Patents Examined by Vincent Wall
  • Patent number: 10403496
    Abstract: A method of forming a compound semiconductor substrate includes providing a crystalline base substrate having a first semiconductor material and a main surface, and forming a first semiconductor layer on the main surface and having a pair of tracks disposed on either side of active device regions. The first semiconductor layer is formed from a second semiconductor material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the first semiconductor material. The pair of tracks have a relatively weaker crystalline structure than the active device regions. The method further includes thermally cycling the base substrate and the first semiconductor layer such that the first semiconductor layer expands and contracts at a different rate than the base substrate. The pair of tracks physically decouple adjacent ones of the active device regions during the thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Simone Lavanga, Uttiya Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 10403639
    Abstract: An array of memory stack structures extends through an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers over a substrate. An array of drain select level assemblies including cylindrical electrode portions is formed over the alternating stack with the same periodicity as the array of memory stack structures. A drain select level isolation strip including dielectric materials can be formed between a neighboring pair of drain select level assemblies employing the drain select level assemblies as a self-aligning template. Alternatively, cylindrical electrode portions can be formed around an upper portion of each memory stack structure. Strip electrode portions are formed on the cylindrical electrode portions after formation of the drain select level isolation strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Orimoto, James Kai, Sayako Nagamine, Takaaki Iwai, Shigeyuki Sugihara, Shuji Minagawa
  • Patent number: 10355131
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising two source/drain regions, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate and between the source/drain regions, and a spacer over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the gate stack. The spacer comprises a carbon-containing layer and a carbon-free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Shiang-Bau Wang
  • Patent number: 10332972
    Abstract: A vertical, single column compound semiconductor bipolar junction transistor device includes an all-around extrinsic base. Homojunction and heterojunction devices are formed using III-V compound semiconductor materials with appropriate bandgaps. Fabrication of the transistor device includes epitaxially growing a III-V compound semiconductor base region on a heavily doped III-V compound semiconductor bottom layer. A polycrystalline emitter/collector layer and the all-around extrinsic base are grown on the base region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Pouya Hashemi, Tak H. Ning, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10297594
    Abstract: A high density trench-gated MOSFET array and method are disclosed. It comprises semiconductor substrate partitioned into MOSFET array area and gate pickup area; epitaxial region, body region and source region; numerous precisely spaced active nitride-capped trench gate stacks (ANCTGS) embedded till the epitaxial region. Each ANCTGS comprises a stack of polysilicon trench gate with gate oxide shell and silicon nitride cap covering top of polysilicon trench gate and laterally registered to gate oxide shell. The ANCTGS forms, together with the source, body, epitaxial region, a MOSFET device in the MOSFET array area. Over MOSFET array area and gate pickup area, a patterned dielectric region atop the MOSFET array and a patterned metal layer atop the patterned dielectric region. Thus, the patterned metal layer forms, with the MOSFET array and the gate pickup area, self-aligned source and body contacts through the inter-ANCTGS separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim, Hong Chang
  • Patent number: 10297610
    Abstract: An array of memory stack structures extends through an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers over a substrate. An array of drain select level assemblies including cylindrical electrode portions is formed over the alternating stack with the same periodicity as the array of memory stack structures. A drain select level isolation strip including dielectric materials can be formed between a neighboring pair of drain select level assemblies employing the drain select level assemblies as a self-aligning template. Alternatively, cylindrical electrode portions can be formed around an upper portion of each memory stack structure. Strip electrode portions are formed on the cylindrical electrode portions after formation of the drain select level isolation strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Shinsuke Yada, Akihisa Sai, Sayako Nagamine, Takashi Orimoto, Tong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10276606
    Abstract: A method for making an array substrate includes the following steps: forming a poly-silicon semiconductor layer on a substrate; forming a buffer layer on the substrate; depositing a first metal layer, and patterning the first metal layer to form gate electrodes for a driving TFT, a switch TFT, and a poly-silicon TFT; forming a first gate insulator layer; forming a second gate insulator layer; defining through holes passing through the buffer layer, the first gate insulator layer, and the second gate insulator layer to expose the poly-silicon semiconductor layer; depositing a metal oxide layer to form a first metal oxide semiconductor layer; and depositing a second metal layer to form source electrodes and drain electrodes for the driving TFT, the switch TFT, and the poly-silicon TFT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hua Lin, Yi-Chun Kao
  • Patent number: 10276584
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure for a split gate flash memory cell device with a hard mask having an asymmetric profile is provided. In some embodiments, a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A control gate and a memory gate, of the semiconductor structure, are spaced over the semiconductor substrate between the first and second source/drain regions. A charge trapping dielectric structure of the semiconductor structure is arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the memory gate and the control gate, and arranged under the memory gate. A hard mask of the semiconductor structure is arranged over the control gate and includes an asymmetric profile. The asymmetric profile tapers in height away from the memory gate. A method for manufacturing a pair of split gate flash memory cell devices with hard masks having an asymmetric profile is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Chiang Min, Tsung-Hsueh Yang, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10266400
    Abstract: Micro-electromechanical (MEMS) devices and methods of forming are provided. The MEMS device includes a first substrate including a first conductive feature, a first movable element positioned over the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature, and a second movable element positioned over the second conductive feature. The MEMS device also includes a cap bonded to the first substrate, where the cap and the first substrate define a first sealed cavity and a second sealed cavity. The first conductive feature and the first movable element are disposed in the first sealed cavity and the second conductive feature and the second movable element are disposed in the second sealed cavity. A pressure of the second cavity is higher than a pressure of the first sealed cavity, and an out gas layer is disposed in a recess of the cap that partially defines the second sealed cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Fung Chang, Len-Yi Leu, Lien-Yao Tsai
  • Patent number: 10269986
    Abstract: A diode includes a first plurality of combo fins having lengthwise directions parallel to a first direction, wherein the first plurality of combo fins comprises portions of a first conductivity type. The diodes further includes a second plurality of combo fins having lengthwise directions parallel to the first direction, wherein the second plurality of combo fins includes portions of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. An isolation region is located between the first plurality of combo fins and the second plurality of combo fins. The first and the second plurality of combo fins form a cathode and an anode of the diode. The diode is configured to have a current flowing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, with the current flowing between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-Jay Chang, Ming-Hsiang Song, Jen-Chou Tseng, Wun-Jie Lin, Bo-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 10256305
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a trigonal crystal substrate defining a (0001) C-plane. The substrate may comprise Sapphire or other suitable material. A plurality of rhombohedrally aligned SiGe (111)-oriented crystals are disposed on the (0001) C-plane of the crystal substrate. A first region of material is disposed on the rhombohedrally aligned SiGe layer. The first region comprises an intrinsic or doped Si, Ge, or SiGe layer. The first region can be layered between two secondary regions comprising n+doped SiGe or n+doped Ge, whereby the first region collects electrons from the two secondary regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Sang Hyouk Choi, Yeonjoon Park, Glen C. King, Hyun-Jung Kim, Kunik Lee
  • Patent number: 10249767
    Abstract: A Ga2O3-based semiconductor element includes an undoped ?-Ga2O3 single crystal film disposed on a surface of a ?-Ga2O3 substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on a same side of the undoped ?-Ga2O3 single crystal film, a gate electrode disposed on the undoped ?-Ga2O3 single crystal film between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a region formed in the undoped ?-Ga2O3 single crystal film under the source electrode and the drain electrode and including a controlled dopant concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: TAMURA CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kohei Sasaki, Masataka Higashiwaki
  • Patent number: 10249661
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided. The imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements formed on a substrate in an active area. A microlens structure is disposed above the photoelectric conversion elements. A dummy pattern having a plurality of protruding elements is disposed above the substrate in a peripheral area surrounding the active area. Furthermore, a passivation film is conformally formed on the microlens structure and the dummy pattern. The passivation film on the tops of the protruding elements of the dummy pattern has a surface area smaller than a surface area of the peripheral area outside of the microlens structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: VISERA TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ho-Tai Lin
  • Patent number: 10224253
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display area configured to display an image, a peripheral area neighboring the display area, and at least one test element group (TEG) including a test thin film transistor (TFT) formed in the peripheral area and a plurality of test pads electrically connected to the test TFT. The display device also includes first to third dummy circuits separated from the test TFT, each of the first to third dummy circuits including a plurality of first dummy semiconductor layers and a plurality of first dummy gate electrodes overlapping at least a portion of the first dummy semiconductor layers in the depth dimension of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Moo Soon Ko, Jeong-Soo Lee, Jung Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 10211073
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip has a first transistor that amplifies a first signal and outputs a second signal, a second transistor that amplifies the second signal and outputs a third signal, and a semiconductor substrate having a main surface parallel to a plane defined by first and second directions and which has the first and second transistors formed thereon. The main surface has thereon a first bump connected to a collector or drain of the first transistor, a second bump connected to an emitter or source of the first transistor, a third bump connected to a collector or drain of the second transistor, and a fourth bump connected to an emitter or source of the second transistor. The first bump is circular, the second through fourth bumps are rectangular or oval, and the area of each of the second through fourth bumps is larger than that of the first bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 10204822
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, a trench is etched in a semiconductor substrate having a top surface, and a lining oxide layer is formed conformal to the trench. A negatively-charged liner covering the lining oxide layer and conformal to the trench is formed. The trench is partially filled with a flowable oxide to a level below the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the flowable oxide in the trench is cured. The negatively-charged liner above the cured flowable oxide is optionally removed. A silicon oxide is deposited in the remaining portion of the trench, and a planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon oxide over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Chou, Hung-Ling Shih, Tsun-Kai Tsao, Ming-Huei Shen, Kuo-Hwa Tzeng, Yeur-Luen Tu
  • Patent number: 10181527
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) structure includes: a gate; a first spacer having a first dielectric constant at a first region adjacent to the gate; and a second spacer having a second dielectric constant that is greater than the first dielectric constant at a second region adjacent to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dharmendar Reddy Palle, Borna Obradovic, Joon Goo Hong, Mark Rodder
  • Patent number: 10177193
    Abstract: An array of mesa photodiodes, including a useful layer of CdxHg1-xTe wherein pads are formed. The array includes a first doped zone having a first N or P doping; and second doped zones having a second P or N doping of a different type from that of the first doping, and each extending on an upper region of a pad. The first doped zone includes at least one first region having a first doping density, located at least under each of the pads; and at least one second region, located between two neighboring pads, and having a second doping density higher than the first doping density, each second region being separated from the closest second doped zone by at least one portion of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Laurent Mollard, Nicolas Baier
  • Patent number: 10170463
    Abstract: Methods of forming integrated chips include forming a gate stack around a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin. The gate stack around the second semiconductor fin is etched away. An extrinsic base is formed around the second semiconductor fin in a region exposed by etching away the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Kangguo Cheng, Terence B. Hook, Tak H. Ning
  • Patent number: 10163755
    Abstract: Method for packaging a semiconductor die assemblies. In one embodiment, a method is directed to packaging a semiconductor die assembly having a first die and a plurality of second dies arranged in a stack over the first die, wherein the first die has a peripheral region extending laterally outward from the stack of second dies. The method can comprise coupling a thermal transfer structure to the peripheral region of the first die and flowing an underfill material between the second dies. The underfill material is flowed after coupling the thermal transfer structure to the peripheral region of the first die such that the thermal transfer structure limits lateral flow of the underfill material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sameer S. Vadhavkar, Xiao Li, Steven K. Groothuis, Jian Li, Jaspreet S. Gandhi, James M. Derderian, David R. Hembree