Patents by Inventor Xuefeng Liu

Xuefeng 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: 7768762
    Abstract: A design structure for an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, the electro-static discharge device comprises a substrate and multiple metal level layers disposed on the substrate. Each metal level comprises more than one electrode formed therein and more than one via connecting with some of the electrodes in adjacent metal levels. The device further includes a gap formed about one of the metal level layers, wherein the gap is hermetically sealed to provide electro-static discharge protection for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 7759243
    Abstract: A method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device on an integrated circuit is described. In one embodiment of the method, a capped first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein is provided. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the capped first dielectric layer. A first hard mask dielectric layer is deposited over the second dielectric layer. A cavity trench is formed through the first hard mask dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer to the first dielectric layer, wherein the cavity trench is formed in the first dielectric layer between two adjacent electrodes. At least one via is formed through the second dielectric layer about the cavity trench. A metal trench is formed around each of the at least one via. A release opening is formed over the cavity trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 7755161
    Abstract: A device comprises a first sub-collector formed in an upper portion of a substrate and a lower portion of a first epitaxial layer and a second sub-collector formed in an upper portion of the first epitaxial layer and a lower portion of a second epitaxial layer. The device further comprises a reach-through structure connecting the first and second sub-collectors and an N-well formed in a portion of the second epitaxial layer and in contact with the second sub-collector and the reach-through structure. The device further comprises N+ diffusion regions in contact with the N-well, a P+ diffusion region in contact with the N-well, and shallow trench isolation structures between the N+ and P+ diffusion regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Steven H. Voldman
  • Publication number: 20100171148
    Abstract: A device comprises a first sub-collector formed in an upper portion of a substrate and a lower portion of a first epitaxial layer and a second sub-collector formed in an upper portion of the first epitaxial layer and a lower portion of a second epitaxial layer. The device further comprises a reach-through structure connecting the first and second sub-collectors and an N? well formed in a portion of the second epitaxial layer and in contact with the second sub-collector and the reach-through structure. The device further comprises N+ diffusion regions in contact with the N? well, a P+ diffusion region in contact with the N? well, and shallow trench isolation structures between the N+ and P+ diffusion regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuefeng LIU, Robert M. RASSEL, Steven H. VOLDMAN
  • Patent number: 7718481
    Abstract: A structure comprises a deep subcollector buried in a first region of a dual epitaxial layer and a reachthrough structure in contact with the deep subcollector to provide a low-resistive shunt which prevents CMOS latch-up for a first device. The structure may additionally include a near subcollector formed in a higher region than the deep subcollector and under another device. At least one reachthrough electrically connects the deep subcollector and the near subcollector. The method includes forming a merged triple well double epitaxy/double subcollector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Steven H. Voldman
  • Publication number: 20100117237
    Abstract: A trench contact silicide is formed on an inner wall of a contact trench that reaches to a buried conductive layer in a semiconductor substrate to reduce parasitic resistance of a reachthrough structure. The trench contact silicide is formed at the bottom, on the sidewalls of the trench, and on a portion of the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The trench is subsequently filled with a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric. A contact via may be formed on the trench contact silicide. The trench contact silicide may be formed through a single silicidation reaction with a metal layer or through multiple silicidation reactions with multiple metal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Jeffrey B. Johnson, Peter J. Lindgren, Xuefeng Liu, James S. Nakos, Bradley A. Orner, Robert M. Rassel, David C. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20100117122
    Abstract: A structure for a semiconductor device includes an isolated MOSFET (e.g., NFET) having triple-well technology adjacent to an isolated PFET which itself is adjacent to an isolated NFET. The structure includes a substrate in which is formed a deep n-band region underneath any n-wells, p-wells and p-band regions within the substrate. One p-band region is formed above the deep n-band region and underneath the isolated p-well for the isolated MOSFET, while another p-band region is formed above the deep n-band region and underneath all of the p-wells and n-wells, including those that are part of the isolated PFET and NFET devices within the substrate. The n-wells for the isolated MOSFET are connected to the deep n-band region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: John J. Benoit, David S. Collins, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, Michael L. Gautsch, Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Stephen A. St Onge, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 7689961
    Abstract: Increase power line noise immunity in an IC is provided by using decoupling capacitor structure in an area of the IC that is typically not used for routing, but filled with unconnected and non-functional metal squares (fills). In one embodiment, a method includes providing a circuit design layout; determining a density of a structure in an area of the circuit design layout; and in response to the density being less than a pre-determined density for the structure in the area, filling in a portion of the area with at least one capacitor structure until a combined density of the structure and the at least one capacitor structure in the area is about equal to the pre-determined density. Power line noise immunity is increased by increasing decoupling capacitance without enlarging the IC's total size by using a (fill) area that would normally be filled with unconnected and non-functional metal shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Braun, Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Howard S. Landis, Xuefeng Liu, Geoffrey Woodhouse
  • Publication number: 20100035390
    Abstract: A first portion of a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is protected, while a second portion of the top semiconductor layer is removed to expose a buried insulator layer. A first field effect transistor including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode located over the first portion of the top semiconductor layer is formed. A portion of the exposed buried insulator layer is employed as a gate dielectric for a second field effect transistor. In one embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is a remaining portion of the top semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is formed concurrently with the gate electrode of the first field effect transistor by deposition and patterning of a gate electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Zhenrong Jin, Xuefeng Liu, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20100033395
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip integrating a transceiver, an antenna, and a receiver is provided. The transceiver is located on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. A through substrate via provides electrical connection between the transceiver and the receiver located on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna connected to the transceiver is located in a dielectric layer located on the front side of the substrate. The separation between the reflector plate and the antenna is about the quarter wavelength of millimeter waves, which enhances radiation efficiency of the antenna. An array of through substrate dielectric vias may be employed to reduce the effective dielectric constant of the material between the antenna and the reflector plate, thereby reducing the wavelength of the millimeter wave and enhance the radiation efficiency. A design structure for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design for such a semiconductor chip is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Zhenrong Jin, Xuefeng Liu
  • Publication number: 20100035370
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip integrating a transceiver, an antenna, and a receiver is provided. The transceiver is formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. At least one through substrate via provides electrical connection between the transceiver and the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna, which is connected to the transceiver, is formed in a dielectric layer on the front side. The reflector plate is connected to the through substrate via, and is formed on the backside. The separation between the reflector plate and the antenna is about the quarter wavelength of millimeter waves, which enhances radiation efficiency of the antenna. An array of through substrate trenches may be formed and filled with a dielectric material to reduce the effective dielectric constant of the material between the antenna and the reflector plate, thereby reducing the wavelength of the millimeter wave and enhance the radiation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Zhenrong Jin, Xuefeng Liu
  • Publication number: 20100032761
    Abstract: A first field effect transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode located over a first portion of a top semiconductor layer in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A second field effect transistor includes a portion of a buried insulator layer and a source region and a drain region located underneath the buried insulator layer. In one embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is a remaining portion of the top semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is formed concurrently with the gate electrode of the first field effect transistor by deposition and patterning of a gate electrode layer. The first field effect transistor may be a high performance device and the second field effect transistor may be a high voltage device. A design structure for the semiconductor structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Zhenrong Jin, Xuefeng Liu, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20090317970
    Abstract: A method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device on an integrated circuit is described. In one embodiment of the method, a capped first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein is provided. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the capped first dielectric layer. A first hard mask dielectric layer is deposited over the second dielectric layer. A cavity trench is formed through the first hard mask dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer to the first dielectric layer, wherein the cavity trench is formed in the first dielectric layer between two adjacent electrodes. At least one via is formed through the second dielectric layer about the cavity trench. A metal trench is formed around each of the at least one via. A release opening is formed over the cavity trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20090317975
    Abstract: A method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, a wafer with a multi-metal level wiring is provided and a hermetically sealed gap is formed therein to provide electro-static discharge protection for an integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20090316314
    Abstract: A design structure for an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, the electro-static discharge structure comprises a first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein. A second dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein is located above the first dielectric layer. At least one via connects the more than one electrode in the first dielectric layer with the more than one electrode in the second dielectric layer. A gap is formed through the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, wherein the gap extends between two adjacent electrodes in both the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is disposed over the second dielectric layer, wherein the third dielectric layer hermetically seals the gap to provide electro-static discharge protection on the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20090316313
    Abstract: A design structure for an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, the electro-static discharge device comprises a substrate and multiple metal level layers disposed on the substrate. Each metal level comprises more than one electrode formed therein and more than one via connecting with some of the electrodes in adjacent metal levels. The device further includes a gap formed about one of the metal level layers, wherein the gap is hermetically sealed to provide electro-static discharge protection for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20090261426
    Abstract: A disposable structure displaced from an edge of a gate electrode and a drain region aligned to the disposable structure is formed. Thus, the drain region is self-aligned to the edge of the gate electrode. The disposable structure may be a disposable spacer, or alternately, the disposable structure may be formed simultaneously with, and comprise the same material as, a gate electrode. After formation of the drain regions, the disposable structure is removed. The self-alignment of the drain region to the edge of the gate electrode provides a substantially constant drift distance that is independent of any overlay variation of lithographic processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Xuefeng Liu, Benjamin T. Voegeli, Steven H. Voldman, Michael J. Zierak
  • Publication number: 20090230475
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure provide a field effect device structure. The field effect device structure includes a gate electrode located over a channel region within a semiconductor substrate that separates a plurality of source and drain regions within the semiconductor substrate. The channel region includes a surface layer that comprises a carbon doped semiconductor material. The source and drain regions include a surface layer that comprises a semiconductor material that is not carbon doped. The particular selection of material for the channel region and source and drain regions provide for inhibited dopant diffusion and enhanced mechanical stress within the channel region, and thus enhanced performance of the field effect device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Xuefeng Liu, Robert Russell Robison
  • Patent number: 7582949
    Abstract: A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process. The design structure includes a first sub-collector formed in an upper portion of a substrate and a lower portion of a first epitaxial layer, and a second sub-collector formed in an upper portion of the first epitaxial layer and a lower portion of a second epitaxial layer. The design structure additionally includes a reach-through structure connecting the first and second sub-collectors, and an N-well formed in a portion of the second epitaxial layer and in contact with the second sub-collector and the reach-through structure. Also, the design structure includes N+ diffusion regions in contact with the N-well, a P+ diffusion region within the N-well, and shallow trench isolation structures between the N+ and P+ diffusion regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 7564319
    Abstract: An LC tack structure. The structure, including a set of wiring levels on top of a semiconductor substrate, the wiring levels stacked on top of each other from a lowest wiring level nearest the substrate to a highest wiring level furthest from the substrate; an inductor in the highest wiring level, the inductor confined within a perimeter of a region of the highest wiring level; and a varactor formed in the substrate, the varactor aligned completely under the perimeter of the region of the highest wiring level. The structure may additionally include an electric shield in a wiring level of the set of wiring levels between the lowest wiring level and the highest wiring level. Alternatively, the inductor includes a magnetic core and alternating electrically non-magnetic conductive metal coils and magnetic coils around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu