Patents by Inventor Jeffrey R. DeBord

Jeffrey R. DeBord 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: 10886164
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Sidewall insulators are formed on sidewalls of the isolation recess. Thermal oxide is formed at a bottom surface of the isolation recess to provide a buried isolation layer, which does not extend up the sidewall insulators. A single-crystal silicon-based semiconductor layer is formed over the buried isolation layer and planarized to be substantially coplanar with the substrate adjacent to the isolation recess, thus forming an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer. The isolated semiconductor layer is laterally separated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 10516019
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a buried isolation layer in an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Exposed lateral surfaces of the substrate at the buried isolation layer are covered with a dielectric sidewall. A seed trench is formed through the buried isolation layer to expose the substrate. A single-crystal silicon-based seed layer is formed through the seed trench, extending above the top surface of the buried isolation layer. A silicon-based non-crystalline layer is formed contacting the seed layer. A cap layer is formed over the non-crystalline layer. A radiant-induced recrystallization process converts the non-crystalline layer to a single-crystal layer aligned with the seed layer. The cap layer is removed and the single-crystal layer is planarized, leaving an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Publication number: 20180315816
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a buried isolation layer in an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Exposed lateral surfaces of the substrate at the buried isolation layer are covered with a dielectric sidewall. A seed trench is formed through the buried isolation layer to expose the substrate. A single-crystal silicon-based seed layer is formed through the seed trench, extending above the top surface of the buried isolation layer. A silicon-based non-crystalline layer is formed contacting the seed layer. A cap layer is formed over the non-crystalline layer. A radiant-induced recrystallization process converts the non-crystalline layer to a single-crystal layer aligned with the seed layer. The cap layer is removed and the single-crystal layer is planarized, leaving an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 10032863
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a buried isolation layer in an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Exposed lateral surfaces of the substrate at the buried isolation layer are covered with a dielectric sidewall. A seed trench is formed through the buried isolation layer to expose the substrate. A single-crystal silicon-based seed layer is formed through the seed trench, extending above the top surface of the buried isolation layer. A silicon-based non-crystalline layer is formed contacting the seed layer. A cap layer is formed over the non-crystalline layer. A radiant-induced recrystallization process converts the non-crystalline layer to a single-crystal layer aligned with the seed layer. The cap layer is removed and the single-crystal layer is planarized, leaving an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Publication number: 20180096882
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Sidewall insulators are formed on sidewalls of the isolation recess. Thermal oxide is formed at a bottom surface of the isolation recess to provide a buried isolation layer, which does not extend up the sidewall insulators. A single-crystal silicon-based semiconductor layer is formed over the buried isolation layer and planarized to be substantially coplanar with the substrate adjacent to the isolation recess, thus forming an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer. The isolated semiconductor layer is laterally separated from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9865498
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Sidewall insulators are formed on sidewalls of the isolation recess. Thermal oxide is formed at a bottom surface of the isolation recess to provide a buried isolation layer, which does not extend up the sidewall insulators. A single-crystal silicon-based semiconductor layer is formed over the buried isolation layer and planarized to be substantially coplanar with the substrate adjacent to the isolation recess, thus forming an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer. The isolated semiconductor layer is laterally separated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9853086
    Abstract: In described examples, an embedded thermoelectric device is formed by forming isolation trenches in a substrate, concurrently between CMOS transistors and between thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches to provide field oxide which laterally isolates the CMOS transistors and the thermoelectric elements. Germanium is implanted into the substrate in areas for the thermoelectric elements, and the substrate is subsequently annealed, to provide a germanium density of at least 0.10 atomic percent in the thermoelectric elements between the isolation trenches. The germanium may be implanted before the isolation trenches are formed, after the isolation trenches are formed and before the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Toan Tran, Jeffrey R. Debord, Ashesh Parikh, Bradley David Sucher
  • Patent number: 9818795
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming active areas which provide transistor active areas for an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor of the CMOS transistors and provide n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Stretch contacts with lateral aspect ratios greater than 4:1 are formed over the n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements to provide electrical and thermal connections through metal interconnects to a thermal node of the embedded thermoelectric device. The stretch contacts are formed by forming contact trenches in a dielectric layer, filling the contact trenches with contact metal and subsequently removing the contact metal from over the dielectric layer. The stretch contacts are formed concurrently with contacts to the NMOS and PMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Debord, Henry Litzmann Edwards, Kenneth J. Maggio
  • Publication number: 20170062518
    Abstract: In described examples, an embedded thermoelectric device is formed by forming isolation trenches in a substrate, concurrently between CMOS transistors and between thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches to provide field oxide which laterally isolates the CMOS transistors and the thermoelectric elements. Germanium is implanted into the substrate in areas for the thermoelectric elements, and the substrate is subsequently annealed, to provide a germanium density of at least 0.10 atomic percent in the thermoelectric elements between the isolation trenches. The germanium may be implanted before the isolation trenches are formed, after the isolation trenches are formed and before the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Toan Tran, Jeffrey R. Debord, Ashesh Parikh, Bradley David Sucher
  • Publication number: 20160379866
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Sidewall insulators are formed on sidewalls of the isolation recess. Thermal oxide is formed at a bottom surface of the isolation recess to provide a buried isolation layer, which does not extend up the sidewall insulators. A single-crystal silicon-based semiconductor layer is formed over the buried isolation layer and planarized to be substantially coplanar with the substrate adjacent to the isolation recess, thus forming an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer. The isolated semiconductor layer is laterally separated from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Publication number: 20160372516
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming active areas which provide transistor active areas for an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor of the CMOS transistors and provide n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Stretch contacts with lateral aspect ratios greater than 4:1 are formed over the n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements to provide electrical and thermal connections through metal interconnects to a thermal node of the embedded thermoelectric device. The stretch contacts are formed by forming contact trenches in a dielectric layer, filling the contact trenches with contact metal and subsequently removing the contact metal from over the dielectric layer. The stretch contacts are formed concurrently with contacts to the NMOS and PMOS transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Debord, Henry Litzmann Edwards, Kenneth J. Maggio
  • Patent number: 9496313
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device is formed by forming isolation trenches in a substrate, concurrently between the CMOS transistors and between thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches to provide field oxide which laterally isolates the CMOS transistors and the thermoelectric elements. Germanium is implanted into the substrate in areas for the thermoelectric elements, and the substrate is subsequently annealed, to provide a germanium density of at least 0.10 atomic percent in the thermoelectric elements between the isolation trenches. The germanium may be implanted before the isolation trenches are formed, after the isolation trenches are formed and before the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Toan Tran, Jeffrey R. Debord, Ashesh Parikh, Bradley David Sucher
  • Patent number: 9472571
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Sidewall insulators are formed on sidewalls of the isolation recess. Thermal oxide is formed at a bottom surface of the isolation recess to provide a buried isolation layer, which does not extend up the sidewall insulators. A single-crystal silicon-based semiconductor layer is formed over the buried isolation layer and planarized to be substantially coplanar with the substrate adjacent to the isolation recess, thus forming an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer. The isolated semiconductor layer is laterally separated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9466520
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed by forming an isolation recess in a single crystal substrate which includes silicon, filling the isolation recess with isolation dielectric material, and planarizing the isolation dielectric material to be coplanar with the top surface of the substrate to form a buried isolation layer. A non-selective epitaxial process forms single-crystalline silicon-based semiconductor material on exposed areas of the substrate and polycrystalline or amorphous silicon-based material on the buried isolation layer. A cap layer is formed over the epitaxial silicon-based material, and a radiantly-induced recrystallization process causes the polycrystalline or amorphous silicon-based material to form single-crystalline semiconductor over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9437799
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming field oxide in isolation trenches to isolate the CMOS transistors and thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. N-type dopants are implanted into the substrate to provide at least 1×1018 cm?3 n-type dopants in n-type thermoelectric elements and the substrate under the field oxide between the n-type thermoelectric elements. P-type dopants are implanted into the substrate to provide at least 1×1018 cm?3 p-type dopants in p-type thermoelectric elements and the substrate under the field oxide between the p-type thermoelectric elements. The n-type dopants and p-type dopants may be implanted before the field oxide are formed, after the isolation trenches for the field oxide are formed and before dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the field oxide is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Kenneth James Maggio, Toan Tran, Jihong Chen, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9437652
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming active areas which provide transistor active areas for an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor of the CMOS transistors and provide n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Stretch contacts with lateral aspect ratios greater than 4:1 are formed over the n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements to provide electrical and thermal connections through metal interconnects to a thermal node of the embedded thermoelectric device. The stretch contacts are formed by forming contact trenches in a dielectric layer, filling the contact trenches with contact metal and subsequently removing the contact metal from over the dielectric layer. The stretch contacts are formed concurrently with contacts to the NMOS and PMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Debord, Henry Litzmann Edwards, Kenneth J. Maggio
  • Publication number: 20160225657
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed by forming an isolation mesa over a single crystal substrate which includes silicon, and forming a first epitaxial layer on the substrate by a selective epitaxial process so that a top surface of the first epitaxial layer is coplanar with the top surface of the isolation mesa. A non-selective epitaxial process forms single-crystalline silicon-based semiconductor material on the first epitaxial layer and non-crystalline silicon-based material on the isolation mesa. A cap layer is formed over the second epitaxial layer, and a radiantly-induced recrystallization process causes the non-crystalline silicon-based material to form single-crystalline semiconductor over the isolation mesa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Publication number: 20160218177
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a buried isolation layer in an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Exposed lateral surfaces of the substrate at the buried isolation layer are covered with a dielectric sidewall. A seed trench is formed through the buried isolation layer to expose the substrate. A single-crystal silicon-based seed layer is formed through the seed trench, extending above the top surface of the buried isolation layer. A silicon-based non-crystalline layer is formed contacting the seed layer. A cap layer is formed over the non-crystalline layer. A radiant-induced recrystallization process converts the non-crystalline layer to a single-crystal layer aligned with the seed layer. The cap layer is removed and the single-crystal layer is planarized, leaving an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Publication number: 20160155925
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming field oxide in isolation trenches to isolate the CMOS transistors and thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. N-type dopants are implanted into the substrate to provide at least 1×1018 cm?3 n-type dopants in n-type thermoelectric elements and the substrate under the field oxide between the n-type thermoelectric elements. P-type dopants are implanted into the substrate to provide at least 1×1018 cm?3 p-type dopants in p-type thermoelectric elements and the substrate under the field oxide between the p-type thermoelectric elements. The n-type dopants and p-type dopants may be implanted before the field oxide are formed, after the isolation trenches for the field oxide are formed and before dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the field oxide is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Kenneth James Maggio, Toan Tran, Jihong Chen, Jeffrey R. Debord
  • Patent number: 9330959
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a buried isolation layer in an isolation recess in a single-crystal silicon-based substrate. Exposed lateral surfaces of the substrate at the buried isolation layer are covered with a dielectric sidewall. A seed trench is formed through the buried isolation layer to expose the substrate. A single-crystal silicon-based seed layer is formed through the seed trench, extending above the top surface of the buried isolation layer. A silicon-based non-crystalline layer is formed contacting the seed layer. A cap layer is formed over the non-crystalline layer. A radiant-induced recrystallization process converts the non-crystalline layer to a single-crystal layer aligned with the seed layer. The cap layer is removed and the single-crystal layer is planarized, leaving an isolated semiconductor layer over the buried isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEd
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson Carothers, Jeffrey R. Debord