Patents Examined by Ngân V. Ngô
  • Patent number: 7291540
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a hermetically packaged and implantable integrated circuit for electronics that is made my producing streets in silicon-on-insulator chips that are subsequently coated with a selected electrically insulating thin film prior to completing the dicing process to yield an individual chip. A thin-layered circuit may transmit light, allowing a photodetector to respond to transmitted light to stimulate a retina, for example. Discrete electronic components may be placed in the three-dimensional street area of the integrated circuit package, yielding a completely integrated hermetic package that is implantable in living tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian V. Mech, Robert J. Greenberg, Gregory J. DelMain
  • Patent number: 7288476
    Abstract: The controlled etch into a substrate or thick homogeneous film is accomplished by introducing a sacrificial film to gauge the depth to which the substrate/thick film has been etched. Optical endpointing the etch of the sacrificial film on the etch stop layer allows another element of process control over the depth of the primary trench or via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronnie P. Varghese
  • Patent number: 7285429
    Abstract: In a package mounting structure for mounting a package on a case, wherein the package internally incorporates at least one of a high-frequency transistor, MIC and MMIC used in the microwave to millimeter-wave band, and a base thereof is formed of metal and serves as ground, an electrically conductive sheet having excellent thermal conductivity and exhibiting restorability and having a size identical with that of the base of the package is laid on the case at a package-bearing location, the package and sheet are fastened together by two or more screws, and the sheet is mounted on the case while it is pressed by a pressing force of 10 N/cm2 or greater owing to fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masafumi Shigaki, Isao Nakazawa, Kazunori Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7285453
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a triple well structure, which includes a substrate of a first conductive type, a deep buried well of a second conductive type, a well of a first conductive type, a well ring of a second conductive type, and a well ring of a first conductive type. The deep buried well of the second conductive type is in the substrate. The well of the first conductive type is disposed over the deep buried well of the second conductive type in the substrate. The well ring of the second conductive type surrounds the well of the first conductive type. The well ring of the first conductive type is between the well of the first conductive type and the well ring of the second conductive type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jih-Wei Liou
  • Patent number: 7285808
    Abstract: A plurality of optical sensors (4) are arranged in a surface region of a semiconductor substrate (6) in a matrix pattern, and electric charge generated by the optical sensors (4) is transferred by first and second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) embedded under the optical sensors (4). The semiconductor substrate (6) is constructed by laminating a support substrate (16) composed of silicon, a buffer layer (18), and a thin silicon layer (20) composed of single-crystal silicon. p? regions (26) (overflow barrier) and n-type regions (28) which function as transfer paths are formed under the optical sensors (4). The first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) are disposed between the buffer layer (18) and the n-type regions (28), and an insulating film (30) is interposed between the n-type regions (28) and the first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14). In this structure, the light-receiving area is large since the transfer electrodes are not disposed in the front region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kasuga
  • Patent number: 7285438
    Abstract: A plurality of optical sensors (4) are arranged in a surface region of a semiconductor substrate (6) in a matrix pattern, and electric charge generated by the optical sensors (4) is transferred by first and second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) embedded under the optical sensors (4). The semiconductor substrate (6) is constructed by laminating a support substrate (16) composed of silicon, a buffer layer (18), and a thin silicon layer (20) composed of single-crystal silicon. p? regions (26) (overflow barrier) and n-type regions (28) which function as transfer paths are formed under the optical sensors (4). The first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) are disposed between the buffer layer (18) and the n-type regions (28), and an insulating film (30) is interposed between the n-type regions (28) and the first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14). In this structure, the light-receiving area is large since the transfer electrodes are not disposed in the front region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kasuga
  • Patent number: 7282461
    Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-shifting mask having a pattern comprising a plurality of substantially transparent regions and a plurality of substantially opaque regions wherein the mask pattern phase-shifts at least a portion of incident radiation and wherein the phases are substantially equally spaced, thereby increasing resolution of a given lithographic system. Further disclosed is a semiconductor device fabricated utilizing the phase-shifting mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Feng Jin
  • Patent number: 7279752
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic device having high reliability and high color reproducibility. A pixel structure is made such that a switching FET (201) and an electric current controlling FET (202) are formed on a single crystal semiconductor substrate (11), and an EL element (203) is electrically connected to the electric current controlling FET (202). The fluctuation in characteristics of the electric current controlling FET (202) is very low among pixels, and an image with high color reproducibility can be obtained. By taking hot carrier measures in the electric current controlling FET (202), the electronic device having high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toshimitsu Konuma, Jun Koyama, Kazutaka Inukai, Mayumi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 7274035
    Abstract: A composition for the formation of an electric field programmable film, the composition comprising a matrix precursor composition or a dielectric matrix material, wherein the dielectric matrix material comprises an organic polymer and/or a inorganic oxide; and an electron donor and an electron acceptor of a type and in an amount effective to provide electric field programming. The films are of utility in data storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yang Yang, Jianyong Ouyang, Charles R. Szmanda
  • Patent number: 7274036
    Abstract: A TFT including a gate metallic layer, a body layer doped with a dopant having a first polarity, a source layer and a drain layer doped with a dopant having a second polarity, a semiconductor layer formed between the source layer and the drain layer, and a contact coupling the gate metallic layer and the body layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung-Deog Choi, Won-Sik Kim, Myeong-Seob So
  • Patent number: 7271454
    Abstract: A contact connected to a word line is formed on a gate electrode of an access transistor of an SRAM cell. The contact passes through an element isolation insulating film to reach an SOI layer. A body region of a driver transistor and that of the access transistor are electrically connected with each other through the SOI layer located under the element isolation insulating film. Therefore, the access transistor is in a DTMOS structure having the gate electrode connected with the body region through the contact, which in turn is also electrically connected to the body region of the driver transistor. Thus, operations can be stabilized while suppressing increase of an area for forming the SRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hirano, Takashi Ipposhi, Shigeto Maegawa, Koji Nii
  • Patent number: 7271451
    Abstract: A memory structure that reduces soft-errors for us in CMOS devices is provided. The memory cell layout utilizes transistors oriented such that the source-to-drain axis is parallel a shorted side of the memory cell. The dimensions of the memory cell are such that it has a longer side and a shorter side, wherein the longer side is preferably about twice as long as the shorter side. Such an arrangement uses a shorter well path to reduce the resistance between transistors and the well strap. The shorter well strap reduces the voltage during operation and soft errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 7268413
    Abstract: Many integrated circuits include a type of transistor known as a bipolar junction transistor, which has an emitter contact formed of polysilicon. Unfortunately, polysilicon has a relatively high electrical resistance that poses an obstacle to improving switching speed and current gain of bipolar transistors. Current fabrication techniques involve high temperature procedures that melt desirable low-resistance substitutes, such as aluminum, during fabrication. Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention provides an emitter contact structure that includes a polysilicon-carbide layer and a low-resistance aluminum, gold, or silver member to reduce emitter resistance. Moreover, to overcome manufacturing difficulties, the inventors employ a metal-substitution technique, which entails formation of a polysilicon emitter, and then substitution or cross-diffusion of metal for the polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7268422
    Abstract: What is invented is a semiconductor device (10) comprising a pellet (12) having a ground electrode (18), an outside signal terminal (15) connected to the pellet (12), so as to receive signal which is likely to include noise. Therein, said outside signal terminal (15) is surrounded with a ground terminal (17) connected to said ground electrode (18) in at least a half periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7265411
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises an insulated floating gate disposed on a semiconductor substrate, an insulated program gate formed at least on a side surface of the floating gate, and an insulated erase gate disposed adjacent the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Taeg Kang
  • Patent number: 7265394
    Abstract: Some spin tunnel transistors with a larger current transmittance and a higher MR ratio are described. One of the spin tunnel transistor comprises a collector; an emitter; abase formed between the collector and the emitter, including a first ferromagnetic metal layer variable in its magnetization under an external magnetic field; a barrier layer formed between the first ferromagnetic metal layer and one of the collector and the emitter, the other of the collector and the emitter including a semiconductor crystal layer; and a transition metal silicide crystal layer between the semiconductor crystal layer and the base. The transition metal silicide crystal layer may be replaced with a palladium layer, a transition metal nitride layer, or a transition metal carbide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Rie Sato, Koichi Mizushima
  • Patent number: 7262485
    Abstract: A substrate 1 for growing an electro-optical single crystal thin film in which two or more layers of buffer layers 3, 4, and 5 for buffering lattice mismatch between Si and BTO are formed on an Si (001) substrate 2 is provided as a substrate for growing an electro-optical single crystal thin film which can obtain an electro-optical single crystal thin film of BTO single crystal thin film 6 etc. with a large size and a very high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Covalent Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Abe, Shunichi Suzuki, Hideo Nakanishi, Jun Komiyama
  • Patent number: 7262126
    Abstract: A metal structure (600) for a bonding pad on integrated circuit wafers, which have interconnecting metallization (101) protected by an insulating layer (102) and selectively exposed by windows in the insulating layer. The structure comprises a patterned seed metal layer (104) positioned on the interconnecting metallization exposed by the window so that the seed metal establishes ohmic contact to the metallization as well as a practically impenetrable seal of the interface between the seed metal and the insulating layer. Further, a metal stud (301) is formed on the seed metal and aligned with the window. The metal stud is conformally covered by a barrier metal layer (501) and an outermost bondable metal layer (502).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christo P. Bojkov, Michael L. Krumnow
  • Patent number: 7259443
    Abstract: Methods of forming a pattern of filled dielectric material on a substrate by thermal transfer processes are disclosed comprising exposing to heat a thermally imageable donor element comprising a substrate and a transfer layer of dielectric material. The exposure pattern is the image of the desired pattern to be formed on the substrate, such that portions of the layer of dielectric material are transferred onto the substrate where the electronic device is being formed. The filled dielectric material can be patterned onto a gate electrode of a thin film transistor. The pattern dielectric material may also form an insulating layer for interconnects. Donor elements for use in the process are also disclosed. Methods for forming thin film transistors and donor elements for use in the thermal transfer processes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Graciela Beatriz Blanchet-Fincher, Karyn B. Visscher
  • Patent number: 7256476
    Abstract: There is provided a notched compound semiconductor crystal having the same specification even if it is turned over. With respect to a compound semiconductor wafer produced by slicing a compound semiconductor crystal having a crystal plane of (100) plane, the crystal is sliced so as to be tilted from the (100) plane in a direction of [101] or [10-1] when a notch is formed in a direction of [010], or the crystal is sliced so as to be tilted from the (100) plane in a direction of [0-10] or [010] when a notch is formed in a direction of [001], or the crystal is sliced so as to be tilted from the (100) plane in a direction of [001] or [00-1] when a notch is formed in a direction of [0-10] , or the crystal is sliced so as to be tilted from the (100) plane in a direction of [010] or [0-10] when a notch is formed in a direction of [00-1].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Toba, Naoya Sunachi