Patents by Inventor Konami Izumi

Konami Izumi 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: 20120171843
    Abstract: Without sacrificial layer etching, a microstructure and a micromachine are manufactured. A separation layer 102 is formed over a substrate 101, and a layer 103 to be a movable electrode is formed over the separation layer 102. At an interface of the separation layer 102, the layer 103 to be a movable electrode is separated from the substrate. A layer 106 to be a fixed electrode is formed over another substrate 105. The layer 103 to be a movable electrode is fixed to the substrate 105 with the spacer layer 103 which is partially provided interposed therebetween, so that the layer 103 to be a movable electrode and a layer 106 to be a fixed electrode face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120146240
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device in which wireless communication is performed between devices formed over different substrates and connection defects of wirings are reduced. A first device having a first antenna is provided over a first substrate, a second device having a second antenna which can communicate with the first antenna is provided over a second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other to manufacture a semiconductor device. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other by bonding with a bonding layer interposed therebetween, anodic bonding, or surface activated bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji DAIRIKI, Konami IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20120139017
    Abstract: The invention provides a wireless chip which can secure the safety of consumers while being small in size, favorable in communication property, and inexpensive, and the invention also provides an application thereof. Further, the invention provides a wireless chip which can be recycled after being used for managing the manufacture, circulation, and retail. A wireless chip includes a layer including a semiconductor element, and an antenna. The antenna includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and has a spherical shape, an ovoid shape, an oval spherical shape like a go stone, an oval spherical shape like a rugby ball, or a disc shape, or has a cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape in which an outer edge portion thereof has a curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Konami IZUMI
  • Patent number: 8159257
    Abstract: A substrate including a semiconductor layer, where characteristics of an element can be evaluated with high reliability, and an evaluating method thereof are provided. A substrate including a semiconductor layer of the invention has a closed-loop circuit in which an antenna coil and a semiconductor element are connected in series, and a surface of an area over which the circuit is formed is covered with an insulating film. By using such a circuit, a contactless inspection can be carried out. Further, a ring oscillator can be substituted for the closed-loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kato, Konami Izumi, Masahiko Hayakawa, Koichiro Kamata
  • Publication number: 20120080727
    Abstract: A micro structure and an electric circuit included in a micro electro mechanical device are manufactured over the same insulating surface in the same step. In the micro electro mechanical device, an electric circuit including a transistor and a micro structure are integrated over a substrate having an insulating surface. The micro structure includes a structural layer having the same stacked-layer structure as a layered product of a gate insulating layer of the transistor and a semiconductor layer provided over the gate insulating layer. That is, the structural layer includes layers formed of the same insulating film as the gate insulating layer and the same semiconductor film as the semiconductor layer of the transistor. Further, the micro structure is manufactured by using each of conductive layers used for a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode of the transistor as a sacrificial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8138560
    Abstract: Without sacrificial layer etching, a microstructure and a micromachine are manufactured. A separation layer 102 is formed over a substrate 101, and a layer 103 to be a movable electrode is formed over the separation layer 102. At an interface of the separation layer 102, the layer 103 to be a movable electrode is separated from the substrate. A layer 106 to be a fixed electrode is formed over another substrate 105. The layer 103 to be a movable electrode is fixed to the substrate 105 with the spacer layer 103 which is partially provided interposed therebetween, so that the layer 103 to be a movable electrode and a layer 106 to be a fixed electrode face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120061841
    Abstract: A step of forming a through hole in a semiconductor substrate, or a step of polishing the semiconductor substrate from its back surface requires a very long time and causes decrease of productivity. In addition, when semiconductor substrates are stacked, a semiconductor integrated circuit which is formed of the stack is thick and has poor mechanical flexibility. A release layer is formed over each of a plurality of substrates, layers each having a semiconductor element and an opening for forming a through wiring are formed over each of the release layers. Then, layers each having the semiconductor element are peeled off from the substrates, and then overlapped and stacked, a conductive layer is formed in the opening, and the through wiring is formed; thus, a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi YAMAGUCHI, Konami IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20120043594
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a micro-electro-mechanical-device having a microstructure and a semiconductor element over one surface. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for simplifying the process of forming the microstructure and the semiconductor element over one surface. A space in which the microstructure is moved, that is, a movable space for the microstructure is formed by procecssing an insulating layer which is formed in a process of forming the semiconductor element. The movable space can be formed by forming the insulating layer having a plurality of openings and making the openings face each other to be overlapped each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuminori TATEISHI, Konami IZUMI, Mayumi YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8120159
    Abstract: A step of forming a through hole in a semiconductor substrate, or a step of polishing the semiconductor substrate from its back surface requires a very long time and causes decrease of productivity. In addition, when semiconductor substrates are stacked, a semiconductor integrated circuit which is formed of the stack is thick and has poor mechanical flexibility. A release layer is formed over each of a plurality of substrates, layers each having a semiconductor element and an opening for forming a through wiring are formed over each of the release layers. Then, layers each having the semiconductor element are peeled off from the substrates, and then overlapped and stacked, a conductive layer is formed in the opening, and the through wiring is formed; thus, a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8120538
    Abstract: The invention provides a wireless chip which can secure the safety of consumers while being small in size, favorable in communication property, and inexpensive, and the invention also provides an application thereof. Further, the invention provides a wireless chip which can be recycled after being used for managing the manufacture, circulation, and retail. A wireless chip includes a layer including a semiconductor element, and an antenna. The antenna includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and has a spherical shape, an ovoid shape, an oval spherical shape like a go stone, an oval spherical shape like a rugby ball, or a disc shape, or has a cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape in which an outer edge portion thereof has a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120037966
    Abstract: A micromachine is generally formed using a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer. One of the objects of the present invention is to realize further reduction in cost by integrating a minute structure and a semiconductor element controlling the minute structure over one insulating surface in one step. A minute structure has a structure in which a first layer formed into a frame-shape are provided over an insulating surface, a space is formed inside the frame, and a second layer is formed to cross over the first layer. Such a minute structure and a thin film transistor can be integrated over one insulating surface in one step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8114719
    Abstract: An easy-to-use and inexpensive memory device is provided while maintaining product specifications and productivity even when a memory is formed on the same substrate as other functional circuits. The memory device of the invention includes a memory cell formed on an insulating surface. The memory cell includes a semiconductor film having two impurity regions, a gate electrode, and two wirings connected to the respective impurity regions. The two wirings are insulated from each other by applying a voltage between the gate electrode and at least one of the two wirings to alter the state of the semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kato, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Etsuko Asano, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120032304
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to manufacture a micromachine having a plurality of structural bodies with different functions and to shorten the time required for sacrifice layer etching in a process of manufacturing the micromachine. Another object of the present invention is to prevent a structural layer from being attached to a substrate after the sacrifice layer etching. In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and high-value-added micromachine by improving throughput and yield. The sacrifice layer etching is conducted in multiple steps. In the multiple steps of the sacrifice layer etching, a part of the sacrifice layer that does not overlap with the structural layer is removed by the earlier sacrifice layer etching and a part of the sacrifice layer that is under the structural layer is removed by the later sacrifice layer etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120015245
    Abstract: A shiny is manufactured using a low-molecular-weight organic acid as a dispersant and a nonaqueous organic solvent as a solvent, whereby a coated electrode for a power storage device in which an active material which has been made into microparticles each having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less is uniformly dispersed can be manufactured. By the use of the coated electrode manufactured in this manner, a power storage device with high charge/discharge characteristics can be manufactured. In other words, a power storage device with high capacity density can be realized because the amount of impurities is small and the power density is high due to the sufficient dispersion of the active material in the active material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Mako Kishino, Mayumi Mikami, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20110312118
    Abstract: A micromachine includes a microstructure and a semiconductor element formed over one insulating substrate. The micromachine includes including a movable layer containing polycrystalline silicon and a space below or above the layer. Such polycrystalline silicon is formed on an insulating surface, so that it is used as a microstructure and used for forming a semiconductor element. Accordingly, a semiconductor device may include a microstructure and a semiconductor provided over one insulating substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Konami Izumi, Mayumi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110297940
    Abstract: A semiconductor element of the electric circuit includes a semiconductor layer over a gate electrode. The semiconductor layer of the semiconductor element is formed of a layer including polycrystalline silicon which is obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon by heat treatment or laser irradiation, over a substrate. The obtained layer including polycrystalline silicon is also used for a structure layer such as a movable electrode of a structure body. Therefore, the structure body and the electric circuit for controlling the structure body can be formed over one substrate. As a result, a micromachine can be miniaturized. Further, assembly and packaging are unnecessary, so that manufacturing cost can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Publication number: 20110281389
    Abstract: A structure which prevents thinning and disconnection of a wiring is provided, in a micromachine (MEMS structure body) formed with a surface micromachining technology. A wiring (upper auxiliary wiring) over a sacrificial layer is electrically connected to a different wiring (upper connection wiring) over the sacrificial layer, so that thinning, disconnection, and the like of the wiring formed over the sacrificial layer at a step portion generated due to the thickness of the sacrificial layer can be prevented. The wiring over the sacrificial layer is formed of the same conductive film as an upper driving electrode which is a movable electrode and is thus thin. However, the different wiring is formed over a structural layer, which is formed by a CVD method and has a rounded step, and has a thickness of 200 nm to 1 ?m, whereby thinning, disconnection, and the like of the wiring can be further prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Mayumi Mikami, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8058145
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a micro-electro-mechanical-device having a microstructure and a semiconductor element over one surface. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for simplifying the process of forming the microstructure and the semiconductor element over one surface. A space in which the microstructure is moved, that is, a movable space for the microstructure is formed by processing an insulating layer which is formed in a process of forming the semiconductor element. The movable space can be formed by forming the insulating layer having a plurality of openings and making the openings face each other to be overlapped each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tateishi, Konami Izumi, Mayumi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8053850
    Abstract: A micromachine is generally formed using a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer. One of the objects of the present invention is to realize further reduction in cost by integrating a minute structure and a semiconductor element controlling the minute structure over one insulating surface in one step. A minute structure has a structure in which a first layer formed into a frame-shape are provided over an insulating surface, a space is formed inside the frame, and a second layer is formed to cross over the first layer. Such a minute structure and a thin film transistor can be integrated over one insulating surface in one step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8043950
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to manufacture a micromachine having a plurality of structural bodies with different functions and to shorten the time required for sacrifice layer etching in a process of manufacturing the micromachine. Another object of the present invention is to prevent a structural layer from being attached to a substrate after the sacrifice layer etching. In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and high-value-added micromachine by improving throughput and yield. The sacrifice layer etching is conducted in multiple steps. In the multiple steps of the sacrifice layer etching, a part of the sacrifice layer that does not overlap with the structural layer is removed by the earlier sacrifice layer etching and a part of the sacrifice layer that is under the structural layer is removed by the later sacrifice layer etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi