Patents Examined by George Goudreau
  • Patent number: 7319076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a low resistance interconnect. A void is defined in the sacrificial layer that is proximate to an active layer. An overgrowth layer is formed in the void and over portions of the sacrificial layer adjacent to the void. A ridge section is defined in the overgrowth layer and portions of the sacrificial layer are removed to define a shank section in the overgrowth layer under the ridge section. The ridge section having a greater lateral dimension than the shank section to reduce electrical resistance between the active layer and electrical interconnects to be electrically coupled to the ridge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Hanberg
  • Patent number: 7314578
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the present invention providing new slurry compositions suitable for use in processes involving the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a polysilicon layer. The slurry compositions include one or more non-ionic polymeric surfactants that will selectively form a passivation layer on an exposed polysilicon surface in order to suppress the polysilicon removal rate relative to silicon oxide and silicon nitride and improve the planarity of the polished substrate. Exemplary surfactants include alkyl and aryl alcohols of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) block copolymers and may be present in the slurry compositions in an amount of up to about 5 wt %, although much smaller concentrations may be effective. Other slurry additives may include viscosity modifiers, pH modifiers, dispersion agents, chelating agents, and amine or imine surfactants suitable for modifying the relative removal rates of silicon nitride and silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaekwang Choi, Jaedong Lee, Chang-Ki Hong
  • Patent number: 7291188
    Abstract: A polishing cloth used in the chemical mechanical polishing treatment comprises a molded body of (meth)acrylic copolymer having an acid value of 10 to 100 mg KOH/g and a hydroxyl group value of 50 to 150 mg KOH/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideaki Hirabayashi, Naoaki Sakurai, Akiko Saito, Koji Sato, Tomiho Yamada
  • Patent number: 7288207
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon wafer includes a planarizing process 13 for polishing or lapping the upperside and lowerside surfaces of a thin disk-shaped silicon wafer obtained by slicing a silicon single crystal ingot, an etching process for dipping the silicon wafer into the etching liquid wherein silica powder is dispersed uniformly in an alkali aqueous solution, thereby etching the upperside and lowerside surfaces of the silicon wafer, and a both-side simultaneous polishing process 16 for polishing the upperside and lowerside surfaces of the etched silicon wafer simultaneously or a one-side polishing process for polishing the upperside and lowerside surfaces of the etched silicon wafer one after another, in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Sakae Koyata, Yuichi Kakizono, Tomohiro Hashii, Katsuhiko Murayama
  • Patent number: 7282111
    Abstract: Provided is a particle monitoring system capable of detecting a level of polymer particle contamination on inner walls of a process chamber. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring the level of polymer particle contamination on inner walls of a process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 7279119
    Abstract: This invention relates to a silica, a slurry composition, and a method of their preparation. In particular, the silica of the present invention includes aggregated primary particles. The slurry composition which incorporates the silica, is suitable for polishing articles and especially useful for chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor substrates and other microelectronic substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart D. Hellring, Colin P. McCann, Suryadevara V. Babu, Yuzhuo Li, Satish Narayanan, Robert L. Auger
  • Patent number: 7267127
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device comprising the steps of: dry-etching a Ti-containing metal film formed on a substrate with a gas containing fluorine; and treating the substrate with a chemical solution containing fluorine ions after the dry etching step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Inductrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Yukihisa Wada
  • Patent number: 7268085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a storage node contact of a semiconductor device. The method includes the steps of: depositing sequentially a conductive layer, a nitride layer and a polysilicon layer on a substrate having an insulating structure and a conductive structure; etching selectively the polysilicon layer, the nitride layer and the conductive layer to form a plurality of conductive patterns with a stack structure of the conductive layer and a dual hard mask including the polysilicon layer and the nitride layer; forming an insulation layer along a profile containing the conductive patterns; and etching the insulation layer by using a line type photoresist pattern as an etch mask to form a contact hole exposing the conductive structure disposed between the neighboring conductive patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Kim, Soo-Young Park
  • Patent number: 7268081
    Abstract: Techniques for transferring a membrane from one wafer to another wafer to form integrated semiconductor devices. In one implementation, a carrier wafer is fabricated to include a membrane on one side of the carrier wafer. The membrane on the carrier wafer is then bond to a surface of a different, device wafer by a plurality of joints. Next, the carrier wafer is etched away by a dry etching chemical to expose the membrane and to leave said membrane on the device wafer. Transfer of membranes with a wet etching process is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Eui-Hyeok Yang
  • Patent number: 7261835
    Abstract: A method for removing organometallic and organosilicate residues remaining after a dry etch process from semiconductor substrates. The substrate is exposed to a conditioning solution of phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and a carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, which removes the remaining dry etch residues while minimizing removal of material from desired substrate features. The approximate proportions of the conditioning solution are typically 80 to 95 percent acetic acid, 1 to 15 percent phosphoric acid, and 0.01 to 5.0 percent hydrofluoric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Donald L. Yates
  • Patent number: 7262139
    Abstract: A method for etching metal deposited on a substrate, the method comprising: depositing a metal layer above a substrate; coating at least a portion of the deposited metal layer with a photo-resist; pattering the photo-resist; etching the deposited metal layer with an inert gas plasma at an energy density of less than 0.5 Watt/cm2, the substrate being maintained at a temperature of less than 50° C.; and ashing a resultant crust with an ashing gas, the ashing gas comprising CF4 and O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: AVX Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eitan Avni, Elad Irron, Avi Neta
  • Patent number: 7259098
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating a semiconductor devices are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises: forming a first gate electrode functioning as a flash memory; forming first spacers on sidewalls of the first gate electrode; forming a second gate electrode functioning as a normal gate electrode; forming a source/drain region with a shallow junction by performing a first ion implantation process using at least one of the first spacers as a mask; forming second spacers on a sidewall of the first spacer and on sidewalls of the second gate electrode; forming a source/drain region with a deep junction by performing a second ion implantation process using the second spacers as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Su Kim, Chee Hong Choi
  • Patent number: 7259103
    Abstract: A method of fabricating polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor according to the present invention includes: depositing a buffer layer on a substrate; depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the buffer layer with a predetermined thickness; crystallizing the deposited amorphous silicon layer by using a laser to form a polycrystalline silicon layer; etching the crystallized polycrystalline silicon layer to a predetermined thickness; curing the etched polycrystalline silicon layer; and patterning the cured polycrystalline silicon layer to form a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7258811
    Abstract: A wafer stage including an electrostatic chuck and a method for dechucking a wafer using the wafer stage are provided, wherein, the wafer stage includes an electrostatic chuck support, an electrostatic chuck, a lifting means, and a grounding means including a device for connecting the interconnections for grounding the lifting means. According to the method for dechucking a wafer, when a lifting means is in contact with a rear side of the wafer, the lifting means is grounded. Then, an electrostatic chuck is neutralized by supplying power to electrostatic electrodes, and the wafer is neutralized by supplying plasma to the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-woong Chu, Kyeong-koo Chi, Ji-soo Kim, Seung-pil Chung, Sang-hun Seo
  • Patent number: 7235185
    Abstract: A wafer comprising a front surface and a back surface is provided. The wafer further includes a front pattern on the front surface, the front pattern having a plurality of holes. A low-viscosity fluid is formed on the front surface and filled into the holes. Following that, a high-viscosity fluid is formed and filled into the holes by diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Touch Micro-System Technology Inc.
    Inventor: I-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 7217665
    Abstract: A method of plasma etching a layer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is greater than four (4). The method includes exposing the dielectric material layer to a plasma comprising a hydrocarbon gas and a halogen containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Padmapani C. Nallan, Guangxiang Jin, Ajay Kumar
  • Patent number: 7195022
    Abstract: There are disclosed a production apparatus for producing a gallium nitride semiconductor film by HVPE process, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning exhaust gas coming from the above apparatus and an overall production plant for producing a gallium nitride semiconductor by HVPE process. Therein exhaust piping for exhaust gas in the production apparatus, introduction piping for the cleaning apparatus and exhaust gas piping which connects the production apparatus and the cleaning apparatus are each composed of an electroconductive corrosion-resistant material and are each electrically grounded, thereby surely preventing electrostatic charging due to friction between ammonium chloride powders in the exhaust gas and inside walls of exhaust gas piping, and markedly enhancing operational safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignees: Japan Pionics Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Naoki Muranaga, Kikurou Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7195927
    Abstract: An exemplary method for making a memory structure having different-sized memory cell layers comprises forming at least two layers of ferromagnetic materials, forming at least one mask layer above the ferromagnetic materials, patterning the at least one mask layer, etching the ferromagnetic materials using the at least one mask layer as a first etch transfer mask, laterally reducing a planar dimension of the at least one mask layer to be narrower than the ferromagnetic materials, and etching a layer of the ferromagnetic materials using the reduced at least one mask layer as a second etch transfer mask, such that the ferromagnetic layer being etched becomes a different lateral size than another ferromagnetic layer of the ferromagnetic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Sharma, Thomas C. Anthony
  • Patent number: 7192884
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first conductive-type clad layer, an active layer, and a second conductive-type clad layer on a first conductive-type semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a ridge structure by selectively etching the second conductive-type clad layer; (c) forming a current blocking layer around the ridge structure, the current blocking layer having protrusions on the upper surface thereof adjacent to the ridge structure, and an amorphous and/or polycrystalline layer on a partial area thereof; and (d) removing at least the amorphous and/or polycrystalline layer from the current blocking layer, and wet-etching the upper surface of the current blocking layer so that the protrusions are reduced in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Joon Kim, Byung Deuk Moon, Sang Heon Han
  • Patent number: 7186657
    Abstract: A wafer has a trench, a STI layer formed in the trench, an HfO2-containing gate dielectric covering the wafer and the STI layer, a gate electrode formed on the HfO2-containing gate dielectric, and at least a spacer formed beside the gate electrode. The wafer is preheated and a bromine-rich gas plasma is provided to remove portions of the HfO2-containing gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jeng-Huey Hwang, Wei-Tsun Shiau, Chien-Ting Lin, Jiunn-Ren Hwang