Patents Examined by Syed Gheyas
  • Patent number: 9360401
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sample stack structure with multiple layers. The sample stack structure has at least a substrate, an adhesive layer and a target layer. The target layer is directly sandwiched between the substrate and the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jian-Shing Luo, Hsiu-Ting Lee
  • Patent number: 9343319
    Abstract: First, a product to be inspected is prepared. The product to be inspected includes a substrate and a first film formed on the substrate. TDS is performed while the temperature of the product to be inspected is raised to 1,000° C. or higher, and the quality of the product to be inspected is determined by checking for the presence or absence of a peak at 1,000° C. or higher. Meanwhile, the substrate is, for example, a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon substrate. In addition, the rate of temperature rise is, for example, equal to or higher than 40° C./min and equal to or lower than 80° C./min. The upper limit of the temperature of TDS is, for example, 1,300° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shien Cho, Takahiro Hara, Kenichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9337103
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate above a semiconductor substrate, forming a hard mask on the first gate, and forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the hard mask. No hard mask is removed between the step of forming the hard mask and the step of forming the CESL. The method further includes forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the CESL, and performing one or more CMP processes to planarize the ILD layer, remove the CESL on the hard mask, and remove at least one portion of the hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-An Lin, Chun-Wei Chang, Neng-Kuo Chen, Sey-Ping Sun, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Patent number: 9331146
    Abstract: Techniques for a semiconductor device are provided. Techniques are directed to forming a semiconductor device by: forming a fin structure in a substrate, forming a protective layer over an upper portion of the fin structure, the protective layer having an etch selectivity with respect to a material of the fin structure, and performing an undercut etch so as to remove a lower portion of the fin structure below the protective layer, thereby defining a nanowire structure from the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Chen, Zuoguang Liu, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9318568
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a memory gate structure in a nonvolatile memory region of the semiconductor device, wherein the memory gate structure comprises a first gate separated from a second gate by a charge storage layer. A logic gate structure is formed in a logic region of the semiconductor device. A hard mask is formed over at least the metal electrode portion. The nonvolatile memory region is selectively etched such that a first recess is formed in the first gate and a second recess is formed in the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Asanga H. Perera, Sung-Taeg Kang
  • Patent number: 9312349
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device in which the threshold value is controlled. Furthermore, to provide a semiconductor device in which a deterioration in electrical characteristics which becomes more noticeable as a transistor is miniaturized can be suppressed. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor film, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode in contact with the gate insulating film. The gate insulating film includes a first insulating film and a trap film, and charge is trapped in a charge trap state in an interface between the first insulating film and the trap film or inside the trap film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Tanaka, Takayuki Inoue, Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Hideomi Suzawa, Tamae Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 9306130
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device includes forming a wave length conversion portion on a light-emitting element. The light emitting device includes a light-emitting element which emits light of a predetermined wavelength and a wavelength conversion portion which includes a fluorescent substance which is excited by the light emitted from the light-emitting element so as to emit fluorescence of a wavelength different from the predetermined wavelength, which wavelength conversion portion is formed by including the fluorescent substance, a layered silicate mineral, and an organometallic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 9287298
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate, a gate line and a data line disposed on the first substrate, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a first passivation layer disposed on the thin film transistor, a first electrode disposed on the first passivation layer, a second passivation layer disposed on the first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the second passivation layer. A first edge of the first electrode and a second edge of the second passivation layer have substantially the same plane shape as each other, and the second edge of the second passivation layer protrudes more than the first edge of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Ho Choi, Jae-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 9275891
    Abstract: A process for fabricating an integrated circuit includes, in a stack of layers including a silicon substrate overlaid with a buried insulating layer overlaid with a silicon layer, etching first trenches into the silicon substrate, depositing a silicon nitride layer on the silicon layer to fill the first trenches and form first trench isolations, forming a mask on the silicon nitride layer, etching second trenches into the silicon substrate, in a pattern defined by the mask, to a depth greater than a depth of the first trenches, filling the second trenches with an electrical insulator to form second trench isolations, carrying out a chemical etch until the silicon layer is exposed, and forming a FET by forming a channel, a source, and a drain of the field effect transistor in the silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Claire Fenouillet-Beranger, Stéphane Denorme
  • Patent number: 9263317
    Abstract: A method of forming a buried word line structure is provided. A first mask layer, an interlayer and a second mask layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the second mask layer has a plurality of mask patterns and a plurality of gaps arranged alternately, and the gaps includes first gaps and second gaps arranged alternately. A dielectric pattern is formed in each first gap and spacers are simultaneously formed on sidewalls of each second gap, wherein a first trench is formed between the adjacent spacers and exposes a portion of the first mask layer. The mask patterns are removed to form second trenches. An etching process is performed by using the dielectric patterns and the spacers as a mask, so that the first trenches are deepened to the substrate and the second trenches are deepened to the first mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Inho Park, Lars Heineck
  • Patent number: 9263596
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a channel layer including a sidewall having protrusions and depressions alternating with each other in a direction in which the channel layer extends, a tunnel insulating layer surrounding the channel layer, first charge storage patterns surrounding the tunnel insulating layer formed in the depressions, blocking insulation patterns surrounding the first charge patterns formed in the depressions, wherein the blocking insulating patterns include connecting portions coupled to the tunnel insulating layer, and second charge storage patterns surrounding the tunnel insulating layer formed in the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Deung Kak Yoo
  • Patent number: 9263269
    Abstract: Provided are a reaction tube, a substrate processing apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of suppressing a non-uniform distribution of a gas in a top region to improve the flow of the gas and film uniformity within and between substrate surfaces. The reaction tube has a cylindrical shape, accommodates a plurality of substrates stacked therein, and includes a cylindrical portion and a ceiling portion covering an upper end portion of the cylindrical portion, the ceiling portion having a substantially flat top inner surface. A thickness of a sidewall of the ceiling portion is greater than that of a sidewall of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Kosuke Takagi, Yukinao Kaga
  • Patent number: 9252231
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a conductive layer, a conductive architecture and a dielectric layer. The conductive layer defines adjacent first openings. The conductive architecture surrounds a portion of the conductive layer between the first openings. The dielectric layer separates the conductive layer and the conductive architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Erh-Kun Lai
  • Patent number: 9249354
    Abstract: Networks of semiconductor structures with fused insulator coatings and methods of fabricating networks of semiconductor structures with fused insulator coatings are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure involves forming a mixture including a plurality of discrete semiconductor nanocrystals. Each of the plurality of discrete semiconductor nanocrystals is discretely coated by an insulator shell. The method also involves adding a base to the mixture to fuse the insulator shells of each of the plurality of discrete nanocrystals, providing an insulator network. Each of the plurality of discrete semiconductor nanocrystals is spaced apart from one another by the insulator network. The base one such as, but not limited to, LiOH, RbOH, CsOH, MgOH, Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2, (Me)4NOH, (Et)4NOH, or (Bu)4NOH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Pacific Light Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Benjamin Daniel Mangum, Weiwen Zhao, Kari N. Haley, Juanita N. Kurtin, Nathan Evan Stott
  • Patent number: 9245975
    Abstract: A metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (MOS) and method of fabricating the same, in which the effective channel length is increased relative to the width of the gate electrode. A dummy gate electrode overlying dummy gate dielectric material is formed at the surface of the structure, with self-aligned source/drain regions, and dielectric spacers on the sidewalls of the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate dielectric underlies the sidewall spacers. Following removal of the dummy gate electrode and the underlying dummy gate dielectric material, including from under the spacers, a silicon etch is performed to form a recess in the underlying substrate. This etch is self-limiting on the undercut sides, due to the crystal orientation, relative to the etch of the bottom of the recess. The gate dielectric and gate electrode material are then deposited into the remaining void, for example to form a high-k metal gate MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kwan-Yong Lim, Stanley Seungchul Song, Amitabh Jain
  • Patent number: 9240460
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming preliminary trenches adjacent opposing sides of an active region. The method includes forming etching selection regions in portions of the active region that are exposed after forming the preliminary trenches. The method includes forming trenches by removing the etching selection regions. Moreover, the method includes forming a stressor in the trenches. Related apparatuses are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Suk Kim, Kee-Moon Chun
  • Patent number: 9236301
    Abstract: Fabrication of through-substrate via (TSV) structures is facilitated by: forming at least one stress buffer within a substrate; forming a through-substrate via contact within the substrate, wherein the through-substrate via structure and the stress buffer(s) are disposed adjacent to or in contact with each other; and where the stress buffer(s) includes a configuration or is disposed at a location relative to the through-substrate via conductor, at least in part, according to whether the TSV structure is an isolated TSV structure, a chained TSV structure, or an arrayed TSV structure, to customize stress alleviation by the stress buffer(s) about the through-substrate via conductor based, at least in part, on the type of TSV structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Guoxiang Ning, Xiang Hu, Paul Ackmann, Sarasvathi Thangaraju
  • Patent number: 9236248
    Abstract: A (000-1) C-plane of an n? type silicon carbide substrate having an off-angle ? in a <11-20> direction is defined as a principal plane, and a periphery of a portion of this principal surface layer defined as an alignment mark is selectively removed to leave the convex-shaped alignment mark. The alignment mark has a cross-like plane shape such that two rectangles having longitudinal dimensions tilted by 45 degrees relative to the <11-20> direction are orthogonal to each other. When a film thickness of a p? type epitaxial layer is Y; a width of the alignment mark parallel to the principal surface of the n? type silicon carbide substrate is X; and an off-angle of the n? type silicon carbide substrate is ?, an epitaxial layer is formed on an upper surface of the alignment mark such that Y?X·tan ? is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tsuji, Kenji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9230835
    Abstract: Embodiments of an integrated platform for fabricating n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, an integrated platform for fabricating n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) devices may include a first deposition chamber configured to deposit a first layer atop the substrate, the first layer comprising titanium oxide (TiO2) or selenium (Se); a second deposition chamber configured to deposit a second layer atop the first layer, the second layer comprising titanium; a third deposition chamber configured to deposit a third layer atop the second layer, the third layer comprising one of titanium nitride (TiN) or tungsten nitride (WN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Srinivas Gandikota, Seshadri Ganguli, Xinyu Fu, Bo Zheng, Yu Lei
  • Patent number: 9214528
    Abstract: A method for forming an enhancement mode GaN HFET device with an isolation area that is self-aligned to a contact opening or metal mask window. Advantageously, the method does not require a dedicated isolation mask and the associated process steps, thus reducing manufacturing costs. The method includes providing an EPI structure including a substrate, a buffer layer a GaN layer and a barrier layer. A dielectric layer is formed over the barrier layer and openings are formed in the dielectric layer for device contact openings and an isolation contact opening. A metal layer is then formed over the dielectric layer and a photoresist film is deposited above each of the device contact openings. The metal layer is then etched to form a metal mask window above the isolation contact opening and the barrier and GaN layer are etched at the portion that is exposed by the isolation contact opening in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Chunhua Zhou, Jianjun Cao, Alexander Lidow, Robert Beach, Alana Nakata, Robert Strittmatter, Guangyuan Zhao, Seshadri Kolluri, Yanping Ma, Fang Chang Liu, Ming-Kun Chiang, Jiali Cao