Patents by Inventor Michael C. Scott

Michael C. Scott 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: 5942376
    Abstract: Solution films of a photosensitive metal arylketone alcoholate are micro-patterned by exposure to ultraviolet radiation under a mask. The resultant patterns are developed in an apolar solvent and annealed to provide thin film metal oxides for use in integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Uchida, Nobuyuki Soyama, Kensuke Kageyama, Katsumi Ogi, Michael C. Scott, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo
  • Patent number: 5909042
    Abstract: A precursor solution formed of a liquid polyoxyalkylated metal complex in a solvent is applied to a substrate in the formation of a metal oxide thin film. The liquid thin film is baked in air to a temperature up to 500.degree. C. while UV radiation having a wavelength ranging from 180 nm to 300 nm is applied. The thin film can be twice-baked at increasing temperatures while UV radiation is applied at one or both bakings. The film is then annealed at temperature ranging from about 700.degree. C. to 850.degree. C. to produce a thin-film solid metal oxide product. Alternatively, the UV radiation may be applied to the liquid precursor, the thin film may be annealed with UV radiation, or combinations of such applications of UV radiation to the precursor, to the thin film before or after baking, and/or UV annealing may be used. The use of UV radiation significantly reduces the leakage current and carbon impurity content of the final metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5871853
    Abstract: A precursor solution formed of a liquid polyoxyalkylated metal complex in a solvent is applied to a substrate in the formation of a metal oxide thin film. The liquid thin film is baked in air to a temperature up to 500.degree. C. while UV radiation having a wavelength ranging from 180 nm to 300 nm is applied. The thin film can be twice-baked at increasing temperatures while UV radiation is applied at one or both bakings. The film is then annealed at temperature ranging from about 700.degree. C. to 850.degree. C. to produce a thin-film solid metal oxide product. Alternatively, the UV radiation may be applied to the liquid precursor, the thin film may be annealed with UV radiation, or combinations of such applications of UV radiation to the precursor, to the thin film before or after baking, and/or UV annealing may be used. The use of UV radiation significantly reduces the leakage current and carbon impurity content of the final metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5849071
    Abstract: A precursor liquid comprising several metal 2-ethylhexanoates, such as strontium, tantalum and bismuth 2-ethylhexanoates, in a solvent such as xylenes/methyl ethyl ketone and a small amount of hexamethyl-disilazane. The liquid is dried, baked, and annealed to form a thin film of a layered superlattice material, such as strontium bismuth tantalate, on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Derbenwick, Larry D. McMillan, Narayan Solayappan, Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Shinichiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5846597
    Abstract: A precursor liquid comprising several metal 2-ethylhexanoates, such as strontium, tantalum and bismuth 2-ethylhexanoates, in a xylenes/methyl ethyl ketone solvent is prepared, a substrate is placed within a vacuum deposition chamber, a small amount of hexamethyl-disilazane is added to the precursor liquid is misted, and the mist is flowed into the deposition chamber while maintaining the chamber at ambient temperature to deposit a layer of the precursor liquid on the substrate. The liquid is dried, baked, and annealed to form a thin film of a layered superlattice material, such as strontium bismuth tantalate, on the substrate. Then an integrated circuit is completed to include at least a portion of the layered superlattice material film in a component of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Derbenwick, Larry D. McMillan, Narayan Solayappan, Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Shinichiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5843516
    Abstract: A precursor liquid comprising several metal 2-ethylhexanoates, such as strontium, tantalum and bismuth 2-ethylhexanoates, in a xylenes/methyl ethyl ketone solvent is prepared, a substrate is placed within a vacuum deposition chamber, a small amount of hexamethyl-disilazane is added to the precursor liquid is misted, and the mist is flowed into the deposition chamber while maintaining the chamber at ambient temperature to deposit a layer of the precursor liquid on the substrate. The liquid is dried, baked, and annealed to form a thin film of a layered superlattice material, such as strontium bismuth tantalate, on the substrate. Then an integrated circuit is completed to include at least a portion of the layered superlattice material film in a component of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Derbenwick, Larry D. McMillan, Narayan Solayappan, Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Shinichiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5825057
    Abstract: A liquid precursor containing a metal is applied to a substrate, RTP baked, and annealed to form a layered superlattice material. Prebaking the substrate and oxygen in the RTP and anneal is essential, except for high bismuth content precursors. Excess bismuth between 110% and 140% of stoichiometry and RTP temperature of 725.degree. C. is optimum. The film is formed in two layers, the first of which uses a stoichiometric precursor and the second of which uses an excess bismuth precursor. The electronic properties are so regularly dependent on process parameters and material composition, and such a wide variety of materials are possible, that electronic devices can be designed by selecting from a continuous record of the values of one or more electronic properties as a continuous function of the process parameters and material composition, and utilizing the selected process and material composition to make a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Watanabe, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Hiroyuki Yoshimori, Michael C. Scott, Takashi Mihara, Joseph D. Cuchiaro, Larry D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 5814849
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit capacitor having a dielectric layer comprising BST with excess B-site material, such as titanium, added. A polyoxyalkylated metal liquid precursor solution is prepared comprising a stock solution of BST of greater then 99.999% purity blended with excess B-site material such as titanium such that the titanium is in the range of 0-100 mol %. A xylene exchange is then performed to adjust the viscosity of the solution for spin-on application to a substrate. The precursor is spun on a first electrode, dried at 400.degree. C. for 2 minutes, then annealed at 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about an hour to form a layer of BST with excess titanium. A second electrode is deposited, patterned, and annealed at between 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about 30 minutes. The resultant capacitor exhibits an enlarged dielectric constant with only a small increase in leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5792592
    Abstract: A photosensitive liquid solution is used to make thin films for use in integrated circuits. The photosensitive liquid solution contains a photo initiator, and solvent, and a mixture of metals bonded to free-radical-susceptible monomers. The metals are mixed in amounts corresponding to the desired stoichiometry of a metal oxide thin film that derives from the. The photosensitive liquid solution is applied to a substrate, soft baked, and exposed to ultraviolet radiation under a photo mask. The ultraviolet radiation patterns the soft-baked film through a free radical polymerization chain reaction. A solvent etch is used to remove the unpolymerized portion of the polymerized film. The remaining thin film pattern is annealed to provide a patterned metal oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Uchida, Nobuyuki Soyama, Kensuke Kageyama, Katsumi Ogi, Michael C. Scott, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo
  • Patent number: 5788757
    Abstract: A metal organic liquid precursor solution includes metal organic complexes dispersed in an ester solvent. The ester solvent has medium length carbon chains to prevent the precipitation of strongly electropositive metals in solution. A liquid precursor solution is used to make thin film metal oxides of uniform thickness and consistent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Uchida, Nobuyuki Soyama, Kensuke Kageyama, Katsumi Ogi, Jeffrey W. Bacon, Michael C. Scott, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo
  • Patent number: 5759923
    Abstract: A precursor liquid comprising silicon in a xylenes solvent is prepared, a substrate is placed within a vacuum deposition chamber, the precursor liquid is misted, and the mist is flowed into the deposition chamber while maintaining the chamber at ambient temperature to deposit a layer of the precursor liquid on the substrate. The liquid is dried, baked, and annealed to form a thin film of silicon dioxide or silicon glass on the substrate. Then an integrated circuit is completed to include at least a portion of the silicon dioxide or silicon glass layer as an insulator for an electronic device in the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. McMillan, Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Tatsuo Otsuki, Shinichiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5723361
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrate circuit capacitor having a dielectric layer comprising BST with excess A-site and B-site materials such as barium and titanium added. An organometallic or metallic soap precursor solution is prepared comprising a stock solution of BST of greater than 99.999% purity blended with excess A-site and B-site materials such as barium and titanium such that the barium is in the range of 0.01-100 mol %, and such that the titanium is in the range of 0.01-100 mol %. A xylene exchange is then performed to adjust the viscosity of the solution for spin-on application to a substrate. The precursor solution is spun on a first electrode, dried at 400.degree. C. for 2 to 10 minutes, then annealed at 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about an hour to form a layer of BST with excess titanium. A second electrode is deposited, patterned, and annealed at between 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5699035
    Abstract: A thin-film zinc oxide varistor (10) for use in integrated circuits and the like is produced by applying a polyoxyalkylated metal complex, such as a metal alkoxycarboxylate, to a substrate (12, 14, and 16) for the formation of a dried nonohmic layer (18). The method of production includes the steps of providing a substrate and a precursor solution including a polyoxyalkylated zinc complex (P22, P24), coating a portion of the substrate with the precursor solution (P26), drying the coated substrate (P32), and crystallizing the dried thin-film zinc oxide layer (P30). The resultant crystalline zinc oxide varistor layer (18) may be doped with bismuth, yttrium, praseodymium, cobalt, antimony, manganese, silicon, chromium, titanium, potassium, dysprosium, cesium, cerium, and iron to provide a non-ohmic varistor. The varistor layer (10) is annealed at a temperature ranging from about 400 to about 1000.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Symetrix Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Shuzo Hiraide, Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Larry D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 5690727
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit capacitor having a dielectric layer comprising BST with excess B-site material, such as titanium, added. A polyoxyalkylated metal liquid precursor solution is prepared comprising a stock solution of BST of greater then 99.999% purity blended with excess B-site material such as titanium such that the titanium is in the range of 0-100 mol %. A xylene exchange is then performed to adjust the viscosity of the solution for spin-on application to a substrate. The precursor is spun on a first electrode, dried at 400.degree. C. for 2 minutes, then annealed at 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about an hour to form a layer of BST with excess titanium. A second electrode is deposited, patterned, and annealed at between 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about 30 minutes. The resultant capacitor exhibits an enlarged dielectric constant with only a small increase in leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5688565
    Abstract: A precursor liquid comprising several metal 2-ethylhexanoates, such as stroritium tantalum and bismuth 2-ethylhexanoates, in a xylenes/methyl ethyl ketone solvent is prepared, a substrate is placed within a vacuum deposition chamber, the precursor liquid is misted, and the mist is flowed into the deposition chamber while maintaining the chamber at ambient temperature to deposit a layer of the precursor liquid on the substrate. The liquid is dried, baked, and annealed to form a thin film of a layered superlattice material, such as strontium bismuth tantalate, on the substrate. Then an integrated circuit is completed to include at least a potion of the layered superlattice material film in a component of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Symetrix Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5654456
    Abstract: A first metal, an alcohol, and a carboxylic acid are reacted to form a metal alkoxycarboxylate which is then reacted with an alkoxide and/or a carboxylate of a second metal to form a precursor. Alternatively, a metal carboxylate and a metal alkoxide are combined and heated to form a precursor. In either alternative, the precursor includes all or most of the metal-oxygen-metal bonds of a desired metal oxide and a carboxylate ligand. The precursor is applied to a substrate, dried and annealed to form the metal oxide, such as BST. The metal-oxygen-metal bonds in the precursor permit the desired metal oxide to be formed from the precursor in one step, providing excellent thin films suitable for integrated circuits. The carboxylate ligand provides stability to the precursor allowing it to be stored for periods common in large scale manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Symetrix Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Scott, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo, Larry D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 5648114
    Abstract: A substrate is prebaked in an oxygen furnace. A thin film of layered superlattice oxide is formed on the substrate by a chemical vapor deposition process. The film is RTP baked to provide grains with a mixed phase of A-axis and C-axis orientation. The film may be treated by ion implantation prior to the RTP bake and oxygen furnace annealed after the RTP bake. An electrode is deposited on the layered superlattice thin film and then the film and electrode are oxygen furnace annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Hitoshi Watanabe, Michael C. Scott, Takashi Mihara
  • Patent number: 5624707
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit capacitor having a dielectric layer comprising BST with excess B-site material, such as titanium, added. A polyoxyalkyated metal liquid precursor solution is prepared comprising a stock solution of BST of greater then 99.999% purity blended with excess B-site material such as titanium such that the titanium is in the range of 0-100 mol %. A xylene exchange is then performed to adjust the viscosiy of the solution for spin-on application to a substrate. The precursor is spun on a first electrode, dried at 400.degree. C. for 2 minutes, then annealed at 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about an hour to form a layer of BST with excess titanium. A second electrode is deposited, patterned, and annealed at between 650.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about 30 minutes. The resultant capacitor exhibits an enlarged dielectric constant with only a small increase in leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott
  • Patent number: 5620739
    Abstract: A silicon nitride barrier layer is deposited on a gallium arsenide substrate to prevent evaporation of the substrate in subsequent heating steps. A silicon dioxide stress reduction layer is deposited on the barrier layer. A first electrode is formed on the stress reduction layer, then a liquid precursor is spun on the first electrode, dried at about 400.degree. C., and annealed at between 600.degree. C. and 850.degree. C. to form a BST capacitor dielectric. A second electrode is deposited on the dielectric and annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott, Toshiyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 5614018
    Abstract: A xylene exchange is performed on a stock solution of BST of greater then 99.999% purity dissolved in methoxyethanol, and a carboxylate of a dopant metal, such as magnesium 2-ethylhexanoate is added to form a precursor. The precursor is spun on a first electrode, dried at 400.degree. C. for 2 minutes, then annealed at 750.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about an hour to form a layer of accurately doped BST. A second electrode is deposited, patterned, and annealed at between 750.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for about 30 minutes. Excellent leakage current results if the dopant is magnesium of about 5% molarity. For other dopants, such as Mg, Nb, Y, Bi, and Sn the preferred dopant range is 0.2% to 0.3% molarity. The magnesium-doped material is used as a buffer layer between the electrodes and BST dielectric of an undoped BST capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Azuma, Carlos A. Paz De Araujo, Michael C. Scott, Joseph D. Cuchiaro