Patents by Inventor Joseph Ervin

Joseph Ervin 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: 9859373
    Abstract: After forming a first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region on recessed surfaces of a semiconductor portion that are not covered by a gate structure, at least one dielectric layer is formed to cover the first-side and the second-side epitaxial semiconductor regions and the gate structure. A second-side contact opening is formed within the at least one dielectric layer to expose an entirety of the second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. The exposed second-side epitaxial semiconductor region can be replaced by a new second-side epitaxial semiconductor region having a composition different from the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region or can be doped by additional dopants, thus creating an asymmetric first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. Each of the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and the second-side epitaxial semiconducting region can function as either a source or a drain for a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20170373148
    Abstract: After forming a first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region on recessed surfaces of a semiconductor portion that are not covered by a gate structure, at least one dielectric layer is formed to cover the first-side and the second-side epitaxial semiconductor regions and the gate structure. A second-side contact opening is formed within the at least one dielectric layer to expose an entirety of the second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. The exposed second-side epitaxial semiconductor region can be replaced by a new second-side epitaxial semiconductor region having a composition different from the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region or can be doped by additional dopants, thus creating an asymmetric first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. Each of the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and the second-side epitaxial semiconducting region can function as either a source or a drain for a transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20170365725
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to electrical and optical via connections on a same chip and methods of manufacture. The structure includes an optical through substrate via (TSV) comprising an optical material filling the TSV. The structure further includes an electrical TSV which includes a liner of the optical material and a conductive material filling remaining portions of the electrical TSV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Juntao LI, Kangguo CHENG, Chengwen PEI, Geng WANG, Joseph ERVIN
  • Patent number: 9828978
    Abstract: A pump, which generally includes a pump housing and a pump piston. The pump housing defines a central longitudinal bore, a transverse bore communicating with the central bore for conveying a liquid through the pump housing, a liquid reservoir communicating with the central bore and the transverse bore for retaining an amount of the liquid conveyed through the transverse bore and a pressure relief slot extending from the transverse bore to the liquid reservoir. The pump piston is axially and rotatably slidable within the central longitudinal bore for pumping the liquid through the transverse bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FLUID METERING, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Ervin Middleton, David Lionel Rawlings
  • Publication number: 20170117280
    Abstract: A high-k dielectric metal trench capacitor and improved isolation and methods of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes forming at least one deep trench in a substrate, and filling the deep trench with sacrificial fill material and a poly material. The method further includes continuing with CMOS processes, comprising forming at least one transistor and back end of line (BEOL) layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial fill material from the deep trenches to expose sidewalls, and forming a capacitor plate on the exposed sidewalls of the deep trench. The method further includes lining the capacitor plate with a high-k dielectric material and filling remaining portions of the deep trench with a metal material, over the high-k dielectric material. The method further includes providing a passivation layer on the deep trench filled with the metal material and the high-k dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Roger A. BOOTH, JR., Kangguo CHENG, Joseph ERVIN, Chengwen PEI, Ravi M. TODI, Geng WANG
  • Patent number: 9583497
    Abstract: A high-k dielectric metal trench capacitor and improved isolation and methods of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes forming at least one deep trench in a substrate, and filling the deep trench with sacrificial fill material and a poly material. The method further includes continuing with CMOS processes, comprising forming at least one transistor and back end of line (BEOL) layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial fill material from the deep trenches to expose sidewalls, and forming a capacitor plate on the exposed sidewalls of the deep trench. The method further includes lining the capacitor plate with a high-k dielectric material and filling remaining portions of the deep trench with a metal material, over the high-k dielectric material. The method further includes providing a passivation layer on the deep trench filled with the metal material and the high-k dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9557290
    Abstract: A nanoscale electrode device can be fabricated by forming a pair of semiconductor fins laterally spaced from each other by a uniform distance and formed on a substrate. The pair of semiconductor fins can function as a pair of electrodes that can be biased to detect the leakage current through a nanoscale string to pass therebetween. A nanochannel having a uniform separation distance is formed between the pair of semiconductor fins. The nanochannel may be defined by a gap between a pair of raised active regions formed on the pair of semiconductor fins, or between proximal sidewalls of the pair of semiconductor fins. An opening is formed through the portion of the substrate underlying the region of the nanochannel to enable passing of a nanoscale string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9530701
    Abstract: An approach to forming fins for a semiconductor device on a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The approach includes depositing a layer of mandrel material and etching the layer of mandrel material to form a mandrel. The approach includes depositing a layer of a dielectric material on the semiconductor layer and around the mandrel and etching the layer of the dielectric material to form one or more spacers next to the sidewalls of the mandrel, followed by removing the mandrel. Additionally, the approach includes depositing a layer of amorphous semiconductor material around said one or more spacers and heating it to transform into a layer of re-crystallized semiconductor material through solid phase epitaxy. Furthermore, the approach includes removing portions of the layer of re-crystallized semiconductor material from each of the horizontal surfaces of the silicon-on-insulator wafer including the area where the one or more spacers were removed to form one or more fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9490223
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a bottom semiconductor layer, an epitaxial semiconductor layer present on the bottom semiconductor layer, a buried insulator layer present on the epitaxial semiconductor layer, and a top semiconductor layer present on the buried insulator layer. A deep trench moat (DTMOAT) is disposed in the SOI substrate and has a bottom surface contacting a dopant region of the bottom semiconductor layer. A moat contact electrically connecting the DTMOAT to the epitaxial semiconductor layer of the SOI substrate. Charges accumulated in the DTMOAT can be discharged through the heavily doped epitaxial semiconductor layer to ground, thus preventing the DTMOAT failure caused by the process-induced charge accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9484269
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods to control bottom corner threshold in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device. A method includes doping a corner region of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) island. The doping includes tailoring a localized doping of the corner region to reduce capacitive coupling of the SOI island with an adjacent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Ervin, Jeffrey B. Johnson, Kevin McStay, Paul C. Parries, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9478600
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a material stack including an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer on a base semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer on the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer, and an upper semiconductor layer present on the dielectric layer. A capacitor is present extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer into contact with the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer. The capacitor includes a node dielectric present on the sidewalls of the trench and an upper electrode filling at least a portion of the trench. A substrate contact is present in a contact trench extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer and the epitaxially semiconductor layer to a doped region of the base semiconductor layer. A substrate contact is also provided that contacts the base semiconductor layer through the sidewall of a trench. Methods for forming the above-described structures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Geng Wang, Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi
  • Patent number: 9461042
    Abstract: A dielectric mandrel structure is formed on a single crystalline semiconductor layer. An amorphous semiconductor material layer is deposited on the physically exposed surfaces of the single crystalline semiconductor layer and surfaces of the mandrel structure. Optionally, the amorphous semiconductor material layer can be implanted with at least one different semiconductor material. Solid phase epitaxy is performed on the amorphous semiconductor material layer employing the single crystalline semiconductor layer as a seed layer, thereby forming an epitaxial semiconductor material layer with uniform thickness. Remaining portions of the epitaxial semiconductor material layer are single crystalline semiconductor fins and thickness of these fins are sublithographic. After removal of the dielectric mandrel structure, the single crystalline semiconductor fins can be employed to form a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20160276437
    Abstract: After forming a first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region on recessed surfaces of a semiconductor portion that are not covered by a gate structure, at least one dielectric layer is formed to cover the first-side and the second-side epitaxial semiconductor regions and the gate structure. A second-side contact opening is formed within the at least one dielectric layer to expose an entirety of the second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. The exposed second-side epitaxial semiconductor region can be replaced by a new second-side epitaxial semiconductor region having a composition different from the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region or can be doped by additional dopants, thus creating an asymmetric first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. Each of the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and the second-side epitaxial semiconducting region can function as either a source or a drain for a transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9397152
    Abstract: A semiconductor capacitor and method of fabrication is disclosed. A MIM stack, having alternating first-type and second-type metal layers (each separated by dielectric) is formed in a deep cavity. The entire stack can be planarized, and then patterned to expose a first area, and selectively etched to recess all first metal layers within the first area. A second selective etch is performed to recess all second metal layers within a second area. The etched recesses can be backfilled with dielectric. Separate electrodes can be formed; a first electrode formed in said first area and contacting all of said second-type metal layers and none of said first-type metal layers, and a second electrode formed in said second area and contacting all of said first-type metal layers and none of said second-type metal layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9391204
    Abstract: After forming a first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region on recessed surfaces of a semiconductor portion that are not covered by a gate structure, at least one dielectric layer is formed to cover the first-side and the second-side epitaxial semiconductor regions and the gate structure. A second-side contact opening is formed within the at least one dielectric layer to expose an entirety of the second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. The exposed second-side epitaxial semiconductor region can be replaced by a new second-side epitaxial semiconductor region having a composition different from the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region or can be doped by additional dopants, thus creating an asymmetric first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. Each of the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and the second-side epitaxial semiconducting region can function as either a source or a drain for a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9379177
    Abstract: A deep trench capacitor structure including an SOI substrate comprising an SOI layer, a rare earth oxide layer, and a bulk substrate, the rare earth oxide layer is located below the SOI layer and above the bulk substrate, and the rare earth oxide layer insulates the SOI layer from the bulk substrate, and a deep trench capacitor extending from a top surface of the SOI layer, through the rare earth oxide layer, down to a location within the bulk substrate, the rare earth oxide layer contacts the deep trench capacitor at an interface between the rare earth oxide layer and the bulk substrate forming an incline away from the deep trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20160181164
    Abstract: An approach to forming fins for a semiconductor device on a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The approach includes depositing a layer of mandrel material and etching the layer of mandrel material to form a mandrel. The approach includes depositing a layer of a dielectric material on the semiconductor layer and around the mandrel and etching the layer of the dielectric material to form one or more spacers next to the sidewalls of the mandrel, followed by removing the mandrel. Additionally, the approach includes depositing a layer of amorphous semiconductor material around said one or more spacers and heating it to transform into a layer of re-crystallized semiconductor material through solid phase epitaxy. Furthermore, the approach includes removing portions of the layer of re-crystallized semiconductor material from each of the horizontal surfaces of the silicon-on-insulator wafer including the area where the one or more spacers were removed to form one or more fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20160172314
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a bottom semiconductor layer, an epitaxial semiconductor layer present on the bottom semiconductor layer, a buried insulator layer present on the epitaxial semiconductor layer, and a top semiconductor layer present on the buried insulator layer. A deep trench moat (DTMOAT) is disposed in the SOI substrate and has a bottom surface contacting a dopant region of the bottom semiconductor layer. A moat contact electrically connecting the DTMOAT to the epitaxial semiconductor layer of the SOI substrate. Charges accumulated in the DTMOAT can be discharged through the heavily doped epitaxial semiconductor layer to ground, thus preventing the DTMOAT failure caused by the process-induced charge accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9343320
    Abstract: Dummy deep trenches can be formed within a logic device region in which logic devices are to be formed while deep trench capacitors are formed within a memory device region. Semiconductor fins are formed over a top surface prior to forming trenches, and disposable material is filled around said semiconductor fins. A top surface of said disposable filler material layer can be coplanar with a top surface of said semiconductor fins, which eases deep trench formation. Conductive material portions of the dummy deep trenches can be recessed to avoid electrical contact with semiconductor fins within the logic device region, while an inner electrode of each deep trench can contact a semiconductor fin within the memory device region. A dielectric material portion can be formed above each conductive material portion of a dummy deep trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20160133631
    Abstract: A high-k dielectric metal trench capacitor and improved isolation and methods of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes forming at least one deep trench in a substrate, and filling the deep trench with sacrificial fill material and a poly material. The method further includes continuing with CMOS processes, comprising forming at least one transistor and back end of line (BEOL) layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial fill material from the deep trenches to expose sidewalls, and forming a capacitor plate on the exposed sidewalls of the deep trench. The method further includes lining the capacitor plate with a high-k dielectric material and filling remaining portions of the deep trench with a metal material, over the high-k dielectric material. The method further includes providing a passivation layer on the deep trench filled with the metal material and the high-k dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Roger A. BOOTH, JR., Kangguo CHENG, Joseph ERVIN, Chengwen PEI, Ravi M. TODI, Geng WANG