Patents Examined by Yennhu B Huynh
  • Patent number: 6444510
    Abstract: An ESD device and method using parasitic bipolar transistors that are silicided. The first embodiment is a parasitic Bipolar Junction Transistor comprised of n+/n−/p−/n−/n+ regions. The emitter is formed of the second N+ region and the second N− well. The parasitic base is formed by the p− substrate or well. The collector is formed of the first well and the first n+ region. The benefit of the first embodiment is the trigger voltage is lower because the junction between the n− well (emitter) and P− substrate (base) and the junction between P− substrate (base) and the n− well have lower cross over concentrations. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the addition of the first gate. The first gate is preferably connected to the first n+ region and the Vpad. The third embodiment contains the same elements as the second embodiment with the addition of a third n+ region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Nano Silicon Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: David Hu, Jun Cai
  • Patent number: 6444550
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a retrograde channel profile is achieved by forming a retrograde impurity region in the surface portion of a semiconductor substrate, and subsequently forming a semiconductor layer on the retrograde impurity region at a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the semiconductor layer is controlled to localize the retrograde impurity region and its impurity concentration peak at a predetermined depth, thereby reducing the device's susceptibility to “reverse short channel effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Yin Hao, Emi Ishida
  • Patent number: 6444515
    Abstract: A hard mask insulating layer is formed on a gate electrode which is formed on a main surface of a silicon substrate with a gate insulating layer interposed. An SiN sidewall spacer is directly formed on a thin SiO2 layer which is formed to cover a side surface of the gate electrode. A contact hole is formed to penetrate an interlayer insulating layer formed on an SiN stopper layer and reach the main surface of the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ryoden Semiconductor System Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuo, Yuichi Yokoyama, Takuji Oda, Kiyoshi Maeda, Shinya Inoue, Yuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6440803
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mask ROM, in which conductive strips are formed with a cap layer on each of them, then a plurality of spacers are formed on the side-walls of the conductive strips, while the substrate under the spacers are used as the coding regions. The buried bit-lines are formed in the substrate between the spacers, then a two-step coding process is performed, wherein the coding regions at the first and the second side of the conductive strips are selectively doped by a first and a second tilt coding implantation with a first and a second coding mask. After the second mask layer and the cap layer are removed, a conductive layer is formed over the substrate, then the conductive layer and the conductive strips are patterned successively to form a plurality of word-lines and plural gates, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., LTD
    Inventors: Shui-Chin Huang, Yen-hung Yeh, Tso-Hung Fan, Chun-Yi Yang, Chun-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 6436853
    Abstract: A method for making a microstructure assembly, the method including the steps of providing a first substrate and a second substrate; depositing an electrically conductive material on the second substrate; contacting the second substrate carrying the electrically conductive material with the first substrate; and then supplying current to the electrically conductive material to locally elevate the temperature of said electrically conductive material and cause formation of a bond between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: University of Michigan
    Inventors: Liwei Lin, Yu-Ting Cheng, Khalil Najafi, Kensall D. Wise
  • Patent number: 6436786
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes an electrode, which is formed over a substrate and contains ruthenium. Crystal grains of ruthenium in the electrode have stepped surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Tsuzumitani, Yasutoshi Okuno, Yoshihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6437420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device (100) with a semiconductor body (10) comprising at least one semiconductor element (H) with an active area (A) and a coil (20) coupled to said element (H). The coil (20) and a further coil (21) jointly form a transformer (F). The semiconductor body (10) is secured to a carrier plate (30) which comprises an electrically insulating material and is covered with a conductor track (21). According to the invention, the further coil (21) is positioned on the carrier plate (30) and is formed by the conductor track (21) and electrically separated from the coil (20). In this way, a-device (100) is obtained which is easier to manufacture than the known device. Moreover, the communication between the element (H) and the outside world does not involve an electrical coupling and hence, for example, bonding wires, are not necessary. The invention is particularly advantageous for a (discrete) bipolar transistor, which can suitably be used for surface mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
    Inventors: Freerk Van Rijs, Ronald Dekker
  • Patent number: 6432778
    Abstract: An ONO dielectric layer is formed on the surface of a substrate, and then a plurality of bit lines are formed in the substrate by utilizing a photolithography and an ion implantation process. Thereafter the ONO dielectric layer in the periphery area is removed and the threshold voltage of the periphery transistor is adjusted. After the ONO dielectric layer in the read only memory area is removed, and a buried drain oxide layer and a plurality of gate oxide layers are formed atop each bit line and the surface of each device respectively. Then each word line in the memory area and each gate of each periphery transistor in the periphery area is formed so as to simultaneously form at least a nitride read only memory in the nitride read only memory area and a high, low threshold voltage device in the read only memory area. Finally the threshold voltage of the high threshold voltage device is adjusted by utilizing a ROM code implantation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Ying-Tso Chen, Chien-Hung Liu, Shyi-Shuh Pan, Shou-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 6429058
    Abstract: A method for opening resist in raised areas of a semiconductor device, in accordance with the present invention, includes forming a conductive layer over a channel insulator layer to form a raised portion which includes a height above a substantially planar surrounding area. The channel insulator layer is aligned to a gate electrode. A photoresist layer is formed over the raised portion and the surrounding area and the photoresist is patterned by employing a gray scale light mask to reduce exposure light on the photoresist on the conductive layer over the raised portion such that after developing the photoresist, the photoresist is removed over a top surface of the raised portion but remains in the surrounding area. The conductive layer is etched in accordance with the photoresist to form source and drain electrodes which are self aligned to the channel insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, Hisanori Kinoshita, Hiroaki Kitahara, Kai R. Schleupen
  • Patent number: 6429057
    Abstract: Simplified method of manufacturing liquid crystal displays. A gate wire including a gate line, a gate pad and a gate electrode is formed on the substrate by using the first mask. A gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a ohmic contact layer and a metal layer are sequentially deposited to make a quadruple layers, and patterned by a dry etch of using the second mask. At this time, the quadruple layers is patterned to have a matrix of net shape layout and covering the gate wire. An opening exposing the substrate is formed in the display area and a contact hole exposing the gate pad is formed in the peripheral area. Next, ITO is deposited and a photoresist layer coated on the ITO. Then, the ITO layer is patterned by using the third mask and a dry etch, and the data conductor layer and the ohmic contact layer not covered by the ITO layer is dry etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Pyo Hong, Woon-Yong Park, Jong-Soo Yoon
  • Patent number: 6426252
    Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell, array and method of manufacture. The memory cell includes a vertical access transistor above a trench storage capacitor in a layered wafer. A buried oxide (BOX) layer formed in a silicon wafer isolates an SOI layer from a silicon substrate. Deep trenches are etched through the upper surface SOI layer, the BOX layer and into the substrate. Each trench capacitor is formed in the substrate and, the access transistor is formed on a sidewall of the SOI layer. Recesses are formed in the BOX layer at the SOI layer. A polysilicon strap recessed in the BOX layer connects each polysilicon storage capacitor plate to a self-aligned contact at the source of the access transistor. Dopant is implanted into the wafer to define device regions. Access transistor gates are formed along the SOI layer sidewalls. Shallow trenches are formed and filled with insulating material to isolate cells from adjacent cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carl J. Radens, Gary B. Bronner, Tze-chiang Chen, Bijan Davari, Jack A. Mandelman, Dan Moy, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam Ghavami Shahidi, Scott R. Stiffler
  • Patent number: 6426243
    Abstract: A method of forming memory circuitry having a memory array having a plurality of memory capacitors and having peripheral memory circuitry operatively configured to write to and read from the memory array, includes forming a dielectric well forming layer over a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the well forming layer is removed effective to form at least one well within the well forming layer. An array of memory cell capacitors is formed within the well. The peripheral memory circuitry is formed laterally outward of the well forming layer memory array well. In one implementation, memory circuitry includes a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of word lines is received over the semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer is received over the word lines and the substrate. The insulative layer has at least, one well formed therein. The well has a base received over the word lines. The well peripherally defines an outline of a memory array area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Belford T. Coursey
  • Patent number: 6423610
    Abstract: A method for forming an inner capacitor of a semiconductor device. The method comprises steps of forming an interlayer insulation layer over a semiconductor substrate, wherein a plurality of layers to form semiconductor transistors are formed on the semiconductor substrate; forming a SACVD oxide layer on the interlayer insulation layer; forming contact holes for charge storage electrodes and bit lines by selectively etching the SACVD oxide layer and the interlayer insulation layer; forming contact plugs in the contact holes, thereby forming a resulting structure; forming a SACVD sacrifice oxide layer on the resulting structure; selectively etching the SACVD sacrifice oxide layer and exposing top surfaces of the contact plugs; forming a conducting layer electrically connected to the contact plugs; separating the conducting layer into a plurality of charge storage electrodes; and removing the SACVD sacrifice oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jai-Sun Roh
  • Patent number: 6420225
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor rectifier device includes a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type and having a plurality of gates insulatively formed on a first major surface and a plurality of source/drain regions of the first conductivity type formed in surface regions of second conductivity type in the first major surface adjacent to the gates. A plurality of channels of the second conductivity type each abuts a source/drain region and extends under a gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: APD Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Chang, Vladimir Rodov, Geeng-Chuan Chern, Charles Lin, Ching-Lang Chiang
  • Patent number: 6417045
    Abstract: In semiconductor integrated circuit device having a DRAM including a memory cell portion formed at a first portion of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and a peripheral circuit portion formed at a second portion of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, bit line conductors and first level interconnect conductors in the peripheral circuit portion for connecting the memory cell portion and the peripheral circuit portion so as to exchange signals between them are constituted by conductor layers that are formed simultaneously and hence, exist at the same level. The conductor layers exist at an outside position of the memory cell portion such as in the peripheral circuit portion, and the thickness of portions of the conductor layers constituting the first level interconnect conductors of the peripheral circuit portion is greater than the thickness of portions of the conductor layers constituting the bit line conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Isamu Asano, Robert Tsu
  • Patent number: 6413821
    Abstract: A fabrication method of the present invention includes the following steps: A step of forming gate electrodes in a logic circuit region; a step of forming first and second protective insulating layers in the logic circuit region; a step of forming a first gate insulating layer and a word gate layer in a memory region; a step of forming a second gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming side insulating layers on both sides of the word gate layer in the memory region; a step of anisotropically etching the second conductive layer, thereby forming control gates in the shape of sidewalls and a conductive layer continuous with the control gates in regions in which common contact sections are formed; a step of removing the first and second protective insulating layers; and a step of forming impurity layers which form either a source or drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Halo LSI Design & Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Ebina, Susumu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6413862
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming a substrate having a palladium metal layer over at least one contact point of the substrate and having a flexible conductive polymer bump, preferably a two-stage epoxy, on the palladium plated contact point. The present invention also relates to assemblies comprising one or more of these substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6410955
    Abstract: A capacitor for use in integrated circuits comprises a layer of conductive material. The layer of conductive material including at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged in a predetermined pattern relative to one another to provide a maximum amount of capacitance per semiconductor die area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Jacob Baker, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Patent number: 6410396
    Abstract: Devices and methods for fabricating wholly silicon carbide heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) using germanium base doping to produce suitable emitter/base heterojunctions. In one variation, all device layers are are grown epitaxially and the heterojunction is created by introducing a pseudoalloying material, such as germanium, to form a graded implant. In other variations, the device epitaxial layers are 1) grown directly onto a semi-insulating substrate, 2) the semi-insulating epitaxial layer is grown onto a conducting substrate; 3) the subcollector is grown on a lightly doped p-type epitaxial layer grown on a conducting substrate; and 4) the subcollector is grown directly on a conducting substrate. Another variation comprises a multi-finger HBT with bridging conductor connections among emitter fingers. Yet another variation includes growth of layers using dopants other than nitrogent or aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mississippi State University
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Casady, Michael S. Mazzola, Stephen E. Saddow
  • Patent number: 6407443
    Abstract: A method for forming a platen useful for forming nanoscale wires for device applications comprises: (a) providing a substrate having a major surface; (b) forming a plurality of alternating layers of two dissimilar materials on the substrate to form a stack having a major surface parallel to that of the substrate; (c) cleaving the stack normal to its major surface to expose the plurality of alternating layers; and (d) etching the exposed plurality of alternating layers to a chosen depth using an etchant that etches one material at a different rate than the other material to thereby provide the surface with extensive strips of indentations and form the platen useful for molding masters for nano-imprinting technology. The pattern of the platen is then imprinted into a substrate comprising a softer material to form a negative of the pattern, which is then used in further processing to form nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Yong Chen, R. Stanley Williams