Patents Examined by Damian A Hillman
  • Patent number: 9023695
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of semiconductor device fabrication including forming a mandrel on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method continues to include oxidizing a region the mandrel to form an oxidized region, wherein the oxidized region abuts a sidewall of the mandrel. The mandrel is then removed from the semiconductor substrate. After removing the mandrel, the oxidized region is used to pattern an underlying layer formed on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chao Chiu, Nian-Fuh Cheng, Chen-Yu Chen, Ming-Feng Shieh, Chih-Ming Lai, Wen-Chun Huang, Ru-Gun Lin
  • Patent number: 9018620
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an organic electroluminescent light emitting device includes a transparent substrate, an intermediate layer, a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and a second electrode. The intermediate layer includes a plurality of fine particles and a flattened layer. The fine particles are adhered to a major surface of the transparent substrate. The flattened layer covers the fine particles and has a refractive index different from a refractive index of the fine particles. The flattened layer is transparent. The first electrode is provided on the intermediate layer. The first electrode is transparent. The organic light emitting layer is provided on the first electrode. The second electrode is provided on the organic light emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoaki Sawabe, Tomio Ono, Keiji Sugi, Toshiya Yonehara, Shintaro Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8981507
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells is disclosed. Each of the plurality of memory cells includes a base layer including a first electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction device provided on the base layer, and a second electrode provided on the magnetic tunnel junction device. The magnetic tunnel junction device includes a first magnetic layer, a tunneling barrier layer provided on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer provided on the tunneling barrier layer. The method can include etching a portion of the second magnetic layer and a portion of the first magnetic layer by irradiating gas clusters onto a portion of a surface of the second magnetic layer or a portion of a surface of the first magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shigeki Takahashi, Kyoichi Suguro, Junichi Ito, Yuichi Ohsawa, Hiroaki Yoda
  • Patent number: 8980654
    Abstract: The ion implantation method includes setting an ion beam scanning speed and a mechanical scanning speed of an object during ion implantation using hybrid scan in advance and implanting ions based on the set ion beam scanning speed and the set mechanical scanning speed of the object. In the setting in advance, each of the ion beam scanning speeds is set based on each of ion beam scanning amplitudes changing severally according to a surface outline of an object which is irradiated with the ions so that an ion beam scanning frequency is maintained constant for any of ion beam scanning amplitudes, and the mechanical scanning speed of the object corresponding to the ion beam scanning speed is set so that an ion implantation dose per unit area to be implanted into the surface of the object is maintained constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: SEN Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Ninomiya, Akihiro Ochi
  • Patent number: 8975184
    Abstract: Methods of filling features with low-resistivity tungsten layers having good fill without use of a nucleation layer are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods involve an optional treatment process prior to chemical vapor deposition of tungsten in the presence of a high partial pressure of hydrogen. According to various embodiments, the treatment process can involve a soaking step or a plasma treatment step. The resulting tungsten layer reduces overall contact resistance in advanced tungsten technology due to elimination of the conventional tungsten nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Chen, Tsung-Han Yang, Juwen Gao, Michal Danek
  • Patent number: 8975164
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method at least comprises the following steps. First, the semiconductor device, which comprises a gate, a gate dielectric layer, an active layer, a source and a drain, is manufactured. However, the semiconductor device has a plurality of defects, and the active layer is a metal oxide thin film. After annealing the semiconductor device, it will be transferred into a chamber. A final step of injecting a supercritical fluid carried with a co-solvent into the chamber is then performed to modify the abovementioned defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Po-Tsun Liu, Wei-Ya Wang, Li-Feng Teng
  • Patent number: 8962353
    Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting semiconductor device performance criteria during processing. A method is described that includes receiving a semiconductor wafer; performing semiconductor processing on the semiconductor wafer forming active devices that, when completed, will exhibit a device performance criteria; during the semiconductor processing, measuring in line at least one device performance criteria related physical parameter; projecting an estimated value for the device performance criteria of the active devices using the at least one in line measurement and using estimated measurements for device performance criteria related physical parameters corresponding to later semiconductor processing steps; comparing the estimated value for the device performance criteria to an acceptable range; and determining, based on the comparing, whether the active devices on the semiconductor wafer will have a device performance criteria within the acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Pan Wang, Chao-Chi Chen, Yaling Huang
  • Patent number: 8962472
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of semiconductor structures over a substrate, forming an interlayer dielectric layer over the semiconductor structures, etching the interlayer dielectric layer, and defining open parts between the semiconductor structures to expose a surface of the substrate, forming sacrificial spacers on sidewalls of the open parts, forming conductive layer patterns in the open parts, and causing the conductive layer patterns and the sacrificial spacers to reach each other, and defining air gaps on the sidewalls of the open parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Il-Cheol Rho, Jong-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8963231
    Abstract: Three dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same are provided. According to the method, sacrificial layers and insulating layers are alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate, and a cutting region penetrating an uppermost sacrificial layer of the sacrificial layers is formed. The cutting region is filled with a non sacrificial layer. The insulating layers and the sacrificial layers are patterned to form a mold pattern. The mold pattern includes insulating patterns, sacrificial patterns, and the non sacrificial layer in the cutting region. The sacrificial patterns may be replaced with electrodes. The related semiconductor memory device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunghae Lee, Daehong Eom, JinGyun Kim, Daehyun Jang, Kihyun Hwang, Seongsoo Lee, Kyunghyun Kim, Chadong Yeo, Jun-Youl Yang, Se-Ho Cha
  • Patent number: 8963290
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a good ohmic contact for an n-type Group-III nitride semiconductor. An n-type GaN layer and a p-type GaN layer are aequentially formed on a lift-off layer (growth step). A p-side electrode is formed on the top face of the p-type GaN layer. A copper block is formed over the entire area of the top face through a cap metal. Then, the lift-off layer is removed by making a chemical treatment (lift-off step). Then, a laminate structure constituted by the n-type GaN layer, with which the surface of the N polar plane has been exposed, and the p-type GaN layer is subjected to anisotropic wet etching (surface etching step). The N-polar surface after the etching has irregularities constituted by {10-1-1} planes. Then, an n-side electrode is formed on the bottom face of the n-type GaN layer (electrode formation step).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Dowa Electronics Materials Co., Ltd., Wavesquare Inc.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Toba, Yoshitaka Kadowaki, Meoung Whan Cho, Seog Woo Lee, Pil Guk Jang
  • Patent number: 8957524
    Abstract: One illustrative pillar disclosed herein includes a bond pad conductively coupled to an integrated circuit and a pillar comprising a base that is conductively coupled to the bond pad, wherein the base has a first lateral dimension, and an upper portion that is conductively coupled to the base, wherein the upper portion has a second lateral dimension that is less than the first lateral dimension. A method disclosed herein of forming a pillar includes forming a base such that it is conductively coupled to a bond pad on an integrated circuit product and, after forming the base, forming an upper portion such that it is conductively coupled to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Breuer, Frank Kuechenmeister, Jens Paul, Kashi Vishwanath Machani
  • Patent number: 8956789
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a first photoresist layer overlying a mask blank that is mounted on a first chuck to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The mask blank is selectively etched using the first patterned photoresist layer to form a first patterned mask. The first patterned mask is mounted on a second chuck and a non-flatness compensation is determined. The first patterned mask is mounted on the first chuck and a second photoresist layer is patterned overlying the first patterned mask to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The second patterned photoresist layer includes a device pattern that has been adjusted using the non-flatness compensation. The first patterned mask is selectively etched using the second patterned photoresist layer to form a second patterned mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventor: Sudharshanan Raghunathan
  • Patent number: 8952383
    Abstract: A test carrier which can suppress the occurrence of contact defects while securing positional precision of the terminals is provided. A test carrier 10 comprises: a base film 40 which has one main surface which has bumps which contact electrodes 91 of the die 90; and a cover film 70 which is laid over the base film 40, the die 90 is held between the base film 40 and the cover film 70, the base film 40 has: a first region 40a which has a first thickness t1; and a second region 40b which has a second thickness t2 which is thinner than the first thickness t1, and the second region 40b faces at least a part of the edge 92 of the die 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoto Nakamura, Takashi Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 8952429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stress-enhanced transistor and a method for forming the same. The method for forming the transistor according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a mask layer on a semiconductor substrate on which a gate has been formed, so that the mask layer covers the gate and the semiconductor substrate; patterning the mask layer so as to expose at least a portion of each of a source region and a drain region; amorphorizing the exposed portions of the source region and the drain region; removing the mask layer; and annealing the semiconductor substrate so that a dislocation is formed in the exposed portion of each of the source region and the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Haizhou Yin, Zhijong Luo, Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8941226
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has an external terminal formed through the use of an electrolysis plating method. A front surface of a semiconductor wafer is placed over a front surface of a first support heated to a first temperature. An adhesive sheet is then bonded to a back surface of the semiconductor wafer, after which the semiconductor wafer is subjected to heat treatment at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. After the semiconductor wafer and the adhesive sheet are cut along cutting regions, a plurality of semiconductor chips each having an adhesive patch bonded thereto are obtained. A mother substrate is placed over a front surface of a second support heated to a third temperature and the semiconductor chips are fixed to an upper surface of the mother substrate via the adhesive patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Narita
  • Patent number: 8936948
    Abstract: A hard mask, a protective film, which protects the hard mask film from oxidation, a first mask film and a first organic film are sequentially stacked. The first organic film is processed into a first pattern, and the first mask film is etched using the patterned first organic film as a mask. After the first organic film is removed, a second organic film is formed. The second organic film is processed into a second pattern. The first mask film is secondary etched using the patterned second organic film as a mask so that the surface of the first mask film is exposed but the surface of the protective film is not exposed, thereby selectively patterning only the first mask film. After that, when removing the residual second organic film by ashing, it is possible to ensure the function of the protective film that protects the hard mask film from oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Osamu Fujita
  • Patent number: 8932898
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabrication of a semitransparent conductive mesh. A first solution having conductive nanowires suspended therein and a second solution having nanoparticles suspended therein are sprayed toward a substrate, the spraying forming a mist. The mist is processed, while on the substrate, to provide a semitransparent conductive material in the form of a mesh having the conductive nanowires and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are configured and arranged to direct light passing through the mesh. Connections between the nanowires provide conductivity through the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior Univerity
    Inventors: Mark Greyson Christoforo, Saahil Mehra, Alberto Salleo, Peter Peumans
  • Patent number: 8921130
    Abstract: Methods for producing and placing wavelength converting structures for use in a solid state lighting assembly are disclosed. The wavelength converting structures may take the form of thin film converters including a substrate and one or more thin films of wavelength conversion material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan Kundaliya, Jeffery Serre
  • Patent number: 8921940
    Abstract: To fabricate a semiconductor device, a fin is formed to protrude from a substrate. The fin is extended in a first direction. A gate line is formed on the fin and the substrate. The gate line is extended in a second direction crossing the first direction. An amorphous material layer is conformally formed to cover the substrate, the fin, and the gate line. The amorphous material layer is partially removed, thereby forming a first remaining amorphous layer on side walls of the fin and a second remaining amorphous layer on side walls of the gate line. The first remaining amorphous layer and the second remaining amorphous layer are annealed and the first remaining amorphous material layer and the second remaining amorphous material layer are crystallized into a monocrystalline material layer and a polycrystalline material layer, respectively. The polycrystalline material layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Bum Kim, Suk-Hun Choi
  • Patent number: 8907495
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including semiconductor elements formed thereon, a graphene wiring structure stuck on the substrate with a connection insulating film disposed therebetween and including graphene wires, and through vias each formed through the graphene wiring structure and connection insulating film to connect part of the semiconductor elements to the graphene wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Wada, Akihiro Kajita, Atsunobu Isobayashi, Tatsuro Saito