Patents Examined by Colleen E. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7384862
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to alleviate unevenness due to an opening for making a contact with the lower layer even when the opening has a large diameter (1 ?m or more). Thus, it is a further object of the invention to reduce defects caused by the unevenness due to the contact hole. It is a feature of the invention to form a wiring by filling the contact hole with conductive fine particles. The conductive fine particles can be easily dispersed into a wiring material by using conductive fine particles having high wettability with the wiring material, thereby making a contact. Thus, planarization of a contact hole can be achieved without performing a reflow process. Further, more planarity can be obtained by performing a reflow process in addition, and the reliability is improved accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7378348
    Abstract: An insulating film comprising an organic silicon material having a C—Si bond and a Si—O bond is used for a semiconductor integrated circuit, and for polishing of its surface, a polishing compound comprising water and particles of at least one specific rare earth compound selected from the group consisting of a rare earth oxide, a rare earth fluoride, a rare earth oxyfluoride, a rare earth oxide except cerium oxide and a composite compound thereof, or a polishing compound having the above composition and further containing cerium oxide particles, is used. It is possible to provide a high quality polished surface which is free from or has reduced defects such as cracks, scratches or film peeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Asahi Glass Company, Limited, Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachie Shinmaru, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Atsushi Hayashi, Katsuyuki Tsugita
  • Patent number: 7378292
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device for use in a subscriber or a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical communication system, in which a laser diode (LD) and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) are integrated in a single active layer. The laser diode (LD) and the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) are optically connected to each other, and electrically insulated from each other by ion injection, whereby light generated from the LD is amplified by the SOA to provide low oscillation start current and high intensity of output light when current is individually injected through each electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Moon Ho Park, Sahng Gi Park, Su Hwan Oh, Yong Soon Baek, Kwang Ryong Oh, Gyung Ock Kim, Sung Bock Kim
  • Patent number: 7378357
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure for a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure that has different thickness gate dielectrics covering the fins extending from the substrate. These fins have a central channel region and source and drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The thicker gate dielectrics can comprise multiple layers of dielectric and the thinner gate dielectrics can comprise less layers of dielectric. A cap comprising a different material than the gate dielectrics can be positioned over the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7374994
    Abstract: A bismuth titanium silicon oxide having a pyrochlore phase, a thin film formed of the bismuth titanium silicon oxide, a method for forming the bismuth-titanium-silicon oxide thin film, a capacitor and a transistor for a semiconductor device including the bismuth-titanium-silicon oxide thin film, and an electronic device employing the capacitor and/or the transistor are provided. The bismuth titanium silicon oxide has good dielectric properties and is thermally and chemically stable. The bismuth-titanium-silicon oxide thin film can be effectively used as a dielectric film of a capacitor or as a gate dielectric film of a transistor in a semiconductor device. Various electronic devices having good electrical properties can be manufactured using the capacitor and/or the transistor having the bismuth-titanium-silicon oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jin Cho, Yo-sep Min, Young-soo Park, Jung-hyun Lee, June-key Lee, Yong-kyun Lee
  • Patent number: 7351642
    Abstract: A process and method for compensating for a radial non-uniformity on a wafer that includes the steps of: centering a rotational thickness non-uniformity of a film on the wafer about the axis of the spin susceptor following a CMP process; positioning a nozzle in the spin processing unit to direct the etching solution along a radius of the wafer; adjusting the flow of the etching solution from the nozzle; adjusting the rotational speed of the spin susceptor to control the residence time of the etching solution; and coordinating the rotational speed of the spin susceptor, flow of etching solution and positioning of the nozzle to maximize the removal of material. The process may be utilized to compensate for the bowl-shaped non-uniformities of an STI oxide. These non-uniformities are compensated for and addressed after a CMP process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP
    Inventors: Walter Hartner, Joseph Page, Jonathan Davis
  • Patent number: 7344995
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing a structure with high aspect ratio, which can be a trench or a conductor. A first mask is formed on a substrate, and a first etching process is performed to remove the substrate uncovered by the first mask to form at least one concavity. A second mask is formed on the surface of the prepared structure, a second etching process is then performed to remove the second mask on the concavity, and a third etching process is performed subsequently to extend the depth of the concavity into the substrate. To prepare a conductor with high aspect ratio in the substrate, the first mask and the second mask are preferably made of dielectric material or metal. In addition, to prepare a trench with high aspect ratio in a silicon substrate, the first mask and the second mask are preferably made of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Promos Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung Yueh Lu, Hong Long Chang, Yung Kai Lee, Chih Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 7344953
    Abstract: On a substrate surface, which has been patterned in the form of a relief, of a substrate, typically of a semiconductor wafer, a deposition process is used to provide a covering layer on process surfaces which are vertical or inclined with respect to the substrate surface. The covering layer is patterned in a direction which is vertical with respect to the substrate surface by limiting a process quantity of at least one precursor material and/or by temporarily limiting the deposition process, and is formed as a functional layer or mask for subsequent process steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hecht, Matthias Goldbach, Uwe Schröder
  • Patent number: 7341946
    Abstract: Methods are provided for electrochemically depositing copper on a work piece. One method includes the step of depositing overlying the work piece a barrier layer having a surface and subjecting the barrier layer surface to a surface treatment adapted to facilitate deposition of copper on the barrier layer. Copper then is electrochemically deposited overlying the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar K. Kailasam, John Drewery, Jonathan D. Reid, Eric G. Webb, Johanes H. Sukamto
  • Patent number: 7316962
    Abstract: A capacitor (10) includes a substrate (12) and two metal electrodes (14, 18). A dielectric layer (16) is formed between the electrodes. Preferably, the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than 25 and an adequate conduction band offset with silicon. Exemplary embodiments proposed use the following material systems: HfuTivTawOxNy, HfuTivOxNy, TiuSrvOxNy, TiuAlvOxNy and HfuSrvOxNy (where u, v, w, x, and y are the atomic proportions of the elements in the dielectric stack).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Shrinivas Govindarajan
  • Patent number: 7312160
    Abstract: The removing solution containing a cerium (IV) nitrate salt, periodic acid or a hypochlorite can be applied to metals containing copper, silver or palladium and also to metals containing other metals having a relatively large oxidation-reduction potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori
  • Patent number: 7303989
    Abstract: A method for impregnating the pores of a zeolite low-k dielectric layer with a polymer, and forming an interconnect structure therein, thus mechanically strengthening the dielectric layer and preventing metal deposits within the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Boyan Boyanov, Grant M. Kloster, Michael D. Goodner
  • Patent number: 7300891
    Abstract: A method and system are described for increasing the tensile stress in thin films formed on a substrate, such as silicon nitride films. The thin film may be a planar film, or a non-planar film, such as a nitride film formed over a NMOS gate. The thin film is exposed to electro-magnetic (EM) radiation, such as EM radiation having a wavelength component less than about 500 nm. The EM source can include a multi-frequency source of radiation. Additionally, the source of radiation is collimated in order to selectively treat regions of a non-planar film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Igeta Masonobu, Cory Wajda, Gert Leusink
  • Patent number: 7300837
    Abstract: A FinFET transistor on SOI device and method of fabrication is provided. At least two FinFET fins each having an upper poly-silicate glass portion and a lower silicon portion are formed using spacer patterning technology. Each fin is formed on a sacrificial SiN mask layer having a sacrificial support structure. The SiN mask is removed and then a breakthrough etch is applied to remove an underlying pad oxide layer. A PSG layer defining a width of each of the fins on a sidewall of each of the support structures is deposited on each of the support structures. At least two fins each having a narrow fin pitch of about 0.25 ?m. are formed. The fins provide a seed layer for at least two selective epitaxially raised source and drain regions, wherein each raised source-drain associated with each fin are interconnected thus forming a source pad and a drain pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hau-Yu Chen, Chang-Yun Chang, Cheng-Chung Huang, Fu-Liang Yang
  • Patent number: 7285430
    Abstract: To achieve high speed exchange of electrical signals between a connection device and a tester, a support member is provided for supporting the connection device, a plurality of pointed contact terminals are arrayed in an area on the probing side, a multiplayer film is provided having a plurality of lead out wires electrically connected to the contact terminals and a ground layer enclosing an insulation layer, and a frame is clamped on the rear side of the multiplayer film. A clamping member is provided on the frame to make the multiplayer film project out to eliminate slack in the multiplayer film. A contact pressure means is provided for making the tips of the contact terminals contact each of the electrodes with predetermined contact pressure from the support member to the clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Kasukabe, Terutaka Mori, Akihiko Ariga, Hidetaka Shigi, Takayoshi Watanabe, Ryuji Kono
  • Patent number: 7282733
    Abstract: An electronic device containing a polythiophene wherein R represents a side chain, m represents the number of R substituents; A is a divalent linkage; x, y and z represent, respectively, the number of Rm substituted thienylenes, unsubstituted thienylenes, and divalent linkages A, respectively, in the monomer segment subject to z being 0 or 1, and n represents the number of repeating monomer segments in the polymer or the degree of polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Beng S. Ong, Ping Liu, Lu Jiang, Yu Qi, Yiliang Wu
  • Patent number: 7273790
    Abstract: Fabricating a trench capacitor with an insulation collar in a substrate, which is electrically connected thereto on one side through a buried contact, in particular, for a semiconductor memory cell with a planar selection transistor in the substrate and connected through the buried contact, includes providing a trench using an opening in a hard mask, providing a capacitor dielectric in lower and central trench regions, the collar in central and upper trench regions, and a conductive filling at least as far as the insulation collar topside, completely filling the trench with a filling material, carrying out STI trench fabrication process, removing the filling material and sinking the filling to below the collar topside, forming an insulation region on one side above the collar; uncovering a connection region on a different side above the collar, and forming the buried contact by depositing and etching back a metallic filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stephan Kudelka, Martin Popp, Harald Seidl, Annette Sänger
  • Patent number: 7273820
    Abstract: After a fluid film is formed by supplying a material with fluidity to the surface of a substrate formed with a stepped layer, the fluid film is pressed against the substrate by a pressing member having a planar pressing surface so that the surface of the fluid film is planarized. The fluid film is heated in this state and thereby solidified to form a solidified film having a planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Nakagawa, Masaru Sasago, Masayuki Endo, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 7271110
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a HDP CVD FSG layer and an HDP CVD SIN layer with more stability (e.g., less free F and less free H). A feature is that the FSG and SIN are formed using a HDP CVD process with a high plasma density between 1E12 and 1E15 ions/cc and more preferably between 1E14 and 1E15 ions/cc. The high bias has sufficient energy to break the F—Si bonds in the FSG. The high bias has sufficient energy to break the H—Si bonds in the silicon nitride. Whereby the FSG layer has less F and the SiN layer has less H that increases the FSG/SiN interface reliability. The embodiments can be used on smooth surfaces (non-gap fill applications).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Lu, Liang Choo Hsia
  • Patent number: 7265066
    Abstract: A method and system are described for increasing the tensile stress in thin films formed on a substrate, such as silicon nitride films. The thin film may be a planar film, or a non-planar film, such as a nitride film formed over a NMOS gate. The thin film is exposed to collimated electro-magnetic (EM) radiation to anisotropically expose the film. The EM radiation can have a component having a wavelength less than about 500 nm. The EM source can include a multi-frequency source of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Igeta Masonobu, Cory Waida, Gert Leusink