Combined With Passive Components (e.g., Resistors) Patents (Class 257/379)
  • Patent number: 8872273
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing a gate controlled voltage divider having an upper resistor on field oxide in series with a transistor switch in series with a lower resistor. A resistor drift layer is disposed under the upper resistor, and the transistor switch includes a switch drift layer adjacent to the resistor drift layer, separated by a region which prevents breakdown between the drift layers. The switch drift layer provides an extended drain or collector for the transistor switch. A sense terminal of the voltage divider is coupled to a source or emitter node of the transistor and to the lower resistor. An input terminal is coupled to the upper resistor and the resistor drift layer. A process of forming the integrated circuit containing the gate controlled voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hideaki Kawahara, Marie Denison, Sameer Pendharkar, Philip L. Hower, John Lin, Robert A. Neidorff
  • Patent number: 8866233
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device having a novel structure which includes a combination of semiconductor elements with different characteristics and is capable of realizing higher integration. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, which includes a first channel formation region including a first semiconductor material, and a first gate electrode, and a second transistor, which includes one of a second source electrode and a second drain electrode combined with the first gate electrode, and a second channel formation region including a second semiconductor material and electrically connected to the second source electrode and the second drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8860145
    Abstract: A semiconductor device incorporates a resistor on a structure that uses diffusion layers for sustaining the breakdown voltage thereof to realizes a very resistive element that exhibits a high breakdown voltage and high electrical resistance, includes a spiral very resistive element buried in an interlayer insulator film. A first end of the very resistive element is connected to a drain electrode wiring and the second end of the very resistive element is grounded. An intermediate point of the very resistive element is connected to ae voltage comparator of a control IC. The semiconductor device according to the invention facilitates reducing the components parts costs, assembly costs and size of a switching power supply that includes a very resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Saito
  • Patent number: 8859386
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming resistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating material over a workpiece, and forming a conductive chemical compound material over the first insulating material. The conductive chemical compound material is patterned to form a resistor. A second insulating material is formed over the resistor, and the second insulating material is patterned. The patterned second insulating material is filled with a conductive material to form a first contact coupled to a first end of the resistor and to form a second contact coupled to a second end of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Lu, Jian-Hao Chen, Chih-Hung Wang, Tung-Heng Hsieh, Kuo-Feng Yu, Chin-Shan Hou, Shyue-Shyh Lin
  • Patent number: 8860146
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device including a field-effect transistor, and a resistance element connected between a gate electrode of the field effect transistor and a connection point connected between a back gate electrode of the field effect transistor and one of source-drain regions of the field effect transistor, a voltage being applied between the other of the source-drain regions and the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuki Nakamura, Takehito Ikimura
  • Patent number: 8853790
    Abstract: An integrated circuit apparatus is provided and includes first and second silicon-on-insulator (SOI) pads formed on an insulator substrate, each of the first and second SOI pads including an active area formed thereon, a nanowire suspended between the first and second SOI pads over the insulator substrate, one or more field effect transistors (FETs) operably disposed along the nanowire and a planar device operably disposed on at least one of the respective active areas formed on each of the first and second SOI pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8847349
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package including an IC die and a conductive ink printed circuit layer electrically connected to the IC die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew David Romig, Lance Cole Wright, Leslie Edward Stark, Frank Stepniak, Screenivasan K. Koduri
  • Publication number: 20140284724
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a semiconductor device, patterning a first hard mask to form a first recess in a high-resistor (Hi-R) stack, removing the first hard mask, forming a second recess in the Hi-R stack, forming a second hard mask in the second recess in the Hi-R stack. A HR can then be formed in the semiconductor substrate by the second hard mask and a gate trench etch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yen Hsieh, Ming-Ching Chang, Yuan-Sheng Huang, Ming-Chia Tai, Chao-Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140264624
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a metal gate structure formed in a substrate, wherein the metal gate structure comprises a first film formed of a first material and formed on a bottom and sidewalls of a gate trench, a second film formed of a second material and formed over the first film and a gate electrode formed over the second film. The semiconductor structure further comprises a resistor structure formed in the substrate, where the resistor structure comprises a third film formed of the first material and formed on a bottom and sidewalls of a resistor trench and a fourth film formed of the second material and formed over the third film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8836019
    Abstract: A recessed channel transistor, a semiconductor device including a transistor and methods of manufacturing the same are provided, the recessed channel transistor includes a gate structure, a second impurity region and a first impurity region. The gate structure may be formed on a substrate and filling a recess. The first impurity region, including first impurities, may be formed at a first upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. The second impurity region, including second impurities, may be formed at a second upper portion of the substrate contacting the gate structure. The first impurity region may surround the second impurity region. The first impurities have a conductive type different from that of the second impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hee Lim, Hyuck-Chai Jung
  • Patent number: 8835251
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, a capacitor and a resistor wherein the capacitor includes a doped polysilicon layer to function as a bottom conductive layer with a salicide block (SAB) layer as a dielectric layer covered by a Ti/TiN layer as a top conductive layer thus constituting a single polysilicon layer metal-insulator-polysilicon (MIP) structure. While the high sheet rho resistor is also formed on the same single polysilicon layer with differential doping of the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: YongZhong Hu, Sung-Shan Tai
  • Publication number: 20140252494
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe MOSFET devices that have snubber circuits. The snubber circuits comprise one or more resistors with a dynamically controllable resistance that is controlled by changes to a gate and/or drain potentials of the one or more MOSFET structures during switching events. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Sik Lui, Ji Pan
  • Patent number: 8829649
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer), a resistive element that is disposed over the first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer) and at least a surface layer of which is a TaSiN layer, and an interlayer insulating layer disposed over the first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer) and the resistive element. Multiple via plugs having ends coupled to the TaSiN layer are disposed in the interlayer insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kawahara, Naoya Inoue, Naoya Furutake, Yoshihiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140246730
    Abstract: An embedded resistor including a first interdielectric layer, a cap layer, a resistive layer and a cap film is provided. The first interdielectric layer is located on a substrate. The cap layer is located on the first interdielectric layer, wherein the cap layer has a trench. The resistive layer conformally covers the trench, thereby having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The cap film is located in the trench and on the resistive layer, or, an embedded thin film resistor including a first interdielectric layer, a cap layer and a bulk resistive layer is provided. The first interdielectric layer is located on a substrate. The cap layer is located on the first interdielectric layer, wherein the cap layer has a trench. The bulk resistive layer is located in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ching-Wen Hung, Chih-Sen Huang, Po-Chao Tsao
  • Patent number: 8823112
    Abstract: A metal gate electrode and a poly-silicon resistance element are mixedly mounted in the same semiconductor substrate. The metal gate electrode is formed on a first gate insulating film and includes a first gate metal film and a first gate silicon film. The poly-silicon resistance element includes a silicon film pattern formed on a laminated pattern which includes a first laminate insulating film, a first laminate metal film, and a second laminate insulating film. The first laminate insulating film and the first gate insulating film are formed from a common insulating film; the first laminate metal film and the first gate metal film are formed from a common metal film, and the silicon firm pattern and the first gate silicon film are formed from a common silicon film. In a planar view, a footprint of the silicon film pattern is included within the second laminate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20140239409
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a non-volatile anti-fuse memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell consists of a programmable n-channel diode-connectable transistor. The poly-silicon gate of the transistor has two portions. One portion is doped more highly than a second portion. The transistor also has a source with two portions where one portion of the source is doped more highly than a second portion. The portion of the gate that is physically closer to the source is more lightly doped than the other portion of the poly-silicon gate. The portion of the source that is physically closer to the lightly doped portion of the poly-silicone gate is lightly doped with respect to the other portion of the source. When the transistor is programmed, a rupture in the insulator will most likely occur in the portion of the poly-silicone gate that is heavily doped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Allan T. Mitchell, Mark A. Eskew, Keith Jarreau
  • Patent number: 8816439
    Abstract: A gate structure of a semiconductor device includes a first low resistance conductive layer, a second low resistance conductive layer, and a first type conductive layer disposed between and directly contacting sidewalls of the first low resistance conductive layer and the second low resistance conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Yu, Li-Wei Cheng, Che-Hua Hsu, Tian-Fu Chiang, Cheng-Hsien Chou, Chien-Ming Lai, Yi-Wen Chen, Chien-Ting Lin, Guang-Hwa Ma
  • Publication number: 20140233319
    Abstract: A one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell includes a dual date transistor and, in some embodiments, two transistors. The dual gate transistor is formed using the same processing operations used to form floating gate transistors in other areas of the semiconductor device. The dual gate transistor includes an upper gate isolated from a floating gate by a floating gate oxide, the combination of which produces an anti-fuse. The nonvolatile memory device may include a plurality of such OTP memory cells and one or more OTP memory cells are selected and programmed by applying a voltage sufficient to blow the anti-fuse by causing the floating gate oxide layer to break down and the upper gate to become shorted to the floating gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: WaferTech, LLC
    Inventors: Re-Long CHIU, Shu-Lan YING, Wen-Szu CHUNG
  • Patent number: 8803239
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device that is thermally isolated from the printed circuit board such that the device operates at a higher temperature and radiates heat away from the printed circuit board. In another embodiment, the semiconductor is stacked onto a second device and optionally thermally isolated from the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Neill Thornton, Dennis Lang
  • Patent number: 8796745
    Abstract: A semiconductor device containing an extended drain MOS transistor with an integrated snubber formed by forming a drain drift region of the MOS transistor, forming a snubber capacitor including a capacitor dielectric layer and capacitor plate over the extended drain, and forming a snubber resistor over a gate of the MOS transistor so that the resistor is connected in series between the capacitor plate and a source of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Christopher Boguslaw Kocon
  • Patent number: 8796781
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active region including a plurality of unit active regions and disposed over and spaced from the semiconductor substrate, a pair of word lines formed on a top surface and sides of the unit active region, a dummy word line disposed at a contact of the unit active regions and formed on top surfaces and sides of the unit active regions, a source region in the unit active region between the pair of word lines and electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate, drain regions formed in the unit active region between the pair of word lines and the dummy word line, and first storage layers formed on the drain regions and electrically connected to the drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jang Uk Lee, Sung Cheoul Kim, Kang Sik Choi, Suk Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8796772
    Abstract: Precision resistors for non-planar semiconductor device architectures are described. In a first example, a semiconductor structure includes first and second semiconductor fins disposed above a substrate. A resistor structure is disposed above the first semiconductor fin but not above the second semiconductor fin. A transistor structure is formed from the second semiconductor fin but not from the first semiconductor fin. In a second example, a semiconductor structure includes first and second semiconductor fins disposed above a substrate. An isolation region is disposed above the substrate, between the first and second semiconductor fins, and at a height less than the first and second semiconductor fins. A resistor structure is disposed above the isolation region but not above the first and second semiconductor fins. First and second transistor structures are formed from the first and second semiconductor fins, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jeng-Ya D. Yeh, Peter J. Vandervoorn, Walid M. Hafez, Chia-Hong Jan, Curtis Tsai, Joodong Park
  • Patent number: 8796782
    Abstract: A polysilicon film that serves as a resistance element is formed. The polysilicon film is patterned to a predetermined shape. CVD oxide films covering the patterned polysilicon film are etched thereby removing the portion of the CVD oxide film where the contact region is formed, leaving the portion covering the portion of the polysilicon film that serves as the resistor main body. BF2 is implanted by using the portions of the remaining CVD oxide films covering the polysilicon film as an implantation mask thereby forming a high concentration region in the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20140210014
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a layer of a semiconductor device including a standard cell configuration having a fixed gate electrode pitch between gate electrode lines and a resistor formed of metal between the fixed gate electrode pitch of the standard cell configuration. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit can be charged device model (CDM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for a cross domain standard cell having the resistor formed of metal. A method of manufacturing integrated circuits includes forming a plurality of gate electrode lines separated by a gate electrode pitch to form a core standard cell device, applying at least a first layer of metal within the gate electrode pitch to form a portion of a resistor, and applying at least a second layer of metal to couple to the first layer of metal to form another portion of the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Yu MA, Bo-Ting CHEN, Ting Yu CHEN, Kuo-Ji CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20140203375
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides reduced substrate coupling for inductors in semiconductor devices. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having reduced substrate coupling includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region. The method also includes forming a first gate structure over the first region and a second gate structure over the second region, wherein the first and second gate structures each include a dummy gate. The method next includes forming an inter layer dielectric (ILD) over the substrate and forming a photoresist (PR) layer over the second gate structure. Then, the method includes removing the dummy gate from the first gate structure, thereby forming a trench and forming a metal gate in the trench so that a transistor may be formed in the first region, which includes a metal gate, and an inductor component may be formed over the second region, which does not include a metal gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: HARRY HAK-LAY CHUANG, MING ZHU, LEE-WEE TEO
  • Patent number: 8779526
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a transistor region and a resistor region; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) on the substrate of the resistor region; forming a tank in the STI of the resistor region; and forming a resistor in the tank and on the surface of the STI adjacent to two sides of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-Wei Hsu, Po-Cheng Huang, Ren-Peng Huang, Jie-Ning Yang, Chia-Lin Hsu, Teng-Chun Tsai, Chih-Hsun Lin, Chang-Hung Kung, Yen-Ming Chen, Yu-Ting Li
  • Patent number: 8775982
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit design method. In an example, a method includes receiving an integrated circuit design layout that includes an active region feature, a contact feature, and an isolation feature, wherein a portion of the active region feature is disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature; determining whether a thickness of the portion of the active region feature disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature is less than a threshold value; and modifying the integrated circuit design layout if the thickness is less than the threshold value, wherein the modifying includes adding a supplementary active region feature adjacent to the portion of the active region feature disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mei-Hsuan Lin, Chih-Chan Lu, Chih-Hsun Lin, Chih-Kang Chao, Ling-Sung Wang, Jen-Pan Wang
  • Publication number: 20140183656
    Abstract: A bitcell may include an insulating region, a first doping proximate to the insulating region, and a second doping surrounding the first doping. The second doping can be characterized by a higher gate voltage breakdown than the first doping. Also, the bitcell may include a gate terminal, and the bitcell may be configured for programming by a voltage on the gate terminal that results in a conductive hole selectively burned in the insulating region between the gate terminal and the first doping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8766427
    Abstract: An RF-power device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of active regions arranged in an array. Each active region includes one or more RF-power transistors. The active regions are interspersed with inactive regions for reducing mutual heating of the RF-power transistors in separate active regions. The devices also includes at least one impedance matching component located in one of the inactive regions of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventor: Marnix Bernard Willemsen
  • Patent number: 8766275
    Abstract: This composite semiconductor device has a normally-on first field effect transistor and a normally-off second field effect transistor connected in series between first and second terminals, gates of the first and second field effect transistors being connected to second and third terminals, respectively, and N diodes being connected in series in a forward direction between a drain and a source of the second field effect transistor. Therefore, a drain-source voltage (Vds) of the second field effect transistor can be restricted to a voltage not higher than a withstand voltage of the second field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyasu Iketani, Tomohiro Nozawa, Yoshiaki Nozaki, John K. Twynam, Hiroshi Kawamura, Keiichi Sakuno
  • Publication number: 20140167181
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a resistor structure is provided. The semiconductor device may include a gate structure on an active region, a resistor structure on a field region and a first interlayer insulating layer on the gate structure and the resistor structure. The semiconductor devices may also include a resistor trench plug vertically penetrating through the first interlayer insulating layer and contacting the resistor structure and a second interlayer insulating layer on the first interlayer insulating layer and the resistor trench plug. Further, the semiconductor devices may include a resistor contact plug vertically penetrating through the first and second interlayer insulating layers and contacting the resistor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junjie Xiong, Yoon-Hae Kim, Hong-Seong Kang, Yoon-Seok Lee, You-Shin Choi
  • Publication number: 20140167180
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device may include a transistor area and a resistor area. The transistor area may include a gate structure. The resistor area may include an insulating layer and a resistor structure on the insulating layer. A top surface of the gate structure and a top surface of the resistor structure may be substantially coplanar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junjie Xiong, Yoon-Hae Kim, Hong-Seong Kang, Yoon-Seok Lee, You-Shin Choi
  • Patent number: 8753968
    Abstract: A metal gate process includes the following steps. An isolating layer on a substrate is provided, where the isolating layer has a first recess and a second recess. A first metal layer covering the first recess and the second recess is formed. A material is filled in the first recess but exposing a top part of the first recess. The first metal layer in the top part of the first recess and in the second recess is simultaneously removed. The material is removed. A second metal layer and a metal gate layer in the first recess and the second recess are sequentially filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung Huang, Po-Jui Liao, Yao-Chang Wang, Chi-Sheng Tseng, Jie-Ning Yang
  • Patent number: 8749021
    Abstract: The present invention reveals a semiconductor chip structure and its application circuit network, wherein the switching voltage regulator or converter is integrated with a semiconductor chip by chip fabrication methods, so that the semiconductor chip has the ability to regulate voltage within a specific voltage range. Therefore, when many electrical devices of different working voltages are placed on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), only a certain number of semiconductor chips need to be constructed. Originally, in order to account for the different demands in voltage, power supply units of different output voltages, or a variety of voltage regulators need to be added. However, using the built-in voltage regulator or converter, the voltage range can be immediately adjusted to that which is needed. This improvement allows for easier control of electrical devices of different working voltages and decreases response time of electrical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Megit Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Mou-Shiung Lin, Gu-Yeon Wei
  • Patent number: 8742513
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device comprising sophisticated high-k metal gate structures formed in accordance with a replacement gate approach, semiconductor-based resistors may be formed above isolation structures substantially without being influenced by the replacement gate approach. Consequently, enhanced area efficiency may be achieved compared to conventional strategies, in which the resistive structures may have to be provided on the basis of a gate electrode metal, while, nevertheless, a low parasitic capacitance may be accomplished due to providing the resistive structures above the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Wei, Andrew Waite
  • Patent number: 8735992
    Abstract: A power switch with active snubber. In accordance with a first embodiment, an electronic circuit includes a first power semiconductor device and a second power semiconductor device coupled to the first power semiconductor device. The second power semiconductor device is configured to oppose ringing of the first power semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Vishay-Siliconix
    Inventor: Kyle Terrill
  • Patent number: 8735258
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device including a metal gate transistor and a resistor are provided. A method includes providing a substrate including a transistor device region and an isolation region, forming a dummy gate over the transistor device region and a resistor over the isolation region, and implanting the resistor with a dopant. The method further includes wet etching the dummy gate to remove the dummy gate, and then forming a metal gate over the transistor device region to replace the dummy gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hung Ko, Jyh-Huei Chen, Shyh-Wei Wang
  • Publication number: 20140138777
    Abstract: One feature pertains to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a metal gate terminal that has a gate metal that is either p-type or n-type. The IC further includes a first semiconductor region having either a p-type doping or an n-type doping, such that if the gate metal is p-type then the first semiconductor region has the n-type doping, and if the gate metal is n-type then the first semiconductor region has the p-type doping. A gate dielectric is interposed between the metal gate terminal and the first semiconductor region. The gate dielectric has a gate breakdown voltage VBDGSD that is reduced in proportion to a built-in electric field EBIGSD associated with a boundary region between the metal gate terminal and the first semiconductor region if a polarity of a programming voltage VPP is oriented parallel to the built-in electric field EBIGSD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zhongze Wang
  • Patent number: 8729520
    Abstract: A method includes forming an electrical insulator material over an integrated circuit having a metal-containing conductive interconnect and activating a dopant in a semiconductor material of a substrate to provide a doped region. The doped region provides a junction of opposite conductivity types. After activating the dopant, the substrate is bonded to the insulator material and at least some of the substrate is removed where bonded to the insulator material. After the removing, a memory cell is formed having a word line, an access diode, a state-changeable memory element containing chalcogenide phase change material, and a bit line all electrically connected in series, the access diode containing the junction as a p-n junction. A memory device includes an adhesion material over the insulator material and bonding the word line to the insulator material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8723294
    Abstract: It is possible to suppress a change in a resistance value caused by a potential of a semiconductor substrate 10 near a resistance element layer 13, a power line passing on or above the resistance element layer, or a signal line, without generating useless current or a distortion in a signal. A first conductive layer 15 biased by the potential of a first electrode 11 and a second conductive layer 16 biased by the potential of a second electrode 12 cover below the resistance element layer equally. A change in the resistance value caused by a potential difference between the resistance element layer and a neighboring semiconductor substrate 14 is cancelled by the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer covering at least one of above and below the resistance element layer with both ends biased, so the change in the resistance value is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8723154
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. A gate dielectric layer overlies the surface region of the substrate. The device includes a MOS device having a p+ active region. The p+ active region forms a first electrode for a resistive switching device. The resistive switching device includes an amorphous silicon switching material overlying the p+ active region and a metal electrode overlies the first metal conductor structure. The metal electrode includes a metal material, upon application of a positive bias to the metal electrode, forms a metal region in the amorphous silicon switching material. The MOS device provides for a select transistor for the integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Jo, Hagop Nazarian
  • Patent number: 8716103
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Long Cheng, Sheng-Chen Chung, Kong-Beng Thei, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Mong-Song Liang
  • Patent number: 8716775
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit including a large capacity reservoir capacitor to provide suitable power is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate in which a cell area and a peripheral circuit area are defined, a MOS capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the peripheral circuit area, and a dummy capacitor group formed on the peripheral circuit area to overlap the MOS capacitor. One electrode of the MOS capacitor and one electrode of the dummy capacitor group are connected to each other and the other electrode of the MOS capacitor and the other electrode of the dummy capacitor group are connected to difference voltage sources from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8716831
    Abstract: An eFuse structure having a first metal layer serving as a fuse with a gate including an undoped polysilicon (poly), a second metal layer and a high-K dielectric layer all formed on a silicon substrate with a Shallow Trench Isolation formation, and a process of fabricating same are provided. The eFuse structure enables use of low amounts of current to blow a fuse thus allowing the use of a smaller MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Xiangdong Chen, Wei Xia
  • Patent number: 8710593
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a resistor integrated with a transistor having metal gate includes providing a substrate having a transistor, a transitional structure, and a dielectric layer covering the transistor and the transitional structure formed thereon, forming a recess in between two opposite polysilicon end portions in the transitional structure, forming a U-shaped resistance modulating layer and an insulating layer filling the recess, removing a dummy gate of the transistor and the polysilicon end portions of the transitional structure to form a gate trench and two terminal trenches respectively in the transistor and the transitional structure, and forming a metal gate in the gate trench and conductive terminals in the terminal trenches simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chi-Sheng Tseng, Yao-Chang Wang, Jie-Ning Yang
  • Publication number: 20140103448
    Abstract: Methods of forming and using a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments include forming a diode between a metal fuse gate and a PMOS device, wherein the diode is disposed between a contact of the metal fuse gate and a contact of the PMOS device, and wherein the diode couples the contact of the metal fuse gate to the contact of the PMOS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Xianghong Tong, Zhanping Chen, Walid M. Hafez, Zhiyong Ma, Sarvesh H. Kulkarni, Kevin X. Zhang, Matthew B. Pedersen, Kevin D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140103447
    Abstract: A power transistor circuit uses first and second power transistors in differential mode. An inductor arrangement of inductors is formed by wire bonds between the drains. The transistors are in a mirrored configuration, and the inductor arrangement comprises wire bonds which extend between the drain connections across the space between the mirrored transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Gerard Jean-Louis Bouisse
  • Patent number: 8698252
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having five gate stacks on different regions of a substrate and methods of making the same are described. The device includes a semiconductor substrate and isolation features to separate the different regions on the substrate. The different regions include a p-type field-effect transistor (pFET) core region, an input/output pFET (pFET IO) region, an n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) core region, an input/output nFET (nFET IO) region, and a high-resistor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Nien Chen, Jin-Aun Ng, Ming Zhu, Bao-Ru Young, Hak-Lay Chuang
  • Patent number: 8698251
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer on the substrate, the semiconductor layer including an impurity-doped polycrystalline silicon layer, a first capacitor electrode on the substrate main body, the first capacitor electrode including an impurity-doped polycrystalline silicon layer, and bottom surfaces of the first capacitor electrode and semiconductor layer facing the substrate main body being substantially coplanar, a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and the first capacitor electrode, a gate electrode on the semiconductor layer with the gate insulating layer therebetween, and a second capacitor electrode on the first capacitor electrode with the gate insulating layer therebetween, bottom surfaces of the second capacitor electrode and gate electrode facing the substrate main body being substantially coplanar, and the second capacitor electrode having a smaller thickness than the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh-Seob Kwon, Moo-Soon Ko
  • Publication number: 20140097501
    Abstract: An integrated power module having a dielectric substrate, a source conductor trace formed on the dielectric substrate, a drain conductor trace formed on the dielectric substrate, a gate conductor trace formed on the dielectric substrate, a transistor chip having a top surface and a bottom surface connected to the drain conductor trace, a back-contact resistor having a flat planar structure with a top surface and a bottom surface connected to the gate conductor trace, and a first wire bond connecting the top surface of the transistor chip to the top surface of the back-contact resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuanbo Guo, Sang Won Yoon