Patents Examined by Asok Kumar Sarkar
  • Patent number: 7294898
    Abstract: The present invention is a field effect transistor having a strained semiconductor substrate and Schottky-barrier source and drain electrodes, and a method for making the transistor. The bulk charge carrier transport characteristic of the Schottky barrier field effect transistor minimizes carrier surface scattering, which enables the strained substrate to provide improved power and speed performance characteristics in this device, as compared to conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Spinnaker Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Snyder, John M. Larson
  • Patent number: 7288420
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device having high operation performance and reliability. A third passivation film 45 is disposed under the EL element 203 comprising a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, and diffusion of alkali metals from the EL element 203 formed by ink jet method into TFTs is prevented. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents penetration of moisture and oxygen the TFTs, and suppress degradation of the EL element 203 by dispersing the heat generated by the EL element 203.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Kunitaka Yamamoto, Toshimitsu Konuma
  • Patent number: 7288488
    Abstract: A two-step process is disclosed for stripping photoresist material from a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a low k dielectric material underlying the photoresist material and a polymer film overlying both the photoresist material and the low k dielectric material. The first step of the two-step process uses an oxygen plasma to remove the polymer film. The second step of the two-step process uses an ammonia plasma to remove the photoresist material, wherein the second step commences after completion of the first step. Each step of the two-step photoresist stripping process is respectively defined by particular values for process parameters including chemistry, temperature, pressure, gas flow rate, radio frequency power and frequency, and duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Helen Zhu, Reza Sadjadi
  • Patent number: 7282779
    Abstract: A device includes banks formed on a substrate, a conducting film formed by droplet ejection onto a predetermined pattern formation region in a groove between the banks, and a second conductive film formed by droplet ejection disposed outside the pattern formation region and electrically separated from the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hironori Hasei
  • Patent number: 7282421
    Abstract: A method for reducing a thickness variation of a nitride layer in a shallow trench isolation (STI) CMP process is provided, the method including forming an active region pattern in an alignment key region of a scribe lane where a device isolation film is formed at an ISO level, and forming a dummy active region pattern substantially adjacent to a vernier key pattern in the scribe lane during formation of the vernier key pattern, wherein the dummy active region pattern is spaced apart from the vernier key pattern by a known distance. Preferably, the active region pattern and the dummy active region pattern are formed prior to the STI CMP process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Soo Choi, Hyuk Kwon, Sang Hwa Lee, Geun Min Choi, Yong Wook Song, Gyu Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 7279733
    Abstract: Provided are a dual damascene interconnection with a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a method of fabricating the same. In this structure, an MIM capacitor is formed on a via-level IMD. After the via-level IMD is formed, while an alignment key used for patterning the MIM capacitor is being formed, a via hole is formed to connect a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor and an interconnection disposed under the via-level IMD. Also, an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor is directly connected to an upper metal interconnection during a dual damascene process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-woo Lee, Soo-geun Lee
  • Patent number: 7279406
    Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that tailor applied strain profiles to channel regions of transistor devices. A strain profile is selected for the channel regions (104). Recessed regions are formed (106) in active regions of a semiconductor device after formation of gate structures according to the selected strain profile. A recess etch (106) is employed to remove a surface portion of the active regions thereby forming the recess regions. Subsequently, a composition controlled recess structure is formed (108) within the recessed regions according to the selected strain profile. The recess structure is comprised of a strain inducing material, wherein one or more of its components are controlled and/or adjusted during formation (108) to tailor the applied vertical channel strain profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Elisabeth Marley Koontz
  • Patent number: 7273819
    Abstract: Substrates in a reaction chamber are sequentially exposed to at least three gas atmospheres: a first atmosphere of a first purge gas, a second atmosphere of a process gas and a third atmosphere of a second purge gas. The gases are introduced into the reaction chamber from one end of the chamber and exit from the opposite end. Successive gases entering the chamber are selected so that a stable interface with the immediately preceding gas can be maintained. For example, when the gases are fed into the chamber at the chamber's top end and are exhausted at the bottom end, the gases are chosen with successively lower molecular weights. In effect, each gas atmosphere stays on top of and pushes the previous gas atmosphere out of the chamber from the top down. Advantageously, the gases can be more effectively and completely removed from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus G. M. Oosterlaken, Frank Huussen, Menso Hendriks
  • Patent number: 7271483
    Abstract: A bump structure of a semiconductor package and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The bump structure is used to connect a semiconductor element to a carrier of the semiconductor package. The fabrication method primarily employs an electroplating process to form the bump structure including an under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer, at least one I-shaped conductive pillar, and a solder material. This allows fine-pitch electrical connection pads to be arranged in the semiconductor package, and also provides an enhanced support structure and a sufficient height between the semiconductor element and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Ren Lin, Chien-Ping Huang, Ho-Yi Tsai, Cheng-Hsu Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7268053
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer includes (a) a first principal side and a second principal side opposite to each other, (b) a first bevel contour and a second bevel contour provided at an outer periphery of the first principal side and the second principal side, (c) a first recess formed in the first bevel contour, and (d) a first type of ID mark configured by a protruding dot provided on a bottom face of the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masao Iwase, Soichi Nadahara
  • Patent number: 7268377
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of integrating semiconductor devices such that different types of devices are formed upon a specific crystal orientation of a hybrid substrate that enhances the performance of each type of device. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of integrating semiconductor devices such that pFETs are located on a (110) crystallographic plane, while nFETs are located on a (100) crystallographic plane of a planar hybrid substrate. The method of the present invention also improves the performance of creating SOI-like devices with a combination of a buried insulator and counter-doping layers. The present invention also relates to semiconductor structures that are formed utilizing the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Meikei Ieong, Min Yang
  • Patent number: 7268038
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a MIM capacitor in a semiconductor die includes a step of depositing a first interconnect metal layer. The method further includes depositing a layer of silicon nitride on the first interconnect layer. The layer of silicon nitride is deposited in a deposition process using an ammonia-to-silane ratio of at least 12.5. The method further includes depositing a layer of MIM capacitor metal on the layer of silicon nitride. The method further includes etching the layer of MIM capacitor metal to form an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor. According to this exemplary embodiment, the method further includes etching the layer of silicon nitride to form a MIM capacitor dielectric segment and etching the first interconnect metal layer to form a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor. The MIM capacitor has a capacitance density of at least 2.0 fF/um2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Dieter Dornisch, Kenneth M. Ring, Tinghao F. Wang, David Howard, Guangming Li
  • Patent number: 7262114
    Abstract: A die attaching method of a semiconductor chip simplifies the process of fabricating a package from the chip while preventing the chip form being damaged even when the chip is very thin. Warpage prevention material is adhered to a top surface of a wafer having a plurality of chips formed thereon, and then the wafer is cut to separate the chips from one another. Each semiconductor chip is then placed on and attached to a die pad of a base frame, while the warpage prevention material is detached from the semiconductor chip. Thus, the warpage prevention material is removed without requiring a process that is extraneous to the die attaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-kwon Jeong, Hyeon Hwang
  • Patent number: 7259391
    Abstract: A device includes a plurality of organic electronic devices disposed on a substrate, wherein each of the organic electronic devices comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. Furthermore, the device includes an organic layer disposed between the first and second electrodes of each of the plurality of organic electronic devices. Additionally, the device includes an interconnect element, wherein the interconnect element is configured to electrically couple the respective first and second electrodes of each of the plurality of organic electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jie Liu, Anil Raj Duggal, Christian Maria Anton Heller, Donald Franklin Foust, Tami Janene Faircloth
  • Patent number: 7259093
    Abstract: A dielectric is formed over a node location on a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric comprises an insulative material over the node location, an insulative polish stop layer over the insulative material, and an insulator layer over the insulative polish stop layer. A contact opening is formed into the insulator layer, the insulative polish stop layer and the insulative material to proximate the node location. A conductive material is deposited over the insulator layer and to within the contact opening. The conductive material and the insulator layer are polished to at least a portion of the insulative polish stop layer. In one implementation and prior to depositing the conductive material, at least a portion of the contact opening is widened with an etching chemistry that is selective to widen it within the insulative material to a degree greater than any widening of the contact opening within the insulative polish stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Hermes
  • Patent number: 7256109
    Abstract: A high-quality isotropic polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) and a method for fabricating high quality isotropic poly-Si film are provided. The method includes forming a film of amorphous silicon (a-Si) and using a MISPC process to form poly-Si film in a first area of the a-Si film. The method then anneals a second area, included in the first area, using a Laser-Induced Lateral Growth (LILaC) process. In some aspects, a 2N-shot laser irradiation process is used as the LILaC process. In some aspects, a directional solidification process is used as the LILaC process. In response to using the MISPC film as a precursor film, the method forms low angle grain boundaries in poly-Si in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Moriguchi, Apostolos T. Voutsas, Mark A. Crowder
  • Patent number: 7253093
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an interconnection in an insulating layer on a wafer is described. A wafer having a plurality of conductive lines thereon is provided. An insulating layer is formed over the conductive lines. Two via holes are formed in the insulating layer to expose two of the conductive lines waiting to be repaired. A first conductive layer is filled into the via holes to form two pattern marks. A mask is formed over the wafer to cover the insulating layer and the two pattern marks. The mask located above and between the two pattern marks is removed to form a trench exposing the two pattern marks and a portion of the insulating layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the mask to cover the two exposed pattern marks and the exposed insulating layer. The mask and the second conductive layer above the mask are removed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Steven G S Lin, Su-Ping Chiu
  • Patent number: 7253070
    Abstract: A transistor having minimized parasitics is provided including an emitter having a recessed extrinsic emitter portion atop an intrinsic emitter portion; a base including an intrinsic base portion in electrical contact with the intrinsic emitter portion and an extrinsic base portion in electrical contact with the intrinsic base portion and electrically isolated from the recessed extrinsic emitter portion by a set of emitter/base spacers; and a collector in electrical contact with the intrinsic base portion. The transistor may further include extrinsic base having top surfaces entirely silicided to the emitter/base spacer. Additionally, the transistor may include a base window opening within the transistor's active area. Methods of forming the above-described transistor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Greenberg, Shwu-Jen Jeng
  • Patent number: 7253512
    Abstract: A method for making a multi-layer electronic structure. A layer of dielectric material having a top surface and a bottom surface is provided. A layer of electrically conducting material is provided on one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the dielectric layer. At least one passage is formed through the dielectric layer to expose the layer of electrically conducting material. Electrically conducting material is deposited in at least one of the at least one passage through the dielectric layer. Portions of the layer of electrically conducting material are removed to define a pattern of circuitry. A stack is formed of plurality of structures including the layer of dielectric material and layer of electrically conducting material. The plurality of structures are aligned and joined together. Spaces between the structures are filled with electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas O. Powell
  • Patent number: 7250364
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with composite etch stop layers and methods of fabrication thereof. An semiconductor device with a composite etch stop layer includes a substrate having a conductive member, a first etch stop layer on the substrate and the conductive member, a second etch stop layer and a dielectric layer sequentially over the second etch stop layer, having a conductive layer therein down through the dielectric layer, the second etch stop layer and the first etch stop layer to the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Cheng Lu, Tien-I Bao, Su-Hong Lin, Syun-Ming Jang