Patents by Inventor Eric H. Warninghoff

Eric H. Warninghoff 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: 10665543
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Publication number: 20180308802
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Patent number: 10008450
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Publication number: 20170271269
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Patent number: 9704804
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Publication number: 20170179033
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method comprising an underlying metal geometry, a dielectric layer on the underlying metal geometry, a contact opening through the dielectric layer, an overlying metal geometry wherein a portion of the overlying metal geometry fills a portion of the contact opening, and an oxidation resistant barrier layer disposed between the underlying metal geometry and overlying metal geometry. The oxidation resistant barrier layer is formed of TaN or TiN with a nitrogen content of at least 20 atomic % and a thickness of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan G. Merriam, Rick A. Faust
  • Patent number: 9305998
    Abstract: Deposition of lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT) ferroelectric material over iridium metal, in the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor in an integrated circuit. The capacitor is formed by the deposition of a lower conductive plate layer having iridium metal as a top layer. The surface of the iridium metal is thermally oxidized, prior to or during the deposition of the PZT material. The resulting iridium oxide at the surface of the iridium metal is very thin, on the order of a few nanometers, which allows the deposited PZT to nucleate according to the crystalline structure of the iridium metal rather than that of iridium oxide. The iridium oxide is also of intermediate stoichiometry (IrO2-x), and reacts with the PZT material being deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan Merriam, Haowen Bu, Brian E. Goodlin, Manoj K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20140227805
    Abstract: Deposition of lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT) ferroelectric material over iridium metal, in the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor in an integrated circuit. The capacitor is formed by the deposition of a lower conductive plate layer having iridium metal as a top layer. The surface of the iridium metal is thermally oxidized, prior to or during the deposition of the PZT material. The resulting iridium oxide at the surface of the iridium metal is very thin, on the order of a few nanometers, which allows the deposited PZT to nucleate according to the crystalline structure of the iridium metal rather than that of iridium oxide. The iridium oxide is also of intermediate stoichiometry (IrO2-x), and reacts with the PZT material being deposited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, Eric H. Warninghoff, Alan Merriam, Haowen Bu, Brian E. Goodlin, Manoj K. Jain