Front And Rear Surface Processing Patents (Class 438/928)
  • Patent number: 9034693
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit package includes: forming a substrate including: forming a core layer, and forming vias in the core layer; forming a conductive layer having a predetermined thickness on the core layer and having substantially twice the predetermined thickness in the vias; and forming connections between an integrated circuit die and the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ST ASSEMBLY TEST SERVICES LTD.
    Inventors: Il Kwon Shim, Kwee Lan Tan, Jian Jun Li, Dario S. Filoteo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8999864
    Abstract: A silicon wafer for preventing a void defect in a bulk region from becoming source of contamination and slip generation in a device process is provided. And a heat-treating method thereof for reducing crystal defects such as COP in a region near the wafer surface to be a device active region is provided. The silicon wafer has a surface region 1 which is a defect-free region and a bulk region 2 including void defect of a polyhedron whose basic shape is an octahedron in which a corner portion of the polyhedron is in the curved shape and an inner-wall oxide film the void defect is removed. The silicon wafer is provided by performing a heat-treating method in which gas to be supplied, inner pressure of spaces and a maximum achievable temperature are set to a predetermined value when subjecting the silicon wafer produced by a CZ method to RTP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Global Wafers Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Senda, Hiromichi Isogai, Eiji Toyoda, Koji Araki, Tatsuhiko Aoki, Haruo Sudo, Koji Izunome, Susumu Maeda, Kazuhiko Kashima, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8809189
    Abstract: Methods of forming through-silicon vias by using laser ablation. A method includes, laser drilling to form a plurality of grooves by irradiating a laser beam onto an upper surface of a silicon wafer, and grinding a lower surface of the silicon wafer to form a plurality of through-silicon vias by exposing the grooves on the lower surface of the silicon wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eui-seok Kim, Sang-kyu Bang, Soo-hyun Cho, Choo-ho Kim, Won-soo Ji
  • Patent number: 8766259
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a test structure for detection of a gap in a conductive layer of the semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; the test structure, the test structure being located on the semiconductor substrate, the test structure comprising a multilayer gate stack, wherein the multilayer gate stack includes a single conductive layer region including: a gate dielectric located on the semiconductor substrate; the conductive layer located on the gate dielectric; and an undoped amorphous silicon layer located on the conductive layer; and wherein the test structure is configured to detect the presence of the gap in the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renee T. Mo, Oliver D. Patterson, Xing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8709915
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises: forming a protective film so as to cover at least a side edge of a substrate; forming a trench, which is annular in shape when viewed oppositely to a first principal surface of the substrate, on the first principal surface by etching using a photoresist pattern; and forming an insulating film so as to fill the trench, to form an insulating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Takeo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8679933
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imagers, include fabricating transistors and other low-elevation features on an active surface of a fabrication substrate, and fabricating contact plugs, conductive lines, external contacts, and other higher-elevation features on the back side of the fabrication substrate. Semiconductor devices with transistors on the active surface and contact plugs that extend through the substrate are also disclosed, as are electronic devices including such semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Steve Oliver
  • Patent number: 8592255
    Abstract: A method includes providing a handle wafer having first and second sides. A first oxide layer covers the first side, a second oxide layer covers the second side, a first silicon layer covers the first oxide layer, and a second silicon layer covers the second oxide layer. A portion of the first silicon layer and the first oxide layer is etched to create an exposed portion of the first side. A portion of the second silicon layer and the second oxide layer is etched to create an exposed portion of the second side. A first conductive layer is deposited on the exposed portion of the first side such that it contacts the handle wafer, first oxide layer, and first silicon layer. A second conductive layer is deposited on the exposed portion of the second side such that it contacts the handle wafer, second oxide layer, and second silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Waters
  • Patent number: 8529783
    Abstract: A method for preventing the formation of contaminating polymeric films on the backsides of semiconductor substrates includes providing an oxygen-impregnated focus ring and/or an oxygen-impregnated chuck that releases oxygen during etching operations. The method further provides delivering oxygen gas to the substrate by mixing oxygen in the cooling gas mixture, maintaining the focus ring at a temperature no greater than the substrate temperature during etching and cleaning the substrate using a two step plasma cleaning sequence that includes suspending the substrate above the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huang-Ming Chen, Chun-Li Chou, Chao-Cheng Chen, Hun-Jan Tao
  • Patent number: 8497206
    Abstract: A method of processing copper backside metal layer for semiconductor chips is disclosed. The backside of a semiconductor wafer, with electronic devices already fabricated on the front side, is first coated with a thin metal seed layer by either electroless plating or sputtering. Then, the copper backside metal layer is coated on the metal seed layer. The metal seed layer not only increases the adhesion between the front side metal layer and the copper backside metal layer through backside via holes, but also prevents metal peeling from semiconductor's substrate after subsequent fabrication processes, which is helpful for increasing the reliability of device performances. Suitable materials for the metal seed layer includes Pd, Au, Ni, Ag, Co, Cr, Pt, or their alloys, such as NiP, NiB, AuSn, Pt—Rh and the likes. The use of Pd as seed layer is particularly useful for the copper backside metal layer, because the Pd layer also acts as a diffusion barrier to prevent Cu atoms entering the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: WIN Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chang-Hwang Hua, Wen Chu
  • Patent number: 8481408
    Abstract: A method for relaxing a layer of a strained material. The method includes depositing a first low-viscosity layer on a first face of a strained material layer; bonding a first substrate to the first low-viscosity layer to form a first composite structure; subjecting the composite structure to heat treatment sufficient to cause reflow of the first low-viscosity layer so as to at least partly relax the strained material layer; and applying a mechanical pressure to a second face of the strained material layer wherein the second face is opposite to the first face and with the mechanical pressure applied perpendicularly to the strained material layer during at least part of the heat treatment to relax the strained material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Fabrice Letertre, Carlos Mazure, Michael R. Krames, Melvin B. McLaurin, Nathan F. Gardner
  • Patent number: 8444869
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a wafer. The wafer is heated and moved to a processing station within the apparatus that has a platen either permanently in a platen down position or is transferable from a platen up position to the platen down position. The wafer is positioned over the platen so as not to contact the platen and provide a gap between the platen and wafer. The gap may be generated by positioning the platen in a platen down position. A plasma flows into the gap to enable the simultaneous removal of material from the wafer front side, backside and edges. The apparatus may include a single processing station having the gap residing therein, or the apparatus may include a plurality of processing stations, each capable of forming the gap therein for simultaneously removing additional material from the wafer front side, backside and edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Haruhiro Harry Goto, David Cheung
  • Patent number: 8420505
    Abstract: A process to thin semiconductor wafers to less than 50 microns employs a dissolvable photoresist or polyimide or other glue material to hold a thick carrier plate such as a perforated glass to the top surface of a thick processed wafer and to grind or otherwise remove the bulk of the wafer from its rear surface, leaving only the preprocessed top surface, which may include semiconductor device diffusions and electrodes. A thick metal such as copper or a more brittle copper alloy is then conductively secured to the ground back surface and the glue is dissolved and the carrier plate is removed. The wafer is then cleaned and diced into plural devices such as MOSFETs; integrated circuits and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Igor Bol
  • Patent number: 8377219
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a semiconductor wafer composed of silicon directly after a process of chemical mechanical polishing of the semiconductor wafer includes transferring the semiconductor wafer from a polishing plate to a first cleaning module and spraying both side surfaces of the semiconductor wafer with water at a pressure no greater than 1000 Pa at least once while transferring the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is then cleaned between rotating rollers with water. The side surfaces of the semiconductor wafer are sprayed with an aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride and a surfactant at a pressure no greater than 70,000 Pa. Subsequently, the side surfaces are sprayed with water at a pressure no greater than 20,000 Pa. The wafer is then dipped into an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution, and then cleaned between rotating rollers with a supply of water. The semiconductor wafer is then sprayed with water and dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Lanz
  • Patent number: 8309403
    Abstract: A method for encapsulating electronic components, including the steps of: forming, in a first surface of a semiconductor wafer, electronic components; forming, on the first surface, an interconnection stack including conductive tracks and vias separated by an insulating material; forming first and second bonding pads on the interconnection stack; thinning down the wafer, except at least on its contour; filling the thinned-down region with a first resin layer; arranging at least one first chip on the first bonding pads and forming solder bumps on the second bonding pads; depositing a second resin layer covering the first chips and partially covering the solder bumps; bonding an adhesive strip on the first resin layer; and scribing the structure into individual chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Marc Feron, Vincent Jarry, Laurent Barreau
  • Patent number: 8298919
    Abstract: A method to prevent contamination of the principal surface side in a process of grinding the back surface side of a semiconductor wafer. At an intersection of a scribe region of a semiconductor wafer whose back surface side is to be ground, a plurality of insulating layers is laminated over the principal surface in the same manner as an insulating layer constituting a wiring layer laminated over a device region. Moreover, in the same layer as an uppermost wiring disposed at the uppermost layer among a plurality of the wiring layers formed for a device region, a metal pattern is formed. Furthermore, a second insulating layer covering the uppermost wiring is also formed over the metal pattern so as to cover the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shoetsu Kogawa, Satoru Nakayama, Seigo Kamata, Shigemitsu Seito
  • Patent number: 8293626
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor film in which variation in the size of crystal grains is reduced. Alternatively, it is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor film and to achieve cost reduction. By introducing a glass substrate over which an amorphous semiconductor film is formed into a treatment atmosphere set at more than or equal to a temperature that is needed for crystallization, rapid heating due to heat conduction from the treatment atmosphere is performed so that the amorphous semiconductor film is crystallized. More specifically, for example, after the temperature of the treatment atmosphere is increased in advance to a temperature that is needed for crystallization, the substrate over which the semiconductor film is formed is put into the treatment atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Ohnuma, Naoki Okuno
  • Patent number: 8277667
    Abstract: A magnetic element and its manufacturing method are provided. A magnetic element includes an actuation part having a first surface and a second surface, a torsion bar connected to the actuation part, and a frame connected to the first torsion bar, wherein the first surface of the actuation part is an uneven surface. The manufacturing method of the magnetic element starts with forming an passivation layer on a substrate and defining a special area by the mask method, then continues with forming the adhesion layer and electroplate-initializing layer on the substrate sequentially. The photoresist layer are formed and the magnetic-inductive material is electroformed on the electroplate area. Finally, the substrate is etched and the passivation layer is removed to obtain the magnetic element. The manufacturing method of magnetic element of the present invention can be applied in the microelectromechanical system field and other categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Hsueh-An Yang, Weileun Fang, Tsung-Lin Tang
  • Patent number: 8227292
    Abstract: A process for the production of a MWT silicon solar cell comprising the steps: (1) providing a p-type silicon wafer with (i) holes forming vias between the front-side and the back-side of the wafer and (ii) an n-type emitter extending over the entire front-side and the inside of the holes, (2) applying a conductive metal paste to the holes of the silicon wafer to provide at least the inside of the holes with a metallization, (3) drying the applied conductive metal paste, and (4) firing the dried conductive metal paste, whereby the wafer reaches a peak temperature of 700 to 900° C., wherein the conductive metal paste has no or only poor fire-through capability and comprises (a) at least one particulate electrically conductive metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper and nickel and (b) an organic vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Warren Hang, Giovanna Laudisio, Alistair Graeme Prince, Richard John Sheffield Young
  • Patent number: 8211780
    Abstract: Adhesion defects between a single crystal semiconductor layer and a support substrate are reduced to manufacture an SOI substrate achiving high bonding strength between the single crystal semiconductor layer and the support substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8173520
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a peeling method that causes no damage to a layer to be peeled and to allow not only a layer to be peeled with a small surface area but also a layer to be peeled with a large surface area to be peeled entirely. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to bond a layer to be peeled to various base materials to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. Particularly, it is an object to bond various elements typified by a TFT, (a thin film diode, a photoelectric conversion element comprising a PIN junction of silicon, or a silicon resistance element) to a flexible film to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Yumiko Ohno
  • Patent number: 8101523
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor wafer is planar-processed by grinding a bottom surface of the wafer, etching the bottom surface by, e.g., KOH for removing a bottom process-induced degradation layer, chamfering by a rubber whetstone bonded with 100 wt %-60 wt % #3000-#600 diamond granules and 0 wt %-40 wt % oxide granules, grinding and polishing a top surface of the wafer, etching the top surface for eliminating a top process-induced degradation layer and maintaining a 0.5 ?m-10 ?m thick edge process-induced degradation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Ishibashi, Hidenori Mikami, Naoki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8093138
    Abstract: A method of forming an epitaxially grown layer by forming a region of weakness in a support substrate to define a support portion and a remainder portion on opposite sides of the region of weakness, epitaxially growing an epitaxially grown layer on the support portion after forming the region of weakness but prior to detachment of the support portion from the remainder portion; bonding the epitaxially grown layer to an acceptor substrate before detaching the remainder portion from the support portion; and detaching the remainder portion from the support portion at the region of weakness. The epitaxially grown layer may be removed from the support portion as a free-standing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Bruce Faure, Lea Di Cioccio
  • Patent number: 8012802
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a layered chip package, a layered substructure is fabricated and used to produce a plurality of layered chip packages. The layered substructure includes first to fourth substructures stacked, each of the substructures including an array of a plurality of preliminary layer portions. In the step of fabricating the layered substructure, initially fabricated are first to fourth pre-polishing substructures each having first and second surfaces. Next, the first and second pre-polishing substructures are bonded to each other with the first surfaces facing each other, and then the second surface of the second pre-polishing substructure is polished to form a first stack. Similarly, the third and fourth pre-polishing substructures are bonded to each other and the second surface of the third pre-polishing substructure is polished to form a second stack. Then, the first and second stacks are bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Atsushi Iijima
  • Patent number: 8012854
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a peeling method that causes no damage to a layer to be peeled and to allow not only a layer to be peeled with a small surface area but also a layer to be peeled with a large surface area to be peeled entirely. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to bond a layer to be peeled to various base materials to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. Particularly, it is an object to bond various elements typified by a TFT, (a thin film diode, a photoelectric conversion element comprising a PIN junction of silicon, or a silicon resistance element) to a flexible film to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Yumiko Ohno
  • Patent number: 7993981
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device package. Coating a first side of a metallic layer with a first insulating layer and coating a second opposite side of the metallic layer with a second insulating layer. Patterning the first insulating layer to expose bonding locations on the first side of the metallic layer, and patterning the second insulating layer such that remaining portions of the second insulating layer on the second opposite side are located directly opposite to the bonding locations on the first side. Selectively removing portions of the metallic layer that are not covered by the remaining portions of the second insulating layer on the second opposite side to form separated coplanar metallic layers. The separated coplanar metallic layers include the bonding locations. Selectively removing remaining portions of the second insulating layer thereby exposing second bonding locations on the second opposite sides of the separated coplanar metallic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Qwai Low, Patrick Variot
  • Patent number: 7955440
    Abstract: After a water film is formed on a wafer front surface in a chamber, the water film is supplied sequentially with an oxidizing component of an oxidation gas, an organic acid component of an organic acid mist, an HF component of an HF gas, the organic acid mist, and the oxidizing component of the oxidation gas. As a result, the HF component and the organic acid component provide cleaning effect on the wafer surface, and a concentration of the cleaning components in the water film within a wafer surface can be even.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Okuuchi, Kazushige Takaishi
  • Patent number: 7943513
    Abstract: A conductive through connection having a body layer and a metal layer is disposed on a semiconductor device, which the metal layer is on a top of body layer and includes a conductive body configured to penetrate the body layer and the metal layer. The width/diameter of one end of the conductive body is larger than that of another end thereof. The shape of these two ends of the body layer can be rectangular or circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Shian-Jyh Lin
  • Patent number: 7858499
    Abstract: Provided are a tape, apparatus, and method that relate generally to a single layer adhesive which functions as a dicing tape and also as a die attach adhesive for dicing thinned wafers and subsequent die attach operations of the diced chips in semiconductor device fabrication. The tape, apparatus, and method include a backing with a surface modification that includes a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David J. Plaut, Eric G. Larson, Joel A. Getschel, Olester Benson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7825004
    Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises steps of: (A) forming trenches (13) on the front surface (FS) of a semiconductor substrate (11) on the back surface (BS) of which a nitride film (12b) is formed; (B) depositing an insulating film (15) to bury the trenches (13); (C) removing the nitride film (12b) on the back surface (BS) of the semiconductor substrate (11) after the step (B); and (D) annealing before the insulating film (15) is etched after the step (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hirota
  • Patent number: 7825019
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (a) a substrate which includes semiconductor devices and (b) a first ILD (inter-level dielectric) layer on top of the substrate. The structure further includes N first actual metal lines in the first ILD layer, N being a positive integer. The N first actual metal lines are electrically connected to the semiconductor devices. The structure further includes first trenches in the first ILD layer. The first trenches are not completely filled with solid materials. If the first trenches are completely filled with first dummy metal lines, then (i) the first dummy metal lines are not electrically connected to any semiconductor device and (ii) the N first actual metal lines and the first dummy metal lines provide an essentially uniform pattern density of metal lines across the first ILD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Stephan Grunow, Kaushik A. Kumar, Kevin Shawn Petrarca, Vidhya Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 7749915
    Abstract: A method of protecting a polymeric layer from contamination by a photoresist layer. The method includes: (a) forming a polymeric layer over a substrate; (b) forming a non-photoactive protection layer over the polymeric layer; (c) forming a photoresist layer over the protection layer; (d) exposing the photoresist layer to actinic radiation and developing the photoresist layer to form a patterned photoresist layer, thereby exposing regions of the protection layer; (e) etching through the protection layer and the polymeric layer where the protection layer is not protected by the patterned photoresist layer; (f) removing the patterned photoresist layer in a first removal process; and (g) removing the protection layer in a second removal process different from the first removal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ute Drechsler, Urs T. Duerig, Jane Elizabeth Frommer, Bernd W. Gotsmann, James Lupton Hedrick, Armin W. Knoll, Tobias Kraus, Robert Dennis Miller
  • Patent number: 7727859
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device in which a barrier property is improved; a compact size, a thin shape, and lightweight are achieved; and flexibility is provided. By providing a stacked body including a plurality of transistors in a space between a pair of substrates, a semiconductor device is provided, in which a harmful substance is prevented from entering and a barrier property is improved. In addition, by using a pair of substrates which are thinned by performing grinding and polishing, a semiconductor device is provided, in which a compact size, a thin shape, and lightweight are achieved. Further, a semiconductor device is provided, in which flexibility is provided and a high-added value is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuko Watanabe, Junya Maruyama, Yoshitaka Moriya
  • Patent number: 7601217
    Abstract: A method of forming an epitaxially grown layer, preferably by providing a region of weakness in a support substrate and transferring a nucleation portion to the support substrate by bonding. A remainder portion of the support substrate is detached at the region of weakness and an epitaxial layer is grown on the nucleation portion. The remainder portion is separated or otherwise removed from the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Bruce Faure, Fabrice Letertre
  • Patent number: 7592235
    Abstract: A wafer, in which a plurality of rectangular regions are defined on the face of the wafer by streets arranged in a lattice pattern, and a semiconductor memory element is disposed in each of the rectangular regions, is divided along the streets to separate the rectangular regions individually, thereby forming a plurality of semiconductor devices. Before the wafer is divided along the streets, a strained layer having a thickness of 0.20 ?m or less, especially 0.05 to 0.20 ?m, is formed in the back of the wafer. The strained layer is formed by grinding the back of the semiconductor wafer by a grinding member formed by bonding diamond abrasive grains having a grain size of 4 ?m or less by a bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Nanjo
  • Patent number: 7579260
    Abstract: A method of dividing an adhesive film for die bonding which is bonded to the rear surface of a wafer having devices in a plurality of areas sectioned by dividing lines formed in a lattice pattern on the front surface, into pieces corresponding to the devices, comprising the steps of putting the adhesive film side of the wafer on the front surface of a dicing tape mounted on an annular frame; cutting the wafer whose adhesive film side has been put on the dicing tape into devices along the dividing lines and cutting the adhesive film incompletely in such a way that an uncut portion is caused to remain; and expanding the dicing tape after the cutting step to divide the adhesive film into pieces corresponding to the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7566578
    Abstract: A GaN based III-V nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. In the GaN based III-V nitride semiconductor light-emitting device including first and second electrodes arranged facing opposite directions or the same direction with a high-resistant substrate therebetween and material layers for light emission or lasing, the second electrode directly contacts a region of the outmost material layer exposed through an etched region of the high-resistant substrate. A thermal conductive layer may be formed on the bottom of the high-resistant substrate to cover the exposed region of the outmost material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-seop Kwak, Kyo-yeol Lee, Jae-hee Cho, Su-hee Chae
  • Patent number: 7538010
    Abstract: A method of forming an epitaxially grown layer by providing a support substrate that includes a region of weakness therein to define a support portion and a remainder portion on opposite sides of the region of weakness. The region of weakness comprises atomic species implanted in the support substrate to facilitate detachment of the support portion from the remainder portion. The method also includes epitaxially growing an epitaxially grown layer in association with the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Bruce Faure, Lea Di Cioccio
  • Patent number: 7465488
    Abstract: A package including a package substrate, a die-substrate assembly including a substrate including a plurality of layers including a layer having a mesh to stiffen the substrate adapted to mount one or more dice, one or more dice mounted on the substrate and a molding compound to attach the substrate to the package substrate. Various embodiments include a method comprising providing a substrate including a layer having an outer surface, depositing a metal layer on the outer surface, and etching the metal layer to form an opening, the opening enclosing an area on the outer surface to mount one or more dice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Choon Kuan, Lee Kian Chai
  • Patent number: 7432177
    Abstract: A combination of a dry oxidizing, wet etching, and wet cleaning processes are used to remove particle defects from a wafer after ion implantation, as part of a wafer bonding process to fabricate a SOI wafer. The particle defects on the topside and the backside of the wafer are oxidized, in a dry strip chamber, with an energized gas. In a wet clean chamber, the backside of the wafer is treated with an etchant solution to remove completely or partially a thermal silicon oxide layer, followed by exposure of the topside and the backside to a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution contains ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, DI water, and optionally a chelating agent, and a surfactant. The wet clean chamber is integrated with the dry strip chamber and contained in a single wafer processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Papanu, Han-Wen Chen, Brian J. Brown, Steven Verhaverbeke
  • Patent number: 7368380
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed in which a metallic deposit is stably formed on the anode side with small variation in film thickness, and plating is prevented on the cathode side without carrying out any additional processing on the cathode side. The processed anode side causes no interference in subsequent processing. Insulator films are used to cover a scribe line, as well as a field plate or an open electrode provided on a surface of a silicon substrate before Ni electroless plating of an aluminum electrode is performed to form a metallic deposit on the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Momoto, Eiji Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7364987
    Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device, a copper diffusion-prevention layer is formed underneath a substrate. Impurity regions are formed on the surface of the substrate. A copper wiring is electrically connected to the impurity regions. The copper diffusion-prevention layer is formed before forming the lightly doped source/drain regions to prevent copper atoms from diffusing into the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Seog Youn, Jong-Hyon Ahn, Hee-Sung Kang, Tae-Woong Kang
  • Patent number: 7348249
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device reduces or prevents copper contamination. The method includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a first oxide layer on a front surface of the substrate including the gate electrode; depositing a nitride layer (simultaneously) on the first oxide layer and a rear surface of the substrate; depositing a second oxide layer on the nitride layer; removing the second oxide layer from the rear surface of the substrate; and forming spacers at sides of the gate electrode by etching the second oxide layer, the nitride layer, and the first oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jea Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 7335575
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a substrate to form a recess, the substrate being formed on a backside of a semiconductor wafer, forming pores in the substrate in an area of the recess, and forming in the recess a material having a thermal conductivity which is greater than a thermal conductivity of the substrate. In another aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a substrate formed on a backside of a semiconductor wafer to form a recess in the substrate, and forming a sputter film in the recess, the sputter film including a first material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) which is at least substantially equal to a CTE of the substrate, and a second material having a thermal conductivity which is greater than a thermal conductivity of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Louis L. C. Hsu, Rajiv V. Joshi, Jack Allan Mandelman
  • Patent number: 7329152
    Abstract: A universal serial bus hub (100, 900) includes a housing (110), a power port (210), a first universal serial bus port (120), and a second universal serial bus port (220). The housing includes a middle portion (112), a top portion (111) coupled to the middle portion, and a bottom portion (113) coupled to the middle portion opposite the top portion. The middle portion has a first region (163), a second region (161) substantially opposite the first region, and a third region (162), where the third region is between the first region and the second region. The power port is located at the first region, the first universal serial bus port is located at the second region, and the second universal serial bus port is located at the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Mori, John Wadsworth, Ernesto Quinteros
  • Patent number: 7273824
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of fabrication there-for are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, a hydrophilic material layer disposed over the dielectric layer, and a hardmask layer disposed over the hydrophilic material layer. It is noted that, the edge of the semiconductor structure may be polished after the hydrophilic material layer is formed over the dielectric layer and before the hardmask layer is formed over the hydrophilic material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Ching Wu, Jiann-Fu Chen, Chih-Hsiang Shiau
  • Patent number: 7268081
    Abstract: Techniques for transferring a membrane from one wafer to another wafer to form integrated semiconductor devices. In one implementation, a carrier wafer is fabricated to include a membrane on one side of the carrier wafer. The membrane on the carrier wafer is then bond to a surface of a different, device wafer by a plurality of joints. Next, the carrier wafer is etched away by a dry etching chemical to expose the membrane and to leave said membrane on the device wafer. Transfer of membranes with a wet etching process is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Eui-Hyeok Yang
  • Patent number: 7253091
    Abstract: A method for assembling an electronic system with a plurality of layers. Recesses in formed in one or more dielectric layers and electronic components are positioned within the recesses. One or more layers containing the components are placed on a host substrate containing host circuits. Electrical interconnects are provided between and among the electronic components in the dielectric layers and the host circuits. The layers containing the components may also be provided by growing the electronic devices on a growth substrate. The growth substrate is then removed after the layer is attached to the host substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Peter D. Brewer, Michael G. Case, Andrew T. Hunter, Mehran Matloubian, John A. Roth, Carl W. Pobanz
  • Patent number: 7250368
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer capable of manufacturing a wafer without ring-like sag in an outer peripheral portion thereof when polishing an alkali etched wafer, and a wafer without the ring-like sag in an outer peripheral portion thereof. The present invention comprises: a back surface part polishing and edge polishing step for performing back surface part polishing and edge polishing such that mirror polishing is performed on a chamfered portion and an inner part extending inward from a boundary between the chamfered portion and a back surface of a starting wafer; and a front surface polishing step for mirror polishing a front surface of the wafer subjected to the back surface part polishing and edge polishing step holding the wafer by the back surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kida, Seiichi Miyazaki, Kazuhiko Nishimura, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Katsunori Arai
  • Patent number: 7238591
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-on-insulator substrate is disclosed, including providing a silicon substrate; depositing a first insulation layer over the silicon substrate; forming a conductive layer over the first insulation layer to a first structure; providing a second structure comprising a silicon device layer and a second insulation layer; bonding the first structure and the second structure together so that the conductive layer is located between the first and second insulation layers; and removing a portion of the silicon device layer thereby providing the silicon-on-insulator substrate having two discrete insulation layers. In one embodiment, the method further includes forming at least one conductive plug through the silicon substrate and the first insulation layer and/or the second insulation layer so as to contact the conductive layer. Methods of facilitating heat removal from the device layer are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Ren Lin
  • Patent number: 7235185
    Abstract: A wafer comprising a front surface and a back surface is provided. The wafer further includes a front pattern on the front surface, the front pattern having a plurality of holes. A low-viscosity fluid is formed on the front surface and filled into the holes. Following that, a high-viscosity fluid is formed and filled into the holes by diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Touch Micro-System Technology Inc.
    Inventor: I-Ju Chen