Stacked Capacitor Patents (Class 438/396)
  • Patent number: 8753953
    Abstract: A capacitor and method for fabricating the same. In one configuration, the capacitor has a silicon substrate, a first and a second silicon dioxide layer over the silicon substrate, and silicon nitride fins between the silicon dioxide layers. The capacitor further includes a dielectric layer over the silicon nitride fins and metal vias in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8754527
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure having a borderless contact, the method including providing a first semiconductor device adjacent to a second semiconductor device, the first and second semiconductor devices being formed on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a non-conductive liner on top of the semiconductor substrate and the first and second semiconductor devices, depositing a contact level dielectric layer on top of the non-conductive liner, etching a contact hole in the contact-level dielectric between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device, and selective to the non-conductive liner, converting a portion of the non-conductive liner exposed in the contact hole into a conductive liner; and forming a metal contact in the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Rahhavasimhan Sreenivasan
  • Patent number: 8753951
    Abstract: In a silicon carbide MOSFET, interface state generated at an interface between a silicon carbide layer and a gate insulating film cannot be reduced sufficiently, and mobility of a carrier is decreased. To solve this problem, a silicon carbide semiconductor device according to this invention includes a substrate introduction step of introducing a substrate, which includes a silicon carbide layer on which a gate insulating film is formed, in a furnace, such that the substrate is arranged in a predetermined position of the furnace, and a heating step of heating the furnace having the substrate introduced therein while introducing nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen therein, wherein, in the heating step, nitrogen is reacted to nitride an interface between the gate insulating film and the silicon carbide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tanioka, Masayuki Furuhashi, Masayuki Imaizumi
  • Publication number: 20140159201
    Abstract: An integrated circuit contains a high precision capacitor having a bottom plate, a dielectric layer over the bottom plate, a capacitor opening in the dielectric layer exposing, and not overlapping, the bottom plate, a capacitor dielectric layer covering sidewalls and a bottom of the capacitor opening, a top plate covering the capacitor dielectric layer in the capacitor opening, and a capacitor planarizing dielectric layer covering the capacitor top plate in the capacitor opening. A top surface of the capacitor planarizing dielectric layer and a top edge of the capacitor top plate are substantially coplanar. The top plate does not extend laterally beyond the capacitor opening. A method of forming the integrated circuit the high precision capacitor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Alan KELLER, Michael LeRoy HUBER
  • Publication number: 20140159199
    Abstract: A serial capacitor comprised of a bottom electrode, a top electrode that is conductively coupled the bottom electrode, a middle electrode positioned between the bottom and top electrode, a lower dielectric layer positioned between the bottom and middle electrodes, and an upper dielectric layer positioned between the middle and the electrodes. A method includes forming the bottom electrode in a first layer of insulating material, forming the lower dielectric layer and the middle electrode above the bottom electrode, wherein the middle electrode is positioned in a second layer of insulating material, forming the upper dielectric layer above the middle electrode, forming an opening that exposes a portion of the bottom electrode, and forming the top electrode above the upper dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the top electrode extends through the opening and contacts the bottom electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ki Young Lee, Sanggil Bae, Tony Joung
  • Publication number: 20140159198
    Abstract: Embodiments of integrated passive devices (e.g., metal insulator metal, or MIM, capacitors) and methods of their formation include depositing a composite electrode over a semiconductor substrate (e.g., on a dielectric layer above the substrate surface), and depositing an insulator layer over the composite electrode. The composite electrode includes an underlying electrode and an overlying electrode deposited on a top surface of the underlying electrode. The underlying electrode is formed from a first conductive material (e.g., AlCuW), and the overlying electrode is formed from a second, different conductive material (e.g., AlCu). The top surface of the underlying electrode may have a relatively rough surface morphology, and the top surface of the overlying electrode may have a relatively smooth surface morphology. For high frequency, high power applications, both the composite electrode and the insulator layer may be thicker than in some conventional integrated passive devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: XIAOWEI REN, WAYNE R. BURGER
  • Publication number: 20140159200
    Abstract: An embodiment of a high-density, stacked, planar metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure includes a stack of planar electrodes and interposing dielectric layers. Vertically-alternating electrodes are horizontally-staggered, and vias are formed through the multiple electrodes, so that electrical connection is made circumferentially through the via sidewalls to multiple electrodes through which a given via passes. An MIM capacitor incorporating a multiple-level capacitor stack may be fabricated by repeated usage of the same mask operation for each incremental capacitor stack level, and without requiring additional masks beyond those utilized for the first such level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Alvin Leng Sun Loke, Tin Tin Wee
  • Patent number: 8749022
    Abstract: A capacitor device includes a substrate including a first well having a first conductivity type and a first voltage applied thereto and a second well having a second conductivity type and a second voltage applied thereto; and a gate electrode disposed on an upper portion of the first well or an upper portion of the second well in such a way that the gate electrode is insulated from the first well or the second well, wherein capacitances of the capacitor device include a first capacitance between the first well and the second well and a second capacitance between the first well or the second well and the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Ryul Chang, Hwa-Sook Shin
  • Patent number: 8748257
    Abstract: Capacitor plates, capacitors, semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a capacitor plate includes at least one via and at least one conductive member coupled to the at least one via. The at least one conductive member comprises an enlarged region proximate the at least one via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Sun-Oo Kim
  • Patent number: 8748284
    Abstract: Decoupling metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor designs for interposers and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a decoupling capacitor includes providing a packaging device, and forming a decoupling MIM capacitor in at least two metallization layers of the packaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chyuan Tzeng, Kuo-Chi Tu, Chen-Jong Wang, Hsiang-Fan Lee
  • Publication number: 20140151851
    Abstract: A chip capacitor and interconnecting wiring is described incorporating a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor, tapered vias and vias coupled to one or both of the top and bottom electrodes of the capacitor in an integrated circuit. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium is described incorporating computer readable code defining a MIM capacitor, tapered vias, vias and wiring levels in an integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES STUART DUNN, ZHONG-XIANG HE, ANTHONY KENDALL STAMPER
  • Patent number: 8741731
    Abstract: A high-k capacitor insulating film stable at a higher temperature is formed. There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method comprises: forming a first amorphous insulating film comprising a first element on a substrate; adding a second element different from the first element to the first amorphous insulating film so as to form a second amorphous insulating film on the substrate; and annealing the second amorphous insulating film at a predetermined annealing temperature so as to form a third insulating film by changing a phase of the second amorphous insulating film. The concentration of the second element added to the first amorphous insulating film is controlled according to the annealing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Takebayashi, Hirohisa Yamazaki, Sadayoshi Horii, Hideharu Itatani, Arito Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8741732
    Abstract: A plurality of metal layers includes a top metal layer. An Ultra-Thick Metal (UTM) layer is disposed over the top metal layer, wherein no additional metal layer is located between the UTM layer and the top metal layer. A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor is disposed under the UTM layer and over the top metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Mao Wu, Chih-Hsun Lin, Yu-Lung Yeh, Kuan-Chi Tsai
  • Patent number: 8741712
    Abstract: A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack having low leakage current involves the use of a first electrode that serves as a template for promoting the high-k phase of a subsequently deposited dielectric layer. The high-k dielectric layer includes a doped material that can be crystallized after a subsequent annealing treatment. An amorphous blocking is formed on the dielectric layer. The thickness of the blocking layer is chosen such that the blocking layer remains amorphous after a subsequent annealing treatment. A second electrode layer compatible with the blocking layer is formed on the blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Elpidia Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony P. Chiang, Wim Y. Deweerd, Sandra G Malhotra
  • Publication number: 20140145301
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, including at least two integrated circuit portions mutually spaced on a single electrically insulating die and at least one coupling region on the die to provide capacitive coupling between the otherwise mutually isolated integrated circuit portions, the integrated circuit portions being formed by a plurality of layers on the single die, the layers including metal and dielectric layers and at least one semiconductor layer; wherein at least one of the dielectric layers extends from the integrated circuit portions across the coupling region and at least a corresponding one of the metal layers and/or at least one semiconductor layer extends from each of the integrated circuit portions and partially across the coupling region to form capacitors therein and thereby provide the capacitive coupling between the integrated circuit portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: THE SILANNA GROUP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Yashodhan Vijay Moghe, Andrew Terry, Andrew James Read, Steven Grant Duvall
  • Publication number: 20140145303
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, the device including a substrate having a transistor formed thereon; a plurality of lower electrodes formed on the substrate; a first supporter and a second supporter on the plurality of lower electrodes; a dielectric film formed on the lower electrode, the first supporter, and the second supporter; and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric film, wherein the first and second supporters are positioned between the lower electrodes, and the first and second supporters include a first material and a second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-Gun KIM, Kwang-Tae HWANG, Young-Min KO
  • Publication number: 20140145307
    Abstract: A seal ring structure of an integrated circuit includes a seal ring and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The MIM capacitor includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode disposed below the top electrode, and a first insulating layer disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The MIM capacitor is disposed within the seal ring and the MIM capacitor is insulated from the seal ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Wei Chen, Tung-Liang Shao, Ching-Jung Yang, Yu-Chia Lai, Hao-Yi Tsai, Tsung-Yuan Yu
  • Publication number: 20140145304
    Abstract: A system including first and second plurality of conductors stacked along a first axis on a substrate. The first axis is perpendicular to a plane on which the substrate lies. In the first and second plurality of conductors, each conductor is connected to an adjacent conductor by one or more first vias arranged along the first axis. The first and second plurality of conductors are arranged in parallel along a second axis (i) perpendicular to the first axis and (ii) parallel to the plane on which the substrate lies. The first plurality of conductors respectively lie on a plurality of planes (i) perpendicular to the first axis and (ii) parallel to the plane on which the substrate lies. The second plurality of conductors respectively lie on the plurality of planes. Capacitances are formed along the plurality of planes between the first plurality of conductors and the second plurality of conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Marvell World Trade, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung Sheng Lin, Xiaoyue Wang
  • Patent number: 8729666
    Abstract: A capacitor has first and second conducting plates and a dielectric region between the plates, wherein the dielectric region comprises two dielectric materials for each of which the variation of capacitance with voltage can be approximated by a polynomial having a linear coefficient and a quadratic coefficient, and wherein the quadratic coefficients of the two dielectric materials are of opposite sign. The capacitor comprises for example a first capacitor (42) and a second capacitor (44) that one connected in an anti-parallel manner. The insulating layer (18) of the first capacitor comprises silicon nitride and the insulating layer (16) of the second capacitor comprises silicon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: X-Fab Semiconductor Foundries AG
    Inventors: Paul Ronald Stribley, Soon Tat Kong, David John Verity
  • Patent number: 8728898
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a mold layer over a substrate, wherein the mold layer includes a first sacrificial layer and a second sacrificial layer that are stacked, forming an insulation layer pattern that has an etch selectivity to the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer on the mold layer, etching the mold layer using the insulation layer pattern as an etch barrier to form storage node holes, forming a storage node conductive layer over a substrate structure including the insulation layer pattern and the mold layer that has been etched, performing a storage node isolation process that simultaneously forms storage nodes and forming the insulation layer pattern to a first thickness, and removing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Su-Young Kim
  • Publication number: 20140134823
    Abstract: High-k materials and devices, e.g., DRAM capacitors, and methods of making and using the same. Various methods of forming perovskite films are described, including methods in which perovskite material is deposited on the substrate by a pulsed vapor deposition process involving contacting of the substrate with perovskite material-forming metal precursors. In one such method, the process is carried out with doping or alloying of the perovskite material with a higher mobility and/or higher volatility metal species than the metal species in the perovskite material-forming metal precursors. In another method, the perovskite material is exposed to elevated temperature for sufficient time to crystallize or to enhance crystallization of the perovskite material, followed by growth of the perovskite material under pulsed vapor deposition conditions. Various perovskite compositions are described, including: (Sr, Pb)TiO3; SrRuO3 or SrTiO3, doped with Zn, Cd or Hg; Sr(Sn,Ru)O3; and Sr(Sn,Ti)O3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan C. Hendrix, Steven M. Bilodeau, Ing-Shin Barry Chen, Jeffrey F. Roeder, Gregory T. Stauf
  • Patent number: 8722505
    Abstract: A semiconductor capacitor with large area plates and a small footprint is formed on a semiconductor wafer by forming an opening in the wafer, depositing a first metal atoms through a first shadow mask that lies spaced apart from the wafer to form a first metal layer in the opening, a dielectric layer on the first metal layer, and a second metal atoms through a second shadow mask that lies spaced apart from the wafer to form a second metal layer on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Hopper, William French
  • Patent number: 8722504
    Abstract: A method for reducing leakage current in DRAM capacitor stacks by introducing dielectric interface layers between the electrodes and the bulk dielectric material. The dielectric interface layers are typically amorphous dielectric materials with a k value between about 10 and about 30 and are less than about 1.5 nm in thickness. Advantageously, the thickness of each of the dielectric interface layers is less than 1.0 nm. In some cases, only a single dielectric interface layer is used between the bulk dielectric material and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Wim Deweerd, Hiroyuki Ode
  • Patent number: 8716083
    Abstract: An analog floating-gate electrode in an integrated circuit, and method of fabricating the same, in which trapped charge can be stored for long durations. The analog floating-gate electrode is formed in a polycrystalline silicon gate level, and includes n-type and p-type doped portions serving as gate electrodes of n-channel and p-channel MOS transistors, respectively; a plate of a metal-to-poly storage capacitor; and a plate of poly-to-active tunneling capacitors. Silicide-block silicon dioxide blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit are silicide-clad. An opening at the surface of the analog floating-gate electrode, at the location at which n-type and p-type doped portions of the floating gate electrode abut, allow formation of silicide at that location, shorting the p-n junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Allan T. Mitchell, Imran Mahmood Khan, Michael A. Wu
  • Patent number: 8716115
    Abstract: Dual shadow mask design can overcome the size and resolution limitations of shadow masks to provide capacitor structures with small effective areas. The capacitor structures have bottom and top electrode layers patterned using shadow masks, sandwiching a dielectric layer. The effective areas of the capacitors are the overlapping areas of the top and bottom electrodes, thus allowing small area sizes without subjected to the size limitation of the electrodes. The dual shadow mask design can be used in conjunction with high productivity combinatorial processes for screening and optimizing dielectric materials and fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkat Ananthan, Prashant B. Phatak
  • Patent number: 8716100
    Abstract: Embodiments of MIM capacitors may be embedded into a thick IMD layer with enough thickness (e.g., 10 K?˜30 K?) to get high capacitance, which may be on top of a thinner IMD layer. MIM capacitors may be formed among three adjacent metal layers which have two thick IMD layers separating the three adjacent metal layers. Materials such as TaN or TiN are used as bottom/top electrodes & Cu barrier. The metal layer above the thick IMD layer may act as the top electrode connection. The metal layer under the thick IMD layer may act as the bottom electrode connection. The capacitor may be of different shapes such as cylindrical shape, or a concave shape. Many kinds of materials (Si3N4, ZrO2, HfO2, BST . . . etc) can be used as the dielectric material. The MIM capacitors are formed by one or two extra masks while forming other non-capacitor logic of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chyuan Tzeng, Luan C. Tran, Chen-Jong Wang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Hsiang-Fan Lee
  • Patent number: 8709933
    Abstract: A method for making an interconnection component is disclosed, including forming a plurality of metal posts extending away from a reference surface. Each post is formed having a pair of opposed end surface and an edge surface extending therebetween. A dielectric layer is formed contacting the edge surfaces and filling spaces between adjacent ones of the posts. The dielectric layer has first and second opposed surfaces adjacent the first and second end surfaces. The dielectric layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 8 ppm/° C. The interconnection component is completed such that it has no interconnects between the first and second end surfaces of the posts that extend in a lateral direction. First and second pluralities of wettable contacts are adjacent the first and second opposed surfaces. The wettable contacts are usable to bond the interconnection component to a microelectronic element or a circuit panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Belgacem Haba, Ilyas Mohammed
  • Patent number: 8709907
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a TiN/Ta2O5/TiN capacitor, including the steps of forming a Ta2O5 layer on a TiN support by a plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition method, or PEALD; and submitting the obtained structure to an N2O plasma for a duration sufficient to oxidize the Ta2O5 layer without oxidizing the TiN support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Mickael Gros-Jean
  • Patent number: 8710673
    Abstract: A wiring structure in a semiconductor device may include a first insulation layer formed on a substrate, a first contact plug, a capping layer pattern, a second insulation layer and a second contact plug. The first insulation layer has a first opening that exposes a contact region of the substrate. The first contact plug is formed on the contact region to partially fill up the first opening. The capping layer pattern is formed on the first contact plug to fill up the first opening. The second insulation layer is formed on the capping layer pattern and the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer has a second opening passing through the capping layer pattern to expose the first contact plug. The second contact plug is formed on the first contact plug in the second opening. Since the wiring structure includes the capping layer pattern, the wiring structure may prevent a contact failure by preventing chemicals from permeating into the first contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Soon Bae, Sei-Ryung Choi
  • Patent number: 8709572
    Abstract: Individual layers of a high gradient insulator (HGI) are first pre-cut to their final dimensions. The pre-cut layers are then stacked to form an assembly that is subsequently pressed into an HGI unit with the desired dimension. The individual layers are stacked, and alignment is maintained, using a sacrificial alignment tube that is removed after the stack is hot pressed. The HGI's are used as high voltage vacuum insulators in energy storage and transmission structures or devices, e.g. in particle accelerators and pulsed power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC., Lockwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Richardson Harris, Dave Sanders, Steven Anthony Hawkins, Marcelo Noroña
  • Patent number: 8709956
    Abstract: BEOL memory cells are described that include one or more sidewall protection layers on the memory device (including, for example, an MTJ element) deposited prior to interconnect via etching to prevent the formation of electrical shorts between layers. One embodiment uses a single layer sidewall protection sleeve that is deposited after the memory device has been patterned. The layer material is vertically etched down to expose the upper surface of the top electrode while leaving a residual layer of protective material surrounding the rest of the memory device. The material for the protection layer is selected to resist the etchant used to remove the first dielectric material from the via in the subsequent interconnect process. A second embodiment uses dual-layer sidewall protection in which the first layer covers the memory element is preferably an oxygen-free dielectric and the second layer protects the first layer during via etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Avalanche Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Yiming Hual, Jing Zhang, Ebrahim Abedlfard
  • Patent number: 8709906
    Abstract: An MIM capacitor includes a first capacitor electrode, which is formed in the surface of a first intermediate dielectric, a second intermediate dielectric, which is formed on the first intermediate dielectric and has an opening that exposes the first capacitor electrode, and a first electrically conducting diffusion barrier layer, which is formed on the surface of the exposed first capacitor electrode. On the diffusion barrier layer and on the side walls of the opening there is also formed a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor electrode on top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Manfred Engelhardt, Andreas Stich, Guenther Schindler, Michael Schrenk
  • Patent number: 8697534
    Abstract: A wiring substrate in which a capacitor is provided, the capacitor comprising a capacitor body including a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers provided between the different dielectric layers, wherein said capacitor body has, in at least one side face of said capacitor body, recesses extending in a thickness direction of said capacitor body from at least one of a first principal face of said capacitor body and a second principal face positioned on the side opposite to the first principal face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiko Sato, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Kenji Murakami, Motonobu Kurahashi, Yusuke Kaieda, Jun Otsuka, Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 8697517
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides reduced substrate coupling for inductors in semiconductor devices. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having reduced substrate coupling includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region. The method also includes forming a first gate structure over the first region and a second gate structure over the second region, wherein the first and second gate structures each include a dummy gate. The method next includes forming an inter layer dielectric (ILD) over the substrate and forming a photoresist (PR) layer over the second gate structure. Then, the method includes removing the dummy gate from the first gate structure, thereby forming a trench and forming a metal gate in the trench so that a transistor may be formed in the first region, which includes a metal gate, and an inductor component may be formed over the second region, which does not include a metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry Hak-Lay Chuang, Ming Zhu, Lee-Wee Teo
  • Patent number: 8691656
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures, methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming an interconnect between a substrate bit line contact and a bit line in DRAM, and methods of forming DRAM memory cells. In one implementation, a method of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures includes forming a first conductive structure comprising a first electrically conductive surface at a first elevation of a substrate. A nanowhisker is grown from the first electrically conductive surface, and is provided to be electrically conductive. Electrically insulative material is provided about the nanowhisker. An electrically conductive material is deposited over the electrically insulative material in electrical contact with the nanowhisker at a second elevation which is elevationally outward of the first elevation, and the electrically conductive material is provided into a second conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Busch, David K. Hwang, F. Daniel Gealy
  • Patent number: 8691657
    Abstract: Corona effect in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) is prevented by disposing a bottom metal layer on a substrate, defining a conductive via through the substrate electrically contacting the bottom metal layer, the conductive via further connected to a reference electrical potential, disposing a layer of dielectric material on a region of the bottom metal layer, forming a component metal layer over the conductive via and in electrical communication with the via and the bottom metal layer to define an electrical component, forming a top metal layer on the layer of dielectric material, the layer of dielectric layer interposed between the top metal layer and the bottom metal layer to thereby define an MMIC capacitor on the substrate, the top metal layer of the MMIC capacitor being separated from the electrical component, and disposing a passivation layer adjacent and conformal to a side wall of the top metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8691704
    Abstract: The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl2 to remove the exposed silicon nitride, while not removing at least the majority of the metal nitride from the containers. In subsequent processing, the containers can be incorporated into capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Shea, Thomas M. Graettinger
  • Publication number: 20140091845
    Abstract: III-N high voltage MOS capacitors and System on Chip (SoC) solutions integrating at least one III-N MOS capacitor capable of high breakdown voltages (BV) to implement high voltage and/or high power circuits. Breakdown voltages over 4V may be achieved avoiding any need to series couple capacitors in an RFIC and/or PMIC. In embodiments, depletion mode III-N capacitors including a GaN layer in which a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is formed at threshold voltages below 0V are monolithically integrated with group IV transistor architectures, such as planar and non-planar silicon CMOS transistor technologies. In embodiments, silicon substrates are etched to provide a (111) epitaxial growth surface over which a GaN layer and III-N barrier layer are formed. In embodiments, a high-K dielectric layer is deposited, and capacitor terminal contacts are made to the 2DEG and over the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Han Wui THEN, Sansaptak DASGUPTA, Gerhard SCHROM, Valluri R. RAO, Robert S. CHAU
  • Publication number: 20140091432
    Abstract: A ceramic powder for use in a grain boundary insulated semiconductor ceramic that has an excellent ESD withstanding voltage, a semiconductor ceramic capacitor using the ceramic powder, and a manufacturing method therefor. The ceramic powder for use in a SrTiO3 based grain boundary insulated semiconductor ceramic has a specific surface area of 4.0 m2/g or more and 8.0 m2/g or less, and a cumulative 90% grain size D90 of 1.2 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Kawamoto, Atsushi Sano, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Yasutomo Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Fujita, Yuki Kimura, Yuichi Kusano
  • Patent number: 8685829
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes forming a first oxide layer on the substrate and patterning the first oxide layer utilizing a lithography process, the patterning defining a plurality of active areas on the substrate. The method includes forming a second oxide layer in each active area and forming a plurality of metal electrodes over the second oxide layer through a shadow mask technique, wherein the shadow mask technique is performed without alignment to an active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventor: Amol Joshi
  • Publication number: 20140084417
    Abstract: There is disclosed a metal-insulator-metal, MIM, capacitor. The MIM capacitor comprises a MIM stack formed within an interconnect metal layer. The interconnect metal layer is utilised as an electrical connection to a metal layer of the MIM stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Hubertus Cornelis MAGNEE, Patrick SEBEL
  • Patent number: 8680651
    Abstract: Techniques for incorporating nanotechnology into decoupling capacitor designs are provided. In one aspect, a decoupling capacitor is provided. The decoupling capacitor comprises a first electrode; an intermediate layer adjacent to the first electrode having a plurality of nanochannels therein; a conformal dielectric layer formed over the intermediate layer and lining the nanochannels; and a second electrode at least a portion of which is formed from an array of nanopillars that fill the nanochannels in the intermediate layer. Methods for fabricating the decoupling capacitor are also provided, as are semiconductor devices incorporating the decoupling capacitor design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satya N. Chakravarti, Dechao Guo, Huiming Bu, Keith Kwong Hon Wong
  • Patent number: 8680649
    Abstract: A multi-layer capacitor of staggered construction is formed of one or more layers having tapered sidewall(s). The edge(s) of the capacitor film(s) can be etched to have a gentle slope, which can improve adhesion of the overlying layers and provide more uniform film thickness. The multi-layer capacitor can be used in various applications such as filtering and decoupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Guillaume Guégan
  • Patent number: 8680599
    Abstract: To provide a more reliable semiconductor device including a lower-cost and more reliable capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same. This manufacturing method comprises the steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate; and forming, over one of the major surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, a first metal electrode including an aluminum layer, a dielectric layer over the first metal electrode, and a second metal electrode over the dielectric layer. In the step of forming the first metal electrode, the aluminum layer is formed so that the surface thereof satisfies a relationship of Rmax<80 nm, Rms<10 nm, and Ra<9 nm. The step of forming the first metal electrode comprises the steps of: forming at least one first barrier layer; forming the aluminum layer over the first barrier layer; and recrystallizing a crystal constituting the aluminum layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mitsuyama, Yasuhisa Fujii, Keiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8679939
    Abstract: A method for forming a capacitor stack is described. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first dielectric material is formed above a first electrode material. The first electrode material is rigid and has good mechanical strength and serves as a robust frame for the capacitor stack. The first dielectric material is sufficiently thin (<2 nm) or highly doped so that it remains amorphous after subsequent anneal treatments. A second dielectric material is formed above the first dielectric material. The second dielectric material is sufficiently thick (>3 nm) or lightly doped or non-doped so that it crystallizes after subsequent anneal treatments. A second electrode material is formed adjacent to the second dielectric material. The second electrode material has a high work function and a crystal structure that serves to promote the formation of the high k-value crystal structure of the second dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Malhotra, Wim Y. Deweerd, Hiroyuki Ode
  • Publication number: 20140080283
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method comprises forming a high-k dielectric material, forming a continuous interfacial material over the high-k dielectric material, and forming a conductive material over the continuous interfacial material. Additional methods and semiconductor structures are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Zhe Song, Jennifer K. Sigman
  • Publication number: 20140080282
    Abstract: A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack having low leakage current involves the use of a first electrode that serves as a template for promoting the high-k phase of a subsequently deposited dielectric layer. The high-k dielectric layer includes a doped material that can be crystallized after a subsequent annealing treatment. An amorphous blocking is formed on the dielectric layer. The thickness of the blocking layer is chosen such that the blocking layer remains amorphous after a subsequent annealing treatment. A second electrode layer compatible with the blocking layer is formed on the blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: Elpida Memory, Inc., Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony P. Chiang, Wim Y. Deweerd, Sandra G. Malhotra
  • Publication number: 20140080284
    Abstract: A first electrode layer for a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the first electrode layer contains a conductive metal oxide formed using a high temperature, low pressure ALD process. The high temperature ALD process results in a layer with enhanced crystallinity, higher density, reduced shrinkage, and lower carbon contamination. The high temperature ALD process can be used for either or both the bottom electrode and the top electrode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: Elpida Memory, Inc., Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanhong Chen, Edward L. Haywood, Sandra G. Malhotra, Hiroyuki Ode
  • Patent number: 8673730
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a charging capacity structure includes steps of: forming a first oxide layer, a support layer and a second oxide layer on a substrate in sequence; forming a plurality of etching holes on the surface of the second oxide layer in a matrix to run through the substrate that are spaced from each other at a selected distance; forming a plurality of pillar layers in the etching holes; removing the second oxide layer by etching; forming an etching protection layer on the surfaces of the support layer and pillar tubes that is formed at a thickness one half of the spaced distance between the etching holes such that the pillar tubes at diagonal locations form a self-calibration hole; and finally removing the first oxide layer from the self-calibration hole by etching. Through the self-calibration hole, the invention needn't to provide extra photoresists to form holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rexchip Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Pei-Chun Hung, Li-Hsun Chen, Chien-hua Tsai, Masahiko Ohuchi, Sheng-chang Liang
  • Publication number: 20140071587
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a capacitor includes a first via level having first metal bars and first vias, such that the first metal bars are coupled to a first potential node. The first metal bars are longer than the first vias. Second metal bars and second vias are disposed in a second via level, the second metal bars are coupled to the first potential node. The second metal bars are longer than the second vias. The second via level is above the first via level and the first metal bars are parallel to the second metal bars. Each of the first metal bars has a first end, an opposite second end, and a middle portion between the first and the second ends. Each of the middle portions of the first metal bars and the second ends of the first metal bars do not contact any metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Sun-Oo Kim, Moosung Chae, Bum Ki Moon