Patents by Inventor Qizhi Liu

Qizhi Liu 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: 9437539
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making a dielectric region in a bulk silicon (Si) substrate of a mixed-signal integrated circuit (IC) provide a high-Q passive resonator. Deep trenches within the bulk Si substrate in <100> directions are expanded by wet etching to form contiguous cavities, which are filled by Si oxide to form a dielectric region. The dielectric region enhances the quality (Q) of an overlying passive resonator, formed in metallization layers of the mixed-signal IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Dunn, Zhong-Xiang He, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9437717
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating bipolar junction transistors, bipolar junction transistors, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. A first portion of the intrinsic base layer is masked while a second portion of an intrinsic base layer is etched. As a consequence of the masking, the second portion of the intrinsic base layer is thinner than the first portion of the intrinsic base layer. An emitter and an extrinsic base layer are formed in respective contacting relationships with the first and second portions of the intrinsic base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Chan, Peng Cheng, Qizhi Liu, Ljubo Radic
  • Patent number: 9435948
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a silicon-based optical waveguide structure locally on a bulk silicon substrate, and systems and program products for forming such a structure by modifying an integrated circuit (IC) design structure. Embodiments include implementing processes of preparing manufacturing data for formation of the IC design structure in a computer-implemented IC formation system, wherein the preparing of the manufacturing data includes inserting instructions into the manufacturing data to convert an edge of the at least one shape from a <110> crystallographic direction to a <100> crystallographic direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Robert K. Leidy, Mark D. Levy, Qizhi Liu, Gary L. Milo, Steven M. Shank
  • Publication number: 20160225917
    Abstract: At least one isolation trench formed in a layer stack including substrate, channel, and upper gate layers define a channel in the channel layer. Lateral etching from the isolation trench(es) can form lateral cavities in the substrate and upper gate layer to substantially simultaneously form self-aligned lower and upper gates. The lower gate undercuts the channel, the upper gate is narrower than the channel, and a source and a drain can be formed on opposed ends of the channel. As a result, source-drain capacitance and gate-drain capacitance can be reduced, increasing speed of the resulting FET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, James S. Dunn, Blaine J. Gross, David L. Harame, Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik
  • Publication number: 20160211167
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) with an underlying airgap and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming an amorphous layer at a predetermined depth of a substrate. The method further includes forming an airgap in the substrate under the amorphous layer. The method further includes forming a completely isolated transistor in an active region of the substrate, above the amorphous layer and the airgap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mark D. JAFFE, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Qizhi LIU, Anthony K. STAMPER
  • Publication number: 20160211345
    Abstract: Device structures for a bipolar junction transistor and methods of fabricating a device structure for a bipolar junction transistor. A first semiconductor layer is formed on a substrate, and a second semiconductor layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer, and the substrate are etched to define first and second emitter fingers from the second semiconductor layer and trenches in the substrate that are laterally positioned between the first and second emitter fingers. The first semiconductor layer may function as a base layer in the device structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Vibhor Jain, Qizhi Liu
  • Publication number: 20160197167
    Abstract: Various particular embodiments include an integrated circuit (IC) structure having: a stack region; and a silicon substrate underlying and contacting the stack region, the silicon substrate including: a silicon region including a doped subcollector region; a set of isolation regions overlying the silicon region; a base region between the set of isolation regions and below the stack region, the base region including an intrinsic base contacting the stack region, an extrinsic base contacting the intrinsic base and the stack region, and an amorphized extrinsic base contact region contacting the extrinsic base; a collector region between the set of isolation regions; an undercut collector-base region between the set of isolation regions and below the base region; and a collector contact region contacting the collector region under the intrinsic base and the collector-base region via the doped subcollector region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph R. Greco, Qizhi Liu, Aaron L. Vallett, Robert F. Vatter
  • Patent number: 9385022
    Abstract: Various methods include: forming an optical waveguide in a bulk silicon layer, the optical waveguide including a set of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions overlying a silicon substrate region; ion implanting the silicon substrate to amorphize a portion of the silicon substrate; forming a set of trenches through the STI regions and into the underlying silicon substrate region; undercut etching the silicon substrate region under the STI regions through the set of trenches to form a set of cavities, wherein the at least partially amorphized portion of the silicon substrate etches at a rate less than an etch rate of the silicon substrate; and sealing the set of cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Jaffe, Alvin J. Joseph, Qizhi Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20160190292
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) structures and methods of forming the same. An IC structure according to the present disclosure can include: a doped substrate region adjacent to an insulating region; a crystalline base structure including: an intrinsic base region located on and contacting the doped substrate region, the intrinsic base region having a first thickness; an extrinsic base region adjacent to the insulating region, wherein the extrinsic base region has a second thickness greater than the first thickness; a semiconductor layer located on the intrinsic base region of the crystalline base structure; and a doped semiconductor layer located on the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, David L. Harame, Michael L. Kerbaugh, Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik
  • Publication number: 20160170140
    Abstract: Disclosed are structures with an optical waveguide having a first segment at a first level and a second segment extending between the first level and a higher second level and further extending along the second level. Specifically, the waveguide comprises a first segment between first and second dielectric layers. The second dielectric layer has a trench, which extends through to the first dielectric layer and which has one side positioned laterally adjacent to an end of the first segment. The waveguide also comprises a second segment extending from the bottom of the trench on the side adjacent to the first segment up to and along the top surface of the second dielectric layer on the opposite side of the trench. A third dielectric layer covers the second segment in the trench and on the top surface of the second dielectric layer. Also disclosed are methods of forming such optoelectronic structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Zhong-Xiang He, Qizhi Liu, Ronald G. Meunier, Steven M. Shank
  • Patent number: 9356097
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for forming a semiconductor emitter and the resulting structure. The invention comprises forming an epitaxial base layer on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is deposited over the epitaxial base layer. An opening is etched in a portion of the dielectric layer exposing a portion of the epitaxial base layer and a spacer is deposited along the sidewall of the opening. The emitter is grown from the epitaxial base layer to overlap the top surface of the spacer and a portion of the dielectric layer. The single crystal emitter is formed without a mask and without the requirement of subsequent patterning processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: David L. Harame, Vikas K. Kaushal, Marwan H. Khater, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9356014
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. Specifically, disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and respective structures. A method includes forming a field-effect transistor (FET) on a substrate in a FET region, forming a high-voltage FET (HVFET) on a dielectric stack over a over lightly-doped diffusion (LDD) drain in a HVFET region, and forming an NPN on the substrate in an NPN region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik, Yun Shi, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9355972
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making a dielectric region in a bulk silicon (Si) substrate of a mixed-signal integrated circuit (IC) provide a high-Q passive resonator. Deep trenches within the bulk Si substrate in <100> directions are expanded by wet etching to form contiguous cavities, which are filled by Si oxide to form a dielectric region. The dielectric region enhances the quality (Q) of an overlying passive resonator, formed in metallization layers of the mixed-signal IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Dunn, Zhong-Xiang He, Qizhi Liu
  • Publication number: 20160146672
    Abstract: A microbolometer device integrated with CMOS and BiCMOS technologies and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a microbolometer unit cell, comprises damaging a portion of a substrate to form a damaged region. The method further includes forming infrared (IR) absorbing material on the damaged region. The method further includes isolating the IR absorbing material by forming a cavity underneath the IR absorbing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Qizhi LIU, Anthony K. STAMPER, Ronald F. WALLER
  • Patent number: 9349793
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) with an underlying airgap and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming an amorphous layer at a predetermined depth of a substrate. The method further includes forming an airgap in the substrate under the amorphous layer. The method further includes forming a completely isolated transistor in an active region of the substrate, above the amorphous layer and the airgap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Jaffe, Alvin J. Joseph, Qizhi Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9349845
    Abstract: Device structures and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. An intrinsic base is formed on the substrate, a terminal is formed on the intrinsic base, and an extrinsic base is formed that is arranged in juxtaposition with the intrinsic base on the substrate. The intrinsic base and terminal are respectively comprised of first and second semiconductor materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: David L. Harame, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9349880
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices (e.g., diodes, such as PN junction diodes and PIN junction diodes, and capacitors) that have semiconductor bodies with interleaved horizontal portions. In the case of a diode, the semiconductor bodies can have different type conductivities and, optionally, can be separated by an intrinsic semiconductor layer. In the case of a capacitor, the semiconductor bodies can have the same or different type conductivities and can be separated by a dielectric layer. In any case, due to the interleaved horizontal portions, the semiconductor devices each have a relatively large active device region within a relatively small area on an integrated circuit chip. Also disclosed herein are methods of forming such semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Funch, Qizhi Liu, Dean W. Siegel
  • Patent number: 9343589
    Abstract: At least one isolation trench formed in a layer stack including substrate, channel, and upper gate layers define a channel in the channel layer. Lateral etching from the isolation trench(es) can form lateral cavities in the substrate and upper gate layer to substantially simultaneously form self-aligned lower and upper gates. The lower gate undercuts the channel, the upper gate is narrower than the channel, and a source and a drain can be formed on opposed ends of the channel. As a result, source-drain capacitance and gate-drain capacitance can be reduced, increasing speed of the resulting FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, James S. Dunn, Blaine J. Gross, David L. Harame, Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik
  • Patent number: 9337323
    Abstract: Device structures and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. A first isolation structure is formed in a substrate to define a boundary for a device region. A collector is formed in the device region, and a second isolation structure is formed in the device region. The second isolation structure defines a boundary for the collector. The second isolation structure is laterally positioned relative to the first isolation structure to define a section of the device region between the first and second isolation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: James S. Dunn, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9337078
    Abstract: According to a structure herein, a silicon substrate has an active device in the silicon substrate. A dielectric film is on the active device. An isolation trench is in the dielectric film surrounding the active device. The trench extends through the dielectric film and at least partially into the silicon substrate. A core is in the isolation trench. The core comprises material having thermal conductivity greater than silicon dioxide and electrical conductivity approximately equal to silicon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Qizhi Liu, Zhenzhen Ye, Yan Zhang