Patents by Inventor Darwin G. Enicks

Darwin G. Enicks 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: 8530934
    Abstract: A method for pseudomorphic growth and integration of an in-situ doped, strain-compensated metastable compound base into an electronic device, such as, for example, a SiGe NPN HBT, by substitutional placement of strain-compensating atomic species. The invention also applies to strained layers in other electronic devices such as strained SiGe, Si in MOS applications, vertical thin film transistors (VTFT), and a variety of other electronic device types. Devices formed from compound semiconductors other than SiGe, such as, for example, GaAs, InP, and AlGaAs are also amenable to beneficial processes described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Darwin G. Enicks, John Taylor Chaffee, Damian A. Carver
  • Patent number: 8173526
    Abstract: Various embodiments include forming a silicon-germanium layer over a substrate of a device; forming a layer in the silicon-germanium layer, the layer including at least one of boron and carbon; and forming a silicon layer over the silicon-germanium layer. Additional embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20110073907
    Abstract: A method for pseudomorphic growth and integration of an in-situ doped, strain-compensated metastable compound base into an electronic device, such as, for example, a SiGe NPN HBT, by substitutional placement of strain-compensating atomic species. The invention also applies to strained layers in other electronic devices such as strained SiGe, Si in MOS applications, vertical thin film transistors (VTFT), and a variety of other electronic device types. Devices formed from compound semiconductors other than SiGe, such as, for example, GaAs, InP, and AlGaAs are also amenable to beneficial processes described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Darwin G. Enicks, John Taylor Chaffee, Damian A. Carver
  • Patent number: 7612421
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductive film stack for use as a polysilicon germanium gate electrode to address problems associated with implant and diffusion of dopants. Achieving a sufficiently high active dopant concentration at a gate-dielectric interface while avoiding gate penetration of dopants such as boron is problematic. A higher gate implant dosage or annealing temperature is needed, and boron penetration through the thin gate oxide is inevitably enhanced. Both problems are exacerbated as the gate dielectric becomes thinner. In order to achieve a high level of active dopant concentration next to the gate dielectric without experiencing problems associated with gate depletion and penetration, a method and procedures of applying a diffusion-blocking layer is described with respect to an exemplary MOSFET application. However, a diffusion-blocking concept is also presented, which is readily amenable to a variety of semiconductor related technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20090258478
    Abstract: Various embodiments include forming a silicon-germanium layer over a substrate of a device; forming a layer in the silicon-germanium layer, the layer including at least one of boron and carbon; and forming a silicon layer over the silicon-germanium layer. Additional embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Patent number: 7569913
    Abstract: A method for forming an etch-stop layer and a resulting structure fabricated therefrom. The etch-stop layer has a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a boron layer formed below the first surface of the semiconductor layer. The boron layer has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than 100 nanometers. The boron layer is formed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Patent number: 7550758
    Abstract: A method and resulting high electron mobility transistor comprised of a substrate and a relaxed silicon-germanium layer formed over the substrate. A dopant layer is formed within the relaxed silicon-germanium layer. The dopant layer contains carbon and/or boron and has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than approximately 70 nanometers. A strained silicon layer is formed over the relaxed silicon-germanium layer and is configured to act as quantum well device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Patent number: 7540298
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for reducing contaminants of physical components (e.g., semiconductor device fabrication equipment components), featuring a manifold having a passageway in fluid communication with a plurality of inlets and for providing a purge fluid to removably connected components to undergo contaminant reduction. The inlets are coupled to a plurality of manifold valves to which components are removably connected. The manifold valves are operable to place connected components into and out of fluid communication with the inlets and the passageway. A fluid source supplies purge fluid to the manifold and a pump is connected to the manifold to remove fluid from the system. In one embodiment an oven is connected to the system for outgassing and for reduction of moisture in additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Darwin G. Enicks, Carl E. Friedrichs, Richard A. Brucher
  • Patent number: 7495250
    Abstract: A method for forming an etch-stop layer and a resulting structure fabricated therefrom. The etch-stop layer is a silicon-germanium layer having a ratio of silicon to germanium of about 50:1 or less, a boron layer formed within the silicon-germanium layer where the boron layer has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than 50 nanometers, and a carbon layer formed within the silicon-germanium layer where the carbon layer has an FWHM thickness value of less than 50 nanometers. A ratio of boron to carbon in the etch-stop layer is in a range of about 0.5 to 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20080237716
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure comprising a boron etch-stop layer on a surface of the integrated circuit structure having a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value less than 100 nanometers, wherein the boron etch-stop layer is substantially free of germanium and carbon. In one embodiment, the boron etch-stop layer has a FWHM thickness value less than 20 nanometers and may contain added germanium or carbon. Systems and devices containing same are also disclosed. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) may be used to form the boron etch-stop layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20080099882
    Abstract: A method for forming an etch-stop layer and a resulting structure fabricated therefrom. The etch-stop layer is a silicon-germanium layer having a ratio of silicon to germanium of about 50:1 or less, a boron layer formed within the silicon-germanium layer where the boron layer has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than 50 nanometers, and a carbon layer formed within the silicon-germanium layer where the carbon layer has an FWHM thickness value of less than 50 nanometers. A ratio of boron to carbon in the etch-stop layer is in a range of about 0.5 to 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20080099840
    Abstract: A method for forming an etch-stop layer and a resulting structure fabricated therefrom. The etch-stop layer has a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a boron layer formed below the first surface of the semiconductor layer. The boron layer has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than 100 nanometers. The boron layer is formed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20080099754
    Abstract: A method and resulting high electron mobility transistor comprised of a substrate and a relaxed silicon-germanium layer formed over the substrate. A dopant layer is formed within the relaxed silicon-germanium layer. The dopant layer contains carbon and/or boron and has a full-width half-maximum (FWHM) thickness value of less than approximately 70 nanometers. A strained silicon layer is formed over the relaxed silicon-germanium layer and is configured to act as quantum well device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20080050883
    Abstract: A method and resulting electronic device utilizing a periodic multi-layer (ML) and/or superlattice (SL) structures in the base of a SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is disclosed. The SL is a special case of an ML, in which layers that are chemically different from adjacent neighbors are successively repeated. The use of the ML in electronic and photonic devices is enables strategic engineering of the energy band gap and carrier mobilities. Principles disclosed herein relate to npn- and pnp-type SiGe HBTs as well as HBTs made with other compound semiconductor materials (e.g., other Group III-V or II-VI materials). Additionally, technology and methods disclosed herein benefit other devices types such as, for example, metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), high hole mobility transistors (HHMTs), bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and FINFETs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Publication number: 20070148890
    Abstract: A method for pseudomorphic growth and integration of a strain-compensated metastable and/or unstable compound base having incorporated oxygen and an electronic device incorporating the base is described. The strain-compensated base is doped by substitutional and/or interstitial placement of a strain-compensating atomic species. The electronic device may be, for example, a SiGe NPN HBT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Darwin G. Enicks, John T. Chaffee, Damian A. Carver
  • Patent number: 7080440
    Abstract: Very low moisture o-rings are prepared by placing standard o-rings under vacuum in an inert atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to achieve a desired outgassing rate. Heat is not applied. While the o-rings are under vacuum, moisture is removed from the o-rings via diffusion transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks
  • Patent number: 7044147
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for reducing contaminants of semiconductor device fabrication equipment components, featuring a manifold having a passageway in fluid communication with to a plurality of inlets and for providing a purge fluid to removably connected components to undergo contaminant reduction. The inlets are connected to a plurality of manifold valves to which components are removably connected. The manifold valves are operable to place connected components into and out of fluid communication with the inlets and the passageway. A fluid source supplies purge fluid to the manifold and a pump is connected to the manifold to remove fluid from the system. In one embodiment an oven is connected to the system for outgassing and for reduction of moisture in additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Darwin G. Enicks, Carl E. Friedrichs, Richard A. Brucher
  • Publication number: 20040117968
    Abstract: Very low moisture o-rings are prepared by placing standard o-rings under vacuum in an inert atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to achieve a desired outgassing rate. Heat is not applied. While the o-rings are under vacuum, moisture is removed from the o-rings via diffusion transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Darwin G. Enicks