Patents Examined by Robert Huber
  • Patent number: 9214424
    Abstract: A method for producing a rounded conductor line of a semiconductor component is disclosed. In that method, a partially completed semiconductor component is provided. The partially completed semiconductor component has a bottom side and a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. Also provided is an etchant. On the top side, a dielectric layer is arranged. The dielectric layer has at least two different regions that show different etch rates when they are etched with the etchant. Subsequently, a trench is formed in the dielectric layer such that the trench intersects each of the different regions. Then, the trench is widened by etching the trench with the etchant at different etch rates. By filling the widened trench with an electrically conductive material, a conductor line is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Markus Menath, Andreas Zankl, Anja Gisslbl
  • Patent number: 9214391
    Abstract: Methods for forming interconnects in microelectronic workpieces and microelectronic workpieces having such interconnects are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a method for manufacturing a microelectronic workpiece having a plurality of microelectronic dies. The individual dies include an integrated circuit and a terminal electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an opening in the workpiece in alignment with the terminal. The opening can be a through-hole extending through the workpiece or a blind hole that extends only partially through the substrate. The method continues by constructing an electrically conductive interconnect in the workpiece by depositing a solder material into at least a portion of the opening and in electrical contact with the terminal. In embodiments that include forming a blind hole, the workpiece can be thinned either before or after forming the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Patent number: 9214540
    Abstract: One or more techniques or systems for forming an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) are provided herein. In some embodiments, the NMOS transistor includes a first region, a first n-type plus (NP) region, a first p-type plus (PP) region, a second NP region, a second PP region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a gate stack. In some embodiments, the first PP region is between the first NP region and the second NP region. In some embodiments, the second NP region is between the first PP region and the second PP region, the gate stack is between the first PP region and the second NP region, the STI region is between the second NP region and the second PP region. Accordingly, the first PP region enables ESD current to discharge based on a low trigger voltage for the NMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee
  • Patent number: 9202873
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer includes a substrate, an AlN buffer layer, a foundation layer, a first high Ga composition layer, a high Al composition layer, a low Al composition layer, an intermediate unit and a second high Ga composition layer. The first layer is provided on the foundation layer. The high Al composition layer is provided on the first layer. The low Al composition layer is provided on the high Al composition layer. The intermediate unit is provided on the low Al composition layer. The second layer is provided on the intermediate unit. The first layer has a first tensile strain and the second layer has a second tensile strain larger than the first tensile strain. Alternatively, the first layer has a first compressive strain and the second layer has a second compressive strain smaller than the first compressive strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Harada, Toshiki Hikosaka, Hisashi Yoshida, Hung Hung, Naoharu Sugiyama, Shinya Nunoue
  • Patent number: 9202938
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) array substantially following a manufacturing process for manufacturing a vertical semiconductor power device. The method includes a step of opening a plurality of isolation trenches in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type in a semiconductor substrate followed by applying a body mask for doping a body region having a second conductivity type between two of the isolation trenches. The method further includes a step of applying an source mask for implanting a plurality of doped regions of the first conductivity type constituting a plurality of diodes wherein the isolation trenches isolating and preventing parasitic PNP or NPN transistor due to a latch-up between the doped regions of different conductivity types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventor: Madhur Bobde
  • Patent number: 9202696
    Abstract: An antenna cell for preventing plasma enhanced gate dielectric failures, is provided. The antenna cell design utilizes a polysilicon lead as a gate for a dummy transistor. The polysilicon lead may be one of a group of parallel, nested polysilicon lead. The dummy transistor includes the gate coupled to a substrate maintained at VSS, either directly through a metal lead or indirectly through a tie-low cell. The gate is disposed over a dielectric disposed over a continuous source/drain region in which the source and drain are tied together. A diode is formed with the semiconductor substrate within which it is formed. The source/drain region is coupled to another metal lead which may be an input pin and is coupled to active transistor gates, preventing plasma enhanced gate dielectric damage to the active transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Hang Yang, Chun-Fu Chen, Pin-Dai Sue, Hui-Zhong Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9190309
    Abstract: In a wafer processing tape, circular or tongue-shaped notched parts facing the center of an adhesive layer, as seen in a plan view, are formed so as to correspond to a pasting region to a wafer ring to a depth that reaches a release substrate from the side of a base material film. Due to the formation of the notched parts, when a peeling force acts on the wafer processing tape, portions of a tacky material layer and the base material film which are more outward than the notched parts are peeled off first, and a portion that is more inward than the notched parts remains on the wafer ring in a protruding state. Accordingly, a peeling strength between the wafer processing tape and the wafer ring can be increased and the wafer processing tape can be suppressed from being peeled off from the wafer ring during processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Taniguchi, Takayuki Matsuzaki, Shinya Katou, Kouji Komorida, Michio Mashino, Tatsuya Sakuta, Rie Katou
  • Patent number: 9184276
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an SiC semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first oxide film on a first surface of an SiC semiconductor, removing the first oxide film, and forming a second oxide film constituting the SiC semiconductor device on a second surface exposed as a result of removal of the first oxide film in the SiC semiconductor. Between the step of removing the first oxide film and the step of forming a second oxide film, the SiC semiconductor is arranged in an atmosphere cut off from an ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Masuda, Keiji Wada, Satomi Itoh, Toru Hiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9171862
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional memory is provided. A stacked structure including semiconductor layers and insulating layers arranged alternately is formed on a substrate. The stacked structure is patterned to form a mesh structure having first strips extending in a first direction and second strips extending in a second direction. The first strips and the second strips intersect with each other. The mesh structure has first holes. A dielectric layer is formed in each first hole. At least a portion of the first strips of the mesh structure is removed to form second holes and bit line stacked structures separated from each other. A charge storage layer is formed on sidewall and bottom of each second hole. A gate pillar extending in a third direction is formed on each charge storage layer in the second hole. Word lines extending in the first direction are formed on the gate pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guan-Ru Lee
  • Patent number: 9159808
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having fins and a method of manufacture are provided. A patterned mask is formed over a substrate. Trenches are formed in the substrate and the trenches are filled with a dielectric material. Thereafter, the patterned mask is removed and one or more etch processes are performed to recess the dielectric material, wherein at least one of the etch processes is an etch process that removes or prevents fences from being formed along sidewalls of the trench. The etch process may be, for example, a plasma etch process using NH3 and NF3, an etch process using a polymer-rich gas, or an H2 etch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Neng-Kuo Chen, Kuo-Hwa Tzeng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 9136206
    Abstract: A device includes a conductive layer including a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion over the bottom portion, wherein the sidewall portion is connected to an end of the bottom portion. An aluminum-containing layer overlaps the bottom portion of the conductive layer, wherein a top surface of the aluminum-containing layer is substantially level with a top edge of the sidewall portion of the conductive layer. An aluminum oxide layer is overlying the aluminum-containing layer. A copper-containing region is over the aluminum oxide layer, and is spaced apart from the aluminum-containing layer by the aluminum oxide layer. The copper-containing region is electrically coupled to the aluminum-containing layer through the top edge of the sidewall portion of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Lin Su, Ching-Hua Hsieh, Huang-Ming Chen, Hsueh Wen Tsau
  • Patent number: 9117681
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor element and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in which a low contact resistance is attained between an electrode film and a wiring conductor element, and the wiring conductor element is hardly detached from the electrode film. In the method, a nickel film and a nickel oxide film are laminated in this order on a surface of an n-type silicon carbide substrate or an n-type silicon carbide region of a silicon carbide substrate, followed by a heat treatment under a non-oxidizing condition. The heat treatment transforms a portion of the nickel film into a nickel silicide film. Then, the nickel oxide film is removed with hydrochloric acid solution, and subsequently, a nickel aluminum film and an aluminum film are laminated in this order on a surface of the nickel silicide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kawada, Takeshi Tawara, Shun-ichi Nakamura, Masahide Gotoh
  • Patent number: 9119331
    Abstract: A light emitting device which can prevent bending of the substrate member. The light emitting device includes a flexible substrate member, a plurality of light emitting elements, two first sealing members, and a second sealing member. The two first sealing members are disposed in-line on the substrate member and arranged in the longitudinal direction. The second sealing member is arranged extending in the longitudinal direction on the substrate member, and is offset in a lateral direction from the two first sealing members. The second sealing member is further arranged to extend across a first gap formed between the two first sealing members when viewed from a lateral direction, and overlap at least a portion of each of the two first sealing members. The second sealing member comprises a resin having transparency to light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motokazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9117893
    Abstract: Several embodiments of a tunneling transistor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tunneling transistor includes a semiconductor substrate, a source region formed in the semiconductor substrate, a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack including a metallic gate electrode and a gate dielectric, and a tunneling junction that is substantially parallel to an interface between the metallic gate electrode and the gate dielectric. As a result of the tunneling junction that is substantially parallel with the interface between the metallic gate electrode and the gate dielectric, an on-current of the tunneling transistor is substantially improved as compared to that of a conventional tunneling transistor. In another embodiment, a tunneling transistor includes a heterostructure that reduces a turn-on voltage of the tunneling transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chenming Hu, Anupama Bowonder, Pratik Patel, Daniel Chou, Prashant Majhi
  • Patent number: 9090454
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods of fabricating a sensor device includes attaching a first wafer to a sensor wafer with a first bond material, and attaching a second wafer to the sensor wafer with a second bond material, the second bond material having a lower bonding temperature than the first bond material. After attaching the second wafer, an opening (e.g., a trench cut) through the second wafer is formed, and an adhesive material is provided through the opening to further secure the second wafer to the sensor wafer. Embodiments of sensor devices formed using such methods include a first device cavity having a first pressure, and a second device cavity having a second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip H. Bowles, Stephen R. Hooper
  • Patent number: 9082673
    Abstract: Described herein is a device comprising: a substrate; one or more of a nanostructure extending essentially perpendicularly from the substrate; wherein the nanostructure comprises a core of a doped semiconductor, an first layer disposed on the core, and a second layer of an opposite type from the core and disposed on the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ZENA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Young-June Yu, Munib Wober
  • Patent number: 9076798
    Abstract: Dicing structures for semiconductor substrates and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer includes a first chip disposed in a substrate, a second chip disposed adjacent the first chip and disposed in the substrate, and a dicing street disposed between the first and the second chip. A first and a second metal level are disposed over the dicing street, wherein the second metal level is disposed above the first metal level. A first alignment mark is disposed in the first metal level above a first portion of the dicing street, and first metal features disposed in the second metal level above the first portion of the dicing street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9076832
    Abstract: In a wafer processing tape, circular or tongue-shaped notched parts facing the center of an adhesive layer, as seen in a plan view, are formed so as to correspond to a pasting region to a wafer ring to a depth that reaches a release base material from the side of a base material film. Due to the formation of the notched parts, when a peeling force acts on the wafer processing tape, portions of a tacky material layer and the base material film which are more outward than the notched parts are peeled off first, and a portion that is more inward than the notched parts remains on the wafer ring in a protruding state. Accordingly, a peeling strength between the wafer processing tape and the wafer ring can be increased. Methods of manufacturing the tape and a semiconductor device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Taniguchi, Takayuki Matsuzaki, Shinya Katou, Kouji Komorida, Michio Mashino, Tatsuya Sakuta, Rie Katou
  • Patent number: 9076833
    Abstract: In a wafer processing tape, circular or tongue-shaped notched parts facing the center of an adhesive layer, as seen in a plan view, are formed so as to correspond to a pasting region to a wafer ring to a depth that reaches a release substrate from the side of a base material film. Due to the formation of the notched parts, when a peeling force acts on the wafer processing tape, portions of a tacky material layer and the base material film which are more outward than the notched parts are peeled off first, and a portion that is more inward than the notched parts remains on the wafer ring in a protruding state. Accordingly, a peeling strength between the wafer processing tape and the wafer ring can be increased and the wafer processing tape can be suppressed from being peeled off from the wafer ring during processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Taniguchi, Takayuki Matsuzaki, Shinya Katou, Kouji Komorida, Michio Mashino, Tatsuya Sakuta, Rie Katou
  • Patent number: 9064779
    Abstract: A semiconductor rectifier includes a first conductivity type wide bandgap semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type wide bandgap semiconductor layer on an upper surface of which is formed a plurality of first wide bandgap semiconductor regions of the first conductivity type sandwiching a plurality of second wide bandgap semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type, and a plurality of third wide bandgap semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type, at least a part of the third wide bandgap semiconductor regions being connected to the second wide bandgap semiconductor regions and each of the third wide bandgap semiconductor regions having a width smaller than that of the second wide bandgap semiconductor regions. A first electrode is formed on the first and second wide bandgap semiconductor regions and a second electrode is formed on a lower surface of the wide bandgap semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Makoto Mizukami, Takashi Shinohe, Johji Nishio