Patents Examined by Laura Schillinger
  • Patent number: 6268291
    Abstract: A method for forming a copper conductor in an electronic structure by first depositing a copper composition in a receptacle formed in the electronic structure, and then adding impurities into the copper composition such that its electromigration resistance is improved is disclosed. In the method, the copper composition can be deposited by a variety of techniques such as electroplating, physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. The impurities which can be implanted include those of C, O, Cl, S and N at a suitable concentration range between about 0.01 ppm by weight and about 1000 ppm by weight. The impurities can be added by three different methods. In the first method, a copper seed layer is first deposited into a receptacle and an ion implantation process is carried out on the seed layer, which is followed by electroplating copper into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Panayotis Constantinou Andricacos, Cyril Cabral, Jr., Christopher Carr Parks, Kenneth Parker Rodbell, Roger Yen-Luen Tsai
  • Patent number: 6251717
    Abstract: A method for forming viable floating gate memory cells in a semiconductor substrate. At various points within the memory cell manufacturing process rapid thermal annealing is used to repair any damage that may be caused to the crystals in the substrate by various processing steps. By quickly repairing any damage to the crystals of the substrate, the rate and amount of overall transient enhanced diffusion of the various dopants within the substrate can be greatly reduced, thereby allowing the production of a viable memory cell. Specifically, the present invention uses rapid thermal annealing during and following the formation of the source and drain regions and the interconnection regions effecting electrical connection between the source regions. This desensitizes the erase rates of the semiconductor device to the etching conditions employed to form the connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ramsbey, Daniel Sobek, Nicholas H. Trispas
  • Patent number: 6228689
    Abstract: A trench style bump and the application of the same. A trench style bump is formed on a silicon chip. The silicon chip is laminated on a substrate which has a circuit built inside and an anisotropic conductive film/anisotropic conductive paste formed thereon. During lamination, an ultra sonic wave is used to vibrate the substrate laterally, so that the conductive particles contained within the anisotropic conductive film/anisotropic conductive past are effectively trapped by the trench on the trench style bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hermen Liu
  • Patent number: 6225209
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a crack resistant inter-layer dielectric for a salicide process. The method includes forming an insulating layer on a provided substrate, forming a planarized inter-layer dielectric layer on the insulating layer, and performing a short-duration thermal treatment to increase the density of the inter-layer dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yei-Hsiung Lin, Chih-Chun Huang, Chen-Bin Lin, Cheng-Hui Chung
  • Patent number: 6215127
    Abstract: In order to improve the quality of a semiconductor product, mapping of the critical dimension of predetermined features, such as ring oscillators, test transistors, turning forks WET transistors etc., is carried out at various stages of the manufacturing process. For example, a reticle can be mapped, the etch mask which is produced from the effect of the image on the resist layer, and the results of the etching can be respectively mapped. Using the data gleaned from these mappings it can be determined whether a new tool set including a stepper and/or a wafer track, should be adjusted to improve the quality of the end product. Thus, when a new tool set is introduced to a manufacturing process, it is possible to run the process and then work back via the collected critical dimension data to determined what changes in the settings of the tool set are appropriate to improve the resulting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren T. Yu
  • Patent number: 6214728
    Abstract: An encapsulated copper plug on a doped silicon semiconductor substrate has a substrate surface, covered with insulation, with a plug hole with a diffusion barrier formed on the walls and the bottom of the hole to the top of the hole. The plug hole is partially filled with an electrolessly deposited copper metal plug. An encapsulating metal deposit caps the plug without any intervening oxidation and degradation. In a transition from copper to a codeposit of copper, an encapsulating Pt, Pd, and/or Ag metal deposits in the electroless bath without oxidation and degradation followed by a pure deposit of the encapsulating metal layer to cap the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lap Chan, Sam Fong Yau Li, Hou Tee Ng
  • Patent number: 6204166
    Abstract: A method for forming Dual Damascene structures wherein a via is etched to an element to be contacted, a non-photoreactive protective layer is deposited in the via, and an intersecting trench is formed. The protective layer is then removed, together with any residual debris resulting from the trench formation. The protective layer enhances reliability of the electrical contact at the bottom of the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen McTeer
  • Patent number: 6194289
    Abstract: The present invention provides an SOI device and its isolation method capable of solving both Well-resistance and punch-through problems. To realize foregoing device, there is provided a semiconductor layer that a region in which a field oxide film having relatively wider width is formed later, is thicker than a region in which a field oxide film having relatively narrower width is formed later. Those field oxide films having different widths with an equal thickness are formed on the field regions of the semiconductor layer. Herein, the thickness of the semiconductor layer below the field oxide film having relatively wider width is thicker than the thickness of the semiconductor layer below the field oxide film having relatively narrower width owing to the fact that the semiconductor layer has various thicknesses according to the respective regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 6169000
    Abstract: A process for the production of a semiconductor substrate having a silicon-on-insulator structure comprising the steps of; (A) ion-implanting a semiconductor substrate to form a buried polishing-stop layer inside the semiconductor substrate, (B) patterning a portion of the semiconductor substrate above the buried polishing-stop layer to form a trench portion which reaches the buried polishing-stop layer, thereby forming a semiconductor layer on the buried polishing-stop layer, (C) forming an insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and the buried polishing-stop layer, (D) bonding the semiconductor substrate and a supporting substrate to each other through the insulating layer, (E) grinding and polishing the semiconductor substrate from its rear surface to expose the buried polishing-stop layer, and (F) removing the buried polishing-stop layer to expose the semiconductor layer, in which the semiconductor layer has a thickness of 2×10−8 m to 1×10−7 m and the buried polishing-stop laye
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 6168982
    Abstract: The manufacture of AMLCDs and similar large-area electronic devices includes forming thin-film circuit elements (11, 12, 13, 14) on a substrate (10), with some of the process steps being self-aligned by shadow-masking. An upstanding post (20) is provided at a first area (10a) of the substrate (10) to one side of a second area (10b) where there is to be formed a thin-film circuit element (11), for example a TFT. First and second parts of the circuit element (11), for example, the TFT channel (3′) and gate (5a′), are defined by respective first and second angled exposures with beams (61, 62) from the direction of the upstanding post (20) which acts as a shadow mask for part of the second area (10b). A plurality of the upstanding posts (20) may be at least partly retained in the manufactured device, for example, as supports on which a plate (30) is mounted so as to be spaced from the substrate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel D. Young
  • Patent number: 6162677
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device fabricating method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a high-density region in which transistors are arranged with a relatively high density, and a low-density region in which transistors are arranged in with a relatively low density, a silicon nitride film of a thickness great enough for the silicon nitride film to serve as a stopper is deposited over the entire surface of the silicon wafer, so that regions between the transfer gates in the high-density region may not be blocked up after removing side walls formed in the entire transistor region. A part of the silicon nitride film in the low-density region, namely, a peripheral circuit region, is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyakawa, Tsukasa Yajima, Shunji Takase
  • Patent number: 6153497
    Abstract: A method for determining a cause for defect formation in an insulating material layer deposited on an electrically conductive layer on a wafer surface is disclosed. In the method, on top of a semi-conducting wafer which has a first insulating material layer deposited, a second insulating material layer is deposited to replace an electrically conductive layer. A third insulating material layer is then deposited on top of the second insulating layer and a water jet which has a high pressure is scanned across a top surface of the third insulating layer with the wafer held in a stationary position. Surface defects are then counted in the predetermined path on the top surface of the third insulating layer for determining the cause for defect formation. When no defects are found, the formation is attributed to electrostatic discharges occurring in the metal conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Renn-Shyan Yeh, Der-Fang Huang, Chao-Hsin Chang, Chih-Chien Hung
  • Patent number: 6136702
    Abstract: The specification describes source/drain contact material that is compatible with organic semiconductors in thin film transistor integrated circuits. The contact material is nickel/gold wherein the nickel is plated as Ni--P on a base conductor, preferably TiN.sub.x, by electroless plating, and the gold overlay is deposited by displacement plating. It was found, unexpectedly, that forming Ni/Au contacts in this way extends the lifetime of TFT devices substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Arthur Chandross, Brian Keith Crone, Ananth Dodabalapur, Robert William Filas
  • Patent number: 6127089
    Abstract: A damascene structure and method of making the same in a low k dielectric material employs an imageable layer in which the damascene pattern is provided. The imageable layer is a convertible layer that upon exposure to the plasma etch that etches the low k dielectric material, converts the silicon-rich imageble layer into a mask layer containing silicon dioxide, for example. The low k dielectric material is protected from further etching by the mask thus created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramkumar Subramanian, Christopher F. Lyons, Uzodinma Okoroanyanwu
  • Patent number: 6080607
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a transistor having a low leakage current. In general, spacers must be formed to isolate a gate from a subsequently-formed drain, thereby reducing a leakage current. In the invention, the spacers are formed on the vertical sides of the gate by using a selective deposition process. Therefore, the method for manufacturing a transistor having a low leakage current according to the invention not only constitutes a simplified process, but also controls the widths of the spacers precisely, so that the leakage current of the transistor can be greatly decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Chun Yen Chang, Po-Sheng Shih, Ting-Chang Chang, Hsiao-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 6060344
    Abstract: In a method for producing a semiconductor substrate completed through a bonding process for joining a semiconductor wafer to a support substrate by performing heat treatment thereto in a state in which the semiconductor wafer is closely joined to the support substrate, the method according to the present invention includes the following steps, i.e., a depositing process for depositing a poly-crystal semiconductor which covers all areas of a surface to be bonded on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; a heat treatment process for performing the heat treatment to the semiconductor wafer provided after the depositing process, during a predetermined time under a temperature equal to or higher than the heat treatment temperature at the bonding process; and a polishing process for flattening the surface of the poly-crystal semiconductor provided after the heat treatment process. After the above processes were performed in order, the bonding process is performed after the polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Matsui, Masatake Nagaya, Hisayoshi Ohshima
  • Patent number: 6057228
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming an interconnection for a semiconductor device using copper. The method of the invention, including the steps of forming an insulating layer having a groove on a semiconductor substrate containing active elements; forming and depositing a copper thin film on the insulating layer including the groove; and reflowing the copper thin film, may reflow the copper thin film deposited on the semiconductor substrate having a high-step surface for less than 30 min. below 450.degree. C., which show improved annealing conditions as compared with the conventional art. In addition, by reducing consumption of thermal energy in accordance with a low-temperature process, copper is restrained from being rapidly diffused through a silicon substrate, electrodes, etc. when forming the interconnection for the semiconductor device, thus improving productivity of the semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Yun Lee, Yong-Sup Hwang, Chong-Ook Park, Dong-Won Kim, Sa-Kyun Rha, Jun-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 6033941
    Abstract: A thin film transistor which includes an oxide layer containing a trench; a semiconductor layer formed on the oxide layer, including the trench; a buffer layer formed on the semiconductor layer in the trench; a gate electrode aligned on the semiconductor layer on one side of the trench; and an impurity region formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent the gate electrode on one side of the trench, and an impurity region also formed in the semiconductor layer on the other side of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 5837569
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for producing a semiconductor device in which an active region made of a crystalline silicon film is formed on an insulating surface of a substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Makita, Yoshitaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5837568
    Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of thin film transistors (TFT) using poly-silicone and having an LDD structure. In particular, the LDD sections of the TFTs are formed in an improved method so as to achieve a high throughput and stable performance of the TFTs. To be specific, the LD region is doped at a low concentration in the ion implantation method which includes mass spectrometry because high controllability over a dose is required. On the other hand, the source and drain regions are doped at a higher concentration than the LD region in the ion showering method which does not include mass spectrometry. Using the ion showering method, poly-crystal silicon can be doped such that less doping damage is caused thereto. This makes it possible to apply a lower temperature for annealing, such as RTA, to activate doped impurities so as to prevent the substrate from being curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoneda, Yoshihiro Morimoto, Kiichi Hirano, Koji Suzuki, Masaru Takeuchi