Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Scholer

Thomas C. Scholer 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: 6524916
    Abstract: An ultra-large scale integrated circuit semiconductor device is provided which has inverted trapezoidal gates with LDD structures having gradual doping profiles and salicided for contacts. The structures are manufactured on a substrate by forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming a gate layer over the barrier layer, forming inverted trapezoidal gate trenches into the gate layer that are a function of the thickness of the gate layer, depositing a gate dielectric in the inverted trapezoidal gate trenches on the substrate, forming polysilicon gates in the inverted trapezoidal gate trenches, removing the gate layer and the barrier layer to define gate spacers, implanting the substrate around the gate spacers with a dopant to form source/drain extension junctions, and preparing the source/drain extension junctions and the gates for conductive connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Scholer, Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 6448606
    Abstract: A reduced device geometry semiconductor memory device is provided which has increased device efficiency because of an increased gate coupling coefficient. Shallow trench isolations are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The shallow trench isolations are selectively shaped in order to form a control gate dielectric layer later with a large width relative to the width between the floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Thomas C. Scholer, Paul J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 6433371
    Abstract: Ultra-large scale CMOS integrated circuit semiconductor devices are provided which have width- and profile-controlled, inverted trapezoidal gates with LDD structures having gradual doping profiles and salicided for contacts. The structures are manufactured on a substrate by forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming a gate layer over the barrier layer, forming inverted trapezoidal gate trenches into the gate layer, depositing a gate dielectric in the inverted trapezoidal gate trenches on the substrate, forming polysilicon gates in the inverted trapezoidal gate trenches, removing the gate layer and the barrier layer to define gate spacers, implanting the substrate around the gate spacers with a dopant to form source/drain extension junctions, and preparing the source/drain extension junctions and the gates for conductive connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Scholer, Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 6287968
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor wafers using electroless plating processing. A partially completed semiconductor wafer having trenches and vias formed in a layer of interlayer dielectric has a barrier layer globally formed on the surface of the partially completed semiconductor wafer. A seed layer is globally formed on the surface of the barrier layer. The barrier and seed layers are removed from portions of the surface of the partially completed semiconductor wafer on which plating is not to occur. The partially completed semiconductor wafer is then subjected to an electroless plating process and conductive material is plated on those portions of the seed layer that remains on the partially completed semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer
  • Patent number: 6239008
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with increased density of structures that have at least one dimension less than that provided by the lithography system being used in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer
  • Patent number: 6133140
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with dual damascene structures. A first and second layer of interlayer dielectric separated by a first layer of etch stop material is formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate on and in which active devices have been formed. A second layer of an etch stop material is formed on the surface of the second layer of interlayer dielectric. A layer of photoresist is formed on the second layer of etch stop material and is patterned and etched to expose portions of the second etch stop material. The exposed portions of the second etch stop material are anisotropically etched exposing portions of the second layer of interlayer dielectric. The exposed portions of the second layer of interlayer dielectric are first anisotropically etched and then isotropically etched. The etch stop layer between the first and second interlayer dielectric is anisotropically etched and the first layer of interlayer dielectric is anisotropically etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer
  • Patent number: 6107204
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having multiple layers of interconnects that are filled in a single conductive material filling step. Two layers of interlayer dielectric separated by an etch stop layer are formed over a layer including metal structures in contact with electrodes of active devices formed in and on a semiconductor substrate. A layer of photoresist is formed on a second etch stop layer formed on the upper layer of interlayer dielectric. The layer of photoresist is patterned and etched. Masking and etching processes form openings in the first and second layers of interlayer dielectric including openings to the metal structures. The openings are filled in a single conductive material filling step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer
  • Patent number: 6103616
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices wherein a partially completed semiconductor device having a first and second layer of interlayer dielectric and a first and second etch stop layer has the second etch stop layer masked and etched with an etch pattern having dimensions of the trench structure to be formed in the second interlayer dielectric. The second layer dielectric and first etch stop layer are then masked and etched with an etch pattern having dimensions of the via structure to be formed in the first interlayer dielectric. The remaining portions of the photoresist is removed and exposed portions of the second layer of interlayer dielectric and the first layer of interlayer dielectric are then etched simultaneously. The via structure and trench structure are then simultaneously filled with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Thomas C. Scholer, Paul J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 6100593
    Abstract: A multiple chip hybrid package using bump technology having multiple chips electrically connected using a flip chip technology such as solder bump technology. Portion of at least one chip is electrically connected to electrical leads connecting terminals inside the package to pins outside the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer
  • Patent number: 6025272
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a step of filling crevices or non-level regions formed during the manufacture of the semiconductor device with a spin-on dielectric material. The spin-on dielectric material prevents conductive material from filling the crevices and causing the device to fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Thomas C. Scholer, Paul J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 5985753
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices wherein a selected layer is implanted with heavy ions in a pattern having dimensions of a via structure to be formed in a first layer of interlayer dielectric. In a first embodiment, the ions are implanted in an etch stop layer formed between a first and second layer of interlayer dielectric. In a second embodiment, the ions are implanted in the second layer of interlayer dielectric. Selective etch processes form a trench structure in the second layer of interlayer dielectric and form a via structure in the first layer of interlayer dielectric. The via structure and trench structure are filled with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Yu, Paul J. Steffan, Thomas C. Scholer