Patents Examined by Brandon Fox
  • Patent number: 9673132
    Abstract: An interconnection structure and method disclosed for providing an interconnection structure that includes conductive features having reduced topographic variations. The interconnection structure includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate. The contact pad includes a first layer of a first conductive material and a second layer of a second conductive material over the first layer. The first conductive material and the second conductive material are made of substantially the same material and have a first average grain size and a second average grain size that is smaller than the first average grain size. The interconnection structure also includes a passivation layer covering the substrate and the contact pad, and the passivation layer has an opening exposing the contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacting Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiao Yun Lo, Yung-Chi Lin, Yang-Chih Hsueh, Tsang-Jiuh Wu, Wen-Chih Chiou
  • Patent number: 9673269
    Abstract: An integrated capacitor comprises a layer of dielectric material known as functional dielectric material based on crystallized material of perovskite type, between at least one first electrode known as a bottom electrode at the surface of a substrate and at least one second electrode known as a top electrode, said electrodes being electrically insulated by a layer of electrically insulating material in order to allow at least one contact on the top electrode. The electrically insulating material is made of an amorphous dielectric material of perovskite type having a dielectric constant lower than that of the crystallized material of perovskite type. The contact is formed from an etched contacting layer in contact with the electrically insulating dielectric layer level with its surface parallel to the plane of the layers. A process for manufacturing such an integrated capacitor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Emmanuel Defay, Gwenaël Le Rhun, Aurélien Suhm
  • Patent number: 9666583
    Abstract: An apparatus including a device including a channel material having a first lattice structure on a well of a well material having a matched lattice structure in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure. A method including forming a trench in a buffer material; forming an n-type well material in the trench, the n-type well material having a lattice structure that is different than a lattice structure of the buffer material; and forming an n-type transistor. A system including a computer including a processor including complimentary metal oxide semiconductor circuitry including an n-type transistor including a channel material, the channel material having a first lattice structure on a well disposed in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure, the n-type transistor coupled to a p-type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Niti Goel, Ravi Pillarisetty, Niloy Mukherjee, Robert S. Chau, Willy Rachmady, Matthew V. Metz, Van H. Le, Jack T. Kavalieros, Marko Radosavljevic, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Gilbert Dewey, Seung Hoon Sung
  • Patent number: 9660117
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a layered structure. The semiconductor device includes a metallic layer of thickness 1-100 nm, with a thickness optimized to absorb light in a wavelength range of operation. The device further includes an adjacent semiconductor layer additionally adjacent to an ohmic electrical contact, wherein the interface between the metallic layer and the semiconductor layer is electrically rectifying and energy selective. The device further includes a reflective back surface positioned opposite to the semiconductor layer relative to incident light providing broadband reflection in the wavelength range of operation. The semiconductor layer includes a quantum well adjacent to the metallic layer, wherein the energy selectivity is provided by the quantum well allowing charge carrier tunneling from the metallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: James Andrew Robert Dimmock, Matthias Kauer, Nicholas J. Ekins-Daukes, Paul N. Stavrinou
  • Patent number: 9659974
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a pixel structure, a manufacturing method of a pixel structure, an array substrate, a display panel, and a display device. The pixel structure includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of pixel units formed by intersecting the plurality of data lines with the plurality of scan lines. A pixel unit corresponds to one of the plurality of data lines and one of the plurality of scan lines. The pixel unit includes a pixel electrode and a TFT. The pixel electrode of the pixel unit in a row is electrically connected to a TFT of a pixel unit in a preceding adjacent row of the pixel electrode of the pixel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: SHANGHAI AVIC OPTO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao Lin, Dandan Qin, Zhaokeng Cao, Yinghua Mo
  • Patent number: 9660413
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light emitting device includes a first coat film of aluminum nitride or aluminum oxynitride formed at a light emitting portion and a second coat film of aluminum oxide formed on the first coat film. The thickness of the second coat film is at least 80 nm and at most 1000 nm. Here, the thickness of the first coat film is preferably at least 6 nm and at most 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kawaguchi, Takeshi Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 9653364
    Abstract: Provided is a FinFET device including a substrate having at least one fin, first and second gate stacks, first and second strained layers, first and second dielectric layers, and first and second connectors. The first and second gate stacks are across the fin. The first and second strained layers are respectively aside the first and second gate stacks. The first and second dielectric layer are respectively over the first and second strained layers, and the top surface of the first dielectric layer is lower than the top surface of the second dielectric layer. The first connector is through the first dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the first strained layer. The second connector is through the second dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the second strained layer. Besides, the width of the second connector is greater than the width of the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9640651
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a termination trench surrounding a region in which a plurality of gate trenches is provided; a p-type lower end region being in contact with a lower end of the termination trench; a p-type outer circumference region being in contact with the termination trench from an outer circumferential side and exposed on a surface of the semiconductor device; a plurality of guard ring regions of a p-type provided on an outer circumferential side of the p-type outer circumference region and exposed on the surface; and an n-type outer circumference region separating the p-type outer circumference region from the guard ring regions and separating the guard ring regions from each another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takaya, Jun Saito, Akitaka Soeno, Kimimori Hamada, Shoji Mizuno, Sachiko Aoi, Yukihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9627537
    Abstract: Provided is a FinFET device including a substrate having at least one fin, first and second gate stacks, first and second strained layers, a shielding layer and first and second connectors. The first and second gate stacks are across the fin. The first and second strained layers are respectively aside the first and second gate stacks. The shielding layer is over the second gate stack, over a top surface and a sidewall of the first gate stack and discontinuous around a top corner of the first gate stack. The first connector is through the shielding layer and is electrically connected to the first stained layer. The second connector is through the shielding layer and is electrically connected to the second stained layer. Besides, the width of the second connector is greater than the width of the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9627592
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for modulating the photon output of a plurality of free standing quantum dots. The apparatus comprises a first electron injection layer (210, 310, 410) disposed between a first electrode (212, 312, 412) and a layer (208, 308, 408) of the plurality of free standing quantum dots. A hole transport layer (206, 306, 406) is disposed between the layer (208, 308, 408) of the plurality of quantum dots and a second electrode (204, 304, 404). A light source (224, 324, 424) is disposed so as to apply light to the layer (208, 308, 408) of the plurality of free standing quantum dots. The photon output of the layer (208, 308, 408) of the plurality of free standing quantum dots is modulated by applying a voltage to the first and second electrodes (212, 312, 412, 204, 304, 404).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skipor, Jerzy Wielgus
  • Patent number: 9627263
    Abstract: A process for etching a bulk integrated circuit substrate to form features on the substrate, such as fins, having substantially vertical walls comprises forming an etch stop layer beneath the surface of the substrate by ion implantation, e.g., carbon, oxygen, or boron ions or combinations thereof, masking the surface with a patterned etching mask that defines the features by openings in the mask to produce a masked substrate and etching the masked substrate to a level of the etch stop layer to form the features. In silicon substrates, ion implantation takes place along a silicon crystalline lattice beneath the surface of the substrate. The etchant comprises a halogen material that etches undoped silicon faster than the implants-rich silicon layer. This produces a circuit where the fins do not taper away from the vertical where they meet the substrate, and corresponding products and articles of manufacture having these features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hong He, Siva Kanakasabapathy, Yunpeng Yin, Chiahsun Tseng, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9627402
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment, includes a stacked body, a semiconductor member, a charge storage layer, a charge block layer and an electrode antioxidant layer. The stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers stacked separated from each other and an inter-electrode insulating layer between the electrode layers. The semiconductor member extends in a stacking direction of the stacked body and penetrates the stacked body. The tunnel insulating layer is provided on a side surface of the semiconductor member. The charge storage layer is provided on a side surface of the tunnel insulating layer. The charge block layer is provided on a side surface of the charge storage layer and contains oxygen. The electrode antioxidant layer is provided between the charge block layer and the electrode layer and has a composition different from that of the electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Furuhashi, Masayuki Tanaka, Kenichiro Toratani
  • Patent number: 9613869
    Abstract: FinFET devices and processes to prevent fin or gate collapse (e.g., flopover) in finFET devices are provided. The method includes forming a first set of trenches in a semiconductor material and filling the first set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes forming a second set of trenches in the semiconductor material, alternating with the first set of trenches that are filled. The second set of trenches form semiconductor structures which have a dimension of fin structures. The method further includes filling the second set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes recessing the insulator material within the first set of trenches and the second set of trenches to form the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9607980
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage transistor including a substrate, a first base region having a first conductivity type, and a first doped region, a second doped region, a second base region and a third doped region having a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type. The first base region, the second doped region, the second base region and the third doped region are disposed in the substrate, and the first doped region is disposed in the substrate. The third doped region, the second base region and the second doped region are stacked sequentially, and the doping concentrations of the third doped region, the second base region and the second doped region gradually increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jhih-Ming Wang, Li-Cih Wang, Tien-Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 9608013
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a liquid crystal panel, and a manufacturing method of the array substrate. In the present disclosure, the first discharging elements and the second discharging elements are arranged on the array substrate, the first discharging elements are electrically connected to the common electrode line, and the second discharging elements are respectively electrically connected to the data lines, and the first discharging elements and the second discharging elements are simultaneously formed with the scanning lines and the data lines or are formed after the scanning lines and the data lines are formed, thus, electrostatic protection is provided to the components in the subsequent manufacturing process of the array substrate after the scanning line and the data lines are formed on the array substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OTPOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiguang Yi, Zhicheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9607996
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory transistor (10A) which is capable of being irreversibly changed from a semiconductor state where drain current Ids depends on gate voltage Vg to a resistor state where drain current Ids does not depend on gate voltage Vg. The memory transistor (10A) includes a gate electrode (3), a metal oxide layer (7), a gate insulating film (5), and source and drain electrodes. The drain electrode (9d) has a multilayer structure which includes a first drain metal layer (9d1) and a second drain metal layer (9d2), the first drain metal layer (9d1) being made of a first metal whose melting point is not less than 1200° C., the second drain metal layer (9d2) being made of a second metal whose melting point is lower than that of the first metal. Part P of the drain electrode 9d extends over both the metal oxide layer (7) and the gate electrode (3) when viewed in a direction normal to a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumio Katoh, Naoki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9603247
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to an electronic package and methods that include an electrically conductive pad, a package insulator layer including a substantially non-conductive material, the package insulator layer being substantially planar, and a via. The via may be formed within the package insulator layer and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive pad. The via may include a conductor extending vertically through at least part of the package insulator layer and having a first end proximate the electrically conductive pad and a second end opposite the first end and a finish layer secured to the second end of the conductor, the finish layer including a gold compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rajasekaran Swaminathan, Sairam Agraharam, Amruthavalli Pallavi Alur, Ram Viswanath, Wei-Lun Kane Jen
  • Patent number: 9590069
    Abstract: Embodiments include high electron mobility transistors (HEMT). In embodiments, a gate electrode is spaced apart by different distances from a source and drain semiconductor region to provide high breakdown voltage and low on-state resistance. In embodiments, self-alignment techniques are applied to form a dielectric liner in trenches and over an intervening mandrel to independently define a gate length, gate-source length, and gate-drain length with a single masking operation. In embodiments, III-N HEMTs include fluorine doped semiconductor barrier layers for threshold voltage tuning and/or enhancement mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sansaptak Dasgupta, Han Wui Then, Marko Radosavljevic, Niloy Mukherjee, Niti Goel, Sanaz Kabehie Gardner, Seung Hoon Sung, Ravi Pillarisetty, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 9583540
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device comprising at least two organic transistors having different threshold voltages. The device comprises at least two transistors, each including a self-assembled layer of molecules having dipole moments that differ from one another by an absolute value of between 0.2 and 10 debye. The invention is particularly suitable for use in the field of electronic circuit production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Simonato, Caroline Celle
  • Patent number: 9583572
    Abstract: Methods are provided to fabricate semiconductor devices, e.g., FinFET devices, having fin channel structures formed of silicon-germanium alloy layers with uniform thickness. For example, a method includes forming a semiconductor fin structure having sidewalls that define a first width of the semiconductor fins structure, and a hard mask layer disposed on a top surface of the semiconductor fin structure. Portions of the sidewalls are etched to form recessed sidewalls that define a thinned portion, wherein a distance between the recessed sidewalls defines a second width of the thinned portion of the semiconductor fin structure, which is less than the first width. Facetted semiconductor alloy layers are formed on the recessed sidewalls, and then anisotropically etched using the hard mask layer as an etch mask to form planarized semiconductor alloy layers of uniform thickness on the recessed sidewalls of the thinned portion of the semiconductor fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Keith E. Fogel, Pouya Hashemi, Alexander Reznicek