Patents Examined by Warren H Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 9613895
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes an RDL interposer having a first side, a second side, and a vertical sidewall extending between the first side and the second side; at least one semiconductor die mounted on the first side of the RDL interposer; a first molding compound disposed on the first side covering the at least one semiconductor die; a plurality of solder bumps or solder balls mounted on the second side; and a second molding compound disposed on the second side surrounding the plurality of solder bumps or solder balls and covering the vertical sidewall of the RDL interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shing-Yih Shih
  • Patent number: 9614180
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a pixel-defining layer disposed on a substrate, wherein the pixel-defining layer defines an emission region and a non-emission region, an organic light-emitting device disposed in the emission region, and a protruding portion disposed on a portion of the pixel-defining layer in the non-emission region. The display apparatus also includes a thin film encapsulating layer disposed on the substrate for sealing the organic light-emitting device and the protruding portion, the thin film encapsulating layer comprising at least one organic film and at least one inorganic film, wherein at least one organic film corresponds to a functional organic film, and a height of a first upper surface of the functional organic film disposed away from the protruding portion is lower than a height of a second upper surface of the functional organic film disposed near a top of the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 9608202
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques to provide structural integrity for a memory device comprising a memory array. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a memory array having at least a plurality of wordlines disposed in a memory region of a die, and a first fill layer deposited between adjacent wordlines of the plurality of wordlines in the memory region, to provide structural integrity for the memory array. At least a portion of a periphery region of the die adjacent to the memory region may be substantially filled with a second fill layer that is different than the first fill layer. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 9608080
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention is directed to a silicon-on-insulator device including a silicon layer on an insulating layer on a substrate; a raised source and a raised drain on the silicon layer; a gate between the raised source and the raised drain; a first spacer separating the gate from the raised source and substantially covering a first sidewall of the gate; a second spacer separating the gate from the raised drain and substantially covering a second sidewall of the gate; and a low-k layer over the raised source, the raised drain, the gate and each of the first spacer and the second spacer; and a dielectric layer over the low-k layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
    Inventors: Ahmet S. Ozcan, Emmanuel Petitprez
  • Patent number: 9601203
    Abstract: A solid-state non-volatile memory (NVM) device includes a memory bit cell. The memory bit cell includes a field effect transistor (FET) fabricated on a substrate and having a floating gate. The floating gate includes a thick oxide layer. The FET includes drain and source, each fabricated within the substrate and coupled to the floating gate and a channel region with native doping. The drain is fabricated to have a halo region. A method for fabricating a solid-state NVM device includes fabricating solid state device including NVM bit cell which provides multiple storage and includes an FET on substrate. The method also includes fabricating floating gate of the FET including thick gate oxide layer, and fabricating drain and source of FET within the substrate, drain and source coupled to the floating gate and channel region with native doping. Further, the method includes fabricating halo region within the substrate at the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Mads Hommelgaard, Andrew Horch, Martin Niset
  • Patent number: 9601500
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a plurality of ROM cells each having spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a substrate with a channel region therebetween, a first gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region, a second gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region, and a conductive line extending over the plurality of ROM cells. The conductive line is electrically coupled to the drain regions of a first subgroup of the ROM cells, and is not electrically coupled to the drain regions of a second subgroup of the ROM cells. Alternately, a first subgroup of the ROM cells each includes a higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region, whereas a second subgroup of the ROM cells each lack any higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinho Kim, Vipin Tiwari, Nhan Do, Xian Liu, Xiaozhou Qian, Ning Bai, Kai Man Yue
  • Patent number: 9601617
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes an electron tunnel structure. The electron tunnel structure includes a tunneling layer, a channel layer, a source layer, and a drain layer. The tunneling layer and the channel layer are positioned between the source layer and the drain layer. The transistor device further includes a high-k dielectric layer adjacent to the electron tunnel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jun Yuan, Xia Li, Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 9589924
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes: a substrate comprising a recess portion filled with a conductive material; a conductive trace overlying and contacting the conductive material; a conductive pillar disposed on the conductive trace and over the recess portion of the substrate; and a semiconductor chip disposed on the conductive pillar, wherein the conductive trace comprises a width WT and a thickness TT, the recess portion of the substrate comprises a width WR in the width direction of the conductive trace and a depth DR, and the ratio of WR to WT ranges from about 0.25 to about 1.8 and the ratio of DR to TT ranges from about 0.1 to about 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Jiun Yi Wu, Yu-Min Liang
  • Patent number: 9583499
    Abstract: Devices and methods for fabricating devices with floating gates and replacement metal gates are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a device includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method forms a floating gate and a sacrificial gate over the semiconductor substrate. Further, the method replaces the sacrificial gate with a metal gate. After replacing the sacrificial gate with the metal gate, the method forms a control gate over the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ming Zhu, Pinghui Li, Weining Cheng, Yiang Aun Nga
  • Patent number: 9583615
    Abstract: A first patterned stack and a second patterned stack are formed over a substrate, each of which includes a bottom semiconductor layer, a bottom dielectric spacer layer, a conductive material layer, and a top dielectric spacer layer. Gate dielectrics and vertical semiconductor portions are sequentially formed on each patterned stack. Vertical semiconductor portions are removed from around the second patterned stack, while masked around the first patterned stack. Electrical dopants are introduced to top regions and bottom regions of the remaining vertical semiconductor portions to form a vertical switching device that includes the first patterned stack, while the second patterned stack functions as a horizontal interconnect structure. The vertical switching device can be a transistor or a gated diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yung-Tin Chen, Guangle Zhou, Christopher Petti
  • Patent number: 9576921
    Abstract: To improve an integration degree of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of wiring layers formed on the semiconductor substrate, a pad electrode formed on an uppermost wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers, a base insulating film having a pad opening above the pad electrode, and a rewiring electrically connected to the pad electrode and extending over the base insulating film. Further, the semiconductor device includes a protective film covering an upper surface of the rewiring and having an external pad opening exposing part of the upper surface of the rewiring, an external pad electrode electrically connected to the rewiring through the external pad opening and extending over the protective film, and a wire connected to the external pad electrode. Part of the external pad electrode is located in a region outside the rewiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Yajima, Seiji Muranaka
  • Patent number: 9577062
    Abstract: A gate conductor material stack including, from bottom to top, of a first metallic nitride, a second metallic nitride, and a conductive material portion is employed for a transistor in combination with a gate dielectric including a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric material. The second metallic nitride includes a nitride of an aluminum-containing metallic alloy of at least two elemental metals, and can be selected from TaAlN, TiAlN, and WAlN. The second metallic nitride can provide a function of oxygen scavenging from the high-k gate dielectric and/or prevent diffusion of atoms from the conductive material portion. The gate conductor material stack can enable a reduced inversion thickness and/or a reduced magnitude for a linear threshold voltage for p-type field effect transistors compared with a gate electrode employing a single metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Hiroshi Sunamura
  • Patent number: 9577090
    Abstract: To satisfy both suppression of rise in contact resistance and improvement of breakdown voltage near the end part of a trench part. The trench part GT is provided between a source offset region and a drain offset region at least in plan view in a semiconductor layer, and is provided in a source-drain direction from the source offset region toward the drain offset region in plan view. A gate insulating film GI covers the side surface and the bottom surface of the trench part GT. A gate electrode is provided in the trench part at least in plan view, and contacts the gate insulating film GI. A contact GC contacts the gate electrode GE. The contact GC is disposed, shifted in a first direction perpendicular to the source-drain direction relative to the centerline in the trench part GT extending in the source-drain direction in plan view, and is provided in the trench part GT in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Souichirou Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9570421
    Abstract: The embodiments described provide methods and structures for forming support structures between dies and substrate(s) of a three dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) structures. Each support structure adheres to surfaces of two neighboring dies or die and substrate to relieve stress caused by bowing of the die(s) and/or substrate on the bonding structures formed between the dies or die and substrate. The cost of the support structures is much lower than other processes, such as thermal compression bonding, to reduce the effect of bowing of dies and substrates on 3DIC formation. The support structures improves yield of 3DIC structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Wu, Ying-Ching Shih, Szu-Wei Lu, Jing-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 9570389
    Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer with one or more trenches extending therein, one or more interconnect lines, and one or more first liner layers. Each interconnect line is positioned within a trench. At least one first liner layer is affixed between the trench bottom surface and the interconnect bottom surface. The interconnect structure further includes one or more second liner layers. At least one of the second liner layers is affixed directly to the interconnect top surface and at least one interconnect side surface. The interconnect structure further includes at least one air gap. Each air gap is positioned between the trench side surface and the interconnect side surface. A corresponding method of manufacture and product of a method of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dinesh A. Badami, Baozhen Li, Wen Liu, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9570360
    Abstract: Silicon fins are formed in a bulk silicon substrate and thereafter trench isolation regions are formed between each silicon fin. The silicon fins in nFET and pFET device regions are then recessed. A relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion is formed on a topmost surface of each recessed silicon fin portion or on exposed surface of the substrate. A compressively strained silicon germanium alloy fin portion is formed on each relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion within the pFET device region, and a strained silicon-containing fin portion is formed on each relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion within the nFET device region. Sidewall surfaces of each compressively strained silicon-containing germanium alloy fin portion and each tensile strained silicon-containing fin portion are then exposed. A functional gate structure is provided on the exposed sidewall surfaces of each compressively strained silicon-containing germanium alloy fin portion and each tensile strained silicon-containing fin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9564582
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an MRAM bit that includes depositing a spacer layer that protects the tunneling barrier layer during processing is disclosed. The deposited spacer layer prevents byproducts formed in later processing from redepositing on the tunneling barrier layer. Such redeposition may lead to product failure and decreased manufacturing yield. The method further includes non-corrosive processing conditions that prevent damage to the layers of MRAM bits. The non-corrosive processing conditions may include etching without using a halogen-based plasma. Embodiments disclosed herein use an etch-deposition-etch sequence that simplifies processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahendra Pakala, Mihaela Balseanu, Jonathan Germain, Jaesoo Ahn, Lin Xue
  • Patent number: 9543332
    Abstract: An array substrate comprises: a plurality of flexible cushions; and a plurality of signal lines, wherein the signal lines have ends respectively located on the flexible cushions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheol Kim, Song-Young- Suk, Yoo-Seong- Yeol, Choi-Seung- Jin
  • Patent number: 9543378
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. The semiconductor devices include: a substrate, the substrate including a p-type well adjoining an n-type well; a first p-type region and a first n-type region disposed within the n-type well of the substrate, where the first p-type region at least partially encircles the first n-type region; and a second p-type region and a second n-type region disposed in the p-type well of the substrate, where the second n-type region at least partially encircles the second p-type region. In one embodiment, the first p-type region fully encircles the first n-type region and the second n-type region fully encircles the second p-type region. In another embodiment, the semiconductor device may be a bipolar junction transistor or a rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventor: Jagar Singh
  • Patent number: 9536795
    Abstract: A method of forming a multiple threshold voltage p-channel silicon germanium trigate device using (3D) condensation. The method may include forming a first and second fin in a single semiconductor layer, where the first and second fin have similar initial widths; thinning the second fin; performing a (3D) condensation process to condense the germanium within the first and second fin; and thinning the first fin to a similar width as the second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Pouya Hashemi