Patents by Inventor Tohru Saitoh

Tohru Saitoh 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: 9824942
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate including a thin-film transistor having a CuMn alloy film. The method includes controlling a contact resistance of a surface of the CuMn alloy film on the basis of a contact angle of the surface of the CuMn alloy film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: JOLED INC.
    Inventor: Tohru Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20170207326
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a TFT substrate that includes a thin-film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer includes forming a source line above a substrate 2, the source line being a copper line including a stacked film of a copper film and a cap film on the copper film, depositing an insulating layer on the source line, and performing heat treatment at a temperature over 290° C. after the deposition of the insulating layer. The depositing of the insulating layer includes depositing a first silicon oxide film at 290° C. or lower, and depositing a second silicon oxide film above the first silicon oxide film at 290° C. or lower. A total film thickness of the first silicon oxide film and the second silicon oxide film is 460 nm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Tohru SAITOH
  • Publication number: 20170040234
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate including a thin-film transistor having a CuMn alloy film. The method includes controlling a contact resistance of a surface of the CuMn alloy film on the basis of a contact angle of the surface of the CuMn alloy film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Tohru SAITOH
  • Patent number: 9330925
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode over the substrate, an insulating layer over the gate electrode, and a semiconductor layer over the insulating layer. The semiconductor layer includes a channel region, a source region, and a drain region. A source electrode is over the source region, and a drain electrode is over the drain region. The source electrode and the drain electrode each comprise Ni and a metal other than Ni. The channel region, the source region, and the drain region comprise at least one of a polycrystalline silicon that is formed by crystallizing an amorphous silicon layer by thermally diffusing the Ni in the source electrode and the drain electrode into the semiconductor layer and a microcrystalline silicon that is formed by crystallizing an amorphous silicon layer by thermally diffusing the Ni in the source electrode and the drain electrode into the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: JOLED INC.
    Inventors: Tohru Saitoh, Takaaki Ukeda, Kazunori Komori, Sadayoshi Hotta
  • Patent number: 8486788
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed; a source region and a drain region each of which is buried in the trench and contains an impurity of the same conductive type; a semiconductor FIN buried in the trench and provided between the source and drain regions; a gate insulating film provided on a side surface of the semiconductor FIN as well as the upper surface of the semiconductor FIN; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Iwanaga, Takeshi Takagi, Yoshihiko Kanzawa, Haruyuki Sorada, Tohru Saitoh, Takahiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8436355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes: forming a gate electrode on a substrate, then forming an insulation layer so as to completely cover the gate electrode, thereafter forming a semiconductor layer on the insulation layer, and then forming a crystallization-inducing metal layer on the semiconductor layer; removing the part of at least the crystallization-inducing metal layer that is over a channel region of the semiconductor layer; forming source and drain electrodes at a location which is over source and drain regions respectively located at opposite sides with respect to the channel region of the semiconductor layer and is above the crystallization-inducing metal layer; and heating the crystallization-inducing metal layer so as to form a silicide layer of a crystallization-inducing metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Ukeda, Tohru Saitoh, Kazunori Komori, Sadayoshi Hotta
  • Patent number: 8421080
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor array device includes: a driving TFT including a first crystalline semiconductor film including crystal grains having a first average grain size; and a switching TFT including a second crystalline semiconductor film including crystal grains having a second average grain size that is smaller than the first average grain size. The first crystalline semiconductor film and the second crystalline semiconductor film are formed at the same time by irradiating a noncrystalline semiconductor film using a laser beam having a Gaussian light intensity distribution such that a temperature of the noncrystalline semiconductor film is within a range of 600° C. to 1100° C., and the first crystalline semiconductor film is formed such that the temperature of the noncrystalline semiconductor film is within a temperature range of 1100° C. to 1414° C. due to latent heat generated by the laser irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Saitoh, Tomoya Kato
  • Patent number: 8368049
    Abstract: A nanowire transistor according to the present invention includes: at least one nanowire 13 including a core portion 13a that functions as a channel region and an insulating shell portion 13b that covers the surface of the core portion 13a; source and drain electrodes 14 and 15, which are connected to the nanowire 13; and a gate electrode 21 for controlling conductivity in at least a part of the core portion 13a of the nanowire 13. The core portion 13a is made of semiconductor single crystals including Si and has a cross section with a curved profile on a plane that intersects with the longitudinal axis thereof. The insulating shell portion 13b is made of an insulator including Si and functions as at least a portion of a gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh, Kenji Harada, Norishige Nanai, Takayuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8242025
    Abstract: According to a method of the present invention for manufacturing a semiconductor piece, at least two semiconductor layers (12) are first formed on a substrate (10) by stacking a sacrificial layer (11) and the semiconductor layer (12) on the substrate (10) in this order and repeating this stacking. Next, the semiconductor layers (12) are divided into pieces by etching part of the sacrificial layers (11) and part of the semiconductor layers (12). Then, the pieces are separated from the substrate by removing the sacrificial layers (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh, Tohru Nakagawa, Hideo Torii
  • Publication number: 20120156833
    Abstract: A nanowire transistor according to the present invention includes: at least one nanowire 13 including a core portion 13a that functions as a channel region and an insulating shell portion 13b that covers the surface of the core portion 13a; source and drain electrodes 14 and 15, which are connected to the nanowire 13; and a gate electrode 21 for controlling conductivity in at least a part of the core portion 13a of the nanowire 13. The core portion 13a is made of semiconductor single crystals including Si and has a cross section with a curved profile on a plane that intersects with the longitudinal axis thereof. The insulating shell portion 13b is made of an insulator including Si and functions as at least a portion of a gate insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh, Kenji Harada, Norishige Nanai, Takayuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8198622
    Abstract: A nanowire according to the present invention includes: a nanowire body made of a first material; and a plurality of semiconductor particle made of a second material and being contained in at least a portion of the interior of the nanowire body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh
  • Patent number: 8143144
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor nanowire that has first and second regions is provided. A catalyst particle is put on a substrate. A first source gas is introduced, thereby growing the first region from the catalyst particle via a vapor-liquid-solid phase growth. A protective coating is formed on a sidewall of the first region, and a second source gas is introduced to grow the second region extending from the first region via the liquid-solid-phase growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20120032179
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor array device includes: a driving TFT including a first crystalline semiconductor film including crystal grains having a first average grain size; and a switching TFT including a second crystalline semiconductor film including crystal grains having a second average grain size that is smaller than the first average grain size. The first crystalline semiconductor film and the second crystalline semiconductor film are formed at the same time by irradiating a noncrystalline semiconductor film using a laser beam having a Gaussian light intensity distribution such that a temperature of the noncrystalline semiconductor film is within a range of 600° C. to 1100° C., and the first crystalline semiconductor film is formed such that the temperature of the noncrystalline semiconductor film is within a temperature range of 1100° C. to 1414° C. due to latent heat generated by the laser irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicants: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru SAITOH, Tomoya KATO
  • Patent number: 8106382
    Abstract: A source electrode 105 which is connected to a portion of at least one semiconductor nanostructure 103 among a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures, a drain electrode 106 connected to another portion of the semiconductor nanostructure 103, and a gate electrode 102 capable of controlling electrical conduction of the semiconductor nanostructure 103 are included. The semiconductor nanostructures 103 include a low concentration region 108 having a relatively low doping concentration and a pair of high concentration regions 107 having a higher doping concentration than that of the low concentration region 108 and being connected to both ends of the low concentration region 108.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Saitoh, Takahiro Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20110244645
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed; a source region and a drain region each of which is buried in the trench and contains an impurity of the same conductive type; a semiconductor FIN buried in the trench and provided between the source and drain regions; a gate insulating film provided on a side surface of the semiconductor FIN as well as the upper surface of the semiconductor FIN; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junko IWANAGA, Takeshi Takagi, Yoshihiko Kanzawa, Haruyuki Sorada, Tohru Saitoh, Takahiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7986002
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed; a source region and a drain region each of which is buried in the trench and contains an impurity of the same conductive type; a semiconductor FIN buried in the trench and provided between the source and drain regions; a gate insulating film provided on a side surface of the semiconductor FIN as well as the upper surface of the semiconductor FIN; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Iwanaga, Takeshi Takagi, Yoshihiko Kanzawa, Haruyuki Sorada, Tohru Saitoh, Takahiro Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20100320467
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes: forming a gate electrode on a substrate, then forming an insulation layer so as to completely cover the gate electrode, thereafter forming a semiconductor layer on the insulation layer, and then forming a crystallization-inducing metal layer on the semiconductor layer; removing the part of at least the crystallization-inducing metal layer that is over a channel region of the semiconductor layer; forming source and drain electrodes at a location which is over source and drain regions respectively located at opposite sides with respect to the channel region of the semiconductor layer and is above the crystallization-inducing metal layer; and heating the crystallization-inducing metal layer so as to form a silicide layer of a crystallization-inducing metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Ukeda, Tohru Saitoh, Kazunori Komori, Sadayoshi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20100224915
    Abstract: According to a method of the present invention for manufacturing a semiconductor piece, at least two semiconductor layers (12) are first formed on a substrate (10) by stacking a sacrificial layer (11) and the semiconductor layer (12) on the substrate (10) in this order and repeating this stacking. Next, the semiconductor layers (12) are divided into pieces by etching part of the sacrificial layers (11) and part of the semiconductor layers (12). Then, the pieces are separated from the substrate by removing the sacrificial layers (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh, Tohru Nakagawa, Hideo Torii
  • Patent number: 7772125
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a structure according to the present invention includes the steps of: forming a groove in a substrate, dropping a solution in which microstructures such as nanowires are dispersed into the groove and the step of evaporating the solution to arrange the microstructures in the groove in a self-organizing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Tohru Saitoh, Norihisa Mino
  • Publication number: 20100194719
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode over the substrate, an insulating layer over the gate electrode, and a semiconductor layer over the insulating layer. The semiconductor layer includes a channel region, a source region, and a drain region. A source electrode is over the source region, and a drain electrode is over the drain region. The source electrode and the drain electrode each comprise Ni and a metal other than Ni. The channel region, the source region, and the drain region comprise at least one of a polycrystalline silicon that is formed by crystallizing an amorphous silicon layer by thermally diffusing the Ni in the source electrode and the drain electrode into the semiconductor layer and a microcrystalline silicon that is formed by crystallizing an amorphous silicon layer by thermally diffusing the Ni in the source electrode and the drain electrode into the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru SAITOH, Takaaki UKEDA, Kazunori KOMORI, Sadayoshi HOTTA