Patents Examined by Mark Prenty
  • Patent number: 9698259
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a well region. The semiconductor device includes a source region in the well region. The semiconductor device includes a drain region. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode that is between the source and drain regions, when viewed in a plan view. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes first and second patterns, in the source region, that are spaced apart from each other when viewed in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JaeHyun Jung
  • Patent number: 9691839
    Abstract: Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors with insulator stacks having a plurality of metal oxide layers are described. For example, a MIM capacitor for a semiconductor device includes a trench disposed in a dielectric layer disposed above a substrate. A first metal plate is disposed along the bottom and sidewalls of the trench. An insulator stack is disposed above and conformal with the first metal plate. The insulator stack includes a first metal oxide layer having a first dielectric constant and a second metal oxide layer having a second dielectric constant. The first dielectric constant is higher than the second dielectric constant. The MIM capacitor also includes a second metal plate disposed above and conformal with the insulator stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Lindert, Timothy E. Glassman, Andre Baran
  • Patent number: 9680120
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-emitting element which uses a plurality of kinds of light-emitting dopants and has high emission efficiency. In one embodiment of the present invention, a light-emitting device, a light-emitting module, a light-emitting display device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption by using the above light-emitting element are provided. Attention is paid to Förster mechanism, which is one of mechanisms of intermolecular energy transfer. Efficient energy transfer by Förster mechanism is achieved by making an emission wavelength of a molecule which donates energy overlap with the longest-wavelength-side local maximum peak of a graph obtained by multiplying an absorption spectrum of a molecule which receives energy by a wavelength raised to the fourth power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Shunpei Yamazaki, Takahiro Ishisone
  • Patent number: 9680027
    Abstract: A nickelide material with reduced resistivity is provided as source/drain contact surfaces in both NMOS and PMOS technology. The nickelide material layer may be a ternary material such as NiInAs, and may be formed from a binary material previously formed in the source/drain regions. The binary material may be the channel material or it may be an epitaxial layer formed over the channel material. The same ternary nickelide material may be used as the source/drain contact surface in both NMOS and PMOS transistors. Various binary or ternary channel materials may be used for the NMOS transistors and for the PMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Kenneth Oxland, Mark van Dal
  • Patent number: 9673103
    Abstract: First and second transistors with different electrical characteristics are supported by a substrate having a first-type dopant. The first transistor includes a well region within the substrate having the first-type dopant, a first body region within the well region having a second-type dopant and a first source region within the first body region and laterally offset from the well region by a first channel. The second transistor includes a second body region within the semiconductor substrate layer having the second-type dopant and a second source region within the second body region and laterally offset from material of the substrate by a second channel having a length greater than the length of the first channel. A gate region extends over portions of the first and second body regions for the first and second channels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Pritiskutch, Richard Hildenbrandt
  • Patent number: 9673246
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with improved bonding ability is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; forming one or more sensor elements on the front surface of the substrate; forming one or more metallization layers over the front surface of the substrate, wherein forming a first metallization layer comprises forming a first conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; removing the first conductive layer from a first region of the substrate; forming a second conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; and removing portions of the second conductive layer from the first region and a second region of the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer in the first region comprises the second conductive layer and the first metallization layer in the second region comprises the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Chuang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Wen-De Wang, Jhy-Ming Hung, Pao-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 9666493
    Abstract: A FinFET comprises a hybrid substrate having a top wafer of (100) silicon, a handle wafer of (110) silicon, and a buried oxide layer between the top wafer and the handle wafer; a first set of fins disposed in the top wafer and oriented in a <110> direction of the (100) silicon; and a second set of fins disposed in the handle wafer and oriented in a <112> direction of the (110) silicon. The first set of fins and the second set of fins are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Shogo Mochizuki, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9660133
    Abstract: Heterostructures for use in optoelectronic devices are described. One or more parameters of the heterostructure can be configured to improve the reliability of the corresponding optoelectronic device. The materials used to create the active structure of the device can be considered in configuring various parameters the n-type and/or p-type sides of the heterostructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Jain, Maxim S. Shatalov, Jinwei Yang, Alexander Dobrinsky, Michael Shur, Remigijus Gaska
  • Patent number: 9659935
    Abstract: A method for forming MOS transistor includes providing a substrate including a semiconductor surface having a gate electrode on a gate dielectric thereon, dielectric spacers on sidewalls of the gate electrode, a source and drain in the semiconductor surface on opposing sides of the gate electrode, and a pre-metal dielectric (PMD) layer over the gate electrode and over the source and drain regions. Contact holes are formed through the PMD layer to form a contact to the gate electrode and contacts to the source and drain. A post contact etch dielectric layer is then deposited on the contacts to source and drain and on sidewalls of the PMD layer. The post contact etch dielectric layer is selectively removed from the contacts to leave a dielectric liner on sidewalls of the PMD layer. A metal silicide layer is formed on the contacts to the source and drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Tom Lii
  • Patent number: 9653359
    Abstract: Techniques for STI in fin device structures formed on bulk substrates are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a fin device in a bulk substrate includes the steps of: forming fins and trenches in between the fins in the bulk substrate; and annealing the bulk substrate in an oxygen ambient under conditions sufficient to form a thermal oxide on sidewalls of the fins and which completely fills the trenches, wherein the thermal oxide forms a STI region between each of the fins. A method of forming a fin device in a bulk substrate is also provided where a deposited STI oxide is used in combination with a thermal oxide. A fin device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Xin Miao
  • Patent number: 9647016
    Abstract: Provided is a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. The CMOS image sensor can include a substrate having a first device isolation layer defining and dividing a first active region and a second active region, a photodiode disposed in the substrate and can be configured to vertically overlap the first device isolation layer, a transfer gate electrode can be disposed in the first active region and can be configured to vertically overlap the photodiode, and a floating diffusion region can be in the first active region. The transfer gate electrode can be buried in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Sun Oh, Kyung-Ho Lee, Jung-Chak Ahn, Hee-Geun Jeong
  • Patent number: 9640586
    Abstract: A semiconductor diode includes a first semiconductor pattern including a first impurity, a first diffusion barrier pattern on the first semiconductor pattern, an intrinsic semiconductor pattern on the first diffusion barrier pattern, a second diffusion barrier pattern on the intrinsic semiconductor pattern, and a second semiconductor pattern including a second impurity on the second diffusion barrier pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Jun Seong, Youn-Seon Kang
  • Patent number: 9634182
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures include an active region between a plurality of layers of InGaN. The active region may be at least substantially comprised by InGaN. The plurality of layers of InGaN include at least one well layer comprising InwGa1-wN, and at least one barrier layer comprising InbGa1-bN proximate the at least one well layer. In some embodiments, the value of w in the InwGa1-wN of the well layer may be greater than or equal to about 0.10 and less than or equal to about 0.40 in some embodiments, and the value of b in the InbGa1-bN of the at least one barrier layer may be greater than or equal to about 0.01 and less than or equal to about 0.10. Methods of forming semiconductor structures include growing such layers of InGaN to form an active region of a light emitting device, such as an LED. Luminary devices include such LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Debray, Chantal Arena, Heather McFavilen, Ding Ding, Li Huang
  • Patent number: 9627439
    Abstract: A ZnO based display pixel structure that includes system-on-glass (SOG) substrates with embedded non-volatile resistive random access memory iNV-RRAM) is provided. Such pixels feature high frame rates and low power consumption. The entire SOG is based on ZnO devices. Different devices including TFT, TCO, RRAM, inverters, and shift registers are obtained through doping of different elements into selected ZnO active regions. This reduces the cost to package control circuitry onto a backplane of a display system, resulting in a low cost, light weight and uUra-thin display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Yicheng Lu, Chieh-Jen Ku
  • Patent number: 9627262
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication including forming a mandrel on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method continues to include oxidizing a region the mandrel to form an oxidized region, wherein the oxidized region abuts a sidewall of the mandrel. The mandrel is then removed from the semiconductor substrate. After removing the mandrel, the oxidized region is used to pattern an underlying layer formed on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chao Chiu, Chen-Yu Chen, Chih-Ming Lai, Ming-Feng Shieh, Nian-Fuh Cheng, Ru-Gun Liu, Wen-Chun Huang
  • Patent number: 9608145
    Abstract: The present invention provides materials, structures, and methods for III-nitride-based devices, including epitaxial and non-epitaxial structures useful for III-nitride devices including light emitting devices, laser diodes, transistors, detectors, sensors, and the like. In some embodiments, the present invention provides metallo-semiconductor and/or metallo-dielectric devices, structures, materials and methods of forming metallo-semiconductor and/or metallo-dielectric material structures for use in semiconductor devices, and more particularly for use in III-nitride based semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the present invention includes materials, structures, and methods for improving the crystal quality of epitaxial materials grown on non-native substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Robbie J. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 9607881
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure conductive lines disposed in a base layer and separated by a first region. Pillars are each disposed over a respective one of the conductive lines. A dielectric fill layer is disposed over the pillars and extending between the pillars into the first region, and a void is disposed in the dielectric fill layer in the first region between the conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Wei Liu, Yu-Chieh Liao, Tien-Lu Lin
  • Patent number: 9601533
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising preparing a semiconductor substrate including a photoelectric conversion portion and a structure which includes an insulating member formed on the photoelectric conversion portion and a wiring pattern formed in the insulating member, forming a film made of SiC and/or SiCN on the structure, forming an opening immediately above the photoelectric conversion portion by removing part of the film and part of the insulating member, and depositing a member in the opening and on the film, and forming a light-guide portion by polishing the member so as to expose the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Tsukagoshi, Shunsuke Nakatsuka, Takayasu Kanesada
  • Patent number: 9601137
    Abstract: A method of forming a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor with a composite tunnel barrier comprised primarily of magnesium oxynitride and having a MR ratio of at least 70%, resistance x area (RA) product <1 ohm-?m2, and fewer pinholes than a conventional MgO layer is disclosed. The method involves forming a Mg/MgON/Mg, Mg/MgON/MgN, MgN/MgON/MgN, or MgN/MgON/Mg intermediate tunnel barrier stack and then annealing to drive loosely bound oxygen into adjacent layers thereby forming MgO/MgON/Mg, MgO/MgON/MgON, MgON/MgON/MgON, and MgON/MgON/MgO composite tunnel barriers, respectively, wherein oxygen content in the middle MgON layer is greater than in upper and lower MgON layers. The MgON layer in the intermediate tunnel barrier may be formed by a sputtering process followed by a natural oxidation step and has a thickness greater than the Mg and MgN layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunliang Zhang, Hui-Chuan Wang, Junjie Quan, Min Li
  • Patent number: 9601667
    Abstract: A light-emitting device is provided. The light-emitting device comprises: a light-emitting stack having an active layer; an electrode structure on the light-emitting stack and comprising a first electrode and an extension electrode protruding from the first electrode toward an edge of the light-emitting device in a first extending direction; a transparent insulating layer between the light-emitting stack and the electrode structure, wherein the transparent insulating layer comprises a first part and an extension part protruding from the first part toward the edge of the light-emitting device in a second extending direction; wherein a surface area of a surface of the first electrode distal from the transparent insulating layer is smaller than a surface area of a surface of the transparent insulating layer distal from the light-emitting stack, the first electrode is right above the first part, and a part of the extension electrode is right above the extension part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EPISTAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Luh Liao, Hung-Ta Cheng, Yao-Ru Chang, Shih-I Chen, Chia-Liang Hsu