Patents Examined by Douglas Wille
  • Patent number: 6798953
    Abstract: A structure that includes a substrate, typically a semiconductor chip such as a VCSEL or photodetector chip, and a guide for aligning a signal conveying device, typically an optical fiber, to a transducer such as an optoelectronic device on the semiconductor chip. The guide is formed, in a preferred embodiment, by lithographically exposing and developing a thick layer of photoresist. The structure is assembled by placing and securing the signal conveying device into a cavity-like region of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mitchell S. Cohen, Michael J. Cordes, Steven A. Cordes, William K. Hogan, Glen W. Johnson, Daniel M. Kuchta, Dianne L. Lacey, James L. Speidell, Jeannine M. Trewhella, Joseph P. Zinter
  • Patent number: 6791104
    Abstract: Semiconductor optoelectronic devices such as diode lasers are formed on GaAs with an active region with a GaAsN electron quantum well layer and a GaAsSb hole quantum well layer which form a type II quantum well. The active region may be incorporated in various devices to provide light emission at relatively long wavelengths, including light emitting diodes, amplifiers, surface emitting lasers and edge-emitting lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Nelson Tansu, Luke J. Mawst
  • Patent number: 6791109
    Abstract: A finger SQUID qubit device and method for performing quantum computation with said device is disclosed. A finger SQUID qubit device includes a superconducting loop and one or more superconducting fingers, wherein the fingers extend to the interior of said loop. Each finger has a mesoscopic island at the tip, separated from the rest of the finger by a Josephson junction. A system for performing quantum computation with the finger SQUID qubit device includes a mechanism for initializing, entangling, and reading out the qubits. The mechanism may involve passing a bias current across the leads of the superconducting loop and a mechanism for measuring a potential change across the leads of the superconducting loop. Furthermore, a control system includes a mechanism for addressing specific qubits in a quantum register of finger SQUID devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: D-Wave Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Tzalenchuk, Zdravko Ivanov, Jeremy P. Hilton
  • Patent number: 6791105
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device and a method of manufacturing the same which the optoelectronic effect such as light emission or light reception can be increased by forming a dual-structural nano dot to enhance the confinement density of electrons and holes are provided. The optoelectronic device comprises an electron injection layer, a nano dot, and a hole injection layer. The nano dot has a dual structure composed of an external nano dot and an internal dot. The method of manufacturing the optoelectronic device comprises the steps of forming an electron injection layer on a semiconductor substrate; growing nano dot layer on the electron injection layer by an epi-growth method; heating the nano dot layer so that the nano dot has a dual structure composed of an external nano dot and an internal nano dot; and forming a hole injection layer on the overall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kyu Hwan Shim, Young Joo Song, Sang Hoon Kim, Jin Yeong Kang
  • Patent number: 6787806
    Abstract: A thin film semiconductor transistor structure has a substrate with a dielectric surface, and an active layer made of a semiconductor thin film exhibiting a crystallinity as equivalent to the single-crystalline. To fabricate the transistor, the semiconductor thin film is formed on the substrate, which film includes a mixture of a plurality of crystals which may be columnar crystals and/or capillary crystal substantially parallel to the substrate. The resultant structure is then subject to thermal oxidation in a chosen atmosphere containing halogen, thereby removing away any metallic element as contained in the film. This may enable formation of a mono-domain region in which the individual columnar or capillary crystal is in contact with any adjacent crystals and which is capable of being substantially deemed to be a single-crystalline region without presence or inclusion of any crystal grain boundaries therein. This region is for use in forming the active layer of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6786651
    Abstract: A system for coupling optoelectronic devices, associated electrical components, and optical fibers is described. The system includes a substrate to which optoelectronic devices and at least some of the associated electronic components are formed on or formed using the substrate material. The substrate is further configured to receive and attach to one or more optical fibers. The system can be used to form transceivers for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing electronic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Primarion, Inc.
    Inventors: Kannan Raj, Wuchun Chou, C. Phillip McClay, Robert Carroll, Suresh Golwalkar, Noah Davis, John Burns
  • Patent number: 6784466
    Abstract: An integrated optoelectronic circuit and process for making is described incorporating a photodetector and a MODFET on a chip. The chip contains a single-crystal semiconductor substrate, a buffer layer of SiGe graded in composition, a relaxed SiGe layer, a quantum well layer, an undoped SiGe spacer layer and a doped SiGe supply layer. The photodetector may be a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) or a p-i-n device. The detector may be integrated with an n- or p-type MODFET, or both in a CMOS configuration, and the MODFET can incorporate a Schottky or insulating gate. The invention overcomes the problem of producing Si-manufacturing-compatible monolithic high-speed optoelectronic circuits for 850 nm operation by using epixially-grown Si/SiGe heterostructure layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Oon Chu, Khalid EzzEldin Ismail, Steven John Koester, Bernd-Ulrich H. Klepser
  • Patent number: 6767768
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an antifuse via structure. The antifuse via structures comprising a substrate that having a first conductive wire therein. Then, a first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, and a photoresist layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. Next, an etching process is performed to etch the first dielectric layer to form a via open in the first dielectric layer. Then, a first conductive layer is deposited to fill the via open and performing a polishing process to form a conductive plug, wherein the conductive plug is on the first conductive wire. Next, a buffer layer deposited on the partial first dielectric layer and on the surface of conductive plug. Then, another polishing process is performed to the buffer layer to expose the portion of the conductive plug. Thereafter, a first electrode of capacitor is deposited on the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: United Microelectronics, Corp.
    Inventor: Tsong-Minn Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6768133
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a plurality of output terminals through which a signal from an internal circuit is output; buffer circuits, each provided between one of the plurality of output terminals and the internal circuit; and a delay circuit connected to the specific buffer, the delay circuit delaying the signal from the internal circuit. With this arrangement, it is possible to measure a delay time from an input test signal even when a super-high-speed device is tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6759690
    Abstract: A II-VI semiconductor device includes a stack of II-VI semiconductor layers electrically connected to a top electrical contact. A GaAs substrate is provided which supports the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers and is positioned opposite to the top electrical contacts. A BeTe buffer layer is provided between the GaAs substrate and the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers. The BeTe buffer layer reduces stacking fault defects at the interface between the GaAs substrate and the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Miller
  • Patent number: 6759688
    Abstract: A monolithic surface mount optoelectronic device includes a transparent epoxy layer and a glass layer, which cover the active surface of a light emitting diode junction. The diode junction preferably outputs a characteristic wavelength of about 450 nm (blue light). The junction is fabricated by growing a P+ layer, gallium nitride layer, and a silicon gallium nitride buffer layer on a silicon substrate. The buffer layer, which is preferably non-conductive, is made conductive by the addition of a metallic shorting ring connecting the gallium nitride layer through a via in the silicon substrate to one of two surface mount contacts. A conductive beam connects the P+ layer to the remaining surface mount contact through another via in the silicon substrate. An isolation trench separates the vias in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Microsemi Microwave Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Preston, James Hayner
  • Patent number: 6756288
    Abstract: In a method of dicing a wafer, which comprises a plurality of individual circuit structures, a trench is first defined between at least two circuit structures on one face of the wafer. Subsequently, the trench is deepened down to a defined depth. Following this, one face of the wafer has fixed thereto a re-detachable intermediate support composed of a fixed intermediate support substrate and an adhesive medium which is applied to said intermediate support substrate and which can specifically be modified in terms of its adhesive strength, whereupon the wafer is dry-etched from the opposite face so that circuit chips are obtained which are connected to one another only via the intermediate support. Subsequently, the circuit chips are removed from the intermediate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Michael Feil, Christof Landesberger, Armin Klumpp, Erwin Hacker
  • Patent number: 6756608
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which has satisfactory characteristics is provided. The semiconductor device includes a TFT manufactured by using a satisfactory crystalline semiconductor film and a circuit manufactured by using the TFT. An n-type impurity element (typically, phosphorous) is added to a gettering region of an n-channel TFT. A p-type impurity element (typically, boron) and a rare gas element (typically, argon) are added to a gettering region of a p-channel TFT. Then, there is performed heat treatment for gettering a catalytic element that remains in a semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kasahara, Naoki Makita, Takuya Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6756644
    Abstract: A MOSFET gate electrode is interrupted from extending across a common conduction region, thereby reducing gate capacitance. The reduced gate capacitance provides very low gate-to-drain charge, QGD, and very low gate-to-source charge, QGS. The gate electrode is supported by and is in effect or is actually interrupted by an oxide block over a common conduction area. The MOSFET can be formed by methods including: patterning oxide blocks on a substrate; providing gate electrode material in and over appropriate gaps between the oxide blocks; removing excess gate material; and forming oxide layers around the gate electrode material. Oxide blocks can alternately be patterned to permit gate electrodes to be formed directly between the oxide blocks. The reduced gate capacitance reduces switching delays while permitting minimum RDSON values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Stout
  • Patent number: 6756648
    Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensor system and a method for fabricating the same are provided. First provided are a first lead layer, and a pinned layer. Positioned adjacent to pinned layer is a free layer. The magnetization direction of the pinned layer is substantially perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the free layer at zero applied magnetic field. Also included is a tunnel barrier layer positioned between the pinned layer and the free layer. Further provided is a second lead layer, where the pinned layer, the free layer, and the tunnel barrier layer are positioned between the first lead layer and the second lead layer. A pair of hard bias layers are positioned adjacent to the pinned layer, the free layer, and the tunnel barrier layer. To prevent shunt currents from flowing, insulating layers are positioned between the hard bias layers and the first lead layer and the second lead layer. Such insulating layers are constructed from a non-conductive, magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Hardayal Singh Gill
  • Patent number: 6757471
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical-fiber-block assembly for minimizing stress concentration. The optical-fiber-block assembly is comprised of a fiber-alignment area mounted with a plurality of V-grooves at which optical fibers are disposed and a stress-relief-depth area extending from the fiber-alignment area and formed by etching the fiber-alignment area deeper by a predetermined amount, for relieving stress that is caused by the coating thickness of the fiber, wherein the fiber-alignment area further includes: (a) a first fiber-alignment area having a first V-grooves with a constant width for receiving the bare fibers, such that the first fiber-alignment area do not contact the external side of the bare fiber, and (b) a second fiber-alignment area having a second V-grooves with a constant width extending from the first V-grooves for receiving the bare fiber, wherein the width of the first V-grooves is substantially wider than the width of the second V-grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Jeong, Hyun-Chae Song, Seung-Wan Lee
  • Patent number: 6753586
    Abstract: A distributed photodiode structure is shown formed on a semiconductor substrate having a first dopant type where a first plurality of diffusions of a second dopant type are formed on a first surface of the substrate. A second plurality of diffusions having the first dopant type are formed on the first surface of the substrate between the first plurality of diffusions. In a further refinement, a second surface of the substrate is diffused with the first dopant type. In yet another refinement, a plurality of trenches are formed on the first surface and the second plurality of diffusions are formed within the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Integration Associates Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne T. Holcombe
  • Patent number: 6750484
    Abstract: A silicon-germanium hetero bipolar transistor comprising a silicon collector layer, a boron-doped silicon-germanium base layer, a silicon emitter layer and an emitter contact area. The transistor is fabricated using an epitaxy process on a surface of pure silicon. An electrically inert material is incorporated into the epitaxial layers in order to link the defects in the semiconductor structure and to reduce the outdiffusion of the dopant. Thus, a transistor for high-frequency applications can be fabricated in two ways: to increase the dopant dose of the base region or to reduce the thickness of the base layer. In particular, carbon is incorporated in the base layer and in the collector layer and/or emitter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Gunther Lippert, Hans-Jörg Osten, Bernd Heinemann
  • Patent number: 6744066
    Abstract: The semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises a V-groove having V-shaped cross-section formed on a semiconductor substrate or on an epitaxial growth layer grown on a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer is provided only at the bottom of said V-groove. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a stripe-like etching protective film in <011> direction of a semiconductor substrate or an epitaxial growth layer grown on it, performing gas etching using hydrogen chloride as etching gas on a semiconductor substrate or on an epitaxial growth layer grown on a semiconductor substrate to form a V-groove, and forming an active layer at the bottom of said V-groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoyama, Kazumasa Kiyomi, Hideki Gotoh, Satoru Nagao
  • Patent number: 6740958
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device, such as a semiconductor memory device, having structure wherein invasion of minority carriers from the semiconductor substrate into components of the device, formed on the substrate, can be avoided. The semiconductor memory device can be an SRAM or DRAM, for example, and includes a memory array and peripheral circuit on a substrate. In one aspect of the present invention, a buried layer of the same conductivity type as that of the substrate, but with a higher impurity concentration than that of the substrate, is provided beneath at least one of the peripheral circuit and memory array. A further region can extend from the buried layer, for example, to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, the buried layer and further region in combination acting as a shield to prevent minority carriers from penetrating to the device elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakazato, Hideaki Uchida, Yoshikazu Saito, Masahiro Yamamura, Yutaka Kobayashi, Takahide Ikeda, Ryoichi Hori, Goro Kitsukawa, Kiyoo Itoh, Nobuo Tanba, Takao Watanabe, Katsuhiro Shimohigashi, Noriyuki Homma