Patents Examined by John Bodnar
  • Patent number: 11329047
    Abstract: Described herein are embedded dynamic random-access memory (eDRAM) memory cells and arrays, as well as corresponding methods and devices. An exemplary eDRAM memory array implements a memory cell that uses a thin-film transistor (TFT) as a selector transistor. One source/drain (S/D) electrode of the TFT is coupled to a capacitor for storing a memory state of the cell, while the other S/D electrode is coupled to a bitline. The bitline may be a shallow bitline in that a thickness of the bitline may be smaller than a thickness of one or more metal interconnects provided in the same metal layer as the bitline but used for providing electrical connectivity for components outside of the memory array. Such a bitline may be formed in a separate process than said one or more metal interconnects. In an embodiment, the memory cells may be formed in a back end of line process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yih Wang, Abhishek A. Sharma, Tahir Ghani, Allen B. Gardiner, Travis W. Lajoie, Pei-hua Wang, Chieh-jen Ku, Bernhard Sell, Juan G. Alzate-Vinasco, Blake C. Lin
  • Patent number: 11316068
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor chip and a method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip are disclosed. In an embodiment, a chip includes a semiconductor body comprising a plurality of emission regions, first and second contact points, a rewiring structure and first and second connection points, wherein each emission region is contacted via the first and second contact points and configured to be operated separately from one another, wherein the rewiring structure electrically conductively connects each first contact point to an associated first connection point, wherein the rewiring structure electrically conductively connects every second contact point to an associated second connection point, wherein at least one of the connection points does not overlap with a contact point which is electrically conductively connected to this connection point in a vertical direction, and wherein each first connection point is disposed laterally directly adjacent to a further first connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GMBH
    Inventors: Dominik Scholz, Alexander F. Pfeuffer
  • Patent number: 11309192
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated circuit (IC) package supports and related apparatuses and methods. For example, in some embodiments, an IC package support may include a non-photoimageable dielectric, and a conductive via through the non-photoimageable dielectric, wherein the conductive via has a diameter that is less than 20 microns. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kristof Kuwawi Darmawikarta, Robert May, Sri Ranga Sai Boyapati, Srinivas V. Pietambaram, Chung Kwang Christopher Tan, Aleksandar Aleksov
  • Patent number: 11307200
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved field effect transistor and device that can be used to sense and characterize a variety of materials. The field effect transistor and/or device including the transistor may be used for a variety of applications, including genome sequencing, protein sequencing, biomolecular sequencing, and detection of ions, molecules, chemicals, biomolecules, metal atoms, polymers, nanoparticles and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Bharath Takulapalli
  • Patent number: 11295986
    Abstract: Vertical field-effect transistor (VFET) devices and methods of forming the VFET devices are provided. The methods may include forming a first channel region and a second channel region on a substrate, forming a recess in the substrate between the first and second channel regions by removing a portion of the liner and a portion of the substrate, forming a bottom source/drain region in the recess of the substrate, forming a capping layer on the bottom source/drain region, removing the liner and the capping layer, forming a spacer on the substrate and the bottom source/drain region, and forming a gate structure on side surfaces of the first and second channel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Min Gyu Kim, Sa Hwan Hong
  • Patent number: 11289329
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for method for filling a feature with copper. In some embodiments, the methods include: (a) depositing a first cobalt layer via a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process atop a substrate field and atop a sidewall and a bottom surface of a feature disposed in a substrate to form a first cobalt portion atop the substrate field and a second cobalt portion atop the sidewall; (b) depositing copper atop the first cobalt portion atop the substrate field; and (c) flowing the copper disposed atop the first cobalt portion atop the substrate field over the second cobalt portion and into the feature, wherein the first cobalt portion atop the substrate field reduces the mobility of copper compared to the mobility of copper over the second cobalt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Rui Li, Xiangjin Xie, Fuhong Zhang, Shirish Pethe, Adolph Allen, Lanlan Zhong, Xianmin Tang
  • Patent number: 11289611
    Abstract: A method to fabricate a three dimensional memory structure may include creating a stack of layers including a conductive source layer, a first insulating layer, a select gate source layer, and a second insulating layer, and an array stack. A hole through the stack of layers may then be created using the conductive source layer as a stop-etch layer. The source material may have an etch rate no faster than 33% as fast as an etch rate of the insulating material for the etch process used to create the hole. A pillar of semiconductor material may then fill the hole, so that the pillar of semiconductor material is in electrical contact with the conductive source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Roger W. Lindsay, Andrew Bicksler, Brian J. Cleereman, Minsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11289365
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a semiconductor device including an air gap underneath passive devices. The semiconductor device generally includes a substrate layer, a passive device layer, and a dielectric layer disposed between the substrate layer and the passive device layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes an air gap disposed beneath at least one passive device in the passive device layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Junjing Bao, Ye Lu, Haitao Cheng
  • Patent number: 11289647
    Abstract: A memory cell includes: a first electrode; a resistive material layer comprising one horizontal portion and two vertical portions that are respectively coupled to ends of the horizontal portion; and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is partially surrounded by a top boundary of the U-shaped profile and the first electrode extends along part of a bottom boundary of the U-shaped profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Mo, Shih-Chi Kuo
  • Patent number: 11282745
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filling a high aspect ratio feature such as a via with ruthenium including: contacting a ruthenium liner with a ruthenium precursor within a high aspect ratio feature such as a via, wherein the ruthenium liner has a top surface within a high aspect ratio feature such as a via, and wherein the top surface comprises a halogen material such as iodine or bromine. Embodiments also relate to selective deposition of ruthenium within a high-aspect ratio feature such as a via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sang-Ho Yu, Seshadri Ganguli
  • Patent number: 11282845
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure that comprises tiers of alternating dielectric levels and conductive levels and a carbon-doped silicon nitride over the tiers of the staircase structure. The carbon-doped silicon nitride excludes silicon carbon nitride. A method of forming the semiconductor device structure comprises forming stairs in a staircase structure comprising alternating dielectric levels and conductive levels. A carbon-doped silicon nitride is formed over the stairs, an oxide material is formed over the carbon-doped silicon nitride, and openings are formed in the oxide material. The openings extend to the carbon-doped silicon nitride. The carbon-doped silicon nitride is removed to extend the openings into the conductive levels of the staircase structure. Additional methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Fang, Fei Wang, Saniya Rathod, Rutuparna Narulkar, Matthew Park, Matthew J. King
  • Patent number: 11276618
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a woven fiber layer, a first resin layer on a first surface of the woven fiber layer, a second resin layer on a second surface of the woven fiber layer, the second surface opposite the first surface, and the first and the second resin layers comprising cured resin, a third resin layer on the first resin layer, and a fourth resin layer on the second resin layer, the third and the fourth resin layers comprising an uncured resin, and wherein the fourth resin layer has a thickness greater than a thickness of the third resin layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Rosch, Andrew J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11267696
    Abstract: In a non-limiting embodiment, a MEMS device may include a substrate having a device stopper. The device stopper may be integral to the substrate and formed of the substrate material. A thermal dielectric isolation layer may be arranged over the device stopper and the substrate. A device cavity may extend through the substrate and the thermal dielectric isolation layer. The thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device stopper at least partially surround the device cavity. An active device layer may be arranged over the thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VANGUARD INIERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ranganathan Nagarajan, Jia Jie Xia, Rakesh Kumar, Bevita Kallupalathinkal Chandran
  • Patent number: 11271005
    Abstract: An NOR flash memory comprising a memory cell of a 3D structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The flash memory 100 includes a plurality of columnar portions 120, a plurality of charge accumulating portions 130 and a plurality of control gates 140. The columnar portions 120 extend from a surface of a silicon substrate 110 in a vertical direction and include an active region. The charge accumulating portions 130 are formed by way of surrounding a side portion of each columnar portion 120. The control gates 140 are formed by way of surrounding a side portion of each charge accumulating portion 130. One end portion of the columnar portion 120 is electrically connected to a bit line 150 via a contact hole, and another end portion of the columnar portion 120 is electrically connected to a conductive region formed on a surface of the silicon substrate 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Masaru Yano, Riichiro Shirota
  • Patent number: 11264342
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor device package, which includes a substrate with a contact pad. A non-solder ball is coupled to the contact pad at a contact pad interface surface. A layer of solder is disposed over an outer surface of the non-solder ball, and has an inner surface and an outer surface which are generally concentric with the outer surface of the non-solder ball. An intermediate layer separates the non-solder ball and the layer of solder. The intermediate layer is distinct in composition from both the non-solder ball and the layer of solder. Sidewalls of the layer of solder are curved or sphere-like and terminate at a planar surface, which is disposed at a maximum height of the layer of solder as measured from the contact pad interface surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Chung-Shi Liu, Ming-Da Cheng, Mirng-Ji Lii, Meng-Tse Chen, Wei-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 11257732
    Abstract: A semiconductor module includes: a semiconductor element; a first lead frame including a first portion on which the semiconductor element is mounted; a sealing member sealing the semiconductor element and the first portion; and a heat dissipation member which is integrated with the sealing member and dissipates heat generated in the semiconductor element. The heat dissipation member is insulated from the semiconductor element and the first portion by the sealing member. Therefore, the semiconductor module that is applicable to vertical semiconductor elements and ensures electrical insulation between the semiconductor element and the heat dissipation member when implementing the semiconductor module onto a circuit board, can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Maki Hasegawa, Shuhei Yokoyama, Shogo Shibata, Shigeru Mori, Toru Iwagami
  • Patent number: 11254563
    Abstract: Embodiments include a microelectronic device package structure having a die on a substrate, where a first side of the die is electrically coupled to the substrate, and a second side of the die is covered with a first material having a first thermal conductivity. A second material is adjacent to a sidewall of the die and adjacent to a sidewall of the first material. The second material has second thermal conductivity, smaller than the first thermal conductivity. The second material may have mechanical and/or underfill properties superior to those of the first material. Together, the two materials may provide a package structure having enhanced thermal and mechanical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Omkar G. Karhade, Nitin A. Deshpande
  • Patent number: 11251094
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to fabrication method and resulting structures for vertical tunneling field effect transistors (VFETs) having an oxygen vacancy passivating bottom spacer. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a first semiconductor fin is formed in a first region of a substrate and a second semiconductor fin is formed in a second region of the substrate. A bilayer bottom spacer is formed in direct contact with sidewalls of the semiconductor fins. The bilayer bottom spacer includes a first layer and an oxygen-donating second layer positioned on the first layer. A first dielectric film is formed on the sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin. The first dielectric film terminates on the first layer. A second dielectric film is formed on the sidewalls of the second semiconductor fin. The second dielectric film extends onto a surface of the oxygen-donating second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Choonghyun Lee, Takashi Ando, Alexander Reznicek, Jingyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11251181
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device including a substrate, an insulating layer formed over the substrate, a plurality of fins formed vertically from a surface of the substrate, the fins extending through the insulating layer and above a top surface of the insulating layer, a gate structure formed over a portion of fins and over the top surface of the insulating layer, a source/drain structure disposed adjacent to opposing sides of the gate structure, the source/drain structure contacting the fin, a dielectric layer formed over the insulating layer, a first contact trench extending a first depth through the dielectric layer to expose the source/drain structure, the first contact trench containing an electrical conductive material, and a second contact trench extending a second depth into the dielectric layer, the second contact trench containing the electrical conductive material, and the second depth is greater than the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Che Tsai, Min-Yann Hsieh, Hua Feng Chen, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 11251034
    Abstract: There is provided a film forming method comprising an organic substance removal step of removing an organic substance adhering to an oxide film generated on a surface of a base by supplying a hydrogen-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the base; an oxide film removal step of removing the oxide film formed on the surface of the base after the organic substance removal step; and a film forming step of forming a predetermined film on the surface of the base after the oxide film removal step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hayashi, Rui Kanemura, Satoshi Takagi, Mitsuhiro Okada