Patents Examined by Younes Boulghassoul
  • Patent number: 11817508
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with favorable electrical characteristics is to be provided. A highly reliable semiconductor device is to be provided. A semiconductor device with lower power consumption is to be provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a first insulating layer over the gate electrode, a metal oxide layer over the first insulating layer, a pair of electrodes over the metal oxide layer, and a second insulating layer over the pair of electrodes. The first insulating layer includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a region being in contact with the metal oxide layer and containing more oxygen than the second region. The second region has a region containing more nitrogen than the first region. The metal oxide layer has at least a concentration gradient of oxygen in a thickness direction, and the concentration gradient becomes high on a first region side and on a second region side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Koezuka, Kenichi Okazaki, Yukinori Shima, Yasutaka Nakazawa, Yasuharu Hosaka, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11817482
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a composite layer having a first and second opposing surfaces. The composite layer includes a mesa and a first insulating layer. The mesa has top and bottom surfaces and side faces. The side faces are embedded in the first insulating layer. The mesa includes a Group III nitride-based multilayer structure providing a Group III nitride based device having first and second electrodes arranged on the mesa top surface. First and second outer contacts are positioned on the second surface of the composite layer. A first conductive via extends through the first insulating layer and is electrically coupled to the first electrode on the mesa top surface and to the first outer contact. A second conductive via extends through the first insulating layer and is electrically coupled to the second electrode on the mesa top surface and to the second outer contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Brech, Carsten Ahrens, Matthias Zigldrum
  • Patent number: 11798985
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for the fabrication of isolation structures between source/drain (S/D)) epitaxial structures of stacked transistor structures. The method includes depositing an oxygen-free dielectric material in an opening over a first epitaxial structure, where the oxygen-free dielectric material covers top surfaces of the first epitaxial structure and sidewall surfaces of the opening. The method also includes exposing the oxygen-free dielectric material to an oxidizing process to oxidize the oxygen-free dielectric material so that the oxidizing process does not oxidize a portion of the oxygen-free dielectric material on the first epitaxial structure. Further, etching the oxidized oxygen-free dielectric material and forming a second epitaxial layer on the oxygen-free dielectric material not removed by the etching to substantially the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith Khaderbad, Dhanyakumar Mahaveer Sathaiya, Huicheng Chang, Ko-Feng Chen, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 11798962
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic device that can expand a dynamic range in a pixel having a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a two-dimensional manner, in which the pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit having lower sensitivity than the first photoelectric conversion unit, and a size of the second photoelectric conversion unit in an optical axis direction in which light enters is smaller than a size of the first photoelectric conversion unit in the optical axis direction. The present technology can be applied to a backside-illumination CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Kido, Masahiro Tada, Takahiro Toyoshima, Yasushi Tateshita, Hikaru Iwata
  • Patent number: 11800720
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A data storage structure is disposed on the bottom electrode and is configured to store a data state. A top electrode is disposed on the data storage structure. The top electrode has interior surfaces defining a recess within an upper surface of the top electrode. A masking layer contacts a bottom of the recess and extends to over the upper surface of the top electrode. An interconnect extends through the masking layer and to the top electrode. The interconnect is directly over the upper surface of the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Wen-Ting Chu, Chih-Hsiang Chang, Fu-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 11798979
    Abstract: An integrated capacitor on a semiconductor surface on a substrate includes a capacitor dielectric layer including at least one silicon compound material layer on a bottom plate. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a pitted sloped dielectric sidewall. Each of the pits is at least partially filled by one of a plurality of noncontiguous dielectric portions. A conformal dielectric layer may be formed over the noncontiguous dielectric portions. A top metal layer provides a top plate of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Elizabeth Costner Stewart, Jeffrey A. West, Thomas D. Bonifield, Joseph Andre Gallegos, Jay Sung Chun, Zhiyi Yu
  • Patent number: 11791264
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a semiconductor device including a conductive contact having a tapering profile and a method for preparing the semiconductor device. The method includes forming a conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric layer covering the conductive layer. The method also includes etching the dielectric layer to form an opening exposing the conductive layer, and etching the dielectric layer to form a first recess and a second recess connecting to the opening. A depth of the opening is greater than a depth of the first recess and a depth of the second recess, and the first recess and the second recess have tapering profiles that taper toward the conductive layer. The method further includes forming a conductive contact over the conductive layer. The opening, the first recess and the second recess are filled by the conductive contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tse-Yao Huang
  • Patent number: 11784226
    Abstract: A metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a substrate and a well over the substrate, the well including dopants of a first conductivity-type. The well includes an anti-punch-through (APT) layer at an upper section of the well, the APT layer including the dopants of the first conductivity-type and further including carbon. The MOSFET further includes a source feature and a drain feature adjacent the APT layer, being of a second conductivity-type opposite to the first conductivity-type. The MOSFET further includes multiple channel layers over the APT layer and connecting the source feature to the drain feature, wherein the multiple channel layers are vertically stacked one over another. The MOSFET further includes a gate wrapping around each of the channel layers, such as in a gate-all-around device, wherein a first portion of the gate is disposed between a bottommost one of the channel layers and the APT layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11785778
    Abstract: A multi-gate ferroelectric memory comprises a fin-shaped channel layer, a front ferroelectric layer disposed on one side of the fin-shaped channel layer, a back ferroelectric layer disposed on another side of the fin-shaped channel layer, a front gate attached to the front ferroelectric layer and away from the fin-shaped channel layer, wherein the front gate is configured to connect a word line, and a back gate attached to the back ferroelectric layer and away from the fin-shaped channel layer, wherein the back gate is configured to connect a bit line. The present disclosure further discloses a memory array device, comprises a plurality of the multi-gate ferroelectric memories arranged as an array, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Darsen Duane Lu, Chi-Jen Lin
  • Patent number: 11776898
    Abstract: Interconnect metallization of an integrated circuit device includes a sidewall contact between conductive features. In a stacked device, a terminal interconnect of one device layer may intersect a sidewall of a conductive feature in another device layer or between two devices layers. In some examples, a terminal interconnect coupled to a gate, source, or drain terminal of a finFET in a vertically-stacked device may extend to a depth below a plane of the fin and intersect a sidewall of another interconnect, or another device terminal, that is in another plane of the stacked device. A stop layer below a top surface of the conductive feature may allow for sidewall contact while avoiding interconnect shorts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Lilak, Anh Phan, Gilbert Dewey, Willy Rachmady, Patrick Morrow
  • Patent number: 11769770
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin, a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure, an air spacer, and a gate structure. The semiconductor fin extends upwardly from the substrate. The STI structure laterally surrounds a lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The air spacer is interposed the STI structure and the semiconductor fin. The gate structure extends across the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, Che-Ming Hsu, Ching-Feng Fu, Huan-Just Lin
  • Patent number: 11769820
    Abstract: Methods and devices formed thereof that include a fin structure extending from a substrate and a gate structure is formed over the fin structure. An epitaxial feature is formed over the fin structure adjacent the gate structure. The epitaxial feature can include a hollow region (or dielectric filled hollow region) in the epitaxial source/drain region. A selective etching process is performed to remove at least a portion of an epitaxial region having a second dopant type to form the hollow area between the first epitaxial portion and the third epitaxial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11769821
    Abstract: A device includes a fin protruding from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over and along a sidewall of the fin; a gate spacer along a sidewall of the gate stack and along the sidewall of the fin; an epitaxial source/drain region in the fin and adjacent the gate spacer; and a corner spacer between the gate stack and the gate spacer, wherein the corner spacer extends along the sidewall of the fin, wherein a first region between the gate stack and the sidewall of the fin is free of the corner spacer, wherein a second region between the gate stack and the gate spacer is free of the corner spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Ping Chen, Kuei-Yu Kao, Shih-Yao Lin, Chih-Han Lin, Ming-Ching Chang, Chao-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11764220
    Abstract: A method includes forming fins extending over a semiconductor substrate; forming a photoresist structure over the fins; patterning a serpentine cut pattern in the photoresist structure to form a cut mask, wherein the serpentine cut pattern extends over the fins, wherein the serpentine cut pattern includes alternating bridge regions and cut regions, wherein each cut region extends in a first direction, wherein each bridge region extends between adjacent cut regions in a second direction, wherein the second direction is within 30° of being orthogonal to the first direction; and performing an etching process using the cut mask as an etching mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, Chuan-Hui Lu
  • Patent number: 11749753
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor device includes a gate spacer over the semiconductor fin. A lower portion of the gate spacer surrounds a first region and an upper portion of the gate spacer surrounds a second region. The semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric within the first region. The semiconductor device includes a metal gate within the first region. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric protection layer, in contact with the gate dielectric layer, that includes a first portion within the second region and a second portion lining a top surface of the metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chun-Neng Lin, Jian-Jou Lian, Ming-Hsi Yeh
  • Patent number: 11749645
    Abstract: Representative techniques and devices including process steps may be employed to mitigate the potential for delamination of bonded microelectronic substrates due to metal expansion at a bonding interface. For example, a through-silicon via (TSV) may be disposed through at least one of the microelectronic substrates. The TSV is exposed at the bonding interface of the substrate and functions as a contact surface for direct bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Guilian Gao, Bongsub Lee, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Jr., Cyprian Emeka Uzoh, Belgacem Haba, Laura Wills Mirkarimi, Rajesh Katkar
  • Patent number: 11739110
    Abstract: A compound having a first ligand of the following is described. Ring A represents a monocyclic aromatic group or a polycyclic aromatic group. Ring B represents a polycyclic aromatic group. Z is a carbon. Z and the right N are coordinated to a metal to form a five-membered chelate ring. R1 and R2 independently represent mono to a maximum possible number of substitutions, or no substitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LUMINESCENCE TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Feng-Wen Yen, Tsun-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 11742369
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state image sensing device capable of restricting a deterioration in photoelectric conversion characteristic of a photoelectric conversion unit, and an electronic device. A solid-state image sensing device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit formed outside a semiconductor substrate; a charge holding unit for holding signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; a reset transistor for resetting the potential of the charge holding unit; a capacitance switching transistor connected to the charge holding unit and directed for switching the capacitance of the charge holding unit; and an additional capacitance device connected to the capacitance switching transistor. The present technology is applicable to solid-state image sensing devices and the like, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko Koga
  • Patent number: 11742262
    Abstract: A novel integrated circuit and method thereof are provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of first interconnect pads, a plurality of second interconnect pads, a first inter-level dielectric layer, a thin film resistor, and at least two end-caps. The end-caps, which are connectors for the thin film resistor, are positioned at the same level with the plurality of second interconnect pads. Therefore, an electrical connection between the end-caps and the plurality of second interconnect pads can be formed by directly connection of them. An integrated circuit with a thin film resistor can be made in a cost benefit way accordingly, so as to overcome disadvantages mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuan-Tai Tseng, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chung-Yen Chou, Ming-Chyi Liu
  • Patent number: 11742335
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a driving substrate, a plurality of light-emitting units, and a protective layer. The light-emitting units are electrically connected to the driving substrate. The protective layer covers the light-emitting units, and the protective layer has a Young's modulus less than or equal to 20 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Huang, Chia-Lun Chen, Ming-Hui Chu, Chin-Lung Ting, Chien-Tzu Chu, Hui-Chi Wang