes a gaseous ambient that includes at least one C—C double bond and/or at least one C—C triple bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Son Nguyen, Satyanarayana V. Nitta, Thomas M. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20150279913
    Abstract: A method of forming an active matrix pixel that includes forming a driver device including contact regions deposited using a low temperature deposition process on a first portion of an insulating substrate. An electrode of an organic light emitting diode is formed on a second portion of the insulating substrate. The electrode is in electrical communication to receive an output from the driver device. At least one passivation layer is formed over the driver device. A switching device comprising at least one amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the at least one passivation layer over the driver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9111761
    Abstract: An in-situ process is described incorporating plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition comprising flowing at least one of a Si, Si+C, B, Si+B, Si?B+C, and B+C containing precursor, and a N containing precursors at first times and removing the N precursor at second times and starting the flow of an oxidant gas and a porogen gas into the chamber. A dielectric layer is described comprising a network having inorganic random three dimensional covalent bonding throughout the network which contains at least one SiCN, SiCNH, SiN, SiNH, BN, BNH, CBN, CBNH, BSiN, BSiNH, SiCBN and SiCBNH as a first component and a low k dielectric as a second component adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Son V. Nguyen, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Patent number: 9070686
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, including a substrate, at least one metal wiring layer disposed above the substrate. The metal wiring layer including a wiring switch and a plurality of patterned conductors. The wiring switch including a back gate field effect transistor (BGFET).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Thomas N. Theis
  • Patent number: 9059679
    Abstract: Tunable interconnect structures, integrated circuits containing the tunable interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The interconnect transmission line structure includes a signal conductor and a plurality of conductors in proximity to the signal conductor. The structure further includes one or more switchable conductors in proximity to at least the signal conductor. The one or more switchable conductors has a programmable wiring switch with a terminal connected to the one or more switchable conductors and another terminal connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Alberto Valdes-Garcia, Stephen M. Gates, Wayne H. Woods, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9018089
    Abstract: A method of annealing a semiconductor and a semiconductor. The method of annealing including heating the semiconductor to a first temperature for a first period of time sufficient to remove physically-adsorbed water from the semiconductor and heating the semiconductor to a second temperature, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature, for a period of time sufficient to remove chemically-adsorbed water from the semiconductor. A semiconductor device including a plurality of metal conductors, and a dielectric including regions separating the plurality of metal conductors, the regions including an upper interface and a lower bulk region, the upper interface having a density greater than a density of the lower bulk region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric G. Liniger, Griselda Bonilla, Pak Leung, Stephen A. Cohen, Stephen M. Gates, Thomas M. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8952486
    Abstract: An improved electrical-fuse (e-fuse) device including a dielectric layer having a first top surface, two conductive features embedded in the dielectric layer and a fuse element. Each conductive feature has a second top surface and a metal cap directly on the second top surface. Each metal cap has a third top surface that is above the first top surface of the dielectric layer. The fuse element is on the third top surface of each metal cap and on the first top surface of the dielectric layer. A method of forming the e-fuse device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Stephen M. Gates, Baozhen Li, Dan Edelstein
  • Patent number: 8952488
    Abstract: An anti-fuse structure is provided in which an anti-fuse material liner is embedded within one of the openings provided within an interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse material liner is located between a first conductive metal and a second conductive metal which are also present within the opening. A diffusion barrier liner separates the first conductive metal from any portion of the interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse structure is laterally adjacent an interconnect structure that is formed within the same interconnect dielectric material as the anti-fuse structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Stephen M. Gates
  • Patent number: 8860095
    Abstract: An electronic circuit, includes a plurality of electronic devices configured as interconnected to provide one or more circuit functions and at least one interconnect structure that includes a first patterned conductor connected to a terminal of a first electronic device in the electronic circuit. A second patterned conductor is connected to a terminal of a second electronic device in the electronic circuit. A first electrode is connected to a portion of the first patterned conductor, and a second electrode is connected to a portion of the second patterned conductor. A metal oxide region is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal oxide region provides a reprogrammable switch function between the first patterned conductor and the second patterned conductor by providing a conductivity that is selectively controlled by a direction and an amount of current that passes through the metal oxide region during a switch setting operation for the metal oxide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Daniel C. Edelstein, Kailash Gopalakrishnan, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Publication number: 20140225165
    Abstract: An electronic circuit, includes a plurality of electronic devices configured as interconnected to provide one or more circuit functions and at least one interconnect structure that includes a first patterned conductor connected to a terminal of a first electronic device in the electronic circuit. A second patterned conductor is connected to a terminal of a second electronic device in the electronic circuit. A first electrode is connected to a portion of the first patterned conductor, and a second electrode is connected to a portion of the second patterned conductor. A metal oxide region is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal oxide region provides a reprogrammable switch function between the first patterned conductor and the second patterned conductor by providing a conductivity that is selectively controlled by a direction and an amount of current that passes through the metal oxide region during a switch setting operation for the metal oxide region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Daniel C. Edelstein, Kailash Gopalakrishnan, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 8759976
    Abstract: A secure electronic structure including a plurality of sub-lithographic conductor features having non-repeating random shapes as a physical unclonable function (PUF) and an integrated circuit including the same are provided. Some of the conductor features of the plurality of conductor features form ohmic electrical contact to a fraction of regularly spaced array of conductors that are located above or beneath the plurality of conductor features having the non-repeating shapes, while other conductor features of the plurality of conductor features do not form ohmic electrical contact with any of the regularly spaced array of conductors. Thus, a unique signature of electrical continuity is provided which can be used as a PUF within an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Gregory M. Fritz, Stephen M. Gates, Dirk Pfeiffer