Patents by Inventor Takafumi Noda

Takafumi Noda 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: 20120213245
    Abstract: A thermal detector includes a substrate, a support member, a spacer member, a thermal detection element, a detection circuit and a wiring part. The spacer member supports the support member over the substrate with a cavity part being formed therebetween. The thermal detection element is supported on the support member. The wiring part connects between the detection circuit and the thermal detection element, and has first through third conductive layer parts and a plurality of plugs. The first conductive layer part includes at least one layer disposed in the substrate. The second conductive layer part includes at least one layer disposed in the spacer member. The third conductive layer part includes at least one layer supported by the support member. The plugs respectively connect adjacent layers of the first conductive layer part, the second conductive layer part and the third conductive layer part, in a thickness direction of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Publication number: 20120211857
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a substrate, a support member and a pyroelectric detection element, which includes a capacitor, first and second reducing gas barrier layers, an insulating layer, a plug and a second electrode wiring layer. The first reducing gas barrier layer covers at least a second electrode and a pyroelectric body of the capacitor, and has a first opening that overlaps the second electrode in plan view. The insulating layer covers at least the first reducing gas barrier layer, and has a second opening that overlaps the first opening in plan view. The plug is disposed in the first and second openings and connected to the second electrode. The second electrode wiring layer is formed on the insulating layer and connected to the plug. The second reducing gas barrier layer is formed on the insulating layer and the second electrode wiring layer and covers at least the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Publication number: 20120018635
    Abstract: A thermal detector has a thermal detection element in which a physical characteristic changes based on temperature, a light-absorbing member configured and arranged to collect heat and transmit collected heat to the thermal detection element, a support member mounting the thermal detection element on a first side with a second surface facing a cavity, and a support part supporting a portion of the support member. The light-absorbing member is a plate shaped member at least partially contacting a top part of the thermal detection element and having a portion overhanging to an outside from the top part of the thermal detection element in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun TAKIZAWA, Takafumi NODA, Taketomi KAMIKAWA, Mitsuhiro YAMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20110316113
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element, a support member, and a support part. The pyroelectric detection element has a capacitor including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a pyroelectric body disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a first reducing gas barrier layer that protects the capacitor from reducing gas. The support member includes first and second sides with the pyroelectric detection element being mounted on the first side and the second side facing a cavity. The support member has a mounting member on which the capacitor is mounted and an arm member linked to the mounting member. The support part supports a portion of the support member. An outer peripheral edge of the first reducing gas barrier layer is disposed between and spaced apart from an outer peripheral edge of the mounting member and an outer peripheral edge of the capacitor in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi Noda
  • Publication number: 20110316111
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element mounted on a first side of a support member with a second side facing a cavity. The pyroelectric detection element has a capacitor including a first electrode, a pyroelectric body and a second electrode, and an interlayer insulation layer forming first and second contact holes passing respectively through to the first and second electrodes. First and second plugs are respectively embedded in the first and second contact holes, with first and second electrode wiring layers are respectively connected to the first and second plugs. A thermal conductivity of material of the second electrode wiring layer is lower than a thermal conductivity of material of a portion of the second electrode connected to the second plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Publication number: 20110316112
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element, a support member and a support part. The pyroelectric detection element has a capacitor including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a pyroelectric body. The support member includes first and second sides with the pyroelectric detection element being mounted on the first side and the second side facing a cavity. The support part, the support member, and the pyroelectric detection element are laminated in this order in a first direction with the cavity being formed between the support part and the support member. The support member has at least a first insulation layer on the first side contacting the first electrode, with the first insulation layer having a hydrogen content rate smaller than a hydrogen content rate of a second insulation layer positioned further in a second direction than the first insulation layer, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Publication number: 20110272581
    Abstract: A thermal detector has a substrate, a thermal detector element having a light-absorbing film, and a support member. The support member has a mounting part mounting the thermal detector element, a first arm part having one end that is linked to one end of the mounting part and another end that is supported on the substrate, and a second arm part having one end that is linked to the other end of the mounting part and another end that is supported on the other end of the substrate. A plurality of wirings electrically connected with the thermal detector element are provided on the first arm part, and the length of the second arm part is shorter than the length of the first arm part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Patent number: 8039884
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a ferroelectric capacitor including a first electrode provided above a substrate, a ferroelectric film provided on the first electrode and a second electrode provided on the ferroelectric film; a hydrogen barrier film that covers a top surface and a side surface of the ferroelectric capacitor; an interlayer dielectric film that covers the ferroelectric capacitor and the substrate; a contact hole that penetrates the interlayer dielectric film and the hydrogen barrier film and exposes the second electrode; a barrier metal that covers a top surface of the second electrode exposed in the contact hole and an inner wall surface of the contact hole and is composed of a conductive material having hydrogen barrier property; and a plug conductive section that is embedded in the contact hole and conductively connects to the barrier metal, wherein the inner wall surface of the contact hole at the hydrogen barrier film includes a concave curved surface facing the interior of the contact ho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Noda
  • Publication number: 20110233408
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element, a support member, a fixing part and a first reducing gas barrier layer. A first side of the support member faces a cavity and the pyroelectric detection element is mounted and supported on a second side opposite from the first side. An opening part communicated with the cavity is formed on a periphery of the support member in plan view from the second side of the support member. The fixing part supports the support member. The first reducing gas barrier layer covers a first surface of the support member on the first side, a side surface of the support member facing the opening part, and a part of a second surface of the support member on the second side and the pyroelectric detection element exposed as viewed from the second side of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi NODA, Jun TAKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110233710
    Abstract: A pyroelectric detector includes a support member, a capacitor and a fixing part. The support member includes a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, with the first side facing a cavity. The capacitor includes a pyroelectric body between a first electrode and a second electrode such that an amount of polarization varies based on a temperature. The capacitor is mounted and supported on the second side of the support member with the first electrode being disposed on the second side of the support member. A thermal conductance of the first electrode is less than a thermal conductance of the second electrode. The fixing part supports the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi NODA, Jun TAKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110235676
    Abstract: A thermal detector includes a thermal detection element, a support member, and a fixing part supporting the support member. The support member mounts and supports the thermal detection element on a second side thereof with a first side thereof facing a cavity. The support member includes a first layer member disposed on the second side and having a residual stress in a first direction, and a second layer member laminated on the first layer member on the first side and having a residual stress in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A thermal conductance of the first layer member is less than a thermal conductance of the second layer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi NODA, Jun TAKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7989862
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is equipped with a plug conductive layer formed in an interlayer dielectric film on a substrate, and a conductive member provided on the plug conductive layer. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer dielectric film formed on the interlayer dielectric film and having a hole section connecting to the plug conductive layer; and a spacer conductive section embedded in the hole section of the spacer dielectric film, connected to the plug conductive layer and connected to the conducive member, wherein the spacer conductive section is formed from a conductive material having self-orientation characteristic, and a top surface of the spacer dielectric film and a top surface of the spacer conductive section are planarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Noda
  • Publication number: 20110180713
    Abstract: The thermal detector includes a support member supported on a substrate. The support member has a mounting portion supporting a thermal detector element, and at least one arm portion connected at one end to the mounting portion and connected at the other end to the substrate. At least one of the mounting portion and the at least one arm portion has a first member disposed towards the substrate, a transverse width of a transverse cross-sectional shape of the first member set to a first width; a second member disposed toward the thermal detector element and facing the first member, a transverse width of the second member set to the first width; and a third member linking the first member and the second member, a transverse width of the third member set to a second width that is smaller than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Publication number: 20110182320
    Abstract: The thermal detector includes a substrate, a thermal detector element including a light absorbing film, a support member supporting the thermal detector element and supported on the substrate so that a cavity is present between the member and the substrate, and at least one auxiliary support post of convex shape protruding from either the substrate or the support member towards the other. The height of the at least one auxiliary support post is shorter than the maximum height from the substrate to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Patent number: 7825027
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device including a ferroelectric memory array region and a logic circuit region is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming, above a base substrate, a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors in the ferroelectric memory array region; forming a wiring layer above the base substrate in the logic circuit region; forming an interlayer dielectric layer that covers the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer; etching the interlayer dielectric layer formed at least in the ferroelectric memory array region to form a concave section; polishing the interlayer dielectric layer by a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) method; etching the interlayer dielectric layer above the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer to form contact holes; and forming contact sections in the contact holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Noda, Toshihiko Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7812385
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a ferroelectric capacitor that is provided above a base substrate and includes a first electrode, a ferroelectric film provided on the first electrode and a second electrode provided on the ferroelectric film; a stopper film that covers a top surface of the second electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor; a hydrogen barrier film that covers a top surface and a side surface of the stopper film and a side surface of the ferroelectric capacitor; an interlayer dielectric film that covers the hydrogen barrier film and the base substrate; a contact hole that penetrates the interlayer dielectric film, the hydrogen barrier film and the stopper film and exposes the second electrode; a barrier metal that covers the second electrode exposed in the contact hole and an inner wall surface of the contact hole and is composed of a conductive material having hydrogen barrier property; and a plug conductive section that is embedded in the contact hole and conductively connects to the barrier me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Noda
  • Patent number: 7592684
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided in which high breakdown voltage transistors and low voltage driving transistors are formed on the same substrate. The device includes a semiconductor layer, first element isolation regions for defining a high breakdown voltage transistor forming region in the semiconductor layer, second element isolation regions including trench dielectric layers for defining a low voltage driving transistor forming region in the semiconductor layer, high breakdown voltage transistors formed in the high breakdown voltage transistor forming region, low voltage driving transistors formed in the low voltage driving transistor forming region, and offset dielectric layers for alleviating the electric field of the high breakdown voltage transistors formed in the high breakdown voltage transistor forming region, wherein upper ends of the offset dielectric layers are beak shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Noda, Masahiro Hayashi, Akihiko Ebina, Masahiko Tsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20090137065
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device including a ferroelectric memory array region and a logic circuit region is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming, above a base substrate, a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors in the ferroelectric memory array region; forming a wiring layer above the base substrate in the logic circuit region; forming an interlayer dielectric layer that covers the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer; etching the interlayer dielectric layer formed at least in the ferroelectric memory array region to form a concave section; polishing the interlayer dielectric layer by a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) method; etching the interlayer dielectric layer above the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer to form contact holes; and forming contact sections in the contact holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi NODA, Toshihiko HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090127604
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes: a substrate; a ferroelectric capacitor forming above the substrate, and having a lower electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer and an upper electrode layer; a first hydrogen barrier layer that covers the ferroelectric capacitor; an interlayer dielectric layer formed above the first hydrogen barrier layer; and a contact section that penetrates the interlayer dielectric layer and the first hydrogen barrier layer and connects to the upper electrode layer, wherein the contact section includes a first barrier layer in contact with the upper electrode layer, a second hydrogen barrier layer formed above the first barrier layer and a plug layer formed above the second hydrogen barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi NODA
  • Patent number: 7507622
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an insulated-gate field effect transistor provided in the semiconductor layer, an etching stopper film provided above the insulated-gate field effect transistor, and an interlayer insulating layer provided above the etching stopper film; the insulated-gate field effect transistor including a gate insulating layer provided on the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating layer, and an impurity region that constitutes a source region or a drain region provided in the semiconductor layer; wherein a removed region made by removing the etching stopper film is provided in at least part of an area that is located outside the gate insulating layer and above an area at a position other than a position sandwiched by the gate insulating layer and the impurity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Noda, Masahiro Hayashi