Patents Examined by Ahmed Sefer
  • Patent number: 8916955
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a layout arrangement and method to minimize the area overhead associated with a transition between a semiconductor device array and background features. A nearly buffer zone free layout methodology is proposed, wherein an array of square unit cells with a first pattern density value is surrounded by background features with a second pattern density value. A difference between the first pattern density value and second pattern density value results in a density gradient at an edge of the array. Unit cells on the edge of the array which are impacted by a shape tolerance stress resulting from the density gradient are identified and reconfigured from a square shape aspect ratio to a rectangular shape aspect ratio with along axis of the unit cell oriented in a direction parallel to the variation induced shape tolerance stress to alleviate the variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Chow Peng, Jaw-Juinn Horng, Szu-Lin Liu, Po-Zeng Kang
  • Patent number: 8890251
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a gate line, located over the substrate, which includes a first conductive layer and one or more second conductive pattern layers located in the first conductive layer. The second conductive pattern layer comprises a metal layer to thus reduce resistance of a gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Il Young Kwon
  • Patent number: 8878315
    Abstract: A MEMS structure and methods of manufacture. The method includes forming a sacrificial metal layer at a same level as a wiring layer, in a first dielectric material. The method further includes forming a metal switch at a same level as another wiring layer, in a second dielectric material. The method further includes providing at least one vent to expose the sacrificial metal layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial metal layer to form a planar cavity, suspending the metal switch. The method further includes capping the at least one vent to hermetically seal the planar cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Felix P. Anderson, Thomas L. McDevitt, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8865528
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel includes a gate line, a gate insulating layer that covers the gate line, a semiconductor layer that is disposed on the gate insulating layer, a data line and drain electrode that are disposed on the semiconductor layer, a passivation layer that covers the data line and drain electrode and has a contact hole that exposes a portion of the drain electrode, and a pixel electrode that is electrically connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The data line and drain electrode each have a double layer that includes a lower layer of titanium and an upper layer of copper, and the lower layer is wider than the upper layer, and the lower layer has a region that is exposed. The gate insulating layer may have a step shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Ho Song, Shin-Il Choi, Sun-Young Hong, Shi-Yul Kim, Ki-Yeup Lee, Jae-Hyoung Youn, Sung-Ryul Kim, O-Sung Seo, Yang-Ho Bae, Jong-Hyun Choung, Dong-Ju Yang, Bong-Kyun Kim, Hwa-Yeul Oh, Pil-Soon Hong, Byeong-Beom Kim, Je-Hyeong Park, Yu-Gwang Jeong, Jong-In Kim, Nam-Seok Suh
  • Patent number: 8853819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure having an integrated passive network and a method for making the same. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate which can be an interposer. The substrate can include a plurality of conductive vias. In various embodiments, the substrate includes a dielectric layer disposed thereon, the dielectric layer having an opening forming a straight hole allowing electrical connection between the passive network and the conductive via. The passive network includes a series of patterned dielectric and conductive layers, forming passive electronic components. In an embodiment, the passive device includes a common resistor coupled to a pair of inductors, each of the inductors coupled to a capacitor. In another embodiment, the passive device includes a resistor and an inductor electrically connected to each other, a bottom surface of the inductor coplanar with a bottom surface of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Teck-Chong Lee, Hsu-Chiang Shih, Meng-Wei Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8779540
    Abstract: Light sensor devices are described that have a glass substrate, which includes a lens to focus light over a wide variety of angles, bonded to the light sensor device. In one or more implementations, the light sensor devices include a substrate having a photodetector formed therein. The photodetector is capable of detecting light and providing a signal in response thereto. The sensors also include one or more color filters disposed over the photodetector. The color filters are configured to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the photodetector. A glass substrate is disposed over the substrate and includes a lens that is configured to collimate light incident on the lens and to pass the collimated light to the color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole D. Kerness, Arkadii V. Samoilov, Zhihai Wang, Joy T. Jones
  • Patent number: 8766464
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first pad group connected to a first memory pad group arranged along a first chip side of a chip of an image memory stacked on the integrated circuit device, a second pad group connected to a second memory pad group arranged along a third chip side, a control section which controls display of an electro-optical device, and a third pad group from which a data signal and a control signal for display control. The first pad group is arranged along a first side of the integrated circuit device, wherein the second pad group is arranged along a third side facing the first side, and wherein the third pad group is arranged along a second side which intersects with the first side and the third side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8749007
    Abstract: A light sensor is described that includes a glass substrate having a diffuser formed therein and at least one color filter integrated on-chip (i.e., integrated on the die of the light sensor). In one or more implementations, the light sensor comprises a semiconductor device (e.g., a die) that includes a semiconductor substrate. At least one photodetector (e.g., photodiode, phototransistor, etc.) is formed in the substrate proximate to the surface of the substrate. The color filter is configured to filter light received by the light sensor to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths (e.g., light having wavelengths between a first wavelength and a second wavelength) to the photodetector. A glass substrate is positioned over the substrate and includes a diffuser. The diffuser is configured to diffuse light incident on the diffuser and to pass the diffused light to the at least one color filter for further filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole D. Kerness, Arkadii V. Samoilov, Zhihai Wang, Joy T. Jones
  • Patent number: 8716779
    Abstract: A flash memory device includes an active region, drain contacts, a source contact line, and source contacts. The active regions are formed on a substrate extend at least from a source region to a drain region of the substrate. The drain contacts are formed over the active regions in the drain region. The source contact line is formed in the source region of the semiconductor substrate. The source contact line intersects the active regions and is continuously line-shaped. The source contact line includes source contacts formed at locations where the source contact line and the active regions intersect. The source contacts are zigzag-shaped and are separated from corresponding drain contacts by a given distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Mi Hye Kim, Dong Sook Chang
  • Patent number: 8680656
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a concentrated photovoltaic receiver package or module. In each embodiment of the present invention, the module comprises a leadframe including a first section and a second section disposed in spaced relation to each other. Mounted to the first section of the leadframe is a receiver die. The receiver die is electrically connected to both the first and second sections of the leadframe. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiver die is electrically connected to the second section of the leadframe by a plurality of conductive wires. In another embodiment of the present invention, the receiver die is electrically connected to the second section of the leadframe by a conductive bonding material. Portions of the leadframe may optionally be covered by a molded body which can be used to define an alignment feature for a light concentrating device such as a light guide or optical rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Shih Wei Kuo, John Merrill Nickelsen, Jr., Timothy L. Olson
  • Patent number: 8669563
    Abstract: Light emitting devices include an active region of semiconductor material and a first contact on the active region. The first contact is configured such that photons emitted by the active region pass through the first contact. A photon absorbing wire bond pad is provided on the first contact. The wire bond pad has an area less than the area of the first contact. A reflective structure is disposed between the first contact and the wire bond pad such that the reflective structure has substantially the same area as the wire bond pad. A second contact is provided opposite the active region from the first contact. The reflective structure may be disposed only between the first contact and the wire bond pad. Methods of fabricating such devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Haberern, Michael John Bergmann, Van Mieczkowski, David Todd Emerson
  • Patent number: 8592821
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor having a low drive voltage. It is also another object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor, in which light emission can be obtained, which can be manufactured simply and easily. According to an organic light-emitting transistor, a composite layer containing an organic compound having a hole-transporting property and a metal oxide is used as part of the electrode that injects holes among source and drain electrodes, and a composite layer containing an organic compound having an electron-transporting property and an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal is used as part of the electrode that injects electrons, where either composite layer has a structure of being in contact with an organic semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Furukawa, Ryota Imahayashi
  • Patent number: 8564014
    Abstract: An AlGaN composition is provided comprising a group III-Nitride active region layer, for use in an active region of a UV light emitting device, wherein light-generation occurs through radiative recombination of carriers in nanometer scale size, compositionally inhomogeneous regions having band-gap energy less than the surrounding material. Further, a semiconductor UV light emitting device having an active region layer comprised of the AlGaN composition above is provided, as well as a method of producing the AlGaN composition and semiconductor UV light emitting device, involving molecular beam epitaxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Anand Venktesh Sampath, Charles J. Collins, Gregory Alan Garrett, H. Paul Shen, Michael Wraback
  • Patent number: 8552466
    Abstract: A photodiode element includes a first layer of a first diffusion type and a second layer. The second layer defines a charge-collecting area. The charge-collecting area includes an active region of a second diffusion type and an inactive region. The active region surrounds the inactive region. The photodiode element also includes an intrinsic semiconductor layer between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Wen Li, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 8497492
    Abstract: A variable resistive element comprising a configuration that an area of an electrically contributing region of a variable resistor body is finer than that constrained by an upper electrode or a lower electrode and its manufacturing method are provided. A bump electrode material is formed on a lower electrode arranged on a base substrate. The bump electrode material is contacted to a variable resistor body at a surface different from a contact surface to the lower electrode. The variable resistor body is contacted to an upper electrode at a surface different from a contact surface to the bump electrode material. Thus, a cross point region between the bump electrode material (the variable resistor body) and the upper electrode becomes an electrically contributing region of the variable resistor body, and then an area thereof can be reduced compared with that of the region regarding the conventional variable resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Yasunari Hosoi, Kazuya Ishihara, Takahiro Shibuya, Tetsuya Ohnishi, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8486734
    Abstract: An alternating current light-emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of microdie light-emitting elements formed on the substrate, a rectifying element-dedicated member formed on a surface of a portion of microdie light-emitting elements, a rectifying unit formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member and provided with at least four rectifying elements forming a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and an electrically conductive structure electrically connecting the rectifying elements and the microdie light-emitting elements. With the rectifying unit being formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member, the rectifying elements are highly tolerant of reverse bias and feature low starting forward bias. Also, the present invention provides a method for fabricating an alternating current light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: His-Hsuan Yen, Wen-Yung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8471272
    Abstract: A plurality of rectangle semiconductor substrates are attached to a single mother glass substrate. A pixel structure is determined so that even if a gap or a an overlapping portion is generated in a boundary between a plurality of semiconductor substrates, a single-crystal semiconductor layer does not overlap with the gap or the overlapping portion. Two TFTs are located in a first unit cell including the first light emitting element, four TFTs are located in a second unit cell including the second light emitting element, and no TFT is located in a third unit cell including the third light emitting element. A boundary line is between the third unit cell and a fourth unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8411230
    Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Orafol Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Patrick W. Mullen, Michael J. Hanrahan, Edward D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8309976
    Abstract: A light emission device manufactured by a method of forming a curved surface having a radius of curvature to the upper end of an insulator 19, exposing a portion of the first electrode 18c to form an inclined surface in accordance with the curved surface, and applying etching so as to expose the first electrode 18b in a region to form a light emission region, in which emitted light from the layer containing the organic compound 20 is reflected on the inclined surface of the first electrode 18c to increase the total take-out amount of light in the direction of an arrow shown in FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Noda, Yoshinari Higaki
  • Patent number: 8217473
    Abstract: A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes an electrical wafer, a mechanical wafer, a plasma treated oxide seal bonding the electrical wafer to the mechanical wafer, and an electrical interconnect between the electrical wafer and the mechanical wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, John Bamber, Henry Kang