Patents Examined by Sonya D. McCall-Shepard
  • Patent number: 9443932
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of unit cells provided on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit cells may include a buried insulating pattern buried in the semiconductor substrate, a first active pattern provided on the buried insulating pattern, and a second active pattern provided on the buried insulating pattern and spaced apart from the first active pattern. The buried insulating pattern may define a unit cell region, in which each of the unit cells may be disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Chul Kim, Joonghan Shin, Bongjin Kuh, Taegon Kim, Hanmei Choi
  • Patent number: 9437740
    Abstract: Approaches for enabling epitaxial growth of silicon fins in a device (e.g., a fin field effect transistor device (FinFET)) are provided. Specifically, approaches are provided for forming a set of silicon fins for a FinFET device, the FinFET device comprising: a set of gate structures formed over a substrate, each of the set of gate structures including a capping layer and a set of spacers; an oxide fill formed over the set of gate structures; a set of openings formed in the device by removing the capping layer and the set of spacers from one or more of the set of gate structures; a silicon material epitaxially grown within the set of openings in the device and then planarized; and wherein the oxide fill is etched to expose the silicon material and form the set of fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Johannes M. van Meer, Michael J. Hargrove, Christian Gruensfelder, Yanxiang Liu, Srikanth B. Samavedam
  • Patent number: 9431534
    Abstract: A device includes a field effect transistor on an insulating film. A first fin extends vertically from a top side of a horizontal surface of a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial cap rests on the first fin, with a left vertex on a left side of the epitaxial cap at a first horizontal distance from a reference line that vertically bisects the first fin, and a right vertex on the right side of the epitaxial cap at a second horizontal distance from the reference line, the first horizontal distance being at least twenty percent greater than the second horizontal distance; and a top vertex is at a third horizontal distance to the left of the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas L. Breil, Oleg Gluschenkov
  • Patent number: 9431478
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first multi-channel active pattern defined by a field insulating layer and extending along a first direction, the first multi-channel active pattern including a first portion having a top surface protruding further in an upward direction than a top surface of the field insulating layer and a second portion on both sides of the first portion, the second portion having sidewalls with a continuous profile and a top surface protruding further in the upward direction than the top surface of the field insulating layer and protruding in the upward direction less than the top surface of the first portion, a gate electrode on the first portion of the first multi-channel active pattern and extending along a second direction different from the first direction, and a first source/drain region on the second portion of the first multi-channel active pattern and contacting the field insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Jong Jeong, Jeong-Yun Lee, Geo-Myung Shin, Dong-Suk Shin, Si-Hyung Lee, Seo-Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 9431341
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a passivation layer defining a metal pattern on a first surface of a substrate, an inter-layer insulating layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate, and a piezoelectric pattern formed between the metal pattern and the passivation layer on the first surface of the substrate. A through-silicon-via and/or a pad can be directly bonded to another through-silicon-via and/or another pad by applying pressure only, and without performing a heat process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Koan Hong, Byung-Lyul Park, Ji-Soon Park, Si-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9419138
    Abstract: Carbon-doped germanium stressor regions are formed in an nFET device region of a germanium substrate and at a footprint of a functional gate structure. The carbon-doped germanium stressor regions are formed by an epitaxial growth process utilizing monomethylgermane (GeH3—CH3) as the carbon source. The carbon-doped germanium stressor regions that are provided yield more strain in less volume since a carbon atom is much smaller than a silicon atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dittmar, Keith E. Fogel, Sebastian Naczas, Alexander Reznicek, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 9412761
    Abstract: An array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate comprises: a substrate (1); a common electrode (2) and a pixel electrode (10) sequentially formed on the substrate (1) and insulated from each other; a thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode (4), an active layer (7), a source electrode (8a) and a drain electrode (8b), wherein the drain electrode (8b) is electrically connected with the pixel electrode (10); a common electrode line (5) disposed in a same layer as the gate electrode (4); and an insulating layer (3) between the gate electrode (4) and the common electrode (2), wherein the common electrode (2) is connected with the common electrode line (5) through a through hole in the insulating layer (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinchao Bai, Yao Liu, Liangliang Li, Zhaohui Hao, Liang Sun
  • Patent number: 9411082
    Abstract: A polarizing plate includes a base film and a polarizer. The polarizer includes a dichroic dye formed on the base film, oriented perpendicular to a plane of the base film, and having a discotic liquid crystal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beong-hun Beon, Seungbeom Park, Jihye Kim
  • Patent number: 9406778
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of formation are provided herein. A semiconductor device includes a fin having a doped region, in some embodiments. The semiconductor device includes a gate over a channel portion of the fin. The gate including a gate electrode over a gate dielectric between a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer. The first sidewall spacer includes an initial first sidewall spacer over a first portion of a dielectric material. The second sidewall spacer includes an initial second sidewall spacer over a second portion of the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 9397216
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fast etching region comprising phosphorous in an active region and forming a first trench in the active region by recessing the fast etching region. The methods may also include forming a second trench in the active region by enlarging the first trench using a directional etch process and forming a stressor in the second trench. The second trench may include a notched portion of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Suk Shin, Chul-Woong Lee, Hoi-Sung Chung, Young-Tak Kim, Nae-In Lee
  • Patent number: 9398705
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a conductor on an uneven two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) surface is described. An amount of conductive material needed to form a conductor between two points on a surface of an object is determined. The determined amount of conductive material is deposited on a substrate. The substrate with the deposited conductive material is applied to the object to form a conductor between the two points on the surface of the object. The conductive material and substrate may be stretchable. The conductive material may be deposited by an inkjet printer or an embedded 3-D printer. The substrate with the deposited conductive material may be applied to the object by laminating the substrate with the deposited conductive material to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLC.
    Inventors: Anwar Mohammed, Weifeng Liu, Murad Kurwa
  • Patent number: 9395489
    Abstract: An electrical device that in one embodiment includes a first semiconductor device positioned on a first portion of a type IV semiconductor substrate, and an optoelectronic light emission device of type III-V semiconductor materials that is in electrical communication with the first semiconductor device. The optoelectronic light emission device is positioned adjacent to the first semiconductor device on the first portion of the type IV semiconductor substrate. A dielectric waveguide is present on a second portion of the type IV semiconductor substrate. An optoelectronic light detection device of type III-V semiconductor material is present on a third portion of the type IV semiconductor device. The dielectric waveguide is positioned between and aligned with the optoelectronic tight detection device and optoelectronic light emission device to transmit a light signal from the optoelectronic light emission device to the optoelectronic light detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 9390983
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers; a plurality of composite doped regions separately and parallelly disposed in a portion of the semiconductor layers along a first direction; a gate structure disposed over a portion of the semiconductor layers along a second direction, wherein the gate structure covers a portion of the composite doped regions; a first doped region formed in the most top semiconductor layer along the second direction and being adjacent to a first side of the gate structure; and a second doped region formed in the most top semiconductor layer along the second direction and being adjacent to a second side of the gate structure opposite to the first side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiung-Shih Chang, Jui-Chun Chang, Chih-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 9391175
    Abstract: After formation of gate structures over semiconductor fins and prior to formation of raised active regions, a directional ion beam is employed to form a dielectric material portion on end walls of semiconductor fins that are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins. The angle of the directional ion beam is selected to be with a vertical plane including the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins, thereby avoiding formation of the dielectric material portion on lengthwise sidewalls of the semiconductor fins. Selective epitaxy of semiconductor material is performed to grow raised active regions from sidewall surfaces of the semiconductor fins. Optionally, horizontal portions of the dielectric material portion may be removed prior to the selective epitaxy process. Further, the dielectric material portion may optionally be removed after the selective epitaxy process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Sameer H. Jain, Viraj Y. Sardesai, Cung D. Tran, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Patent number: 9378953
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a polycrystalline metal oxide pattern, characterized by comprising: annealing a predetermined region of an amorphous metal oxide film by laser, so as to convert the amorphous metal oxide in the predetermined region into a polycrystalline metal oxide; and etching the amorphous metal oxide outside of the predetermined region so as to remove it. By the method according to the present invention, firstly, the predetermined region of an amorphous metal oxide film is annealed by laser so as to convert the amorphous metal oxide into a polycrystalline metal oxide, and then, the amorphous metal oxide outside of the predetermined region is etched away, thereby a polycrystalline metal oxide pattern is formed. The method for preparing a polycrystalline metal oxide pattern according to the present invention is simple, and can effectively shorten the production period and save production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liangliang Li, Zongjie Guo, Huibin Guo, Shoukun Wang, Yuchun Feng, Xiaowei Liu
  • Patent number: 9379103
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit includes a substrate and first well region formed in the substrate. A first transistor includes first and second conduction regions disposed in the first well region. A second well region is formed in the substrate. A third well region is formed within the second well region. A second transistor includes first and second conduction regions disposed in the third well region. The second well region and third well region are coupled to a common terminal. The common terminal receives a local potential and the first well region and second well region are commonly maintained at the local potential. The first transistor and second transistor operate within the charge pump cell. A plurality of charge pump cells can be cascaded together with an output of a first charge pump cell coupled to an input of a second charge pump cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Semtech Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Aebischer, Michel Chevroulet
  • Patent number: 9379175
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first polysilicon region having a first grain size formed on a substrate. The integrated circuit also includes a second polysilicon region, having a second grain size different from the first grain size, formed on the substrate. Furthermore, a method of fabricating an integrated circuit is also provided. The method includes forming a first polysilicon region having an initial grain size on a substrate. The first polysilicon region is implanted with a first dopant of a first conductivity type and a second dopant. After the implantation, the first polysilicon region has a first grain size larger than the initial grain size. Then, a laser rapid thermal annealing process is performed to the first polysilicon region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Yuan-Fu Chung, Chu-Wei Hu, Yuan-Hung Chung
  • Patent number: 9377804
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a capacitor and a die. The die comprises a resistor switch coupled between a power line and the capacitor, wherein the resistor switch has an adjustable resistance, and the power line and the capacitor are both external to the die. The die also comprises a circuit configured to receive power from the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan Michael Coutts, Mikhail Popovich
  • Patent number: 9373344
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head has side-by-side sensors that are formed of the same width by initially forming a single sensor and then removing selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer of the sensor. Then, insulating material is filled into the area from where the selected portions have been removed. A hardmask may be necessary to properly define the side-by-side sensors to ensure that the selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer are removed. The hardmask may be formed by blanket depositing hardmask material and then selectively removing the hardmask material such that the remaining hardmask material is equal to the width of the side-by-side sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Neil L. Robertson, Howard G. Zolla
  • Patent number: 9373661
    Abstract: Solid state transducer devices having integrated electrostatic discharge protection and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state transducer device includes a solid state emitter, and an electrostatic discharge device carried by the solid state emitter. In some embodiments, the electrostatic discharge device and the solid state emitter share a common first contact and a common second contact. In further embodiments, the solid state lighting device and the electrostatic discharge device share a common epitaxial substrate. In still further embodiments, the electrostatic discharge device is positioned between the solid state lighting device and a support substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin F. Schubert, Vladimir Odnoblyudov