Patents Examined by Zandra V. Smith
  • Patent number: 11195724
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes the following operations. A substrate embedded with a shallow trench isolation is received. A first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. An etching process is performed to form a hole in the first dielectric layer and form a pit in the substrate, wherein an upper surface of the shallow trench isolation is exposed from the hole, and the pit is adjacent to the shallow trench isolation. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer and the shallow trench isolation and in the pit. The second dielectric layer is treated with a plasma to convert a first portion of the second dielectric layer substantially on the first dielectric layer and the shallow trench isolation to a plasma-treated layer. The plasma-treated layer is removed to remain a second portion of the second dielectric layer in the pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jen-I Lai, Chun-Heng Wu
  • Patent number: 11189505
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit configured to store a processing liquid and a substrate and process the substrate using the processing liquid, the processing liquid including a phosphoric acid aqueous solution; a phosphoric acid aqueous solution supply unit configured to supply the phosphoric acid aqueous solution to the liquid processing unit; a discharge line connected to the liquid processing unit, and configured to discharge the processing liquid; a return line switchably connected to the discharge line, and configured to return the processing liquid to the liquid processing unit; a recycling line switchably connected to the discharge line, and including a recycling unit configured to recycle the processing liquid; and a waste line switchably connected to the discharge line, and configured to discard the processing liquid to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11183395
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and its fabrication method are provided. The method includes forming a core layer on a first region of a base substrate layer; forming sidewall spacer layers on sidewalls of two sides of the core layer along a first direction; forming a filling layer on a second region between adjacent sidewall spacer layers which are arranged along the first direction; forming a first dividing trench in the filling layer on the second region to divide the filling layer along a second direction, where sidewalls of the first dividing trench, arranged along the first direction, expose corresponding sidewall spacer layers; forming a second dividing trench in the core layer to divide the core layer along the second direction; forming a second dividing layer in the second dividing trench when forming a first dividing layer in the first dividing trench; and removing the filling layer and the core layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Linlin Sun, Bo Su
  • Patent number: 11183406
    Abstract: A system for controlling of wafer bow in plasma processing stations is described. The system includes a circuit that provides a low frequency RF signal and another circuit that provides a high frequency RF signal. The system includes an output circuit and the stations. The output circuit combines the low frequency RF signal and the high frequency RF signal to generate a plurality of combined RF signals for the stations. Amount of low frequency power delivered to one of the stations depends on wafer bow, such as non-flatness of a wafer. A bowed wafer decreases low frequency power delivered to the station in a multi-station chamber with a common RF source. A shunt inductor is coupled in parallel to each of the stations to increase an amount of current to the station with a bowed wafer. Hence, station power becomes less sensitive to wafer bow to minimize wafer bowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Augustyniak, David French, Sunil Kapoor, Yukinori Sakiyama, George Thomas
  • Patent number: 11183650
    Abstract: A display substrate includes a first conductive layer on a base substrate, a first insulation layer on the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer on the second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer on the second insulation layer. The third conductive layer is connected to the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through a contact hole passing through the first insulation layer, the second conductive layer, and the second insulation layer. A sidewall of the contact hole has a stepped shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myounggeun Cha, Sanggun Choi, Meejae Kang, Sanggab Kim, Joon woo Bae, Thanh Tien Nguyen, Kyoungwon Lee, Yongsu Lee
  • Patent number: 11183455
    Abstract: An interconnect structure of an integrated circuit (IC) in which dielectric material defines upper and lower cavities and a via cavity communicative with the upper and lower cavities at upper and lower ends thereof. The interconnect structure includes first conductive material filling the upper and lower cavities to form upper and lower lines, respectively and second conductive material filling the via cavity from the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof to form a via electrically communicative with the upper and lower lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Motoyama, Oscar van der Straten, Kenneth Chun Kuen Cheng, Joseph F. Maniscalco
  • Patent number: 11183534
    Abstract: This application describes a light emitting device or an assembly of light emitting devices, each with a small footprint. The light emitting device comprises two transistors, a capacitor, and an LED. The transistors comprise single crystal semiconductor. The capacitor is vertically-oriented. The LED overlies the transistors and capacitor. Methods to form the light emitting device or assembly are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Black Peak LLC
    Inventor: Scott Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 11177138
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first hard mask layer over a substrate and forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer. The second hard mask layer is patterned to define an island having a first width along a first direction. The island is patterned to form a patterned island having a second width along the first direction that is less than the first width. A sacrificial mask is formed over the first hard mask layer and the first hard mask layer is patterned according to the patterned island and the sacrificial mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lee, Jyu-Horng Shieh
  • Patent number: 11177336
    Abstract: A method for repairing a display substrate includes detecting whether there is a fault point on signal lines. If a fault point is detected on a signal line, short-circuiting is performed of two sides of the at least one fault point through line portions of two drive power lines respectively located at two sides of the at least one fault point and perpendicular to the signal line where the at least one fault point is located and a line portion of a drive power line located at one side of the at least one fault point and parallel to the signal line where the at least one fault point is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cuili Gai, Baoxia Zhang, Ling Wang
  • Patent number: 11177145
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plurality of electronic circuits is disclosed. Each electronic circuit comprises a respective first portion, comprising a respective group of contact pads, and a respective integrated circuit, IC, comprising a respective group of terminals and mounted on the respective group of contact pads with each terminal in electrical contact with a respective contact pad. The method comprises: providing a first structure comprising the plurality of first portions; providing a second structure comprising the plurality of ICs and a common support arranged to support the plurality of ICs; transferring said ICs from the common support onto a first roller having a removable surface portion; and transferring said ICs from the first roller onto the first structure such that each group of terminals is mounted on a respective group of contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PRAGMATIC PRINTING LTD.
    Inventors: Neil Davies, Richard Price, Stephen Devenport, Stuart Speakman
  • Patent number: 11177215
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a conductive line formed on a substrate, an insulating spacer covering side walls of the conductive line and extending parallel with the conductive line, and a conductive plug that is spaced apart from the conductive line with the insulating spacer therebetween. The insulating spacer includes an insulating liner contacting the conductive line, an outer spacer contacting the conductive plug, and a barrier layer between the insulating liner and the outer spacer to prevent oxygen atoms from diffusing into the outer spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyungwook Park, Yoongoo Kang, Wonseok Yoo, Dain Lee
  • Patent number: 11177179
    Abstract: In a method, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. The first semiconductor layers are etched at a source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, thereby forming a first source/drain space in which the second semiconductor layers are exposed. A dielectric layer is formed at the first source/drain space, thereby covering the exposed second semiconductor layers. The dielectric layer and part of the second semiconductor layers are etched, thereby forming a second source/drain space. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the second source/drain space. At least one of the second semiconductor layers is in contact with the source/drain epitaxial layer, and at least one of the second semiconductor layers is separated from the source/drain epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Chih-Liang Chen, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Ta-Pen Guo, Yu-Lin Yang, I-Sheng Chen, Szu-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11174153
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device may be coupled to a dielectric material at an upper planar surface or lower planar surface of the MEMS device. One or more temperature sensors may be attached to the dielectric material layer. Signals from the one or more temperature sensors may be used to determine a thermal gradient along on axis that is normal to the upper planar surface and the lower planar surface. The thermal gradient may be used to compensate for values measured by the MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Ilya Gurin, Matthew Julian Thompson, Vadim Tsinker
  • Patent number: 11177170
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an interconnect in a first dielectric layer, and forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer. In the method, an etch stop layer is formed on the second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer is formed on the etch stop layer. A trench and an opening are formed in the third and second dielectric layers, respectively. A barrier layer is deposited in the trench and in the opening, and on a top surface of the interconnect. The method also includes removing the barrier layer from the top surface of the interconnect and from a bottom surface of the trench, and depositing a conductive fill layer in the trench and in the opening, and on the interconnect. A bottom surface of the trench includes the etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chanro Park, Koichi Motoyama, Kenneth Chun Kuen Cheng, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo
  • Patent number: 11171086
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base member, a multilayer wiring layer, and a first resistive element. The multilayer wiring layer is formed on the base member. The first resistive element is formed in the multilayer wiring layer. The first resistive element includes a first conductive part, a second conductive part and a third conductive part. The second conductive part is formed over the first conductive part. The third conductive part electrically connects the first conductive part and the second conductive part with each other. A length of the third conductive part in a first direction along a surface of the base member is greater than a length of the third conductive part in a second direction along the surface of the base member and perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Kubo, Koichi Ando, Eiji Io, Hideyuki Tajima, Tetsuya Iida
  • Patent number: 11171306
    Abstract: A package substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The package substrate includes a transparent substrate; a plurality of spacers disposed on the transparent substrate; and auxiliary electrodes provided on the spacers and in a non-light-emitting region. Orthographic projections of the spacers on an array substrate fall within orthographic areas of a pixel define layer (PDL) on the array substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chengyuan Luo
  • Patent number: 11171075
    Abstract: An electronic-photonic integrated-circuit assembly comprises a carrier substrate (310) and one or more integrated-circuit dies (330, 340) bonded to one another so as to form a die stack with exterior surfaces corresponding to an outer surface of a first one of the integrated-circuit dies and to an outer surface of a second one of the integrated-circuit dies, where at least one of the integrated-circuit dies includes one or more integrated photonic devices. One or more channels or passages (320) are formed into the outer surface of the first one of the integrated-circuit dies, and a first surface of the carrier substrate (310) is bonded to the outer surface of the first one of the integrated-circuit dies, thereby enclosing the one or more channels or passages (320), The integrated-circuit dies are electrically connected to each other via electrically conductive through-wafer interconnects or electrically conductive through-wafer vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Neng Liu, Robert Brunner, Stephane Lessard
  • Patent number: 11164813
    Abstract: A transistor semiconductor die includes a drift layer, a first dielectric layer, a first metallization layer, a second dielectric layer, a second metallization layer, a first plurality of electrodes, and a second plurality of electrodes. The first dielectric layer is over the drift layer. The first metallization layer is over the first dielectric layer such that at least a portion of the first metallization layer provides a first contact pad. The second dielectric layer is over the first metallization layer. The second metallization layer is over the second dielectric layer such that at least a portion of the second metallization layer provides a second contact pad and the second metallization layer at least partially overlaps the first metallization layer. The transistor semiconductor die is configured to selectively conduct current between the first contact pad and a third contact pad based on signals provided at the second contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jenner Lichtenwalner, Edward Robert Van Brunt
  • Patent number: 11164823
    Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate; a first crack-detecting structure positioned in the substrate and including a first insulating stack inwardly positioned in the substrate, a first bottom conductive layer positioned on the first insulating stack, and a first filler layer positioned on the first bottom conductive layer; and a second crack-detecting structure positioned adjacent to the first crack-detecting structure and including a second insulating stack inwardly positioned in the substrate, a second bottom conductive layer positioned on the second insulating stack, and a second filler layer positioned on the second bottom conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teng-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 11164775
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a first insulation film in a via hole of a semiconductor substrate and above a first surface thereof, the semiconductor substrate having a circuit substrate on a second surface thereof, depositing a second insulation film having a covering property lower than the first insulation film in the via hole and above the first surface, and removing the first and second insulation films deposited at the bottom of the via hole by anisotropic etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Takahashi, Shinya Okuda