Patents Examined by Jennifer Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7087485
    Abstract: A method for fabricating patterned ceramic layers on areas of a relief structure, wherein the layers may be arranged essentially perpendicular to a top side of a substrate. In exemplary embodiments, a patterned ceramic layer forms an oxide collar for a trench capacitor. The oxide collar is produced by a trench firstly being filled with a resist in its lower section, and an oxide layer subsequently being produced on the uncovered areas of the substrate with the aid of a low temperature ALD method. By means of anisotropic etching, only those portions of the ceramic layer which are arranged at the perpendicular walls of the trench remain. The resist filling may subsequently be removed, for example, by means of an oxygen plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Harald Seidl, Martin Gutsche, Thomas Hecht
  • Patent number: 7071053
    Abstract: A semiconductor device containing a dielectric capacitor having an excellent step coverage for a device structure of high aspect ratio corresponding to high integration degree, as well as a manufacturing method therefor are provided. A dielectric capacitor of high integration degree is manufactured by forming a bottom electrode 46 and a top-electrode 48 comprising a homogeneous thin Ru film with 100% step coverage while putting a dielectric 47 therebetween on substrates 44, 45 having a three-dimensional structure with an aspect ratio of 3 or more by a MOCVD process using a cyclopentadienyl complex within a temperature range from 180° C. or higher to 250° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Nabatame, Takaaki Suzuki, Tetsuo Fujiwara, Kazutoshi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 7071052
    Abstract: A resistor 100 is formed in a semiconductor layer 106, e.g., a silicon layer on an SOI substrate. A body region 108 is formed in a portion of the semiconductor layer 106 and is doped to a first conductivity type (e.g., n-type or p-type). A first contact region 110, which is also doped to the first conductivity type, is formed in the semiconductor layer 106 adjacent the body region 108. A second contact region 112 is also formed in the semiconductor layer 106 and is spaced from the first contact region 110 by the body region 108. A dielectric layer 116 overlies the body region and is formed from a material with a relative permittivity greater than about 8. An electrode 114 overlies the dielectric 116.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yee-Chia Yeo, Chenming Hu
  • Patent number: 7060557
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. The method may include simultaneously forming at least one via and at least one upper capacitor plate opening in a first dielectric layer having an underlying cap dielectric layer deposited over a first material region having a first conductive material within a conductive region and forming a trench above the via. The underlying cap dielectric layer may be modified in a way that increases its dielectric constant as a result of simultaneously be heated by a heat source and impinged with and energy beam. The method may also include filling the via, trench, and upper capacitor plate opening with a second conductive material resulting in an integrated circuit structure and employing CMP to remove any excess second conductive material from the integrated circuit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Zhao, Qizhi Liu, Maureen R. Brongo
  • Patent number: 7056784
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a conductive metal first electrode layer over a substrate, with the conductive metal being oxidizable to a higher degree at and above an oxidation temperature as compared to any degree of oxidation below the oxidation temperature. At least one oxygen containing vapor precursor is fed to the conductive metal first electrode layer below the oxidation temperature under conditions effective to form a first portion oxide material of a capacitor dielectric region over the conductive metal first electrode layer. At least one vapor precursor is fed over the first portion at a temperature above the oxidation temperature effective to form a second portion oxide material of the capacitor dielectric region over the first portion. The oxide material of the first portion and the oxide material of the second portion are common in chemical composition. A conductive second electrode layer is formed over the second portion oxide material of the capacitor dielectric region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishwanath Bhat, Chris M. Carlson, F. Daniel Gealy
  • Patent number: 7052918
    Abstract: A multi-layer film for a thin film structure, a capacitor using the multi-layer film and methods for fabricating the multi-layer film and the capacitor, the multi-layer film including a composition transition layer between a lower material layer and an upper material layer respectively formed of different elements whose interaction parameters are different from each other, the composition transition layer containing both elements of the lower and upper material layers, the concentration of the composition transition layer gradually varying from the portion of the composition transition layer contacting with the lower material layer to the portion of the composition transition layer contacting with the upper material layer such that the concentration of the element of the upper material layer is relatively large in its portion adjacent to the upper material layer, each of the lower and upper material layers being formed of an oxide or nitride material of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, cerium, titanium, yttrium,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-soon Lim, Yeong-kwan Kim, Heung-soo Park, Sang-in Lee
  • Patent number: 7049170
    Abstract: A packaging substrate (310) includes a semiconductor interposer (120) and at least one other intermediate substrate (110), e.g. a BT substrate. The semiconductor interposer has first contact pads (136C) attachable to dies (124) above the interposer, and second contact pads (340) attachable to circuitry below the interposer. Through vias (330) are made in the semiconductor substrate (140) of the interposer (120). Conductive paths going through the through vias connect the first contact pads (136C) to the second contact pads (340). The second contact pads (340) protrude on the bottom surface of the interposer. These protruding contact pads (340) are inserted into vias (920) formed in the top surface of the BT substrate. The vias provide a strong mechanical connection and facilitate the interposer handling, especially if the interposer is thin. In some embodiments, an interposer or a die (124.1) has vias in the top surface. Protruding contact pads (340.1, 340.2) of another die (124.1, 124.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Tru-Si Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Savastiouk, Patrick B. Halahan, Sam Kao
  • Patent number: 7046319
    Abstract: A polarizing member is constituted by an absorption type polarizing film, and one polymer material layer or two or more polymer material layers provided on one or both of opposite surfaces of the absorption type polarizing film, wherein each polymer material layer does not have any extra ordinary refractive index area with a length not smaller than 20 ?m and does not have two or more extraordinary refractive index areas with a length of from 0.5 to 20 ?m in a region of 50 ?m-radius. An optical member is constituted by a laminate at least having the polarizing member, and a reflection type polarizing plate. A liquid-crystal display device is constituted by either of the polarizing member and the optical member, and a liquid-crystal cell, wherein either of the polarizing member and the optical member is provided on one or both of opposite sides of the liquid-crystal cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayuki Kameyama, Hironori Motomura
  • Patent number: 7045368
    Abstract: An MRAM structure is disclosed where the distance from a bit line or word line to an underlying free layer in an MTJ is small and well controlled. As a result, the bit line or word line switching current is reduced and tightly distributed for better device performance. A key feature in the method of forming the MRAM cell structure is a two step planarization of an insulation layer deposited on the MTJ array. A CMP step flattens the insulation layer at a distance about 60 to 200 Angstroms above the cap layer in the MTJ. Then an etch back step thins the insulation layer to a level about 50 to 190 Angstroms below the top of the cap layer. Less than 5 Angstroms of the cap layer is removed. The distance variation from the free layer to an overlying bit line or word line is within +/?5 Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., Applied Spintronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liubo Hong, Tom Zhong, Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 7045434
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate including a mask aligning trench. The method includes forming the mask aligning trench and an element partitioning trench. The element partitioning and mask aligning trenches are filled with insulation. The insulation in the element partitioning trench is masked and the insulation in the mask aligning trench is etched. As a result, a residue of the insulation in the mask aligning trench is below the upper edge of the mask aligning trench. The mask aligning trench is easily detected. Thus, positioning a patterning mask on the substrate can be performed accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Hirase, Satoru Shimada
  • Patent number: 7045449
    Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a pair of channel regions that have sub-regions doped with indium and surrounded by boron. A pair of transistor constructions are located over the channel regions and are separated by an isolation region. The transistors have gates that are wider than the underlying sub-regions. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction that has transistor constructions with insulative spacers along gate sidewalls. Each transistor construction is between a pair source/drain regions that extend beneath the spacers. A source/drain extension extends the source/drain region farther beneath the transistor constructions on only one side of each of the transistor constructions. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7037730
    Abstract: Stabilized capacitors and DRAM cells using high dielectric constant oxide dielectric materials such as Ta2O5 and BaxSr(1?x)TiO3, and methods of making such capacitors and DRAM cells are provided. A preferred method includes providing a conductive oxide electrode, depositing a first layer of a high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material on the conductive oxide electrode, oxidizing the conductive oxide electrode and the first layer of the high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material under oxidizing conditions, depositing a second layer of the high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material on the first layer of the dielectric, and depositing an upper layer electrode on the second layer of the high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Mark Visokay
  • Patent number: 7037739
    Abstract: A fabrication method of an epilayer structure for InGaAsP/InP ridge waveguide phase modulator with high phase modulation efficiency. It relates to a P-p-n-N InGaAsP/InP ridge waveguide phase modulator fabricated to be that the phase change of the TE-mode is linearly proportional to the reverse bias voltage at 1.55 ?m wavelength. A method for fabricating an epilayer structure for achieving the optical confinement in the vertical direction of an InGaAsP/InP waveguide phase modulator, characterized by comprising the steps of: forming a first cladding layer of N-InP on an N+-InP substrate; forming a first waveguide layer of n-InGaAsP and a second waveguide layer of p-InGaAsP in sequence on the first cladding layer; forming a second cladding layer of P-InP and a third cladding layer of P-InP in sequence on the second waveguide layer; and forming an electrode layer of p+InGaAs on the third cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Young Tae Byun, Hwa Sun Park, Seok Lee, Deok Ha Woo, Jong Chang Yi
  • Patent number: 7037775
    Abstract: A process for forming active transistors for a semiconductor memory device by the steps of: forming transistor gates having generally vertical sidewalls in a memory array section and in periphery section; implanting a first type of conductive dopants into exposed silicon defined as active area regions of the transistor gates; forming temporary oxide spacers on the generally vertical sidewalls of the transistor gates; after the step of forming temporary spacers, implanting a second type of conductive dopants into the exposed silicon regions to form source/drain regions of the active transistors; after the step of implanting a second type of conductive dopants, growing an epitaxial silicon over exposed silicon regions; removing the temporary oxide spacers; and forming permanent nitride spacers on the generally vertical sidewalls of the transistor gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chen Cho, Er-Xuan Ping
  • Patent number: 7037799
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed related to a bipolar transistor device and methods of fabrication. A top region is formed at a surface of and within a base region. The top region is formed by implanting a dopant of an opposite conductivity to that of the base region. However, the top region remains of the same conductivity type as the base region (e.g., n-type or p-type). This implanting, also referred to as counterdoping, increases resistivity of the top region and thus improves an emitter-base breakdown voltage. Additionally, this implanting does not have a substantial detrimental affect on a beta value, also referred to as an amplification property, or a collector emitter breakdown voltage, also referred to as BVceo, for the transistor. The beta value and the collector emitter breakdown voltage are mainly a function of a bottom portion of the base region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Billy Bradford Hutcheson
  • Patent number: 7033887
    Abstract: A process for producing an integrated electronic circuit that includes a capacitor comprises the formation of a stack on top of a substrate (100, 101). The stack comprises a first volume of a temporary material, a second volume (2) of at least one insulating dielectric and a third volume (3) of a first electrically conducting material. After a coating material (4) has been deposited on the stack, the temporary material is removed via access shafts (C1, C2) that are formed between a surface (S) of the circuit and the first volume. The temporary material is then replaced with a second, electrically conducting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Philippe Delpech, Christophe Regnier, Sebastien Cremer
  • Patent number: 7030459
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory structure and manufacturing method thereof is provided. A first stack layer is formed over a substrate. The first stack layer includes, from the substrate upwards, an n-type polysilicon layer, a conductive layer, an anti-fuse and another n-type polysilicon layer. The first stack layer is patterned to form a first stack circuit. Thereafter, a second stack layer is formed over the first stack circuit. The second stack layer includes, from the first stack circuit upwards, a p-type polysilicon layer, a conductive layer, an anti-fuse and another p-type polysilicon. The second stack layer is patterned to form a second stack circuit that crosses over the first stack circuit perpendicularly. The aforementioned steps are repeated to form more stack circuits above the substrate and hence produce a three-dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Ming-Chung Liang
  • Patent number: 7026210
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming a bottle-shaped trench. A semiconductor substrate having a pad stack layer and a trench formed thereon is provided. Sidewall protective layers are then formed on the upper sidewalls of the trench. A masking layer is formed at the bottom of the trench, followed by wet etching to remove the semiconductor substrate not covered by the sidewall protective layers thus forming a bottle-shaped trench. Finally, the masking layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Promos Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Su-Chen Lai
  • Patent number: 7026258
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making thin-film CIGS which consists in: electrochemically depositing on a substrate a layer of stoichiometry close to CuInSe2; then rapidly annealing said layer from a light source with pulses of sufficient power to recrystallize CIS. Advantageously, the electrodeposited elements are premixed. Thus, after the deposition step, a homogeneous matrix is obtained which can support sudden temperature increases during the rapid annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignees: Electricite de France Service National, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-CNRS
    Inventors: Stéphane Taunier, Olivier Kerrec, Michel Mahe, Denis Guimard, Moëz Ben-Farah, Daniel Lincot, Jean-François Guillemoles, Pierre-Philippe Grand, Pierre Cowache, Jacques Vedel
  • Patent number: 7022605
    Abstract: A first precursor gas is flowed to the substrate within the chamber effective to form a first monolayer on the substrate. A second precursor gas different in composition from the first precursor gas is flowed to the first monolayer within the chamber under surface microwave plasma conditions within the chamber effective to react with the first monolayer and form a second monolayer on the substrate which is different in composition from the first monolayer. The second monolayer includes components of the first monolayer and the second precursor. In one implementation, the first and second precursor flowings are successively repeated effective to form a mass of material on the substrate of the second monolayer composition. Additional and other implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung Tri Doan, Guy T. Blalock, Gurtej S. Sandhu