Patents Examined by Thanhha Pham
  • Patent number: 9070750
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing metal oxide surfaces to modified metal surfaces are disclosed. Metal oxide surfaces are reduced to form a film integrated with a metal seed layer on a substrate by exposing the metal oxide surfaces to a reducing gas atmosphere comprising radicals of a reducing gas species. The radicals of the reducing gas species can form from exposing the reducing gas species to ultraviolet radiation and/or a plasma. The substrate is maintained at a temperature below a temperature that produces agglomeration of the metal seed layer during exposure to the reducing gas atmosphere, such as below 150° C. for copper. In some embodiments, the reducing gas species can include at least one of hydrogen, ammonia, carbon monoxide, diborane, sulfite compounds, carbon and/or hydrocarbons, phosphites, and hydrazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tighe A. Spurlin, Darcy E. Lambert, Durgalakshmi Singhal, George Andrew Antonelli
  • Patent number: 9064690
    Abstract: A Cu wiring forming method forms Cu wiring in a recess of a predetermined pattern including a trench formed in an insulating film on a substrate surface. The method includes: forming a barrier film at least on a surface of the recess; forming a Cu film by PVD to fill the recess with the Cu film; forming an additional layer on the Cu film; polishing an entire surface by CMP to form the Cu wiring in the recess; forming a metal cap including a manganese oxide film on an entire surface including the insulating film and the Cu wiring of the substrate after performing the CMP polishing; and forming a dielectric cap on the metal cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ishizaka, Atsushi Gomi, Kenji Suzuki, Tatsuo Hatano, Hiroyuki Toshima, Yasushi Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 9053926
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods of forming dielectric layers. According to an exemplary embodiment, a dielectric layer may be formed by determining a desired thickness of the dielectric layer, forming a first dielectric sub-layer having a thickness less than the desired thickness by depositing a first metal layer above a substrate and oxidizing the first metal layer, and forming n (where n is greater than 1) additional dielectric sub-layers having a thickness less than the desired thickness above the first dielectric sub-layer by the same method of the first dielectric sub-layer so that a combined thickness of all dielectric sub-layers is approximately equal to the desired thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Jamison, Juntao Li, Vamsi Paruchuri, Tuan A. Vo, Takaaki Tsunoda, Sanjay Shinde
  • Patent number: 9040402
    Abstract: A first metal layer (3) is formed on a back face of a silicon carbide substrate (1) to a degree such that the first metal layer (3) does not fully cover the back face of the silicon carbide substrate. Many holes (4) are formed on the back face of the silicon carbide substrate (1) by dry-etching the back face of the silicon carbide substrate (1) using the first metal layer (3) as a mask therefor. A second metal layer constituting an ohmic contact is formed on the first metal layer (3) and the back face of the silicon carbide substrate (1) including inner surfaces of the many holes (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Masahide Goto, Kenji Fukuda, Noriyuki Iwamuro
  • Patent number: 9034700
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices including Fin field effect transistors (finFETs) and methods of forming those devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fin on a substrate and forming a gate line on the fin. The method may also include forming a first recess in the fin having a first width and a first depth and forming a second recess in the first recess having a second width that is less than the first width and having a second depth that is greater than the first depth. The method may further include forming a source/drain region in the first and second recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Jong Jeong, Jeong-Yun Lee, Shi Ii Quan, Dong-Suk Shin, Si-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9024419
    Abstract: A non-leaded semiconductor device comprises a sealing body for sealing a semiconductor chip, a tab in the interior of the sealing body, suspension leads for supporting the tab, leads having respective surfaces exposed to outer edge portions of a back surface of the sealing body, and wires connecting pads formed on the semiconductor chip and the leads. End portions of the suspension leads positioned in an outer periphery portion of the sealing body are unexposed to the back surface of the sealing body, but are covered with the sealing body. Stand-off portions of the suspending leads are not formed in resin molding. When cutting the suspending leads, corner portions of the back surface of the sealing body are supported by a flat portion of a holder portion in a cutting die having an area wider than a cutting allowance of the suspending leads, whereby chipping of the resin is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tadatoshi Danno, Hiroyoshi Taya, Yoshiharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9023711
    Abstract: A method of forming a conductive material comprises forming at least one opening extending through an organic material and an insulative material underlying the organic material to expose at least a portion of a substrate and a conductive contact in the substrate. The method further comprises lining exposed surfaces of the insulative material, the conductive contact, and the at least a portion of the substrate in the at least one opening with a conductive material without forming the conductive material on the organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene P. Marsh
  • Patent number: 9018032
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a CIGS thin film photovoltaic device includes forming a back contact layer on a substrate, forming an Se-rich layer on the back contact layer, forming a precursor layer on the Se-rich layer by depositing copper, gallium and indium resulting in a first interim structure, annealing or selenizing the first interim structure, thereby forming Cu/Se, Ga/Se or CIGS compounds along the interface between the back contact layer and the precursor layer and resulting in a second interim structure, and selenizing the second interim structure, thereby converting the precursor layer into a CIGS absorber layer on the back contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: TSMC Solar Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Sheng Yang, Wen-Chin Lee, Li-Huan Chu
  • Patent number: 9006103
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring substrate, includes, forming an etching stop layer and a first wiring layer on a supporting member, forming a first insulating layer on the first wiring layer, forming a via hole reaching the first wiring layer, and forming the wiring layers of an n-layer and the insulating layers of an n-layer, removing the supporting member and the etching stop layer, thereby forming a build-up intermediate body, forming a second insulating layer on the wiring layer of an n-th layer, and forming a third insulating layer on first wiring layer, forming a via hole reaching the wiring layer of the n-th layer, and forming a via hole reaching the first wiring layer, forming a roughened face to the third insulating layer, and forming a second wiring layer connected to the wiring layer, and forming a third wiring layer connected to the first wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Kotaro Kodani, Junichi Nakamura, Kentaro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9006053
    Abstract: Method for fabricating MOSFET integrated with Schottky diode (MOSFET/SKY) is disclosed. Gate trench is formed in an epitaxial layer overlaying semiconductor substrate, gate material is deposited therein. Body, source, dielectric regions are successively formed upon epitaxial layer and the gate trench. Top contact trench (TCT) is etched with vertical side walls defining Schottky diode cross-sectional width SDCW through dielectric and source region defining source-contact depth (SCD); and partially into body region by total body-contact depth (TBCD). A heavily-doped embedded body implant region (EBIR) of body-contact depth (BCD)<TBCD is created into side walls of TCT and beneath SCD. An embedded Shannon implant region (ESIR) is created into sub-contact trench zone (SCTZ) beneath TCT floor. A metal layer is formed in contact with ESIR, body and source region. The metal layer also fills TCT and covers dielectric region thus completing the MOSFET/SKY with only one-time etching of its TCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Pan, Daniel Ng, Sung-Shan Tai, Anup Bhalla
  • Patent number: 9006056
    Abstract: A method of performing an ultraviolet (UV) curing process on an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate, the method includes supplying a gas flow rate ranging from 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) to 5 standard liters per minute (slm), wherein the gas comprises inert gas. The method further includes heating the interfacial layer at a temperature less than or equal to 700° C. Another method of performing an annealing process on an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate, the second method includes supplying a gas flow rate ranging from 10 sccm to 5 slm, wherein the gas comprises inert gas. The method further includes heating the interfacial layer at a temperature less than or equal to 600° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang-Gi Yao, Chun-Hu Cheng, Chen-Yi Lee, Jeff J. Xu, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Patent number: 8999855
    Abstract: According one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided, which includes forming a pair of element isolation insulation films on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate electrode structure on sides of the gate electrode structure, selectively removing oxide films that are formed on a top surface of the diffusion layer and a top surface of the gate electrode by placing the substrate in a gas atmosphere selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, H, O, Ar, or N; and irradiating the semiconductor substrate with microwave radiation. The method also includes depositing a metal film on a top surface of the diffusion layer and a top surface of the gate electrode, and a silicide film is formed by heating the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Honda, Tomonori Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8999777
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. A first layer is formed over a substrate. A patterned second layer is then formed over the first layer. The patterned second layer includes an opening. A spacer material is then deposited in the opening, thereby reducing the opening in a plurality of directions. A direction-specific trimming process is performed to the spacer material and the second layer. Thereafter, the first layer is patterned with the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8993391
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer over first and second regions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench extended in the first region of the semiconductor substrate through the conductive layer, forming a recessed gate electrode in the trench, doping the conductive layer and the recessed first gate electrode, and forming a second gate electrode by etching the doped conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Chul Sung
  • Patent number: 8987909
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lower wiring layer is formed by using a sidewall transfer process for forming a sidewall film having a closed loop along a sidewall of a sacrificed or dummy pattern and, after removing the sacrificed pattern to leave the sidewall film, selectively removing the base material with the sidewall film as a mask. One or more upper wiring layers are formed in an upper layer of the lower wiring layer via another layer using the sidewall transfer process. Etching for cutting each of the lower wiring layer and the upper wiring layers is collectively performed, whereby closed-loop cut is applied to the lower wiring layer and the upper wiring layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nansei
  • Patent number: 8980746
    Abstract: To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a method for forming copper filled through silicon via features in a silicon wafer is provided. Through silicon vias are etched in the wafer. An insulation layer is formed within the through silicon vias. A barrier layer is formed within the through silicon vias. An oxide free silicon, germanium, or SiGe adhesion layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A seed layer is deposited over the adhesion layer then the wafers is annealed. The features are filled with copper or copper alloy. The stack is annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Artur Kolics
  • Patent number: 8975183
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure. A semiconductor substrate including a plurality of dies mounted thereon is provided. The substrate includes a first portion proximate to the dies and a second portion distal to the dies. In some embodiments, the first portion may include front side metallization. The second portion of the substrate is thinned and a plurality of conductive through substrate vias (TSVs) is formed in the second portion of the substrate after the thinning operation. Prior to thinning, the second portion may not contain metallization. In one embodiment, the substrate may be a silicon interposer. Further back side metallization may be formed to electrically connect the TSVs to other packaging substrates or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 8962415
    Abstract: Methods of forming gates of semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a first recess in a first substrate region having a first conductivity type and forming a second recess in a second substrate region having a second conductivity type. The methods may also include forming a high-k layer in the first and second recesses. The methods may further include providing a first metal on the high-k layer in the first and second substrate regions, the first metal being provided within the second recess. The methods may additionally include removing at least portions of the first metal from the second recess while protecting materials within the first recess from removal. The methods may also include, after removing at least portions of the first metal from the second recess, providing a second metal within the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Won Lee, Bo-Un Yoon, Seung-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8962410
    Abstract: A first transistor and a second transistor are formed with different threshold voltages. A first gate is formed over the first region of a substrate for a first transistor and a second gate over the second region for a second transistor. The first region is masked. A threshold voltage of the second transistor is adjusted by implanting through the second gate while masking the first region. Current electrode regions are formed on opposing sides of the first gate and current electrode regions on opposing sides of the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Da Zhang, Konstantin V. Loiko, Spencer E. Williams, Brian A. Winstead
  • Patent number: 8962459
    Abstract: A method selectively diffuses dopants into a substrate wafer. The method comprises blanket depositing a doped liquid precursor including dopants on a surface of the substrate wafer to create a doped film on the surface of the substrate wafer, selectively forming a diffusion source in the doped film to selectively diffuse the dopants into the substrate wafer, and heating the doped film on the substrate wafer, wherein said heating the doped film diffuses the dopants from the doped film into the substrate wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Piquant Research LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Inns