Patents Examined by Zandra Smith
  • Patent number: 9786656
    Abstract: A fin heterojunction bipolar transistor (fin HBT) and a method of fabricating the fin HBT for integration with a fin complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (fin CMOS) into a BiCMOS fin device include forming a sub-collector layer on a substrate. The sub-collector layer includes silicon doped with arsenic (As+). A collector layer and base are patterned as fins along a first direction. An emitter layer is formed on the fins. The emitter layer is a continuous layer of epitaxially grown silicon. An oxide is deposited above the sub-collector layer, the base, and the emitter layer, and at least one contact is formed through the oxide to each of the sub-collector layer, the base, and the emitter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9780229
    Abstract: An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device including a normally-off oxide semiconductor element whose characteristic variation is small in the long term. A cation containing one or more elements selected from oxygen and halogen is added to an oxide semiconductor layer, thereby suppressing elimination of oxygen, reducing hydrogen, or suppressing movement of hydrogen. Accordingly, carriers in the oxide semiconductor can be reduced and the number of the carriers can be kept constant in the long term. As a result, the semiconductor device including the normally-off oxide semiconductor element whose characteristic variation is small in the long term can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideomi Suzawa, Shinya Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 9777366
    Abstract: A thin film forming method which forms a seed film and an impurity-containing silicon film on a surface of an object to be processed in a processing container configured to be vacuum exhaustible, the thin film forming method includes: performing a first step which forms the seed film formed of a compound of silicon, carbon and nitrogen on the surface of the object by supplying a seed film raw material gas comprising an aminosilane-based gas into the processing container; and performing a second step which forms the impurity-containing silicon film in an amorphous state on the seed film by supplying a silane-based gas and an impurity-containing gas into the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akinobu Kakimoto, Atsushi Endo, Takahiro Miyahara, Shigeru Nakajima, Satoshi Takagi, Kazumasa Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9778664
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for implementing a scheme to configure thermal management control for a memory device resident on a memory module for a computing platform. A method is also disclosed for implementing the configured thermal management control. In a run-time environment for a computing platform a temperature is obtained from a thermal sensor monitoring the memory module. The memory module is in a given memory module with thermal sensor configuration that includes the memory device. An approximation of a temperature for the memory device is made based on thermal information associated with the given configuration of the memory module and the obtained temperature. The configured thermal management control for the memory device is implemented based on the approximated temperature. Other implementations and examples are also described in this disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ishmael Santos, Corinne Hall, Christopher Cox
  • Patent number: 9779964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal processing method for wafer. A wafer is placed in an environment filled with a gas mixture comprising oxygen gas and deuterium gas, and a rapid thermal processing process is performed on a surface of the wafer. As a result, a denuded zone is formed on the surface of the wafer, deuterium atoms, which may be released to improve characteristics at an interface of semiconductor devices in a later fabrication process, are held in the wafer, and bulk micro-defects are formed far from the semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ZING SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Deyuan Xiao, Richard R. Chang
  • Patent number: 9779919
    Abstract: To control temperature of a sample in plasma processing with high accuracy while securing an electrostatic chucking force without breakdown of an electrostatic chucking film. When radio-frequency power is time modulated, a high-voltage side Vpp detector detects a first voltage value which is a peak-to-peak voltage value of a radio-frequency voltage applied to a sample stage in a first period of the time modulation having a first amplitude. A low-voltage side Vpp detector detects a second voltage value which is a peak-to-peak voltage value of a radio-frequency voltage applied to the sample stage in a second period having a second amplitude smaller than the first amplitude. Then, an ESC power supply control unit controls output voltages from ESC power supplies based on the first voltage value, the second voltage value and a duty ratio of the time modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Arase, Masahito Mori, Kenetsu Yokogawa, Yuusuke Takegawa, Takamasa Ichino
  • Patent number: 9773694
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, includes: ion-implanting a gas ion such as a hydrogen ion from a surface of a bond wafer, thereby forming an ion-implanted layer; bonding the bond wafer and a base wafer; producing a bonded wafer having a thin-film on the base wafer by delaminating the bond wafer along the ion-implanted layer; and performing an RTA treatment on the bonded wafer in a hydrogen gas-containing atmosphere; wherein a protective film is formed onto the surface of the thin-film in a heat treatment furnace in the course of temperature-falling from the maximum temperature of the RTA treatment before the bonded wafer is taken out from the heat treatment furnace; and then the bonded wafer with the protective film being formed thereon is taken out from the heat treatment furnace, and is then cleaned with a cleaning liquid which can etch the protective film and the thin-film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Kobayashi, Hiroji Aga
  • Patent number: 9773744
    Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods for forming modern sophisticated semiconductor devices, and more specifically, methods wherein substantially lead-free solder bumps may be formed above a contact layer of a semiconductor chip. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a solder bump above a metallization layer of a semiconductor device, removing an oxide film from a surface of the solder bump, and, after removing the oxide film, performing a solder bump reflow process in a reducing ambient to reflow the solder bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Reiner Willeke, Sören Zenner
  • Patent number: 9773669
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanostructure, which comprises forming an elongated tubular nanostructure, and generating conditions for said tubular nanostructure to unwrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Fernando Patolsky, Guy Davidi, Alexander Pevzner
  • Patent number: 9773813
    Abstract: A thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are disclosed. The manufacturing method of the array substrate includes depositing an amorphous silicon thin film layer on a base substrate; performing a patterning process on the amorphous silicon thin film layer, so as to form a pattern with multiple small pores at a surface of the amorphous silicon thin film layer. With this method, when a laser annealing treatment of amorphous silicon is performed, the molten silicon after melting fills the space of small pores at a surface of the amorphous silicon thin film layer firstly, thereby avoiding forming a protruded grain boundary that is produced because the excess volume of polysilicon is squeezed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhenyu Xie
  • Patent number: 9773938
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a manufacturing method of an amorphous-silicon flat-panel X-ray sensor; the method reduces the number of mask plates to be used, simplifies the production processes, saves production costs, while also improving the product yield. The manufacturing method comprises: on a substrate, after a gate scan line is formed, forming a data line, a TFT switch element and a photosensitive element through one patterning process, wherein on the mask plate used in the patterning process, a region corresponding to a channel of the TFT switch element is semi-transmissive, whereas regions respectively corresponding to the data line, the photosensitive element and the portion of the TFT switch element other than the channel thereof are non-transmissive; thereafter, on the substrate formed with the TFT switch element and the photosensitive element, a passivation layer and a bias line are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shaoying Xu, Zhenyu Xie, Jian Guo, Xu Chen
  • Patent number: 9768016
    Abstract: Method and devices are disclosed for device manufacture of gallium nitride devices by growing a gallium nitride layer on a silicon substrate using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) followed by rapid thermal annealing. Gallium nitride is grown directly on silicon or on a barrier layer of aluminum nitride grown on the silicon substrate. One or both layers are thermally processed by rapid thermal annealing. Preferably the ALD process use a reaction temperature below 550° C. and preferable below 350° C. The rapid thermal annealing step raises the temperature of the coating surface to a temperature ranging from 550 to 1500° C. for less than 12 msec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Hawryluk, Ganesh Sundaram, Ritwik Bhatia
  • Patent number: 9768289
    Abstract: A uni-terminal transistor device is described. In one embodiment, an n-channel transistor having p-terminal characteristics comprises a first semiconductor layer having a discrete hole level; a second semiconductor layer having a conduction band whose minimum level is lower than that of the first semiconductor layer; a wide bandgap semiconductor barrier layer disposed between the first and the second semiconductor layers; a gate dielectric layer disposed above the first semiconductor layer; and a gate metal layer disposed above the gate dielectric layer and having an effective workfunction selected to position the discrete hole level below the minimum level of the conduction band of the second semiconductor layer for zero bias applied to the gate metal layer and to obtain p-terminal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventor: Matthias Passlack
  • Patent number: 9768063
    Abstract: A method for filling vias formed in a dielectric layer with a metal or metal alloy that has a low solubility with copper over copper containing interconnects, wherein the vias are part of a dual damascene structure with trenches and vias is provided. A sealing layer of a first metal or metal alloy that has a low solubility with copper is selectively deposited directly on the copper containing interconnects in at bottoms of the vias, wherein sidewalls of the dielectric layer forming the vias are exposed to the depositing the sealing layer, and wherein the first metal or metal alloy that has a low solubility is selectively deposited to only form a layer on the copper containing interconnects. A via fill of a second metal or metal alloy that has a low solubility with copper is electrolessly deposited over the sealing layer, which fills the vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Artur Kolics, Praveen Nalla, Lie Zhao
  • Patent number: 9768032
    Abstract: A method of forming a pattern including forming a feature layer on a substrate having first and second regions; forming a first guide pattern on the first region, the first guide pattern having openings therein, the openings exposing the feature layer; forming a second guide pattern covering the feature layer exposed through the first guide pattern on the first region and covering the second region; forming a block copolymer layer covering the first guide pattern and the second guide pattern on the first and second regions; phase-separating the block copolymer layer to form first vertical domains and a second vertical domain; removing the first vertical domains on the first region; and etching the first guide pattern and the feature layer using the second vertical domain as an etch mask on the first region to form a feature pattern having holes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seok-han Park
  • Patent number: 9768410
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with high reliability in a simple way. Further, it is an object to provide an electronic device or a lighting device each mounted with the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device with high reliability can be obtained with the use of a light-emitting device having the following structure: an element portion including a light-emitting element is interposed between a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light and a metal substrate; and insulating layers provided over and under the element portion are in contact with each other in the outer periphery of the element portion to seal the element portion. Further, by mounting an electronic device or a lighting device with a light-emitting device having such a structure, an electronic device or a lighting device with high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Masahiro Katayama, Shingo Eguchi, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Ami Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9766489
    Abstract: A LCD device having a large pixel holding capacitance includes opposedly facing first and second substrates, and liquid crystal between them. The first substrate includes a video signal line, a pixel electrode, a thin film transistor having a first electrode connected to the video signal line and a second electrode connected to the pixel electrode, a first silicon nitride film formed above the second electrode, an organic insulation film above the first silicon nitride film, a capacitance electrode above the organic insulation film, and a second silicon nitride film above the capacitance electrode and below the pixel electrode. A contact hole etched in both the first and second silicon nitride films connects the second electrode and the pixel electrode to each other. A holding capacitance is formed by the pixel electrode, the second silicon nitride film and the capacitance electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: JAPAN DISPLAY INC., PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Tanabe, Masaru Takabatake, Toshiki Kaneko, Atsushi Hasegawa, Hiroko Sehata
  • Patent number: 9761753
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a light-emitting device includes providing a soluble member to cover at least one lateral surface of a light-emitting element. The soluble member includes a material soluble in a first solvent. A light-shielding member is provided to cover at least one lateral surface of the soluble member. The light-shielding member includes a light-shielding resin less soluble in the first solvent than the soluble member. The soluble member is removed with the first solvent. A first light-transmissive member is provided in a space formed by removing the soluble member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9758365
    Abstract: Bulk acoustic wave filters and/or bulk acoustic resonators integrated with CMOS devices, methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes forming a single crystalline beam from a silicon layer on an insulator. The method further includes providing a coating of insulator material over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes forming a via through the insulator material exposing a wafer underlying the insulator. The insulator material remains over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes providing a sacrificial material in the via and over the insulator material. The method further includes providing a lid on the sacrificial material. The method further includes venting, through the lid, the sacrificial material and a portion of the wafer under the single crystalline beam to form an upper cavity above the single crystalline beam and a lower cavity in the wafer, below the single crystalline beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: David L. Harame, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9761508
    Abstract: Composite heat sink structures and methods of fabrication are provided, with the composite heat sink structures including: a thermally conductive base having a main heat transfer surface to couple to, for instance, at least one electronic component to be cooled; a compressible, continuous sealing member; and a sealing member retainer compressing the compressible, continuous sealing member against the thermally conductive base; and an in situ molded member. The in situ molded member is molded over and affixed to the thermally conductive base, and is molded over and secures in place the sealing member retainer. A coolant-carrying compartment resides between the thermally conductive base and the in situ molded member, and a coolant inlet and outlet are provided in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate liquid coolant flow through the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Milnes P. David, Dustin W. Demetriou, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons