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: 10431646
    Abstract: Techniques for generating enhanced inductors and other electronic devices are presented. A device generator component (DGC) performs directed-self assembly (DSA) co-polymer deposition on a circular guide pattern formed in low-k dielectric film, and DSA annealing to form two polymers in the form of alternating concentric rings; performs a loop cut in the concentric rings to form concentric segments; fills the cut portion with insulator material; selectively removes first polymer, fills the space with low-k dielectric, and planarizes the surface; selectively removes the second polymer, fills the space with conductive material, and planarizes the surface; deposits low-k film on top of the concentric segments and insulator material that filled the loop cut portion; forms vias in the low-k film, wherein each via spans from an end of one segment to an end of another segment; and fills vias with conductive material to form conductive connectors to form substantially spiral conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peng Xu, Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Chi-Chun Liu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20190296142
    Abstract: High breakdown voltage devices are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a device having a VTFET and a LDVTFET includes: forming a LDD in an LDVTFET region; patterning fin(s) in a VTFET region to a depth D1; patterning fin(s) in the LDVTFET region, through the LDD, to a depth D2>D1; forming bottom source/drains at a base of the VTFET/LDVTFET fins; burying the VTFET/LDVTFET fins in a gap fill dielectric; recessing the gap fill dielectric to full expose the VTFET fin(s) and partially expose the LDVTFET fin(s); forming bottom spacers directly on the bottom source/drains in the VTFET region and directly on the gap fill dielectric in the LDVTFET region; forming gates alongside the VTFET/LDVTFET fins; forming top spacers above the gates; and forming top source/drains above the top spacers. A one-step fin etch and devices having VTFET and long channel VTFETs are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Mona Ebrish, Xuefeng Liu, Brent Anderson, Huiming Bu, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20190285407
    Abstract: A system for measuring an overlay error of a sample is disclosed. The system may include a broadband illumination source configured to emit broadband illumination. The system may also include one or more optical elements configured to direct the broadband illumination to a target disposed on the sample, wherein the one or more optical elements are configured to collect illumination from the target and direct it to a spectrometer, wherein the spectrometer is configured to disperse multiple wavelengths of the illumination collected from the sample to multiple elements of a sensor to generate a plurality of signals. The system may also include a controller configured to calculate an overlay error between a first structure and a second structure of the target by comparing the plurality of signals with a plurality of calculated signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, John Fielden, Xuefeng Liu, Peilin Jiang
  • Publication number: 20190273127
    Abstract: Techniques for generating enhanced inductors and other electronic devices are presented. A device generator component (DGC) performs directed-self assembly (DSA) co-polymer deposition on a circular guide pattern formed in low-k dielectric film, and DSA annealing to form two polymers in the form of alternating concentric rings; performs a loop cut in the concentric rings to form concentric segments; fills the cut portion with insulator material; selectively removes first polymer, fills the space with low-k dielectric, and planarizes the surface; selectively removes the second polymer, fills the space with conductive material, and planarizes the surface; deposits low-k film on top of the concentric segments and insulator material that filled the loop cut portion; forms vias in the low-k film, wherein each via spans from an end of one segment to an end of another segment; and fills vias with conductive material to form conductive connectors to form substantially spiral conductive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Peng Xu, Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Chi-Chun Liu, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 10396179
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport field effect transistors with uniform bottom spacer thickness, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a protective liner layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a sacrificial liner on the protective liner layer, forming a spacer liner on a portion of the sacrificial liner, wherein at least a top surface of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins is exposed, converting the exposed portion of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins to a conversion cap, and removing the conversion cap from each of the vertical fins to expose an upper portion of each vertical fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Peng Xu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20190259666
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for fabricating semiconductor devices in which metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor devices are integrally formed with vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes first and second vertical FET devices, and a capacitor device, formed in different device regions of a substrate. A gate electrode of the first FET device and a first capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same first layer of conductive material. A gate electrode of the second FET device and a second capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same second layer of conductive material. A gate dielectric layer of the second FET device and a capacitor insulator layer of the capacitor device are formed from a same layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10388572
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for fabricating semiconductor devices in which metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor devices are integrally formed with vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes first and second vertical FET devices, and a capacitor device, formed in different device regions of a substrate. A gate electrode of the first FET device and a first capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same first layer of conductive material. A gate electrode of the second FET device and a second capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same second layer of conductive material. A gate dielectric layer of the second FET device and a capacitor insulator layer of the capacitor device are formed from a same layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Publication number: 20190252264
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for fabricating semiconductor devices in which metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor devices are integrally formed with vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes first and second vertical FET devices, and a capacitor device, formed in different device regions of a substrate. A gate electrode of the first FET device and a first capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same first layer of conductive material. A gate electrode of the second FET device and a second capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same second layer of conductive material. A gate dielectric layer of the second FET device and a capacitor insulator layer of the capacitor device are formed from a same layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Publication number: 20190233798
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods of culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells, with the methods comprising culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells in the presence of feeder cells and a calcium-containing medium while inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase (ROCK) in the feeder cell, the non-keratinocyte epithelial cells or both during culturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Schlegel, Xuefeng Liu
  • Patent number: 10361285
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport field effect transistors with uniform bottom spacer thickness, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a protective liner layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a sacrificial liner on the protective liner layer, forming a spacer liner on a portion of the sacrificial liner, wherein at least a top surface of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins is exposed, converting the exposed portion of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins to a conversion cap, and removing the conversion cap from each of the vertical fins to expose an upper portion of each vertical fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Peng Xu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20190198667
    Abstract: A vertical field-effect transistor (FET) device and an input/output (IO) FET device are formed. The vertical FET device is formed in a vertical FET device area of a substrate and the IO FET device is formed in an IO FET device area of the substrate. Forming the vertical FET device and the IO FET device includes forming a plurality of first fin structures in the vertical FET device area and forming at least two second fin structures in the IO FET device area. The at least two second fin structures are separated by a distance associated with a length of a channel connecting the at least two fin structures in the IO FET device area. The length of the channel is determined based on at least one voltage for implementing the IO FET device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang, Brent A. Anderson, Terence B. Hook, Gauri Karve
  • Patent number: 10325004
    Abstract: Optimization of optical parametric models for structural analysis using optical critical dimension metrology is described. A method includes determining a first optical model fit for a parameter of a structure. The first optical model fit is based on a domain of quantities for a first model of the structure. A first near optical field response is determined for a first quantity of the domain of quantities and a second near optical field response is determined for a second, different quantity of the domain of quantities. The first and second near optical field responses are compared to locate a common region of high optical field intensity for the parameter of the structure. The first model of the structure is modified to provide a second, different model of the structure. A second, different optical model fit is determined for the parameter of the structure based on the second model of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thaddeus G. Dziura, Yung-Ho Chuang, Bin-Ming Benjamin Tsai, Xuefeng Liu, John J. Hench
  • Patent number: 10319852
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. The method includes forming a FinFET (fin field effect transistor) device having a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a via cap adjacent the FinFET device by forming a contact trench extending into a bottom spacer, depositing a conductive liner within the contact trench, filling the contact trench with an organic dielectric layer (ODL), etching portions of the conductive liner and a portion of the ODL, and removing the ODL. The method further includes depositing a high-k material within the contact trench and depositing a conducting material over the high-k material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20190152829
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thermoforming method and a thermoforming device for a glass product. The method comprises the following steps of: providing a thermoforming mold, wherein the thermoforming mold comprises a lower mold and an upper mold arranged above the lower mold and matched therewith, and providing a mold opening component; a pressurizing process, wherein a glass sheet placed in the thermoforming mold and at a softening point temperature and above is hot-pressed to form a glass product; a cooling process, wherein the glass product placed in the thermoforming mold is cooled, and when the temperature of the glass product drops to a glass point transformation temperature and below, the upper mold is opened by the mold opening component so that the upper mold is separated from the lower mold; and taking the glass product out when the temperature of the glass product in the thermoforming mold drops to a room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Wei Su, Bo Xu, Xuefeng Liu, Shaolin He
  • Publication number: 20190152830
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermoforming method, a thermoforming mold, and a thermoforming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Wei Su, Bo Xu, Xuefeng Liu, Zaizhang Ye
  • Publication number: 20190131292
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method and resulting structures for vertical fin CMOS technology for electrostatic discharge protection. In a non-limiting embodiment, forming a first set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from a substrate, and forming a second set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from the substrate, the distance between the first set of fins and the second set of fins defines a length of a junction. Embodiments also include forming a first epitaxy layer on the substrate, and forming a second epitaxy layer atop a portion of the first epitaxy layer, wherein a PN junction is formed between the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer, wherein a length of the PN junction is defined by the first set of semiconductor fins and the second semiconductor fins. Embodiments include forming a first metal contact atop the first epitaxy layer, and forming a second metal contact atop the second epitaxy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Terence B. Hook, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang, Miaomiao Wang
  • Patent number: 10276558
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method and resulting structures for vertical fin CMOS technology for electrostatic discharge protection. In a non-limiting embodiment, forming a first set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from a substrate, and forming a second set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from the substrate, the distance between the first set of fins and the second set of fins defines a length of a junction. Embodiments also include forming a first epitaxy layer on the substrate, and forming a second epitaxy layer atop a portion of the first epitaxy layer, wherein a PN junction is formed between the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer, wherein a length of the PN junction is defined by the first set of semiconductor fins and the second semiconductor fins. Embodiments include forming a first metal contact atop the first epitaxy layer, and forming a second metal contact atop the second epitaxy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Terence B. Hook, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang, Miaomiao Wang
  • Publication number: 20190049851
    Abstract: An electron source is formed on a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. At least one field emitter is prepared on the second surface of the silicon substrate to enhance the emission of electrons. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitter using a process that minimizes oxidation and defects. The field emitter can take various shapes such as pyramids and rounded whiskers. One or several optional gate layers may be placed at or slightly lower than the height of the field emitter tip in order to achieve fast and accurate control of the emission current and high emission currents. The field emitter can be p-type doped and configured to operate in a reverse bias mode or the field emitter can be n-type doped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 10197501
    Abstract: A focusing EBCCD includes a control device positioned between a photocathode and a CCD. The control device has a plurality of holes therein, wherein the plurality of holes are formed perpendicular to a surface of the photocathode, and wherein a pattern of the plurality of holes is aligned with a pattern of pixels in the CCD. Each hole is surrounded by at least one first electrode, which is formed on a surface of the control device facing the photocathode. The control device may include a plurality of ridges between the holes. The control device may be separated from the photocathode by approximately half a shorter dimension of a CCD pixel or less. A plurality of first electrodes may be provided, wherein each first electrode surrounds a given hole and is separated from the given hole by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden, David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 10133181
    Abstract: An electron source is formed on a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. At least one field emitter is prepared on the second surface of the silicon substrate to enhance the emission of electrons. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitter using a process that minimizes oxidation and defects. The field emitter can take various shapes such as pyramids and rounded whiskers. One or several optional gate layers may be placed at or slightly lower than the height of the field emitter tip in order to achieve fast and accurate control of the emission current and high emission currents. The field emitter can be p-type doped and configured to operate in a reverse bias mode or the field emitter can be n-type doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden