Patents Examined by Sarah Salerno
  • Patent number: 10043708
    Abstract: A process for forming a conductive structure includes the formation of a self-aligned silicide cap over a cobalt-based contact. The silicide cap is formed in situ by the deposition of a thin silicon layer over exposed portions of a cobalt contact, followed by heat treatment to react the deposited silicon with the cobalt and form cobalt silicide, which is an effective barrier to cobalt migration and oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Viraj Sardesai, Suraj K. Patil, Scott Beasor, Vimal Kumar Kamineni
  • Patent number: 10032871
    Abstract: A MOSFET using a SiC substrate has a problem that a carbon-excess layer is formed on a surface by the application of mechanical stress due to thermal oxidation and the carbon-excess layer degrades mobility of channel carriers. In the invention, (1) a layer containing carbon-carbon bonds is removed; (2) a gate insulating film is formed by a deposition method; and (3) an interface between a crystal surface and the insulating film is subjected to an interface treatment at a low temperature for a short time. Due to this, the carbon-excess layer causing characteristic degradation is effectively eliminated, and at the same time, dangling bonds can be effectively eliminated by subjecting an oxide film and an oxynitride film to an interface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Digh Hisamoto, Keisuke Kobayashi, Naoki Tega, Toshiyuki Ohno, Hirotaka Hamamura, Mieko Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10026828
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor structure having a substrate structure, multiple fins having a germanium layer, a dummy gate structure including sequentially a hardmask, a dummy gate, a dummy gate insulating material on the germanium layer, and spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gate structure and on a portion of the germanium layer. The method also includes forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate structure covering the dummy gate structure, planarizing the interlayer dielectric layer to expose a surface of the dummy gate, removing the dummy gate and the dummy gate insulating material to expose a surface of the germanium layer, performing a silane impregnation process on the exposed surface of the germanium layer to introduce silicon to the germanium layer, and performing an oxidation process on the germanium layer to form an oxide layer comprising silicon and germanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong Li
  • Patent number: 10026699
    Abstract: A large scale integrated circuit chip includes a semiconductor circuit having a multilayered wiring structure, a metal guard ring surrounding the semiconductor circuit, and a plurality of external connection terminals, on a semiconductor circuit. The plurality of external connection terminals connect to an uppermost-layer wiring of the multilayered wiring structure and are exposed on a surface of the large scale integrated circuit chip. A predetermined external connection terminal conducts to a predetermined wiring through a conductive via within the guard ring and conducts to a conductive piece through another conductive via outside the guard ring. One side of the external connection terminal extending over the guard ring connects to the conductive piece, and the other side of the external connection terminal connects to the uppermost-layer wiring within the guard ring. Thus, a cutout part is not necessary in the guard ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Japan GK
    Inventors: Atsushi Obuchi, Takashi Yoneoka, Hiroshi Kaga
  • Patent number: 10026850
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a transistor is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming at least a nanowire suspending in the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a channel layer surrounding the nanowire; and forming a contact layer surrounding the channel layer. Further, the method includes forming a trench exposing the channel layer and surrounding the channel layer in the contact layer; and forming a potential barrier layer on the bottom of the trench and surrounding the channel layer. Further, the method also includes forming a gate structure surrounding the potential barrier layer and covering portions of the contact layer; and forming a source and a drain region on the contact layer at two sides of the gate structure, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Deyuan Xiao
  • Patent number: 10008506
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a logic region and a memory region. The memory region has an active region that includes a semiconductor device. The memory region also has a capacitor within one or more dielectric layers over the active region, where the capacitor is over the semiconductor device. The semiconductor arrangement also includes a protective ring within at least one of the logic region or the memory region and that separates the logic region from the memory region. The capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the first electrode is substantially larger than other portions of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Chen-Jong Wang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Patent number: 10008430
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element; a frame which has a first surface, holds the semiconductor element on the first surface, and is electrically connected with the semiconductor element; and a seal which has electrical insulation properties and seals the semiconductor element and the frame, wherein a through-hole is formed in the seal, the through-hole has a hole axis which extends in a direction intersecting with the first surface, and an inner peripheral end surface of the seal exposed inside the through-hole is inclined with respect to the hole axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Shiramizu, Hiroyuki Hata, Yazhe Wang
  • Patent number: 10008533
    Abstract: A semiconductor package device includes a first semiconductor package including a first package substrate and a semiconductor chip stacked on the first package substrate, and a second semiconductor package stacked on the first semiconductor package. The second semiconductor package includes a second package substrate, an image sensor chip stacked on the second package substrate, and a transparent substrate disposed on the image sensor chip. The first semiconductor chip may include a semiconductor memory device, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or an image sensor driver circuit and may transfer, process and/or store signals output from the image sensor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyunsu Jun
  • Patent number: 9997595
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate layer with a decoupling region. The decoupling region of the silicon substrate layer comprises an array of lamellas laterally spaced apart from each other by cavities. Each lamella of the array of lamellas comprises at least 20% silicon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH
    Inventor: Thoralf Kautzsch
  • Patent number: 9994729
    Abstract: This liquid sealing material has low thermal expansion and has injection properties for injection into gaps between a semiconductor element and a substrate; this electronic component is formed by sealing a sealing site using the liquid sealing material. This liquid sealing material is characterized by containing (A) a liquid epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) a silica filler with an average particle diameter of 7-50 nm, surface treated with 2-(3,4-epoxy cyclohexyl) ethyl trimethoxysilane, and (D) a silica filler with an average particle diameter of 0.2-5 ?m, wherein relative to a total of 100 parts by mass of all components of the liquid sealing material, the total of the silica filler of component (C) and the silica filler of the component (D) is 45-77 parts by mass, and the mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the silica filler of component (C) and the silica filler of component (D) is 1:10.2-1:559.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Namics Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9981843
    Abstract: A method of producing a chip package is described. A plurality of chips is provided on a first wafer. Each chip has a cavity which opens to a first main face of the chip. The cavities are filled or covered temporarily. The chips are then singulated. The singulated chips are embedded in an encapsulation material, and then the cavities are re-exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dominic Maier, Alfons Dehe, Thomas Kilger, Markus Menath, Franz Xaver Muehlbauer, Daniel Porwol, Juergen Wagner
  • Patent number: 9978754
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a logic region and a memory region. The memory region has an active region that includes a semiconductor device. The memory region also has a capacitor within one or more dielectric layers over the active region. The semiconductor arrangement includes a protective ring within at least one of the logic region or the memory region and that separates the logic region from the memory region. The capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where an electrode unit of the first electrode has a first portion and a second portion, and where the second portion is above the first portion and is wider than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Chen-Jong Wang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Patent number: 9978766
    Abstract: A first tier structure including a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. First support openings and first memory openings are formed through the first tier structure. A dielectric material portion providing electrical isolation from the substrate is formed in each first memory openings. A second tier structure including a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second sacrificial material layers is formed the first tier structure. Second support openings and second memory openings are formed through the second tier structure above the first support openings and the first memory openings. Memory stack structures are formed in inter-tier openings formed by adjoining the first and second memory openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Naohiro Hosoda, Takeshi Kawamura, Yoko Furihata, Kota Funayama
  • Patent number: 9966457
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include finFET structures with varied cross-sectional areas and methods of forming the same. Methods according to the present disclosure can include, e.g., forming a structure including: a semiconductor fin positioned on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor fin includes: a gate area, and a terminal area laterally distal to the gate area, a sacrificial gate positioned on the gate area of the semiconductor fin, and an insulator positioned on the terminal area of the semiconductor fin; removing the sacrificial gate to expose the gate area of the semiconductor fin; increasing or reducing a cross-sectional area of the gate area of the semiconductor fin; and forming a transistor gate on the gate area of the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Schepis, Alexander Reznicek, Pranita Kerber, Qiqing C. Ouyang
  • Patent number: 9960283
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thin-film transistor. The thin-film transistor includes: a substrate; a first gate, a first gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, an etching stop layer, and the second gate stacked on a surface of the substrate, in which the semiconductor layer has a thickness of 200 nm-2000 nm; the etching stop layer includes a first via and a second via formed therein; and the first via and the second via are arranged to each correspond to the semiconductor layer; and a source and a drain respectively extending through the first via and the second via to connect to the semiconductor layer. The thin-film transistor has an increased ON-state current and switching speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Longqiang Shi, Zhiyuan Zeng, Hejing Zhang, Yutong Hu
  • Patent number: 9953929
    Abstract: Discussed generally herein are methods and devices including or providing an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. A device can include a substrate including electrical connection circuitry therein, grounding circuitry on, or at least partially in the substrate, the grounding circuitry at least partially exposed from a surface of the substrate, a die electrically connected to the connection circuitry and the grounding circuitry, the die on the substrate, and a conductive foil or conductive film surrounding the die, the conductive foil or conductive film electrically connected to the grounding circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rajendra C. Dias, Anna M. Prakash, Joshua D. Heppner, Eric J. Li, Nachiket R. Raravikar
  • Patent number: 9935197
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with low junction capacitances and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming isolation regions in a substrate to form active areas. The sidewalls of the active areas are enclosed by the isolation regions. The isolation regions are recessed to expose first parts of the sidewalls of the active areas. The first parts of the sidewalls of the active areas are covered with spacers. The isolation regions are etched to expose second parts of the sidewalls of the active area, the second parts being disposed below the first parts. The active areas are etched through the exposed second parts of the sidewalls to form lateral openings. The lateral openings are filled with a spin on dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hung Chang, Yu-Rung Hsu, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 9935035
    Abstract: An interposer structure including a dielectric base material, and a metal based interconnect structure extending through the dielectric base material from a first side of the dielectric base material to an opposing second side of the dielectric base material. At least one metal line of the metal based interconnect structure extends from the first side of the dielectric base material to the second side of the dielectric base material and has a first non-linear portion. A fluidic passage extends through the dielectric base material, wherein the fluidic passage has a second non-linear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel J. Buvid, Eric J. Campbell, Sarah K. Czaplewski, Christopher W. Steffen
  • Patent number: 9935044
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor package includes a contact pad, a device external to the contact pad and a solder bump on the contact pad. The device has a conductive contact pad corresponding to the contact pad. The solder bump connects the contact pad with the conductive contact pad. The solder bump comprises a height from a top of the solder bump to the contact pad; and a width which is a widest dimension of the solder bump in a direction perpendicular to the height. A junction portion of the solder bump in proximity to the contact pad comprises an hourglass shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Jen Lin, Wen-Hsiung Lu, Cheng-Ting Chen, Hsuan-Ting Kuo, Wei-Yu Chen, Ming-Da Cheng, Chung-Shi Liu
  • Patent number: 9914639
    Abstract: A MEMS device is provided with: a supporting base, having a bottom surface in contact with an external environment; a sensor die, which is of semiconductor material and integrates a micromechanical detection structure; a sensor frame, which is arranged around the sensor die and is mechanically coupled to a top surface of the supporting base; and a cap, which is arranged above the sensor die and is mechanically coupled to a top surface of the sensor frame, a top surface of the cap being in contact with an external environment. The sensor die is mechanically decoupled from the sensor frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enri Duqi, Sebastiano Conti