Altering Electrical Characteristic Patents (Class 438/139)
  • Patent number: 9797067
    Abstract: A selective epitaxial growth method includes preparing a target object including a single crystal substrate in which an epitaxial growth region is partitioned by a suppression film; and growing the epitaxial layer on the epitaxial growth region of the target object until a predetermined film thickness is obtained. The growing the epitaxial layer includes first source gas supply process of supplying a source gas onto the target object under a first pressure to grow a first epitaxial layer on the epitaxial growth region, first removing process of removing deposits on the suppression film, second source gas supply process of supplying the source gas onto the target object under a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and second removing process of removing the deposits on the suppression film. The second source gas supply process and the second removing process are repeated until the predetermined film thickness is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Daisuke Suzuki, Akinobu Kakimoto, Satoshi Onodera
  • Patent number: 9024285
    Abstract: A nanoscale switching device is provided. The device comprises: a first electrode of a nanoscale width; a second electrode of a nanoscale width; an active region disposed between the first and second electrodes, the active region having a non-conducting portion comprising an electronically semiconducting or nominally insulating and a weak ionic conductor switching material capable of carrying a species of dopants and transporting the dopants under an electric field and a source portion that acts as a source or sink for the dopants; and an oxide layer either formed on the first electrode, between the first electrode and the active region or formed on the second electrode, between the second electrode and the active region. A crossbar array comprising a plurality of the nanoscale switching devices is also provided. A process for making at least one nanoscale switching device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jianhua Yang, Gilberto Ribeiro, R. Stanley Williams
  • Patent number: 8969142
    Abstract: An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nantero Inc.
    Inventors: Eliodor G. Ghenciu, Thomas Rueckes, Thierry Yao, J. Thomas Kocab
  • Patent number: 8952418
    Abstract: Some embodiments include gated bipolar junction transistors. The transistors may include a base region between a collector region and an emitter region; with a B-C junction being at an interface of the base region and the collector region, and with a B-E junction being at an interface of the base region and the emitter region. The transistors may include material having a bandgap of at least 1.2 eV within one or more of the base, emitter and collector regions. The gated transistors may include a gate along the base region and spaced from the base region by dielectric material, with the gate not overlapping either the B-C junction or the B-E junction. Some embodiments include memory arrays containing gated bipolar junction transistors. Some embodiments include methods of forming gated bipolar junction transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh N. Gupta, Farid Nemati, Scott T. Robins
  • Patent number: 8907455
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled switch comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a switching junction situated between the first electrode and the second electrode, a conducting channel extending from adjacent to the origin through the switching junction and having a channel end situated near the second electrode, and a layer of dopants situated adjacent to an interface between the switching junction and the second electrode, wherein the dopants are capable of being activated to form switching centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Julien Borghetti, Matthew D. Pickett
  • Patent number: 8878235
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of fabricating a memory cell is provided that includes fabricating a steering element above a substrate, and fabricating a reversible-resistance switching element coupled to the steering element by selectively fabricating carbon nano-tube (“CNT”) material above the substrate, wherein the CNT material comprises a single CNT. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: April D. Schricker, Wu-Yi Chien, Kun Hou, Raghuveer S. Makala, Jingyan Zhang, Yibo Nian
  • Patent number: 8847278
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active section for a main current flow and a breakdown withstanding section for breakdown voltage. An external peripheral portion surrounds the active section on one major surface of an n-type semiconductor substrate. The breakdown withstanding section has a ring-shaped semiconductor protrusion, with a rectangular planar pattern including a curved section in each of four corners thereof, as a guard ring. The ring-shaped semiconductor protrusion has a p-type region therein, is sandwiched between a plurality of concavities deeper than the p-type region, and has an electrically conductive film across an insulator film on the surface thereof. Because of this, it is possible to manufacture at low cost a breakdown withstanding structure with which a high breakdown voltage is obtained in a narrow width, wherein there is little drop in breakdown voltage, even when there are variations in a patterning process of a field oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Takei, Yusuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8841683
    Abstract: A semiconductor rectifier device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type of a wide gap semiconductor; a semiconductor layer of the first conductive type of the wide gap semiconductor formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein an impurity concentration of the semiconductor layer is between 1E+14 atoms/cm3 and 5E+16 atoms/cm3 inclusive, and a thickness thereof is 8 ?m or more; a first semiconductor region of the first conductive type of the wide gap semiconductor formed at the semiconductor layer surface; a plurality of second semiconductor regions of a second conductive type of the wide gap semiconductor formed as sandwiched by the first semiconductor regions, wherein a width of each of the second semiconductor regions is 15 ?m or more; a first electrode formed on the first and second semiconductor regions; and a second electrode formed on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Makoto Mizukami
  • Patent number: 8803192
    Abstract: An exemplary bipolar non-punch-through power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer and a first electrical contact on a first main side and a second electrical contact on a second main side. The wafer has an inner region with a wafer thickness and a termination region that surrounds the inner region, such that the wafer thickness is reduced at least on the first main side with a negative bevel. The semiconductor wafer has at least a two-layer structure with layers of different conductivity types, which can include a drift layer of a first conductivity type, a first layer of a second conductivity type at a first layer depth and directly connected to the drift layer on the first main side and contacting the first electrical contact, and a second layer of the second conductivity type arranged in the termination region on the first main side up to a second layer depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jan Vobecky, Munaf Rahimo
  • Patent number: 8779516
    Abstract: A second conduction-type MIS transistor in which a source is coupled to a second power source over the surface of a first conduction-type well and a drain is coupled to the open-drain signal terminal is provided. A second conduction-type first region is provided at both sides of the MIS transistor in parallel with a direction where the electric current of the MIS transistor flows and coupled to the open-drain signal terminal. The whole these components are surrounded by a first conduction-type guard ring coupled to the second power source and the outside surrounded by the first conduction-type guard ring is further surrounded by a second conduction-type guard ring coupled to a first power source. Thereby, the semiconductor device is capable of achieving ESD protection of an open-drain signal terminal having a small area and not providing a protection element between power source terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikatsu Kawachi
  • Patent number: 8779464
    Abstract: A structure for starting a semiconductor component including a porous silicon layer in the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. This porous silicon layer is contacted, on its upper surface side, by a metallization and, on its lower surface side, by a heavily-doped semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Samuel Menard
  • Patent number: 8728859
    Abstract: An example embodiment disclosed is a method for fabricating a phase change memory cell. The method includes forming a non-sublithographic via within an insulating substrate. The insulating substrate is embedded on the same layer as a first metalization layer (Metal 1) of a semiconductor wafer, and includes a bottom and a sidewall. A sublithographic aperture is formed through the bottom of the non-sublithographic via and extends to a buried conductive material. The sublithographic aperture is filled with a conductive non-phase change material. Furthermore, phase change material is deposited within the non-sublithographic via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Breitwisch, Eric A. Joseph, Chung H. Lam, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Patent number: 8728877
    Abstract: On a single-crystal substrate, a drift layer is formed. The drift layer has a first surface facing the single-crystal substrate, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, is made of silicon carbide, and has first conductivity type. On the second surface of the drift layer, a collector layer made of silicon carbide and having second conductivity type is formed. By removing the single-crystal substrate, the first surface of the drift layer is exposed. A body region and an emitter region are formed. The body region is disposed in the first surface of the drift layer, and has the second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The emitter region is disposed on the body region, is separated from the drift layer by the body region, and has first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Wada, Takeyoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8673697
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film transistor, comprising steps of preparing a substrate; forming a polycrystalline silicon layer on the substrate; injecting impurities into the polycrystalline silicon layer for channel doping; patterning the polycrystalline silicon layer and forming a semiconductor layer; annealing the semiconductor layer in an H2O atmosphere, and forming a thermal oxide layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a silicon nitride layer on the thermal oxide layer; forming a gate electrode at a location corresponding to a predetermined region of the semiconductor layer; forming an interlayer insulating layer on the entire surface of the substrate; and forming source and drain electrodes electrically connected with the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-Jin Kim, Kyoung-Bo Kim, Ki-Yong Lee, Han-Hee Yoon
  • Patent number: 8664690
    Abstract: A bi-directional triode thyristor (TRIAC) device for high voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection may include a substrate, an N+ doped buried layer, an N-type well region and two P-type well regions. The N+ doped buried layer may be disposed proximate to the substrate. The N-type well region may encompass the two P-type well regions such that a portion of the N-type well region is interposed between the two P-type well regions. The P-type well regions may be disposed proximate to the N+ doped buried layer and comprise one or more N+ doped plates and one or more P+ doped plates. The portion of the N-type well region that is interposed between the two P-type well regions may comprise one or more P-type portions, such as a P+ doped plate or a P-type implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Liang Chen, Shuo-Lun Tu, Wing-Chor Chan, Shyi-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8637954
    Abstract: A semiconductor die includes a substrate, a first device region and a second device region. The first device region includes an epitaxial layer on the substrate and one or more semiconductor devices of a first type formed in the epitaxial layer of the first device region. The second device region is spaced apart from the first device region and includes an epitaxial layer on the substrate and one or more semiconductor devices of a second type formed in the epitaxial layer of the second device region. The epitaxial layer of the first device region is different than the epitaxial layer of the second device region so that the one or more semiconductor devices of the first type are formed in a different epitaxial layer than the one or more semiconductor devices of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Meyer, Wolfgang Werner, Christoph Kadow
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8586424
    Abstract: An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nantero Inc.
    Inventors: Eliodor G. Ghenciu, Thomas Rueckes, Thierry Yao, Thomas Kocab
  • Patent number: 8557640
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Publication number: 20130207159
    Abstract: An exemplary bipolar non-punch-through power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer and a first electrical contact on a first main side and a second electrical contact on a second main side. The wafer has an inner region with a wafer thickness and a termination region that surrounds the inner region, such that the wafer thickness is reduced at least on the first main side with a negative bevel. The semiconductor wafer has at least a two-layer structure with layers of different conductivity types, which can include a drift layer of a first conductivity type, a first layer of a second conductivity type at a first layer depth and directly connected to the drift layer on the first main side and contacting the first electrical contact, and a second layer of the second conductivity type arranged in the termination region on the first main side up to a second layer depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventor: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
  • Patent number: 8476614
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a resistive-change memory element, the memory device includes: a first memory element that includes a first resistive-change layer and a first electrode connected to the first resistive-change layer; and a second memory element that includes a second resistive-change layer and a second electrode connected to the second resistive-change layer, wherein at least one of the thickness and the material of the second resistive-change layer and the area of the second electrode in contact with the second resistive-change layer is different from the corresponding one of the thickness and the material of the first resistive-change layer and the area of the first electrode in contact with the first resistive-change layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Sumino, Shuichiro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8476672
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device comprising a SCR structure that is a transverse PNPN structure formed by performing a P-type implantation and an N-type implantation in an N-well and a P-well on a silicon substrate, respectively, wherein a P-type doped region in the N-well is used as an anode, and N-type doped region in the P-well is used as a cathode, characterized in that, N-type dopants are implanted into the N-well to form one lead-out terminal of a resistor, P-type dopants are implanted into the P-well to form another lead-out terminal for the resistor, and the two leading-out terminals are connected by the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Peking University
    Inventors: Ru Huang, Lijie Zhang
  • Patent number: 8470646
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a method of forming a memory cell is provided that includes (1) forming a metal-insulator-metal (“MIM”) stack above a substrate, the MIM stack including a carbon-based switching material having a resistivity of at least 1×104 ohm-cm; and (2) forming a steering element coupled to the MIM stack. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Huiwen Xu, Xiying Chen, Er-Xuan Ping
  • Patent number: 8461620
    Abstract: An optically triggered semiconductor switch includes an anode metallization layer; a cathode metallization layer; a semiconductor between the anode metallization layer and the cathode metallization layer and a photon source. The semiconductor includes at least four layers of alternating doping in the form P-N-P-N, in which an outer layer adjacent to the anode metallization layer forms an anode and an outer layer adjacent the cathode metallization layer forms a cathode and in which the anode metallization layer has a window pattern of optically transparent material exposing the anode layer to light. The photon source emits light having a wavelength, with the light from the photon source being configured to match the window pattern of the anode metallization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Pulsed Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Glidden, Howard D. Sanders
  • Patent number: 8420454
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power device having a first current-conduction terminal, a second current-conduction terminal, a control terminal receiving, in use, a control voltage of the power device, and a thyristor device and a first insulated-gate switch device coupled in series between the first and the second conduction terminals; the first insulated-gate switch device has a gate terminal coupled to the control terminal, and the thyristor device has a base terminal. The power device is further provided with: a second insulated-gate switch device, coupled between the first current-conduction terminal and the base terminal of the thyristor device, and having a respective gate terminal coupled to the control terminal; and a Zener diode, coupled between the base terminal of the thyristor device and the second current-conduction terminal so as to enable extraction of current from the base terminal in a given operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Cesare Ronsisvalle, Vincenzo Enea
  • Patent number: 8236623
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of fabricating a memory cell is provided that includes (1) fabricating a steering element above a substrate; and (2) fabricating a reversible-resistance switching element coupled to the steering element by selectively fabricating carbon nano-tube (CNT) material above the substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: April Schricker, Mark Clark, Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 8145020
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a direct light-triggered thyristor triggered by an optical gate signal, a first optical fiber connected to the direct light-triggered thyristor and through which the optical gate signal is transmitted, a second optical fiber used to extend the first optical fiber, and a inter-optical-fiber relaying unit configured to connect the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber and to input the optical gate signal output from the second optical fiber to the first optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi—Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8138028
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mushroom-cell type phase change memory is based upon manufacturing a pillar of bottom electrode material upon a substrate including an array of conductive contacts in electrical communication with access circuitry. A layer of electrode material is deposited making reliable electrical contact with the array of conductive contacts. Electrode material is etched to form a pattern of electrode pillars on corresponding conductive contacts. Next, a dielectric material is deposited over the pattern and planarized to provide an electrode surface exposing top surfaces of the electrode pillars. Next, a layer of programmable resistive material, such as a chalcogenide or other phase change material, is deposited, followed by deposition of a layer of a top electrode material. A device including bottom electrode pillars with larger bottom surfaces than top surfaces is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Macronix International Co., Ltd, International Business Machines Corporation, Qimonda North America Corp.
    Inventors: Hsiang Lan Lung, Chieh Fang Chen, Yi Chou Chen, Shih Hung Chen, Chung Hon Lam, Eric Andrew Joseph, Alejandro Gabriel Schrott, Matthew J. Breitwisch, Geoffrey William Burr, Thomas D. Happ, Jan Boris Philipp
  • Patent number: 8124480
    Abstract: Edge termination for silicon carbide devices has a plurality of concentric floating guard rings in a silicon carbide layer that are adjacent and spaced apart from a silicon carbide-based semiconductor junction. An insulating layer, such as an oxide, is provided on the floating guard rings and a silicon carbide surface charge compensation region is provided between the floating guard rings and is adjacent the insulating layer. Methods of fabricating such edge termination are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Sei-Hyung Ryu, Anant K. Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20120018775
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device comprising a SCR structure that is a transverse PNPN structure formed by performing a P-type implantation and an N-type implantation in an N-well and a P-well on a silicon substrate, respectively, wherein a P-type doped region in the N-well is used as an anode, and N-type doped region in the P-well is used as a cathode, characterized in that, N-type dopants are implanted into the N-well to form one lead-out terminal of a resistor, P-type dopants are implanted into the P-well to form another lead-out terminal for the resistor, and the two leading-out terminals are connected by the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: PEKING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ru Huang, Lijie Zhang
  • Patent number: 8071450
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor wafer with a substrate of a first conductivity type and forming a first epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type on the substrate. The first epitaxial layer has a first thickness. The method further includes growing a first oxide layer on the first epitaxial layer, masking the first oxide layer, ion implanting to create at least one embedded region of a second conductivity type in the first epitaxial layer, removing the first oxide layer, and forming a second epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type on the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer has the first thickness minus a thickness equal to a thickness of the at least one embedded region of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Third Dimension (3D) Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Xing-Bi Chen
  • Publication number: 20110163352
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described that includes one or more electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits. Each circuit comprises reverse-biased steering diodes connected in series between power rail and signal ground, a bypass Zener diode and a substrate Zener diode. The Zener diodes provide ESD protection and the steering diode cooperate with the substrate Zener diode to provide a bypass function that is substantially symmetric about the signal ground. Noise in the circuit can be shunted using internal and/or external capacitances that can be implemented as Zener diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: California Micro Devices
    Inventors: Harry Gee, Wenjiang Zeng, Jeffrey C. Dunnihoo
  • Patent number: 7923308
    Abstract: The invention comprises methods of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor, and methods of forming local interconnects. In one implementation, a method of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor includes providing gate dielectric material intermediate a transistor gate and a channel region of a field effect transistor. At least some of the gate dielectric material extends to be received over at least one source/drain region of the field effect transistor. The gate dielectric material received over the one source/drain region is exposed to conditions effective to change it from being electrically insulative to being electrically conductive and in conductive contact with the one source/drain region. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Gurtej S. Sandhu, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7915637
    Abstract: An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Eliodor G. Ghenciu, Thomas Rueckes, Thierry Yao, Tom Kocab
  • Publication number: 20110003441
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optically triggered switch and a method of forming the optically triggered switch. The optically triggered switch includes a silicon layer having at least one trench formed therein and at least one silicon diode formed in the silicon layer. The switch also includes a first thyristor formed in the silicon layer. The first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode by the trench and the first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS J. KRUTSICK
  • Patent number: 7851274
    Abstract: A structure and method for a silicon carbide (SiC) gate turn-off (GTO) thyristor device operable to provide an increased turn-off gain comprises a cathode region, a drift region having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the drift region overlies the cathode region, a gate region overlying the drift region, an anode region overlying the gate, and at least one ohmic contact positioned on each of the gate region, anode region, and cathode region, wherein the upper portion of the drift region, the gate region, and the anode region have a free carrier lifetime and mobility lower than a comparable SiC GTO thyristor for providing the device with an increased turn-off gain, wherein the free carrier lifetime is approximately 10 nanoseconds. The reduced free carrier lifetime and mobility are affected by altering the growth conditions, such as temperature under which epitaxy occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Pankaj B. Shah
  • Patent number: 7763481
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate having a pixel portion and a pad portion; a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define the pixel portion at the pixel portion; a transistor adjacent to a crossing of the gate line and the data line, the transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode; an insulating layer above the source electrode and the drain electrode, the insulating layer exposing a lateral side of the drain electrode; a pixel electrode in contact with the lateral side of the drain electrode; a second substrate attached to the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and a second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Young Yang, Jung-Il Lee
  • Publication number: 20100120208
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20100084631
    Abstract: A phase controllable field effect transistor device is described. The device provides first and second scattering sites disposed at either side of a conducting channel region, the conducting region being gated such that on application of an appropriate signal to the gate, energies of the electrons in the channel region defined between the scattering centres may be modulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: John Boland, Stefano Sanvito, Borislav Naydenov
  • Patent number: 7670881
    Abstract: At present, a forming process of a base film through an amorphous silicon film is conducted in respective film forming chambers in order to obtain satisfactory films. When continuous formation of the base film through the amorphous silicon film is performed in a single film forming chamber with the above film formation condition, crystallization is not sufficiently attained in a crystallization process. By forming the amorphous silicon film using silane gas diluted with hydrogen, crystallization is sufficiently attained in the crystallization process even with the continuous formation of the base film through the amorphous silicon film in the single film forming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taketomi Asami, Mitsuhiro Ichijo, Satoshi Toriumi
  • Patent number: 7628959
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor and/or switch fabricated from arrays nanowires composed of metal or metal alloys that have stable metal hydride phases. The sensor and/or switch response times make it quite suitable for measuring the concentration of hydrogen in a flowing gas stream. The sensor and/or switch preferably operates by measuring the resistance of several metal nanowires arrayed in parallel in the presence of hydrogen gas. The nanowires preferably comprise gaps or break junctions that can function as a switch that closes in the presence of hydrogen gas. Consequently, the conductivity of the nanowires of the sensor and/or switch increases in the presence of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Reginald Mark Penner, Erich C. Walter, Fred Favier
  • Patent number: 7608494
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a gate wire formed on the insulating substrate. A gate insulating layer covers the gate wire. A semiconductor pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer. A data wire having source electrodes, drain electrodes and data lines is formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor pattern. A protective layer is formed on the data wire. Pixel electrodes connected to the drain electrode via contact holes are formed on the protective layer. The gate wire and the data wire are made of Ag alloy containing Ag and an additive including at least one selected from Zn, In, Sn and Cr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Gab Lee, Bong-Joo Kang, Beom-Seok Cho, Chang-Oh Jeong
  • Publication number: 20090250706
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optically triggered switch and a method of forming the optically triggered switch. The optically triggered switch includes a silicon layer having at least one trench formed therein and at least one silicon diode formed in the silicon layer. The switch also includes a first thyristor formed in the silicon layer. The first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode by the trench and the first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: THOMAS J. KRUTSICK
  • Patent number: 7491586
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thyristor-based memory may include forming different opposite conductivity-type regions in silicon for defining a thyristor and an access device in series relationship. An activation anneal may activate dopants previously implanted for the different regions. A damaging implant of germanium or xenon or argon may be directed into select regions of the silicon including at least one p-n junction region for the access device and the thyristor. A re-crystallization anneal may then be performed to re-crystallize at least some of the damaged lattice structure resulting from the damaging implant. The re-crystallization anneal may use a temperature less than that of the previous activation anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew E Horch, Hyun-Jin Cho, Farid Nemati, Scott Robins, Rajesh N. Gupta, Kevin J. Yang
  • Patent number: 7491609
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor layer, source and drain layers formed in the semiconductor layer and disposed on both sides of the gate electrode, and a field plate disposed at the back of the semiconductor layer with an insulating layer provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Juri Kato
  • Patent number: 7459365
    Abstract: The fabrication of a semiconductor component having a semiconductor body in which is arranged a very thin dielectric layer having sections which run in the vertical direction and which extend very deeply into the semiconductor body is disclosed. In one method a trench is formed in a drift zone region proceeding from the front side of a semiconductor body, a sacrificial layer is produced on at least a portion of the sidewalls of the trench and at least a portion of the trench is filled with a semiconductor material which is chosen such that the quotient of the net dopant charge of the semiconductor material in the trench and the total area of the sacrificial layer on the sidewalls of the trench between the semiconductor material and the drift zone region is less than the breakdown charge of the semiconductor material, and the sacrificial layer is replaced with a dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Michael Rüb, Herbert Schäfer, Armin Willmeroth, Anton Mauder, Stefan Sedlmaier, Roland Rupp, Manfred Pippan, Hans Weber, Frank Pfirsch, Franz Hirler, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20080283868
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first layer having a first conductivity type, a second layer having a second conductivity type, a third layer having the second conductivity type, one or more first zones having the first conductivity type and located within the second layer, wherein each one of the one or more first zones is adjacent to the third layer, and one or more second zones having the second conductivity type and located within the second layer, wherein each one of the one or more second zones is adjacent to one or more of the one or more first zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Hans-Peter Felsl
  • Patent number: 7442584
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an isolated vertical power device includes forming, in a back surface of a first conductivity type substrate, back isolation wall trenches that surround a conduction region of the device. In a front surface of the substrate, front isolation wall trenches are formed around the conduction region. Thereafter, a film containing a second type dopant is deposited in the front and back isolation wall trenches. In the conduction region on the back surface, conduction region trenches are formed inside the perimeter of the isolation wall trenches. A first type dopant is deposited in the conduction region trenches. The dopants are diffused from the conduction region trenches and isolation wall trenches to form a first conductivity type conduction region structure and a second conductivity type isolation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Austin Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7419877
    Abstract: Edge termination for silicon carbide devices has a plurality of concentric floating guard rings in a silicon carbide layer that are adjacent and spaced apart from a silicon carbide-based semiconductor junction. An insulating layer, such as an oxide, is provided on the floating guard rings and a silicon carbide surface charge compensation region is provided between the floating guard rings and is adjacent the insulating layer. Methods of fabricating such edge termination are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Sei-Hyung Ryu, Anant K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 7361570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device, a method of manufacture therefor and an integrated circuit including the same. The semiconductor device 100, among other things, may include a substrate 110 having a lattice structure and having an implanted precipitate region 120 located within the lattice structure. Additionally, the semiconductor device 100 may include a dynamic defect 125 located within the lattice structure and proximate the implanted precipitate region 120, such that the implanted precipitate region 120 affects a position of the dynamic defect 125 within the lattice structure. Located over the substrate 110 in the aforementioned semiconductor device 100 is a gate structure 160.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kaiping Liu