Patents Examined by Michael S. Lebentritt
  • Patent number: 7947582
    Abstract: A method of preparing a floating trap type device on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming a trap layer structure on a substrate, and modifying a composition of one or more layers in the trap layer structure by exposing the trap layer structure to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Mitchell A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7943942
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a first doped semiconductor layer situated above the substrate, a second doped semiconductor layer situated above the first doped layer, and a multi-quantum-well (MQW) active layer situated between the first and the second doped layers. The device also includes a first electrode coupled to the first doped layer and a first passivation layer situated between the first electrode and the first doped layer in areas other than an ohmic-contact area. The first passivation layer substantially insulates the first electrode from edges of the first doped layer, thereby reducing surface recombination. The device further includes a second electrode coupled to the second doped layer and a second passivation layer which substantially covers the sidewalls of the first and second doped layers, the MQW active layer, and the horizontal surface of the second doped layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Lattice Power (JIANGXI) Corporation
    Inventors: Fengyi Jiang, Junlin Liu, Li Wang
  • Patent number: 7943417
    Abstract: Method for metallization of at least one photovoltaic cell comprising a substrate based on a semiconductor with a first type of conductivity, a layer doped with a second type of conductivity produced in the substrate and forming a front face of the substrate, an antireflection layer produced on the front face of the substrate and forming a front face of the photovoltaic cell. The method comprises at least the steps of: a) producing at least one metallization on the front face of the photovoltaic cell, b) a first annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 800° C. and 900° C., c) producing at least one metallization on the rear face of the substrate, d) a second annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 700° C. and 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Pierre Jean Ribeyron, Sébastien Dubois, Nicolas Enjalbert
  • Patent number: 7943917
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell and the fabrication method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory cell comprises a top electrode, a bottom electrode and an oxide layer disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The oxide layer comprises a relatively low oxygen content layer adjacent to the bottom electrode, a relatively high oxygen content layer adjacent to the top electrode, and a transition layer disposed between the relatively high and the relatively low oxygen content layers. The transition layer has an oxygen concentration within a range between those of the relatively high and the relatively low oxygen content layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-I Hsieh, Chang-Rong Wu
  • Patent number: 7943478
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, a surface of a substrate structure including a semiconductor layer is covered with a first film including first and second openings. The first opening is configured as an alignment mark. The second opening is configured as an opening for introducing an impurity into a first predetermined position of the semiconductor layer. In this method, a third opening is formed in the first film, using a photo mask aligned with the first opening used as an alignment mark. The third opening is configured as an opening for introducing an impurity into a second predetermined position of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Haruhiko Koyama, Mitsuhiro Noguchi, Minori Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 7943518
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip comprising a capacitor capable of effectively controlling the voltage drop of an LSI is provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided with an element electrode having at least its surface constituted of an aluminum electrode. The surface of the aluminum electrode is roughened. An oxide film is provided on the aluminum electrode. A conductive film is provided on the oxide film. The aluminum electrode, oxide film and conductive film form a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hirano, Tetsuyoshi Ogura, Seiichi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7939442
    Abstract: Strontium ruthenium oxide provides an effective interface between a ruthenium conductor and a strontium titanium oxide dielectric. Formation of the strontium ruthenium oxide includes the use of atomic layer deposition to form strontium oxide and subsequent annealing of the strontium oxide to form the strontium ruthenium oxide. A first atomic layer deposition of strontium oxide is preformed using water as an oxygen source, followed by a subsequent atomic layer deposition of strontium oxide using ozone as an oxygen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, Vassil Antonov, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 7939386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image sensor applied with a device isolation technique for reducing dark signals and a fabrication method thereof. The image sensor includes: a logic unit; and a light collection unit in which a plurality of photodiodes is formed, wherein the photodiodes are isolated from each other by a field ion-implantation region formed under a surface of a substrate and an insulation layer formed on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Crosstek Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Jae-Young Rim, Ho-Soon Ko
  • Patent number: 7939358
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an image sensor includes a semiconductor layer and isolation regions disposed in the semiconductor layer. The isolation regions define active regions of the semiconductor layer. The image sensor further includes photoelectric converters disposed in the semiconductor layer and at least one wiring layer disposed over a top surface of the semiconductor layer. The image sensor also includes color filters disposed below a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer and lenses disposed below the color filters. Each lens is arranged to concentrate incoming light into an area spanned by a corresponding photoelectric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 7939918
    Abstract: This invention discloses a crystalline substrate based device including a crystalline substrate having formed thereon a microstructure; and at least one packaging layer which is sealed over the microstructure by means of an adhesive and defines therewith at least one gap between the crystalline substrate and the at least one packaging layer. A method of producing a crystalline substrate based device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Tessera Technologies Ireland Limited
    Inventor: Avner Pierre Badehi
  • Patent number: 7935606
    Abstract: A method in which an oxide layer is formed on material defining and surrounding an emitter window. The technique comprises depositing a non-conformal oxide layer on the surrounding material and in the emitter window, whereby the thickness of at least a portion of the oxide layer in the emitter window is smaller than the thickness of the oxide layer on the surrounding material outside the emitter window; and removing at least a portion of the oxide layer in the emitter window so as to reveal at least a portion of the bottom of the emitter window whilst permitting at least a portion of the oxide layer to remain on the surrounding material. The technique can be used in the manufacture of a self-aligned epitaxial base BJT (bipolar junction transistor) or SiGe HBT (hetero junction bipolar transistor).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: X-Fab Semiconductor Foundries AG
    Inventor: Jun Fu
  • Patent number: 7935562
    Abstract: Method for annealing at least one photovoltaic cell comprising a substrate based on silicon with a first type of conductivity, a layer doped with a second type of conductivity produced in the substrate and forming a front face of the substrate, an antireflection layer produced on the front face of the substrate and forming a front face of the photovoltaic cell, at least one metallization on the front face of the cell and at least on metallization on a rear face of the substrate. This method comprises at least the steps of: a) a first annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 700° C. and 900° C., b) a second annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 200° C. and 500° C., at ambient pressure and in ambient air, with hydrogen being diffused in the substrate during the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Nicolas Enjalbert, Sébastein Dubois
  • Patent number: 7935998
    Abstract: A structure and method of forming a body contact for a semiconductor-on-insulator trench device. The method including: forming set of mandrels on a top surface of a substrate, each mandrel of the set of mandrels arranged on a different corner of a polygon and extending above the top surface of the substrate, a number of mandrels in the set of mandrels equal to a number of corners of the polygon; forming sidewall spacers on sidewalls of each mandrel of the set of mandrels, sidewalls spacers of each adjacent pair of mandrels merging with each other and forming a unbroken wall defining an opening in an interior region of the polygon, a region of the substrate exposed in the opening; etching a contact trench in the substrate in the opening; and filling the contact trench with an electrically conductive material to form the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni
  • Patent number: 7935551
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor image may include forming a pixel array including a photodiode structure and an insulating film structure in an active area of a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal pad on the insulating film structure; forming a dielectric and/or etch stop film on the metal pad (and optionally over the pixel array); forming a protective layer on the dielectric and/or etch stop film; and forming a pad opening and a pixel opening by etching the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Sik Im, Woo Seok Hyun
  • Patent number: 7936030
    Abstract: Provided are a multi-purpose magnetic film structure using a spin charge, a method of manufacturing the same, a semiconductor device having the same, and a method of operating the semiconductor memory device. The multi-purpose magnetic film structure includes a lower magnetic film, a tunneling film formed on the lower magnetic film, and an upper magnetic film formed on the tunneling film, wherein the lower and upper magnetic films are ferromagnetic films forming an electrochemical potential difference therebetween when the lower and upper magnetic films have opposite magnetization directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-wan Kim, Wan-jun Park, Sang-jin Park, In-jun Hwang, Soon-ju Kwon, Young-keun Kim, Richard J. Gambino
  • Patent number: 7932172
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip comprises a first MOS device, a second MOS device, a first metallization structure connected to said first MOS device, a second metallization structure connected to said second MOS device, a passivation layer over said first and second MOS devices and over said first and second metallization structures, and a third metallization structure connecting said first and second metallization structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Megica Corporation
    Inventors: Mou-Shiung Lin, Chien-Kang Chou, Hsin-Jung Lo
  • Patent number: 7932143
    Abstract: Methods for protecting gate stacks during fabrication of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated from such methods are provided. Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. Epitaxial layer is formed on the active region to define a lateral overhang portion in a divot at the active region/STI region interface. A gate stack is formed having a first gate stack-forming layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. First gate stack-forming layer includes a non-conformal layer of metal gate-forming material which is directionally deposited to form a thinned break portion just below the lateral overhang portion. After the step of forming the gate stack, a first portion of the non-conformal layer is in the gate stack and a second portion is exposed. The thinned break portion at least partially isolates the first and second portions during subsequent etch chemistries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Pal, Michael Hargrove, Frank Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 7932168
    Abstract: A method of a fabricating a bitline in a semiconductor device, comprising: forming an interlayer insulation layer that defines a bitline contact hole on a semiconductor substrate; forming a contact layer to fill the bitline contact hole; forming a bitline contact by planarizing the contact layer; forming a bitline stack aligned with the bitline contact; forming a high aspect ratio process (HARP) layer that extends along the bitline stack and the interlayer insulation layer while covering a seam exposed in a side portion of the bitline stack by excessive planarization during formation of the bitline contact; and forming an interlayer gap-filling insulation layer on the HARP layer that gap-fills the entire bitline stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Byung Soo Eun
  • Patent number: 7927952
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices comprises forming an semiconductor layer of the first conduction type on a substrate of the first conduction type; forming an anti-oxidizing layer on the surface of the semiconductor layer of the first conduction type, the anti-oxidizing layer having an aperture only through a region for use in formation of a guard ring layer of the second conduction type; forming the guard ring layer of the second conduction type in the surface of the semiconductor layer of the first conduction type through implantation of ions into a surface where said anti-oxidizing layer is formed; forming an oxide layer at least in the aperture; forming a base layer of the second conduction type adjacent to the guard ring layer of the second conduction type in the surface of the semiconductor layer of the first conduction type; and forming a diffused layer of the first conduction type through implantation of ions into the base layer of the second conduction type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Miwako Akiyama, Yusuke Kawaguchi, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7927897
    Abstract: A photoresist composition includes a binder resin, a photo acid generator, an acryl resin having four different types of monomers, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., AZ Electronic Materials (Japan) K.K.
    Inventors: Hi-Kuk Lee, Sang-Hyun Yun, Min-Soo Lee, Deok-Man Kang, Sae-Tae Oh, Jae-Young Choi