Patents Examined by Mohammad Choudhry
  • Patent number: 9876167
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell having a good yield, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a bottom electrode over a lower metal interconnect layer, and forming a variable resistance dielectric data storage layer having a first thickness onto the bottom electrode. A capping layer is formed onto the dielectric data storage layer. The capping layer has a second thickness that is in a range of between approximately 2 to approximately 3 times thicker than the first thickness. A top electrode is formed over the capping layer, and an upper metal interconnect layer is formed over the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Trinh Hai Dang, Hsing-Lien Lin, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chin-Chieh Yang, Yu-Wen Liao, Wen-Ting Chu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 9865579
    Abstract: In a display device connected with an IC driver, particularly the reliability of connection between an IC terminal located on the outermost side and the IC driver is improved. IC terminals and flexible wiring board terminals are formed on a terminal region of a TFT substrate. A plurality of the IC terminals are formed at a predetermined pitch. The reliability of an outermost IC terminal is degraded as compared with the reliability of the other IC terminals caused by the loading effect in etching a protection insulating film. In order to prevent this degradation, a dummy terminal is formed on the outer side of the outermost IC terminal, and the loading effect on the outermost IC terminal is made equal to the loading effect on the other IC terminals. Accordingly, degradation in the reliability of the outermost IC terminal is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventor: Takahiro Nagami
  • Patent number: 9865681
    Abstract: Multi-threshold voltage (Vt) nanowire devices are fabricated using a self-aligned methodology where gate cavities having a predetermined geometry are formed proximate to channel regions of respective devices. The gate cavities are then backfilled with a gate conductor. By locally defining the cavity geometry, the thickness of the gate conductor is constrained and hence the threshold voltage for each device can be defined using a single deposition process for the gate conductor layer. The self-aligned nature of the method obviates the need to control gate conductor layer thicknesses using deposition and/or etch processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Xusheng Wu, John Zhang, Jiehui Shu
  • Patent number: 9859385
    Abstract: A method of processing a semiconductor device is presented. The method includes providing a semiconductor body; forming a trench within the semiconductor body, the trench having a stripe configuration and extending laterally within an active region of the semiconductor body that is surrounded by a non-active region of the semiconductor body; forming, within the trench, a first electrode and a first insulator insulating the first electrode from the semiconductor body; carrying out a first etching step for partially removing the first electrode along the total lateral extension of the first electrode such that the remaining part of the first electrode has a planar surface, thereby creating a well in the trench that is laterally confined by the first insulator; depositing a second insulator on top the planar surface; and forming a second electrode within the well of the trench. The second insulator insulates the second electrode from the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Heimo Hofer, Martin Poelzl, Maximilian Roesch, Britta Wutte
  • Patent number: 9859123
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate having a conductive region is provided. A metal layer is deposited on the conductive region. The metal layer reacts with the conductive region to form a first metal silicide layer. A TiN layer is deposited on the metal layer. A SiN layer is deposited on the TiN layer. An annealing process is performed to convert the first metal silicide layer into a second metal silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Wu, Pin-Hong Chen, Kai-Jiun Chang, Yi-An Huang, Chih-Chieh Tsai, Tzu-Chieh Chen, Tsun-Min Cheng, Yi-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9853044
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor includes a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and a plurality of gate electrodes alternately stacked in a first direction on a substrate. The plurality of interlayer insulating layers and the plurality of gate electrodes constitute a side surface extended in the first direction. A gate dielectric layer is disposed on the side surface. A channel pattern is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes a protective pattern, a charge trap layer, and a tunneling layer. The protective pattern includes a portion disposed on a corresponding gate electrode of the plurality of gate electrodes. The charge trap layer is disposed on the protective pattern. The tunneling layer is disposed between the charge trap layer and the channel pattern. The protective pattern is denser than the charge trap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-Hoon Choi, Dong-Kyum Kim, Jin-Gyun Kim, Su-Jin Shin, Sang-Hoon Lee, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 9853212
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems associated with oxide based memory can include a method of forming a resistive switching region of a memory cell. Forming a resistive switching region of a memory cell can include forming a metal oxide material on an electrode and forming a metal material on the metal oxide material, wherein the metal material formation causes a reaction that results in a graded metal oxide portion of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 9847252
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: depositing an etch stop layer atop a first dielectric layer; forming a feature in the etch stop layer and the first dielectric layer; depositing a first metal layer to fill the feature; etching the first metal layer to form a recess; depositing a second dielectric layer to fill the recess wherein the second dielectric layer is a low-k material suitable as a metal and oxygen diffusion barrier; forming a patterned mask layer atop the substrate to expose a portion of the second dielectric layer and the etch stop layer; etching the exposed portion of the second dielectric layer to a top surface of the first metal layer to form a via in the second dielectric layer; and depositing a second metal layer atop the substrate, wherein the second metal layer is connected to the first metal layer by the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bencherki Mebarki, Srinivas D. Nemani, Mehul Naik
  • Patent number: 9847280
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor chip having a back surface made of a Cu layer. The semiconductor chip is bonded to a die pad having a front surface made of Cu via a bonding material containing a dissimilar metal not containing Cu and Pb and a Bi-based material so that the Cu layer and the bonding material come into contact with each other. After the bonding, the die pad is then heat-treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motoharu Haga
  • Patent number: 9837535
    Abstract: A method for forming a fin device includes forming semiconductor fins over a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is directionally deposited into or on the first dielectric layer and on tops of the fins on horizontal surfaces. The second dielectric layer is configured to protect the first dielectric layer in subsequent processing. Sidewalls of the fins are precleaned while the first dielectric layer is protected by the second dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is removed to expose the first dielectric layer in a protected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hong He, Juntao Li, Junli Wang, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9818603
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, the substrate includes a first fin, a second fin, and an isolation region disposed between the first fin and the second fin. The second fin includes a different material than a material of the substrate. The method includes forming an oxide over the first fin, the second fin, and a top surface of the isolation region at a temperature of about 400 degrees C. or less, and post-treating the oxide at a temperature of about 600 degrees C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chi Lin, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Neng-Kuo Chen, Sey-Ping Sun
  • Patent number: 9818963
    Abstract: The invention discloses an organic electric memory device based on phosphonic acid or trichlorosilane-modified ITO glass substrate and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps of 1) cleaning the ITO glass substrate; 2) forming a phosphonic acid or trichlorosilane modified layer; 3) forming an organic coating film layer; and 4) forming an electrode, and finally obtaining the organic electric memory device. By adoption of the method, a series of sandwich-type organic electric memory devices are prepared; meanwhile, the preparation method is simple, convenient, fast, and easy to operate; compared with the conventional device, the turn-on voltage of the organic electric memory device is lowered, the yield of the multi-level system is improved, and the problem of relatively low ternary productivity at present is solved; and therefore, the organic electric memory device has extremely high application value in the future memory fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Soochow University
    Inventors: Jianmei Lu, Jinghui He
  • Patent number: 9812356
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes generating a layout including a first conductive pattern region and a second conductive pattern region. A first interlayer insulating film is formed on a substrate, the first interlayer insulating film including a first region corresponding to the first conductive pattern region, a second region corresponding to the second conductive pattern region, and a third region spaced apart from the first and second regions and disposed between the first and second regions. First, second and third lower metal wirings are formed to respectively fill the first, second and third recesses of the first interlayer insulating film. A second interlayer insulating film is formed on the first interlayer insulating film. A first dummy via hole is formed in the second interlayer insulating film to expose the third lower metal wiring. The third lower metal wiring is electrically isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Wook Hwang, Jong Hyun Lee, Jae Seok Yang, In Wook Oh, Hyun Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 9806124
    Abstract: When forming a hollow portion between each color filter, in order to realize the formation of the hollow portions with a narrower width, a plurality of light receiving portions are formed on the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters corresponding to each of the light receiving portions are formed above the semiconductor substrate, a photoresist is formed on each color filter, side walls are formed on the side surfaces of the photoresist, and a hollow portion is formed between each color filter by performing etching using at least the side walls as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyouhei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9806042
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die having first and second conductive pads, and a substrate having third and fourth bonding pads. A width ratio of the first conductive pad over the third bonding pad at an inner region is different from a width ratio of the second conductive pad over the fourth bonding pad at an outer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsien-Wei Chen, Ying-Ju Chen, Tsung-Yuan Yu, Yu-Feng Chen, Tsung-Ding Wang
  • Patent number: 9799661
    Abstract: Static random access memory (SRAM) bitcell structures with improved minimum operation voltage (Vmin) and yield are provided. The structures may include a silicon substrate, a deep n-well (DNW) layer, p-well (PW) regions, doped back-plate (BP) regions, a buried oxide (BOX) layer, and/or active regions formed on the BOX layer and over portions of the BP regions. At least one BP region may extend below at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) region, at least one contact to back plate (CBP), at least one active region and at least one PC construct overlapping the at least one active region forming a channel of at least one of a first pull-down (PD1) transistor and a second pull-down (PD2) transistor. The at least one CBP facilitates biasing at least one of the PD1 and PD2 transistors during at least one of a read, write or standby operation of the structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Manfred Eller, Min-hwa Chi
  • Patent number: 9799577
    Abstract: A heat treatment system includes a heat treatment condition storing unit that stores a heat treatment condition with respect to a doping processing and a diffusion processing; a model storing unit that stores a model representing a relationship between a change of the heat treatment condition and a change of an impurity concentration in an impurity-doped thin film; a heat treatment unit that forms the impurity-doped thin film under the heat treatment condition; a calculating unit that calculates a heat treatment condition of the doping processing and the diffusion processing that causes the impurity concentration in the impurity-doped film to be included within the predetermined range, based on the impurity concentration in the impurity-doped thin film and the model; and an adjusting unit that adjusts the impurity concentration in the impurity-doped thin film to be included within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Takenaga, Daisuke Suzuki, Katsuhiko Komori
  • Patent number: 9799801
    Abstract: A method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip comprises the following steps: providing a substrate, depositing a sacrificial layer, depositing a functional semiconductor layer sequence, laterally patterning the functional semiconductor layer sequence, and oxidizing the sacrificial layer in a wet thermal oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Schmid, Julia Grosser, Richard Floeter, Markus Broell
  • Patent number: 9793314
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an imaging apparatus including a photoelectric conversion unit; and a junction type field effect transistor configured to output a signal based on a carrier generated by the photoelectric conversion unit. The junction type field effect transistor includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type that forms a channel and a gate region of a second conductivity type. The semiconductor region of the first conductivity type includes a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region are disposed in this order toward a direction to which a carrier in the channel drifts. An impurity density of the second region is lower than an impurity density of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9780198
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a method for manufacturing a high-performance and low-power field effect transistor (FET) element of which surface roughness scattering is minimized or removed, comprising: a first step of etching a strained silicon substrate into a pin structure; a second step of stacking undoped SiGe thereon; a third step of etching the undoped SiGe; a fourth step of etching after performing lithography; a fifth step of stacking doped SiGe thereon; a sixth step of etching the doped SiGe after performing lithography; and a step of forming a transistor element by sequentially stacking an oxide and a gate metal on the doped SiGe and there is an effect of enabling the implementation of a Fin HEMT capable of having all of good channel controllability and a high on-current, which are advantages of a FinFET, and high electron mobility, which is an advantage of an HEMT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: UNIST (ULSAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
    Inventors: Kyung Rok Kim, Sung Ho Kim, Jong Yul Park