Patents Examined by Jennifer Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7022603
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor a semiconductor device having a stacked-gate structure. A polysilicon layer is formed overlying a substrate, which is insulated from the substrate by a dielectric layer. A metal-flash layer is formed overlying the polysilicon layer, and then a tungsten nitride layer is formed overlying the titanium layer. The tungsten nitride layer is annealed using nitrogen and hydrogen gases. A tungsten layer and a cap layer are successively formed overlying the tungsten nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tzu-En Ho, Chih-Hao Chang, Chang-Rong Wu, Kuo-Hui Su
  • Patent number: 7022557
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array substrate, and its manufacturing method, that is made using a three-round mask process. Gate patterns, each of which includes a gate line consisting of a transparent metal pattern and a gate metal pattern, a gate electrode, a lower gate pad, a lower data pad, and a pixel electrode are formed using a first mask process. A second mask process forms a gate insulating pattern and a semiconductor pattern. A third mask process forms source and drain patterns, each of which includes a data line, a source electrode, a drain, electrode, an upper gate pad and an upper data pad. Additionally, the gate metal pattern on an upper portion of the pixel electrode is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong Kwon Kim, Heung Lyul Cho, Seung Hee Nam
  • Patent number: 7015089
    Abstract: An improved method of patterning resist protective dielectric layer and preferably protective silicon dioxide layer is described. The method consists of two sequential etching steps, the first one being a timed plasma etching process and the second one being a timed wet etching process. Plasma etching is used to remove approximately 70%–90% of the RPO film thickness and wet etching is used to remove the remaining 10%–30% of the film thickness. The two-step etching process achieves superior dimensional control, a non-undercut profile under the resist mask and prevents resist mask peeling from failure of adhesion at the mask/RPO film interface. The improved method has wide applications wherever and whenever RPO film is used in the process flow for fabricating semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyh-Shiou Hsu, Pin-Yi Hsin, Chuan-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 7008842
    Abstract: Process for fabricating a component, such as a capacitor in an integrated circuit, and integrated component, in which process and component a first electrode is in the form of a cup; a layer made of a dielectric covers at least the wall of the first electrode; a second electrode fills the cup; a first electrical connection via lies above the second electrode; and a second electrical connection via lies laterally with respect to and at a predetermined distance from the first electrode and is connected to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Pascale Mazoyer, Christian Caillat
  • Patent number: 7008841
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a method for fabricating the same, a first metal layer and a dielectric film are sequentially formed on an insulating layer. The dielectric film is patterned, wherein a remaining portion is incorporated into the MIM capacitor, and a second metal layer is formed on the patterned dielectric film and the first metal layer. The second metal layer, the patterned dielectric film, and the first metal layer are patterned at one time. Interconnects are formed by stacking the first and the second metal layers when forming the MIM capacitor, which includes a lower electrode formed of the first metal layer, the dielectric film, and an upper electrode formed of the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hoon Kim, Heon-Jong Shin
  • Patent number: 7008829
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter is formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6995059
    Abstract: Methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming capacitor-over-bit line memory circuitry, and related integrated circuitry constructions are described. In one embodiment, a capacitor storage node is formed having an uppermost surface and an overlying insulative material over the uppermost surface. Subsequently, a capacitor dielectric functioning region is formed discrete from the overlying insulative material operably proximate at least a portion of the capacitor storage node. A cell electrode layer is formed over the capacitor dielectric functioning region and the overlying insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler A. Lowrey, Luan C. Tran, Alan R. Reinberg, Mark Durcan
  • Patent number: 6991973
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor for solving the drawbacks of the prior arts is disclosed. The method includes steps of providing an insulating substrate, sequentially forming a source/drain layer, a primary gate insulating layer, and a first conducting layer on the insulating substrate, etching the first conducting layer to form a primary gate; sequentially forming a secondary gate insulating layer and a second conducting layer on the primary gate; and etching the second conducting layer to form a first secondary gate and a second secondary gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Kow Ming Chang, Yuan Hung Chung
  • Patent number: 6989304
    Abstract: In the method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to this invention, when an interlayer insulating film is fabricated such that an opening is cylindrical and low-pressure and long-throw sputtering is used for forming a lower ruthenium electrode, a ruthenium film can be deposited on the side wall of a deep hole. Further, after removing the ruthenium film deposited on the upper surface of the interlayer insulating film, a dielectric material comprising, for example, a tantalum pentoxide film is deposited. Successively, an upper ruthenium electrode is deposited using, for example, Ru(EtCp)2 as a starting material and by chemical vapor deposition of conveying the starting material by bubbling. The upper ruthenium electrode can be formed with good coverage by using conditions that the deposition rate of the ruthenium film depends on the formation temperature (reaction controlling condition). This invention can provide a fine concave type capacitor having a ruthenium electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsui, Masahiko Hiratani, Yasuhiro Shimamoto, Toshihide Nabatame
  • Patent number: 6984549
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor fuse arrangements containing an electrically conductive plate over and in electrical contact with a plurality of electrically conductive links. Each of the links contacts the electrically conductive plate as a separate region relative to the other links, and the region where a link makes contact to the electrically conductive plate is a fuse. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor fuse arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 6984570
    Abstract: A wafer bonding method of forming silicon-on-insulator comprising integrated circuitry includes nitridizing at least a portion of an outer surface of silicon of a device wafer. After the nitridizing, the device wafer is joined with a handle wafer. A method of forming silicon-on-insulator comprising integrated circuitry includes nitridizing an interface of the silicon comprising layer of silicon-on-insulator circuitry with the insulator layer of the silicon-on-insulator circuitry. After the nitridizing, a field effect transistor gate is formed operably proximate the silicon comprising layer. Other methods are disclosed. Integrated circuitry is contemplated regardless of the method of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhongze Wang
  • Patent number: 6979640
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure comprises forming a hole through a first dielectric layer; followed by forming a hole through an etch-stop layer, to expose a first conducting layer. The thickness of the etch-stop layer is at least one-half the smallest line width of the first conducting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Blosse, Sanjay Thekdi
  • Patent number: 6974757
    Abstract: A wafer bonding method of forming silicon-on-insulator comprising integrated circuitry includes nitridizing at least a portion of an outer surface of silicon of a device wafer. After the nitridizing, the device wafer is joined with a handle wafer. A method of forming silicon-on-insulator comprising integrated circuitry includes nitridizing an interface of the silicon comprising layer of silicon-on-insulator circuitry with the insulator layer of the silicon-on-insulator circuitry. After the nitridizing, a field effect transistor gate is formed operably proximate the silicon comprising layer. Other methods are disclosed. Integrated circuitry is contemplated regardless of the method of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhongze Wang
  • Patent number: 6974745
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices, which can improve electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Min Yong Lee, Yong Seok Eun
  • Patent number: 6969664
    Abstract: A fuel cell for an electrical load circuit includes a first monocrystalline silicon substrate and a positive half-cell formed therein, and a second monocrystalline silicon substrate and a positive half-cell formed therein. Each half-cell includes a microporous catalytic electrode permeable to a gas and connectable to the electrical load circuit. A cell area is defined on a surface of each respective monocrystalline silicon substrate, and includes a plurality of parallel trenches formed therein for receiving the gas to be fed to the respective microporous catalytic electrode. A cation exchange membrane separates the two microporous catalytic electrodes. Each half-cell includes a passageway for feeding the respective gas to the corresponding microporous catalytic electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe D'Arrigo, Salvatore Coffa, Rosario Corrado Spinella
  • Patent number: 6037212
    Abstract: Fabricating a semiconductor memory device with a capacitor includes forming a first insulating layer on a substrate, covering a transfer transistor, and forming a first conducting layer that penetrates the first insulating layer and is electrically coupled to one of a drain or source region of the transfer transistor. Thereafter, a pillar layer is formed at the periphery of and above the first conducting layer, and a second conducting layer is also formed on sidewalls of the pillar layer. Next, alternately a first and a second film layer are formed at least once over the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. Then, a second insulating layer is formed above the second film layer. After that, a third conducting layer is formed and then defined such that the first, the second, and the third conducting layers, in combination with the second film layer, form a storage electrode of a charge storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Fang-Ching Chao