Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mark F. Chadurjian
  • Patent number: 6822471
    Abstract: This invention teaches an apparatus and method for determining a more efficient quality assurance or reliability test screen without falsely rejecting, i.e., over stressing, short channel length devices during voltage stress test screening. Short channel lengths devices fabricated on a semiconductor wafer have a higher tendency to fail at voltage levels that would otherwise not harm long channel length devices. The failures, however, are not related to device defects. Protection to the more vulnerable devices is provided by determining the speed of the die prior to the voltage test screen, thus, segregating the devices based on operational speed performance. Next, a lower voltage is effectively applied during wafer probe test to the faster devices, which directly correspond to the population of short channel devices. A preferred measurement for device speed entails measuring the drain-to-source current of each FET, and dividing the resultant sum by the device gate channel width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger W. Fleury, Jon A. Patrick
  • Patent number: 6790744
    Abstract: A method and structure for a semiconductor structure that includes a substrate having at least one integrated circuit heat generating structure is disclosed. The invention has at least one integrated circuit cooling device on the substrate adjacent the heat generating structure. The cooling device is adapted to remove heat from the heat generating structure. The cooling device includes a cold region and a hot region. The cold region is positioned adjacent the heat generating structure. The cooling device has one of a silicon germanium super lattice structure. The cooling device also has a plurality of cooling devices that surround the heat generating structure. The cooling device includes a thermoelectric cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Timothy D. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6778449
    Abstract: A method and structure for a test structure that has an array of cells connected together by conductive lines. The conductive lines connect the cells together as if they were a single cell. The conductive lines can include common word line; a common bit line; a common bit line complement line, a common N-well voltage line, a common interior ground line, a common interior voltage line, and/or a common ground line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Breitwisch, Jeffrey S. Brown, Randy W. Mann, Jeffrey H. Oppold
  • Patent number: 6767793
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor that includes an insulator and a silicon structure on the insulator. The silicon structure includes a central portion and Fins extending from ends of the central portion. A first gate is positioned on a first side of the central portion of the silicon structure. A strain-producing layer could be between the first gate and the first side of the central portion of the silicon structure and a second gate is on a second side of the central portion of the silicon structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, David M. Fried, Louis D. Lanzerotti, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 6724029
    Abstract: A programmable memory cell structure that includes a pair of memory cells is provided. Each pair of memory cells includes a shared control gate and first and second floating gates present about the shared control gate. The first and second floating gates have respective gate regions disposed on respective sides of the control gate. Dielectric structures are present between the control gate and respective ones of the gate regions of the floating gates. The control gate and gates of the first and second floating gates are formed within a single lithographic square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Louis L. Hsu, Chung H. Lam, Jack A. Mandelman, Carl J. Radens, William R. Tonti
  • Patent number: 6677645
    Abstract: A body contact structure utilizing an insulating structure between the body contact portion of the active area and the transistor portion of the active area is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention substitutes an insulator for at least a portion of the gate layer in the regions between the transistor and the body contact. In another embodiment, a portion of the gate layer is removed and replaced with an insulative layer in regions between the transistor and the body contact. In still another embodiment, the insulative structure is formed by forming multiple layers of gate dielectric between the gate and the body in regions between the transistor and the body contact. The body contact produced by these methods adds no significant gate capacitance to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Peter E. Cottrell, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Edward J. Nowak, Jed H. Rankin, Fariborz Assaderaghi
  • Patent number: 6674134
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit which comprises a substrate having a plurality of device regions formed therein, said plurality of device regions being electrically isolated from each other by shallow trench isolation (STI) regions and said plurality of device regions each having opposing edges abutting its corresponding STI region; selected ones of said devices regions having a preselected first device width such that an oxide layer formed thereon includes substantially thicker perimeter regions, along said opposing edges, compared to a thinner central region that does not abut its corresponding STI region; and selected other ones of the device regions having a preselected device width substantially narrower in width than the first device width such that an oxide layer formed thereon includes perimeter regions, along opposing edges, that abut each other over its central region thereby preventing formation of a corresponding thinner central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne S. Berry, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Jack A. Mandelman, William R. Tonti
  • Patent number: 6670654
    Abstract: A silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor device having a semiconductor region, and a diffusion region in the semiconductor region, wherein the diffusion region is boron-doped, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a carbon dopant therein to minimize boron diffusion, and wherein a combination of an amount of the dopant, an amount of the boron, and a size of the semiconductor region are such that the diffusion region has a sheet resistance of less than approximately 4 Kohms/cm2. Also, the diffusion region is boron-doped at a concentration of 1×1020/cm3 to 1×1021/cm3. Additionally, the semiconductor region comprises 5-25% germanium and 0-3% carbon. By adding carbon to the semiconductor region, the device achieves an electrostatic discharge robustness, which further causes a tighter distribution of a power-to-failure of the device, and increases a critical thickness and reduces the thermal strain of the semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Louis D. Lanzerotti, Brian P. Ronan, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 6667205
    Abstract: A method of forming retrograde n-wells and p-wells. A first mask is formed on the substrate and the n-well implants are carried out. Then the mask is thinned, and a deep p implant is carried out with the thinned n-well mask in place. This prevents Vt shifts in FETs formed in the n-well adjacent the nwell-pwell interface. The thinned mask is then removed, a p-well mask is put in place, and the remainder of the p-well implants are carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Breitwisch, Chung H. Lam, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 6664150
    Abstract: A semiconductor device fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator substrate and having an active well scheme as well as methods, including a non-self-aligned and self-aligned, of fabricating such a device are disclosed herein. The semiconductor device includes field effect transistor 124 comprising at least body region 127 and diffusion regions 132; buried interconnect plane 122 optionally self-aligned to diffusion regions 132 and in contact with body region 127; isolation oxide region 118 between diffusion regions 132 and buried interconnect plane 122; and buried oxide layer 104 present beneath buried interconnect plane 122.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Edward J. Nowak, Jed H. Rankin, Minh H. Tong
  • Patent number: 6664582
    Abstract: The present invention provides a memory cell and method for forming the same that results in improved cell density without overly increasing fabrication cost and complexity. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a fin design to form the memory cell. Specifically, a fin Field Effect Transistor (FET) is formed to provide the access transistor, and a fin capacitor is formed to provide the storage capacitor. By forming the memory cell with a fin FET and fin capacitor, the memory cell density can be greatly increased over traditional planar capacitor designs. Additionally, the memory cell can be formed with significantly less process cost and complexity than traditional deep trench capacitor designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Fried, Edward J. Nowak, Beth Ann Rainey
  • Patent number: 6656807
    Abstract: A grooved planar DRAM transfer device having a grooved gate formed in a groove in a substrate located between source and drain regions. The grooved gate has sidewall portions and a bottom portion which defines a channel therealong. The bottom portion includes a doped pocket such that the threshold voltage Vt on the bottom portion is substantially less than Vt on the sidewall portions, such that the sidewall portions predominantly control electric current through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Bronner, Toshiharu Furukawa, Mark C. Hakey, Steven J. Holmes, David Horak, Jack A. Mandelman
  • Patent number: 6657280
    Abstract: A bipolar transistor having a base contact surrounded by an emitter contact. A plurality of wires extending from the base contact and the emitter contact of the bipolar transistor, wherein the wires of the base contact are stacked higher than the wires of the emitter contact. A device comprising a plurality of these bipolar transistors, wherein at least one side of each emitter contact abuts each adjacent transistor. Increasing the wiring stack of each row of transistors in the device as the distance between the row and the current input increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Hulvey, Stephen A. St. Onge
  • Patent number: 6653222
    Abstract: A method and structure for forming a refractory metal liner, includes depositing a layer of refractory metal on a first conductive layer, at least half of the depositing being carried out in the presence of an amount of passivating agent that is sufficient to impede subsequent reaction of at least a top half of the layer of refractory metal with the first conductive layer and is less than an amount of passivating agent necessary to form a stoichiometric refractory metal with the passivating agent, and annealing the refractory metal and the first conductive layer in a first element ambient, thereby forming a stoichiometric refractory metal with the first element in at least a portion of the top half of the layer of refractory metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6645789
    Abstract: An IC chip comprising, a nearby or remote source capable of particle emissions; circuitry formed in the IC chip that is adversely affected by impacts of particle emissions from said source; and a particle detector formed in the IC chip between the circuitry and source for detecting said particle emissions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the source comprises a solder ball that is formed on a surface of the IC chip, and the solder ball is capable of emitting alpha-particles. The particle emissions detector of the present invention is a reverse biased Schottky diode. The IC chip is formed by (a) providing an IC chip having at least one layer of particle sensitive circuitry formed therein; (b) forming another layer having at least one particle sensor region situated therein on a surface of said IC chip; and (c) optionally, forming at least one particle emission source over said another layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Andres Bryant, Wayne J. Howell, William A. Klaasen, Wilbur D. Pricer, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 6642090
    Abstract: The present invention thus provides a device structure and method for forming fin Field Effect Transistors (FETs) that overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art. Specifically, the device structure and method provides the ability to form finFET devices from bulk semiconductor wafers while providing improved wafer to wafer device uniformity. Specifically, the method facilitates the formation of finFET devices from bulk semiconductor wafers with improved fin height control. Additionally, the method provides the ability to form finFETs from bulk semiconductor while providing isolation between fins and between the source and drain region of individual finFETs. Finally, the method can also provide for the optimization of fin width. The device structure and methods of the present invention thus provide the advantages of uniform finFET fabrication while using cost effect bulk wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Fried, Edward J. Nowak, Beth A Rainey, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 6635909
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor that includes an insulator and a silicon structure on the insulator. The silicon structure includes a central portion and Fins extending from ends of the central portion. A first gate is positioned on a first side of the central portion of the silicon structure. A strain-producing layer could be between the first gate and the first side of the central portion of the silicon structure and a second gate is on a second side of the central portion of the silicon structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, David M. Fried, Louis D. Lanzerotti, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 6627477
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an integrated semiconductor device, and the device so formed. An active surface of at least two semiconductor devices, such as semiconductor chips, are temporarily mounted onto an alignment substrate. A support substrate is affixed to a back surface of the devices using a conformable bonding material, wherein the bonding material accommodates devices having different dimensions. The alignment substrate is then removed leaving the devices wherein the active surface of the devices are co-planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark C. Hakey, Steven J. Holmes, David V. Horak, Harold G. Linde, Edmund J. Sprogis
  • Patent number: 6624651
    Abstract: A kerf circuit for modeling of Back End Of Line (BEOL) capacitances is disclosed. The kerf circuit contains a clock circuit connected to a number of capacitance testing circuits. Each capacitance testing circuit acts a “bay” that can be configured to test one particular capacitance. The clock circuit allows the capacitance testing circuits to charge and discharge the capacitive structures being tested. By having a number of different capacitance testing circuits, capacitances of many different structures may be tested at one time. This is particularly true if the kerf circuit is repeated several or many times, with each different kerf circuit containing different capacitive testing circuits that themselves contain different capacitive structures. The kerf circuit interfaces to testing equipment through pads. The pads connect to each capacitive testing circuit and allow capacitance measurements to be performed by measuring current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Fried, Peter A. Habitz
  • Patent number: 6624475
    Abstract: An FET device and method of making comprising a first dielectric layer; a substrate layer on the dielectric layer; a channel region of a first conductivity type formed in the substrate layer; a gate formed above the substrate layer over the channel region; FET diffusion regions of a second conductivity type formed in the substrate layer, the diffusion regions each having edges, the edges of the FET diffusion regions being separated by the channel region; and a body contact region of the first conductivity type extending continuously from the channel region. The first conductivity type material in the body contact region is thinner than the first conductivity type material in the channel region. The FET also includes a second dielectric layer formed on the body contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Randy W. Mann, Anthony K. Stamper