Patents Examined by Pamela E Perkins
  • Patent number: 8642395
    Abstract: A process for assembling a Chip-On-Lead packaged semiconductor device includes the steps of: mounting and sawing a wafer to provide individual semiconductor dies; performing a first molding operation on a lead frame; depositing epoxy on the lead frame via a screen printing process; attaching one of the singulated dies on the lead frame with the epoxy, where the die attach is done at room temperature; and curing the epoxy in an oven. Throughput improvements may be ascribed to not including a hot die attach process. An optional plasma cleaning step may be performed, which greatly improves wire bonding quality and a second molding quality. In addition, since a first molding operation is performed before the formation of epoxy to avoid the problem of the epoxy hanging in the air, the delamination risk between the epoxy and the die is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhe Li, Qingchun He, Guanhua Wang, Zhijie Wang, Nan Xu
  • Patent number: 8642486
    Abstract: A control unit heats a reaction pipe to a load temperature by controlling a temperature-raising heater 16, and then makes semiconductor wafers received in the reaction pipe. Next, the control unit heats the reaction pipe in which the semiconductor wafers are received to a film formation temperature by controlling the temperature-raising heater, and then forms thin films on the semiconductor wafers by supplying a film forming gas into the reaction pipe from a process gas introducing pipe. Also, the control unit sets the load temperature to a temperature higher than the film formation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ikeuchi, Pao-Hwa Chou, Kazuya Yamamoto, Kentarou Sera
  • Patent number: 8637962
    Abstract: Semiconductor dice comprise at least one bond pad on an active surface of the semiconductor die. At least one blind hole extends from a back surface of the semiconductor die opposing the active surface, through a thickness of the semiconductor die, to an underside of the at least one bond pad. At least one quantity of passivation material covers at least a sidewall surface of the at least one blind hole. At least one conductive material is disposed in the at least one blind hole adjacent and in electrical communication with the at least one bond pad and adjacent the at least one quantity of passivation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Salman Akram, Sidney B. Rigg
  • Patent number: 8628999
    Abstract: Methods for forming a photovoltaic device include depositing a p-type layer on a substrate and cleaning the p-type layer by exposing a surface of the p-type layer to a plasma treatment to react with contaminants. An intrinsic layer is formed on the p-type layer, and an n-type layer is formed on the intrinsic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Bay Zu Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Augustin J. Hong, Marinus J. Hopstaken, Chien-Chih Huang, Yu-Wei Huang, Jeehwan Kim, Devendra K. Sadana, Chih-Fu Tseng
  • Patent number: 8629446
    Abstract: Materials, methods, structures and device including the same can provide a semiconductor device such as an LED using an active region corresponding to a non-polar face or surface of III-V semiconductor crystalline material. In some embodiments, an active diode region contains more non-polar III-V material oriented to a non-polar plane than III-V material oriented to a polar plane. In other embodiments, a bottom region contains more non-polar m-plane or a-plane surface area GaN than polar c-plane surface area GaN facing an active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Lochtefeld
  • Patent number: 8624159
    Abstract: An approach is provided for fabricating a light emitting diode using a laser lift-off apparatus. The approach includes growing an epitaxial layer including a first conductive-type compound semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive-type compound semiconductor layer on a first substrate, bonding a second substrate, having a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the first substrate, to the epitaxial layers at a first temperature of the first substrate higher than a room temperature, and separating the first substrate from the epitaxial layer by irradiating a laser beam through the first substrate at a second temperature of the first substrate higher than the room temperature but not more than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Youn Kim, Joon Hee Lee, Jong Kyun You, Hwa Mok Kim
  • Patent number: 8624345
    Abstract: A mask substrate, photomask and method for forming the same are provided. The photomask includes a substantially light transparent substrate and a circuitry pattern disposed over the light transparent substrate. The circuitry pattern includes a phase shifting layer disposed over the substantially light transparent substrate. A substantially light shielding layer is disposed over the phase shifting layer. At least one barrier layer is disposed over the substantially light shielding layer. An uppermost portion of the substantially light shielding layer does not comprise anti-reflective properties and the at least one barrier layer comprises an uppermost hardmask layer and an underlying anti-reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Wu, Hung-Chang Hsieh, Chang-Cheng Hung, Luke Hsu, Ren-Guey Hsieh, Hsin-Chang Lee, Chia-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8623744
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for singulating die from a semiconductor substrate (e.g. a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate or a bulk silicon substrate) containing an oxide layer (e.g. silicon dioxide or a silicate glass) and one or more semiconductor layers (e.g. monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon) located above the oxide layer. The method etches trenches through the substrate and through each semiconductor layer about the die being singulated, with the trenches being offset from each other around at least a part of the die so that the oxide layer between the trenches holds the substrate and die together. The trenches can be anisotropically etched using a Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) process. After the trenches are etched, the oxide layer between the trenches can be etched away with an HF etchant to singulate the die. A release fixture can be located near one side of the substrate to receive the singulated die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Swiler, Ernest J. Garcia, Kathryn M. Francis
  • Patent number: 8617925
    Abstract: Methods of forming bonded semiconductor structures include forming through wafer interconnects through a layer of material of a first substrate structure, bonding one or more semiconductor structures over the layer of material, and electrically coupling the semiconductor structures with the through wafer interconnects. A second substrate structure may be bonded over the processed semiconductor structures on a side thereof opposite the first substrate structure. A portion of the first substrate structure then may be removed, leaving the layer of material with the through wafer interconnects therein attached to the processed semiconductor structures. At least one through wafer interconnects then may be electrically coupled to a conductive feature of another structure, after which the second substrate structure may be removed. Bonded semiconductor structures are formed using such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Mariam Sadaka, Bich-Yen Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8603849
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor based photovoltaic device and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor based photovoltaic device is able to absorb light with a wide band wavelength, and has high photoelectric conversion efficiency since it has high electron-hole pair separation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Kyung Joong Kim, Woo Lee, Yong Sung Kim, Young Heon Kim, Seung hui Hong, Wan Soo Yun, Sang Woo Kang
  • Patent number: 8603907
    Abstract: Apparatus having a dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium can provide a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). In an embodiment, a monolayer or partial monolayer sequence process, such as for example atomic layer deposition (ALD), can be used to form a dielectric containing gadolinium oxide and scandium oxide. In an embodiment, a dielectric structure can be formed by depositing gadolinium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing scandium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form a thin laminate structure. A dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium may be used as gate insulator of a MOSFET, a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as tunnel gate insulators in flash memories, as a NROM dielectric, or as a dielectric in other electronic devices, because the high dielectric constant (high k) of the film provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 8603902
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor substrate) is disclosed that includes irradiating at least a portion of the substrate surface with a plurality of short radiation pulses while the surface portion is exposed to a dopant compound. The pulses are selected to have a fluence at the substrate surface that is greater than a melting fluence threshold (a minimum fluence needed for the radiation pulse to cause substrate melting) and less than an ablation fluence threshold (a minimum fluence needed for the radiation pulse to cause substrate ablation). In this manner a quantity of the dopant can be incorporated into the substrate while ensuring that the roughness of the substrate's surface is significantly less than the wavelength of the applied radiation pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Eric Mazur, Mark Winkler
  • Patent number: 8603855
    Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some embodiments, an optoelectronic device comprises a fiber core, a radiation transmissive first electrode surrounding the fiber core, at least one photosensitive inorganic layer surrounding the first electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second electrode surrounding the inorganic layer and electrically connected to the inorganic layer. In some embodiments, the device comprises a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wake Forest University
    Inventor: David L Carroll
  • Patent number: 8598682
    Abstract: A resistor structure incorporated into a resistive switching memory cell or device to form memory devices with improved device performance and lifetime is provided. The resistor structure may be a two-terminal structure designed to reduce the maximum current flowing through a memory device. A method is also provided for making such memory device. The method includes depositing a resistor structure and depositing a variable resistance layer of a resistive switching memory cell of the memory device, where the resistor structure is disposed in series with the variable resistance layer to limit the switching current of the memory device. The incorporation of the resistor structure is very useful in obtaining desirable levels of device switching currents that meet the switching specification of various types of memory devices. The memory devices may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Dipankar Pramanik, Tony P. Chiang, Mankoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8592304
    Abstract: A method for filling a metal is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate includes a metal material layer, a dielectric layer covering the metal material layer and a hard mask layer covering the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer has at least one opening to expose the underlying dielectric layer. Second, a dry etching step is performed to etch the dielectric layer through the opening to remove part of the dielectric layer to expose the metal material layer and to form a recess and leave some residues in the recess. Then a cleaning step is performed to remove the residues and to selectively remove part of the hard mask to substantially enlarge the opening. Later, a metal fills the recess through the enlarged opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chang-Hsiao Lee, Yu-Tsung Lai, Jiunn-Hsiung Liao
  • Patent number: 8586437
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first region including a FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor), forming a second region including a PlanarFET (Planar Field Effect Transistor), forming first extension regions in the plurality of fins in the first region, forming second extension regions in the second region using the second gate electrode as a mask, forming first side walls and second side walls on side surfaces of the first gate electrode and on side surfaces of the second gate electrode, respectively, and forming a source and a drain of the FinFET in the first region using the first gate electrode and first side walls as masks and forming a source and a drain of the PlanarFET in the second region by an ion implantation method using the second gate electrode and second side walls as masks, at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwamoto, Gen Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8580655
    Abstract: A processing method for a bump-included device wafer which includes an adhesive providing step of providing an adhesive in an annular groove of a carrier wafer so that the adhesive projects from the upper surface of an annular projection of the carrier wafer; a wafer attaching step of attaching and fixing the front side of the device wafer through the adhesive to the front side of the carrier wafer so as to accommodate bumps in a recess of the carrier wafer after performing the adhesive providing step; and a thickness reducing step of grinding or polishing the back side of the device wafer to reduce the thickness of the device wafer to a predetermined thickness after performing the wafer attaching step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Devin Martin, Mark Brown
  • Patent number: 8580698
    Abstract: A method for fabricating the gate dielectric layer comprises forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate; forming an oxygen-containing layer on the high-k dielectric layer by an atomic layer deposition process; and performing an inert plasma treatment on the oxygen-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Lee, Xiong-Fei Yu, Jian-Hao Chen, Cheng-Hao Hou, Da-Yuan Lee, Kuang-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8569122
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, comprising: forming a polysilicon layer on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the polysilicon layer; forming a gate metal layer on the gate insulating layer; and patterning the gate metal layer, the gate insulating layer and the polysilicon layer by using a half tone mask (HTM) or a gray tone mask (GTM) so as to obtain a gate electrode and a polysilicon semiconductor pattern in a single mask process, a central part of the polysilicon semiconductor pattern is covered by the gate electrode, and the polysilicon semiconductor pattern has two parts, which are not covered by the gate electrode at two sides of the gate electrode, for forming a source region and a drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangcai Yuan, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 8563366
    Abstract: A resistor structure incorporated into a resistive switching memory cell or device to form memory devices with improved device performance and lifetime is provided. The resistor structure may be a two-terminal structure designed to reduce the maximum current flowing through a memory device. A method is also provided for making such memory device. The method includes depositing a resistor structure and depositing a variable resistance layer of a resistive switching memory cell of the memory device, where the resistor structure is disposed in series with the variable resistance layer to limit the switching current of the memory device. The incorporation of the resistor structure is very useful in obtaining desirable levels of device switching currents that meet the switching specification of various types of memory devices. The memory devices may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Intermolecular Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Dipankar Pramanik, Tony P. Chiang, Mankoo Lee