Patents by Inventor Clifford Ian Drowley

Clifford Ian Drowley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11601106
    Abstract: A thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) apparatus includes a lower dielectric layer including a first cavity; an upper dielectric layer including a second cavity, wherein the upper dielectric layer is on the lower dielectric layer; and an acoustic resonance film that is positioned between and separating the first and the second cavities. The acoustic resonance film includes a lower electrode layer, an upper electrode layer, and a piezoelectric film that is sandwiched between the lower and upper electrode layers. A plan view of the first and the second cavities overlap to form an overlapped region having a polygonal shape without parallel sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION, NINGBO SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley, Jiguang Zhu, Halting Li
  • Patent number: 11575358
    Abstract: A thin-film bulk acoustic resonator, a semiconductor apparatus including the acoustic resonator and its manufacturing method are presented. The thin-film bulk acoustic resonator includes a lower dielectric layer, a first cavity inside the lower dielectric layer, an upper dielectric layer, a second cavity inside the upper dielectric layer, and a piezoelectric film that is located between the first and second cavities and continuously separates these two cavities. The plan views of the first and the second cavities have an overlapped region, which is a polygon that does not have any parallel sides. The piezoelectric film of this inventive concept is a continuous film without any through-hole in it, therefore it can offer improved acoustic resonance performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION, NINGBO SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley, Jiguang Zhu, Haiting Li
  • Patent number: 11562980
    Abstract: Wafer-level packaging structure is provided. First chips are bonded to the device wafer. A first encapsulation layer is formed on the device wafer, covering the first chips. The first chip includes: a chip front surface with a formed first pad, facing the device wafer; and a chip back surface opposite to the chip front surface. A first opening is formed in the first encapsulation layer to expose at least one first chip having an exposed chip back surface for receiving a loading signal. A metal layer structure is formed covering the at least one first chip, a bottom and sidewalls of the first opening, and the first encapsulation layer, followed by an alloying treatment on the chip back surface and the metal layer structure to form a back metal layer on the chip back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 11450582
    Abstract: A wafer-level package structure is provided, including a device wafer integrated with a first chip. The device wafer includes a first front surface integrated with the first chip and a first back surface opposite to the first front surface. A first oxide layer is formed on the first front surface. A second chip is provided to include a bonding surface, on which a second oxide layer is formed. A carrier substrate is provided to be temporarily bonded with the surface of the second chip that faces away from the bonding surface. The second chip is bonded with the device wafer through bonding the first and the second oxide layers using a fusion bonding process. The second chip and the carrier substrate are debonded. An encapsulation layer is formed on the first oxide layer and covers the second chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 10978421
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wafer level packaging method and a package structure. The wafer level packaging method includes: forming a bonding structure including a device wafer and a plurality of first chips bonded to the device wafer; conformally covering the plurality of first chips and the device wafer exposed by the plurality of first chips with an insulating layer; conformally covering the insulating layer with a shielding layer; and forming an encapsulation layer on the shielding layer. The wafer level package structure includes: a device wafer; a plurality of first chips bonded to the device wafer; an insulating layer conformally covering the plurality of first chips and the device wafer exposed by the plurality of first chips; a shielding layer conformally covering the insulating layer; and an encapsulation layer formed on the shielding layer. The wafer level package structure provides a reduced volume and a reduced thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Publication number: 20210082869
    Abstract: Wafer-level packaging structure is provided. First chips are bonded to the device wafer. A first encapsulation layer is formed on the device wafer, covering the first chips. The first chip includes: a chip front surface with a formed first pad, facing the device wafer; and a chip back surface opposite to the chip front surface. A first opening is formed in the first encapsulation layer to expose at least one first chip having an exposed chip back surface for receiving a loading signal. A metal layer structure is formed covering the at least one first chip, a bottom and sidewalls of the first opening, and the first encapsulation layer, followed by an alloying treatment on the chip back surface and the metal layer structure to form a back metal layer on the chip back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Hailong LUO, Clifford Ian DROWLEY
  • Patent number: 10910274
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a shallow trench isolation in the first substrate, the shallow trench isolation having a first depth, the first depth being a distance from a bottom of the shallow trench isolation to the first surface of the first substrate, a transistor on the first surface of the first substrate, a first dielectric cap layer covering the first surface of the first substrate, a first interconnect structure on the first dielectric cap layer, a carrier substrate bonded to the first substrate through the first dielectric cap layer, a second dielectric cap layer on the second surface of the first substrate; and a through silicon via extending through the second dielectric cap layer, the shallow trench isolation, and the first dielectric cap layer, and connected to the first interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Haiting Li, Jiguang Zhu, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 10910286
    Abstract: Wafer-level system-in-package packaging method and package structure are provided. The method includes: forming a bonding structure, where the bonding structure includes a device wafer and a plurality of chips bonded to the device wafer, where the plurality of chips contains one or more first chips to-be-shielded; forming an encapsulation layer covering the plurality of chips; forming a trench in the encapsulation layer to surround each first chip of the one or more first chips; and forming a conductive material in the trench and on the encapsulation layer, where the conductive material includes a shielding housing, the shielding housing including a conductive sidewall formed in the trench and a conductive layer formed on a portion of the encapsulation layer above the each first chip and connected with the conductive sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Publication number: 20200402876
    Abstract: A wafer-level package structure is provided, including a device wafer integrated with a first chip. The device wafer includes a first front surface integrated with the first chip and a first back surface opposite to the first front surface. A first oxide layer is formed on the first front surface. A second chip is provided to include a bonding surface, on which a second oxide layer is formed. A carrier substrate is provided to be temporarily bonded with the surface of the second chip that faces away from the bonding surface. The second chip is bonded with the device wafer through bonding the first and the second oxide layers using a fusion bonding process. The second chip and the carrier substrate are debonded. An encapsulation layer is formed on the first oxide layer and covers the second chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Hailong LUO, Clifford Ian DROWLEY
  • Patent number: 10861822
    Abstract: Wafer-level packaging method and package structure are provided. In an exemplary method, first chips are bonded to the device wafer. A first encapsulation layer is formed on the device wafer, covering the first chips. The first chip includes: a chip front surface with a formed first pad, facing the device wafer; and a chip back surface opposite to the chip front surface. A first opening is formed in the first encapsulation layer to expose at least one first chip having an exposed chip back surface for receiving a loading signal. A metal layer structure is formed covering the at least one first chip, a bottom and sidewalls of the first opening, and the first encapsulation layer, followed by an alloying treatment on the chip back surface and the metal layer structure to form a back metal layer on the chip back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 10804177
    Abstract: A wafer-level packaging method and a package structure are provided. In the method, a first wafer is provided having first chips formed there-in. A surface of each first chip is integrated with a first electrode. A first dielectric layer is formed on the first wafer to expose each first electrode. Second chips are provided with a surface of each second chip integrated with a second electrode. A second dielectric layer is formed on the plurality of second chips to expose each second electrode. The second dielectric layer is positioned relative to the first dielectric layer. The second chips are bonded to the first wafer with each second chip aligned relative to one first chip to form a cavity there-between. A chip interconnection structure is formed in the cavity to electrically connect the first electrode with the second electrode. An encapsulation layer covers the second chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 10790211
    Abstract: A wafer-level packaging method and a package structure are provided. In the packaging method, a device wafer integrated with a first chip is provided. The device wafer includes a first front surface integrated with the first chip and a first back surface opposite to the first front surface. A first oxide layer is formed on the first front surface. A second chip is provided to include a bonding surface, on which a second oxide layer is formed. A carrier substrate is provided to be temporarily bonded with the surface of the second chip that faces away from the bonding surface. The second chip is bonded with the device wafer through bonding the first and the second oxide layers using a fusion bonding process. The second chip and the carrier substrate are debonded. An encapsulation layer is formed on the first oxide layer and covers the second chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 10784229
    Abstract: Wafer level package structures and packaging methods are provided. An exemplary method includes providing a device wafer having a first front surface and a first back surface opposing the first front surface, wherein at least one first chip is integrated in the first front surface; forming a first oxide layer on the first front surface of the device wafer; providing at least one second chip having a to-be-bonded surface; forming a second oxide layer on the to-be-bonded surface of each second chip; providing a carrier wafer; temporally bonding a surface of the second chip opposing the second oxide layer to the carrier wafer; forming an encapsulation layer on the carrier wafer between adjacent second chips of the at least one second; and bonding the device wafer and the second chip by bonding the first oxide layer with the second oxide layer by a low-temperature fusion bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Publication number: 20200280294
    Abstract: A thin-film bulk acoustic resonator, a semiconductor apparatus including the acoustic resonator and its manufacturing method are presented. The thin-film bulk acoustic resonator includes a lower dielectric layer, a first cavity inside the lower dielectric layer, an upper dielectric layer, a second cavity inside the upper dielectric layer, and a piezoelectric film that is located between the first and second cavities and continuously separates these two cavities. The plan views of the first and the second cavities have an overlapped region, which is a polygon that does not have any parallel sides. The piezoelectric film of this inventive concept is a continuous film without any through-hole in it, therefore it can offer improved acoustic resonance performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Herb He HUANG, Clifford Ian DROWLEY, Jiguang ZHU, Haiting LI
  • Patent number: 10756051
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wafer-level packaging method and a package structure. The wafer-level packaging method includes: providing a device wafer that contains a plurality of first chips, that each first chip contains a first electrode exposed at a wafer front surface of the device wafer; providing a plurality of second chips, that each second chip contains a second electrode exposed at a chip front surface of the each second chip, and a surface opposite to the chip front surface is a chip back surface; bonding the chip back surface of the each second chip to a portion of the wafer front surface of the device wafer between adjacent first chips of the plurality of first chips; forming insulating sidewalls on sidewalls of the plurality of second chips; and forming a conductive layer conformally covering the chip front surface, each insulating sidewall, and the wafer front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Semiconductor International Corporation
    Inventors: Hailong Luo, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Publication number: 20200266790
    Abstract: A thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) apparatus includes a lower dielectric layer including a first cavity; an upper dielectric layer including a second cavity, wherein the upper dielectric layer is on the lower dielectric layer; and an acoustic resonance film that is positioned between and separating the first and the second cavities. The acoustic resonance film includes a lower electrode layer, an upper electrode layer, and a piezoelectric film that is sandwiched between the lower and upper electrode layers. A plan view of the first and the second cavities overlap to form an overlapped region having a polygonal shape without parallel sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Herb He HUANG, Clifford Ian DROWLEY, Jiguang ZHU, Haiting LI
  • Patent number: 10700663
    Abstract: A resonator may include a first dielectric member, a second dielectric member, and a composite member. The first dielectric member may have a first cavity. The composite member may include a piezoelectric layer and may overlap at least one of the first dielectric member and the second dielectric member. At least one of the second dielectric member and the composite member may have a second cavity. The piezoelectric layer may be positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity. A projection of the first cavity in a direction perpendicular to a flat side of the first dielectric member and a projection of the second cavity in the direction may intersect each other to form a polygon. No two edges of the polygon may be parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, NINGBO SEMICONDUCTOTR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley, Jiguang Zhu, Haiting Li
  • Patent number: 10693431
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus includes: on a base substrate, forming an isolation trench layer, a first dielectric layer, a lower electrode layer and a second dielectric layer; forming a piezoelectric film and an upper electrode layer in an opening in the second dielectric layer; forming a third dielectric layer; forming a first cavity in the third dielectric layer to expose at least part of the upper electrode layer; bonding a first assistant substrate to seal the first cavity; removing a part of the base substrate to expose the isolation trench layer; forming a fourth dielectric layer on a side of the isolation trench; and etching through the fourth dielectric layer, the isolation trench layer, the first dielectric layer to form a second cavity beneath the lower electrode layer, plan views of the first and second cavities providing an overlapped region having a polygon shape without parallel sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, NINGBO SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley, Jiguang Zhu, Haiting Li
  • Patent number: 10686422
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus includes: on a base substrate, forming an isolation trench layer, a first dielectric layer, a first metal connecting layer, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode layer; forming an acoustic resonance film by patternizing the piezoelectric film, the upper electrode layer, and the first metal connecting layer; above the base substrate, forming a second dielectric layer and a third dielectric layer; forming a first cavity through the third and second dielectric layers, and the protection layer; removing a part of the base substrate to expose the isolation trench layer; forming a fourth dielectric layer under the isolation trench layer; and forming a second cavity through the fourth dielectric layer, the isolation trench layer, and the first dielectric layer, plan views of the first and second cavities forming an overlapped region having a polygon shape without parallel sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, NINGBO SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley, Jiguang Zhu, Haiting Li
  • Publication number: 20200075444
    Abstract: A wafer-level packaging method and a package structure are provided. In the packaging method, a device wafer integrated with a first chip is provided. The device wafer includes a first front surface integrated with the first chip and a first back surface opposite to the first front surface. A first oxide layer is formed on the first front surface. A second chip is provided to include a bonding surface, on which a second oxide layer is formed. A carrier substrate is provided to be temporarily bonded with the surface of the second chip that faces away from the bonding surface. The second chip is bonded with the device wafer through bonding the first and the second oxide layers using a fusion bonding process. The second chip and the carrier substrate are debonded. An encapsulation layer is formed on the first oxide layer and covers the second chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Hailong LUO, Clifford Ian DROWLEY