Patents by Inventor Steven Lee Prins

Steven Lee Prins 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: 20240113156
    Abstract: A passive circuit component includes an edge having a low line edge roughness (LER). A method for manufacturing the passive circuit component includes a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) etch process using a tri-layer process flow. The tri-layer process flow includes use of an underlayer, hard mask, and photoresist. The passive circuit component made by this method achieves improved mismatch between like components due to the low LER.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Scott William JESSEN, Steven Lee PRINS, Sameer Prakash PENDHARKAR, Abbas ALI, Gregory Boyd SHINN
  • Patent number: 11522043
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate having a plurality of the IC. A thin-film resistor (TFR) layer is deposited on the dielectric layer, and an underlayer (UL) including carbon is formed on the TFR layer. A hard mask layer including silicon is formed on the UL. Masked etching of the hard mask layer transfers a pattern of a photoresist layer onto the hard mask layer to form a hard mask layer pattern. Masked etching of the UL transfers the hard mask layer pattern onto the UL to form a UL pattern. Masked etching of the TFR layer transfers the UL pattern onto the TFR layer to form a TFR layer pattern including a matched pair of TFRs. The matched pair of TFRs are generally included in circuitry configured together for implementing at least one function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott William Jessen, Tae Seung Kim, Steven Lee Prins, Can Duan, Abbas Ali, Erich Wesley Kinder
  • Patent number: 11251093
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Publication number: 20210134939
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate having a plurality of the IC. A thin-film resistor (TFR) layer is deposited on the dielectric layer, and an underlayer (UL) including carbon is formed on the TFR layer. A hard mask layer including silicon is formed on the UL. Masked etching of the hard mask layer transfers a pattern of a photoresist layer onto the hard mask layer to form a hard mask layer pattern. Masked etching of the UL transfers the hard mask layer pattern onto the UL to form a UL pattern. Masked etching of the TFR layer transfers the UL pattern onto the TFR layer to form a TFR layer pattern including a matched pair of TFRs. The matched pair of TFRs are generally included in circuitry configured together for implementing at least one function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Scott William Jessen, Tae Seung Kim, Steven Lee Prins, Can Duan, Abbas Ali, Erich Wesley Kinder
  • Publication number: 20200350210
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Patent number: 10734290
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Publication number: 20190057904
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Patent number: 10134643
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Publication number: 20170133273
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Patent number: 9583488
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Younsung Choi, Steven Lee Prins
  • Patent number: 9343332
    Abstract: A method of aligning a new pattern to more than one previously defined pattern during the manufacture of an integrated circuit. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to a first previously defined pattern in a first direction and also aligning the photolithography pattern reticle to a second previously defined pattern in a second direction. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to two previously defined patterns in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas John Aton, Steven Lee Prins, Scott William Jessen
  • Publication number: 20150325472
    Abstract: A method of aligning a new pattern to more than one previously defined pattern during the manufacture of an integrated circuit. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to a first previously defined pattern in a first direction and also aligning the photolithography pattern reticle to a second previously defined pattern in a second direction. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to two previously defined patterns in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas John ATON, Steven Lee PRINS, Scott William JESSEN
  • Patent number: 9117775
    Abstract: A method of aligning a new pattern to more than one previously defined pattern during the manufacture of an integrated circuit. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to a first previously defined pattern in a first direction and also aligning the photolithography pattern reticle to a second previously defined pattern in a second direction. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to two previously defined patterns in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas John Aton, Steven Lee Prins, Scott William Jessen
  • Publication number: 20150187768
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Younsung CHOI, Steven Lee Prins
  • Publication number: 20120302059
    Abstract: A method of aligning a new pattern to more than one previously defined pattern during the manufacture of an integrated circuit. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to a first previously defined pattern in a first direction and also aligning the photolithography pattern reticle to a second previously defined pattern in a second direction. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to two previously defined patterns in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas John ATON, Steven Lee PRINS, Scott William JESSEN
  • Patent number: 7790525
    Abstract: Components in integrated circuits (ICs) are fabricated as small as possible to minimize sizes of the ICs and thus reduce manufacturing costs per IC. Metal interconnect lines are formed on minimum pitches possible using available photolithographic printers. Minimum pitches possible for contacts and vias are larger than minimum pitches possible for metal interconnect lines, thus preventing dense rectilinear grid configurations for contacts and vias. The instant invention is an integrated circuit, and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit, wherein metal interconnect lines are formed on a minimum pitch possible using a photolithographic printer. Contacts and vias are arranged to provide connections to components and metal interconnect lines, as required by the integrated circuit, in configurations that are compatible with the minimum pitch for contacts and vias, including semi-dense arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Lee Prins, James Walter Blatchford
  • Publication number: 20090101983
    Abstract: Components in integrated circuits (ICs) are fabricated as small as possible to minimize sizes of the ICs and thus reduce manufacturing costs per IC. Metal interconnect lines are formed on minimum pitches possible using available photolithographic printers. Minimum pitches possible for contacts and vias are larger than minimum pitches possible for metal interconnect lines, thus preventing dense rectilinear grid configurations for contacts and vias. The instant invention is an integrated circuit, and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit, wherein metal interconnect lines are formed on a minimum pitch possible using a photolithographic printer. Contacts and vias are arranged to provide connections to components and metal interconnect lines, as required by the integrated circuit, in configurations that are compatible with the minimum pitch for contacts and vias, including semi-dense arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven Lee Prins, James Walter Blatchford