Patents Examined by Nicholas Tobergte
  • Patent number: 9543232
    Abstract: A semiconductor package structure and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor package structure includes a substrate and the substrate has a front side and a back side. The semiconductor package structure includes a through silicon via (TSV) interconnect structure formed in the substrate; and a first guard ring doped region and a second guard ring doped region formed in the substrate, and the first guard ring doped region and the second guard ring doped region are adjacent to the TSV interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 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: 9543145
    Abstract: A semiconductor device using an oxide semiconductor is provided with stable electric characteristics to improve the reliability. In a manufacturing process of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, an oxide semiconductor film containing a crystal having a c-axis which is substantially perpendicular to a top surface thereof (also called a first crystalline oxide semiconductor film) is formed; oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor film to amorphize at least part of the oxide semiconductor film, so that an amorphous oxide semiconductor film containing an excess of oxygen is formed; an aluminum oxide film is formed over the amorphous oxide semiconductor film; and heat treatment is performed thereon to crystallize at least part of the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, so that an oxide semiconductor film containing a crystal having a c-axis which is substantially perpendicular to a top surface thereof (also called a second crystalline oxide semiconductor film) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Koezuka, Naoto Yamade, Yuhei Sato, Yutaka Okazaki, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9543315
    Abstract: The memory cell includes a gate insulating film, a control gate electrode, a cap insulating film, a cap layer, another gate insulating film, and a memory gate electrode. A laminated capacitive element includes a capacitive electrode which is constituted by a sub-electrode and another sub-electrode formed of mesa portions (protruding portions) disposed on the sub-electrode at a predetermined interval and each having an upper surface and side surfaces, a capacitive insulating film which is formed along an upper surface of the sub-electrode and the upper surface and the side surfaces of the another sub-electrode, and another capacitive electrode which is formed on the capacitive insulating film. Further, the control gate electrode and the sub-electrode are made of a conductor film, the cap layer and the another sub-electrode are made of other conductor film, and the memory gate electrode and the another capacitive electrode are made of another conductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiraku Chakihara, Satoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9543305
    Abstract: A RC power semiconductor is provided which comprises a plurality of diode cells and a plurality of GCT cells. Each GCT cell comprises a first cathode layer with at least three cathode layer regions, which are separated from each other by a base layer. In orthogonal projection onto a plane parallel to the first main side each one of the cathode layer regions is strip-shaped and a width (w, w?), wherein the diode cells alternate with the GCT cells in a lateral direction in at least a mixed part, wherein in each GCT cell, the width (w?) of each one of the two outer cathode layer regions next to a diode cell neighboring to that GCT cell is less than the width (w) of any intermediate cathode layer region between the two outer cathode layer regions in that GCT cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Neophythos Lophitis, Florin Udrea, Umamaheswara Vemulapati, Lulian Nistor, Martin Arnold, Jan Vobecky, Munaf Rahimo
  • Patent number: 9536833
    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: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Chun-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 9536874
    Abstract: A variable capacitor includes a fixed main capacitor electrode disposed in a first metal layer overlying a substrate, a second main capacitor electrode spaced from the fixed main capacitor electrode, and a movable capacitor electrode disposed in the first metal layer adjacent the fixed main capacitor electrode. The movable capacitor electrode can be caused to be in a first position ohmically electrically connected to the fixed main capacitor electrode such that the variable capacitor has a first capacitance value or in a second position spaced from the fixed main capacitor electrode such that the variable capacitor has a second capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Patent number: 9536988
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a gate on a substrate; removing an end portion of the gate to form a recess at an end of the gate; depositing a low-k material in the recess such that an air gap is formed in the low-k material; removing a portion of the low-k material; depositing an insulating material on the low-k material that was recessed to form a bilayer insulating stack; and forming a source/drain contact on an active area positioned on the substrate and alongside the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9536868
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of bit lines that intersect an active region on a substrate and extend in a first direction, a contact pad formed on the active region between adjacent bit lines, and a plurality of spacers disposed on sidewalls of the plurality of bit lines. An upper portion of the contact pad is interposed between adjacent spacers, and a lower portion of the contact pad has a width greater than a distance between adjacent spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Keun-Nam Kim, Sun-Young Park, Soo-Ho Shin, Kye-Hee Yeom, Hyeon-Woo Jang, Jin-Won Jeong, Chang-Hyun Cho, Hyeong-Sun Hong
  • Patent number: 9530793
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first selection gate insulating film, a first selection gate, a first gate insulating film, a first contact electrode, a first bit line connected to an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and an upper portion of the first contact electrode, a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a layer including a first charge storage layer, a first control gate, a layer including a second charge storage layer and formed above the first control gate, a second control gate, a second gate insulating film, a second contact electrode having an upper portion connected to an upper portion of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a first lower internal line that connects a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a lower portion of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9530713
    Abstract: A cooler-integrated semiconductor module, includes an insulating substrate; a circuit layer disposed on a front surface of the insulating substrate; a semiconductor element electrically connected to the circuit layer; a metal layer provided on a back surface of the insulating substrate; a sealing resin covering the insulating substrate, the circuit layer, the semiconductor element, and a portion of the metal layer; a cooler disposed on a lower surface side of the metal layer; a plating layer disposed on at least a surface of the sealing resin facing the cooler; and a joining member connecting the plating layer and the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9530890
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a gate on a substrate; removing an end portion of the gate to form a recess at an end of the gate; depositing a low-k material in the recess such that an air gap is formed in the low-k material; removing a portion of the low-k material; depositing an insulating material on the low-k material that was recessed to form a bilayer insulating stack; and forming a source/drain contact on an active area positioned on the substrate and alongside the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9530768
    Abstract: A gate-coupled NMOS device according to an embodiment includes a P-type well region, an N-type well region, and N-channel MOS transistor, an N+-type tap region, a first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer. The N-type well region surrounds the P-type well region. An inner side of the N-type well region directly contacts a side of the P-type well region. The N-channel MOS transistor is disposed in the P-type well region. The N+-type tap region is disposed in the N-type well region. The first conductive layer is disposed on the N-type well region by interposing a first insulation layer and constitutes a MOS capacitor with the N-type well region and the first insulation layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the N-type well region by interposing a second insulation layer and constitutes a resistor. A first end portion of the first conductive layer directly contacts a first end portion of the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Do Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 9530838
    Abstract: To improve characteristics of a semiconductor device (vertical power MOSFET). A spiral p-type column region having a corner is formed in a peripheral region surrounding a cell region in which a semiconductor element is formed. In an epitaxial layer of the peripheral region surrounding the cell region in which the semiconductor element is formed, a trench spirally surrounding the cell region and having the first and second side faces making up the corner is formed and the trench is filled with the epitaxial layer. By spirally arranging the p-type column region (n-type column region) in such a manner, a drop in a withstand voltage margin due to a hot spot can be avoided. In addition, the continuity of the p-type column region (n-type column region) is maintained. As a result, electric field concentration is alleviated step by step toward the outer periphery and the withstand voltage is therefore increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Abiko, Akio Ichimura, Toshiaki Igarashi, Yasuhiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 9525008
    Abstract: Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices and methods of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. A device comprises a first transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer and a second TCO layer over the first TCO layer. The device further comprises a first dielectric layer between the first TCO layer and the second TCO layer, a second dielectric layer between the second TCO layer and the first dielectric layer, and a metal layer between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Yi-Jen Huang, Samuel C. Pan, Si-Chen Lee
  • Patent number: 9524968
    Abstract: A fabrication method of semiconductor device having metal gate includes providing a substrate, successively forming a gate insulating layer and a bottom barrier layer on the surface of the substrate, forming a work function layer covering the bottom barrier layer, removing the work function layer, and forming a top barrier layer on the bottom barrier layer to be directly contact with the bottom barrier layer, and forming a metal layer on the top bottom barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Lai, Ya-Huei Tsai
  • Patent number: 9514946
    Abstract: An improvement is achieved in the performance of a semiconductor device including a memory element. Over a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode for the memory element is formed via an insulating film as a gate insulating film for the memory element. The insulating film includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth insulating films in order of being apart from the substrate. The second insulating film has a charge storing function. The band gap of each of the first and third insulating films is larger than a band gap of the second insulating film. The band gap of the fourth insulating film is smaller than the band gap of the third insulating film. The band gap of the fifth insulating film is smaller than the band gap of the fourth insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Inoue, Yoshiki Maruyama, Tomoya Saito, Atsushi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 9515016
    Abstract: A semiconductor package is made using a prefabricated post carrier including a base plate and plurality of conductive posts. A film encapsulant is disposed over the base plate of the post carrier and around the conductive posts. A semiconductor die is mounted to a temporary carrier. The post carrier and temporary carrier are pressed together to embed the semiconductor die in the film encapsulant. The semiconductor die is disposed between the conductive posts in the film encapsulant. The temporary carrier and base plate of the post carrier are removed. A first circuit build-up layer is formed over a first side of the film encapsulant. The first circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts. A second circuit build-up layer is formed over a second side of the film encapsulant opposite the first side. The second circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rui Huang, Il Kwon Shim, Seng Guan Chow, Heap Hoe Kuan
  • Patent number: 9508741
    Abstract: A method of forming fins in a complimentary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device that includes a p-type field effect transistor device (pFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) device and a CMOS device are described. The method includes forming a strained silicon-on-insulator (SSOI) layer in both a pFET region and an nFET region, etching the strained silicon layer, the insulator, and a portion of the bulk substrate in only the pFET region to expose the bulk substrate, epitaxially growing silicon (Si) from the bulk substrate in only the pFET region, and epitaxially growing additional semiconductor material on the Si in only the pFET region. The method also includes forming fins from the additional semiconductor material and a portion of the Si grown on the bulk substrate in the pFET region, and forming fins from the strained silicon layer and the insulator in the nFET region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9508627
    Abstract: In manufacturing an electronic device in which a semiconductor chip including an element layer formed on a front surface of a substrate and a heat sink to perform heat radiation of the semiconductor chip are connected via a heat spreader, a first heat spreader is formed on a rear surface of the semiconductor chip using a first carbon nanotube, a second heat spreader is formed on the heat sink using a second carbon nanotube, and the first heat spreader and the second heat spreader are caused to adhere to each other. With this configuration, a highly reliable electronic device that has very low heat resistance and achieves efficient heat radiation with a relatively simple configuration is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Motonobu Sato
  • Patent number: 9496281
    Abstract: A method of forming fins in a dual isolation complimentary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device that includes a p-type field effect transistor device (pFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) device and a CMOS device with dual isolation are described. The CMOS device includes an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) region, the nFET region including one or more fins comprised of strained silicon, the one or fins in the nFET region being formed on an insulator. The CMOS device also includes a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) region, the pFET region including one or more fins comprised of silicon (Si) or silicon germanium (SiGe) on epitaxially grown silicon and including a shallow trench isolation (STI) fill to isolate the one or more fins of the pFET region from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Junli Wang