Patents by Inventor Eiji Higa

Eiji Higa 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).

  • Publication number: 20220249015
    Abstract: An improved sleep onset/offset detection method based on a compact neural network that runs in a wearable device processing sensor data in near real-time, which means accumulating data from a few minutes instead of seconds before starting predictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELETRÔNICA DA AMAZÔNIA LTDA.
    Inventors: Antonio Joia Neto, Felipe Marinho Tavares, Paulo Augusto Alves Luz Viana, Vitor Fernando Da Silva Alquati, Matheus De Souza Ataide, Lin Tzy Li, Daniel Eiji Higa, Otávio A.B. Penatti
  • Patent number: 8895407
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate which possesses a base substrate having low heat resistance and a very thin semiconductor layer having high planarity is demonstrated. The method includes: implanting hydrogen ions into a semiconductor substrate to form an ion implantation layer; bonding the semiconductor substrate and a base substrate such as a glass substrate, placing a bonding layer therebetween; heating the substrates bonded to each other to separate the semiconductor substrate from the base substrate, leaving a thin semiconductor layer over the base substrate; irradiating the surface of the thin semiconductor layer with laser light to improve the planarity and recover the crystallinity of the thin semiconductor layer; and thinning the thin semiconductor layer. This method allows the formation of an SOI substrate which has a single-crystalline semiconductor layer with a thickness of 100 nm or less over a base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Akihisa Shimomura, Tatsuya Mizoi, Eiji Higa, Yoji Nagano
  • Patent number: 8871610
    Abstract: To increase adhesion between a single crystal semiconductor layer and a base substrate and to reduce bonding defects therebetween. To perform radical treatment on a surface of a semiconductor substrate to form a first insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; irradiate the semiconductor substrate with accelerated ions through the first insulating film to form an embrittlement region in the semiconductor substrate; form a second insulating film on the first insulating film; perform heat treatment after bonding a surface of the second insulating film and a surface of the base substrate to perform separation along the embrittlement region so that a semiconductor layer is formed over the base substrate with the first and second insulating films interposed therebetween; etch the semiconductor layer; and irradiate the semiconductor layer on which the etching is performed with a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Shimomura, Masaki Koyama, Eiji Higa
  • Patent number: 8772128
    Abstract: A single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with ions that are generated by exciting a hydrogen gas and are accelerated with an ion doping apparatus, thereby forming a damaged region that contains a large amount of hydrogen. After the single crystal semiconductor substrate and a supporting substrate are bonded, the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to be separated along the damaged region. While a single crystal semiconductor layer separated from the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated, this single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with a laser beam. The single crystal semiconductor layer undergoes re-single-crystallization by being melted through laser beam irradiation, thereby recovering its crystallinity and planarizing the surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junpei Momo, Fumito Isaka, Eiji Higa, Masaki Koyama, Akihisa Shimomura
  • Patent number: 8772129
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate which possesses a base substrate having low heat resistance and a very thin semiconductor layer having high planarity is demonstrated. The method includes: implanting hydrogen ions into a semiconductor substrate to form an ion implantation layer; bonding the semiconductor substrate and a base substrate such as a glass substrate, placing a bonding layer therebetween; heating the substrates bonded to each other to separate the semiconductor substrate from the base substrate, leaving a thin semiconductor layer over the base substrate; irradiating the surface of the thin semiconductor layer with laser light to improve the planarity and recover the crystallinity of the thin semiconductor layer; and thinning the thin semiconductor layer. This method allows the formation of an SOI substrate which has a single-crystalline semiconductor layer with a thickness of 100 nm or less over a base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Akihisa Shimomura, Tatsuya Mizoi, Eiji Higa, Yoji Nagano
  • Patent number: 8703579
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided, including a step of forming a layer which absorbs light over one face of a first substrate, a step of providing a second substrate over the layer which absorbs light, a step of providing a mask to oppose the other face of the first substrate, and a step of transferring the part of the layer which absorbs light to the second substrate by irradiating the layer which absorbs light with a laser beam through the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laborator Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Hironobu Shoji, Akihisa Shimomura, Eiji Higa, Tomoaki Moriwaka, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8563431
    Abstract: In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique for reducing the number of lithography processes using a photoresist and simplifying the process is provided, and the throughput is improved. An etching mask for forming a pattern of a layer to be processed such as a conductive layer or a semiconductor layer is manufactured without using a lithography technique that uses a photoresist. The etching mask is formed of a stacked layer structure of a light absorption layer and an insulating layer utilizing laser ablation by laser beam irradiation through a photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Eiji Higa
  • Patent number: 8343847
    Abstract: To prevent, in the case of irradiating a single crystal semiconductor layer with a laser beam, an impurity element from being taken into the single crystal semiconductor layer at the time of laser irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Koyama, Junpei Momo, Eiji Higa, Hiroaki Honda, Tamae Moriwaka, Akihisa Shimomura
  • Patent number: 8313989
    Abstract: To provide an SOI substrate having a high mechanical strength, and a method for manufacturing the SOI substrate, a single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with accelerated ions so that an embrittled region is formed in a region at a predetermined depth from a surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is bonded to a base substrate with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to be separated along the embrittled region, so that a semiconductor layer is provided over the base substrate with the insulating layer interposed therebetween; and a surface of the semiconductor layer is irradiated with a laser beam so that at least a superficial part of the semiconductor layer is melted, whereby at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon is solid-dissolved in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Ohnuma, Eiji Higa
  • Patent number: 8216914
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate including a semiconductor film with high planarity and high crystallinity. After a single crystal semiconductor film is formed over an insulating film by a separation step, a natural oxide film existing on a surface of the semiconductor film is removed and the semiconductor film is irradiated with first laser light and second laser light under an inert gas atmosphere or a reduced-pressure atmosphere. The number of shots of the first laser light that is emitted to an arbitrary point in the semiconductor film is greater than or equal to 7, preferably greater than or equal to 10 and less than or equal to 100. The number of shots of the second laser light that is emitted to an arbitrary point in the semiconductor film is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Koyama, Kosei Nei, Toru Hasegawa, Junpei Momo, Eiji Higa
  • Patent number: 8193068
    Abstract: To provide an SOI substrate with an SOI layer that can be put into practical use, even when a substrate with a low allowable temperature limit such as a glass substrate is used, and to provide a semiconductor substrate formed using such an SOI substrate. In order to bond a single-crystalline semiconductor substrate to a base substrate such as a glass substrate, a silicon oxide film formed by CVD with organic silane as a source material is used as a bonding layer, for example. Accordingly, an SOL substrate with a strong bond portion can be formed even when a substrate with an allowable temperature limit of less than or equal to 700° C. such as a glass substrate is used. A semiconductor layer separated from the single-crystalline semiconductor substrate is irradiated with a laser beam so that the surface of the semiconductor layer is planarized and the crystallinity thereof is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Eiji Higa, Yoji Nagano, Tatsuya Mizoi, Akihisa Shimomura
  • Publication number: 20110275191
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided, including a step of forming a layer which absorbs light over one face of a first substrate, a step of providing a second substrate over the layer which absorbs light, a step of providing a mask to oppose the other face of the first substrate, and a step of transferring the part of the layer which absorbs light to the second substrate by irradiating the layer which absorbs light with a laser beam through the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Hironobu Shoji, Akihisa Shimomura, Eiji Higa, Tomoaki Moriwaka, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7994021
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided, including a step of forming a layer which absorbs light over one face of a first substrate, a step of providing a second substrate over the layer which absorbs light, a step of providing a mask to oppose the other face of the first substrate, and a step of transferring the part of the layer which absorbs light to the second substrate by irradiating the layer which absorbs light with a laser beam through the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Hironobu Shoji, Akihisa Shimomura, Eiji Higa, Tomoaki Moriwaka, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20110136320
    Abstract: To provide an SOI substrate with an SOI layer that can be put into practical use, even when a substrate with a low allowable temperature limit such as a glass substrate is used, and to provide a semiconductor substrate formed using such an SOI substrate. In order to bond a single-crystalline semiconductor substrate to a base substrate such as a glass substrate, a silicon oxide film formed by CVD with organic silane as a source material is used as a bonding layer, for example. Accordingly, an SOL substrate with a strong bond portion can be formed even when a substrate with an allowable temperature limit of less than or equal to 700° C. such as a glass substrate is used. A semiconductor layer separated from the single-crystalline semiconductor substrate is irradiated with a laser beam so that the surface of the semiconductor layer is planarized and the crystallinity thereof is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Eiji HIGA, Yoji NAGANO, Tatsuya MIZOI, Akihisa SHIMOMURA
  • Patent number: 7927991
    Abstract: In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique for reducing the number of lithography processes that use a photoresist and simplifying the process is provided, which improves throughput. An etching mask for forming a pattern of a layer to be processed such as a conductive layer or a semiconductor layer is manufactured without using a lithography technique that uses a photoresist. The etching mask is formed of a light absorption layer including a material which absorbs a laser beam. The mask is formed by irradiating the light absorption layer with a laser beam through a photomask and utilizing laser ablation by energy of the laser beam absorbed by the light absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Yasuhiro Jinbo, Eiji Higa, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20110076837
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate which possesses a base substrate having low heat resistance and a very thin semiconductor layer having high planarity is demonstrated. The method includes: implanting hydrogen ions into a semiconductor substrate to form an ion implantation layer; bonding the semiconductor substrate and a base substrate such as a glass substrate, placing a bonding layer therebetween; heating the substrates bonded to each other to separate the semiconductor substrate from the base substrate, leaving a thin semiconductor layer over the base substrate; irradiating the surface of the thin semiconductor layer with laser light to improve the planarity and recover the crystallinity of the thin semiconductor layer; and thinning the thin semiconductor layer. This method allows the formation of an SOI substrate which has a single-crystalline semiconductor layer with a thickness of 100 nm or less over a base substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu MIYAIRI, Akihisa SHIMOMURA, Tatsuya MIZOI, Eiji HIGA, Yoji NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20110053384
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate including a semiconductor film with high planarity and high crystallinity. After a single crystal semiconductor film is formed over an insulating film by a separation step, a natural oxide film existing on a surface of the semiconductor film is removed and the semiconductor film is irradiated with first laser light and second laser light under an inert gas atmosphere or a reduced-pressure atmosphere. The number of shots of the first laser light that is emitted to an arbitrary point in the semiconductor film is greater than or equal to 7, preferably greater than or equal to 10 and less than or equal to 100. The number of shots of the second laser light that is emitted to an arbitrary point in the semiconductor film is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki KOYAMA, Kosei NEI, Toru HASEGAWA, Junpei MOMO, Eiji HIGA
  • Patent number: 7897476
    Abstract: To provide an SOI substrate with an SOI layer that can be put into practical use, even when a substrate with a low allowable temperature limit such as a glass substrate is used, and to provide a semiconductor substrate formed using such an SOI substrate. In order to bond a single-crystalline semiconductor substrate to a base substrate such as a glass substrate, a silicon oxide film formed by CVD with organic silane as a source material is used as a bonding layer, for example. Accordingly, an SOI substrate with a strong bond portion can be formed even when a substrate with an allowable temperature limit of less than or equal to 700° C. such as a glass substrate is used. A semiconductor layer separated from the single-crystalline semiconductor substrate is irradiated with a laser beam so that the surface of the semiconductor layer is planarized and the crystallinity thereof is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Eiji Higa, Yoji Nagano, Tatsuya Mizoi, Akihisa Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7820524
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate which possesses a base substrate having low heat resistance and a very thin semiconductor layer having high planarity is demonstrated. The method includes: implanting hydrogen ions into a semiconductor substrate to form an ion implantation layer; bonding the semiconductor substrate and a base substrate such as a glass substrate, placing a bonding layer therebetween; heating the substrates bonded to each other to separate the semiconductor substrate from the base substrate, leaving a thin semiconductor layer over the base substrate; irradiating the surface of the thin semiconductor layer with laser light to improve the planarity and recover the crystallinity of the thin semiconductor layer; and thinning the thin semiconductor layer. This method allows the formation of an SOI substrate which has a single-crystalline semiconductor layer with a thickness of 100 nm or less over a base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Akihisa Shimomura, Tatsuya Mizoi, Eiji Higa, Yoji Nagano
  • Publication number: 20100096720
    Abstract: To provide an SOI substrate having a high mechanical strength, and a method for manufacturing the SOI substrate, a single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with accelerated ions so that an embrittled region is formed in a region at a predetermined depth from a surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is bonded to a base substrate with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to be separated along the embrittled region, so that a semiconductor layer is provided over the base substrate with the insulating layer interposed therebetween; and a surface of the semiconductor layer is irradiated with a laser beam so that at least a superficial part of the semiconductor layer is melted, whereby at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon is solid-dissolved in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto OHNUMA, Eiji HIGA