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).

  • Publication number: 20160123312
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Ervin Middleton, David Lionel Rawlings
  • Publication number: 20160126305
    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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20160116435
    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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9293520
    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: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Geng Wang, Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi
  • Patent number: 9287272
    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: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9261085
    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: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FLUID METERING, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Ervin Middleton, David Lionel Rawlings
  • Patent number: 9228994
    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: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9224801
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor capacitor and method of fabrication is disclosed. A MIM stack, comprising 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: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9159578
    Abstract: A method includes forming patterned lines on a substrate having a predetermined pitch. The method further includes forming spacer sidewalls on sidewalls of the patterned lines. The method further includes forming material in a space between the spacer sidewalls of adjacent patterned lines. The method further includes forming another patterned line from the material by protecting the material in the space between the spacer sidewalls of adjacent patterned lines while removing the spacer sidewalls. The method further includes transferring a pattern of the patterned lines and the patterned line to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150287721
    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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150221715
    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: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9087928
    Abstract: In a vertical dynamic memory cell, monocrystalline semiconductor material of improved quality is provided for the channel of an access transistor by lateral epitaxial growth over an insulator material (which complements the capacitor dielectric in completely surrounding the storage node except at a contact connection structure, preferably of metal, from the access transistor to the storage node electrode) and etching away a region of the lateral epitaxial growth including a location where crystal lattice dislocations are most likely to occur; both of which features serve to reduce or avoid leakage of charge from the storage node. An isolation structure can be provided in the etched region such that space is provided for connections to various portions of a memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, David M. Fried, Byeong Y. Kim, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9064745
    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: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chengwen Pei, Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9059213
    Abstract: A node dielectric and a conductive trench fill region filling a deep trench are recessed to a depth that is substantially coplanar with a top surface of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer. A shallow trench isolation portion is formed on one side of an upper portion of the deep trench, while the other side of the upper portion of the deep trench provides an exposed surface of a semiconductor material of the conductive fill region. A selective epitaxy process is performed to deposit a raised source region and a raised strap region. The raised source region is formed directly on a planar source region within the SOI layer, and the raised strap region is formed directly on the conductive fill region. The raised strap region contacts the raised source region to provide an electrically conductive path between the planar source region and the conductive fill region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Ali Khakifirooz, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9058987
    Abstract: A dielectric template layer is deposited on a substrate. Line trenches are formed within the dielectric template layer by an anisotropic etch that employs a patterned mask layer. The patterned mask layer can be a patterned photoresist layer, or a patterned hard mask layer that is formed by other image transfer methods. A lower portion of each line trench is filled with an epitaxial rare-earth oxide material by a selective rare-earth oxide epitaxy process. An upper portion of each line trench is filled with an epitaxial semiconductor material by a selective semiconductor epitaxy process. The dielectric template layer is recessed to form a dielectric material layer that provides lateral electrical isolation among fin structures, each of which includes a stack of a rare-earth oxide fin portion and a semiconductor fin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9059248
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including forming well trenches on opposing sides of a gate structure by removing portions of a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) layer of an semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein the base of the well trenches is provided by a surface of a buried dielectric layer of the SOI substrate and sidewalls of the well trenches are provided by a remaining portion of the SOI layer. Forming a dielectric fill material at the base of the well trenches, wherein the dielectric fill material is in contact with the sidewalls of the well trenches and at least a portion of the surface of the buried dielectric layer that provides the base of the well trenches. Forming a source region and a drain region in the well trenches with an in-situ doped epitaxial semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Ervin, Kangguo Cheng, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150162337
    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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9054126
    Abstract: After formation of a gate stack, regions in which a source and a drain are to be formed are recessed through the top semiconductor layer and into an upper portion of a buried single crystalline rare earth oxide layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate so that a source trench and drain trench are formed. An embedded single crystalline semiconductor portion epitaxially aligned to the buried single crystalline rare earth oxide layer is formed in each of the source trench and the drain trench to form a recessed source and a recessed drain, respectively. Protrusion of the recessed source and recessed drain above the bottom surface of a gate dielectric can be minimized to reduce parasitic capacitive coupling with a gate electrode, while providing low source resistance and drain resistance through the increased thickness of the recessed source and recessed drain relative to the thickness of the top semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geng Wang, Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi
  • Patent number: 9048339
    Abstract: A method of forming a deep trench capacitor in a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is provided. The method may include providing a pad layer positioned above a bulk substrate, etching a deep trench into the pad layer and the bulk substrate extending from a top surface of the pad layer down to a location within the bulk substrate, and doping a portion of the bulk substrate to form a buried plate. The method further including depositing a node dielectric, an inner electrode, and a dielectric cap substantially filling the deep trench, the node dielectric being located between the buried plate and the inner electrode, the dielectric cap being located at a top of the deep trench, removing the pad layer, growing an insulator layer on top of the bulk substrate, and growing a semiconductor-on-insulator layer on top of the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150054130
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor capacitor and method of fabrication is disclosed. A MIM stack, comprising 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: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang