Patents Examined by Steven J. Fulk
  • Patent number: 8877547
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor including a gate electrode on a substrate; a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; source and drain electrodes including first source and drain layers on the gate insulating layer, respectively, and spaced apart from each other, wherein at lease one of the first source and drain layers includes indium-tin-oxide doped with at least one Group III element; and an organic semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer and contacting the first source and drain layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Sik Seo, Nack-Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 8872186
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a display device provided with gate wiring lines (112) disposed on a substrate to supply signals to TFTs, and a plurality of source wiring lines (111) disposed above the gate wiring lines, the method for manufacturing a display device including: a step of forming a first conductive pattern (31) that includes the gate wiring lines (112) by etching a gate metal layer with a first resist pattern as a mask; and a step of forming a second resist pattern (12) at a portion located between the source wirings (111) so as to expose a portion of an edge of an upper surface of the first conductive pattern (31) and so as to cover other parts thereof, at the aforementioned portion of the edge of the upper surface, the first conductive pattern (31) is etched off from the upper surface through an intermediate point along the direction of thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8860128
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first pillar, a second pillar underneath the first pillar, and a third pillar on a top of the first pillar. The second pillar has a second-conductive type region in a surface thereof except at least a part of a contact surface region with the first pillar, and a first-conductive type region therein and surrounded by the second-conductive type region. The third pillar has a second-conductive type region in a surface thereof except at least a part of a contact surface region with the first pillar, and a first-conductive type region therein and surrounded by the second-conductive type region. The first-conductive type region of each of the second pillar and the third pillar has a length greater than that of a depletion layer extending from a base portion of the second-conductive type region of a respective one of the second pillar and the third pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Tomohiko Kudo
  • Patent number: 8860090
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a conductive substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode. The second semiconductor layer is directly bonded to the first semiconductor layer. The conductive substrate is provided on and electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are provided on and electrically connected to a surface of the second semiconductor layer on a side opposite to the first semiconductor layer. The control electrode is provided on the surface of the second semiconductor layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to a drain electrode of a MOSFET formed of Si. The control electrode is electrically connected to a source electrode of the MOSFET. The conductive substrate is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wataru Saito, Yasunobu Saito, Hidetoshi Fujimoto, Akira Yoshioka, Tetsuya Ohno
  • Patent number: 8860114
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a substrate having a surface that is defined by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and a capacitor structure disposed on the substrate. The capacitor structure includes a first conductive component; a second conductive component and a third conductive component symmetrically configured on opposite sides of the first conductive component. The first, second and third conductive components are separated from each other by respective dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Tsung Yen, Yu-Ling Lin, Chin-Wei Kuo, Ho-Hsiang Chen, Min-Chie Jeng
  • Patent number: 8853778
    Abstract: A multi-path transistor includes an active region including a channel region and an impurity region. A gate is dielectrically separated from the channel region. A signal line is dielectrically separated from the impurity region. A conductive shield is disposed between, and dielectrically separated from, the signal line and the channel region. In some multi-path transistors, the channel region includes an extension-channel region under the conductive shield and the multi-path transistor includes different conduction paths, at least one of the different conduction paths being in the extension-channel region to conduct substantially independent of a voltage on the signal line. In other multi-path transistors, the conductive shield is operably coupled to the impurity region and the multi-path transistor includes different conduction paths, at least one of the different conduction paths being under the conductive shield to conduct substantially independent of a voltage on the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 8846551
    Abstract: The surface of a material is textured and by exposing the surface to pulses from an ultrafast laser. The laser treatment causes pillars to form on the treated surface. These pillars provide for greater light absorption. Texturing and crystallization can be carried out as a single step process. The crystallization of the material provides for higher electric conductivity and changes in optical and electronic properties of the material. The method may be performed in vacuum or a gaseous environment. The gaseous environment may aid in texturing and/or modifying physical and chemical properties of the surfaces. This method may be used on various material surfaces, such as semiconductors, metals and their alloys, ceramics, polymers, glasses, composites, as well as crystalline, nanocrystalline, polycrystalline, microcrystalline, and amorphous phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Mool C. Gupta, Barada K. Nayak
  • Patent number: 8836024
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor structure, including a patterned semiconductor layer overlying a substrate, wherein the patterned semiconductor layer defines first and second trenches. The electronic device can also include a first conductive structure within the first trench, a gate electrode within the first trench and overlying the first conductive structure, a first insulating member within the second trench, and a second conductive structure within the second trench. The second conductive structure can include a first portion and a second portion overlying the first portion, the first insulating member can be disposed between the patterned semiconductor layer and the first portion of the second conductive structure; and the second portion of the second conductive structure can contact the patterned semiconductor layer at a Schottky region. Processes of forming the electronic device can take advantage of integrating formation of the Schottky region into a contact process flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Balaji Padmanabhan, James Sellers
  • Patent number: 8835957
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate having a conductive portion; a light emitting element having one or more electrodes on a lower surface side thereof, the electrodes being positioned on the conductive portion of the substrate; a phosphor layer disposed on a surface of the light emitting element and on a peripheral surface area of the conductive portion next to the light emitting element; and a reflection layer covering a part of the phosphor layer disposed on the peripheral surface area of the conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Beppu, Takuya Noichi
  • Patent number: 8835933
    Abstract: A SiC MISFET, in which a source region and a drain region (3, 4) are formed in a one-conductivity-type SiC semiconductor region (2), in which a recess (5) with a predetermined depth is formed in a portion of the SiC semiconductor region sandwiched between the source and drain regions, with the recess having two side faces in contact with the source and drain regions, and a bottom face connecting the two side faces, and in which portions (3a, 4a) of the source and drain regions adjacent to the vicinity of both ends of the bottom face of the recess are thinner than other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Mitsuo Okamoto, Tsutomu Yatsuo, Kenji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8836016
    Abstract: An embodiment is a structure comprising a substrate, a high energy bandgap material, and a high carrier mobility material. The substrate comprises a first isolation region and a second isolation region. Each of first and second isolation regions extends below a first surface of the substrate between the first and second isolation regions. The high energy bandgap material is over the first surface of the substrate and is disposed between the first and second isolation regions. The high carrier mobility material is over the high energy bandgap material. The high carrier mobility material extends higher than respective top surfaces of the first and second isolation regions to form a fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Wu, Chih-Hsin Ko, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Patent number: 8829558
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device, which includes: a plurality of semiconductor layers composed of a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer; a first electrode disposed on the second semiconductor layer; a high-resistance body interposed between the second semiconductor layer and the first electrode; and a light-transmitting conductive film having an opening through which the high-resistance body is exposed, the first electrode being brought into contact with the light-transmitting conductive film, which is disposed on the high-resistance body, and the high-resistance body, which is exposed through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Semicon Light Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Kun Jeon
  • Patent number: 8828799
    Abstract: A method for forming an integrated circuit package is disclosed. A flex circuit is form by forming a direct connect pad on a first side of a dielectric layer. After forming the direct connect pad, an opening from a second side of the dielectric layer is formed to expose the direct connect pad. A blind via is formed within the opening in the dielectric layer. A first conductor is formed within the opening. A bond pad of a semiconductor die is electrically coupled with the direct connect pad using a second conductor, wherein the bond pad and the second conductor directly overlie the direct connect pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth Robert Rhyner, Peter R. Harper
  • Patent number: 8809995
    Abstract: Circuits for shielding devices from electromagnetic coupling with through-silicon vias are shown that include a substrate having a through via, which provides access to a device layer on a first surface of the circuit to a device layer on a second surface of the circuit; a conductive layer on the first side of the substrate; a contact point on one of the device layers; and a grounded buried interface tie on the conductive layer, adjacent to the contact point, to isolate the contact point from coupling noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaomin Duan, Xiaoxiong Gu, Yong Liu, Joel A. Silberman
  • Patent number: 8809077
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment, an inspection transistor is subjected to silicidation and subsequently a characteristic of the inspection transistor is measured after the inspection transistor and a product transistor on a substrate are subjected to an annealing process. Thereafter, based on the measured characteristic, a characteristic adjustment annealing process to make a characteristic of the product transistor close to a desired characteristic is performed, and then the product transistor is subjected to silicidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Amane Oishi
  • Patent number: 8809942
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a trench structure and a second semiconductor layer are provided in a semiconductor device. In the trench structure, a trench is provided in a surface of a device termination portion with a first semiconductor layer of a first conductive type including a device portion and the device termination portion, and an insulator is buried in the trench in such a manner to cover the trench. The second semiconductor layer, which is of a second conductive type, is provided on the surface of the first semiconductor layer, is in contact with at least a side on the device portion of the trench, and has a smaller depth than the trench. The insulator and a top passivation film for the semiconductor device are made of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shizue Matsuda, Shingo Sato, Wataru Saito
  • Patent number: 8802474
    Abstract: A method of packaging a pressure sensor die includes providing a lead frame having a die pad and lead fingers that surround the die pad. A tape is attached to a first side of the lead frame. A pressure sensor die is attached to the die pad on a second side of the lead frame and bond pads of the die are connected to the lead fingers. An encapsulant is dispensed onto the second side of the lead frame and covers the lead fingers and the electrical connections thereto. A gel is dispensed onto a top surface of the die and covers the die bond pads and the electrical connections thereto. A lid is attached to the lead frame and covers the die and the gel, and sides of the lid penetrate the encapsulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinzhong Yao, Wai Yew Lo, Lan Chu Tan, Xuesong Xu
  • Patent number: 8791523
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes: a structural body; semiconductor layers; a memory film; a connecting member; and a conductive member. The structural body is provided above a memory region of a substrate including the memory region and a non-memory region, and includes electrode films stacked along a first axis perpendicular to a major surface of the substrate. The semiconductor layers penetrate through the structural body along the first axis. The memory film is provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor layer. The connecting member is provided between the substrate and the structural body and connected to respective end portions of two adjacent ones of the semiconductor layers. The conductive member is provided between the substrate and the connecting member, extends from the memory region to the non-memory region, includes a recess provided above the non-memory region, and includes a first silicide portion provided in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Iino, Tadashi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8787598
    Abstract: A dynamic sound enhancement system and method which produces non-linear dynamic gain, time domain offset, and damping control in relation to frequency components of an applied audio signal. The functions and characteristics of the system make it feasible to extend the ability of small speakers to distinctly reproduce natural low frequencies including bass and sub-bass frequencies concurrently with high frequencies. Further, the system provides customization of system characteristics for obtaining optimized sound quality, audibility, and sound perception from diverse sound producing devices, and which satisfies diverse user hearing needs and listening preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Paul G. Berg
  • Patent number: 8786003
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a substrate; a memory unit provided on the substrate; and a non-memory unit provided on the substrate. The memory unit includes: a first stacked body including a plurality of first electrode films and a first inter-electrode insulating film, the plurality of first electrode films being stacked along a first axis perpendicular to the major surface, the first inter-electrode insulating film being provided between two of the first electrode films mutually adjacent along the first axis; a first semiconductor layer opposing side surfaces of the first electrode films; a first memory film provided between the first semiconductor layer and the first electrode films; and a first conductive film provided on the first stacked body apart from the first stacked body. The non-memory unit includes a resistance element unit of the same layer as the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masao Iwase, Hiroyasu Tanaka