Patents Examined by Evan Pert
  • Patent number: 9601712
    Abstract: A light emitting device having a structure in which oxygen and moisture are prevented from reaching light emitting elements, and a method of manufacturing the same, are provided. Further, the light emitting elements are sealed by using a small number of process steps, without enclosing a drying agent. The present invention has a top surface emission structure. A substrate on which the light emitting elements are formed is bonded to a transparent sealing substrate. The structure is one in which a transparent second sealing material covers the entire surface of a pixel region when bonding the two substrates, and a first sealing material (having a higher viscosity than the second sealing material), which contains a gap material (filler, fine particles, or the like) for protecting a gap between the two substrates, surrounds the pixel region. The two substrates are sealed by the first sealing material and the second sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishi, Yasuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9590172
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided. The sensing device includes a semiconductor layer, a first electrode and a second electrode, a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode, and at least one conductive pattern. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed at opposite ends of the semiconductor layer. The first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are disposed at the other opposite ends of the semiconductor layer, wherein a virtual connection line is provided through the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode. The at least one conductive pattern is disposed on the semiconductor layer, wherein the conductive pattern does not overlap with the virtual connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Che Kuo, Tokuro Ozawa, Koji Aoki, Chia-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 9590141
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting part, and a p-side electrode. The light emitting part is provided between the n-type and the p-type semiconductor layers, and includes a plurality of barrier layers and a plurality of well layers. The p-side electrode contacts the p-type semiconductor layer. The p-type semiconductor layer includes first, second, third, and fourth p-type layers. The first p-type layer contacts the p-side electrode. The second p-type layer contacts the light emitting part. The third p-type layer is provided between the first p-type layer and the second p-type layer. The fourth p-type layer is provided between the second p-type layer and the third p-type layer. The second p-type layer contains Al and contains a p-type impurity in a lower concentration lower than that in the first concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Tachibana, Hajime Nago, Toshiki Hikosaka, Shigeya Kimura, Shinya Nunoue
  • Patent number: 9580299
    Abstract: A MEMS device and a method of making a MEMS device are disclosed. In one embodiment a semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a moveable electrode and a counter electrode, wherein the moveable electrode and the counter electrode are mechanically connected to the substrate. The movable electrode is configured to stiffen an inner region of the movable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Martin Wurzer, Christian Herzum
  • Patent number: 9576984
    Abstract: A conductive layer for a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel includes a multi-layered portion defining a source electrode and a drain electrode of a TFT device, and includes a first sub-layer, a second sub-layer, a third sub-layer, and at least one additional sub-layer. The third and the first sub-layers include indium and zinc oxide materials. An indium to zinc content ratio in the first sub-layer is greater than that in the third sub-layer. An indium to zinc content ratio in the additional sub-layer is formulated between that in the first and the third sub-layers. The content ratio differentiation between the first and the third sub-layers affects a lateral etch profile associated with a gap generated in the second conductive layer between the source and the drain electrodes, where the associated gap width in the third sub-layer is wider than that that in the first sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Li Shih, Yi-Chun Kao, Hsin-Hua Lin, Chih-Lung Lee, Wei-Chih Chang, I-Min Lu
  • Patent number: 9576805
    Abstract: Memories, systems, and methods for forming memory cells are disclosed. One such memory cell includes a charge storage node that includes nanodots over a tunnel dielectric and a protective film over the nanodots. In another memory cell, the charge storage node includes nanodots that include a ruthenium alloy. Memory cells can include an inter-gate dielectric over the protective film or ruthenium alloy nanodots and a control gate over the inter-gate dielectric. The protective film and ruthenium alloy can be configured to protect at least some of the nanodots from vaporizing during formation of the inter-gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Matthew N. Rocklein, Rhett T. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9570645
    Abstract: A photodiode and a method of manufacturing the same, and an X-ray detector and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The PIN photodiode includes a first doped layer, a second doped layer and an intrinsic layer between the first and second doped layers, the first doped layer is provided on a source/drain electrode layer of a thin film transistor of the X-ray detector. A heavily-doped region is provided in the second doped layer, has a dosage concentration larger than that of the second doped layer, and is electrically connected with a cathode of the PIN photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhao, Wei Guo
  • Patent number: 9570677
    Abstract: Some embodiments include integrated devices, such as memory cells. The devices may include chalcogenide material, an electrically conductive material over the chalcogenide material, and a thermal sink between the electrically conductive material and the chalcogenide material. The thermal sink may be of a composition that includes an element in common with the electrically conductive material and includes an element in common with the chalcogenide material. Some embodiments include a method of forming a memory cell. Chalcogenide material may be formed over heater material. Electrically conductive material may be formed over the chalcogenide material. A thermal sink may be formed between the electrically conductive material and the chalcogenide material. The thermal sink may be of a composition that includes an element in common with the electrically conductive material and includes an element in common with the chalcogenide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Redaelli, Ugo Russo, Agostino Pirovano, Simone Lavizzari
  • Patent number: 9570515
    Abstract: A memory cell including conductive oxide electrodes is disclosed. The memory cell includes a memory element operative to store data as a plurality of resistive states. The memory element includes a layer of a conductive metal oxide (CMO) (e.g., a perovskite) in contact with an electrode that may comprise one or more layers of material. At least one of those layers of material can be a conductive oxide (e.g., a perovskite such as LaSrCoO3-LSCoO or LaNiO3-LNO) that is in contact with the CMO. The conductive oxide layer can be selected as a seed layer operative to provide a good lattice match with and/or a lower crystallization temperature for the CMO. The conductive oxide layer may also be in contact with a metal layer (e.g., Pt). The memory cell additionally exhibits non-linear IV characteristics, which can be favorable in certain arrays, such as non-volatile two-terminal cross-point memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christophe J. Chevallier, Steve Kuo-Ren Hsia, Wayne Kinney, Steven Longcor, Darrell Rinerson, John Sanchez, Philip F. S. Swab, Edmond R. Ward
  • Patent number: 9564447
    Abstract: Methods and structures for programmable device fabrication are provided. The methods for fabricating a programmable device include, for example forming at least one via opening in a layer of the programmable device and providing a catalyzing material over a lower surface of the at least one via opening; forming a plurality of nanowires or nanotubes in the at least one via opening using the catalyzing material as a catalyst for the forming of the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes; and providing a dielectric material in the at least one via opening so that the dielectric material surrounds the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes. The programmable device may, in subsequent or separate programming steps, have programming of the programmable device made permanent via thermal oxidation of the dielectric material and the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes, leaving a non-conducting material behind in the at least one via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Suraj K. Patil, Ajey P. Jacob, Min-hwa Chi
  • Patent number: 9564534
    Abstract: The band tail state and defects in the band gap are reduced as much as possible, whereby optical absorption of energy which is in the vicinity of the band gap or less than or equal to the band gap is reduced. In that case, not by merely optimizing conditions of manufacturing an oxide semiconductor film, but by making an oxide semiconductor to be a substantially intrinsic semiconductor or extremely close to an intrinsic semiconductor, defects on which irradiation light acts are reduced and the effect of light irradiation is reduced essentially. That is, even in the case where light with a wavelength of 350 nm is delivered at 1×1013 photons/cm2·sec, a channel region of a transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor, in which the absolute value of the amount of the variation in the threshold voltage is less than or equal to 0.65 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tsubuku, Kosei Noda
  • Patent number: 9559012
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a III-nitride buffer layer on the substrate, an N-channel transistor including a III-nitride N-channel layer on one portion of the buffer layer, and a III-nitride N-barrier layer for providing electrons on top of the N-channel layer, wherein the N-barrier layer has a wider bandgap than the N-channel layer, a P-channel transistor including a III-nitride P-barrier layer on another portion of the buffer layer for assisting accumulation of holes, a III-nitride P-channel layer on top of the P-barrier layer, wherein the P-barrier layer has a wider bandgap than the P-channel layer, and a III-nitride cap layer doped with P-type dopants on top of the P-channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Rongming Chu, Yu Cao
  • Patent number: 9551865
    Abstract: An electrowetting element comprising a photosensor. The photosensor comprises a photosensitive material overlapped by an electrowetting element electrode; a first photosensor contact in contact with the photosensitive material; and a second photosensor contact in contact with the photosensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Toru Sakai
  • Patent number: 9551912
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high quality liquid crystal display pixel circuit, and a plurality of sub pixels arranged in array, and each sub pixel is divided into a main area (Main) and a sub area (Sub), and one data signal line, a voltage dividing unit (10) and a routing are provided in accordance with sub pixels of each column; a Nth data line (D(N)) is electrically coupled to the main areas (Main) of the sub pixels of Nth column and provides a main data signal voltage to the same, and the corresponding Nth routing (L(N)) is led out from the voltage dividing unit (10), and is electrically coupled to the sub areas (Sub) of the sub pixels of the next column, N+1 column and provides a sub data signal voltage acquired by performing voltage dividing to the main data signal voltage with the voltage dividing unit (10) to the same; polarities of the main data signal voltage provided by the Nth data signal line (D(N)) and the main data signal voltage provided by the next N+1th data signal line (D(N+1)) are oppo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongyuan Xu
  • Patent number: 9548220
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor package is provided, including: cutting a substrate into a plurality of interposers; disposing the interposers in a plurality of openings of a carrier, wherein the openings are spaced from one another by a distance; forming a first encapsulant to encapsulate the interposers; removing the carrier; and disposing at least a semiconductor element on each of the interposers. By cutting the substrate first, good interposers can be selected and rearranged such that finished packages can be prevented from being wasted due to inferior interposers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Wei Chuang, Chun-Tang Lin, Yi-Chian Liao, Yi-Che Lai
  • Patent number: 9543536
    Abstract: An organic molecular memory in an embodiment includes a first conducive layer, a second conductive layer, and an organic molecular layer provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the organic molecular layer having an organic molecule, the organic molecule having a linker group bonded to the first conductive layer, a ? conjugated chain bonded to the linker group, and a phenyl group bonded to the ? conjugated chain opposite to the linker group and facing the second conductive layer, the ? conjugated chain including electron-accepting groups or electron-donating groups arranged in line asymmetry with respect to a bonding direction of the ? conjugate chain, the phenyl group having substituents R0, R1, R2, R3, and R4 as shown in the following formula, the substituent R0 being an electron-accepting group or an electron-donating group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Hideyuki Nishizawa, Shigeki Hattori, Koji Asakawa
  • Patent number: 9543445
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes an oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating layer is provided. The thickness of the oxide semiconductor layer is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 10 nm. The gate insulating layer satisfies a relation where ?r/d is greater than or equal to 0.08 (nm?1) and less than or equal to 7.9 (nm?1) when the relative permittivity of a material used for the gate insulating layer is ?r and the thickness of the gate insulating layer is d. The distance between the source electrode and the drain electrode is greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laborartory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hiromichi Godo, Daisuke Kawae
  • Patent number: 9543944
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a depletion mode GaN FET and an integrated driver/cascode IC. The integrated driver/cascode IC includes an enhancement mode cascoded NMOS transistor which is connected in series to a source node of the GaN FET. The integrated driver/cascode IC further includes a driver circuit which conditions a gate input signal and provides a suitable digital waveform to a gate node of the cascoded NMOS transistor. The cascoded NMOS transistor and the driver circuit are formed on a same silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sameer Pendharkar, Naveen Tipirneni
  • Patent number: 9536899
    Abstract: A first conductive structure forms gate electrodes of a first transistor of a first transistor type and a first transistor of a second transistor type. A second conductive structure forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the first transistor type. A third conductive structure forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the second transistor type. A fourth conductive structure forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the first transistor type. A fifth conductive structure forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the second transistor type. A sixth conductive structure forms gate electrodes of a fourth transistor of the first transistor type and a fourth transistor of the second transistor type. The second and third transistors of the first transistor type and the second and third transistors of the second transistor type are electrically connected to form a cross-coupled transistor configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Jim Mali, Carole Lambert
  • Patent number: 9537012
    Abstract: It is an object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor whose electric characteristics are stable. An insulating layer which covers an oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor contains a boron element or an aluminum element. The insulating layer containing a boron element or an aluminum element is formed by a sputtering method using a silicon target or a silicon oxide target containing a boron element or an aluminum element. Alternatively, an insulating layer containing an antimony (Sb) element or a phosphorus (P) element instead of a boron element covers the oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichiro Sakata, Kosei Noda, Masayuki Sakakura, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Hotaka Maruyama