Patents Examined by Jarrett Stark
  • Patent number: 9812556
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of fin structures on a substrate, the plurality of fin structures including a diffusion region, forming an epitaxial layer on the plurality of fin structures in an area of the diffusion region such that a height of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer over plurality of fin structures is substantially equal to the height of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer between the plurality of fin structures, and planarizing the upper surface of the epitaxial layer by one of etch back and reflow annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Mochizuki, Gen Tsutsui, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Pranita Kerber, Qiqing C. Ouyang, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9812641
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-volatile memory device and methods for fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory cell including a first transistor and a second transistor disposed on a substrate. The first and second transistors commonly use a first source region. A first gate of the first transistor and a second gate of the second transistor are different portions of a word line. First and second resistive switching elements are coupled to a first drain region of the first transistor and a second drain region of the second transistor. A first source line is coupled to the source region. First and second bit lines are coupled to the first and second resistive switching elements. The first source line, the first and second bit lines belong to a metal layer and are parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Han Liao, Ting-Ying Shen
  • Patent number: 9812639
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first interconnection, a second interconnection closest to the first interconnection in a first direction, rectifying portions arranged in the first direction between the first interconnection and the second interconnection, and a first resistance change portion arranged between adjacent ones of the rectifying portions in the first direction. Each of the rectifying portions includes a first metal oxide layer and a second metal oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Matsuo, Yoshiaki Asao, Kunifumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9799811
    Abstract: A light emitting device of an embodiment includes first and second light transmissive support bodies, and a light emitting diode is disposed between the bases. The light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer provided on a first surface (area S1) of a substrate, a light emitting layer (area S2), and a second semiconductor layer. A first electrode in a pad shape is formed on the second semiconductor layer. The light emitting diode has a shape satisfying a relation of “1?S1/S2??(3.46/H)+2.73”, where H is a distance from the first surface of the substrate to a surface of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Maki
  • Patent number: 9799587
    Abstract: A first semiconductor device includes: a first wiring layer including a first interlayer insulating film, a first electrode pad, and a first dummy electrode, the first electrode pad being embedded in the first interlayer insulating film and having one surface located on same plane as one surface of the first interlayer insulating film, and the first dummy electrode being embedded in the first interlayer insulating film, having one surface located on same plane as the one surface of the first interlayer insulating film, and being disposed around the first electrode pad; and a second wiring layer including a second interlayer insulating film, a second electrode pad, and a second dummy electrode, the second electrode pad being embedded in the second interlayer insulating film, having one surface located on same surface as one surface of the second interlayer insulating film, and being bonded to the first electrode pad, and the second dummy electrode having one surface located on same plane as the surface located
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobutoshi Fujii, Yoshihisa Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9793114
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first fin in a first semiconducting material layer disposed over a substrate, the first semiconducting material layer comprising an element in a first concentration; and forming a second fin in a second semiconducting material layer disposed over the substrate and adjacent to the first semiconducting material layer, the second semiconducting material layer comprising the element in a second concentration; wherein the first concentration is different than the second concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Bruce B. Doris, Keith E. Fogel, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9793475
    Abstract: The present invention provides a memory structure including a resistance-changing storage element, which enables a reset operation with a reset gate and in which cross-sectional areas of a resistance-changing film and a lower electrode in a current-flowing direction can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9793215
    Abstract: A semiconductor integratd circuit device includes fuse elements formed on an element isolation insulating film, and an insulating film, an interlayer insulating film and a silicon nitride film successively formed over the fuse elements. An opening region extends through the silicon nitride film into the interlayer insulating film above the fuse elements, and openings formed in the interlayer insulating film are positioned on both sides of middle portions of the fuse elements. The openings facilitate blowing off of the insulating film during laser cutting of the fuse elements, reducing physical damage to the element isolation insulating film under the fuse elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Yukimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 9793262
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first plurality of fins having a first width in a first region of a semiconductor substrate. A second plurality of fins having a second width greater than the first width is formed in a second region of a semiconductor substrate. A doped region is formed in a surface portion of the second plurality of fins to define an anode region of a diode. A junction is defined between the doped region and a cathode region of the second plurality of fins. A first contact interfacing with the anode region is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Kasun Anupama Punchihewa, Jagar Singh
  • Patent number: 9786647
    Abstract: A semiconductor layout structure includes a substrate comprising a cell edge region and a dummy region abutting thereto, a plurality of dummy contact patterns disposed in the dummy region and arranged along a first direction, and a plurality of dummy gate patterns disposed in the dummy region and arranged along the first direction. The dummy contact patterns and the dummy gate patterns are alternately arranged. Each dummy contact pattern includes an inner dummy contact proximal to the cell edge region and an outer dummy contact distal to the cell edge region, and the inner dummy contact and the outer dummy contact are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and spaced apart from each other by a first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Huang, Yung-Feng Cheng, Yu-Tse Kuo, Chia-Wei Huang, Li-Ping Huang, Shu-Ru Wang
  • Patent number: 9786546
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin in a bulk semiconductor substrate and depositing a first insulator layer over portions of the bulk semiconductor substrate adjacent to the fin. The method further includes removing portions of the first insulator layer to reduce a thickness of the first insulator layer and expose a sidewall of the fin. An etch stop layer is deposited on the first insulator layer. A gate stack is formed over a channel region of the fin and over portions of the etch stop layer. A portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate is removed to expose portions of the etch stop layer and the fin, and a second insulator layer is deposited over exposed portions of the fin and the etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terence B. Hook, Joshua M. Rubin, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9786619
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductive substrate and an interconnect structure over the semiconductive substrate. The semiconductor structure also comprises a bond pad in the semiconductive substrate and coupled to the metal layer. The bond pad comprises two conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chau Chen, Shih-Pei Chou, Ming-Jhe Lee, Kuo-Ming Wu, Cheng-Hsien Chou, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Yeur-Luen Tu
  • Patent number: 9786587
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed in which an implant board and a semiconductor element of a semiconductor mounting board are bonded and electrically connected through implant pins and which can be manufactured with high productivity. Implant pins are bonded to a semiconductor element and/or a circuit pattern of a semiconductor mounting board through cylindrical terminals press-fitted into the other ends of the implant pins. Press-fitting depth L2 of each of the implant pins into corresponding cylindrical terminals is adjustable, so that total length of the implant pin and cylindrical terminal which are press-fitted to each other matches up with the distance between the semiconductor element and/or the circuit pattern on the semiconductor mounting board and an implant board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nishizawa, Shinji Tada, Yoshito Kinoshita, Yoshinari Ikeda, Eiji Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9786685
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a virtual power line extended in a first direction; an n-well extended in the first direction, wherein the virtual power line and the n-well are disposed in a row; a first power gate switch cell disposed in the n-well; a second power gate switch cell disposed in the n-well, wherein the first and second power gate switch cells are first type cells; and a third power gate switch cell disposed in the n-well between the first and second power gate switch cells, wherein the third power gate switch cell is a second type cell different from the first type cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hoijin Lee
  • Patent number: 9786663
    Abstract: A first interconnect on an interconnect level connects a first subset of PMOS drains together of a CMOS device. A second interconnect on the interconnect level connects a second subset of the PMOS drains together. The second subset of the PMOS drains is different than the first subset of the PMOS drains. The first interconnect and the second interconnect are disconnected on the interconnect level. A third interconnect on the interconnect level connects a first subset of NMOS drains together of the CMOS device. A fourth interconnect on the interconnect level connects a second subset of the NMOS drains together. The second subset of the NMOS drains is different than the first subset of the NMOS drains. The third interconnect and the fourth interconnect are disconnected on the interconnect level. The first, second, third, and fourth interconnects are coupled together through at least one other interconnect level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seid Hadi Rasouli, Animesh Datta, Ohsang Kwon
  • Patent number: 9780034
    Abstract: A method of forming a monolithic three-dimensional memory device includes forming a first alternating stack over a substrate, forming an insulating cap layer, forming a first memory opening through the insulating cap layer and the first alternating stack, forming a sacrificial pillar structure in the first memory opening, forming a second alternating stack, forming a second memory opening, forming an inter-stack memory opening, forming a memory film and a first semiconductor channel layer in the inter-stack memory opening, anisotropically etching a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film and the first semiconductor channel layer to expose the substrate at the bottom of the inter-stack memory opening such that damage to portions of the first semiconductor channel layer and the memory film located adjacent to the insulating cap layer is reduced or avoided, and forming a second semiconductor channel layer in contact with the exposed substrate in the inter-stack memory opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masanori Tsutsumi, Kota Funayama, Ryoichi Ehara, Youko Furihata, Zhenyu Lu, Tong Zhang, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9780107
    Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices containing memory cells over a first region of a semiconductor substrate and gate structures over a second region of the semiconductor substrate recessed from the first region. The methods include forming a metal that is common to both the memory cells and the gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto M. Meotto, Giulio Albini, Paolo Tessariol, Paola Bacciaglia, Marcello Mariani
  • Patent number: 9779937
    Abstract: One object is to have stable electrical characteristics and high reliability and to manufacture a semiconductor device including a semi-conductive oxide film. Film formation is performed by a sputtering method using a target in which gallium oxide is added to a material that is easy to volatilize compared to gallium when the material is heated at 400° C. to 700° C. like zinc, and a formed film is heated at 400° C. to 700° C., whereby the added material is segregated in the vicinity of a surface of the film and the oxide is crystallized. Further, a semi-conductive oxide film is deposited thereover, whereby a semi-conductive oxide having a crystal which succeeds a crystal structure of the oxide that is crystallized by heat treatment is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9780194
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate spacer in a vertical transistor includes depositing a gate spacer layer on a source layer and a sacrificial gate material on the gate spacer layer; etching a trench through the sacrificial gate material and the gate spacer and forming an epitaxial channel within the trench; removing a portion of the sacrificial gate material to expose a portion of the gate spacer layer and leave the sacrificial gate material arranged on sidewalls of the channel; depositing an ultra-low-k spacer material on the gate spacer layer such that the ultra-low-k spacer material contacts a sidewall of the sacrificial gate material; and removing remaining portions of the sacrificial gate material and replacing the sacrificial gate material with a metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9780215
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a first step of forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first insulating film; a second step of forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a first dummy gate; a third step of forming a second dummy gate; a fourth step of forming a fifth insulating film and a sixth insulating film; a fifth step of depositing a first interlayer insulating film, removing the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, forming a gate insulating film, depositing metal, and performing etch back to form a gate electrode and a gate line; a seventh step of forming a seventh insulating film; and an eighth step of forming insulating film sidewalls, forming a first epitaxially grown layer on the fin-shaped semiconductor layer, and forming a second epitaxially grown layer on the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura