Patents Issued in April 20, 2004
  • Patent number: 6723574
    Abstract: A system and method of for determining multiple uniformity metrics of a semiconductor wafer manufacturing process includes collecting a quantity across each one of a group of semiconductor wafers. The collected quantity data is scaled and a principal component analysis (PCA) is performed on the collected, scaled quantity data to produce a first set of metrics for the first group of semiconductor wafers. The first set of metrics including a first loads matrix and a first scores matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bailey, III, Puneet Yadav, Pratik Misra
  • Patent number: 6723575
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fluid-ejecting chip for an inkjet printer includes the step of forming CMOS layers on a wafer substrate. Nozzle chambers with ink ejection ports are formed on the wafer substrate. A sacrificial material is deposited on the wafer substrate. A shape memory material is deposited on the sacrificial material at a temperature above a transition temperature of the shape memory material with the shape memory material in a post-actuation shape. Heating circuits are formed on the sacrificial material to be in electrical contact with the CMOS layers and to heat the shape memory material upon receipt of an electrical signal from the CMOS layers to a temperature above the transition temperature. A stressed material is deposited on the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed so that the shape memory material and the stressed material define a plurality of actuators that are operatively arranged with respect to the nozzle chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6723576
    Abstract: An active-matrix type organic EL display which uses transistors with less variation of characteristics (transistors in which active layer is a single crystal semiconductor) is made on a large area of a transparent base board at low cost. Plural unit of fine construction are formed on a silicon wafer in rows. This unit includes a driving element (switching transistor 34, driving transistor 37, capacity 36) of organic EL element (pixel) 35. Unit block 39 is produced by dividing this silicon wafer. This unit block 39 is disposed at a predetermined position of glass base board 52 (display base board). The driving element of each pixel 35 is connected by signal line 31, power supply line 32, scanning line 33, and capacity line 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nozawa, Mutsumi Kimura, Satoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6723577
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with a number of optical fibers that are formed in high aspect ratio holes. The high aspect ratio holes extend through a semiconductor wafer. The optical fibers include a cladding layer and a core formed in the high aspect ratio hole. These optical fibers are used to transmit signals between functional circuits on the semiconductor wafer and functional circuits on the back of the wafer or beneath the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Geusic, Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 6723578
    Abstract: Method for deoxidizing and passivating, by sulphidation, a surface of a III-V compound semiconductor material undergo strong oxidation in the presence of oxygen, wherein the surface to be passivated is immersed in a dilute aqueous solution containing sulphide ions with a concentration of between about 10−1M and 10−7M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sagem SA
    Inventors: Dominique Lorans, Bruno Canava, Arnaud Etcheberry, Michel Herlem, Jacky Vigneron
  • Patent number: 6723579
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer having a matrix array of micro-mirrors comprises a component substrate carried on a base substrate. The component substrate comprises a membrane layer in which the micro-mirrors are formed and a supporting handle layer. The base substrate comprises a base layer from which a plurality of pedestals extend upwardly therefrom into cavities in the handle layer corresponding to the micro-mirrors. Each pedestal carries electrodes for co-operating with the micro-mirrors for tilting thereof. Conductors through vias in the pedestals connect the electrodes to electrically conductive tracks on a bottom surface, and in turn through conductors through vias to addressing terminals for addressing the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Stephen Gormley, Stephen Alan Brown, Scott Carlton Blackstone
  • Patent number: 6723580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pinned photodiode used in a CMOS image sensor. The pinned photodiode according to the present invention has an uneven surface for increasing an area of a PN junction of the photodiode. So, the increased PN junction area improves a light sensitivity of the photodiode. That is, the epitaxial layer, in which the photodiode is formed, has a trench or a protrusion. Also, in the pinned photodiode, since the P0 diffusion layer is directly in contact with the P-epi layer, the two P-type layers have the same potential and then it may operate in a low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 6723581
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising, providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a substantially-hydroxylated SiOxHy layer on the semiconductor substrate in a presence of oxygen and hydrogen, and forming a metallic oxide, high-K dielectric layer on the substantially-hydroxylated SiOxHy layer. The substantially-hydroxylated SiOxHy layer has a surface concentration of hydroxyl (OH) species equal to or greater than about 3×1014 hydroxyl per cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Jean Chabal, Martin Laurence Green, Glen David Wilk
  • Patent number: 6723582
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming such devices are disclosed. The devices include a package allowing for increased thermal dissipation. In one embodiment, the device includes a power MOSFET die that is electrically connected to a portion of the substrate with a metal strap. The die and at least portions of the strap and substrate are encapsulated in an insulative encapsulant, such as molded plastic. A top surface of the strap is exposed to the environment through the encapsulant. The exposed surface may have grooves formed therein, or fins formed thereon, to facilitate heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Glenn, Blake A. Gillett
  • Patent number: 6723583
    Abstract: The back side of a strip substrate with plural semiconductor chips mounted thereon is vacuum-chucked to a lower mold half of a mold, and in this state the plural semiconductor chips are sealed with resin simultaneously to form a seal member. Thereafter, the strip substrate and the seal member are released from the mold and are cut into plural semiconductor devices. The semiconductor devices thus obtained are improved in their mounting reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co. Ltd., Hitachi Yonezawa Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Takahashi, Masayuki Suzuki, Kouji Tsuchiya, Takao Matsuura, Takanori Hashizume, Masahiro Ichitani, Kazunari Suzuki, Takafumi Nishita, Kenichi Imura, Takashi Miwa
  • Patent number: 6723584
    Abstract: A method of making a microelectronic assembly including a compliant interface includes providing a first support structure such as a flexible dielectric sheet having a first surface and a porous resilient layer on the first surface of the first support structure, stretching the first support structure and bonding the stretched first support structure to a ring structure. A platen is provided in engagement with a second surface of the first support structure. The first surface of a second support structure, such as a semiconductor wafer, is abutted against the porous layer and, after the abutting step, a first curable liquid is disposed between the first and second support structures and within the porous layer. The first curable liquid may be at least partially cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Zlata Kovac, Craig Mitchell, Thomas Distefano, John Smith
  • Patent number: 6723585
    Abstract: A variety of leadless packaging arrangements and methods of packaging integrated circuits in leadless packages are disclosed. The described lead frames are generally arranged such that each device area has a plurality of contacts but no die attach pad. With this arrangement, the back surface of the die is exposed and coplanar with the exposed bottom surface of the contacts. A casing material (typically plastic) holds the contacts and die in place. In one aspect of the invention, the back surface of the die is metallized. The metallization forms a good attachment surface for the package and serves as a good thermal path to transfer heat away from the die. In another aspect, at least some of the contacts have a top surface, a shelf, and a bottom surface. The die is wire bonded (or otherwise electrically connected) to the shelf portions of the contacts. The described package is quite versatile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Nghia Tu, Shaw Wei Lee, Sadanand R. Patil
  • Patent number: 6723586
    Abstract: A thyristor includes a semiconductor body having an anode-side base zone of a first conductance type, and having a cathode-side base zone of the second, opposite conductance type, and has cathode-side and anode-side emitter zones. An anode-side defect zone is included within the anode-side base zone, in which the free charge carriers have a reduced life, with a predetermined thickness of at least 20 &mgr;m. The defect zone may be produced by anode-side irradiation of predetermined regions of the semiconductor body with charged particles, and with heat treatment of the semiconductor body in order to stabilize the defect zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Josef Niedernostheide, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 6723587
    Abstract: An ultra small-sized SOI MOSFET having a high integration density, low power consumption, but high performances, and a method of fabricating the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Won-Ju Cho, Jong-Heon Yang, Moon-Gyu Jang, Seong-Jae Lee, Kyoung-Wan Park, Ki-Ju Im, Ji-Hun Oh
  • Patent number: 6723588
    Abstract: A method of fabricating the SRAM cell is disclosed. The method includes forming a gate on a substrate, forming an oxidation barrier film on side portions of the gate, oxidizing the resultant structure by using an oxidation process to form an oxide film on a top surface of the gate, implanting high density impurity ions to the substrate to form a lightly doped region and a highly doped region in the substrate at side portions of the gate, forming an insulating layer over the substrate to define a contact hole that exposes portions of the gate and the highly doped region, and forming an interconnect in the contact hole to connect the gate and the highly doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6723589
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor in a semiconductor device. The present invention forms a single crystal silicon thin film on an interlayer insulating film on a single crystal driver transistor using a solid phase crystallization of amorphous silicon, forms a single crystal silicon thin film transistor (C—Si TFT) in the single crystal silicon thin film in order to uses it as a load transistor and uses a contact plug connecting a drain in the driver transistor and a drain in the load transistor as a SPC (solid phase crystallization) plug, in a process of depositing a silicon thin film on a single crystal transistor by a three-dimensional stack process to deposit to form a load transistor in a manufacture process of SRAM. Therefore, the present invention can improve the uniformity and reliability of the load transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Ga Won Lee
  • Patent number: 6723590
    Abstract: A linear laser light which has an energy and is to be scanned is irradiated to a semiconductor device formed on a substrate, and then the substrate is rotated to irradiate to the semiconductor device a linear laser light which has a higher energy than that of the irradiated linear laser light and is to be scanned. Also, in a semiconductor device having an analog circuit region and a remaining circuit region wherein the analog circuit region is smaller than the remaining circuit region, a linear laser light having an irradiation area is irradiated to the analog circuit region without moving the irradiation area so as not to overlap the laser lights by scanning. On the other hand, the linear laser light to be scanned is irradiated to the remaining circuit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Naoaki Yamaguchi, Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 6723591
    Abstract: There is provided a method for fabricating an organic light emitting device. The method includes depositing a first electrode layer on a substrate, depositing an electrically insulating layer on the first electrode layer, depositing a second electrode layer on the insulating layer, depositing an organic layer on the second electrode layer, forming an aperture in the organic layer, depositing a light transmissive electrically conductive layer on the organic layer, and forming an electrical connection between the conductive layer and one of the first and second electrode layers via the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Armin Beck, Tilman A. Beierlein, Peter Mueller, Heike Riel, Walter Heinrich Riess
  • Patent number: 6723592
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an X-ray detector array element. The method decreases consumption of masks during photolithography. A first mask defines a gate line on a substrate. A second mask defines a semiconducting island on a gate insulation layer. A third mask defines a common line and a data line on the gate insulation layer, and source and drain electrodes are simultaneously formed on the semiconducting island, thereby obtaining a TFT structure. A fourth mask defines a first conductive layer on a planarization layer. A fifth mask defines first and second via holes penetrating the planarization layer. A sixth mask defines a third conductive layer, a fourth conductive layer, and a first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Sheng Shih
  • Patent number: 6723593
    Abstract: A deep submicron MOS transistor is formed with multiple control gates by forming side wall control gates adjacent to the gate oxide spacers over heavily-doped regions of the source and drain regions. The side wall control gates can be used to substantially increase the threshold voltage of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gobi R. Padmanabhan, Visvamohan Yegnashankaran, Reda Razouk
  • Patent number: 6723594
    Abstract: A pixel sensor cell for use in a CMOS imager exhibiting improved storage capacitance. The source follower transistor is formed with a large gate that has an area from about 0.3 &mgr;m2 to about 10 &mgr;m2. The large size of the source follower gate enables the photocharge collector area to be kept small, thereby permitting use of the pixel cell in dense arrays, and maintaining low leakage levels. Methods for forming the source follower transistor and pixel cell are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6723595
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of fabricating a thin film in a chamber where a heater and a suscepter are located. The method includes the steps of disposing an object on the susceptor so as to form the thin film thereon; heating the object; a first sub-step of introducing a first gaseous reactant into the first chamber such that the first gaseous reactant is absorbed on the object to form an absorption layer; a second sub-step of introducing a second gaseous reactant into the first chamber such that the second gaseous reactant reacts with the absorption layer absorbed on the object; and a third sub-step of introducing a reducing gas into the first camber such that the reducing gas reduces by-products and impurities of the first and second gaseous reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Jusung Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Boo Park
  • Patent number: 6723596
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a first conductive layer, the first conductive layer is treated with a nitrogen/hydrogen plasma before an additional layer is deposited thereover. The treatment stuffs the surface with nitrogen, thereby preventing oxygen from being adsorbed onto the surface of the first conductive layer. In one embodiment, a second conductive layer is deposited onto the first conductive layer, and the plasma treatment lessens if not eliminates an oxide formed between the two layers as a result of subsequent thermal treatments. In another embodiment, a dielectric layer is deposited onto the first conductive layer, and the plasma treatment lessens if not eliminates the ability of the first conductive layer to incorporate oxygen from the dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vishnu K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 6723597
    Abstract: The method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above a substrate and a plurality of transistors, forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer, the dielectric layer comprised of a material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0, forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric layer and the BPSG layer, each of the openings allowing contact to a doped region of one of the transistors, and forming a conductive local interconnect in each of the openings. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming, a layer comprised of BPSG above the substrate and between the transistors, forming a local interconnect in openings formed in the BPSG layer, reducing a thickness of the BPSG layer after the local interconnects are formed, and forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer and between the local interconnects, wherein the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Abbott, Mike Violette, Zhongze Wang, Jigish D. Trevidi
  • Patent number: 6723598
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum oxide film for use in a semiconductor device, the method including the steps of preparing a semiconductor substrate and setting the semiconductor substrate in a reaction chamber, supplying an aluminum source material and NH3 gas into the reaction chamber simultaneously for being absorbed on the semiconductor substrate, discharging unreacted MTMA or by-product by flowing nitrogen gas into the reaction chamber or vacuum purging, supplying an oxygen source material into the reaction chamber for being absorbed on the semiconductor substrate, and discharging unreacted oxygen source or by-product by flowing nitrogen gas into the reaction chamber or vacuum purging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan Lim, Kyong-Min Kim, Yong-Sik Yu
  • Patent number: 6723599
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor includes forming first capacitor electrode material over a semiconductor substrate. A silicon nitride comprising layer is formed over the first capacitor electrode material. The semiconductor substrate with silicon nitride comprising layer is provided within a chamber. An oxygen comprising plasma is generated remote from the chamber. The remote plasma generated oxygen is fed to the semiconductor substrate within the chamber at a substrate temperature of no greater than 750° C. effective to form a silicon oxide comprising layer over the silicon nitride comprising layer. After the feeding, a second capacitor electrode material is formed over the silicon oxide comprising layer. Methods of forming capacitor dielectric layers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise M. Eppich, Kevin L. Beaman
  • Patent number: 6723600
    Abstract: A method for making a metal-insulator-metal capacitive structure includes depositing a copper barrier and seed layer over a support structure such as an inter-level dielectric layer, forming a dielectric over the copper barrier and seed layer, and then forming a forming a metal layer over the dielectric. The copper barrier and seed layer forms a bottom plate of a capacitor, and the metal layer forms the upper plate which is separated from the bottom plate by the dielectric. By forming the bottom plate from a copper barrier and seed layer, reduced sheet resistance and surface roughness is achieved, both of which enhance the performance of the capacitor. This performance is further enhanced by forming the capacitor to have a damascene structure. Preferably, at least one conductive interconnect is formed simultaneously with the formation of the capacitor. This is made possible, at least in part, by forming the interconnect using a plate-through mask technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kwong H. Wong, Xian J. Ning
  • Patent number: 6723601
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for use in a memory cell including an active matrix provided with a silicon substrate, at least one transistor formed on the silicon substrate, a number of bottom electrodes formed over the transistors, a plurality of conductive plugs to electrically connect the bottom electrodes to the transistors, respectively, and an insulating layer formed around the conductive plugs. In the device, by carrying out a carbon treatment to top surface portions of the bottom electrode structure, it is possible to secure enough space to prevent the formation of bridges between the bottom electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Min Lee, Dong-Hwan Kim, Keun-Il Lee
  • Patent number: 6723602
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6723603
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method utilizing the fabrication process of poly-Si spacers to build a flash memory with 2bit/cell. In the present invention, recessed poly-Si spacers are used to fabricate discontinuous floating gates below a control gate to build a flash memory with 2bit/cell. The present invention is characterized in that the fabrication process of poly-Si spacers is exploited to complete the fabrication process of floating gates in automatic alignment way without any extra mask process. Moreover, each memory cell in this flash memory can store two bits, hence increasing the memory capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Liu, Erh-Kun Lai, Shyi Shuh Pan, Shou Wei Huang, Ying Tzoo Chen
  • Patent number: 6723604
    Abstract: Rows of memory cells are electrically isolated from one another by trenches formed in the substrate between the rows that are filled with a dielectric, commonly called “shallow trench isolation” or “STI.” Discontinuous source and drain regions of the cells are connected together by column oriented bit lines, preferably made of doped polysilicon, that extend in the column direction on top of the substrate. This structure is implemented in a flash memory array of cells having either one floating gate per cell or at least two floating gates per cell. A process of making a dual-floating gate memory cell array includes etching the word lines twice along their lengths, once to form openings through which source and drain implants are made and in which the conductive bit lines are formed, and second to form individual floating gates with a select transistor gate positioned between them that also serves to erase charge from the adjacent floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Jack H. Yuan, Jacob Haskell
  • Patent number: 6723605
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a MirrorBit® Flash memory with high conductivity bitlines and shallow trench isolation integration. A hard mask is formed over a substrate and used to form a core trench and a shallow trench isolation (STI) trench. The trenches are filled with an insulating material in an STI fill process. A core mask is formed over the STI trenches and exposing the core trenches. The insulating material is removed from the core trenches and the core and hard mask are removed. A doped bitline material is deposited on the surface of the semiconductor, which fills the core trench. The surface of the semiconductor is planarized, inlaying insulating material and doped bitline material in the trenches. A thermal anneal causes the dopant diffusion from the doped bitline material into the substrate to form the high conductivity bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Erhardt, Kashmir S. Sahota
  • Patent number: 6723606
    Abstract: A process for forming an aerosol of semiconductor nanoparticles includes pyrolyzing a semiconductor material-containing gas then quenching the gas being pyrolyzed to control particle size and prevent uncontrolled coagulation. The aerosol is heated to densify the particles and form crystalline nanoparticles. In an exemplary embodiment, the crystalline particles are advantageously classified by size using a differential mobility analyzer and particles having diameters outside of a pre-selected range of sizes, are removed from the aerosol. In an exemplary embodiment, the crystalline, classified and densified nanoparticles are oxidized to form a continuous oxide shell over the semiconductor core of the particles. The cores include a density which approaches the bulk density of the pure material of which the cores are composed and the majority of the particle cores are single crystalline. The oxidized particles are deposited on a substrate using thermophoretic, electrophoretic, or other deposition means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard C. Flagan, Harry A. Atwater, Michele L. Ostraat
  • Patent number: 6723607
    Abstract: In the method of forming fine patterns of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a mask layer is formed over a semiconductor structure having a first region and a second region. A portion of the mask layer over the first region is removed to expose the semiconductor structure, and sacrificial layer patterns are formed over the exposed semiconductor structure. Then, spacers are formed on sidewalls of the sacrificial layer patterns and the mask layer, and portions of the spacers are removed to create fine mask patterns. The semiconductor structure is then patterned using the fine mask patterns to create fine patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Seok Nam, Ji-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6723608
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a DRAM includes the steps of forming a gate oxide film, a polysilicon film and a tungsten silicide film consecutively on a silicon substrate, selective etching the tungsten silicide film, covering exposed side surfaces of the tungsten silicide film by a polysilicon side-wall film, selectively etching the polysilicon film, oxidizing the polysilicon side-wall film and exposed surfaces of the polysilicon film, and forming a gate electrode including the polysilicon film and the tungsten silicide film. The resultant DRAM has lower leakage current and excellent refresh characteristics due to less contamination of diffused regions by the tungsten particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6723609
    Abstract: A gate oxide layer and a gate are sequentially formed on a substrate, and a source/drain extension is formed in the substrate thereafter. A liner layer is then formed to cover the substrate, and a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer are sequentially formed on the liner layer. By performing an etching process, a L-shaped spacer is formed on either side of the gate. Portions of the liner layer uncovered by the L-shaped spacer are then removed, and a step source/drain extension and a source/drain are simultaneously formed in the substrate thereafter. Finally, a salicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the gate and on portions of the silicon substrate surface above the source/drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Sheng Yang, Chia-Hung Kao, Chin-Cheng Chien
  • Patent number: 6723610
    Abstract: The vertical bipolar transistor includes an SiGe heterojunction base formed by a stack of layers of silicon and silicon-germanium resting on an initial layer of silicon nitride extending over a side insulation region surrounding the upper part of the intrinsic collector. The stack of layers also extends on the surface of the intrinsic collector which lies inside a window formed in the initial layer of silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Michel Marty, Alain Chantre, Jorge Regolini
  • Patent number: 6723611
    Abstract: In the course of forming a trench capacitor or similar structure, the sidewalls of an aperture in a substrate are lined with a film stack containing a diffusion barrier; an upper portion of the outer layer is stripped, so that the upper and lower portions have different materials exposed; the lower portion of the film stack is stripped while the upper portion is protected by a hardmask layer; a diffusion step is performed in the lower portion while the upper portion is protected; and a selected material such as hemispherical grained silicon is deposited selectively on the lower portion while the exposed surface of the upper portion is a material on which the selected material forms poorly, so that the diffusing material penetrates and the selected material is formed only on the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Akatsu, Oleg Gluschenkov, Porshia S. Parkinson, Ravikumar Ramachandran, Helmut Horst Tews, Kenneth T. Settlemyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6723612
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a polycrystalline silicon film is formed along an inner wall of a trench in which a capacitor is to be formed, and the polycrystalline silicon film and a lower electrode are contacted to each other on the entire inner wall of the trench. Oxygen permeated into the lower electrode during a thermal treatment of a tantalum oxide film is consumed at an interface between the polycrystalline silicon film and the lower electrode. Thus, oxygen does not reach the surface of a silicon plug below the lower electrode that would cause oxidation on the surface of the silicon plug and form a high-resistance oxide layer when a dielectric film formed on a lower electrode of a capacitor of a DRAM is subjected to a thermal treatment in an oxygen atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corproation, NEC Corporation, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shinpei Iijima, Hiroshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6723613
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the surface area of hemispherical-grain polysilicon and for forming a storage-node capacitor plate that can be used in the manufacture of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs). A layer of polycrystalline silicon is deposited on a substrate. This layer is either in-situ doped or doped after it is deposited via implantation or diffusion. Next, an amorphous silicon layer is deposited on top of the polycrystalline silicon layer. Hemispherical-grain (HSG) polysilicon seeds are then grown on the upper surface of the amorphous silicon layer using one of several known techniques. An anneal sequence is then performed in the presence of silane. An initial temperature of about 550° C. is maintained for about 3.5 minutes. At the end of that period, the temperature is ramped at a rate of 2° C. per minutes over a period of about 8 minutes. Upon reaching a temperature of about 568° C., that final temperature is maintained for an additional period of about 6 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Te Huang
  • Patent number: 6723614
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that permits effective use of a region positioned under a positional detection mark or an external electrode, i.e., the region that has not been conventionally utilized may be provided. In a semiconductor device including a lower layer, a shielding film and an upper layer, the lower layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a positional detection mark, a quality testing element, and a circuit element. The shielding film is formed on the lower layer and shields an energy beam used for detecting a positional detection mark. The upper layer includes a positional detection mark formed on the shielding film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Masao Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6723615
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device capable of preventing generation of a leakage current is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a silicon substrate having a main surface and including a trench formed on the main surface. The trench is defined by surfaces including a bottom surface, a side surface, continuous to the bottom surface, having first inclination with respect to the main surface, and an intermediate surface, formed between the main surface and the bottom surface, having second inclination smaller than the first inclination with respect to the main surface. The semiconductor device further comprises an n-type impurity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Shu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6723616
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device using shallow trench isolation, includes forming a trench within a semiconductor substrate and forming a screen dielectric stack outwardly from the semiconductor substrate. The screen dielectric stack includes a first sacrificial dielectric layer disposed outwardly from the semiconductor substrate and a second sacrificial dielectric layer disposed outwardly from and in contact with the first sacrificial dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the first sacrificial dielectric layer is formed before forming the trench and the second sacrificial dielectric layer is formed after forming the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Seetharaman Sridhar, Youngmin Kim, Zhiqiang Wu, Mark S. Rodder
  • Patent number: 6723617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. When a trench of a STI structure is formed, a portion of a pad nitride film on an active region is removed . Thus, formation of a moat around an upper corner portion of the trench of the STI structure is prevented. Also, the upper corner portion of the trench is rounded. Therefore, a parasitic effect, degradation in gate oxide integrity, an inverse narrow effect and a sub-threshold hump phenomenon can be prevented. Further, a breakdown phenomenon, a gate bridge phenomenon and difference in the coupling ratio between gate electrodes can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Myung Gyu Choi
  • Patent number: 6723618
    Abstract: Field isolation structures and methods of forming field isolation structures are described. In one implementation, the method includes etching a trench within a monocrystalline silicon substrate. The trench has sidewalls and a base, with the base comprising monocrystalline silicon. A dielectric material is formed on the sidewalls of the trench. Epitaxial monocrystalline silicon is grown from the base of the trench and over at least a portion of the dielectric material. An insulating layer is formed over the epitaxial monocrystalline silicon. According to one implementation, the invention includes a field isolation structure formed within a monocrystalline silicon comprising substrate. The field isolation structure includes a trench having sidewalls. A dielectric material is received on the sidewalls within the trench. Monocrystalline silicon is received within the trench between the dielectric material of the sidewalls. An insulating layer is received over the monocrystalline silicon within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Meyer, Jeffrey W. Honeycutt, Stephen R. Porter
  • Patent number: 6723619
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet for fixing a semiconductor wafer during semiconductor wafer processing in vacuum, comprising a substrate and, superimposed on one side or both sides thereof, a layer of ultraviolet curable pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising an ultraviolet curable copolymer having ultraviolet polymerizable groups as side chains and a phosphorous photopolymerization initiator. The pressure sensitive adhesive sheet for semiconductor wafer processing, even in the processing of a semiconductor wafer in vacuum, is free from generating gases from the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet, thereby avoiding wafer deformation attributed to evaporated gas components and adhesive transfer caused thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Nagamoto, Kazuyoshi Ebe
  • Patent number: 6723620
    Abstract: A large area adhesive film is attached to a semiconductor wafer containing a large number of identical structures. The film and wafer are then simultaneously singulated and the individual die with film thereon are then placed atop a lead frame and the film is completely cured to adhere the semiconductor die to the lead frame. Plural die can be mounted side-by-side on a common substrate, or one die can be mounted atop a second die which is on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Pavier
  • Patent number: 6723621
    Abstract: A structure and method of forming an abrupt doping profile is described incorporating a substrate, a first epitaxial layer of Ge less than the critical thickness having a P or As concentration greater than 5×1019 atoms/cc, and a second epitaxial layer having a change in concentration in its first 40 Å from the first layer of greater than 1×1019 P atoms/cc. Alternatively, a layer of SiGe having a Ge content greater than 0.5 may be selectively amorphized and recrystalized with respect to other layers in a layered structure. The invention overcomes the problem of forming abrupt phosphorus profiles in Si and SiGe layers or films in semiconductor structures such as CMOS, MODFET's, and HBT's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Cardone, Jack Oon Chu, Khalid EzzEldin Ismail
  • Patent number: 6723622
    Abstract: A composite of germanium film for a semiconductor device and methods of making the same. The method comprises growing a graded germanium film on a semiconductor substrate in a deposition chamber while simultaneously decreasing a deposition temperature and decreasing a silicon source gas and increasing a germanium source gas over a predetermined amount of time. The graded germanium film comprises an ultra-thin silicon-germanium buffer layer and a germanium film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Murthy, Ravindra Soman, Boyan Boyanov
  • Patent number: 6723623
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming implant regions between and/or under transistor gates. In one aspect, a pair of transistor gates is partially formed, and a layer of conductive material is left extending between the transistor gates. A dopent is implanted through the conductive material to form at least one implant region between and/or beneath the partially formed transistor gates, and subsequently the conductive material is removed from between the gates. The gates can be incorporated into various semiconductor assemblies, including, for example, DRAM assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Phong N. Nguyen