Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9306001
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method of forming a leakage current stopper of a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET). The method includes forming at least one fin having an active region, a non-active region and a channel region in the active region. The method further includes exposing a surface of the non-active region, wherein the exposed surface leads to a portion of the non-active region that is substantially underneath the channel region. The method further includes implanting dopants through the exposed surface of the non-active region to form the leakage current stopper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC., STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9299721
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming, above a substrate, first and second semiconductor regions laterally adjacent one another and each including a first semiconductor material. The first semiconductor region may have a greater vertical thickness than the second semiconductor region and define a sidewall with the second semiconductor region. The method may further include forming a spacer above the second semiconductor region and adjacent the sidewall, and forming a third semiconductor region above the second semiconductor region and adjacent the spacer, with the second semiconductor region including a second semiconductor material different than the first semiconductor material. The method may also include removing the spacer and portions of the first semiconductor material beneath the spacer, forming a first set of fins from the first semiconductor region, and forming a second set of fins from the second and third semiconductor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie, Chun-chen Yeh, Kejia Wang, Daniel Chanemougame
  • Patent number: 9300952
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for enabling the operation of a stereoscopic viewing device such that the viewing device provides a movable viewing window that enables the 3D rendering of 3D image data displayed by a backlit LCD device. In a particular implementation, the systems and methods disclosed herein are operable to control the operation of a pair of LCD shutter glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Neal
  • Patent number: 9293474
    Abstract: Trenches are formed through a top semiconductor layer and a buried insulator layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A selective epitaxy is performed to form bulk semiconductor portions filling the trenches and in epitaxial alignment with the semiconductor material of a handle substrate. At least one dielectric layer is deposited over the top semiconductor layer and the bulk semiconductor portions, and is patterned to form openings over selected areas of the top semiconductor layer and the bulk semiconductor portions. A semiconductor alloy material is deposited within the openings directly on physically exposed surfaces of the top semiconductor layer and the bulk semiconductor portions. The semiconductor alloy material intermixes with the underlying semiconductor materials in a subsequent anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Qing Liu, Laurent Grenouillet, Yannick Le Tiec, Maud Vinet
  • Patent number: 9287798
    Abstract: A fly-back type switched current regulator includes a primary transformer winding coupled to receive a rectified DC signal derived from an AC signal. The drain of a power transistor is coupled to the primary winding, with the source of the power transistor coupled to an input of a comparison circuit and a primary transformer winding sense resistor. A control terminal of the power transistor is coupled to an output of the comparison circuit. A capacitor stores a variable reference signal for application at a first capacitor terminal to another input of the differential circuit. The variable reference signal is compared to a winding current signal generated by the sense resistor by the comparison circuit. An injection circuit applies an AC signal derived from the rectified DC signal to a second terminal of the capacitor so as to modulate the stored variable reference signal. The regulator is coupled to drive LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Stamm
  • Patent number: 9287130
    Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of fin elements above a substrate. A mask is formed above the substrate. The mask has an opening defined above at least one selected fin element of the plurality of fin elements. An ion species is implanted into the at least one selected fin element through the opening to increase its etch characteristics relative to the other fin elements. The at least one selected fin element is removed selectively relative to the other fin elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob, Ruilong Xie, Bruce Doris, Kangguo Cheng, Jason R. Cantone, Sylvie Mignot, David Moreau, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Pierre Morin, Su Chen Fan, Kisik Choi, Murat K. Akarvardar
  • Publication number: 20160071772
    Abstract: Elongated fins of a first semiconductor material are insulated from and formed over an underlying substrate layer (of either SOI or bulk type). Elongated gates of a second semiconductor material are then formed to cross over the elongated fins at channel regions, and the gate side walls are covered by sidewall spacers. A protective material is provided to cover the underlying substrate layer and define sidewall spacers on side walls of the elongated fins between the elongated gates. The first semiconductor material and insulating material of the elongated fins located between the protective material sidewall spacers (but not under the elongated gates) is removed to form trenches aligned with the channel regions. Additional semiconductor material is then epitaxially grown inside each trench between the elongated gates to form source-drain regions adjacent the channel regions formed by the elongated fins of the first semiconductor material located under the elongated gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
    Inventors: Stephane Monfray, Ronald K. Sampson, Nicolas Loubet
  • Publication number: 20160070060
    Abstract: A strip of sacrificial semiconductor material is formed on top of a non-sacrificial semiconductor material substrate layer. A conformal layer of the non-sacrificial semiconductor material is epitaxially grown to cover the substrate layer and the strip of sacrificial semiconductor material. An etch is performed to selectively remove the strip of sacrificial semiconductor material and leave a hollow channel surrounded by the conformal layer and the substrate layer. Using an anneal, the conformal layer and the substrate layer are reflowed to produce an optical waveguide structure including the hollow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Qing Liu
  • Patent number: 9281382
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming, above a substrate, a plurality of laterally spaced-apart semiconductor fins, and forming regions of a first dielectric material between the laterally spaced-apart semiconductor fins. The method may further include selectively removing at least one intermediate semiconductor fin from among the plurality of semiconductor fins to define at least one trench between corresponding regions of the first dielectric material, and forming a region of a second dielectric material different than the first dielectric in the at least one trench to provide at least one isolation pillar between adjacent semiconductor fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Xiuyu Cai, Chun-chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20160065161
    Abstract: A multiband dynamics compressor implements a solution for minimizing unwanted changes to the long-term frequency response. The solution essentially proposes undoing the multiband compression in a controlled manner using much slower smoothing times. In this regard, the compensation provided acts more like an equalizer than a compressor. What is applied is a very slowly time-varying, frequency-dependent post-gain (make-up gain) that attempts to restore the smoothed long-term level of each compressor band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Earl Corban Vickers
  • Publication number: 20160064647
    Abstract: A support structure includes an internal cavity. An elastic membrane extends to divide the internal cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. The elastic membrane includes a nanometric-sized pin hole extending there through to interconnect the first chamber to the second chamber. The elastic membrane is formed of a first electrode film and a second electrode film separated by a piezo insulating film. Electrical connection leads are provided to support application of a bias current to the first and second electrode films of the elastic membrane. In response to an applied bias current, the elastic membrane deforms by bending in a direction towards one of the first and second chambers so as to produce an increase in a diameter of the pin hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: John Hongguang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160056249
    Abstract: An integrated circuit transistor is formed on and in a substrate. A trench in the substrate is at least partially filed with a metal material to form a source (or drain) contact buried in the substrate. The substrate further includes a source (or drain) region epitaxially grown above the source (or drain) contact. The substrate further includes a channel region adjacent to the source (or drain) region. A gate dielectric is provided on top of the channel region and a gate electrode is provided on top of the gate dielectric. The substrate is preferably of the silicon on insulator (SOI) type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Walter Kleemeier, John Hongguang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9270855
    Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated scanner apparatus, includes a support surface for objects to be scanned, a scanner unit to perform a scanning movement relative to the support surface to capture images of portions of objects to be scanned, and a printer unit carried by a carriage mobile with respect to said support surface, wherein said scanner unit is carried by said carriage carrying said printer unit to be imparted said scanning movement by said carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mirko Guarnera, Alfio Castorina, Giuseppe Spampinato, Osvaldo M. Colavin, John Bloomfield, Armand Hekimian, Beátrice Varichon
  • Patent number: 9269712
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first semiconductor layer on a substrate comprising a first semiconductor material, forming a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer comprising a second semiconductor material, and forming mask regions on the second semiconductor layer and etching through the first and second semiconductor layers to define a plurality of spaced apart pillars on the substrate. The method may further include forming an oxide layer laterally surrounding the pillars and mask regions, and removing the mask regions and forming inner spacers on laterally adjacent corresponding oxide layer portions atop each pillar. The method may additionally include etching through the second semiconductor layer between respective inner spacers to define a pair of semiconductor fins of the second semiconductor material from each pillar, and removing the inner spacers and forming an oxide beneath each semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Hyun-Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 9263343
    Abstract: Silicon germanium regions are formed adjacent gates electrodes over both n-type and p-type regions in an integrated circuit. A hard mask patterned by lithography then protects structures over the p-type region while the silicon germanium is selectively removed from over the n-type region, even under remnants of the hard mask on sidewall spacers on the gate electrode. Silicon germanium carbon is epitaxially grown adjacent the gate electrode in place of the removed silicon germanium, and source/drain extension implants are performed prior to removal of the remaining hard mask over the p-type region structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas Loubet, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan
  • Patent number: 9259754
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to microfluidic refill cartridges and methods of assembling same. The microfluidic refill cartridges include a microfluidic delivery member that includes a filter for filtering fluid passed therethrough. The filter may be configured to block particles above a threshold size to prevent blockage in the nozzles. For instances, particles having a dimension that is larger than the diameter of the nozzles can block or reduce fluid flow through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, Joe Scheffelin, Dana Gruenbacher, Teck Khim Neo, Dave Hunt, Faiz Sherman
  • Patent number: 9263580
    Abstract: One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a fin structure comprised of a semiconductor material, a first epi semiconductor material and a second epi semiconductor material, forming a sacrificial gate structure above the fin structure, forming a sidewall spacer adjacent the sacrificial gate structure, performing at least one etching process to remove the portions of the fin structure positioned laterally outside of the sidewall spacer so as to thereby define a fin cavity in the source/drain regions of the device and to expose edges of the fin structure positioned under the sidewall spacer, and performing an epitaxial deposition process to form an epi etch stop layer on the exposed edges of the fin structure positioned under the sidewall spacer and within the fin cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., STMICROELECTRONICS, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 9263338
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming, on a substrate, at least one stack of alternating first and second semiconductor layers. The first semiconductor layer may comprise a first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor layer may comprise a second semiconductor material. The first semiconductor material may be selectively etchable with respect to the second semiconductor material. The method may further include removing portions of the at least one stack and substrate to define exposed sidewalls thereof, forming respective spacers on the exposed sidewalls, etching recesses through the at least one stack and substrate to define a plurality of spaced apart pillars, selectively etching the first semiconductor material from the plurality of pillars leaving second semiconductor material structures supported at opposing ends by respective spacers, and forming at least one gate adjacent the second semiconductor material structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 9258890
    Abstract: Delamination of stacked integrated circuit die configurations on printed circuit boards is avoided by providing a metal trace support structure underneath the die stack. The metal trace support structure features substantially equally spaced thin metal traces in place of a contiguous metal plate which has been used in the past. Spaced apart thin metal traces are less vulnerable to thermal expansion than a metal plate which has a large thermal mass. The metal traces still provide structural stability, while preventing delamination of the die stack configuration during thermal processing. A method of attaching a bridge die stack configuration to a printed circuit board by adhering a die attach film to a field of metal traces is demonstrated. In addition, the electrical and structural integrity of the bridge die stack formed with a metal trace support structure is confirmed with test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rammil Seguido, Frederick Ray Gomez, Emmanuel Angeles
  • Patent number: 9254510
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for drying a semiconductor wafer includes a processing chamber including a rinsing section and a drying section adjacent thereto. The rinsing section has a chamber loading slot associated therewith for receiving the semiconductor wafer. The drying section has a chamber unloading slot associated therewith for outputting the semiconductor wafer. An exhaust control cap is carried by the processing chamber and includes a bottom wall, a top wall, at least one intermediate wall between the bottom and top walls, and a side wall coupled to the top, bottom and the at least one intermediate wall to define stacked exhaust sections. The exhaust control cap has a cap loading slot aligned with the chamber loading slot, a cap unloading slot aligned with the chamber unloading slot, and at least one exhaust port configured to be coupled to a vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: John H. Zhang