Patents by Inventor Leathen Shi

Leathen Shi 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: 10811305
    Abstract: A multi-layer wafer and method of manufacturing such wafer are provided. The method comprises applying a stress compensating oxide layer to each of two heterogeneous wafers, applying at least one bonding oxide layer to at least one of the two heterogeneous wafers, chemical-mechanical polishing the at least one bonding oxide layer, and low temperature bonding the two heterogeneous wafers to form a multi-layer wafer pair. The multi-layer wafer comprises two heterogeneous wafers, each of the heterogeneous wafers having a stress compensating oxide layer and at least one bonding oxide layer applied to at least one of the two heterogeneous wafers. The two heterogeneous wafers are low temperature bonded together to form the multi-layer wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Li-Wen Hung, John U. Knickerbocker, Leathen Shi, Cornelia Tsang Yang, Bucknell C. Webb
  • Patent number: 10615139
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Patent number: 10211178
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Publication number: 20180226374
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Patent number: 10020279
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Publication number: 20180082888
    Abstract: A multi-layer wafer and method of manufacturing such wafer are provided. The method comprises applying a stress compensating oxide layer to each of two heterogeneous wafers, applying at least one bonding oxide layer to at least one of the two heterogeneous wafers, chemical-mechanical polishing the at least one bonding oxide layer, and low temperature bonding the two heterogeneous wafers to form a multi-layer wafer pair. The multi-layer wafer comprises two heterogeneous wafers, each of the heterogeneous wafers having a stress compensating oxide layer and at least one bonding oxide layer applied to at least one of the two heterogeneous wafers. The two heterogeneous wafers are low temperature bonded together to form the multi-layer wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Li-Wen HUNG, John U. KNICKERBOCKER, Leathen SHI, Cornelia TSANG YANG, Bucknell C. WEBB
  • Patent number: 9865469
    Abstract: A method for performing epitaxial lift-off allowing reuse of a III-V substrate to grow III-V devices is presented. A sample is received comprising a growth substrate with a top surface, a sacrificial layer on the top surface, and a device layer on the sacrificial layer. This substrate is supported inside a container and the container is filled with a wet etchant such that the wet etchant progressively etches away the sacrificial layer and the device layer lifts away from the growth substrate. While filling the container with the wet etchant, the sample is supported in the container such that the top surface of the growth substrate is non-parallel with an uppermost surface of the wet etchant. Performed in this manner, the lift-off process requires little individual setup of the sample, and is capable of batch processing and high throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Leathen Shi, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Publication number: 20170221850
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Publication number: 20170154783
    Abstract: A method for performing epitaxial lift-off allowing reuse of a III-V substrate to grow III-V devices is presented. A sample is received comprising a growth substrate with a top surface, a sacrificial layer on the top surface, and a device layer on the sacrificial layer. This substrate is supported inside a container and the container is filled with a wet etchant such that the wet etchant progressively etches away the sacrificial layer and the device layer lifts away from the growth substrate. While filling the container with the wet etchant, the sample is supported in the container such that the top surface of the growth substrate is non-parallel with an uppermost surface of the wet etchant. Performed in this manner, the lift-off process requires little individual setup of the sample, and is capable of batch processing and high throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Leathen Shi, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 9653308
    Abstract: A method for performing epitaxial lift-off allowing reuse of a III-V substrate to grow III-V devices is presented. A sample is received comprising a growth substrate with a top surface, a sacrificial layer on the top surface, and a device layer on the sacrificial layer. This substrate is supported inside a container and the container is filled with a wet etchant such that the wet etchant progressively etches away the sacrificial layer and the device layer lifts away from the growth substrate. While filling the container with the wet etchant, the sample is supported in the container such that the top surface of the growth substrate is non-parallel with an uppermost surface of the wet etchant. Performed in this manner, the lift-off process requires little individual setup of the sample, and is capable of batch processing and high throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Leathen Shi, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Publication number: 20170062232
    Abstract: A method for performing epitaxial lift-off allowing reuse of a III-V substrate to grow III-V devices is presented. A sample is received comprising a growth substrate with a top surface, a sacrificial layer on the top surface, and a device layer on the sacrificial layer. This substrate is supported inside a container and the container is filled with a wet etchant such that the wet etchant progressively etches away the sacrificial layer and the device layer lifts away from the growth substrate. While filling the container with the wet etchant, the sample is supported in the container such that the top surface of the growth substrate is non-parallel with an uppermost surface of the wet etchant. Performed in this manner, the lift-off process requires little individual setup of the sample, and is capable of batch processing and high throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Leathen Shi, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 9536853
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, a wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Publication number: 20160322324
    Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Patent number: 9355936
    Abstract: Methods for bonding substrate surfaces, bonded substrate assemblies, and design structures for a bonded substrate assembly. Device structures of a product chip are formed using a first surface of a device substrate. A wiring layer of an interconnect structure for the device structures is formed on the product chip. The wiring layer is planarized. A temporary handle wafer is removably bonded to the planarized wiring layer. In response to removably bonding the temporary handle wafer to the planarized first wiring layer, a second surface of the device substrate, which is opposite to the first surface, is bonded to a final handle substrate. The temporary handle wafer is then removed from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, James S. Dunn, Dale W. Martin, Charles S. Musante, BethAnn Rainey Lawrence, Leathen Shi, Edmund J. Sprogis, Cornelia K. Tsang
  • Publication number: 20160141263
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, a wafer-to-wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer substrate having a first bonding layer formed on a first bulk substrate layer. A second wafer substrate includes a second bonding layer formed on a second bulk substrate layer. The second bonding layer is bonded to the first bonding layer to define a bonding interface. At least one of the first wafer substrate and the second wafer substrate includes a crack-arresting film layer configured to increase a bonding energy of the bonding interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Leathen Shi, Spyridon Skordas, Kevin R. Winstel
  • Patent number: 8927405
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a structure including, a handle substrate, a buried boron nitride layer located above an uppermost surface of the handle substrate, a buried oxide layer located on an uppermost surface of the buried boron nitride layer, and a top semiconductor layer located on an uppermost surface of the buried oxide layer. Next, a first semiconductor pad, a second semiconductor pad and a plurality of semiconductor nanowires connecting the first semiconductor pad and the second semiconductor pad in a ladder-like configuration are patterned into the top semiconductor layer. The semiconductor nanowires are suspended by removing a portion of the buried oxide layer from beneath each semiconductor nanowire, wherein a portion of the uppermost surface of the buried boron nitride layer is exposed. Next, a gate all-around field effect transistor is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Cohen, Michael A. Guillorn, Alfred Grill, Leathen Shi
  • Patent number: 8927968
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a structure including, a handle substrate, a buried boron nitride layer located above an uppermost surface of the handle substrate, a buried oxide layer located on an uppermost surface of the buried boron nitride layer, and a top semiconductor layer located on an uppermost surface of the buried oxide layer. Next, a first semiconductor pad, a second semiconductor pad and a plurality of semiconductor nanowires connecting the first semiconductor pad and the second semiconductor pad in a ladder-like configuration are patterned into the top semiconductor layer. The semiconductor nanowires are suspended by removing a portion of the buried oxide layer from beneath each semiconductor nanowire, wherein a portion of the uppermost surface of the buried boron nitride layer is exposed. Next, a gate all-around field effect transistor is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Cohen, Michael A. Guillorn, Alfred Grill, Leathen Shi
  • Patent number: 8877606
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate structure for manufacturing integrated circuit devices includes a bulk substrate; a lower insulating layer formed on the bulk substrate, the lower insulating layer formed from a pair of separate insulation layers having a bonding interface therebetween; an electrically conductive layer formed on the lower insulating layer; an insulator with etch stop characteristics formed on the electrically conductive layer; an upper insulating layer formed on the etch stop layer; and a semiconductor layer formed on the upper insulating layer. A scheme of subsequently building a dual-depth shallow trench isolation with the deeper STI in the back gate layer self-aligned to the shallower STI in the active region in such a semiconductor substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Dennard, David R. Greenberg, Amlan Majumdar, Leathen Shi, Jeng-Bang Yau
  • Publication number: 20140209908
    Abstract: Methods for bonding substrate surfaces, bonded substrate assemblies, and design structures for a bonded substrate assembly. Device structures of a product chip are formed using a first surface of a device substrate. A wiring layer of an interconnect structure for the device structures is formed on the product chip. The wiring layer is planarized. A temporary handle wafer is removably bonded to the planarized wiring layer. In response to removably bonding the temporary handle wafer to the planarized first wiring layer, a second surface of the device substrate, which is opposite to the first surface, is bonded to a final handle substrate. The temporary handle wafer is then removed from the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, James S. Dunn, Dale W. Martin, Charles S. Musante, BethAnn Rainey Lawrence, Leathen Shi, Edmund J. Sprogis, Cornelia K. Tsang
  • Patent number: 8778737
    Abstract: Methods for bonding substrate surfaces, bonded substrate assemblies, and design structures for a bonded substrate assembly. Device structures of a product chip are formed using a first surface of a device substrate. A wiring layer of an interconnect structure for the device structures is formed on the product chip. The wiring layer is planarized. A temporary handle wafer is removably bonded to the planarized wiring layer. In response to removably bonding the temporary handle wafer to the planarized first wiring layer, a second surface of the device substrate, which is opposite to the first surface, is bonded to a final handle substrate. The temporary handle wafer is then removed from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, James S. Dunn, Dale W. Martin, Charles F. Musante, BethAnn Rainey, Leathen Shi, Edmund J. Sprogis, Cornelia K. Tsang