Patents Examined by Laura M Schillinger
  • Patent number: 7189659
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises the step of depositing an insulation film 32a with a first pressure set in a deposition chamber; the step of gradually decreasing the pressure in the deposition chamber to a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure; and the step of further depositing the insulation film 32b with the second pressure set in the deposition chamber. The insulation film is deposited with the first pressure a little lower than a second pressure set in a deposition chamber, and the insulation film is further deposited with the second pressure lower than the first pressure set in the deposition chamber. Furthermore, the insulation film is not deposited in the state where the pressure in the deposition chamber is extremely low, and an atmosphere in the deposition chamber is unstable. Thus, a semiconductor device having the insulation film with a sufficiently flat surface can be fabricating without using reflow process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Nagakura, Hideaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7187119
    Abstract: A covered substrate is described, which comprises: (a) a flexible substrate layer; and (b) a plurality of cooperative barrier layers disposed on the substrate layer. The plurality of cooperative barrier layers further comprise one or more planarizing layers and one or more high-density layers. Moreover, at least one high-density layer is disposed over at least one planarizing layer in a manner such that the at least one high-density layer extends to the substrate layer and cooperates with the substrate layer to completely surround the at least one planarizing layer. When combined with an additional barrier region, such covered substrates are effective for enclosing organic optoelectronic devices, such organic light emitting diodes, organic electrochromic displays, organic photovoltaic devices and organic thin film transistors. Preferred organic optoelectronic devices are organic light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Stuart Weaver
  • Patent number: 7187072
    Abstract: A semiconductor package substrate is provided, which can meet the move toward high integration of semiconductors. A nickel layer is plated on an electroplated copper foil to form a wiring pattern. An LSI chip is mounted on the copper foil, and terminals of the LSI chip and the wiring pattern are connected by wire bonding, followed by sealing with a semiconductor-sealing epoxy resin. Only the copper foil is dissolved away with an alkali etchant to expose nickel. With a nickel stripper having low copper-dissolving power, the nickel layer is removed to expose the wiring pattern. A solder resist is coated, and a pattern is formed in such a way that connecting terminal portions are exposed. Solder balls are placed at the exposed portions of the wiring pattern and are then fused. The wiring pattern is connected to an external printed board via the solder balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Fukutomi, Yoshiaki Tsubomatsu, Fumio Inoue, Toshio Yamazaki, Hirohito Ohhata, Shinsuke Hagiwara, Noriyuki Taguchi, Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7183222
    Abstract: A dual damascene interconnect structure, produced using etch chemistry based on C2H2F4, includes (i) an etch stop layer of either undoped silicon oxide or doped silicon oxide, and (ii) dielectric layers both above and below the etch stop layer of the other (i.e., when the etch stop layer comprises undoped silicon oxide, the dielectric layers above and below the etch stop layer independently comprise a doped silicon oxide; and when the etch stop layer comprises doped silicon oxide, the dielectric layers above and below the etch stop layer independently comprise an undoped silicon oxide).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Jianmin Qiao
  • Patent number: 7180929
    Abstract: Wafer-level stage testing of semiconductor lasers can be facilitated by directing a light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser toward a direction different from a path of the light beam as originally emitted from the laser. A test structure can be coupled to a back facet of the laser and can include a first region separated from a second region by an inclined interface. When a light beam is emitted from the laser, the light beam can be received on the inclined interface and then directed toward a light detector for detection and evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. Kuzma
  • Patent number: 7180182
    Abstract: A semiconductor component having electrode terminals 14 formed in rectangular planar shapes arranged in parallel on an electrode forming surface of a semiconductor chip and formed with rerouting patterns 16 electrically connected with the electrode terminals 14 through vias on the surface of an electrical insulating layer covering the electrode forming surface, characterized in that the planar arrangement of the via pads 20 formed on the surface of the electrical insulating layer is made an arrangement alternately offset to one side and the other side of the longitudinal direction of the electrode terminals 14 and in that rerouting patterns 16 are provided connected to the via pads 20. The present invention enables easy formation of rerouting patterns even when the electrode terminals are arranged at fine intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Shigetsugu Muramatsu, Takuya Kazama
  • Patent number: 7179681
    Abstract: Techniques for fabricating multiple device components. Specifically, techniques for fabricating a stacked package comprising at least one I/C module and a multi-chip package. The multi-chip package includes a plurality of integrated circuit dices coupled to a carrier. The dice are encapsulated such that conductive elements are exposed through the encapsulant. The conductive elements are electrically coupled to the chips. The I/C module comprises an interposer having a plurality of integrated circuit dice disposed thereon. The dice of the I/C module are electrically coupled to the interposer via bondwires. The interposer is configured such that vias are aligned with the conductive elements on the multi-chip package. The multi-chip package and I/C module may be fabricated separately and subsequently coupled together to form a stacked package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd O. Bolken, Chad A. Cobbley
  • Patent number: 7176055
    Abstract: After a first electronic component is inserted into a base substrate, first circuit patterns are formed on the inserted first electronic component, and then a second electronic component is mounted on the first circuit patterns to complete an electronic component-mounted component. According to the above method, a thickness of a module may be decreased by a thickness of the base substrate. Further, since electronic components are surface-mounted, electronic components of arbitrary sizes and types may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihito Tsukahara, Daisuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7176068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device in which a bottom-gate TFT or an inverted stagger TFT arranged in each circuit is suitably constructed in conformity with the functionality of the respective circuits, thereby attaining an improvement in the operating efficiency and reliability of the semiconductor device. In the structure, LDD regions in a pixel TFT are arranged so as not to overlap with a channel protection insulating film and to overlap with a gate electrode by at least a portion thereof. LDD regions in an N-channel TFT of a drive circuit is arranged so as not to overlap with a channel protection insulating film and to overlap with a gate electrode by at least a portion thereof. LDD regions in a P-channel TFT of the drive circuit is arranged so as to overlap with a channel protection insulating film and to overlap with the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Kitakado, Ritsuko Kawasaki, Kenji Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7176540
    Abstract: A method for producing micromechanical structures, in which a functional layer is deposited onto a sacrificial layer, and the sacrificial layer is removed again for the production of at least one mechanical functional element, which is characterized by a surface barrier layer, with which the functional layer begins on the sacrificial layer, and which has a different state from the remaining functional layer, is also removed at least to a considerable part, or, on the functional layer, one layer or a plurality of layers having at least approximately the same properties with respect to stress in the layer or layers such as the surface barrier layer is (are) applied. Additionally, a micromechanical structure having a functional layer in which the functional layer is constructed in such a way that the stresses are neutralized or no stress gradient appears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Frey, Christoph Duenn
  • Patent number: 7176093
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, memory circuitry and peripheral circuitry are formed over a substrate. The peripheral circuitry comprises first and second type MOS transistors. Second type halo implants are conducted into the first type MOS transistors in less than all of the peripheral MOS transistors of the first type. In another embodiment, a plurality of n-type transistor devices are formed over a substrate and comprise memory array circuitry and peripheral circuitry. At least some of the individual peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices are partially masked, and a halo implant is conducted for unmasked portions of the partially masked peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices. In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of only one of the source and drain regions is masked, and at least a portion of the other of the source and drains regions is exposed for at least some of the peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7173342
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that pertains to resisting crack initiation and propagation in electrical interconnections between components and substrates in ball grid array microelectronic packages. A hybrid of dielectric defined and non-dielectric defined electrical interconnects reduces the potential for electrical interconnection failure without having to control the dielectric defined interconnect ratio of substrates. In addition selective orientation of the dielectric defined edge portion of the electrical interconnect away from the point where cracks initiate resists crack propagation and component failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng Siew Tay, Swee Kian Cheng, Eng Huat Goh
  • Patent number: 7173684
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, and a fabricating method thereof, that is capable of providing uniform liquid cell gaps. A main seal defines a liquid crystal injection area. A first step coverage-compensating layer is provided between a substrate on which the main seal has been coated and the main seal. A plurality of dummy seals is arranged external to the main seal. A second step coverage-compensating layer having the same thickness as the first step coverage-compensating layer is provided between the substrate on which the dummy seals are arranged and the dummy seals. Accordingly, a main seal and dummy seals having the same thickness produce uniform liquid crystal cell gaps. The liquid crystal display device is beneficially made by a fabrication process employing four or five masks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Sung Yoo, Dong Yeung Kwak, Yu Ho Jung, Yong Wan Kim, Woo Chae Lee, Dug Jin Park, Hoo Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7169690
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing a crystalline semiconductor material capable of improving the crystallinity and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device using the crystalline semiconductor material. An amorphous film is uniformly irradiated with a pulse laser beam (energy beam) emitted from an XeCl excimer laser by 150 times so as to heat the amorphous film at such a temperature as to partially melt crystal grains having the {100} orientations with respect to the vertical direction of a substrate and melt amorphous film or crystal grains having face orientations other than the {100} orientations. Silicon crystals having the {100} orientations newly occur between a silicon oxide film and liquid-phase silicon and are bonded to each other at random, to newly form crystal grains having the {100} orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Dharam Pal Gosain, Akio Machida, Kazushi Nakano, Toshio Fujino, Junichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7169683
    Abstract: A preventive treatment method for a multilayer semiconductor structure having a support substrate, at least one intermediate layer and a surface layer in which the surface layer is to be subjected to a subsequent chemical treatment. The method includes forming a protective layer between the intermediate layer and the surface layer. The protective layer is made from a material chosen to be sufficiently resistant to the chemical treatment to protect the intermediate layer from chemical attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Ghyselen, Olivier Rayssac
  • Patent number: 7166517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes an amorphous semiconductor film forming treatment of supplying a starting material gas containing germanium to a semiconductor substrate, thereby forming an amorphous semiconductor film containing the germanium on the semiconductor substrate. Further, it also provides a semiconductor device of a novel structure manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Miyauchi, Yousuke Inoue, Toshio Andou
  • Patent number: 7166523
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide substance, such as a film, a layer, a semiconductor, which is doped with an impurity, a carbonization process is executed after formation of a doped silicon substance which is obtained by carrying out a silicon deposition process and by a doping process of the impurity. Both the silicon deposition and the doping processes may be simultaneously or separately carried out prior to the carbonization process or may be continued during the carbonization process also. At any rate, the carbonization process is intermittently carried out. A unit process of composed of a combination of the silicon deposition process, the doping process, and the carbonization process may be repeated a plurality times, for example, 2000 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7163872
    Abstract: An active type tunable wavelength optical filter having a Fabry-Perot structure is disclosed. A tunable wavelength optical filter which comprises a lower mirror in which silicon films and oxide films are sequentially laminated in a multi-layer and the silicon film is laminated on the highest portion; an upper mirror in which silicon films and oxide films are sequentially laminated in a multi-layer and the silicon film is laminated on the highest portion and which is spaced away from the lower mirror by a predetermined distance; a connecting means for connecting and supporting the lower mirror and the upper mirror to a semiconductor substrate; and electrode pads for controlling the gap between the lower mirror and the upper mirror by an electrostatic force and the method of manufacturing the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Auck Choi, Myung Lae Lee, Chang Kyu Kim, Chi Hoon Jun, Youn Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7161209
    Abstract: The power semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention at least comprises: first pillar layers of the first conductive type and second pillar layers of a second conductive type which constitute a super-junction structure in a device section and which are arranged alternately in a horizontal direction, each of the first and second pillar layers having a column-shaped sectional structure; third pillar layers of the first conductive type and fourth pillar layers of the second conductive type which are adjacent to the super-junction structure of the device section to constitute another super-junction structure thinner in a vertical direction than the super-junction structure of the device section in a device termination section and which are arranged alternately in a horizontal direction, each of the third and fourth pillar layers having a column-shaped sectional structure; an outermost pillar layer which is stacked on one of the third or fourth pillar layers in the super-junction str
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wataru Saito, Ichiro Omura
  • Patent number: 7160741
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and e-beam testing method are disclosed. The integrated circuit includes a test structure with a ground grid, a metal pad having a space therein and positioned within the ground grid, and a metal line connected to the ground grid and positioned in the space. Structures for detecting open circuits and short circuits are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Seng-Keong Victor Lim, Dennis Tan, Tze Ho Simon Chan