Patents by Inventor Zhong Xiang

Zhong Xiang 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: 20140239448
    Abstract: Disclosed are an interdigitated capacitor and an interdigitated vertical native capacitor, each having a relatively low (e.g., zero) net coefficient of capacitance with respect to a specific parameter. For example, the capacitors can have a zero net linear temperature coefficient of capacitance (Tcc) to limit capacitance variation as a function of temperature or a zero net quadratic voltage coefficient of capacitance (Vcc2) to limit capacitance variation as a function of voltage. In any case, each capacitor can incorporate at least two different plate dielectrics having opposite polarity coefficients of capacitance with respect to the specific parameter due to the types of dielectric materials used and their respective thicknesses. As a result, the different dielectric plates will have opposite effects on the capacitance of the capacitor that cancel each other out such that the capacitor has a zero net coefficient of capacitance with respect to specific parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick G. Anderson, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, Zhong-Xiang He, Theodore J. Letavic, Yves T. Ngu
  • Patent number: 8815733
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) including a set of isolated wire structures disposed within a layer of the IC, methods of manufacturing the same and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming adjacent wiring structures on a same level, with a space therebetween. The method further includes forming a capping layer over the adjacent wiring structures on the same level, including on a surface of a material between the adjacent wiring structures. The method further includes forming a photosensitive material over the capping layer. The method further includes forming an opening in the photosensitive material between the adjacent wiring structures to expose the capping layer. The method further includes removing the exposed capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee
  • Patent number: 8809155
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for a varactor. The device structure includes a first electrode formed on a dielectric layer, and a semiconductor body formed on the first electrode. The semiconductor body is comprised of a silicon-containing semiconductor material in an amorphous state or a polycrystalline state. The device structure further includes an electrode insulator formed on the semiconductor body and a second electrode formed on the electrode insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Michael J. Hauser, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8803284
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure, BEOL wiring structures, and design structures for a BEOL wiring structure. The BEOL wiring may be fabricated by forming a first wire in a dielectric layer and annealing the first wire in an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the first wire is annealed, a second wire is formed in vertical alignment with the first wire. A final passivation layer, which is comprised of an organic material such as polyimide, is formed that covers an entirety of a sidewall of the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, Xiao H. Liu
  • Patent number: 8791545
    Abstract: Interconnect structures that include a passive element, such as a thin film resistor or a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, methods for fabricating an interconnect structure that includes a passive element, and design structures embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, such as a radiofrequency integrated circuit. A top surface of a dielectric layer is recessed relative to a top surface of a conductive feature in the dielectric layer. The passive element is formed on the recessed top surface of the dielectric layer and includes a layer of a conductive material that is coplanar with, or below, the top surface of the conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dalton, Ebenezer E. Eshun, Sarah L. Grunow, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20140201103
    Abstract: A system for research and development information assisting in investment, and a method, a computer program, and a readable and recordable media for computer thereof are disclosed. The system comprises a processing unit, a database module, an investment analysis subsystem, and an output unit, and provides a method, a computer program or a readable and recordable media for computer. The investment analysis subsystem compares an academic document with a patent document to generate a technical relevancy, providing the user to determine whether a patent document of the target enterprise is forward-looking or whether too many popular patents are owned. Therefore, users can choose to enter the market earlier when the stock price of the enterprise is underestimated or exit earlier before the invested enterprise reduces the turnover and the enterprise value due to a vicious competition and a price reduction strategy of competitors, thereby ensuring investors' profits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Ching LIN, Gen-Ming GUO, Zhong-Xiang XIAO
  • Publication number: 20140193970
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) including a set of isolated wire structures disposed within a layer of the IC, methods of manufacturing the same and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming adjacent wiring structures on a same level, with a space therebetween. The method further includes forming a capping layer over the adjacent wiring structures on the same level, including on a surface of a material between the adjacent wiring structures. The method further includes forming a photosensitive material over the capping layer. The method further includes forming an opening in the photosensitive material between the adjacent wiring structures to expose the capping layer. The method further includes removing the exposed capping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee
  • Publication number: 20140183753
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication is described, wherein a MOS device and a MEMS device is fabricated simultaneously in the BEOL process. A silicon layer is deposited and etched to form a silicon film for a MOS device and a lower silicon sacrificial film for a MEMS device. A conductive layer is deposited atop the silicon layer and etched to form a metal gate and a first upper electrode. A dielectric layer is deposited atop the conductive layer and vias are formed in the dielectric layer. Another conductive layer is deposited atop the dielectric layer and etched to form a second upper electrode and three metal electrodes for the MOS device. Another silicon layer is deposited atop the other conductive layer and etched to form an upper silicon sacrificial film for the MEMS device. The upper and lower silicon sacrificial films are then removed via venting holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Michael J. Hauser, Zhong-Xiang He, Junjun Li, Xuefeng Liu, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8765595
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure, BEOL wiring structures, and design structures for a BEOL wiring structure. The BEOL wiring may be fabricated by forming a first wire in a dielectric layer and annealing the first wire in an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the first wire is annealed, a second wire is formed in vertical alignment with the first wire. A final passivation layer, which is comprised of an organic material such as polyimide, is formed that covers an entirety of a sidewall of the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, Xiao H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20140167219
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure, BEOL wiring structures, and design structures for a BEOL wiring structure. The BEOL wiring may be fabricated by forming a first wire in a dielectric layer and annealing the first wire in an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the first wire is annealed, a second wire is formed in vertical alignment with the first wire. A final passivation layer, which is comprised of an organic material such as polyimide, is formed that covers an entirety of a sidewall of the second wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, Xiao H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20140151851
    Abstract: A chip capacitor and interconnecting wiring is described incorporating a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor, tapered vias and vias coupled to one or both of the top and bottom electrodes of the capacitor in an integrated circuit. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium is described incorporating computer readable code defining a MIM capacitor, tapered vias, vias and wiring levels in an integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES STUART DUNN, ZHONG-XIANG HE, ANTHONY KENDALL STAMPER
  • Publication number: 20140131893
    Abstract: Methods for planarizing layers of a material, such as a dielectric, and interconnect structures formed by the planarization methods. The method includes depositing a first dielectric layer on a top surface of multiple conductive features and on a top surface of a substrate between the conductive features. A portion of the first dielectric layer is selectively removed from the top surface of at least one of the conductive features without removing a portion the first dielectric layer that is between the conductive features. A second dielectric layer is formed on the top surface of the at least one of the conductive features and on a top surface of the first dielectric layer, and a top surface of the second dielectric layer is planarized. A layer operating as an etch stop is located between the top surface of at least one of the conductive features and the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Publication number: 20140117420
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure incorporating a contact sidewall spacer with a self-aligned airgap and a method of forming the semiconductor structure. The structure comprises a semiconductor device (e.g., a two-terminal device, such as a PN junction diode or Schottky diode, or a three-terminal device, such as a field effect transistor (FET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), etc.) and a dielectric layer that covers the semiconductor device. A contact extends vertically through the dielectric layer to a terminal of the semiconductor device (e.g., in the case of a FET, to a source/drain region of the FET). A contact sidewall spacer is positioned on the contact sidewall and incorporates an airgap. Since air has a lower dielectric constant than other typically used dielectric spacer or interlayer dielectric materials, the contact size can be increased for reduced parasitic resistance while minimizing corresponding increases in parasitic capacitance or the probability of shorts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Xin Wang, Yanfeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8710661
    Abstract: Methods for planarizing layers of a material, such as a dielectric, and interconnect structures formed by the planarization methods. The method includes depositing a first dielectric layer on a top surface of multiple conductive features and on a top surface of a substrate between the conductive features. A portion of the first dielectric layer is selectively removed from the top surface of at least one of the conductive features without removing a portion the first dielectric layer that is between the conductive features. A second dielectric layer is formed on the top surface of the at least one of the conductive features and on a top surface of the first dielectric layer, and a top surface of the second dielectric layer is planarized. A layer operating as an etch stop is located between the top surface of at least one of the conductive features and the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 8709855
    Abstract: A conductive light shield is formed over a first dielectric layer of a via level in a metal interconnect structure. The conductive light shield is covers a floating drain of an image sensor pixel cell. A second dielectric layer is formed over the conductive light shield and at least one via extending from a top surface of the second dielectric layer to a bottom surface of the first dielectric layer is formed in the metal interconnect structure. The conductive light shield may be formed within a contact level between a top surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first metal line level, or may be formed in any metal interconnect via level between two metal line levels. The inventive image sensor pixel cell is less prone to noise due to the blockage of light over the floating drain by the conductive light shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Kevin N. Ogg, Richard J. Rassel, Robert M. Rassel
  • Publication number: 20140097434
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for a varactor. The device structure includes a first electrode formed on a dielectric layer, and a semiconductor body formed on the first electrode. The semiconductor body is comprised of a silicon-containing semiconductor material in an amorphous state or a polycrystalline state. The device structure further includes an electrode insulator formed on the semiconductor body and a second electrode formed on the electrode insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Michael J. Hauser, Zhong-Xiang He, Xuefeng Liu, Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8674423
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming at least a first trench and a second trench having different depths in a substrate, forming a capacitor in the first trench, and forming a via in the second trench. A semiconductor structure includes a capacitor arranged in a first trench formed in a substrate and a via arranged in a second trench formed in the substrate. The first and second trenches have different depths in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Collins, Kai D. Feng, Zhong-Xiang He, Peter J. Lindgren, Robert M. Rassel
  • Patent number: 8659173
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) including a set of isolated wire structures disposed within a layer of the IC, methods of manufacturing the same and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming adjacent wiring structures on a same level, with a space therebetween. The method further includes forming a capping layer over the adjacent wiring structures on the same level, including on a surface of a material between the adjacent wiring structures. The method further includes forming a photosensitive material over the capping layer. The method further includes forming an opening in the photosensitive material between the adjacent wiring structures to expose the capping layer. The method further includes removing the exposed capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee
  • Patent number: 8649153
    Abstract: A chip capacitor and interconnecting wiring is described incorporating a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor, tapered vias and vias coupled to one or both of the top and bottom electrodes of the capacitor in an integrated circuit. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium is described incorporating computer readable code defining a MIM capacitor, tapered vias, vias and wiring levels in an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Stuart Dunn, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Publication number: 20140035169
    Abstract: A structure and method for fabricating the structure that provides a metal wire having a first height at an upper surface. An insulating material surrounding said metal wire is etched to a second height below said first height of said upper surface. The metal wire from said upper surface, after etching said insulating material, is planarized to remove sufficient material from a lateral edge portion of said metal wire such that a height of said lateral edge portion is equivalent to said second height of said insulating material surrounding said metal wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Chrisman, Edward C. Cooney, III, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Thomas L. McDevitt, Eva A. Shah