With Epitaxial Semiconductor Formation Patents (Class 438/413)
  • Patent number: 11295949
    Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices including epitaxially depositing a heavily doped substrate layer that is substantially free of crystalline defects on a lightly doped virtual substrate. The device regions of the semiconductor devices can be fabricated about the heavily doped substrate layer before the lightly doped virtual substrate is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vishay Siliconix, LLC
    Inventors: M. Ayman Shibib, Kyle Terrill
  • Patent number: 9607986
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device begins with a semiconductor wafer that includes a first semiconductor layer overlying a second semiconductor layer. A first trench is etched in the semiconductor wafer. The first trench is filled with insulating material. A second trench is etched within the first trench and through the insulating material, such that insulating material remains along sidewalls of the first trench. The second trench exposes a portion of the second insulating layer. A semiconductor layer can then be grown within the second trench using the second semiconductor layer as a seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jiang Yan, Danny Pak-Chum Shum, Armin Tilke
  • Patent number: 9171737
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a thermal oxide film on a silicon single crystal wafer, which includes throwing the silicon single wafer into a heat treatment furnace; elevating temperature of the heat treatment furnace up to a temperature T1 where a thermal oxide film is formed to form a thermal oxide film having a thickness d1; subsequently lowering the temperature of the heat treatment furnace down to a temperature lower than the temperature T1; and thereafter elevating the temperature of the heat treatment furnace up to a temperature T2 higher than the temperature T1 to additionally form a thermal oxide film having a thickness d2 thicker than the thickness d1. Thus, there is provided a thermal oxide film formation method to suppress occurrence of slip dislocation and/or crack of the silicon single wafer during formation of the thermal oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SHIH-ETSU HANDOTAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Kazuhiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9034717
    Abstract: Methods for forming a layer of semiconductor material and a semiconductor-on-insulator structure are provided. A substrate including one or more devices or features formed therein is provided. A seed layer is bonded to the substrate, where the seed layer includes a crystalline semiconductor structure. A first portion of the seed layer that is adjacent to an interface between the seed layer and the substrate is amorphized. A second portion of the seed layer that is not adjacent to the interface is not amorphized and maintains the crystalline semiconductor structure. Dopant implantation is performed to form an N-type conductivity region or a P-type conductivity region in the first portion of the seed layer. A solid-phase epitaxial growth process is performed to crystallize the first portion of the seed layer. The SPE growth process uses the crystalline semiconductor structure of the second portion of the seed layer as a crystal template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Colinge
  • Patent number: 9006077
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits and FinFET transistors on bulk substrates with active channel regions isolated from the substrate with an insulator are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming fin structures overlying a semiconductor substrate, wherein each fin structure includes a channel material and extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. The method deposits an anchoring material over the fin structures. The method includes recessing the anchoring material to form trenches adjacent the fin structures, wherein the anchoring material remains in contact with the first end and the second end of each fin structure. Further, the method forms a void between the semiconductor substrate and the channel material of each fin structure with a gate length independent etching process, wherein the channel material of each fin structure is suspended over the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Kerem Akarvardar, Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob
  • Patent number: 9006059
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for fabricating a CMOS transistor and a method for fabricating an array substrate. The method for fabricating a CMOS transistor comprises a step of forming channels, which comprises: depositing an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate, and crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into a poly-silicon layer; implanting boron atoms into the poly-silicon layer and then forming an N channel region and a P channel region by etching the poly-silicon layer implanted with the boron atoms; forming a photoresist-partially-retained region corresponding to the N channel region and a photoresist-completely-retained region corresponding to the P channel region through a single patterning process; and removing the photoresist in the photoresist-partially-retained-region and retaining a part of the photoresist in the photoresist-completely-retained region using an ashing process, implanting phosphorus atoms through ion implantation thereby forming an N channel and a P channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Bing Sun
  • Patent number: 9000481
    Abstract: A low capacitance transient voltage suppressor with reduced clamping voltage includes an n+ type substrate, a first epitaxial layer on the substrate, a buried layer formed within the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and an implant layer formed within the first epitaxial layer below the buried layer. The implant layer extends beyond the buried layer. A first trench is at an edge of the buried layer and an edge of the implant layer. A second trench is at another edge of the buried layer and extends into the implant layer. Each trench is lined with a dielectric layer. A set of source regions is formed within a top surface of the second epitaxial layer. The trenches and source regions alternate. A pair of implant regions is formed in the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Lingpeng Guan, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Jun Hu, Wayne F. Eng
  • Patent number: 8993406
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) device, comprises forming a plurality of fins on a substrate, forming a plurality of gate regions on portions of the fins, wherein the gate regions are spaced apart from each other, forming spacers on each respective gate region, epitaxially growing a first epitaxy region on each of the fins, stopping growth of the first epitaxy regions prior to merging of the first epitaxy regions between adjacent fins, forming a dielectric layer on the substrate including the fins and first epitaxy regions, removing the dielectric layer and first epitaxy regions from the fins at one or more portions between adjacent gate regions to form one or more contact area trenches, and epitaxially growing a second epitaxy region on each of the fins in the one or more contact area trenches, wherein the second epitaxy regions on adjacent fins merge with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pranita Kerber, Qiqing C. Ouyang, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20150076559
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with strained silicon and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. An integrated circuit includes a stack with a surface layer, an intermediate layer, and a base layer, where the surface layer overlies the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer overlies the base layer. The surface layer and the base layer include strained silicon, where the silicon atoms are stretched beyond a normal crystalline silicon interatomic distance. The intermediate layer includes crystalline silicon germanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Frohberg, Torsten Huisinga, Egon Ronny Pfuetzner
  • Publication number: 20150056781
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits and FinFET transistors on bulk substrates with active channel regions isolated from the substrate with an insulator are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming fin structures overlying a semiconductor substrate, wherein each fin structure includes a channel material and extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. The method deposits an anchoring material over the fin structures. The method includes recessing the anchoring material to form trenches adjacent the fin structures, wherein the anchoring material remains in contact with the first end and the second end of each fin structure. Further, the method forms a void between the semiconductor substrate and the channel material of each fin structure with a gate length independent etching process, wherein the channel material of each fin structure is suspended over the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Kerem Akarvardar, Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob
  • Patent number: 8963120
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a semiconductor layer sequence having at least one active layer, and a photonic crystal that couples radiation having a peak wavelength out of or into the semiconductor layer sequence, wherein the photonic crystal is at a distance from the active layer and formed by superimposition of at least two lattices having mutually different reciprocal lattice constants normalized to the peak wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH, The University Court of the University of St. Andrews
    Inventors: Krister Bergenek, Christopher Wiesmann, Thomas F. Krauss
  • Patent number: 8956947
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is provided in which an alignment mark is formed that can be used for an alignment even after the formation of an impurity diffused layer by the planarization of an epitaxial film. A trench is formed in an alignment region of an N?-type layer formed on an N+-type substrate. This trench is used to leave voids after the formation of a P?-type epitaxial film on the N?-type layer. Then, the voids formed in the N?-type layer can be used as an alignment mark. Thus, such a semiconductor substrate can be used to provide an alignment in the subsequent step of manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus. Thus, the respective components constituting the semiconductor apparatus can be formed at desired positions accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Sumco Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Syouji Nogami, Tomonori Yamaoka, Shoichi Yamauchi, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Toshiyuki Morishita
  • Patent number: 8940614
    Abstract: A method of forming an epitaxial SiC film on SiC substrates in a warm wall CVD system, wherein the susceptor is actively heated and the ceiling and sidewall are not actively heated, but are allowed to be indirectly heated by the susceptor. The method includes a first process of reaction cell preparation and a second process of epitaxial film growth. The epitaxial growth is performed by flowing parallel to the surface of the wafers a gas mixture of hydrogen, silicon and carbon gases, at total gas velocity in a range 120 to 250 cm/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Loboda, Jie Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150021709
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are provided integrating different fin device architectures on a common wafer, for instance, within a common functional device area of the wafer. The method includes: facilitating fabricating multiple fin device architectures within a common functional device wafer area by: providing a wafer with at least one fin disposed over a substrate, the fin including an isolation layer; modifying the fin(s) in a first region of the fin(s), while protecting the fin in a second region of the fin(s); and proceeding with forming one or more fin devices of a first architectural type in the first region and one or more fin devices of a second architectural type in the second region. The first architectural type and the second architectural type are different fin device architectures, such as different fin device isolation architectures, different fin type transistor architectures, or different fin-type devices or structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ajey P. JACOB, Murat Kerem AKARVARDAR, Michael John HARGROVE
  • Patent number: 8937366
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor devise comprises a substrate. An epitaxially grown semiconductor material is disposed over at least a portion of the substrate. A nanotemplate structure is disposed at least partially within the semiconductor material. The nanotemplate structure comprises a plurality of dielectric nanoscale features defining a plurality of nanoscale windows. An air gap is disposed between at least a portion of one or more of the nanoscale features and the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Sang M. Han, Darin Leonhardt, Swapnadip Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8927677
    Abstract: A curable epoxy resin composition comprising (a) at least one epoxy resin; (b) at least one curing agent; and (c) at least one high molecular weight poly(propylene oxide) poiyol toughening agent; and a process for preparing the curable epoxy resin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Radhakrishnan Karunakaran, Rajesh Turakhia
  • Patent number: 8890164
    Abstract: A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) for an integrated circuit includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a first well region of a second conductivity type located in the substrate, and a second well region of the second conductivity type located within the substrate. The second well region is functionally connected to the first well region, and the second well region has a surface area greater than a surface area of the first well region. The MOSFET further includes a source of the first conductivity type located in the first well region, a drain of the first conductivity type located in the first well region, a substrate terminal of the second conductivity type located in the first well region, a gate oxide on a top surface of the first well region, and a gate electrode located on a top surface of the gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Tsz Pan, Qi Lin, Yun Wu, Bang-Thu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8877600
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hybrid SOI/bulk substrate, including the steps of starting from an SOI wafer comprising a single-crystal semiconductor layer called SOI layer, on an insulating layer, on a single-crystal semiconductor substrate; depositing on the SOI layer at least one masking layer and forming openings crossing the masking layer, the SOI layer, and the insulating layer, to reach the substrate; growing by a repeated alternation of selective epitaxy and partial etching steps a semiconductor material; and etching insulating trenches surrounding said openings filled with semiconductor material, while encroaching inwards over the periphery of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Claire Fenouillet-Beranger, Stephane Denorme, Nicolas Loubet, Qing Liu, Emmanuel Richard, Pierre Perreau
  • Patent number: 8865561
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a set of doped regions in a substrate; forming a crystalline dielectric layer on the substrate, the crystalline dielectric layer including an epitaxial oxide; forming a semiconductor layer on the crystalline dielectric layer, the semiconductor layer and the crystalline dielectric layer forming an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator (ETSOI) structure; and forming a set of devices on the semiconductor layer, wherein at least one device in the set of devices is formed over a doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Thomas N. Adam, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan
  • Patent number: 8859352
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an image sensor having pixel transistors and peripheral transistors disposed in a silicon substrate. For some embodiments, a protective coating is disposed on the peripheral transistors and doped silicon is epitaxially grown on the substrate to form lightly-doped drain (LDD) areas for the pixel transistors. The protective oxide may be used to prevent epitaxial growth of silicon on the peripheral transistors during formation of the LDD areas of the pixel transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duli Mao, Hsin-Chih Tai, Howard E. Rhodes, Vincent Venezia, Yin Qian
  • Patent number: 8859387
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the following steps. There is prepared a silicon carbide substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface. On the first main surface, an electrode is formed. The silicon carbide substrate has a hexagonal crystal structure. The first main surface has an off angle of ±8° or smaller relative to a {0001} plane. The first main surface has such a property that when irradiated with excitation light having energy equal to or greater than a band gap of silicon carbide, luminous regions in a wavelength range of 750 nm or greater are generated in the first main surface at a density of 1×104 cm?2 or smaller. In this way, a yield of a silicon carbide semiconductor device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Honke, Shin Harasa
  • Patent number: 8835276
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is provided in which an alignment mark is formed that can be used for an alignment even after the formation of an impurity diffused layer by the planarization of an epitaxial film. A trench is formed in an alignment region of an N+-type substrate. This trench is used to leave voids after the formation of an N?-type layer. Then, the voids formed in the N+-type substrate can be used as an alignment mark. Thus, such a semiconductor substrate can be used to provide an alignment in the subsequent step of manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus. Thus, the respective components constituting the semiconductor apparatus can be formed at desired positions accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Sumco Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Syouji Nogami, Tomonori Yamaoka, Shoichi Yamauchi, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Toshiyuki Morishita
  • Patent number: 8822300
    Abstract: A low capacitance transient voltage suppressor with reduced clamping voltage includes an n+ type substrate, a first epitaxial layer on the substrate, a buried layer formed within the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and an implant layer formed within the first epitaxial layer below the buried layer. The implant layer extends beyond the buried layer. A first trench is at an edge of the buried layer and an edge of the implant layer. A second trench is at another edge of the buried layer and extends into the implant layer. A third trench is at another edge of the implant layer. Each trench is lined with a dielectric layer. A set of source regions is formed within a top surface of the second epitaxial layer. The trenches and source regions alternate. A pair of implant regions is formed in the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Lingpeng Guan, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Jun Hu, Wayne F. Eng
  • Patent number: 8723296
    Abstract: A method includes forming a stress compensating stack over a substrate, where the stress compensating stack has compressive stress on the substrate. The method also includes forming one or more Group III-nitride islands over the substrate, where the one or more Group III-nitride islands have tensile stress on the substrate. The method further includes at least partially counteracting the tensile stress from the one or more Group III-nitride islands using the compressive stress from the stress compensating stack. Forming the stress compensating stack could include forming one or more oxide layers and one or more nitride layers over the substrate. The one or more oxide layers can have compressive stress, the one or more nitride layers can have tensile stress, and the oxide and nitride layers could collectively have compressive stress. Thicknesses of the oxide and nitride layers can be selected to provide the desired amount of stress compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Jamal Ramdani
  • Patent number: 8685825
    Abstract: A finFET is formed having a fin with a source region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source and drain regions. The fin is etched on a semiconductor wafer. A gate stack is formed having an insulating layer in direct contact with the channel region and a conductive gate material in direct contact with the insulating layer. The source and drain regions are etched leaving the channel region of the fin. Epitaxial semiconductor is grown on the sides of the channel region that were adjacent the source and drain regions to form a source epitaxy region and a drain epitaxy region. The source and drain epitaxy regions are doped in-situ while growing the epitaxial semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Ion Beam Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Tang, Tzu-Shih Yen
  • Patent number: 8679903
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a vertical insulated gate transistor. A horizontal isolation region is formed in a substrate to separate and electrically isolate upper and lower portions of the substrate. A vertical semiconductor pillar with one or more flanks and a cavity is formed so as to rest on the upper portion, and a dielectrically isolated gate is formed so as to include an internal portion within the cavity and an external portion resting on the flanks and on the upper portion. One or more internal walls of the cavity are coated with an isolating layer and the cavity is filled with a gate material so as to form the internal portion of the gate within the cavity and the external portion of the gate that rests on the flanks, and to form two connecting semiconductor regions extending between source and drain regions of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20140051226
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a semiconductor substrate and etching the first epitaxial layer to form multiple separated first epitaxial regions. The method also includes forming a second epitaxial layer over the etched first epitaxial layer. Each epitaxial layer includes at least one Group III-nitride, and the epitaxial layers collectively form a buffer. The method further includes forming a device layer over the buffer and fabricating a semiconductor device using the device layer. The second epitaxial layer could include second epitaxial regions substantially only on the first epitaxial regions. The second epitaxial layer could also cover the first epitaxial regions and the substrate, and the second epitaxial layer may or may not be etched. The device layer could be formed during the same operation used to form the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep R. BAHL, Jamal RAMDANI
  • Publication number: 20130313553
    Abstract: Post programming resistance of a semiconductor fuse is enhanced by using an implantation to form an amorphous silicon layer and to break up an underlying high-?/metal gate. Embodiments include forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a silicon substrate, forming a high-? dielectric layer on the STI region, forming a metal gate on the high-? dielectric layer, forming a polysilicon layer over the metal gate, performing an implantation to convert the polysilicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer, wherein the implantation breaks up the metal gate, and forming a silicide on the amorphous silicon layer. By breaking up the metal gate, electrical connection of the fuse contacts through the metal gate is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas KURZ, Maciej WIATR
  • Patent number: 8586446
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a silicon film, in which an impurity density of a center portion is higher than that of an upper portion and a lower portion, is formed above a base layer, a mask pattern is formed above the silicon film, a recess is formed in the silicon film by selectively etching the silicon film through the mask pattern, a silicon oxide film is formed on a surface of the recess by an oxidation process of the silicon film, and the silicon film under the recess is etched through the mask pattern after the oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yuuko Jimma
  • Patent number: 8546237
    Abstract: A method of transferring an epitaxial film from an original substrate to a destination substrate comprises: growing an epitaxial film grown with a sacrificial layer on the original substrate; patterning the epitaxial film into a plurality of sections; attaching the plurality of sections to a stretchable film; removing the plurality of sections attached to the stretchable film from the original substrate; stretching the sections apart as needed; and attaching a permanent substrate to the plurality of sections; and trimming the sizes of the sections as needed for precise positioning prior to integrated circuit device fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Oepic Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Majid Riaziat
  • Publication number: 20130207226
    Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices is described wherein an epitaxial insulating layer is grown on a semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial insulating layer is etched to form a recessed region within the layer. An epitaxial semiconductor material is grown with the recessed region to form a semiconductor device region separated from other potential device regions by non-recessed portions of the epitaxial insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan
  • Patent number: 8501577
    Abstract: A preparation method for a full-isolated silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate with hybrid crystal orientations and a preparation method of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) based on the method are disclosed. In the preparation method for the full-isolated SOI substrate with hybrid crystal orientations provided in the present invention, a SiGe layer is adopted to serve as an epitaxial virtual substrate layer with a first crystal orientation, so as to form a strained top silicon with the first crystal orientation; a polysilicon supporting material is adopted to serve as a support for connecting the top silicon with the first crystal orientation and a top silicon with a second crystal orientation, so that the SiGe layer below the strained top silicon with the first crystal orientation may be removed, and an insulating material is filled to form an insulating buried layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Jiantao Bian, Zengfeng Di, Miao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8481402
    Abstract: Methods and structures for semiconductor devices with STI regions in SOI substrates is provided. A semiconductor structure comprises an SOI epitaxy island formed over a substrate. The structure further comprises an STI structure surrounding the SOI island. The STI structure comprises a second epitaxial layer on the substrate, and a second dielectric layer on the second epitaxial layer. A semiconductor fabrication method comprises forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and surrounding a device fabrication region in the substrate with an isolation trench extending through the dielectric layer. The method also includes filling the isolation trench with a first epitaxial layer and forming a second epitaxial layer over the device fabrication region and over the first epitaxial layer. Then a portion of the first epitaxial layer is replaced with an isolation dielectric, and then a device such as a transistor is formed second epitaxial layer within the device fabrication region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hua Yu, Tze-Liang Lee, Pang-Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 8440539
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming a hard mask, e.g., silicon nitride, over an active layer of a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer, removing a portion of the hard mask and the active layer to form a trench, and forming an isolation dielectric in the trench where the dielectric exerts compressive strain on a channel region of the active layer. Forming the dielectric may include performing a thermal oxidation. Before performing the thermal oxidation, semiconductor structures may be formed, e.g., by epitaxy, on sidewalls of the trench. The structures may be silicon or a silicon compound, e.g., silicon germanium. During the thermal oxidation, the semiconductor structures are consumed. In the case of a silicon germanium, the germanium may diffuse during the thermal oxidation to produce a silicon germanium channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mariam G. Sadaka, Michael A. Mendicino
  • Patent number: 8426291
    Abstract: A method includes forming first insulating films on first and second faces of a substrate, removing the first insulating film on the second face, forming polysilicon films on the first insulating film on the first face and the second face, forming second insulating films on the polysilicon films on the first face and the second face, etching the second insulating film on the first face using a mask including an opening, removing the second insulating films on the first face and the second face, removing the polysilicon film on the side of the first face and forming a passivation film which protects the polysilicon film on the side of the second face so that the polysilicon film on the side of the second face is not removed in the polysilicon film removing step, after the polysilicon film forming step and before the polysilicon film removing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20130071993
    Abstract: A preparation method for a full-isolated silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate with hybrid crystal orientations and a preparation method of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) based on the method are disclosed. In the preparation method for the full-isolated SOI substrate with hybrid crystal orientations provided in the present invention, a SiGe layer is adopted to serve as an epitaxial virtual substrate layer with a first crystal orientation, so as to form a strained top silicon with the first crystal orientation; a polysilicon supporting material is adopted to serve as a support for connecting the top silicon with the first crystal orientation and a top silicon with a second crystal orientation, so that the SiGe layer below the strained top silicon with the first crystal orientation may be removed, and an insulating material is filled to form an insulating buried layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF MICROSYSTEM AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY
    Inventors: Jiantao Bian, Zengfeng Di, Miao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8394704
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method for fabricating a dual-orientation group-IV semiconductor substrate and comprises in addition to performing a masked amorphization on a DSB-like substrate only in first lateral regions of the surface layer, and a solid-phase epitaxial regrowth of the surface layer in only the first lateral regions so as to establish their (100)-orientation. Subsequently, a cover layer on the surface layer is fabricated, followed by fabricating isolation regions, which laterally separate (11?)-oriented first lateral regions and (100)-oriented second lateral regions from each other. Then the cover layer is removed in a selective manner with respect to the isolation regions so as to uncover the surface layer in the first and second lateral regions and a refilling of the first and second lateral regions between the isolation regions is performed using epitaxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Bidal, Fabrice A. Payet, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 8338263
    Abstract: Methods of forming isolation structures are disclosed. A method of forming isolation structures for an image sensor array of one aspect may include forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. Narrow, tall dielectric isolation structures may be formed from the dielectric layer. The narrow, tall dielectric isolation structures may have a width that is no more than 0.3 micrometers and a height that is at least 1.5 micrometers. A semiconductor material may be epitaxially grown around the narrow, tall dielectric isolation structures. Other methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Liu, Keh-Chiang Ku, Wu-Zhang Yang
  • Patent number: 8324063
    Abstract: An annular step portion provided to a periphery of a wafer housing portion is provided to an area with which an area of 1 to 6 mm from a boundary line with a chamfered surface of a wafer rear surface toward a wafer center comes in contact. As a result, it is possible to produce an epitaxial wafer having no scratch in a boundary area between the rear surface and the chamfered surface, and to eliminate particles generated due to a scratch in a device process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fujikawa, Seiji Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8293623
    Abstract: An epitaxial SiC single crystal substrate including a SiC single crystal wafer whose main surface is a c-plane or a surface that inclines a c-plane with an angle of inclination that is more than 0 degree but less than 10 degrees, and SiC epitaxial film that is formed on the main surface of the SiC single crystal wafer, wherein the dislocation array density of threading edge dislocation arrays that are formed in the SiC epitaxial film is 10 arrays/cm2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Showa Denko K.K., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Kenji Momose, Michiya Odawara, Keiichi Matsuzawa, Hajime Okumura, Kazutoshi Kojima, Yuuki Ishida, Hidekazu Tsuchida, Isaho Kamata
  • Patent number: 8222075
    Abstract: A plurality of bit lines s arranged crossing a plurality of first word lines. A first diode is arranged at each cross point of the first word lines and the bit lines. A cathode of the first diode is connected to one of the first word lines. A first variable resistance film configuring the first diode is provided between the anodes of the first diodes and the bit lines, and configures a first memory cell together with each of the first diodes, and further, is used in common to the first diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Eiji Ito
  • Patent number: 8173497
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a cell region and a peripheral region includes an silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate having a stack structure of a silicon substrate, a buried insulation layer, and a silicon layer. An epi-silicon layer is formed in the buried insulation layer of the peripheral region and connects a peripheral portion of a channel area of the silicon layer to the silicon substrate. A gate is formed on the silicon layer and junction areas are formed in the silicon layer on both sides of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Ki Bong Nam
  • Publication number: 20120056244
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a semiconductor substrate and etching the first epitaxial layer to form multiple separated first epitaxial regions. The method also includes forming a second epitaxial layer over the etched first epitaxial layer. Each epitaxial layer includes at least one Group III-nitride, and the epitaxial layers collectively form a buffer. The method further includes forming a device layer over the buffer and fabricating a semiconductor device using the device layer. The second epitaxial layer could include second epitaxial regions substantially only on the first epitaxial regions. The second epitaxial layer could also cover the first epitaxial regions and the substrate, and the second epitaxial layer may or may not be etched. The device layer could be formed during the same operation used to form the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep R. Bahl, Jamal Ramdani
  • Patent number: 8119494
    Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate formed of a first semiconductor material; and forming a plurality of insulation regions over at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate, with a plurality of trenches separating the plurality of insulation regions apart from each other. A first epitaxial growth is performed to epitaxially grow a plurality of semiconductor regions in the plurality of trenches, wherein (111) facets are formed and exposed during the step of the first epitaxial growth. When the (111) facets of neighboring ones of the plurality of semiconductor regions touch each other, a second epitaxial growth is performed to continue grow the plurality of semiconductor regions to form (100) planes between the neighboring ones of the plurality of semiconductor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Georgios Vellianitis
  • Publication number: 20110309447
    Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication thereof relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced ?VT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. A novel dopant profile indicative of a distinctive notch enables tuning of the VT setting within a precise range. This VT set range may be extended by appropriate selection of metals so that a very wide range of VT settings is accommodated on the die. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. The result is the ability to independently control VT (with a low ?VT) and VDD, so that the body bias can be tuned separately from VT for a given device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Reza Arghavani, Pushkar Ranade, Lucian Shifren, Scott E. Thompson, Catherine de Villeneuve
  • Patent number: 8062948
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a transistor in a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over a substrate, forming a first trench by etching the substrate on either side of the gate structure to a first depth, ion-implanting dopants of a first conductivity type to form a source/drain region in the substrate on the side of the gate structure with the first trench, etching the substrate on the side of the gate structure with the first trench to a second depth larger than the first depth to form a second trench, and growing an epitaxial layer within the second trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Jung Shin
  • Patent number: 8008205
    Abstract: A method of the present invention includes a first planarization film formation step of forming, in at least part of a flat portion of the second regions, a first planarization film so as to have a uniform thickness; a second planarization film formation step of forming a second planarization film between the first planarization films to be coplanar with a surface of the first planarization film; a peeling layer formation step of forming a peeling layer by ion implantation of a peeling material into the base layer via the first planarization film or the second planarization film; and a separation step of separating part of the base layer along the peeling layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumori Fukushima, Yutaka Takafuji, Michiko Takei, Kazuhide Tomiyasu
  • Patent number: 7993990
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial surface semiconductor layer having a first dopant polarity and a first crystallographic orientation, and a laterally adjacent semiconductor-on-insulator surface semiconductor layer having a different second dopant polarity and different second crystallographic orientation. The epitaxial surface semiconductor layer has a first edge that has a defect and an adjoining second edge absent a defect. Located within the epitaxial surface semiconductor layer is a first device having a first gate perpendicular to the first edge and a second device having a second gate perpendicular to the second edge. The first device may include a performance sensitive logic device and the second device may include a yield sensitive memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shreesh Narasimha, Paul David Agnello, Xiaomeng Chen, Judson R. Holt, Mukesh Vijay Khare, Byeong Y. Kim, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 7989306
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming semiconductor structures, and more particularly to structures and methods of forming SiGe and/or SiGeC buried layers for SOI/SiGe devices. An integrated structure includes discontinuous, buried layers having alternating Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions. The structure further includes isolation structures at an interface between the Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions to reduce defects between the alternating regions. Devices are associated with the Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 7951684
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (1) and a method are disclosed for obtaining on a substrate (2) a multilayer structure (3) with a quantum well structure (4). The quantum well structure (4) comprises a semiconductor layer (5) sandwiched by insulating layers (6,6?), wherein the material of the insulating layers (6,6?) has preferably a high dielectric constant. In a FET the quantum wells (4,9) function as channels, allowing a higher drive current and a lower off current. Short channel effects are reduced. The multi-channel FET is suitable to operate even for sub-35 nm gate lengths. In the method the quantum wells are formed by epitaxial growth of the high dielectric constant material and the semiconductor material alternately on top of each other, preferably with MBE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Youri Ponomarev