Patents by Inventor Laura Castoldi

Laura Castoldi 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: 6395618
    Abstract: The method is based on the use of an etching mask comprising silicon carbide or titanium nitride for removing a sacrificial region. In case of manufacture of integrated semiconductor material structures, the following steps are performed: forming a sacrificial region of silicon oxide on a substrate of semiconductor material; growing a pseudo-epitaxial layer; forming electronic circuit components; depositing a masking layer comprising silicon carbide or titanium nitride; defining photolithographically the masking layer so as to form an etching mask containing the topography of a microstructure to be formed; with the etching mask, forming trenches in the pseudo-epitaxial layer as far as the sacrificial region so as to laterally define the microstructure; and removing the sacrificial region through the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Vergani, Ilaria Gelmi, Pietro Montanini, Marco Ferrera, Laura Castoldi
  • Patent number: 6331444
    Abstract: On a substrate of semiconductor material, a sacrificial region is formed and an epitaxial layer is grown; a stress release trench is formed, surrounding an area of the epitaxial layer, where an integrated electromechanical microstructure is to be formed; the wafer is then heat treated, to release residual stress. Subsequently, the stress release trench is filled with a sealing region of dielectric material, and integrated components are formed. Finally, inside the area surrounded by the sealing region, a microstructure definition trench is formed, and the sacrificial region is removed, thus obtaining an integrated microstructure with zero residual stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Ferrari, Benedetto Vigna, Pietro Montanini, Laura Castoldi, Marco Ferrera
  • Publication number: 20010026951
    Abstract: The method is based on the use of an etching mask comprising silicon carbide or titanium nitride for removing a sacrificial region. In case of manufacture of integrated semiconductor material structures, the following steps are performed: forming a sacrificial region of silicon oxide on a substrate of semiconductor material; growing a pseudo-epitaxial layer; forming electronic circuit components; depositing a masking layer comprising silicon carbide or titanium nitride; defining photolithographically the masking layer so as to form an etching mask containing the topography of a microstructure to be formed; with the etching mask, forming trenches in the pseudo-epitaxial layer as far as the sacrificial region so as to laterally define the microstructure; and removing the sacrificial region through the trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Paolo Vergani, Ilaria Gelmi, Pietro Montanini, Marco Ferrera, Laura Castoldi
  • Patent number: 6197655
    Abstract: The method is based on the use of a silicon carbide mask for removing a sacrificial region. In case of manufacture of integrated semiconductor material structures, the following steps are performed: forming a sacrificial region of silicon oxide on a substrate of semiconductor material; growing a pseudo-epitaxial layer; forming electronic circuit components; depositing a silicon carbide layer; defining photolithographically the silicon carbon layer so as to form an etching mask containing the topography of a microstructure to be formed; with the etching mask, forming trenches in the pseudo-epitaxial layer as far as the sacrificial region so as to laterally define the microstructure; and removing the sacrificial region through the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Pietro Montanini, Marco Ferrera, Laura Castoldi, Ilaria Gelmi