To Form Ohmic Contact To Semiconductive Material Patents (Class 438/597)
  • Publication number: 20140312500
    Abstract: Features are fabricated on a semiconductor chip. The features are smaller than the threshold of the lithography used to create the chip. A method includes patterning a first portion of a feature (such as a local interconnect) and a second portion of the feature to be separated by a predetermined distance, such as a line tip to tip space or a line space. The method further includes patterning the first portion with a cut mask to form a first sub-portion (e.g., a contact) and a second sub-portion. A dimension of the first sub-portion is less than a dimension of a second predetermined distance, which may be a line length resolution of a lithographic process having a specified width resolution. A feature of a semiconductor device includes a first portion and a second portion having a dimension less than a lithographic resolution of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: John J. Zhu, Zhongze Wang, Yang Da
  • Patent number: 8865588
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first interconnection and a second interconnection above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the first interconnection, and a second sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the second interconnection, forming a conductive film above the semiconductor substrate with the first interconnection, the first sidewall insulating film, the second interconnection and the second sidewall insulating film formed on, and selectively removing the conductive film above the first interconnection and the second interconnection to form in a region between the first interconnection and the second interconnection a third interconnection formed of the conductive film and spaced from the first interconnection and the second interconnection by the first sidewall insulating film and the second sidewall insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Takeshi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8866156
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide substrate and a contact electrode. The silicon carbide substrate includes an n type region and a p type region that makes contact with the n type region. The contact electrode makes contact with the n type region and the p type region. The contact electrode contains Ni atoms and Si atoms. The number of the Ni atoms is not less than 87% and not more than 92% of the total number of the Ni atoms and the Si atoms. Accordingly, there can be provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device, which can achieve ohmic contact with an n type impurity region and can achieve a low contact resistance for a p type impurity region, as well as a method for manufacturing such a silicon carbide semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamada, Hideto Tamaso
  • Patent number: 8865583
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention includes: forming an insulation layer to be processed over a substrate; forming a first sacrificial layer in a first area over the substrate, the first sacrificial layer being patterned to form in the first area a functioning wiring connected to an element; forming a second sacrificial layer in a second area over the substrate, the second sacrificial layer being patterned to form in the second area a dummy wiring; forming a third sacrificial layer at a side wall of the first sacrificial layer and forming a fourth sacrificial layer at a side wall of the second sacrificial layer, the third sacrificial layer and the fourth sacrificial layer being separated; forming a concavity by etching the insulation layer to be processed using the third sacrificial layer and the fourth sacrificial layer as a mask; and filling a conductive material in the concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kosuke Yanagidaira, Chikaaki Kodama
  • Publication number: 20140306331
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a chip. The chip may include a body having two main surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces; a first power electrode extending over at least one main surface and at least one side surface of the body; and a second power electrode extending over at least one main surface and at least one side surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Otremba, Josef Hoeglauer, Juergen Schredl, Xaver Schloegel, Klaus Schiess
  • Publication number: 20140302646
    Abstract: A performance and reliability of a semiconductor device are improved. On a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode for a first MISFET and a dummy gate electrode for a second MISFET are formed, and then, an insulating film is partially formed on the gate electrode. Then, on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating film is formed so as to cover the dummy gate electrode, the gate electrode and other insulating film. Then, the dummy gate electrode is exposed by polishing the insulating film. In this polishing, the insulating film is polished under a condition that a polishing speed of the other insulating film is smaller than a polishing speed of the insulating film. Then, after the dummy gate electrode is removed, the gate electrode for the second MISFET is formed in a region where the dummy gate electrode has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Hirano, Tatsuyoshi Mihara, Keisuke Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8853659
    Abstract: A switchable electronic device comprises a hole blocking layer and a layer comprising a conductive material between first and second electrodes, wherein the conductivity of the device may be irreversibly switched upon application of a current having a current density of less than or equal to 100 A cm?2 to a conductivity at least 100 times lower than the conductivity of the device before switching. The conductive material is a doped organic material such as doped optionally substituted poly(ethylene dioxythiophene).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Limited
    Inventors: Neil Greenham, Jianpu Wang
  • Patent number: 8853852
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus includes an anchor process of forming a barrier metal film and carrying out physical etching making use of sputter gas. The anchor process is carried out at the same time on a wire connected to the lower portion of a first aperture serving as a penetration connection hole and a wire connected to the lower portion of a second aperture serving as a connection hole having an aspect ratio different from the aspect ratio of the penetration connection hole. The first and second apertures are apertures created on a semiconductor substrate obtained by bonding first and second semiconductor substrates to each other. The present technology can be applied to the semiconductor apparatus such as a solid-state imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140284773
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed on the first semiconductor layer, a first electrode which extends in a first direction and is surrounded by the first semiconductor layer except at one end thereof, and a first insulation film which is formed between the first semiconductor layer and the first electrode. A film thickness of the first insulation film between the other end of the first electrode in a second direction opposite to the first direction and the first semiconductor layer includes a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the first insulation film along a side surface of the first electrode. The semiconductor device also includes a second electrode which faces the second semiconductor layer, and a second insulation film which is formed between the second electrode and the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Toshifumi NISHIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140264890
    Abstract: One illustrative pillar disclosed herein includes a bond pad conductively coupled to an integrated circuit and a pillar comprising a base that is conductively coupled to the bond pad, wherein the base has a first lateral dimension, and an upper portion that is conductively coupled to the base, wherein the upper portion has a second lateral dimension that is less than the first lateral dimension. A method disclosed herein of forming a pillar includes forming a base such that it is conductively coupled to a bond pad on an integrated circuit product and, after forming the base, forming an upper portion such that it is conductively coupled to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Dirk Breuer, Frank Kuechenmeister, Jens Paul, Kashi Vishwanath Machani
  • Publication number: 20140242747
    Abstract: A process where a printed ink is placed onto a sacrificial ribbon. The ink is then converted to a metal film and transferred to a substrate, such as a silicon solar cell at very low temperatures. Further low-temperature processing may be utilized to form an ohmic contact. This process provides the speed and low-cost structure of ink and paste based processing with the diffusion control of vacuum deposited films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Zvi Yaniv, James P. Novak
  • Publication number: 20140242782
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of transferring semiconductor elements from a non-flexible substrate to a flexible substrate. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device based on the method of transferring semiconductor elements. The semiconductor elements grown or formed on a non-flexible substrate may be effectively transferred to a resin layer while maintaining an arrangement of the semiconductor elements. The resin layer may function as a flexible substrate for supporting the vertical semiconductor elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun-hyoung CHO, Jun-Hee CHOI, Jin-seung SOHN, Chang-youl MOON
  • Publication number: 20140231990
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip and a wiring board formed on the semiconductor chip. The wiring board includes a first insulation layer, first conductive patterns on the first layer, first via conductors formed in the first layer and connecting the first patterns and electrode pads of the chip, respectively, a second insulation layer on the first layer, second conductive patterns on the second layer, and second via conductors formed in the second layer and connecting the first conductive patterns and the second patterns, respectively, each second via conductors has a side surface extending through the second layer such that the side surface has a bent portion which changes inclination of the side surface in depth direction of each second via conductor, and the second patterns are positioned to fan in or out with respect to the electrode pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji OUCHI, Shigeru YAMADA, Makoto TERUI, Yoshinori SHIZUNO
  • Patent number: 8809183
    Abstract: A selective conductive cap is deposited on exposed metal surfaces of a metal line by electroless plating selective to exposed underlying dielectric surfaces of a metal interconnect structure. A dielectric material layer is deposited on the selective conductive cap and the exposed underlying dielectric layer without a preclean. The dielectric material layer is planarized to form a horizontal planar surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of the selective conductive cap. A preclean is performed and a dielectric cap layer is deposited on the selective conductive cap and the planarized surface of the dielectric material layer. Because the interface including a surface damaged by the preclean is vertically offset from the topmost surface of the metal line, electromigration of the metal in the metal line along the interface is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Griselda Bonilla, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Elbert E. Huang, Satyanarayana V. Nitta, Shom Ponoth
  • Patent number: 8809179
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate; forming a gate stack of a flash memory cell, wherein a top portion of the gate stack comprises a capping layer; forming a gate having at least a portion over the capping layer; and reducing a thickness of the portion of the gate over the capping layer. The topography height difference between the flash memory cell and MOS devices on the same chip is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih Wei Wang, Derek Lin, Chen-Ming Huang, Chang-Jen Hsieh, Chi-Hsin Lo, Chung-Yi Yu, Feng-Jia Shiu, Yeur-Luen Tu, Yi-Shin Chu, Jen-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8809107
    Abstract: A method for making a Schottky barrier diode includes the following steps. A first metal layer, a second metal layer and a carbon nanotube composite material are provided. The carbon nanotube composite material is applied on the first metal layer and the second metal layer to form a semiconductor layer. The carbon nanotube composite material includes an insulated polymer and a number of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the insulated polymer. The semiconductor layer is in Schottky contact with the first metal layer and in ohmic contact with the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hua Hu, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Publication number: 20140225170
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first diffusion layer of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion layer of a second conductivity type that are provided in a semiconductor layer at a distance, the second conductivity type being an opposite conductivity type of the first conductivity type, a first insulating film and a second insulating film that are provided on the semiconductor layer between the first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer at a distance, a gate electrode provided on the first insulating film, and a threshold regulating electrode provided on the second insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KONDO, Akira HOKAZONO
  • Patent number: 8802478
    Abstract: Manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a structure including a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, a first insulating film arranged on the first region, a second insulating film arranged on the first insulating film, a third insulating film arranged on the second insulating film, a fourth insulating film arranged on the second region, a fifth insulating film arranged on the fourth insulating film, and a sixth insulating film arranged on the fifth insulating film, etching the second insulating film and the first insulating film under different etching conditions after etching the third insulating film, and continuously etching the fifth insulating film and the fourth insulating film under the same etching conditions after etching the sixth insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aiko Kato, Takehito Okabe
  • Patent number: 8802552
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of: forming a gate oxide film on an active layer, forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film, forming a source contact electrode in ohmic contact with the active layer, and forming an interlayer insulating film made of silicon dioxide so as to cover the gate electrode after the source contact electrode is formed. The step of forming a source contact electrode includes the steps of forming a metal layer including aluminum so as to be in contact with the active layer, and alloying the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Horii, Takeyoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8802551
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming first holes arranged along a first direction on an etch-target layer, forming dielectric patterns in the first holes, conformally forming a barrier layer on the dielectric patterns, forming a sacrificial layer on the barrier layer to define a first void, partially removing the sacrificial layer to expose the first void, anisotropically etching the barrier layer to form second holes below the first void, and etching portions of the etch-target layer located below the first and second holes to form contact holes. The first void may be formed on a first gap region confined by at least three of the dielectric patterns disposed adjacent to each other, and the sacrificial layer may include a material having a low conformality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JungWoo Seo, JinSeo Choi, KyoungRyul Yoon
  • Publication number: 20140220771
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing a Write-Once-Read-Many-times memory, at least includes the following steps: (A) providing a substrate as a lower electrode; (B) depositing a first oxide layer on the substrate; (C) depositing at least one or more silicon/germanium (Si/Ge) layers on the first oxide layer; (D) depositing a second oxide layer on the at least one or more Si/Ge layers; (E) carrying out a rapid thermal annealing to form SiGe nanocrystals embedded in the first dioxide layer and the second oxide layer; and (F) depositing a conductive layer on the second oxide layer as an upper electrode. The SiGe nanocrystals embedded in the Al2O3 bilayer as the active layer of the WORM memory offers high thermal stability, so that low operating voltage, fast writing, ideal reading durability, persistence at high temperature, and the highly reliable memory performance for effectively reading data at high temperature can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yung-Hsien Wu, Min-Lin Wu
  • Publication number: 20140220772
    Abstract: Described are methods for controlling the doping of metal nitride films such as TaN, TiN and MnN. The temperature during deposition of the metal nitride film may be controlled to provide a film density that permits a desired amount of doping. Dopants may include Ru, Cu, Co, Mn, Mo, Al, Mg, Cr, Nb, Ta, Ti and V. The metal nitride film may optionally be exposed to plasma treatment after doping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Annamalai Lakshmanan, Ben-Li Sheu, Guodan Wei, Nicole Lundy, Paul F. Ma
  • Patent number: 8791510
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a semiconductor substrate, an impurity region at a side of the gate structure and the impurity region is within the semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating layer covering the gate structure and the impurity region, a contact structure extending through the interlayer insulating layer and connected to the impurity region, and an insulating region. The contact structure includes a first contact structure that has a side surface surrounded by the interlayer insulating layer and a second contact structure that has a side surface surrounded by the impurity region. The insulating region is under the second contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Kyu Lee
  • Publication number: 20140203427
    Abstract: An electrically conductive paste providing low alpha particle emission is provided. A resin and conductive particles are mixed, and a curing agent is added. A solvent is subsequently added. The electrically conductive paste including a resin compound is formed by mixing the mixture in a high shear mixer. The electrically conductive paste can be applied to a surface of an article to form a coating, or can be molded into an article. The solvent is evaporated, and the electrically conductive paste is cured to provide a graphite-containing resin compound. The graphite-containing resin compound is electrically conductive, and provides low alpha particle emission at a level suitable for a low alpha particle emissivity coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Gaynes, Michael S. Gordon, Eric P. Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 8785314
    Abstract: Methods and memory devices formed using etch bias homogenization are provided. One example method of forming a memory device using etch bias homogenization includes forming conductive material at respective levels over a substrate. Each respective level of conductive material is electrically coupled to corresponding circuitry on the substrate during patterning of the respective level of conductive material so that each respective level of conductive material has a homogenized etch bias during patterning thereof. Each respective level of conductive material electrically coupled to corresponding circuitry on the substrate is patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Pellizzer, Hernan A. Castro, Eddie T. Flores
  • Patent number: 8778807
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate; forming a first hard mask layer over the substrate; forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer; patterning the second hard mask layer to form a hard mask; and, after the step of patterning the second hard mask layer, baking the substrate, the first hard mask layer, and the hard mask. After the step of baking, a spacer layer is formed, which includes a first portion on a top of the hard mask, and a second portion and a third portion on opposite sidewalls of the hard mask. The method further includes removing the first portion of the spacer layer; removing the hard mask; and using the second portion and the third portion of the spacer layer as masks to pattern the first hard mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lai, Cheng-Ta Wu, Neng-Kuo Chen, Cheng-Yuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8772162
    Abstract: Native oxides and associated residue are removed from surfaces of a substrate by sequentially performing two plasma cleaning processes on the substrate in a single processing chamber. The first plasma cleaning process removes native oxide formed on a substrate surface by generating a cleaning plasma from a mixture of ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gases, condensing products of the cleaning plasma on the native oxide to form a thin film that contains ammonium hexafluorosilicate ((NH4)2SiF6), and subliming the thin film off of the substrate surface. The second plasma cleaning process removes remaining residues of the thin film by generating a second cleaning plasma from nitrogen trifluoride gas. Products of the second cleaning plasma react with a few angstroms of the bare silicon present on the surface, forming silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4) and lifting off residues of the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Zheng, Arvind Sundarrajan, Xinyu Fu
  • Patent number: 8772836
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device in which a rectifying element capable of reducing a leak current in reverse bias when a high voltage is applied and reducing a forward voltage drop Vf and a transistor element are integrally formed on a single substrate. A semiconductor device has a transistor element and a rectifying element on a single substrate. The transistor element has an active layer formed on the substrate and three electrodes (source electrode, drain electrode, and gate electrode) disposed on the active layer. The rectifying element has an anode electrode disposed on the active layer, a cathode electrode which is the drain electrode, and a first auxiliary electrode between the anode electrode and cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Machida
  • Patent number: 8765592
    Abstract: A method for contacting MOS devices. First openings in a photosensitive material are formed over a substrate having a top dielectric in a first die area and a second opening over a gate stack in a second die area having the top dielectric, a hard mask, and a gate electrode. The top dielectric layer is etched to form a semiconductor contact while etching at least a portion the hard mask layer thickness over a gate contact area exposed by the second opening. An inter-layer dielectric (ILD) is deposited. A photosensitive material is patterned to generate a third opening in the photosensitive material over the semiconductor contact and a fourth opening inside the gate contact area. The ILD is etched through to reopen the semiconductor contact while etching through the ILD and residual hard mask if present to provide a gate contact to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Fei Xie, Wen Cheng Tien, Ya Ping Chen, Li Bin Man, Kuo Jung Chen, Yu Liu, Tian Yi Zhang, Sisi Xie
  • Publication number: 20140170847
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein may achieve crack free filling of structures. A flowable film may substantially fill gaps in a structure and extend over a base in an open area adjacent to the structure. The top surface of the flowable film in the open area may slope down and may be lower than top surfaces of the structure. A capping layer having compressive stress may be formed over the flowable film. The bottom surface of the capping layer in the open area adjacent to the structure is lower than the top surfaces of the lines and may be formed on the downward slope of the flowable film. The flowable film is cured after forming the capping layer, which increases tensile stress of the flowable film. The compressive stress of the capping layer counteracts the tensile stress of the flowable film, which may prevent a crack from forming in the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SANDISK 3D LLC
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iuchi, Hitomi Fujimoto, Chao Feng Yeh
  • Publication number: 20140167044
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Zundel, Vanessa Capodieci, Markus Dinkel, Uwe Schmalzbauer
  • Publication number: 20140167043
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Zundel, Vanessa Capodieci, Markus Dinkel, Uwe Schmalzbauer
  • Patent number: 8753947
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device having light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating device having photovoltaic diodes. The exemplary method includes depositing a first conductive medium within a plurality of channels of a base to form a plurality of first conductors; depositing within the plurality of channels a plurality of semiconductor substrate particles suspended in a carrier medium; forming an ohmic contact between each semiconductor substrate particle and a first conductor; converting the semiconductor substrate particles into a plurality of semiconductor diodes; depositing a second conductive medium to form a plurality of second conductors coupled to the plurality of semiconductor diodes; and depositing or attaching a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer over the plurality of diodes. In various embodiments, the depositing, forming, coupling and converting steps are performed by or through a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignees: NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc, NASA
    Inventors: William Johnstone Ray, Mark David Lowenthal, Neil O. Shotton, Richard A. Blanchard, Mark Allan Lewandowski, Kirk A. Fuller, Donald Odell Frazier
  • Publication number: 20140162406
    Abstract: Provided is a method of transferring semiconductor elements formed on a non-flexible substrate to a flexible substrate. Also, provided is a method of manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device based on the method of transferring semiconductor elements. A semiconductor element grown or formed on the substrate may be efficiently transferred to the resin layer while maintaining an arrangement of the semiconductor elements. Furthermore, the resin layer acts as a flexible substrate supporting the vertical semiconductor elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Eun-hyoung CHO, Jun-hee CHOI, Jin-seung SOHN
  • Patent number: 8748304
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a silicon semiconductor device, and a conductive thick film composition for use in a solar cell device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Haixin Yang, Roberto Irizarry, Patricia J. Ollivier
  • Patent number: 8748303
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming ohmic electrodes on a source region and a drain region of a nitride semiconductor layer, forming a low-resistance layer between an uppermost surface of the nitride semiconductor layer and the ohmic electrodes by annealing the nitride semiconductor layer, removing the ohmic electrodes from at least one of the source region and the drain region after forming the low-resistance layer, and forming at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode on the low-resistance layer, the at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode having an edge, a distance between the edge and a gate electrode is longer than a distance between an edge of the low-resistance layer and the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8741737
    Abstract: Described are three-dimensional stacked semiconductor structures having one or more vertical interconnects. Vertical stacking relies on vertical interconnects and wafer bonding using a patternable polymer. The polymer is preferably lithographically patternable and photosensitive. Curing of the polymer is preselected from about 35% to up to about 100%, depending on a desired outcome. When fabricated, such vertically stacked structures include electrical interconnects provided by solder reflow. Solder reflow temperature is bounded by a curing and glass transition temperatures of a polymer used for bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Dan O. Popa, Rachita Dewan, Praveen Pandojirao-Sunkojirao, Jung-Chih Chiao
  • Patent number: 8741771
    Abstract: A damascene process incorporating a GCIB step is provided. The GCIB step can replace one or more CMP steps in the traditional damascene process. The GCIB step allows for selectable removal of unwanted material and thus, reduces unwanted erosion of certain nearby structures during damascene process. A GCIB step may also be incorporated in the damascene process as a final polish step to clean up surfaces that have been planarized using a CMP step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8741751
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first contact layer of the semiconductor device is fabricated. An electrical connection is formed between a carbon nanotube and the first contact layer by electrically coupling of the carbon nanotube and a second contact layer. The first contact layer and second contact layer may be electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Cao, Aaron D. Franklin, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140145293
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having improved radiation immunity is described. The integrated circuit comprises a substrate; a P-well formed on the substrate and having N-type transistors of a memory cell; and an N-well formed on the substrate and having P-type transistors of the memory cell; wherein the N-well has minimal dimensions for accommodating the P-type transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Xilinx, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8735284
    Abstract: A metal seed composition useful in seeding a metal diffusion barrier or conductive metal layer on a semiconductor or dielectric substrate, the composition comprising: a nanoscopic metal component that includes a metal useful as a metal diffusion barrier or conductive metal; an adhesive component for attaching said nanoscopic metal component on said semiconductor or dielectric substrate; and a linker component that links said nanoscopic metal component with said adhesive component. Semiconductor and dielectric substrates coated with the seed compositions, as well as methods for depositing the seed compositions, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kelly Malone, Habib Hichri
  • Patent number: 8735273
    Abstract: A method includes forming a passivation layer over a metal pad, which is overlying a semiconductor substrate. A first opening is formed in the passivation layer, with a portion of the metal pad exposed through the first opening. A seed layer is formed over the passivation layer and to electrically coupled to the metal pad. The seed layer further includes a portion over the passivation layer. A first mask is formed over the seed layer, wherein the first mask has a second opening directly over at least a portion of the metal pad. A PPI is formed over the seed layer and in the second opening. A second mask is formed over the first mask, with a third opening formed in the second mask. A portion of a metal bump is formed in the third opening. After the step of forming the portion of the metal bump, the first and the second masks are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hsiung Lu, Ming-Da Cheng, Chih-Wei Lin, Yi-Wen Wu, Hsiu-Jen Lin, Chung-Shi Liu, Mirng-Ji Lii, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8729404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a via with transparent material is presented, including the steps of providing a panel having a via, occluding the via with transparent material in a workable state so that a portion of the occluding material is internal to the via and a portion of the material is external to said via. The external and internal portions are separated so the transparent filler material, when set, forms a smooth and featureless surface. This causes the filled via to have a substantially even and uniform appearance over a wide range of viewing angles when lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Simenson, William Antoni, Steven Cohen, Jeffery Howerton
  • Patent number: 8728927
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of forming borderless contacts for semiconductor transistors. Embodiments may include providing a transistor structure including a gate, a spacer on a sidewall of the gate, a hard cap above the gate, a source/drain region adjacent to the spacer, and an interlevel dielectric layer around the gate, forming a contact hole above the source/drain region, forming a protective layer on portions of the hard cap and of the spacer exposed by the contact hole; deepening the contact hole by etching the interlevel dielectric layer while the spacer and the hard cap are protected by the protective layer, so that at least a portion of the source/drain region is exposed by the deepening of the contact hole; removing the protective layer; and forming a metal contact in the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Charan V. Surisetty, Thomas N. Adam
  • Patent number: 8728350
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing metal nanoparticles including preparing a first solution including a metal precursor, an amine, and a non-aqueous solvent; producing metal nanoparticles capped with amine by heating, agitating, and reducing the first solution; preparing a second solution by washing a non-reactive amine among the produced metal nanoparticles and dispersing the metal nanoparticles in the non-aqueous solvent; and partially capping an acid on the metal nanoparticles dispersed by adding the acid to the second solution and heating and agitating it, an ink composition using the same, and a method for producing the same. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide a method for producing metal nanoparticles having surface stability, excellent adhesion, an effect of reducing cracks by modifying the substituents of metal nanoparticles, an ink composition using the same, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Koo Kang, Dong Hoon Kim, Joon Rak Choi
  • Patent number: 8728923
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having an ohmic electrode is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes: forming a metal thin film on a rear surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an ohmic electrode by laser annealing by irradiating the metal thin film with laser beam; and dicing the semiconductor substrate into chips by cutting at a dicing region of the semiconductor substrate. In forming the ohmic electrode, laser irradiation of the metal thin film is performed on a chip-by-chip basis while the dicing region is not being irradiated with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Kawai, Tetsuji Kondou, Kazuhiko Sugiura, Nobuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8728891
    Abstract: Contact openings are produced in a semiconductor body by forming a plurality of self-aligned structures on a main surface of a semiconductor body, each self-aligned structure filling a trench formed in the semiconductor body and extending above and onto the main surface. Adjacent ones of the self-aligned structures have spaced apart sidewalls which face each other. A spacer layer is formed on the sidewalls of the self-aligned structures. Openings are formed in the semiconductor body between adjacent ones of the self-aligned structures while the spacer layer is on the sidewalls of the self-aligned structures. Each opening has a width and a distance to the sidewall of an adjacent trench which corresponds to a thickness of the spacer layer. Self-aligned contact structures can also be produced on a semiconductor body, with or without using the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Heimo Hofer, Martin Poelzl
  • Publication number: 20140124792
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Nickel-rich (Ni-rich) Schottky contact for a semiconductor device and a method of fabrication thereof are disclosed. Preferably, the semiconductor device is a radio frequency or power device such as, for example, a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT), a Schottky diode, a Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MESFET), or the like. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body and a Ni-rich Schottky contact on a surface of the semiconductor body. The Ni-rich Schottky contact includes a multilayer Ni-rich contact metal stack. The semiconductor body is preferably formed in a Group III nitride material system (e.g., includes one or more Gallium Nitride (GaN) and/or Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) layers). Because the Schottky contact is Ni-rich, leakage through the Schottky contact is substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Hagleitner, Fabian Radulescu, Daniel Namishia
  • Publication number: 20140127836
    Abstract: A system and method of compensating for local focus errors in a semiconductor process. The method includes providing a reticle and applying, at a first portion of the reticle, a step height based on an estimated local focus error for a first portion of a wafer corresponding to the first portion of the reticle. A multilayer coating is formed over the reticle and an absorber layer is formed over the multilayer coating. A photoresist is formed over the absorber layer. The photoresist is patterned, an etch is performed of the absorber layer and residual photoresist is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hao HSU, Pei-Cheng Hsu, Chia-Ching Huang, Chih-Ming Chen, Chia-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 8716121
    Abstract: An ohmic electrode for a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a method of forming the ohmic electrode. The ohmic electrode has an ohmic electrode layer, which has an amorphous structure and which is made of a Ti(1-x-y)Si(x)C(y) ternary film of which a composition ratio is within a composition range that is surrounded by two lines and two curves expressed by an expression x=0 (0.35?y?0.5), an expression y=?1.120x+0.5200 (0.1667?x?0.375), an expression y=1.778(x?0.375)2+0.1 (0?x?0.375) and an expression y=?2.504x2?0.5828x+0.5 (0?x?0.1667) and that excludes the line expressed by the expression x=0. The ohmic layer is directly laminated on a surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Masahiro Sugimoto, Akira Kawahashi, Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda