Transistor (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.37)
  • Patent number: 10510898
    Abstract: A thin film transistor is provided. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, an active pattern disposed on the substrate and including a nitride, a protective pattern disposed on the active pattern and including a non-nitride, a gate electrode overlapping with the active pattern, and a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and the active pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)
    Inventors: Jin-Seong Park, Kyungchul Ok, Hyunjun Jeong
  • Patent number: 10204941
    Abstract: The present application discloses an array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and method of manufacturing the array substrate, the array substrate includes a substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer and an active layer formed in stack subsequently; the active layer includes a source transfer portion and a drain transfer portion isolated from the source transfer portion and a channel integrally connected to the source transfer portion and the drain transfer portion, the contact resistance between the source transfer portion, the drain transfer portion and the channel is reduced, the interface defects in the channel is reduced, so that the on-state current is increased, and the off-state current is reduced through the source transfer portion and the drain transfer portion of the thin film transistor of the liquid crystal display panel, that is the on/off ratio is raised to improve the performance of the array substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Zhiwu Wang
  • Patent number: 9704912
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a first semiconductor layer including a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region; a first insulator layer provided above the first semiconductor layer; an intermediate semiconductor layer, having an n-type conduction, provided above the first region of the first semiconductor layer and above the first insulator layer; a second insulator layer provided above the intermediate semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer provided above the first region of the first semiconductor layer and above the second insulator layer; a sensor formed in the second region of the first semiconductor layer; a contact electrode connected to the intermediate semiconductor layer; and a circuit element formed in the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Kasai
  • Patent number: 8987792
    Abstract: Merged active devices on a common substrate are presented. Methods for operating and fabricating such merged active devices are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jaroslaw Adamski, Chris Olson
  • Patent number: 8937020
    Abstract: One object is to provide a deposition technique for forming an oxide semiconductor film. By forming an oxide semiconductor film using a sputtering target including a sintered body of a metal oxide whose concentration of hydrogen contained is low, for example, lower than 1×1016 atoms/cm3, the oxide semiconductor film contains a small amount of impurities such as a compound containing hydrogen typified by H2O or a hydrogen atom. In addition, this oxide semiconductor film is used as an active layer of a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 8932931
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method of forming a bipolar junction transistor. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including a uniform silicon nitride layer over an emitter pedestal, and a base layer below the emitter pedestal; applying a photomask at a first end and a second end of a base region; and performing a silicon nitride etch with the photomask to simultaneously form silicon nitride spacers adjacent to the emitter pedestal and exposing the base region of the bipolar junction transistor. The silicon nitride etch may be an end-pointed etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Margaret A. Faucher, Paula M. Fisher, Thomas H. Gabert, Joseph P. Hasselbach, Qizhi Liu, Glenn C. MacDougall
  • Patent number: 8928068
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device (e.g. a vertical power device, an IGBT device, a vertical bipolar transistor, a UMOS device or a GTO thyristor) is formed with an active semiconductor region, within which a plurality of semiconductor structures have been fabricated to form an active device, and below which at least a portion of a substrate material has been removed to isolate the active device, to expose at least one of the semiconductor structures for bottom side electrical connection and to enhance thermal dissipation. At least one of the semiconductor structures is preferably contacted by an electrode at the bottom side of the active semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Silanna Semiconductor U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart B. Molin, Michael A. Stuber
  • Patent number: 8921195
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a device structure, as well as device structures and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. The device structure includes a collector region in a substrate, a plurality of isolation structures extending into the substrate and comprised of an electrical insulator, and an isolation region in the substrate. The isolation structures have a length and are arranged with a pitch transverse to the length such that each adjacent pair of the isolation structures is separated by a respective section of the substrate. The isolation region is laterally separated from at least one of the isolation structures by a first portion of the collector region. The isolation region laterally separates a second portion of the collector region from the first portion of the collector region. The device structure further includes an intrinsic base on the second portion of the collector region and an emitter on the intrinsic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peng Cheng, Peter B. Gray, Vibhor Jain, Robert K. Leidy, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 8895377
    Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a first insulating film; performing oxygen doping treatment on the first insulating film to supply oxygen to the first insulating film; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, over the first insulating film; performing heat treatment on the oxide semiconductor film to remove a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film; forming a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and forming a gate electrode in a region overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film, over the second insulating film. The manufacturing method allows the formation of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8866189
    Abstract: A silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is disclosed, including: a substrate; two field oxide regions formed in the substrate; two pseudo buried layers, each being formed under a corresponding one of the field oxide regions; a collector region formed between the field oxide regions, the collector region laterally extending under a corresponding one of the field oxide regions and each side of the collector region being connected with a corresponding one of the pseudo buried layers; a matching layer formed under both the pseudo buried layers and the collector region; and two deep hole electrodes, each being formed in a corresponding one of the field oxide regions, the deep hole electrodes being connected to the corresponding ones of the pseudo buried layers for picking up the collector region. A manufacturing method of the SiGe HBT is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shanghai Hua Hong Nec Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hu, Jing Shi, Wensheng Qian, Donghua Liu, Wenting Duan, Fan Chen, Tzuyin Chiu
  • Patent number: 8847224
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a fin-based bipolar junction transistor (BJT) includes a wide collector situated in a semiconductor substrate. A fin base is disposed over the wide collector. Further, a fin emitter and an epi emitter are disposed over the fin base. A narrow base-emitter junction of the fin-based BJT is formed by the fin base and the fin emitter and the epi emitter provides increased current conduction and reduced resistance for the fin-based BJT. The epi emitter can be epitaxially formed on the fin emitter and can comprise polysilicon. Furthermore, the fin base and the fin emitter can each comprise single crystal silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Xia, Xiangdong Chen
  • Patent number: 8847359
    Abstract: High voltage bipolar transistors built with a BiCMOS process sequence exhibit reduced gain at high current densities due to the Kirk effect. Threshold current density for the onset of the Kirk effect is reduced by the lower doping density required for high voltage operation. The widened base region at high collector current densities due to the Kirk effect extends laterally into a region with a high density of recombination sites, resulting in an increase in base current and drop in the gain. The instant invention provides a bipolar transistor in an IC with an extended unsilicided base extrinsic region in a configuration that does not significantly increase a base-emitter capacitance. Lateral extension of the base extrinsic region may be accomplished using a silicide block layer, or an extended region of the emitter-base dielectric layer. A method of fabricating an IC with the inventive bipolar transistor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott Gerard Balster, Hiroshi Yasuda, Philipp Steinmann, Badih El-Kareh
  • Patent number: 8835248
    Abstract: Techniques for fabricating metal lines in semiconductor systems are disclosed. The metal may be tungsten. A hybrid Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)/Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process may be used. A layer of tungsten may be formed using CVD. This CVD layer may be formed over a barrier layer, such as, but not limited to, TiN or WN. This CVD layer may completely fill some feature such as a trench or via. Then, a layer of tungsten may be formed over the CVD layer using PVD. The layers of tungsten may then be etched to form a wire or line. Techniques for forming metal wires using a hybrid CVD/PVD process may provide for low resistivity with a barrier metal, low surface roughness, and good gap filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Naoki Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 8786027
    Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, replacement gate approaches may be applied in combination with a process strategy for implementing a strain-inducing semiconductor material, wherein superior proximity of the strain-inducing semiconductor material and/or superior robustness of the replacement gate approach may be achieved by forming the initial gate electrode structures with superior uniformity and providing at least one cavity for implementing the strained channel regions in a very advanced manufacturing stage, i.e., after completing the basic transistor configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Griebenow, Jan Hoentschel, Thilo Scheiper, Sven Beyer
  • Patent number: 8779479
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, which includes a channel formation region provided in a substrate including a semiconductor material, impurity regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first gate electrode, and a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, and a second transistor, which includes an oxide semiconductor layer over the substrate including the semiconductor material, a second source electrode and a second drain electrode, a second gate insulating layer, and a second gate electrode. The second source electrode and the second drain electrode include an oxide region formed by oxidizing a side surface thereof, and at least one of the first gate electrode, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the second gate electrode, the second source electrode, and the second drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8742544
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode include an oxide region formed by oxidizing a side surface thereof. Note that the oxide region of the source electrode and the drain electrode is preferably formed by plasma treatment with a high frequency power of 300 MHz to 300 GHz and a mixed gas of oxygen and argon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8735985
    Abstract: A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Clarence T. Tegreene, Tatsushi Toyokuni, Richard N. Zare
  • Patent number: 8728862
    Abstract: A thin film transistor, a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor, and a flat panel display device including the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode formed on a substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the gate electrode; an activation layer formed on the gate insulating film; a passivation layer including a compound semiconductor oxide, formed on the activation layer; and source and drain electrodes that contact the activation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Heung Ha, Young-Woo Song, Jong-Hyuk Lee, Jong-Han Jeong, Min-Kyu Kim, Yeon-Gon Mo, Jae-Kyeong Jeong, Hyun-Joong Chung, Kwang-Suk Kim, Hui-Won Yang, Chaun-Gi Choi
  • Publication number: 20140117493
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a device structure, as well as device structures and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. The device structure includes a collector region in a substrate, a plurality of isolation structures extending into the substrate and comprised of an electrical insulator, and an isolation region in the substrate. The isolation structures have a length and are arranged with a pitch transverse to the length such that each adjacent pair of the isolation structures is separated by a respective section of the substrate. The isolation region is laterally separated from at least one of the isolation structures by a first portion of the collector region. The isolation region laterally separates a second portion of the collector region from the first portion of the collector region. The device structure further includes an intrinsic base on the second portion of the collector region and an emitter on the intrinsic base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peng Cheng, Peter B. Gray, Vibhor Jain, Robert K. Leidy, Qizhi Liu
  • Publication number: 20140110825
    Abstract: Compound semiconductor lateral PNP bipolar transistors are fabricated based on processes traditionally used for formation of compound semiconductor NPN heterojunction bipolar transistors and hence such PNP bipolar transistors can be fabricated inexpensively using existing fabrication technologies. In particular, GaAs-based lateral PNP bipolar transistors are fabricated using GaAs-based NPN heterojunction bipolar transistor fabrication processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Javier Alejandro Salcedo, Shuyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8669148
    Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a first insulating film; performing oxygen doping treatment on the first insulating film to supply oxygen to the first insulating film; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, over the first insulating film; performing heat treatment on the oxide semiconductor film to remove a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film; forming a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and forming a gate electrode in a region overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film, over the second insulating film. The manufacturing method allows the formation of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8664691
    Abstract: A silicon photomultiplier maintains the photon detection efficiency high while increasing a dynamic range, by reducing the degradation of an effective fill factor that follows the increase of cell number density intended for a dynamic range enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Joon Sung Lee
  • Publication number: 20140054747
    Abstract: A bipolar transistor having an upper surface, comprises a multilevel collector structure formed in a base region of opposite conductivity type and having a first part of a first vertical extent coupled to a collector contact, an adjacent second part having a second vertical extent a third part of a third vertical extent and desirably of a depth different from a depth of the second part, coupled to the second part by a fourth part desirably having a fourth vertical extent less than the third vertical extent. A first base region portion overlies the second part, a second base region portion separates the third part from an overlying base contact region, and other base region portions laterally surround and underlie the multilevel collector structure. An emitter proximate the upper surface is laterally spaced from the multilevel collector structure. This combination provides improved gain, Early Voltage and breakdown voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Lin, Daniel J. Blomberg (Dan), Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8648419
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection clamp (21, 21?, 70, 700) for protecting associated devices or circuits (24), comprises a bipolar transistors (21, 21?, 70, 700) in which doping of facing base (75) and collector (86) regions is arranged so that avalanche breakdown occurs preferentially within a portion (84, 85) of the base region (74, 75) of the device (70, 700) away from the overlying dielectric-semiconductor interface (791). Maximum variations (?Vt1)MAX of ESD triggering voltage Vt1 as a function of base-collector spacing dimensions D due, for example, to different azimuthal orientations of transistors (21, 21?, 70, 700) on a semiconductor die or wafer is much reduced. Triggering voltage consistency and manufacturing yield are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Amaury Gendron, Chai Ean Gill, Changsoo Hong
  • Patent number: 8648386
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and manufacturing method for the same, and an ESD circuit are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region and a resistor. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The third doped region has the first type conductivity. The first doped region and the third doped region are separated by the second doped region. The resistor is coupled between the second doped region and the third doped region. An anode is coupled to the first doped region. A cathode is coupled to the third doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan, Shyi-Yuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20140015090
    Abstract: A higher breakdown voltage transistor has separated emitter, base contact, and collector contact. Underlying the emitter and the base contact are, respectively, first and second base portions of a first conductivity type. Underlying and coupled to the collector contact is a collector region of a second, opposite, conductivity type, having a central portion extending laterally toward, underneath, or beyond the base contact and separated therefrom by the second base portion. A floating collector region of the same conductivity type as the collector region underlies and is separated from the emitter by the first base portion. The collector and floating collector regions are separated by a part of the semiconductor (SC) region in which the base is formed. A further part of the SC region in which the base is formed, laterally bounds or encloses the collector region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Xin Lin, Daniel J. Blomberg, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8624224
    Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based devices and technology for their fabrication are disclosed. The planar, multiple layer deposition technique and simple methods of change of the nanotube conductivity type during the device processing are utilized to provide a simple and cost effective technology for large scale circuit integration. Such devices as p-n diode, CMOS-like circuit, bipolar transistor, light emitting diode and laser are disclosed, all of them are expected to have superior performance then their semiconductor-based counterparts due to excellent CNT electrical and optical properties. When fabricated on semiconductor wafers, the CNT-based devices can be combined with the conventional semiconductor circuit elements, thus producing hybrid devices and circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nano-Electronic and Photonic Devices and Circuits, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Kastalsky
  • Publication number: 20140003000
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing radio frequency (RF) signals using one or more bipolar transistors disposed on or above a high-resistivity region of a substrate. The substrate may include, for example, bulk silicon, at least a portion of which has high-resistivity characteristics. For example, the bulk substrate may have a resistivity greater than 500 Ohm*cm, such as around 1 kOhm*cm. In certain embodiments, one or more of the bipolar devices are surrounded by a low-resistivity implant configured to reduce effects of harmonic and other interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Joseph McPartlin
  • Publication number: 20130341676
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increased holding voltage SCRs. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a first well of the first conductivity type; a second well of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first well, an intersection of the first well and the second well forming a p-n junction; a first diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the first well and coupled to a ground terminal; a first diffused region of the second conductivity type formed at the first well; a second diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the second well and coupled to a pad terminal; a second diffused region of the second conductivity type formed in the second well; and a Schottky junction formed adjacent to the first diffused region of the second conductivity type coupled to a ground terminal. Methods for forming devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jam-Wem Lee, Tzu-Heng Chang, Tsung-Che Tsai, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Publication number: 20130341675
    Abstract: An ESD module having a first portion (FP) and a second portion (SP) in a substrate is presented. The FP includes a FP well of a second polarity type and first and second FP contact regions. The first FP contact region is of a first polarity type and the second FP contact region is of a second polarity type. The SP includes a SP well of a first polarity type and first and second SP contact regions. The first SP contact region is of a first polarity type and the second SP contact region is of a second polarity type. An intermediate portion (IP) is disposed in the substrate between the FP and SP in the substrate. The IP includes a well of the second polarity type. The IP increases trigger current and holding voltage of the module to prevent latch up during normal device operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Da-Wei LAI, Handoko LINEWIH
  • Publication number: 20130328162
    Abstract: Diodes and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are formed in IC devices that include fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) by utilizing various process steps in the FinFET formation process. The diode or BJT includes an isolated fin area and fin array area having n-wells having different depths and a p-well in a portion of the fin array area that surrounds the n-well in the isolated fin area. The n-wells and p-well for the diodes and BJTs are implanted together with the FinFET n-wells and p-wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin HU, Sun-Jay CHANG, Jaw-Juinn HORNG, Chung-Hui CHEN
  • Patent number: 8598669
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high breakdown voltage transistor that eases an electric field concentration caused between a gate and a drain. The present invention provides a semiconductor device comprising: a first gate electrode formed above a semiconductor substrate through a gate insulating film; a second gate electrode that is formed above the semiconductor substrate through the gate insulating film, and that is arranged at the side of the first gate electrode through an insulating spacer; a source region and a drain region formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to sandwich the first and second gate electrodes; and an electric-field concentration easing region that is formed to sandwich some region of the semiconductor substrate below the first gate electrode, and that is formed to be overlapped with the second gate electrode and the source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Hikida
  • Publication number: 20130307122
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region, which is designed to solve the problem of the TED effect with the prior art structures. The bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region of the present invention comprises at least a collector region, a base region and an external base region on the collector region, an emitter on the base region, and sidewalls at both sides of the emitter. The external base region is grown through an in-situ doping selective epitaxy process and is embedded in the collector region. A portion of the external base region is located beneath the sidewalls. The present invention discloses a method of forming a bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yu-dong Wang, Jun Fu, Jie Cui, Yue Zhao, Zhi-hong Liu, Wei Zhang, Gao-qing Li, Zheng-li Wu, Ping Xu
  • Patent number: 8587041
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region including unit pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor layer and each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a signal scanning circuit unit. The unit pixel includes a transfer gate provided on the semiconductor layer, a photogate provided on the semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, which is provided in the semiconductor layer below the photogate, and a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, which is adjacent to the first semiconductor layer and provided in the semiconductor layer between the transfer gate and the photogate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ai Mochizuki, Takeshi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130299944
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are disclosed. A BJT comprises a collector made of p-type semiconductor material, a base made of n-type well on the collector; and an emitter comprising a p+ region on the base and a SiGe layer on the p+ region. The BJT can be formed by providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a collector, a base on the collector, forming a sacrificial layer on the base, patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer to expose an opening surrounded by a STI within the base; implanting a p-type material through the sacrificial layer into an area of the base, forming a p+ region from the p-type implant; forming a SiGe layer on the etched p+ region to form an emitter. The process can be shared with manufacturing a polysilicon transistor up through the step of patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Yao Lai, Shyh-Wei Wang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20130285111
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for a silicon controlled rectifier. A well of a first conductivity type is formed in a device region, which may be defined from a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. A doped region of a second conductivity type is formed in the well. A cathode of a silicon controlled rectifier and a cathode of a diode are formed in the device region. The silicon controlled rectifier comprises a first portion of the well and an anode comprised of a first portion of the doped region. The diode comprises a second portion of the well and an anode comprised of a second portion of the doped region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Junjun Li
  • Publication number: 20130285120
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to bipolar transistors, such as heterojunction bipolar transistors, having at least one grading in the collector. One aspect of this disclosure is a bipolar transistor that includes a collector having a high doping concentration at a junction with the base and at least one grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base. In some embodiments, the high doping concentration can be at least about 3×1016 cm?3. According to certain embodiments, the collector includes two gradings. Such bipolar transistors can be implemented, for example, in power amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Zampardi, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130277805
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first well having a first conductive type, a second well having a second conductive type, a body region, a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region and a field plate. The first and second wells are formed in the substrate. The body region is formed in the second well. The first and second doped regions are formed in the first well and the body region, respectively. The second and first doped regions have the same polarities, and the dopant concentration of the second doped region is higher than that of the first doped region. The third doped region is formed in the second well and located between the first and second doped regions. The third and first doped regions have reverse polarities. The field plate is formed on the surface region between the first and second doped regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Hung, Chien-Wen Chu, Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan
  • Publication number: 20130277804
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a device structure such as a bipolar junction transistor, device structures for a bipolar junction transistor, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. The device structure includes a collector region formed in a substrate, an intrinsic base coextensive with the collector region, an emitter coupled with the intrinsic base, a first isolation region surrounding the collector region, and a second isolation region formed at least partially within the collector region. The first isolation region has a first sidewall and the second isolation region having a second sidewall peripherally inside the first sidewall. A portion of the collector region is disposed between the first sidewall of the first isolation region and the second sidewall of the second isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peng Cheng, David L. Harame, Robert K. Leidy, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 8563387
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a transistor is disclosed. The transistor comprises a collector, a base and an emitter, wherein a first end width of the base is larger than a middle width of the base, wherein a first end width of the collector is larger than a middle width of the collector, or wherein a first end width of the emitter is larger than a middle width of the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Klaus Diefenbeck
  • Publication number: 20130258532
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A portion of a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is patterned to form a device region. A well of a first conductivity type is formed in the epitaxial layer and the device region. A doped region of a second conductivity type is formed in the well and defines a junction with a portion of the well. The epitaxial layer includes an exterior sidewall spaced from an exterior sidewall of the device region. Another portion of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Junjun Li
  • Publication number: 20130256748
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A device region is formed in a trench and is coupled with a handle wafer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region extends through a buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate toward a top surface of a device layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region is comprised of lightly-doped semiconductor material. The device structure further includes a doped region formed in the device region and that defines a junction. A portion of the device region is laterally positioned between the doped region and the buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. Another region of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Terence B. Hook, Junjun Li, Theodorus E. Standaert, Thomas A. Wallner
  • Patent number: 8546855
    Abstract: Shallow trench isolation silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices are formed with improved charge protection. Embodiments include an SOI film diode and a P+ substrate junction as a charging protection device. Embodiments also include a conductive path from the SOI transistor drain, through a conductive contact, a metal line, a second conductive contact, an SOI diode, isolated from the transistor, a third conductive contact, a second conductive line, and a fourth conductive contact to a P+-doped substrate contact in the bulk silicon layer of the SOI substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Globalfoundres Inc.
    Inventors: Jingrong Zhou, David Wu, James F. Buller
  • Patent number: 8530289
    Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of forming a first insulating film; performing oxygen doping treatment on the first insulating film to supply oxygen to the first insulating film; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, over the first insulating film; performing heat treatment on the oxide semiconductor film to remove a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film; forming a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and forming a gate electrode in a region overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film, over the second insulating film. The manufacturing method allows the formation of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8530953
    Abstract: A transistor power switch device comprising an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between the first and second faces of a semiconductor body and a vertical avalanche diode electrically in parallel with the array of vertical transistors. The array of transistor elements includes at the first face an array of source regions of a first semiconductor type, at least one p region of a second semiconductor type opposite to the first type interposed between the source regions and the second face, at least one control electrode for switchably controlling flow of the current through the p region, and a conductive layer contacting the source regions and insulated from the control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Michel Reynes, Beatrice Bernoux, Rene Escoffier, Pierre Jalbaud, Ivana Deram
  • Patent number: 8525289
    Abstract: Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. Moreover, a single metal-containing electrode material may be deposited for both types of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Carter, Martin Trentzsch, Sven Beyer, Rohit Pal
  • Patent number: 8513717
    Abstract: A first driver transistor includes a first gate insulating film that surrounds a periphery of a first island-shaped semiconductor, a first gate electrode having a first surface that is in contact with the first gate insulating film, and first and second first-conductivity-type high-concentration semiconductors disposed on the top and bottom of the first island-shaped semiconductor, respectively. A first load transistor includes a second gate insulating film having a first surface that is in contact with a second surface of the first gate electrode, a first arcuate semiconductor formed so as to be in contact with a portion of a second surface of the second gate insulating film, and first and second second-conductivity-type high-concentration semiconductors disposed on the top and bottom of the first arcuate semiconductor, respectively. A first gate line extends from the first gate electrode and is made of the same material as the first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130207235
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method of forming a bipolar junction transistor. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including a uniform silicon nitride layer over an emitter pedestal, and a base layer below the emitter pedestal; applying a photomask at a first end and a second end of a base region; and performing a silicon nitride etch with the photomask to simultaneously form silicon nitride spacers adjacent to the emitter pedestal and exposing the base region of the bipolar junction transistor. The silicon nitride etch may be an end-pointed etch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Margaret A. Faucher, Paula M. Fisher, Thomas H. Gabert, Joseph P. Hasselbach, Qizhi Liu, Glenn C. MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20130187256
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an n-type first guard ring layer provided between an emitter layer and a collector layer on a surface side of a base layer, and having a higher n-type impurity concentration than the base layer, and an n-type second guard ring layer provided between the first guard ring layer and a buried layer, connected to the first guard ring layer and the buried layer, and having a higher n-type impurity concentration than the base layer. The first guard ring layer has an n-type impurity concentration profile decreasing toward the second guard ring layer side, and the second guard ring layer has an impurity concentration profile decreasing toward the first guard ring layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koji SHIRAI
  • Patent number: 8492862
    Abstract: One object is to provide a deposition technique for forming an oxide semiconductor film. By forming an oxide semiconductor film using a sputtering target including a sintered body of a metal oxide whose concentration of hydrogen contained is low, for example, lower than 1×1016 atoms/cm3, the oxide semiconductor film contains a small amount of impurities such as a compound containing hydrogen typified by H2O or a hydrogen atom. In addition, this oxide semiconductor film is used as an active layer of a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Keiji Sato