Patents Examined by Sonya McCall-Shepard
  • Patent number: 11508806
    Abstract: A MOSFET fabricated in a semiconductor substrate, includes: a gate oxide region formed atop the semiconductor substrate; a gate polysilicon region formed on the gate oxide region; a source region of a first doping type formed in the semiconductor substrate and located at a first side of the gate polysilicon region; and a drain region of the first doping type formed in the semiconductor substrate and located at a second side of the gate polysilicon region. The gate polysilicon region has a first sub-region of the first doping type, a second sub-region of the first doping type, and a third sub-region of a second doping type, wherein the first sub-region is laterally adjacent to the source region, the second sub-region is laterally adjacent to the drain region, and the third sub-region is formed laterally between the first and second sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Braun, Joel McGregor
  • Patent number: 11508622
    Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack formed across the first fin structure and a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure adjacent to the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure and a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, a bottom surface of the contact structure is wider than a top surface of the contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Sheng-Tsung Wang, Jia-Chuan You, Chia-Hao Chang, Tien-Lu Lin, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11499224
    Abstract: A technique capable of exhausting a process gas in a wide pressure range includes a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber; a gas supply system configured to supply a process gas containing a compound capable of reacting with a metal; and a gas exhaust system configured to exhaust an inner atmosphere of the process chamber, wherein the gas exhaust system includes: a common exhaust piping; a first exhaust piping made of a resin incapable of reacting with the compound and whose one end is connected to the common exhaust piping via a first valve and the other end is connected to a first exhauster; and a second exhaust piping made of the metal and whose one end is connected to the common exhaust piping via a second valve and the other end is connected to a second exhauster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Inada, Hideto Tateno
  • Patent number: 11502162
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer overlapping the first semiconductor layer, and a wiring structure arranged between them. The second semiconductor layer is provided with p-type MIS transistor. A crystal structure of the first semiconductor layer has a first crystal orientation and a second crystal orientation in direction along a principal surface of the first semiconductor layer. A Young's modulus of the first semiconductor layer in a direction along the first crystal orientation is higher than that in a direction along the second crystal orientation. An angle formed by the first crystal orientation and a direction in which a source and a drain of the p-type MIS transistor are arranged is more than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees, and an angle formed by the second crystal orientation and that direction is 0 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takumi Ogino, Katsunori Hirota, Hiroaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11502075
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor substrate, a depletion layer, an isolation structure, a first gate structure, and a second gate structure. The first and second semiconductor substrates respectively have a first active region and a second active region overlapping the first active region. The depletion layer is disposed between the first active region and the second active region. The isolation structure surrounds the first and second active regions. The first gate structure is disposed in the second active region. The second gate structure is disposed in the second active region. The second active region has a portion between the first gate structure and the second gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching-Chia Huang, Tseng-Fu Lu
  • Patent number: 11495693
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a first active area and a second active area in proximity to the first active area. A trench isolation region is between the first active area and the second active area. A source line region is disposed in the first active area and adjacent to the trench isolation region. An erase gate is disposed on the source line region. A floating gate is disposed on a first side of the erase gate. A first control gate is disposed on the floating gate. A first word line is disposed adjacent to the floating gate and the first control gate and insulated therefrom. A second control gate is disposed on a second side of the erase gate and directly on the trench isolation region. A second word line is disposed adjacent to the second control gate and insulated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hung-Hsun Shuai, Chih-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 11488954
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods thereof, and more particularly to field-effect transistors operating at different voltages and methods for integrating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Eugenio Dentoni Litta, Alessio Spessot
  • Patent number: 11488971
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a memory region and a logic region integrated in a substrate. A memory cell structure is disposed on the memory region. A logic device is disposed on the logic region having a logic gate electrode separated from the substrate by a logic gate dielectric. A sidewall spacer is disposed along a sidewall surface of the logic gate electrode. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is disposed along an upper surface of the substrate, extending upwardly along and in direct contact with sidewall surfaces of the pair of select gate electrodes within the memory region, and extending upwardly along the sidewall spacer within the logic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Te-Hsin Chiu, Wei Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 11482594
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes one or more channel layers; a gate structure engaging the one or more channel layers; a first source/drain feature connected to a first side of the one or more channel layers and adjacent to the gate structure; a first dielectric cap disposed over the first source/drain feature, wherein a bottom surface of the first dielectric cap is below a top surface of the gate structure; a via disposed under and electrically connected to the first source/drain feature; and a power rail disposed under and electrically connected to the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Huan-Chieh Su, Lin-Yu Huang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11476114
    Abstract: An epitaxial growth process for a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of Dummy Gate structures on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming grooves in a self-aligned manner on both sides of the Dummy Gate structures; forming an initial seed layer on the inner side surfaces of the grooves, the thickness of the formed initial seed layer on the bottoms of the grooves being greater and the thickness of the formed initial seed layer on the sidewalls being smaller since the growth speed of crystal faces <100> and <110> is different; longitudinally etching the initial seed layer to thin the bottom of the initial seed layer to form a seed layer; forming a main body layer on the seed layer, the main body layer filling the grooves; and forming a cover layer on the main body layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Huali Integrated Circuit Corporation
    Inventors: Huojin Tu, Qin Deng, Jueyang Liu, Zhanyuan Hu
  • Patent number: 11476264
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first vertical transistor on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a second vertical transistor stacked on the first vertical transistor. In the method, a silicide layer is formed on a first drain region of the first vertical transistor and on a second drain region of the second vertical transistor. The silicide layer electrically connects the first and second drain regions to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Reznicek, Karthik Balakrishnan, Tak Ning, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari
  • Patent number: 11469203
    Abstract: A method for forming a package structure includes forming an under bump metallization (UBM) layer over a metal pad and forming a photoresist layer over the UBM layer. The method further includes patterning the photoresist layer to form an opening in the photoresist layer. The method also includes forming a first bump structure over the first portion of the UBM layer. The first bump structure includes a first barrier layer over a first pillar layer. The method includes placing a second bump structure over the first bump structure. The second bump structure includes a second barrier layer over a second pillar layer. The method further includes reflowing the first bump structure and the second bump structure to form a solder joint between a first inter intermetallic compound (IMC) and a second IMC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hung Chen, Yu-Nu Hsu, Chun-Chen Liu, Heng-Chi Huang, Chien-Chen Li, Shih-Yen Chen, Cheng-Nan Hsieh, Kuo-Chio Liu, Chen-Shien Chen, Chin-Yu Ku, Te-Hsun Pang, Yuan-Feng Wu, Sen-Chi Chiang
  • Patent number: 11469249
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises forming sacrificial structures and support pillars on a material. Tiers are formed over the sacrificial structures and support pillars and tier pillars and tier openings are formed to expose the sacrificial structures. One or more of the tier openings comprises a greater critical dimension than the other tier openings. The sacrificial structures are removed to form a cavity. A cell film is formed over sidewalls of the tier pillars, the cavity, and the one or more tier openings. A fill material is formed in the tier openings and adjacent to the cell film and a portion removed from the other tier openings to form recesses adjacent to an uppermost tier. Substantially all of the fill material is removed from the one or more tier openings. A doped polysilicon material is formed in the recesses and the one or more tier openings. A conductive material is formed in the recesses and in the one or more tier openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, David H. Wells, John D. Hopkins, Kevin Y. Titus
  • Patent number: 11444160
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) structure with a body contact to a well with multiple diode junctions. A first doped well is in a substrate. A transistor is on the first doped well. A trench isolation (TI) is adjacent a portion of the first doped well. A second doped well within the substrate has a bottom surface beneath a bottom surface of the first doped well. A sidewall of the TI horizontally abuts the second doped well. A first diode junction is between the second doped well and the first doped well. A second diode junction is between the second doped well and the substrate. A body contact is on the second doped well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Anupam Dutta, Venkata N. R. Vanukuru, John J. Ellis-Monaghan
  • Patent number: 11443980
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes at least the following steps is provided. A first metal layer is formed on a substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. The first dielectric layer is patterned, thereby forming a first opening exposing the first metal layer. A second metal layer is formed on the first dielectric layer and filling into the first opening. The second metal layer is patterned, thereby forming a metal pad. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer and the metal pad. The second dielectric layer is patterned, thereby forming a second opening exposing the metal pad. A first annealing process is performed in an atmosphere of a gas including 50 vol % to 100 vol % of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chung Chen, Chi-Feng Huang, Victor Chiang Liang, Chung-Hao Chu, Ching-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 11444161
    Abstract: An InP substrate, being a group III-V compound semiconductor substrate, that includes, on a main surface thereof, 0.22 particles/cm2 that have a particle diameter of at least 0.19 ?m or 20 particles/cm2 that have a particle diameter of 0.079 ?m. An InP substrate with an epitaxial layer, being a group III-V compound semiconductor substrate with an epitaxial layer, includes: the InP substrate and an epitaxial layer arranged upon the main surface of the InP substrate; and, upon the main surface thereof when the thickness of the epitaxial layer is 0.3 ?m, no more than 10 LPD that have a circle-equivalent diameter of at least 0.24 ?m, per cm2, or no more than 30 LPD that have a circle-equivalent diameter of at least 0.136 ?m, per cm2. As a result, a group III-V compound semiconductor substrate capable of reducing defects in an epitaxial layer grown upon a main surface thereof and a group III-V compound semiconductor substrate with an epitaxial layer are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Fujiwara, Tomoaki Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11437267
    Abstract: A workpiece unit includes a wafer, a tape attached to the wafer, and an annular frame to which an outer peripheral edge of the tape is attached and having an opening in a center of the annular frame, and the workpiece unit has the wafer positioned in the opening of the annular frame through the tape. In the workpiece unit, the tape has a color change layer that reversibly changes in color in response to a change in temperature caused by cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Saito, Masayuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11437374
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a logic cell region and a connection region, a dummy transistor on the connection region, an intermediate connection layer on the dummy transistor, a first metal layer on the intermediate connection layer, an etch stop layer between the intermediate connection layer and the first metal layer, a through contact below the first metal layer penetrating the connection region, an upper portion of the through contact protruding above the etch stop layer, and a protection insulating pattern on the etch stop layer covering the upper portion of the through contact. The protection insulating pattern covers an upper side surface of the through contact and a top surface of the through contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shaofeng Ding, Minguk Kang, Jihyung Kim, Jeong Hoon Ahn, Haeri Yoo, Yun Ki Choi
  • Patent number: 11424405
    Abstract: A method for etching a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure is described. A stack of MTJ layers is provided on a bottom electrode. A top electrode is provided on the MTJ stack. The top electrode is patterned. Thereafter, the MTJ stack not covered by the patterned top electrode is oxidized or nitridized. Then, the MTJ stack is patterned to form a MTJ device wherein any sidewall re-deposition formed on sidewalls of the MTJ device is non-conductive and wherein some of the dielectric layer remains on horizontal surfaces of the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Wang, Dongna Shen, Vignesh Sundar, Sahil Patel
  • Patent number: 11417731
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active pattern on a substrate, a pair of source/drain patterns on the active pattern, a channel pattern between the pair of source/drain patterns, the channel pattern including semiconductor patterns stacked to be spaced apart from each other, and a gate electrode crossing the channel pattern and extending in a first direction. One of the pair of source/drain patterns includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer thereon. The first semiconductor layer is in contact with a first semiconductor pattern, which is one of the stacked semiconductor patterns. The largest widths of the first semiconductor pattern, the first semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer in the first direction are a first width, a second width, a third width, respectively, and the second width is larger than the first width and smaller than the third width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinbum Kim, Dahye Kim, Seokhoon Kim, Jaemun Kim, Ilgyou Shin, Haejun Yu, Kyungin Choi, Kihyun Hwang, Sangmoon Lee, Seung Hun Lee, Keun Hwi Cho