Patents Examined by Charles N Ausar-El
  • Patent number: 9177804
    Abstract: A silicon carbide layer is epitaxially formed on a main surface of a substrate. The silicon carbide layer is provided with a trench having a side wall inclined relative to the main surface. The side wall has an off angle of not less than 50° and not more than 65° relative to a {0001} plane. A gate insulating film is provided on the side wall of the silicon carbide layer. The silicon carbide layer includes: a body region having a first conductivity type and facing a gate electrode with the gate insulating film being interposed therebetween; and a pair of regions separated from each other by the body region and having a second conductivity type. The body region has an impurity density of 5×1016 cm?3 or greater. This allows for an increased degree of freedom in setting a threshold voltage while suppressing decrease of channel mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Masuda, Toru Hiyoshi, Keiji Wada
  • Patent number: 9178042
    Abstract: A method for forming a thin film transistor includes joining a crystalline substrate to an insulating substrate. A doped layer is deposited on the crystalline substrate, and the doped layer is patterned to form source and drain regions. The crystalline substrate is patterned to form an active area such that a conductive channel is formed in the crystalline substrate between the source and drain regions. A gate stack is formed between the source and drain regions, and contacts are formed to the source and drain regions and the gate stack through a passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC
    Inventors: Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9142775
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: forming a lower electrode above a substrate; forming, above the lower electrode, a first variable resistance layer comprising a first metal oxide; forming a step region in the first variable resistance layer by collision of ions excited by plasma; removing residue of the first variable resistance layer created in the forming of the step region; forming a second variable resistance layer which covers the step region of the first variable resistance layer, comprises a second metal oxide having a degree of oxygen deficiency lower than a degree of oxygen deficiency of the first metal oxide, and has a bend on a step formed along an edge of the step region; and forming an upper electrode above the second variable resistance layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Hayakawa, Atsushi Himeno, Hideaki Murase, Yoshio Kawashima, Takumi Mikawa
  • Patent number: 9099517
    Abstract: New designs for silicon carbide (SiC) bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and new methods of manufacturing such SiC BJTs are described. The SiC BJT comprises a collector region, a base region and an emitter region disposed as a stack, the emitter region and part of the base region forming a mesa. The intrinsic part of the base region includes a first portion having a first doping concentration and a second portion having a second doping concentration lower than the first doping concentration. Further, the second portion is vertically disposed between the first portion and the emitter region in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Andrei Konstantinov
  • Patent number: 9070652
    Abstract: A monitoring method of a semiconductor process includes the following steps. A semiconductor substrate is provided, and a test structure is formed thereon. The method of forming the test structure includes the following steps. A first doped region and a second doped region are formed in the semiconductor substrate, and an insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a conductive layer is directly formed on the insulating layer to complete the formation of the test structure, in which the conductive layer in a floating state partially overlaps the first doped region and partially overlaps the second doped region. Then, a voltage signal is applied to the test structure and the breakdown voltage (Vbd) between the first doped region and the second doped region is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jian-Bin Shiu, Tung-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 9058993
    Abstract: The present invention provides continuous, free-standing metal oxide films and methods for making said films. The methods are able to produce large-area, flexible, thin films having one or more continuous, single-crystalline metal oxide domains. The methods include the steps of forming a surfactant monolayer at the surface of an aqueous solution, wherein the headgroups of the surfactant molecules provide a metal oxide film growth template. When metal ions in the aqueous solution are exposed to the metal oxide film growth template in the presence of hydroxide ions under suitable conditions, a continuous, free-standing metal oxide film can be grown from the film growth template downward into the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xudong Wang, Zhenqiang Ma, Fei Wang, Jung-Hun Seo
  • Patent number: 9053965
    Abstract: A transistor device and a method for forming a fin-shaped field effect transistor (FinFET) device, with the channel portion of the fins on buried silicon oxide, while the source and drain portions of the fins on silicon. An example method includes receiving a wafer with a silicon layer electrically isolated from a silicon substrate by a buried oxide (BOX) layer. The BOX layer is in physical contact with the silicon layer and the silicon substrate. The method further comprises implanting a well in the silicon substrate and forming vertical sources and drains over the well between dummy gates. The vertical sources and drains extend through the BOX layer, fins, and a portion of the dummy gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hong He, Chiahsun Tseng, Chun-chen Yeh, Yunpeng Yin
  • Patent number: 8993409
    Abstract: A method for fabricating air media layer within the semiconductor optical device is provided. The step of method includes a substrate is provided, a GaN thin film is formed on the substrate, a sacrificial layer is formed on the GaN thin film, and a nitride-containing semiconductor layer is formed on the sacrificial layer. The semiconductor optical device is immersed with an acidic solution to remove the portion of sacrificial layer to form an air media layer around the residual sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Tien-Chang Lu, Huei-Min Huang, Hao-Chung Kuo, Shing-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 8986464
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes: single crystal silicon; a mask material formed on a surface of the single crystal silicon and having an opening; a silicon carbide film formed on a portion exposed in the opening of the single crystal silicon; and a single crystal silicon carbide film formed so as to cover the silicon carbide film and the mask material. The mask material has a viscosity of 105 Pa·S or more and 1014.5 Pa·S or less in a temperature range of 950 to 1400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukimune Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8975125
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided that includes providing a material stack that includes a silicon layer, a doped semiconductor layer, and an undoped silicon germanium layer. At least one fin structure is formed from the material stack by etching through the undoped silicon germanium layer, the doped semiconductor layer, and etching a portion of the silicon-containing layer. An isolation region is formed in contact with at least one end of the at least one fin structure. An anodization process removes the doped semiconductor layer of the at least one fin structure to provide a void. A dielectric layer is deposited to fill the void that is present between the silicon layer and the doped semiconductor layer. Source and drain regions are then formed on a channel portion of the at least one fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8963343
    Abstract: A device including a ferroelectric memory and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a semiconductor die with an integrated circuit fabricated thereon, a stress buffer die mounted to the semiconductor die overlying the integrated circuit, and a molding compound encapsulating the semiconductor die and the stress buffer die. Generally the integrated circuit includes a ferroelectric memory. In some embodiments, the device further includes a polyimide layer between the stress buffer and the semiconductor die. Other embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jarrod Eliason, Lawrence Teresi, Fan Chu, Philip Rochette
  • Patent number: 8957418
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a gate electrode (62) of a thin film transistor (10) and an oxygen supply layer (64), the gate electrode (62) and the oxygen supply layer (64) being formed on a substrate (60); a gate insulating layer (66) formed on the gate electrode (62) and the oxygen supply layer (64); an oxide semiconductor layer (68) of the thin film transistor (10), the oxide semiconductor layer (68) being formed on the gate insulating layer (66); and a source electrode (70S) and a drain electrode (70d) of the thin film transistor (10), the source electrode (70S) and the drain electrode (70d) being formed on the gate insulating layer (66) and the oxide semiconductor layer (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Moriguchi, Yohsuke Kanzaki, Yudai Takanishi, Takatsugu Kusumi, Hiroshi Matsukizono
  • Patent number: 8951870
    Abstract: Various embodiments form strained and relaxed silicon and silicon germanium fins on a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment a semiconductor wafer is formed. The semiconductor wafer comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, and a strained silicon germanium (SiGe) layer. At least one region of the strained SiGe layer is transformed into a relaxed SiGe region. At least one strained SiGe fin is formed from a first strained SiGe region of the strained SiGe layer. At least one relaxed SiGe fin is formed from a first portion of the relaxed SiGe region. Relaxed silicon is epitaxially grown on a second strained SiGe region of the strained SiGe layer. Strained silicon is epitaxially grown on a second portion of the relaxed SiGe region. At least one relaxed silicon fin is formed from the relaxed silicon. At least one strained silicon fin is formed from the strained silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Bruce Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 8940634
    Abstract: A method of forming overlapping contacts in a semiconductor device includes forming a first contact in a dielectric layer; etching the dielectric layer to form a recess adjacent to the first contact and removing a top portion of the first contact while etching the dielectric layer, wherein a bottom portion of the first contact remains in the dielectric layer after the recess is formed in the dielectric layer; and forming a second contact in the recess adjacent to the bottom portion of the first contact and on top of a top surface of the bottom portion of the first contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett H. Engel, Lindsey Hall, David F. Hilscher, Randolph F. Knarr, Steven R. Soss, Jin Z. Wallner
  • Patent number: 8937319
    Abstract: A third insulating layer is formed in a periphery region of a substrate over a first surface (main surface) of the substrate so as to straddle a second semiconductor layer closest to a guard ring layer and a second semiconductor layer closest to the second semiconductor layer. In other words, the third insulating layer is formed to cover a portion of the first semiconductor layer, which is exposed to the first surface (main surface) of the substrate and which is between the second semiconductor layers. Thereby, the third insulating layer electrically insulates the metal layer from the portion of the first semiconductor layer, which is exposed to the first surface (main surface) of the substrate and which is between the second semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Maeyama, Ryohei Osawa, Yoshitaka Araki, Yoshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8937299
    Abstract: A method for forming fin field effect transistors includes forming a dielectric layer on a silicon substrate, forming high aspect ratio trenches in the dielectric layer down to the substrate, the high aspect ratio including a height to width ratio of greater than about 1:1 and epitaxially growing a non-silicon containing semiconductor material in the trenches using an aspect ratio trapping process to form fins. The one or more dielectric layers are etched to expose a portion of the fins. A barrier layer is epitaxially grown on the portion of the fins, and a gate stack is formed over the fins. A spacer is formed around the portion of the fins and the gate stack. Dopants are implanted into the portion of the fins. Source and drain regions are grown over the fins using a non-silicon containing semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anirban Basu, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Amlan Majumdar, Ryan M. Martin, Uzma Rana, Devendra K. Sadana, Kuen-Ting Shiu, Yanning Sun
  • Patent number: 8884406
    Abstract: A semiconductor device wafer includes a test structure. The test structure includes a layer of material having an angle-shaped test portion disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the semiconductor wafer. A ruler marking on the surface of the semiconductor wafer proximate the test portion is adapted to facilitate measurement of a change in length of the test portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Ltd
    Inventors: Yingying Lou, Tiesheng Li, Yu Wang, Anup Bhalla
  • Patent number: 8872188
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor layer made of silicon carbide and having a surface tilted at an angle in a range of not less than 50° and not more than 65° relative to the {0001} plane, and an insulating film formed to contact the surface of the semiconductor layer. A maximum value of the nitrogen concentration in a region within 10 nm from the interface between the semiconductor layer and the insulating film is not less than 1×1021 cm?3, and the semiconductor device has a channel direction in a range of ±10° relative to the direction orthogonal to the <?2110> direction in the surface of the semiconductor layer. A method of manufacturing the silicon carbide semiconductor device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Misako Honaga, Shin Harada
  • Patent number: 8835997
    Abstract: A static random access memory fabrication array includes at least one p-type field effect transistor, including a gate stack and isolating spacers forming a gate having a gate length Lgate and an effective gate length, Leff and a source and drain region adjacent the gate stack, wherein the source and drain regions are formed from a low extension dose implant that decreases a difference between Lgate and Leff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leland Chang, Chung-Hsun Lin, Shih-Hsien Lo, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8823064
    Abstract: Asymmetric FET devices and methods for fabrication thereof that employ a variable pitch gate are provided. In one aspect, a FET device is provided. The FET device includes a wafer; a plurality of active areas formed in the wafer; a plurality of gate stacks on the wafer, wherein at least one of the gate stacks is present over each of the active areas, and wherein the gate stacks have an irregular gate-to-gate spacing such that for at least a given one of the active areas a gate-to-gate spacing on a source side of the given active area is greater than a gate-to-gate spacing on a drain side of the given active area; spacers on opposite sides of the gate stacks; and an angled implant in the source side of the given active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Chung-Hsun Lin, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight