Patents Examined by James Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8735885
    Abstract: A memory device is provided, which includes a memory element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a silicon layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory element is capable of being in a first state, a second state, and a third state. A first data is written to the memory element being in the first state so that a potential of the first electrode is higher than a potential of the second electrode, whereby the memory element being in the second state is obtained. A second data is written to the memory element being in the first state so that a potential of the second electrode is higher than a potential of the first electrode, whereby the memory element being in the third state is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 8736052
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first sintered silver layer on the substrate. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip and a first diffusion soldered layer coupling the first semiconductor chip to the first sintered silver layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Niels Oeschler, Kirill Trunov, Roland Speckels
  • Patent number: 8716874
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that is resin-sealed in a wafer level after a rewiring layer forming process and a metal post forming process forming a metal post are performed on a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor device includes devices formed on the semiconductor substrate. Further all of the devices are disposed in respective positions other than positions overlapping a peripheral border of the metal post when viewed from a top of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Konishi, Naohiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 8703602
    Abstract: Conventional metallization processes fail at high density or small feature size patterns. For example, during patterning dry films may collapse or lift-off resulting in short circuits or open circuits in the metallization pattern. An exemplary method for metallization of integrated circuits includes forming features such as trenches, pads, and planes in a dielectric layer and depositing and selectively treating a seed layer in desired features of the dielectric layer. The treated regions of the seed layer may be used as a seed for electroless deposition of conductive material, such as copper, into the features. When the seed layer is a catalytic ink, the seed layer may be treated by curing the catalytic ink with a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Omar J. Bchir, Milind P. Shah, Sashidhar Movva
  • Patent number: 8703600
    Abstract: An electronic component in which an element is formed on a chip includes: a pad that is made of a conductive material and that is formed in a first bump formation region that is two-dimensionally arranged in center of one principle face and in a second bump formation region that is linearly arranged at peripheral border of the principle face; a passivation film that is formed on the principle face to cover portion except a formation position of the pad; a metal layer that is formed on the pad; and a bump that is made of a conductive material and that is formed on the metal layer by plating, wherein radius of the metal layer in the second bump formation region is smaller than radius of at least some of the metal layer in the first bump formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Migita, Hirokazu Ezawa, Soichi Yamashita, Takashi Togasaki
  • Patent number: 8697569
    Abstract: A method of forming a conductive element on a substrate and the resulting assembly are provided. The method includes forming a groove in a sacrificial layer overlying a dielectric region disposed on a substrate. The groove preferably extends along a sloped surface of the substrate. The sacrificial layer is preferably removed by a non-photolithographic method, such as ablating with a laser, mechanical milling, or sandblasting. A conductive element is formed in the groove. The grooves may be formed. The grooves and conductive elements may be formed along any surface of the substrate, including within trenches and vias formed therein, and may connect to conductive pads on the front and/or rear surface of the substrate. The conductive elements are preferably formed by plating and may or may not conform to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Vage Oganesian, Belgacem Haba, Ilyas Mohammed, Craig Mitchell, Piyush Savalia
  • Patent number: 8698295
    Abstract: A wafer level package, and a semiconductor wafer, an electronic system, and a memory module that include one or more of the wafer level packages, and methods of fabricating the die packages on a wafer level, and integrated circuit modules that include one or more packages are provided. In one embodiment, the die package comprises a redistribution layer interconnecting two or more dies disposed on a substrate, typically a semiconductor wafer, the redistribution layer including a first trace connecting a bond pad of each of two dies, and a second trace connecting one of the bond pads of the two dies to a ball pad. The die package of the invention can comprise memory devices such as static random access memories (SRAMs), and can be incorporated into a variety of electronic systems as part of memory packages such as single in line memory modules (SIMMs) or dual in line memory modules (DIMMs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Poo Chia, Suan Jeung Boon, Siu Waf Low, Yong Loo Neo, Bok Leng Ser
  • Patent number: 8692390
    Abstract: A pyramid bump structure for electrically coupling to a bond pad on a carrier comprises a conductive block disposed at the bond pad and an oblique pyramid insulation layer covered at one side of the conductive block. The oblique pyramid insulation layer comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, and outer diameter of the oblique pyramid insulation layer is tapered from the bottom portion to the top portion. When the carrier is connected with a substrate and an anisotropic conductive film disposed at the substrate, the pyramid bump structure may rapidly embed into the anisotropic conductive film to raise the flow rate of the anisotropic conductive film. Further, a short phenomenon between adjacent bumps can be avoided to raise the yield rate of package process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Chipbond Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Wu, Lung-Hua Ho, Chih-Ming Kuo, Cheng-Hung Shih, Yie-Chuan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8691692
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor chip and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a first side and a second side facing each other, and a through electrode being disposed in a hole penetrating the substrate, wherein an opening surrounded by the through electrode is disposed in the hole, wherein the opening comprises a first end adjacent to the first side of the substrate and a second end adjacent to the second side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Chan Lim, Gilheyun Choi, Kwangjin Moon, Deok-Young Jung, Byung-Lyul Park, Dosun Lee
  • Patent number: 8680572
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael O'Connor, Thomas W. Springett, Paul C. Ward-Dolkas
  • Patent number: 8679984
    Abstract: An example embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing an array of electric devices that includes attaching a platform including a micro-channel structure to a substrate. The method includes injecting first and second solutions into the micro-channel structure to form at least three liquid film columns, where the first and second solutions include different solvent composition ratios and the liquid columns each, respectfully, include different solvent composition ratios. The method further includes detaching the platform the substrate, removing solvent from the liquid film columns to form thin film columns, and treating the thin film columns under different conditions along a length direction of the thin film columns. The solvent is removed from the thin film columns and the thin film columns are treated under different conditions along a length direction of the thin film columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., The United States of America as represented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The United States of America as represented by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
    Inventors: Jong Won Chung, Christopher J. Bettinger, Zhenan Bao, Do Hwan Kim, Bang Lin Lee, Jeong Il Park, Yong Wan Jin, Sang Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8679966
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a biosensor semiconductor device in which copper electrodes at a major surface of the device are modified to form Au—Cu alloy electrodes. Such modification is effected by depositing a gold layer over the device, and then thermally treating the device to promote interdiffusion between the gold and the electrode copper. Alloyed gold-copper is removed from the surface of the device, leaving the exposed electrodes. The electrodes are better compatible with further processing into a biosensor device than is the case with conventional copper electrodes, and the process windows are wider than for gold capped copper electrodes. A biosensor semiconductor device having Au—Cu alloy electrodes is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: David Van Steenwinckel, Thomas Merelle, Franciscus Petrus Widdershoven, Viet Hoang Nguyen, Dimitri Soccoi, Jan Leo Dominique Fransaer
  • Patent number: 8674418
    Abstract: An inductor device having an improved galvanic isolation layer arranged between a pair of coil and methods of its construction are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Anindya Poddar, Vijaylaxmi Khanolkar, Ashok S. Prabhu, Peter Johnson
  • Patent number: 8674270
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity and a control system having a control display adapted to display an interactive sequence of display screens through which a user enters a cooking recipe. The sequence of display screens includes a cooking mode selection screen, a cooking temperature selection screen, a cooking monitoring selection screen from which a user selects from a probe monitoring process or a timer monitoring process, and a review screen for prompting the user to review the cooking mode, cooking temperature, and method of monitoring selections. The system allows a user to add additional stages to create a multi-stage recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Anderson, Jennifer L. Bonuso, Brandon L. Satanek, Steven M. Swayne
  • Patent number: 8669498
    Abstract: An enamel coating including a phosphate-based ingredient is provided on an inner surface of a cooking chamber and the inner surface of the cooking chamber is cleaned using high-temperature cleaning water. Therefore, the cleaning of the cooking chamber can be performed more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics
    Inventors: Young Woo Lee, Yang Kyeong Kim, Yong Seog Jeon, Jae Kyung Yang
  • Patent number: 8653638
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die, at least one of said first and second dies being a memory. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The interface is configured to transport a plurality of control signals. The number of control signals is greater than a width of the interface. At least one of the first and second dies performs a configurable grouping so as to provide a plurality of groups of control signals. The signals within a group are transmitted across the interface together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Patent number: 8652957
    Abstract: A dielectric such as a gate oxide and method of fabricating a gate oxide that produces a more reliable and thinner equivalent oxide thickness than conventional SiO2 gate oxides are provided. Gate oxides formed from elements such as zirconium are thermodynamically stable such that the gate oxides formed will have minimal reactions with a silicon substrate or other structures during any later high temperature processing stages. The process shown is performed at lower temperatures than the prior art, which further inhibits reactions with the silicon substrate or other structures. Using a thermal evaporation technique to deposit the layer to be oxidized, the underlying substrate surface smoothness is preserved, thus providing improved and more consistent electrical properties in the resulting gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 8643199
    Abstract: Dendrimer/hyperbranched materials are combined with polyimide to form a low CTE material for use as a dielectric substrate layer or an underfill. In the alternative, ruthenium carbene complexes are used to catalyze ROMP cross-linking reactions in polyimides to produce a class of cross-linkable, thermal and mechanical stable material for use as a dielectric substrate or underfill. In another alternative, dendrimers/hyperbranched materials are synthesized by different methods to produce low viscosity, high Tg, fast curing, mechanically and chemically stable materials for imprinting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Lehman, Jr., James C. Matayabas, Jr., Saikumar Jayaraman
  • Patent number: 8637968
    Abstract: A microelectronic assembly can include first and second microelectronic elements each embodying active semiconductor devices adjacent a front surface thereof, and having an electrically conductive pad exposed at the respective front surface. An interposer of material having a CTE less than 10 ppm/° C. has first and second surfaces attached to the front surfaces of the respective first and second microelectronic elements, the interposer having a second conductive element extending within an opening in the interposer. First and second conductive elements extend within openings extending from the rear surface of a respective microelectronic element of the first and second microelectronic elements towards the front surface of the respective microelectronic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Belgacem Haba, Vage Oganesian, Ilyas Mohammed, Piyush Savalia, Craig Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8633074
    Abstract: The present memory device includes a substrate, a tunneling layer over the substrate, a floating gate over the tunneling layer, a dielectric over the floating gate and including silicon oxynitride, and a control gate over the dielectric. A method for fabricating such a memory device is also provided, including various approaches for forming the silicon oxynitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Minh Q. Tran, Minh-Van Ngo, Alexander H. Nickel, Jeong-Uk Huh