Patents Examined by Allen Parker
  • Patent number: 9818827
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second load contacts and a semiconductor region extending along an extension direction. A surface region is arranged above and coupled to the semiconductor region. At least one control electrode is arranged within the surface region. At least one connector trench extends into the semiconductor region along the extension direction and includes a connector electrode. A contact pad is arranged within the surface region. A contact runner is arranged within the surface region and placed separately from both the contact pad and the at least one control electrode, the contact pad, the contact runner and the at least one control electrode being electrically coupled to each other. Either both the contact pad and the contact runner or both the contact runner and the at least one control electrode are electrically connected to the connector electrode of the at least one connector trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Franz Hirler
  • Patent number: 9812489
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a plurality of pixels that each contain a photodiode. The pixels may include deep photodiodes for near infrared applications. The photodiodes may be formed by growing doped epitaxial silicon in trenches formed in a substrate. The doped epitaxial silicon may be doped with phosphorus or arsenic. The pixel may include additional n-wells formed by implanting ions in the substrate. Isolation regions formed by implanting boron ions may isolate the n-wells and doped epitaxial silicon. The doped epitaxial silicon may be formed at temperatures between 500° C. and 550° C. After forming the doped epitaxial silicon, laser annealing may be used to activate the ions. Chemical mechanical planarization may also be performed to ensure that the doped epitaxial silicon has a flat and planar surface for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Tekleab
  • Patent number: 9812467
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which an increase in oxygen vacancies in an oxide semiconductor layer can be suppressed is provided. A semiconductor device with favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A highly reliable semiconductor device is provided. A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region, and by the use of an oxide insulating film below and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, oxygen of the oxide insulating film or the gate insulating film is supplied to the oxide semiconductor layer. Further, a conductive nitride is used for metal films of a source electrode layer, a drain electrode layer, and a gate electrode layer, whereby diffusion of oxygen to the metal films is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideomi Suzawa, Shinya Sasagawa, Tetsuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9813152
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optoelectronics transceivers integrated on a CMOS chip are disclosed and may include receiving optical signals from optical fibers via grating couplers on a top surface of a CMOS chip, which may include a guard ring. Photodetectors may be integrated in the CMOS chip. A CW optical signal may be received from a laser source via grating couplers, and may be modulated using optical modulators, which may be Mach-Zehnder and/or ring modulators. Circuitry in the CMOS chip may drive the optical modulators. The modulated optical signal may be communicated out of the top surface of the CMOS chip into optical fibers via grating couplers. The received optical signals may be communicated between devices via waveguides. The photodetectors may include germanium waveguide photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes, and/or heterojunction diodes. The CW optical signal may be generated using an edge-emitting and/or a vertical-cavity surface emitting semiconductor laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Pinguet, Steffen Gloeckner, Sherif Abdalla, Sina Mirsaidi, Peter De Dobbelaere, Lawrence C. Gunn, III
  • Patent number: 9813024
    Abstract: Dual gate FD-SOI transistors are used as MOSFET capacitors to replace passive well capacitors in analog microcircuits. Use of the dual gate FD-SOI devices helps to reduce unstable oscillations and improve circuit performance. A thick buried oxide layer within the substrate of an FD-SOI transistor forms a capacitive dielectric that can sustain high operating voltages in the range of 1.2 V-3.3 V, above the transistor threshold voltage. A secondary gate in the FD-SOI transistor is used to create a channel from the back side so that even when the bias voltage on the first gate is small, the effective capacitance remains higher. The capacitance of the buried oxide layer is further utilized as a decoupling capacitor between supply and ground. In one example, a dual gate PMOS FD-SOI transistor is coupled to an operational amplifier and a high voltage output driver to produce a precision-controlled voltage reference generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventor: Vinod Kumar
  • Patent number: 9806290
    Abstract: A cracks propagation preventing, polarization film attaches to outer edges of a lower inorganic layer of an organic light emitting diodes display where the display is formed on a flexible substrate having the lower inorganic layer blanket formed thereon. The organic light emitting diodes display further includes a display unit positioned on the inorganic layer and including a plurality of organic light emitting diodes configured to display an image, and a thin film encapsulating layer covering the display unit and joining with edges of the inorganic layer extending beyond the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Yi, Sang-Hun Oh
  • Patent number: 9799739
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of active regions and a device isolation region for isolating the plurality of active regions; and a buried bit line and a buried gate electrode which are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The device isolation region includes a first device isolation region extending in a first direction and a second device isolation region extending in a second direction crossing with the first direction and having a shield pillar formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Seung-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9800011
    Abstract: A laser pumping method pumps a primary amount of energy into a laser medium to populate an intermediate level near an upper laser level. A lesser amount of energy is pumped into the laser medium to populate an excited level that lies above the upper laser level and transfers atomic or molecular population to the upper laser level by a nonradiative process. A laser device includes a laser medium supporting four levels, including a lower laser level, an upper laser level, an excited level above the laser level from which population transfers to the upper laser level via nonradiative transition, and an intermediate level within a few kT of the upper laser level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: J. Gary Eden, John Darby Hewitt
  • Patent number: 9799763
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a method. The method includes forming a drift region of a first conductivity type above or in a substrate. The substrate has first and second surfaces. A first insulator is formed over a first portion of the channel, and which has a first thickness. A second insulator is formed over the second portion of the channel, and which has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. A first gate is formed over the first insulator. A second gate is formed over the second insulator. A body region of a second conductivity type is formed above or in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Dev Alok Girdhar
  • Patent number: 9800204
    Abstract: Dual gate FD-SOI transistors are used as MOSFET capacitors to replace passive well capacitors in analog microcircuits. Use of the dual gate FD-SOI devices helps to reduce unstable oscillations and improve circuit performance. A thick buried oxide layer within the substrate of an FD-SOI transistor forms a capacitive dielectric that can sustain high operating voltages in the range of 1.2 V-3.3 V, above the transistor threshold voltage. A secondary gate in the FD-SOI transistor is used to create a channel from the back side so that even when the bias voltage on the first gate is small, the effective capacitance remains higher. The capacitance of the buried oxide layer is further utilized as a decoupling capacitor between supply and ground. In one example, a dual gate PMOS FD-SOI transistor is coupled to an operational amplifier and a high voltage output driver to produce a precision-controlled voltage reference generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Vinod Kumar
  • Patent number: 9793506
    Abstract: A display panel comprising a first substrate and a second substrate cell-assembled with the first substrate, wherein the first substrate is provided with at least one annular protrusion made of frit with the same center point, and the second substrate is provided with an encapsulating zone to fit the annular protrusion, the encapsulating zone comprising at least one annular groove, the amount of which is less than or equal to that of the annular protrusion(s). Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a packaging method and a display device. An OLED display panel can be ensured to have good internal sealing property by means of its package, and its service life is prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Zhongyuan Sun, Kaihong Ma
  • Patent number: 9786759
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first area and a second area, and a first gate pattern on the first area and a second gate pattern on the second area. The first gate pattern includes a first gate insulating pattern on the first area, a first gate barrier pattern on the first gate insulating pattern, and a first work function metal pattern on the first gate barrier pattern. The second gate pattern includes a second gate insulating pattern on the second area, a second gate barrier pattern on the second gate insulating pattern, and a second work function metal pattern on the second gate barrier pattern. The first gate barrier pattern includes a metal material different than the second gate barrier pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moonkyu Park, Hoonjoo Na, Jaeyeol Song, Sangjin Hyun
  • Patent number: 9786793
    Abstract: To increase the on-state current of a transistor whose channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer. To provide a transistor where a resistance-reducing element is introduced into a region of an oxide semiconductor layer which overlaps with part of a source or drain or part of a gate. For example, the thickness of a region of a conductive layer serving as a source or drain or a gate (at least part of a region overlapping with an oxide semiconductor layer) is made smaller than that of the other region of the conductive layer. A resistance-reducing element is introduced into the oxide semiconductor layer through the conductive layer thinned partly, thereby obtaining the oxide semiconductor layer where the resistance-reducing element is introduced into the region overlapping with part of the source or drain or part of the gate. Thus, the on-state current of the transistor can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachiaki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 9786558
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a bit line structure and a contact plug. The contact plug is adjacent a sidewall of the bit line structure and is on a sloped surface of the bit line structure. Moreover, in some embodiments, a level of the sloped surface of the bit line structure becomes lower as the sloped surface approaches the sidewall of the bit line structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Eun Kim, Hoon Jeong, Jae-Hyun Kim, Dong-Won Lee, Jung-Gu Han, Ji-Hye Hwang
  • Patent number: 9780263
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a luminescent diode chip including a radiation passage face through which primary electromagnetic radiation leaves the luminescent diode chip when in operation, and a filter element that covers the radiation passage face of the luminescent diode chip at least in places, wherein the filter element prevents passage of some of the primary electromagnetic radiation in the UV range, and the filter element consists of a II-VI compound semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Ivar Tångring, Andreas Plöβl
  • Patent number: 9780323
    Abstract: A tandem organic light emitting diode and a preparation method thereof are provided. The tandem organic light emitting diode includes: at least two light-emitting units (11, 12); a charge generation layer (21) disposed between the light emitting units (11, 12); wherein, the charge generation layer (21) includes a mixed conductive layer (211), and the mixed conductive layer (211) is made by mixing at least one material having a conductivity greater than 103 S/cm with a content of 5˜95 wt % and at least one material having a conductivity less than 10?6 S/cm with a content of 95˜5 wt %. The tandem organic light emitting diode is applicable in a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Yen Wu
  • Patent number: 9774000
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display device is provided. The organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate; a display unit on the substrate and includes a plurality of driving thin film transistors (TFTs) and a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs); and a sealing layer to cover the display unit which includes a first sealing layer that is formed of at least one inorganic layers to cover the plurality of OLEDs and a second sealing layer that is formed of at least one inorganic layers and at least one organic layers to enclose the plurality of OLEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seol Kim
  • Patent number: 9768119
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of power or ground rails for an integrated circuit, the plurality of power or ground rails vertically separated on a plane, a plurality of functional cells between the plurality of power rails or between the plurality of ground rails or both, and a jumper connection between the vertically separated power rails or ground rails, the jumper connection within a vertically aligned gap among the plurality of functional cells. A method of mitigating IR drop and electromigration affects in an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of power rails or ground rails, each of the power rails or ground rails on separate vertical levels of a plane of an integrated circuit layout and connecting with a jumper connection at least two power rails or two ground rails, the jumper connection within a vertically aligned gap among cells of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yeh Yu, Yuan-Te Hou, Chung-Min Fu, Wen-Hao Chen, Wan-Yu Lo
  • Patent number: 9768202
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TFT backplate structure and a manufacture method thereof. The TFT backplate structure comprises a switch TFT (T1) and a drive TFT (T2). The switch TFT (T1) is constructed by a first source/a first drain (61), a first gate (21), and a first etching stopper layer (51), a first oxide semiconductor layer (41), a first gate isolation layer (31) sandwiched in between. The drive TFT (T2) is constructed by a second source/a second drain (62), a second gate (22), and a second oxide semiconductor layer (42), a first etching stopper layer (51), a second gate isolation layer (32) sandwiched in between. The electrical properties of the switch TFT (T1) and the drive TFT (T2) are different. The switch TFT has smaller subthreshold swing to achieve fast charge and discharge, and the drive TFT has relatively larger subthreshold swing for controlling the current and the grey scale more precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Xiaowen Lv, Chihyuan Tseng, Chihyu Su, Hejing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9768230
    Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a device are disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a selector diode disposed over the substrate. The diode includes first and second terminals. The first terminal is disposed between the second terminal and the substrate. The diode includes a Schottky Barrier (SB) disposed at about an interface of the first and second terminals. The SB includes a tunable SB height defined by a SB region having segregated dopants. The device includes a memory element disposed over and coupled to the selector diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Sun, Eng Huat Toh