Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Shepard

Joseph F. Shepard 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: 6962872
    Abstract: A carrier for a semiconductor component is provided having passive components integrated in its substrate. The passive components include decoupling components, such as capacitors and resistors. A set of connections is integrated to provide a close electrical proximity to the supported components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Chudzik, Robert H. Dennard, Rama Divakaruni, Bruce Kenneth Furman, Rajarao Jammy, Chandrasekhar Narayan, Sampath Purushothaman, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr., Anna Wanda Topol
  • Patent number: 6940117
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-performance metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor which contains a high-k dielectric, yet no substantial shorting of the MIM capacitor is observed. Specifically, shorting of the MIM capacitor is substantially prevented in the present invention by forming a passivation layer between the high-k dielectric layer and each of the capacitor's electrodes. The inventive MIM capacitor includes a first conductor; a first passivation layer located atop the first conductor; a high-k dielectric layer located atop the first passivation layer; a second passivation layer located atop the high k dielectric layer; and a second conductor located atop the second passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Ebenezer E. Eshun, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr., Kenneth J. Stein, Kunal Vaed
  • Patent number: 6936512
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, in an integrated, of forming a high-K node dielectric of a trench capacitor and a trench sidewall device dielectric at the same time. The method includes forming a trench in a single crystal layer of a semiconductor substrate, and forming an isolation collar along a portion of the trench sidewall, wherein the collar has a top below the top of the trench in the single crystal layer. Then, at the same time, a high-K dielectric is formed along the trench sidewall, the high-K dielectric extending in both an upper portion of the trench including above the isolation collar and in a lower portion of the trench below the isolation collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Rajarao Jammy, Carl John Radens, Kenneth T. Settlemyer, Jr., Padraic Shafer, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6933189
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor device comprises forming a source, drain, and trench region in a substrate, forming a first insulator over the substrate, forming a gate electrode above the first insulator, forming a pair of insulating spacers adjoining the electrode, converting a portion of the first insulator into a metallic film, converting the metallic film into one of a silicide and a salicide film, forming an interconnect region above the trench region, forming an etch stop layer above the first insulator, the trench region, the gate electrode, and the pair of insulating spacers, forming a second insulator above the etch stop layer, and forming contacts in the second insulator. The first insulator comprises a metal oxide material, which comprises one of a HfOx and a ZrOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Carl J. Radens, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6909145
    Abstract: A method and structure for a metal oxide semiconductor transistor having a substrate, a well region in the substrate, source and drain regions on opposite sides of the well region in the substrate, a gate insulator over the well region of the substrate, a polysilicon gate conductor over the gate insulator, and metallic spacers on sides of the gate conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cyril Cabral, Jr., Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr., Kwong Hon Wong
  • Publication number: 20040224471
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor device comprises forming a source, drain, and trench region in a substrate, forming a first insulator over the substrate, forming a gate electrode above the first insulator, forming a pair of insulating spacers adjoining the electrode, converting a portion of the first insulator into a metallic film, converting the metallic film into one of a silicide and a salicide film, forming an interconnect region above the trench region, forming an etch stop layer above the first insulator, the trench region, the gate electrode, and the pair of insulating spacers, forming a second insulator above the etch stop layer, and forming contacts in the second insulator. The first insulator comprises a metal oxide material, which comprises one of a HfOx and a ZrOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Carl J. Radens, Joseph F. Shepard
  • Patent number: 6794721
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor device comprises forming a source, drain, and trench region in a substrate, forming a first insulator over the substrate, forming a gate electrode above the first insulator, forming a pair of insulating spacers adjoining the electrode, converting a portion of the first insulator into a metallic film, converting the metallic film into one of a silicide and a salicide film, forming an interconnect region above the trench region, forming an etch stop layer above the first insulator, the trench region, the gate electrode, and the pair of insulating spacers, forming a second insulator above the etch stop layer, and forming contacts in the second insulator. The first insulator comprises a metal oxide material, which comprises one of a HfOx and a ZrOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Carl J. Radens, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6770526
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated using a micro-masking structure. The micro-masking structure is formed along the sidewalls of a trench in a semiconductor substrate or along the sidewalls of an electrode disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The micro-masking structure exposes portions of the sidewalls and covers other portions of the sidewalls. Then the exposed portions of the sidewalls are recessed to form a plurality of recesses such that the sidewalls have an increase surface area. After the recessing, the micro-masking structure is removed. The recessed sidewalls provide enhanced capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies North America Corp., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Jochen Beintner, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040119128
    Abstract: A method and structure for a transistor device comprises forming a source, drain, and trench region in a substrate, forming a first insulator over the substrate, forming a gate electrode above the first insulator, forming a pair of insulating spacers adjoining the electrode, converting a portion of the first insulator into a metallic film, converting the metallic film into one of a silicide and a salicide film, forming an interconnect region above the trench region, forming an etch stop layer above the first insulator, the trench region, the gate electrode, and the pair of insulating spacers, forming a second insulator above the etch stop layer, and forming contacts in the second insulator. The first insulator comprises a metal oxide material, which comprises one of a HfOx and a ZrOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Carl J. Radens, Joseph F. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20040108587
    Abstract: A carrier for a semiconductor component is provided having passive components integrated in its substrate. The passive components include decoupling components, such as capacitors and resistors. A set of connections is integrated to provide a close electrical proximity to the supported components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Chudzik, Robert H. Dennard, Rama Divakaruni, Bruce Kenneth Furman, Rajarao Jammy, Chandrasekhar Narayan, Sampath Purushothaman, Joseph F. Shepard, Anna Wanda Topol
  • Publication number: 20040104420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-performance metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor which contains a high-k dielectric, yet no substantial shorting of the MIM capacitor is observed. Specifically, shorting of the MIM capacitor is substantially prevented in the present invention by forming a passivation layer between the high-k dielectric layer and each of the capacitor“s electrodes. The inventive MIM capacitor includes a first conductor; a first passivation layer located atop the first conductor; a high-k dielectric layer located atop the first passivation layer; a second passivation layer located atop the high k dielectric layer; and a second conductor located atop the second passivation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Ebenezer E. Eshun, Joseph F. Shepard, Kenneth J. Stein, Kunal Vaed
  • Patent number: 6743670
    Abstract: A method and structure for an improved DRAM (dynamic random access memory) dielectric structure, whereby a new high-k material is implemented for both the support devices used as the gate dielectric as well as the capacitor dielectric. The method forms both deep isolated trench regions used for capacitor devices, and shallow isolated trench regions for support devices. The method also forms two different insulator layers, where one insulator layer with a uniform high-k dielectric constant is used for the deep trench regions and the support regions. The other insulator layer is used in the array regions in between the shallow trench regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Carl J Radens, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040095896
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated using a micro-masking structure. The micro-masking structure is formed along the sidewalls of a trench in a semiconductor substrate or along the sidewalls of an electrode disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The micro-masking structure exposes portions of the sidewalls and covers other portions of the sidewalls. Then the exposed portions of the sidewalls are recessed to form a plurality of recesses such that the sidewalls have an increase surface area. After the recessing, the micro-masking structure is removed. The recessed sidewalls provide enhanced capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Jochen Beintner, Joseph F. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20040063277
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, in an integrated, of forming a high-K node dielectric of a trench capacitor and a trench sidewall device dielectric at the same time. The method includes forming a trench in a single crystal layer of a semiconductor substrate, and forming an isolation collar along a portion of the trench sidewall, wherein the collar has a top below the top of the trench in the single crystal layer. Then, at the same time, a high-K dielectric is formed along the trench sidewall, the high-K dielectric extending in both an upper portion of the trench including above the isolation collar and in a lower portion of the trench below the isolation collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Rajarao Jammy, Carl John Radens, Kenneth T. Settlemyer, Padraic Shafer, Joseph F. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20040056285
    Abstract: A method and structure for a metal oxide semiconductor transistor having a substrate, a well region in the substrate, source and drain regions on opposite sides of the well region in the substrate, a gate insulator over the well region of the substrate, a polysilicon gate conductor over the gate insulator, and metallic spacers on sides of the gate conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Cyril Cabral, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Joseph F. Shepard, Kwong Hon Wong
  • Patent number: 6664161
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and structure for fabricating a trench capacitor within a semiconductor substrate having a buried plate electrode formed of metal silicide. A collar is formed in a trench etched into a substrate; a conformal metal film is deposited thereover, and is annealed to form a silicide that is self-aligned to the collar. Silicide will not be formed on the collar, pads and other areas where the silicon is not directly exposed and hence the metal layer can be removed from these areas by selective etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Chudzik, Jack Allan Mandelman, Carl John Radens, Rajarao Jammy, Kenneth T. Settlemyer, Jr., Padraic C. Shafer, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6653246
    Abstract: A method and structure for an integrated circuit structure that includes introducing precursors on a substrate, oxidizing the precursors and heating the precursors. The introducing and the oxidizing of the precursors is preformed in a manner so as to form an amorphous glass dielectric on the substrate. The process preferably includes, before introducing the precursors on the substrate, cleaning the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Lawrence Clevenger, Louis L. Hsu, Deborah A. Neumayer, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6652956
    Abstract: A method and structure to form a conductive pattern on a ceramic sheet deposits a photosensitive conductive material on a carrier and exposes a pattern of x-ray energy on the material and sinters the carrier and the material to the ceramic sheet so that only the conductive pattern of the material remains on the ceramic sheet. The structure has a conductive patterned material which includes a photosensitive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, David B. Goland, Louis L. Hsu, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr., Subhash L. Shinde
  • Publication number: 20030207532
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and structure for fabricating a trench capacitor within a semiconductor substrate having a buried plate electrode formed of metal silicide. A collar is formed in a trench etched into a substrate; a conformal metal film is deposited thereover, and is annealed to form a silicide that is self-aligned to the collar. Silicide will not be formed on the collar, pads and other areas where the silicon is not directly exposed and hence the metal layer can be removed from these areas by selective etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Chudzik, Jack Allan Mandelman, Carl John Radens, Rajarao Jammy, Kenneth T. Settlemyer, Padraic C. Shafer, Joseph F. Shepard
  • Patent number: 6638681
    Abstract: A method and structure to form a conductive pattern on a ceramic sheet deposits a photosensitive conductive material on a carrier and exposes a pattern of x-ray energy on the material and sinters the carrier and the material to the ceramic sheet so that only the conductive pattern of the material remains on the ceramic sheet. The structure has a conductive patterned material which includes a photosensitive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, David B. Goland, Louis L. Hsu, Joseph F. Shepard, Jr., Subhash L. Shinde