Patents Examined by Nicholas Tobergte
  • Patent number: 9853031
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region on a substrate, a device isolation film on the substrate to define the active region, a gate trench including a first portion in the active region and a second portion in the device isolation film, a gate electrode including a first gate embedded in the first portion of the gate trench and a second gate embedded in the second portion of the gate trench, a first gate capping pattern on the first gate and filling the first portion of the gate trench, and a second gate capping pattern on the second gate and filling the second portion of the gate trench, an upper surface of the first gate being higher than an upper surface of the second gate, and the first gate capping pattern and the second gate capping pattern have different structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Hee Cho, Woo Song Ahn, Min Su Choi, Satoru Yamada, Jun Soo Kim, Sung Sam Lee
  • Patent number: 9847294
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a metal pad and a first specific metal layer routing. The metal pad is positioned on a first metal layer of the semiconductor device. The first specific metal layer routing is formed in a second metal layer and directly under the metal pad, wherein an oxide layer is positioned between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Liang Chen, Tien-Chang Chang, Chien-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9847390
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to forming a wrap-around contact on a nanosheet transistor, the method including: forming an etch-stop layer over a continuous outer surface of a raised source/drain (S/D) region of the nanosheet transistor; forming a sacrificial layer over the etch-stop layer, the etch-stop layer including a different material than the sacrificial layer; depositing a dielectric layer over the sacrificial layer; removing an upper portion of the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer selective to the etch-stop layer; and depositing a conductor in the removed upper portion of the dielectric layer to form a wrap-around contact and a second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Chanro Park, Min Gyu Sung, Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9847423
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a fin-shaped structure on a substrate; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) around the fin-shaped structure; removing part of the fin-shaped structure and part of the STI to form a first trench and removing part of the STI adjacent to the fin-shaped structure to form a second trench; and forming a dielectric layer into the first trench and the second trench to form a first single diffusion break (SDB) and a second single diffusion break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Huang-Ren Wei
  • Patent number: 9847391
    Abstract: Structures involving a field-effect transistor and methods for forming a structure that involves a field-effect transistor. A substrate is provided that has a first conductivity type. A first semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type is formed on the substrate. A second semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type is formed on the first semiconductor layer. A field-effect transistor is formed that includes a fin having a plurality of nanosheet channel layers arranged in a vertical stack on the second semiconductor layer, and a gate structure wrapped about the nanosheet channel layers. The first semiconductor layer defines a first p-n junction with a portion of the substrate, and the second semiconductor layer defines a second p-n junction with the first semiconductor layer. The first p-n junction and the second p-n junction are arranged in vertical alignment with the gate structure and the nanosheet channel layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Jae Gon Lee
  • Patent number: 9842839
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of capacitors and access transistors there-above comprises forming access transistor trenches partially into insulative material. The trenches individually comprise longitudinally-spaced masked portions and longitudinally-spaced openings in the trenches longitudinally between the masked portions. The trench openings have walls therein extending longitudinally in and along the individual trench openings against laterally-opposing sides of the trenches. At least some of the insulative material that is under the trench openings is removed through bases of the trench openings between the walls and the masked portions to form individual capacitor openings in the insulative material that is lower than the walls. Individual capacitors are formed in the individual capacitor openings. A line of access transistors is formed in the individual trenches. The line of access transistors electrically couples to the individual capacitors that are along that line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9837420
    Abstract: A method of forming a tier of an array of memory cells within an array area, the memory cells individually comprising a capacitor and an elevationally-extending transistor, the method comprising using two, and only two, sacrificial masking steps within the array area of the tier in forming the memory cells. Other methods are disclosed, as are structures independent of method of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9831248
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an array of fins extending horizontally across a substrate. A plurality of transistors are embedded in the fins. The transistors include a 1st S/D region and a 2nd S/D region defining a channel region therebetween. The transistors have a gate structure disposed over the channel region and extending perpendicular to the fins. An ILD layer is disposed over the structure. The ILD layer includes a plurality of TS trenches disposed over the 1st and 2nd S/D regions. The TS tranches extend parallel to the gate structures. A plurality of storage capacitors are disposed within the TS trenches. The storage capacitors include a 1st metal terminal electrically connected to one of the 1st and 2nd S/D regions, a 2nd metal terminal and a capacitor dielectric disposed therebetween. Each transistor is electrically connected to a single storage capacitor to form an eDRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Min-hwa Chi
  • Patent number: 9831151
    Abstract: A thermal interface includes a first thermal interface material (TIM) layer and a lid disposed on the first TIM layer. A second TIM layer is disposed on a surface of the lid opposite the first TIM layer. The second TIM layer is from about 75% to about 25% as wide as a width of the lid in at least one direction. A heat sink disposed on a surface of the second TIM layer opposite the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9831265
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, gate electrodes vertically stacked on the substrate, insulating patterns between the gate electrodes, an active pillar provided to penetrate the gate electrodes and the insulating patterns and electrically coupled with the substrate, and a memory pattern provided between the gate electrodes and the active pillar and between the insulating patterns and the active pillar. The gate electrodes include edge portions extending between the memory pattern and the insulating patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nambin Kim, Daewoong Kang, Dae Sin Kim, Kwang Soo Seol, Homin Son, Changsub Lee, Seunghyun Lim, Sunghoi Hur
  • Patent number: 9825252
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a lower substrate having a display area and a peripheral area around the display area; an upper substrate facing the lower substrate; a display unit at the display area of the lower substrate; a sealing member at the peripheral area of the lower substrate and configured to bond the lower substrate to the upper substrate; and a first metal layer between the lower substrate and the sealing member and having a plurality of first through portions extending in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joonyung Jang
  • Patent number: 9824971
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a metal pad and a first specific metal layer routing. The metal pad is positioned on a first metal layer of the semiconductor device and is directly contacting the first metal layer. The first specific metal layer routing is formed on a second metal layer of the semiconductor device and under the metal pad. In addition, the semiconductor device may include at least one via plug for connecting the first specific metal layer routing to at least one metal region in the first metal layer, where the aforementioned at least one via plug is formed directly under the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Chun-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 9812457
    Abstract: Capacitors that can be formed fully on an integrated circuit (IC) chip are described in this disclosure. An IC chip includes a metal-oxide-silicone (MOS) capacitor formed from a MOS transistor having a drain terminal, a source terminal, a gate terminal, and a body terminal. The drain terminal and the source terminal are not electrically connected to any other node, and the gate terminal and the body terminal form respective first and second terminals of the MOS capacitor. The IC chip also includes an electrical conductor coupled to one of the gate terminal or the body terminal of the MOS transistor and configured to deliver a voltage to operate the MOS capacitor in an accumulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Ramesh Harjani, Rakesh Kumar Palani, Saurabh Chaubey
  • Patent number: 9812463
    Abstract: A memory opening can be formed through an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers provided over a substrate. Annular etch stop material portions are provided at each level of the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening. The annular etch stop material portions can be formed by conversion of surface portions of the sacrificial material layers into dielectric material portion, or by recessing the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening and filling indentations around the memory opening. After formation of a memory stack structure, the sacrificial material layers are removed from the backside. The annular etch stop material portions are at least partially converted to form charge trapping material portions. Vertical isolation of the charge trapping material portions among one another around the memory stack structure minimizes leakage between the charge trapping material portions located at different word line levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Sharangpani, Raghuveer S. Makala, Senaka Kanakamedala, Fei Zhou, Somesh Peri, Masanori Tsutsumi, Keerti Shukla, Yusuke Ikawa, Kiyohiko Sakakibara, Eisuke Takii
  • Patent number: 9806288
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode, a method for manufacturing an organic light emitting diode, and an organic light emitting diode display, the OLED including a substrate; a first electrode on the substrate, the first electrode including a sequentially stacked conductive layer and transparent protective layer; a hole transfer layer on a surface of the transparent protective layer; an organic emitting layer on the hole transfer layer, the organic emitting layer emitting light having a specific color; a common layer on the organic emitting layer; and a second electrode on the common layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon Gu Lee, Jae Ik Kim, Yeon Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9793264
    Abstract: A vertical metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is formed within multiple layers of a multi-level metal interconnect system of a chip. The vertical MIM capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode, and a high-k capacitor dielectric material disposed therebetween. The dielectric constant of the capacitor dielectric material is greater than the dielectric constant of interlayer dielectric (ILD) material. After ILD is removed from between the vertically-oriented, interdigitated portions of the first and second electrodes, a capacitor dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than the ILD dielectric material is disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chewn-Pu Jou, Tien-I Bao
  • Patent number: 9786560
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor package structure is provided. The method for forming a semiconductor package structure includes providing a substrate, wherein the substrate has a front side and a back side, forming a first guard ring doped region and a second guard ring doped region in the substrate, wherein the first guard ring doped region and the second guard ring doped region have different conductive types, forming a trench through the substrate from a back side of the substrate, conformally forming an insulating layer lining the back side of the substrate, a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench, removing a portion of the insulating layer on the back side of the substrate to form a through via, and forming a conductive material in the through via, wherein a through silicon via (TSV) interconnect structure is formed by the insulating layer and the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chou Hung, Ming-Tzong Yang, Tung-Hsing Lee, Wei-Che Huang, Yu-Hua Huang, Tzu-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 9786732
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate including a first region configured to realize an image, and a second region through which an external light penetrates; a first electrode provided in the first region; an auxiliary electrode provided in the second region; a pixel defining layer provided in at least the first region and including a first opening exposing at least a part of the first electrode and a second opening exposing at least a part of the auxiliary electrode; a second electrode provided throughout the first region and the second region, facing the first electrode, and electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode; and an intermediate layer provided in at least the first region, provided above the first electrode and below the second electrode, and including an organic emission layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joohee Jeon, Chaungi Choi, Hyeonsik Kim, Hyehyang Park, Huiwon Yang, Eunyoung Lee, Seungho Jung
  • Patent number: 9780333
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) element and a display device are provided. The OLED element includes a base substrate and an anode, an organic functional layer and a cathode sequentially stacked on the base substrate. A thermal expansion layer is disposed on at least one of a side of the anode away from the organic functional layer or a side of the cathode away from the organic functional layer and is a transparent thermal expansion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinxin Wang, Minghung Hsu, Wenbin Jia, Rui Peng, Zhijie Ye, Yue Hu
  • Patent number: 9773788
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a floating body transistor which has a gate structure configured as a bracket having two upwardly-projecting sidewalls joined to a base. A region between the upwardly-projecting sidewalls is an interior region of the bracket. The interior region of the bracket has an interior surface along an upper surface of the base, and along inward surfaces of the upwardly-projecting sidewalls. The sidewalls are a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls have first and second notches, respectively, which extend downwardly into the first and second sidewalls. The first and second notches are horizontally aligned with one another. Dielectric material lines the interior surface of the bracket. A semiconductor material body is within the interior region of the bracket and along the dielectric material. The semiconductor material body has a third notch which is horizontally aligned with the first and second notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling