With Passive Components, (e.g., Polysilicon Resistors) Patents (Class 257/904)
  • Patent number: 11508500
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a thin film resistor (TFR) in an integrated circuit (IC) device. A TFR film is formed and annealed over an IC structure including IC elements and IC element contacts. At least one TFR cap layer is formed, and a TFR etch defines a TFR element from the TFR film. A TFR contact etch forms TFR contact openings over the TFR element, and a metal layer is formed over the IC structure and extending into the TFR contact openings to form metal contacts to the IC element contacts and the TFR element. The TFR cap layer(s), e.g., SiN cap and/or oxide cap formed over the TFR film, may (a) provide an etch stop during the TFR contact etch and/or (b) provide a hardmask during the TFR etch, which may eliminate the use of a photomask and thereby eliminate post-etch removal of photomask polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Fest, Jacob Williams, Josh Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11495657
    Abstract: A process is provided for forming a thin film resistor (TFR) in an integrated circuit (IC) device. A TFR film is formed and annealed over an IC structure including IC elements and IC element contacts. An oxide cap is formed over the TFR film, which acts as a hardmask during a TFR etch of the TFR film to define a TFR element, which may eliminate the use of a photomask and thereby eliminate post-etch removal of photomask polymer. TFR edge spacers may be formed over lateral edges of the TFR element to insulate such TFR element edges. TFR contact openings are etched in the oxide cap over the TFR element, and a metal layer is formed over the IC structure and extending into the TFR contact openings to form metal contacts to the IC element contacts and the TFR element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Fest, Jacob Williams, Josh Kaufman, Greg Dix
  • Patent number: 9006826
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an SRAM memory cell. The SRAM memory cell has a semiconductor substrate with an active area and a gate region positioned above the active area. A butted contact extends along a length (i.e., the larger dimension of the butted contact) from a position above the active area to a position above the gate region. The butted contact contains a plurality of distinct regions having different widths (i.e., the smaller dimensions of the butted contact), such that a region spanning the active area and gate region has width less than the regions in contact with the active area or gate region. By making the width of the region spanning the active area and gate region smaller than the regions in contact with the active area or gate, the etch rate is reduced at a junction of the gate region with the active area, thereby preventing etch back of the gate material and leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzyh-Cheang Lee
  • Patent number: 8908419
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a first gate wiring element 3a, 3b, a second gate wiring element 3c, 3d, a first connector 5a, 5b, and a second connector 5c, 5d. Each memory cell 10 has first and second sets having a driver transistor 11, a load transistor 12, and an access transistor 13. The word lines are arranged in parallel to each other along a first direction. The bit lines are arranged in parallel to each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first gate wiring element comprises a gate electrode of the first driver transistor and the first load transistor, and has a rectangular shape having straight line on opposite sides. The second gate wiring element comprises a gate electrode of the access transistor and has a rectangular shape having straight line on opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemoto Tomita, Shigeki Ohbayashi, Yoshiyuki Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 8853700
    Abstract: Cross-coupling between a gate conductor and an active region of a semiconductor substrate is provided by forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and lithographically patterning the gate dielectric layer to form opening therein over a portion of the active region at which electrical contact with the gate conductor is desired. After implanting electrical dopants, a gate conductor layer is deposited and patterned. A remaining portion of the gate conductor layer includes an integral conductor structure, which includes a first portion overlying a gate dielectric over an active region and a second portion contacting the semiconductor material of the same active region or a different active region. The gate dielectric layer can be deposited within gate cavities in planarization dielectric material layer in a replacement gate scheme, or can be deposited on planar surfaces of active regions and/or shallow trench isolation structures in a gate first processing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viraj Y. Sardesai, Robert C. Wong
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8643110
    Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator device has a localized biasing structure formed in the insulator layer of the SOI. The localized biasing structure includes a patterned conductor that provides a biasing signal to distinct regions of the silicon layer of the SOI. The conductor is recessed into the insulator layer to provide a substantially planar interface with the silicon layer. The conductor is connected to a bias voltage source. In an embodiment, a plurality of conductor is provided that respectively connected to a plurality of voltage sources. Thus, different regions of the silicon layer are biased by different bias signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, John K. Zahurak
  • Patent number: 8482083
    Abstract: Prior known static random access memory (SRAM) cells required that a diffusion layer be bent into a key-like shape in order to make electrical contact with a substrate with a P-type well region formed therein, which would result in a decrease in asymmetry leading to occurrence of a problem as to the difficulty in micro-patterning. To avoid this problem, the P-type well region in which an inverter making up an SRAM cell is formed is subdivided into two portions, which are disposed on the opposite sides of an N-type well region NW1 and are formed so that a diffusion layer forming a transistor has no curvature while causing the layout direction to run in a direction parallel to well boundary lines and bit lines. At intermediate locations of an array, regions for use in supply power to the substrate are formed in parallel to word lines in such a manner that one region is provided per group of thirty two memory cell rows or sixty four cell rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Masataka Minami, Shuji Ikeda, Koichiro Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8362587
    Abstract: An interconnect for transmitting an electric signal between electronic devices includes a first coupling element electromagnetically coupled to, and immediately juxtaposed to, a second coupling element. The first coupling element is mounted on and is electrically connected to a first electronic device having a first integrated circuit. The second coupling element may be mounted on and electrically connected to the first electronic device, and electrically connected to an interconnect on a second electronic device, or the second coupling element may be mounted on and electrically connected to the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Scanimetrics Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher V. Sellatmamby, Steven H. Slupsky, Brian Moore
  • Patent number: 8330226
    Abstract: A PRAM device includes a lower electrode, a phase-change nanowire and an upper electrode. The phase-change nanowire may be electrically connected to the lower electrode and includes a single element. The upper electrode may be electrically connected to the phase-change nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Yon Lee
  • Patent number: 8217489
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a variable resistance layer, a resistance value of the variable resistance layer reversibly varying between a plurality of resistance states based on an electric signal applied between the electrodes. The variable resistance layer includes at least a tantalum oxide, and is configured to satisfy 0<x<2.5 when the tantalum oxide is represented by TaOx; and wherein when a resistance value between the electrodes is in the low-resistance state is RL, a resistance value between the electrodes is in the high-resistance state is RH, and a resistance value of a portion other than the variable resistance layer in a current path connecting a first terminal to a second terminal via the first electrode, the variable resistance layer and the second electrode, is R0, R0 satisfies RL<R0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Osano, Satoru Fujii, Shunsaku Muraoka
  • Patent number: 8217492
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit die having a first circuit and a first inductive interface and a second integrated circuit die having a second circuit and a second inductive interface. A substrate is coupled to support the first integrated circuit die and the second integrated circuit die, the substrate including a magnetic communication path aligned with the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface, to magnetically communicate signals between the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8101985
    Abstract: Capacitors are formed in metallization layers of semiconductor device in regions where functional conductive features are not formed, more efficiently using real estate of integrated circuits. The capacitors may be stacked and connected in parallel to provide increased capacitance, or arranged in arrays. The plates of the capacitors are substantially the same dimensions as conductive features, such as conductive lines or vias, or are substantially the same dimensions as fill structures of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Matthias Hierlemann
  • Patent number: 8049303
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip and a semiconductor device mounting the semiconductor chip capable of increasing a capacitance of a capacitor without reducing the number of signal bumps or power bumps of a package and the number of C4 solder balls of the semiconductor chip, and achieving a stable power supply with suppressing fluctuations of power at a resonance frequency without a limitation in a position to mount a capacitor for lowering noise of a signal transceiving interface block. In the semiconductor device, a via hole is provided to the semiconductor chip, a power-supply electrode connected to the via hole is provided to a back surface of the semiconductor chip, and a capacitor is mounted to the electrode on the back surface. And, a high-resistance material is used for a material of a power-supply via hole inside the semiconductor chip, thereby increasing the resistance and lowering the Q factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Osaka, Tatsuya Saito
  • Patent number: 8030738
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern and methods of fabricating the same. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a resistor pattern having high sheet resistance by using a polycide layer for a gate electrode in a semiconductor device with the resistor pattern. Embodiments of the invention also provide a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern that is formed narrower than the minimum line width that can be defined in a photolithographic process so that sheet resistance thereof increases, and a method of fabricating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoo-Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 8026556
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resistive divider circuit, includes providing a silicon body having a plurality of opposing pairs of intermediate taps extending therefrom. Each tap comprises a thin silicon stem supporting a relatively wider silicon platform. A silicidation protection (SIPROT) layer is deposited over the body and intermediate taps and then patterned to expose the platform. A silicidation process is performed to silicidate the platform to form a contact pad of relatively low resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Andy C. Negoi
  • Patent number: 8018027
    Abstract: A flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor includes a base substrate, a first inductor body portion provided on a surface of the base substrate, a cover substrate, a second inductor body portion provided on a surface of a cover substrate, and a nanoparticle bonding material provided between the base substrate surface and the cover substrate surface to electrically connect the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion. A method for fabricating a flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor including forming a first inductor body portion on a surface of a base substrate, forming a second inductor body portion on a surface of a cover substrate, and attaching the base substrate surface to the cover substrate surface using a nanoparticle bonding material that electrically connects the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Rao Bizen, Yinon Degani, Kunquan Sun
  • Patent number: 7989862
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is equipped with a plug conductive layer formed in an interlayer dielectric film on a substrate, and a conductive member provided on the plug conductive layer. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer dielectric film formed on the interlayer dielectric film and having a hole section connecting to the plug conductive layer; and a spacer conductive section embedded in the hole section of the spacer dielectric film, connected to the plug conductive layer and connected to the conducive member, wherein the spacer conductive section is formed from a conductive material having self-orientation characteristic, and a top surface of the spacer dielectric film and a top surface of the spacer conductive section are planarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Noda
  • Patent number: 7973385
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a doped substrate of a first doping polarity and a doped semiconductor material of a second doping polarity. The semiconductor material is on, or in, the substrate, and the second doping polarity is opposite the first doping polarity such that the semiconductor material and the substrate form a diode. The semiconductor device further includes an inductor on or above the semiconductor material, and a pattern in the semiconductor material for reducing eddy currents. The pattern includes a doped semiconductor material of the first doping polarity and a least one trench within the doped semiconductor material of the first doping polarity, wherein, at least at a depth at which the trench is closest to the inductor, the doped semiconductor material of the first doping polarity fully surrounds the trench so that, at least at the depth, the trench does not touch the doped semiconductor material of the second doping polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: X-Fab Semiconductor Foundries AG
    Inventors: Paul Stribley, Christopher Lee, John Ellis
  • Patent number: 7923783
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resistance element which is constructed with a first conductor which extends in a first direction and is connected to a first contact; a second conductor which extends in said first direction and is connected to a second contact; and a first insulation film which exists between said first conductor and said second conductor, said first insulation film also having an opening in which a third conductor which connects said first conductor and said second conductor is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takumi Abe
  • Patent number: 7888771
    Abstract: An electronic fuse (“E-fuse”) has a silicide filament link extending along a gap between polysilicon structures formed on a silicon substrate. The silicide filament link extends across diffusions formed in the gap. A P-N junction between terminals of the E-fuse provides high resistivity after programming (fusing) the silicide filament link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakhbeer Singh Sidhu, Srikanth Sundararajan, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 7795700
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit die having a first circuit and a first inductive interface and a second integrated circuit die having a second circuit and a second inductive interface. A substrate is coupled to support the first integrated circuit die and the second integrated circuit die, the substrate including a magnetic communication path aligned with the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface, to magnetically communicate signals between the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7781846
    Abstract: Prior known static random access memory (SRAM) cells are required that a diffusion layer be bent into a key-like shape in order to make electrical contact with a substrate with a P-type well region formed therein, which would result in a decrease in asymmetry leading to occurrence of a problem as to the difficulty in micro-patterning. To avoid this problem, the P-type well region in which an inverter making up an SRAM cell is formed is subdivided into two portions, which are disposed on the opposite sides of an N-type well region NW1 and are formed so that a diffusion layer forming a transistor has no curvature while causing the layout direction to run in a direction parallel to well boundary lines and bit lines. At intermediate locations of an array, regions for use in supplying power to the substrate are formed in parallel to word lines in such a manner that one regions is provided per group of thirty two memory cell rows or sixty four cell rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Masataka Minami, Shuji Ikeda, Koichiro Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 7679162
    Abstract: An integrated current sensor package includes an integrated circuit having a coil in a metal layer of the circuit. A wire is placed close enough to the coil such that the coil and the wire are inductively coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dupuis, John Pavelka
  • Patent number: 7675122
    Abstract: A contact connected to a word line is formed on a gate electrode of an access transistor of an SRAM cell. The contact passes through an element isolation insulating film to reach an SOI layer. A body region of a driver transistor and that of the access transistor are electrically connected with each other through the SOI layer located under the element isolation insulating film. Therefore, the access transistor is in a DTMOS structure having the gate electrode connected with the body region through the contact, which in turn is also electrically connected to the body region of the driver transistor. Thus, operations can be stabilized while suppressing increase of an area for forming the SRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hirano, Takashi Ipposhi, Shigeto Maegawa, Koji Nii
  • Patent number: 7612417
    Abstract: Prior known static random access memory (SRAM) cells are required that a diffusion layer be bent into a key-like shape in order to make electrical contact with a substrate with a P-type well region formed therein, which would result in a decrease in asymmetry leading to occurrence of a problem as to the difficulty in micro-patterning. To avoid this problem, the P-type well region in which an inverter making up an SRAM cell is formed is subdivided into two portions, which are disposed on the opposite sides of an N-type well region NW1 and are formed so that a diffusion layer forming a transistor has no curvature while causing the layout direction to run in a direction parallel to well boundary lines and bit lines. At intermediate locations of an array, regions for use in supplying power to the substrate are formed in parallel to word lines in such a manner that one regions is provided per group of thirty two memory cell rows or sixty four cell rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Masataka Minami, Shuji Ikeda, Koichiro Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 7504706
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a device for providing a low noise power supply package to an IC in the mid-frequency range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz including installing in said package an array of embedded discrete ceramic capacitors, and optionally planar capacitor layers. A further embodiment provides a device for providing a low noise power supply package to an IC in the mid-frequency range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz including an array of embedded discrete ceramic capacitors with different resonance frequencies, arranged in such a way that the capacitor array's impedance vs frequency curve in the critical mid-frequency range yields impedance values at or below a targeted impedance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont De Nemours
    Inventors: Madhavan Swaminathan, Ege Engin, Lixi Wan, Prathap Muthana
  • Patent number: 7485933
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate and resistors disposed on the first insulating film. Each of the resistors is formed of a polycrystalline silicon film having a low concentration impurity region and high concentration impurity regions disposed on opposite sides of the low concentration impurity region. The low concentration impurity regions of the plurality of resistors have different lengths from one another. A second insulating film is disposed on the resistors. Contact holes are formed on the second insulating film and are disposed on the high concentration impurity regions. First metal wirings are connected to the respective contact holes and connect the resistors in series. A second metal wiring is connected to one of the resistors located at one end of the resistors connected in series. The second metal wiring covers the low concentration impurity region of all of the resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Harada
  • Patent number: 7462900
    Abstract: Phase-changeable memory devices and method of fabricating phase-changeable memory devices are provided that include a phase-changeable material pattern of a phase-changeable material that may include nitrogen atoms and/or silicon atoms. First and second electrodes are electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern and provide an electrical signal thereto. The phase-changeable material pattern may have a polycrystal line structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Horii Hideki, Bong-Jin Kuh, Yong-Ho Ha, Jeong-hee Park, Ji-Hye Yi
  • Patent number: 7432555
    Abstract: A semiconductor die has a bonding pad for a MOSFET such as a power MOSFET and a separate bonding pad for ESD protection circuitry. Connecting the bonding pads together makes the ESD protection circuitry functional to protect the MOSFET. Before connecting the bonding pads together, the ESD protection circuitry and/or the MOSFET can be separately tested. A voltage higher than functioning ESD protection circuitry would permit can be used when testing the MOSFET. A packaging process such as wire bonding or attaching the die to a substrate in a flip-chip package can connect the bonding pads after testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignees: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc., Advanced Analogic Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Michael E. Cornell, Wai Tien Chan
  • Patent number: 7432562
    Abstract: The invention includes SRAM constructions comprising at least one transistor device having an active region extending into a crystalline layer comprising Si/Ge. A majority of the active region within the crystalline layer is within a single crystal of the crystalline layer, and in particular aspects an entirety of the active region within the crystalline layer is within a single crystal of the crystalline layer. The SRAM constructions can be formed in semiconductor on insulator assemblies, and such assemblies can be supported by a diverse range of substrates, including, for example, glass, semiconductor substrates, metal, insulative materials, and plastics. The invention also includes electronic systems comprising SRAM constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7375401
    Abstract: A semiconductor thin film is formed having a lateral growth region which is a collection of columnar or needle-like crystals extending generally parallel with a substrate. The semiconductor thin film is illuminated with laser light or strong light having equivalent energy. As a result, adjacent columnar or needle-like crystals are joined together to form a region having substantially no grain boundaries, i.e., a monodomain region which can substantially be regarded as a single crystal. A semiconductor device is formed by using the monodomain region as an active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Akiharu Miyanaga, Jun Koyama, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7355240
    Abstract: A semiconductor product and a method for fabricating the semiconductor product employ a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a logic region having a logic device formed therein, a non-volatile memory region having a non-volatile memory device formed therein and a volatile memory device having a volatile memory device formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Tu, Hsiang-Fan Lee
  • Patent number: 7319254
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having resistors in a peripheral area and fabrication method thereof are provided. A mold layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The mold layer is patterned to form first molding holes and a second molding hole in the mold layer. A storage node layer is formed on the mold layer as well as in the first and second molding holes. The storage node layer is patterned to form storage nodes in the first molding holes and a portion of a resistor in the second hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Hwa Kwak, Byung-Seo Kim
  • Patent number: 7304352
    Abstract: A D-Cache SRAM cell having a modified design in schematic and layout that exhibits increased symmetry from the circuit schematic and the physical cell layout perspectives. That is, the SRAM cell includes two read ports and minimizes asymmetry by provisioning one read port on a true side and one on the complement side. Asymmetry is additionally minimized in layout as cross coupling on both the true and complement sides rises up one level by providing from the local interconnect level a via connection to a M1 or metallization level. Moreover, the distance between the local interconnect (MC) and the gate conductor structure (PC) has been enlarged and equalized for each of the pFETs in the cross-latched SRAM cell. As a result, the SRAM cell has been rendered insensitive to overlay (local interconnect processing too close) by maximizing this MC-PC distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: K. Paul Muller, Kevin A. Batson, Michael J. Lee
  • Patent number: 7271454
    Abstract: A contact connected to a word line is formed on a gate electrode of an access transistor of an SRAM cell. The contact passes through an element isolation insulating film to reach an SOI layer. A body region of a driver transistor and that of the access transistor are electrically connected with each other through the SOI layer located under the element isolation insulating film. Therefore, the access transistor is in a DTMOS structure having the gate electrode connected with the body region through the contact, which in turn is also electrically connected to the body region of the driver transistor. Thus, operations can be stabilized while suppressing increase of an area for forming the SRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hirano, Takashi Ipposhi, Shigeto Maegawa, Koji Nii
  • Patent number: 7256463
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a semiconductor device having an SOI structure in which an electric potential of a body region in an element formation region isolated by a partial isolation region can be fixed with a high stability. A MOS transistor comprising a source region (51), a drain region (61) and an H gate electrode (71) is formed in an element formation region isolated by a partial oxide film (31). The H gate electrode (71) electrically isolates a body region (13) formed in a gate width W direction adjacently to the source region (51) and the drain region (61) from the drain region (61) and the source region (51) through “I” in a transverse direction (a vertical direction in the drawing), a central “-” functions as a gate electrode of an original MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Takuji Matsumoto, Shigenobu Maeda, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Takashi Ipposhi
  • Patent number: 7224232
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Susanne A. Paul, Timothy J. Dupuis, John Blake Pavelka
  • Patent number: 7208814
    Abstract: A resistive device includes a resistive region of a semiconductor material that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the first region has a higher dopant concentration than the second region, and wherein a resistance-determining width of a current path through the first region is determined by a portion of a doping boundary between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Stefan Pompl
  • Patent number: 7208794
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory having memory cells, each including first and second conductively-doped contact regions and a channel region arranged between the latter, formed in a web-like rib made of semiconductor material and arranged one behind the other in this sequence in the longitudinal direction of the rib. The rib has an essentially rectangular shape with an upper side of the rib and rib side faces lying opposite. A memory layer is configured for programming the memory cell, arranged on the upper side of the rib spaced apart by a first insulator layer, and projects in the normal direction of the one rib side face over one of the rib side faces so that the one rib side face and the upper side of the rib form an edge for injecting charge carriers from the channel region into the memory layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Erhard Landgraf, Richard Johannes Luyken, Wolfgang Roesner, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7208369
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having a dual polysilicon electrode and a method of manufacturing are provided. The semiconductor devices include a first polysilicon layer deposited on a second polysilicon layer. Each polysilicon layer may be doped individually. The method also allows for some semiconductor devices on a wafer to have a single polysilicon wafer and other devices to have a dual polysilicon layer. In one embodiment, the semiconductor devices are utilized to form a memory device wherein the storage capacitors and transistors located in the cell region are formed with a dual polysilicon layer and devices in the periphery region are formed with a single polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yang Pai, Min-Hsiung Chiang, Chen-Jong Wang, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Patent number: 7166904
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a semiconductor device having superior ESD protection characteristics. A resistive material layer is disposed within a contact hole on at least one of the contact stud upper and lower surface. In preferred embodiments, the integral resistor has a resistance value of between about one Ohm and about ten Ohms, or between 10 and 100 Ohms. Embodiments of the resistive layer include sputtered silicon material, a tunnel oxide, a tunnel nitride, a silicon-implanted oxide, a silicon-implanted nitride, or an amorphous polysilicon. Embodiments of the invention include SRAMs, bipolar transistors, SOI lateral diodes, MOSFETs and SiGe Transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jason P. Gill, Terence B. Hook, Randy W. Mann, William J. Murphy, William R. Tonti, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 7154161
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a structure situated in a semiconductor die comprises an active shield situated in a substrate, where the active shield comprises a salicide layer situated on an active region, and where the active shield has a first conductivity type. The active shield can be situated in a well in the substrate, where the well is connected to a voltage source greater than or equal to a ground voltage, and where the well has a second conductivity type. According to this exemplary embodiment, the structure further comprises a passive component situated in an interconnect metal layer in the semiconductor die, where the passive component is situated above the active shield, and where the active shield defines an AC ground for the passive component. The structure further comprises at least one contact, where the at least one contact connects the active shield to a semiconductor die AC ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Volker A. Blaschke, Marco Racanelli
  • Patent number: 7123504
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device is configured by eight transistors including the six transistors configuring the data holding section and the two NMOS transistors configuring the reading stage. The threshold voltage of the NMOS transistors configuring the reading stage is set low and the threshold voltage of the six transistors configuring the data holding section is set higher than the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistors configuring the reading stage. The cell current flowing from the bit line to the ground terminal can be set large and the large static noise margin (SNM) can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yabe
  • Patent number: 7110283
    Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device, third and fourth transistors are configured as a vertical structure. The third transistor is laminated over a first transistor, and the fourth transistor is laminated over a second transistor, whereby a reduction in cell area is achieved. A voltage, which is set on the condition that the difference between a source potential applied to each of the first and second transistors and the potential of a select level of a word line becomes greater than or equal to a threshold voltage of each of the third and fourth transistors, is supplied to a source electrode of each of the first and second transistors, to thereby perform “0” write compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Takahashi, Takayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7092273
    Abstract: A p-channel non-volatile memory (NVM) transistor is programmed by shifting the threshold voltage of the transistor. The threshold voltage is shifted by introducing a programming current to the gate electrode of the transistor, and simultaneously introducing a negative bias to the transistor. The threshold voltage of the p-channel NVM transistor is shifted in response to the negative bias condition and the heat generated by the programming current. The high temperature accelerates the threshold voltage shift. The threshold voltage shift is accompanied by an agglomeration of material in the gate electrode. The agglomeration of material in the gate electrode is an indication of the high temperature reached during programming. The threshold voltage shift of the p-channel NVM transistor is permanent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Xilinx Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin T. Look
  • Patent number: 7078774
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array having matrix-like arrayed plural SRAMs on a semiconductor substrate having an N-well and P-well. The N-well and the P-well are isolated from each other with an isolation region each having a shallow trench structure. Each memory cell includes two CMOS inverter circuits having input and output nodes making a cross-coupled connection. First and second capacitors are connected between each gate node of two CMOS inverter circuits and the N-well and/or N-well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kondo, Katsumasa Hayashi, Tomoya Osaki, Seishi Irie
  • Patent number: 7075167
    Abstract: An inductor formed on a semiconductor substrate, comprising active device regions. The inductor comprises conductive lines formed on a dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. The conductive lines are patterned and etched into the desired shape, in one embodiment a planar spiral. A region of the substrate below the inductor are removed to lower the inductive Q factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Edward B. Harris, Stephen W. Downey
  • Patent number: RE40579
    Abstract: An SRAM memory cell having first and second transfer gate transistors. The first transfer gate transistor includes a first source/drain connected to a bit line and the second transfer gate transistor has a first source/drain connected to a complement bit line. Each transfer gate transistor has a gate connected to a word line. The SRAM memory cell also includes first and second pull-down transistors configured as a storage latch. The first pull-down transistor has a first source/drain connected to a second source/drain of said first transfer gate transistor; the second pull-down transistor has a first source/drain connected to a second source/drain of said second transfer gate transistor. Both first and second pull-down transistors have a second source/drain connected to a power supply voltage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Randolph Bryant, Tsiu Chiu Chan
  • Patent number: RE41670
    Abstract: A 4-T SRAM cell in which two layers of permanent SOG (with an intermediate oxide layer) are used to provide planarization between the first and topmost poly layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Loi Nguyen, Ravishankar Sundaresan