Patents Issued in November 9, 2004
  • Patent number: 6815755
    Abstract: Semiconductor device having on a single substrate (1) at least one memory cell (3) and at least one logic transistor (25); the at least one memory cell having a floating gate (5), a tunnel oxide layer (11) between the floating gate and the substrate (1), a control gate (15), and a control oxide layer (13) between the control gate (15) and the floating gate (5); the at least one logic transistor (25) having a logic transistor gate (5′, 15″) and a logic transistor gate oxide (11″) between the logic transistor gate (5′, 15″) and the substrate (1), the tunnel oxide layer (11) of the memory cell (3) and the logic transistor gate oxide (11″) having a same or substantially same predetermined first thickness. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a device and to such a device that also comprises a high voltage transistor (17) which is optionally made so as to be an integral part of at least the memory cell (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Roy Arthur Colclaser, Guido Jozef Maria Dormans, Donald Robert Wolters
  • Patent number: 6815756
    Abstract: A split gate structure is disclosed for improved programming and erasing efficiency. Source/drain regions are equally spaced along the active regions and are electrically connected by source/drain towers that run perpendicular to the active regions. Floating gate towers are situated between each pair of source/drain towers. A floating gate tower has insulating layers separating floating gates, which exist only over active regions crossed by the floating gate tower, from a semiconductor region. An insulating layer separates the floating gates from a top gate and an insulating layer is disposed over the top gate. Insulator spacers are disposed over the sidewalls. Programming injectors, in electrical contact with the semiconductor region, are disposed against the sidewalls of the floating gate towers except where there are source/drain towers and taper to a sharp edge at a height so that they face the floating gates. Selected gates are disposed over the active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Chia-Ta Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6815757
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and associated methods for manufacturing an EEPROM memory cell (10) for use on a negatively biased substrate (12). The invention may be practiced using standard semiconductor processing techniques. Devices and methods are disclosed for a floating gate transistor for use as an EEPROM cell (10) including a DNwell (14) formed on a P-type substrate (12) for isolating the EEPROM cell (10) from the underlying P-type substrate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Reed W. Adams, William E. Grose, Sameer Pendharkar, Roland Bucksch
  • Patent number: 6815758
    Abstract: A flash memory cell and a method for fabricating the same are described. The flash memory cell comprises a substrate, a select gate, a floating gate, a gate dielectric layer, a high-voltage doped region and a source region. The substrate has a first opening thereon and a second opening in the first opening. The select gate is on the sidewall of the first opening, and the floating gate is on the sidewall of the second opening. The gate dielectric layer is between the select/floating gate and the substrate. The high-voltage doped region is in the substrate under the second opening, and the source region is in the substrate beside the first opening. In the method of fabricating the flash memory cell, the select gate and the floating gate are simultaneously formed on the side walls of the first opening and the second opening, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ko-Hsing Chang, Hann-Jye Hsu
  • Patent number: 6815759
    Abstract: A tunneling insulating film is formed on the partial surface area of a semiconductor substrate. A floating gate electrode is formed on the tunneling insulating film. A gate insulating film covers the side wall of the floating gate electrode and a partial surface area of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the floating gate electrode. A first control gate electrode is disposed on the gate insulating film over the side wall of the floating gate electrode and over a partial surface area of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the floating gate electrode. A pair of impurity doped regions is formed in a surface layer of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of a gate structure including the floating gate structure and first control gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Naoto Horiguchi, Tatsuya Usuki, Kenichi Goto
  • Patent number: 6815760
    Abstract: To fabricate a semiconductor memory, one or more pairs of first structures are formed over a semiconductor substrate. Each first structure comprises (a) a plurality of floating gates of memory cells and (b) a first conductive line providing control gates for the memory cells. The control gates overlie the floating gates. Each pair of the first structures corresponds to a plurality of doped regions each of which provides a source/drain region to a memory cell having the floating and control gates in one or the structure and a source/drain region to a memory cell having floating and control gates in the other one of the structures. For each pair, a second conductive line is formed whose bottom surface extends between the two structures and physically contacts the corresponding first doped regions. In some embodiments, the first doped regions are separated by insulation trenches. The second conductive line may form a conductive plug at least partially filling the region between the two first structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Wai Leung, Chia-Shun Hsiao, Vei-Han Chan
  • Patent number: 6815761
    Abstract: In the semiconductor integrated circuit device, an AND-type flash memory is formed on a substrate in which stripe-like element separation regions 5 are formed and active regions L sandwiched between the element separation regions 5 are formed like stripes. A silicon monocrystal substrate containing nitrogen or carbon is used as the semiconductor substrate, to reduce dislocation defects and junction leakages so that the reliability and yield are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Takashi Aoyagi, Shogo Kiyota
  • Patent number: 6815762
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a MISFET, in order that a shallow junction between the source/drain of the MISFET and a semiconductor substrate may be realized by reducing the number of heat treatment steps, all conductive films to be deposited on the semiconductor substrate are deposited at a temperature of 500° C. or lower at a step after the MISFET has been formed. Moreover, all insulating films to be deposited over the semiconductor substrate are deposited at a temperature of 500° C. or lower at a step after the MISFET has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Takahiro Kumauchi, Yoshitaka Tadaki, Kazuhiko Kajigaya, Hideo Aoki, Isamu Asano
  • Patent number: 6815763
    Abstract: In a semiconductor flash memory required to have high reliability, injection and extraction of electrons must be performed through an oxide film obtained by directly oxidizing a silicon substrate. Accordingly, the voltage to be used is a large voltage ranging from positive to negative one. In contrast, by storing charges in a plurality of dispersed regions, high reliability is achieved. Based on the high reliability, transfer of electrons is permitted through not only the oxide film obtained by directly thermally oxidizing a high reliability silicon substrate but also another oxide film deposited by CVD, or the like. In consequence, a device is controlled by electric potentials of the same polarity upon writing of data and upon erasing of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taro Osabe, Tomoyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 6815764
    Abstract: A local SONOS structure having a two-piece gate and a self-aligned ONO structure includes: a substrate; an ONO structure on the substrate; a first gate layer on and aligned with the ONO structure; a gate insulator on the substrate aside the ONO structure; and a second gate layer on the first gate layer and on the gate insulator. The first and second gate layers are electrically connected together. Together, the ONO structure and first and second gate layers define at least a 1-bit local SONOS structure. A corresponding method of manufacture includes: providing a substrate; forming an ONO structure on the substrate; forming a first gate layer on and aligned with the ONO structure; forming a gate insulator on the substrate aside the ONO structure; forming a second gate layer on the first gate layer and on the gate insulator; and electrically connecting the first and second gate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Geum-Jong Bae, Nae-In Lee, Sang Su Kim, Ki Chul Kim, Jin-Hee Kim, In-Wook Cho, Sung-Ho Kim, Kwang-Wook Koh
  • Patent number: 6815765
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a structure in which an impurity diffusion region with an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of a source and a drain is formed between the source and drain and a channel below the gate, having an asymmetric shape with respect to a center line along which the gate extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Exploitation of Next Generation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Arima
  • Patent number: 6815766
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has an alternating conductivity type layer that improves the tradeoff relation between the ON-resistance and the breakdown voltage and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device. The alternating conductivity type layer is formed of n-type drift regions and p-type partition regions alternately arranged with each other. At least the n-type drift regions or p-type partition regions are formed by ion implantation under an acceleration voltage changed continuously. The p-type partition regions or n-type drift regions are formed by epitaxial growth or by diffusing impurities from the surface of a substrate or a layer for the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Miyasaka, Tatsuhiko Fujihira
  • Patent number: 6815767
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention is provided with a power device which has a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface that are opposed to each other and an insulating gate structure on the first main surface side, wherein a main current flows between the first main surface and the second main surface, that is to say, is provided with an insulating gate type MOS transistor structure wherein the thickness (t1) of the semiconductor substrate is no less than 50 &mgr;m and no greater than 250 &mgr;m and a low ON voltage and a high withstanding capacity against breakdown are implemented in the first main surface. Thereby, a low ON voltage, the maintaining of the withstanding capacity against breakdown and the reduction of a switching loss on the high voltage side can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Nakamura, Shigeru Kusunoki, Hideki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6815768
    Abstract: A conductor film and a cap insulating film are sequentially formed, and a laminated film constituted of the cap insulating film and the conductor film is patterned, and then a gate electrode is formed. Next, source and drain diffusion regions are formed, and a first silicon nitride film is formed on a sidewall of the laminated film, and then a second silicon nitride film is formed on an entire surface, and further a silicon oxide film is deposited. Next, the silicon oxide film is left between the gate electrodes, and the second silicon nitride film on the laminated film is removed, and the cap insulating film left above the gate electrode is removed, and a metal silicide film is formed on a surface of the gate electrode, and then a third silicon nitride film is left on the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 6815769
    Abstract: A trench power semiconductor component, in particular an IGBT, has an electrode (4) in a trench (3) that is laterally divided into a section (10) that serves as a gate and a section (11) that is connected to the source metallization (6). A method for making the trench power semiconductor component is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Pfirsch, Carsten Schäffer
  • Patent number: 6815770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel MOS transistor structure. The MOS transistor includes a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a gate oxide layer formed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. A spacer is formed on each sidewall of the gate electrode. A lightly doped source/drain extension is formed under the spacer with a raised epitaxial layer interposed between the spacer and the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial layer, which is part of the lightly doped source/drain extension, has a lattice constant that is greater than the lattice constant of silicon crystal. The epitaxial layer serves as a solubility enhancement layer that is capable of increasing active boron concentration, thereby reducing sheet resistance of the source/drain extension. A heavily doped source/drain region is formed in the semiconductor substrate next to the edge of the spacer. A raised silicide layer is formed on the heavily doped source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chin-Cheng Chien, Hsiang-Ying Wang, Yu-Kun Chen, Neng-Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 6815771
    Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) semiconductor device includes a wire connected to doped regions formed in an active layer of a SOI substrate. A ratio of the area of the wire to the doped region or a ratio of the area of contact holes formed on the wire to the doped region is limited to a predetermined value. When the ratio exceeds the predetermined value, a dummy doped region is added to prevent the device from being damaged during a plasma process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kimura
  • Patent number: 6815772
    Abstract: In a field effect type device having a thin film-like active layer, there is provided a thin film-like semiconductor device including a top side gate electrode on the active layer and a bottom side gate electrode connected to a static potential, the bottom side gate electrode being provided between the active layer and a substrate. The bottom side gate electrode may be electrically connected to only one of a source and a drain of the field effect type device. Also, the production methods therefor are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 6815773
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided in which: a parasitic capacitance between a drain and a supporting substrate is reduced; and a high electric field generated in the vicinity of the drain is relaxed and which has a high withstand voltage. A MOS transistor according to the present invention includes: a supporting substrate region in an SOT substrate; a buried insulating film formed on the supporting substrate region; a channel region formed on the buried insulating film; and first and second offset regions that are formed on the buried insulating film so as to be adjacent to the channel region on both sides thereof, and further includes an impurity diffusion region formed in a portion positioned below the second offset region in the supporting substrate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Uehara, Jun Osanai
  • Patent number: 6815774
    Abstract: A dielectrically separated wafer and a fabrication method of the same are provided according to the first, second and third embodiments of the present invention. According to the first embodiment, it becomes possible to expand the device fabrication surface area of the dielectrically separated silicon islands by laminating a low concentration impurity layer including a dopant of the same conductivity on a high concentration impurity layer formed on the bottom of the island. According to the second embodiment, a dielectrically separated wafer and a fabrication method for the same which can grow a polysilicon layer without producing voids in the dielectrically separating oxide layer is provided by forming a seed polysilicon layer at low temperature and under low pressure and by forming, on the seed polysilicon layer, a high temperature polysilicon layer 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oi, Kazuya Sato, Hiroshi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 6815775
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device with an improved ESD robustness for protecting output buffers in I/O cell libraries. The ESD device according to the present invention uses a novel I/O cell layout structure for implementing a turn-on restrained method that reduces the turn-on speed of an ESD guarded MOS transistor by adding a pick-up diffusion region and/or varying channel lengths in the layout structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ming-Dou Ker, Jeng-Jie Peng, Hsin-Chin Jiang
  • Patent number: 6815776
    Abstract: A multi-finger type electrostatic discharge protection circuit is disclosed. In an NMOS type ESD protection circuit, a pair of gates are formed in parallel with each other in one of multiple active regions so as to enable all the gate fingers in the active regions to perform npn bipolar operations uniformly. The present invention discharges an ESD pulse effectively by forming one or more additional n+ (or p+) type active regions, which are connected to Vcc (or Vss), between respective active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Myoung Goo Lee, Hong Bae Park
  • Patent number: 6815777
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a memory cell. The semiconductor device includes a first gate-gate electrode layer, a second gate-gate electrode layer, a first drain-drain wiring layer, a second drain-drain wiring layer, a first drain-gate wiring layer and a second drain-gate wiring layer. The first drain-gate wiring layer and an upper layer and a lower layer of the second drain-gate wiring layer are located in different layers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Karasawa, Kunio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6815778
    Abstract: The metal layers embedded into the contact holes of various kinds in shape are used as the lines and are employed as the lines for controlling the substrate bias. The first-layer metal line layers are made thin so as to be also employed as the lines for controlling the substrate bias. Moreover, the second-layer metal line layers are employed as the copper line layers. Thereby, a semiconductor integrated circuit which allows a high-speed and low-power operation is provided with a small area and without increasing the number of the masks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Shuji Ikeda, Harumi Wakimoto, Kenichi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6815779
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a vertical power component having a terminal formed by a chip substrate of a first conductivity type, a control circuit thereof, the control circuit isolated from the substrate by an isolation region of a second conductivity type, and a protection structure against polarity inversion of a substrate potential. The protection structure includes a first bipolar transistor with an emitter connected to said isolation region and a collector connected to a reference potential input of the integrated circuit, a bias circuit for biasing the first bipolar transistor in a reverse saturated mode when the substrate potential is higher than the reference potential, and a second bipolar transistor with an emitter connected to the substrate and a base coupled to the isolation region for coupling the isolation region to the substrate through a high-impedance when the substrate potential is lower than the reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonino Torres, Sergio Tommaso Spampinato
  • Patent number: 6815780
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor substrate (210) having a first conductivity type, a semiconductor epitaxial layer (220) having the first conductivity type located over the semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor device (110) and a second semiconductor device (130) located in the semiconductor epitaxial layer and including, respectively, a first semiconductor region (120) and a second semiconductor region (140), both having the second conductivity type, an ohmic contact region (150) in the semiconductor epitaxial layer having the first conductivity type and located between the first and second semiconductor devices, and at least one electrically insulating trench (160, 360) located in the semiconductor epitaxial layer and circumscribing at least the first semiconductor device. The semiconductor epitaxial layer has a doping concentration lower than a doping concentration of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishnu Khemka, Vijay Parthasarathy, Ronghua Zhu, Amitava Bose, Todd C. Roggenbauer
  • Patent number: 6815781
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as an inverted staggered thin film transistor, includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer located above the gate electrode, an active layer located above the gate insulating layer and an insulating fill layer located above the active layer. A first opening and a second opening are located in the insulating fill layer, a first source or drain electrode is located in the first opening and a second source or drain electrode is located in the second opening. At least one of the first and the second source or drain electrodes comprise a polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Matrix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vyvoda, S. Brad Herner, Christopher J. Petti, Andrew J. Walker
  • Patent number: 6815782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a miniature electrostatic actuation device (100) capable of generating movements along a determined direction (F), comprising pairs of electrodes (4) of which the mobile electrodes (8) may be pulled into contact with a fixed electrode (6) on a variable pull-in surface that varies as a function of the voltage applied between these pairs of electrodes. According to the invention, the device also comprises an actuation element (12) connected to the mobile electrodes (8), the element (12) being capable of occupying a rest position and of being guided along the determined direction (F) when the voltage applied between the electrodes in each pair (4) varies, the device comprising return arms (14) capable of pulling the actuation element (12) back towards its rest position, when the voltage applied between the two electrodes in each pair of electrodes is reduced. To be applied to actuation of continuously deformable micro-mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Eric Stadler, Julien Charton
  • Patent number: 6815783
    Abstract: A single transistor type magnetic random access memory device and a method of operating and manufacturing the same, wherein the single transistor type magnetic random access memory device includes a substrate, first and second doped regions spaced apart from each other, a gate dielectric layer on a portion of the semiconductor substrate between the first and second doped regions, a magnetic tunnel junction on the gate dielectric layer, word lines on the magnetic tunnel junction extending in a first direction which is the same direction as the second doped region, bit lines connected to the first doped region in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and an insulating layer covering the gate dielectric layer, the magnetic tunnel junction, and the word lines. The single transistor type magnetic random access memory device has a simple circuit structure, has a prolonged lifetime and is easy to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-wook Kim, In-kyeong Yoo, Jung-hyun Sok, June-key Lee
  • Patent number: 6815784
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive random access memory includes a MOS transistor having a first gate and source and drain junctions on a substrate, a lower electrode connected to the source junction, a first magnetic layer on the lower electrode, a dielectric barrier layer including aluminum and hafnium on the first magnetic layer which, together with the first magnetic layer, form a potential well, a second magnetic layer on the dielectric barrier layer opposite the first magnetic layer, an upper electrode on the second magnetic layer, a second gate interposed between the first gate and the lower electrode to control the magnetic data of one of the first and second magnetic layers, and a bit line positioned orthogonal to the first gate and electrically connected to the upper electrode. Improved characteristics of the barrier layer increase a magnetic resistance ratio and improve data storage capacity of the magneto-resistive random access memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-jun Park, Taek-dong Lee, Byeong-kook Park, Tae-wan Kim, I-hun Song, Sang-jin Park
  • Patent number: 6815785
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic memory device includes: a TMR element, provided on a main surface of a silicon substrate, operating as a memory element; a buffer layer having a first surface bringing into contact with the TMR element and a second surface, located on the side opposite to the first surface, having an area smaller than that of the first surface; and a bit line, formed of a conductor film and a barrier metal film that bring into contact with the second surface, extending in one direction so as to intersect the TMR element. Thereby, it is possible to provide a thin film magnetic memory device realizing miniaturization of the memory cell and, also, having a high reliability, and a manufacturing method therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Tsukasa Ooishi
  • Patent number: 6815786
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes, on a semiconductor substrate, a mesa-stripe-like multilayer structure constituted by at least an n-cladding layer, an active region formed from an active layer or a photoabsorption layer, and a p-cladding layer, and a buried layer in which two sides of the multilayer structured are buried using a semi-insulating semiconductor crystal. The buried layer includes a diffusion enhancement layer which is adjacent to the mesa-stripe-like multilayer structure and enhances diffusion of a p-impurity, and a diffusion suppression layer which is adjacent to the diffusion enhancement layer and suppresses diffusion of a p-impurity. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor optical device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Matsuyuki Ogasawara, Susumu Kondo, Ryuzo Iga, Yasuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 6815787
    Abstract: A new grid metal design for image sensors is disclosed which is comprised of a semiconductor image sensor chip having a pixel region covering most of the chip and a logic circuit region on the chip periphery. The pixel region contains an array of image pixels where for each image pixel the majority of its area is occupied by a light sensing element and the other image pixel circuit elements are arranged in the periphery of the image pixel without overlapping the image-sensing element. A number of metal levels are of the first type, at which functional metal patterns exist both for the chip peripheral logic circuits and for the pixel circuit elements. A number of metal levels are of the second type, at which functional metal patterns exist only for the chip peripheral logic circuits and dummy metal patterns cover the pixel region except for the light sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dun-Nian Yaung, Shou-Gwo Wuu, Chien-Hsien Tseng
  • Patent number: 6815788
    Abstract: A transparent electrode is provided on a glass substrate, and an amorphous silicon layer is provided on the transparent electrode. A nickel layer as a metal catalyst element is provided in or so as to contact with the surface of the amorphous silicon layer, followed by heat treatment to crystallize the amorphous silicon layer, thereby forming a p-type polycrystalline silicon layer. This polycrystalline silicon layer is crystallographically oriented and has high crystallinity. The polycrystalline silicon layer is used as a seed crystal to form a p-type polycrystalline silicon layer which is crystallographically oriented and, at the same time, has high crystallinity. Further, an i-type polycrystalline silicon layer and an n-type polycrystalline silicon layer are successively formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihito Oka, Shinichi Muramatsu, Yasushi Minagawa
  • Patent number: 6815789
    Abstract: A semiconductor electronic device includes a die of semiconductor material and a support. The die of semiconductor material includes an integrated electronic circuit and a plurality of contact pads associated with the electronic circuit and connected electrically to the support by wire leads. Each contact pad may include a lower layer of aluminum, copper, or alloys thereof, and an upper layer including at least one film of a metal and/or metallic alloy including nickel, palladium, or alloys thereof, and being deposited by an electroless chemical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Tiziani, Carlo Passagrilli
  • Patent number: 6815790
    Abstract: The present invention improves the resolution and accuracy of the presently known two-dimensional position sensing detectors and delivers improved performance in the 1.3 to 1.55 micron wavelength region. The present invention is an array of semiconductor layers with four electrodes, the illustrative embodiment comprising a semi-insulating substrate semiconductor base covered by a semiconductor buffered layer, the buffered layer further covered by a semiconductor absorption layer and the absorption layer covered with a semiconductor layer. Four electrodes are placed on this semiconductor array: two on the top layer parallel to each other and near the ends of opposite edges, and two etched in the buffered layer, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first set. The layers are doped as to make a p-n junction in the active area. Substantially all the layers, excepting the semi-insulating substrate layer, are uniformly resistive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Rapiscan, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter S. Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 6815791
    Abstract: A semiconductor detector of electromagnetic radiation which utilizes a dual-purpose electrode which extends significantly beyond the edge of a photodiode. This configuration reduces the sensitivity of device performance on small misalignments between manufacturing steps while reducing dark currents, kTC noise, and “ghost” images. The collection-mode potential of the dual-purpose electrode can be adjusted to achieve charge confinement and enhanced collection efficiency, reducing or eliminating the need for an additional pinning layer. Finally, the present invention enhances the fill factor of the photodiode by shielding the photon-created charge carriers formed in the substrate from the potential wells of the surrounding circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: FillFactory
    Inventor: Bart Dierickx
  • Patent number: 6815792
    Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxially grown compound semiconductor film having a low density of crystal defects which are generated during the course of crystal growth of a compound semiconductor. The present invention also provides a compound semiconductor multi-layer structure including an n-type InP substrate, an n-type InP buffer layer, an undoped InGaAs light-absorbing layer, and an n-type InP cap layer, the layers being successively grown on the substrate through MOCVD. In the InGaAs layer, the compositional ratio of In/Ga is cyclically varied in a thickness direction (cyclic intervals: 80 nm) so as to fall within a range of ±2% with respect to a predetermined compositional ratio that establishes lattice matching between InGaAs and InP; specifically, within a range between 0.54/0.46 (i.e., In0.54Ga0.46As) and 0.52/0.48 (i.e., In0.52Ga0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hisao Nagata, Yasunori Arima, Nobuyuki Komaba
  • Patent number: 6815793
    Abstract: A body (1) consisting of a doped semiconductor material with a pn junction (10) and an area (2) of reduced mean free path length (&lgr;r) for free charge carriers is disclosed. Said area (2) has sections (21, 22) which succeed each other in at least one specified direction (x, y, z) and between which there is at least one region (23), containing a mean free path length (&lgr;0) for the free charge carriers that is larger in relation to the reduced mean free path length (&lgr;r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eupec Europdische Gesellschaft fur Leitungshalbleiter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Veli Kartal, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 6815794
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with a multiple isolation structure and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device comprises a heavily doped buried layer having a first conductivity type, which is formed in a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate, and an epitaxial layer having the first conductivity type, which covers an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate. A device isolation structure is disposed such that the device isolation structure penetrates the epitaxial layer and a portion of the semiconductor substrate to define a device region. The device isolation structure includes an upper isolation structure penetrating an epitaxial layer as well as a lower isolation structure formed in the semiconductor substrate under the upper isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwa-Sook Shin, Kwang-Dong Yoo
  • Patent number: 6815795
    Abstract: A resistive structure integrated on a semiconductive substrate is described. The resistive structure has a first type of conductivity formed into a serpentine region of conductivity which is opposite to that of the semiconductive substrate. In at least two parallel portions of the serpentine region, there is at least one trench filled with an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Salvatore Leonardi
  • Patent number: 6815796
    Abstract: A composite module and its production process which allow multiple functions, miniaturization, low power consumption and low costs without requiring any external chip parts at all. A high-frequency integrated circuit is embedded in a silicon substrate, a high-frequency high-capacity bypass capacitor and a matching coil using thin films of different types of materials are also formed on the silicon substrate, a high-frequency high-capacity bypass capacitor is further formed with an interlayer insulation film between them, and these elements and the high-frequency integrated circuit are connected via a wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ota, Manabu Satomi, Masayuki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6815797
    Abstract: A silicide bridged anti-fuse and a method of forming the anti-fuse are disclosed. The silicide bridged anti-fuse can be formed with a tungsten plug metalization process that does not require any additional process steps. As a result, anti-fuses can be added to an electrical circuit as trim elements for no additional cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Dark, William M. Coppock, Jeffery L. Nilles, Andy Strachan
  • Patent number: 6815798
    Abstract: A capacitor for sensing a substrate voltage in an integrated circuit power device may be implemented by isolating a portion or segment of the metal layer that normally covers the heavily doped perimeter region typically used for electric field equalization. In conjunction, one or more portions of an isolation dielectric layer of silicon oxide are not removed from the surface of the semiconductor substrate, as is commonly done before depositing the metal layer. The portions of isolated silicon oxide which are not removed become the dielectric layer of the capacitor. Moreover, one plate of the capacitor is formed by the heavily doped perimeter region that is electrically connected to the substrate (e.g. a drain or collector region). The other plate is formed by the segment of metal isolated from the remaining metal layer defined directly over the heavily doped perimeter region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: STMicronelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Natale Aiello, Davide Patti
  • Patent number: 6815799
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device with built-in spark killer diodes suitable for output transistor protection has a problem such that a leakage current to the substrate is great and a desirable forward current cannot be obtained. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention, P+-type first and second diffusion regions 34 and 32 are formed on the surface of a second epitaxial layer 23 in a partly overlapping manner. And, by a connection to an anode electrode 39 at a part immediately over the P+-type second diffusion region 32, a parasitic resistance R1 is made greater than a parasitic resistance R2. Thus, an operation of a parasitic transistor TR2 that causes a leakage current to a substrate 21 is suppressed, whereby leakage current can be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Okawa, Koichiro Ogino
  • Patent number: 6815800
    Abstract: A bipolar transistor includes an auxiliary diffusion region formed in the base region having a conductivity type opposite to the base region and being electrically coupled to the base region. Alternately, the auxiliary diffusion region can be formed in the collector region where the auxiliary diffusion region has a conductivity type opposite to the collector region and is electrically coupled to the collector region. The auxiliary diffusion region forms a secondary parasitic transistor in the bipolar transistor having the effect of suppressing parasitic bipolar conduction caused by a primary parasitic bipolar device associated with the bipolar transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy
  • Patent number: 6815801
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical bipolar transistor 110, a method of manufacture therefor, and an integrated circuit including the same. The vertical bipolar transistor 110 may include, in one embodiment, a second epitaxial layer 140 located over a first epitaxial layer 130, wherein the second epitaxial layer includes at least two dopant profiles 143, 147. The vertical bipolar transistor 110 may further include a collector 154, a base 156 and an emitter 158 located over or within the second epitaxial layer 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instrument Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory G. Romas, Darrel C. Oglesby, Jr., Scott F. Jasper, Philip Najfus, Venkatesh Govindaraju, ChunLiang Yeh, James Lisenby
  • Patent number: 6815802
    Abstract: A SiGe bipolar transistor containing substantially no dislocation defects present between the emitter and collector region and a method of forming the same are provided. The SiGe bipolar transistor includes a collector region of a first conductivity type; a SiGe base region formed on a portion of said collector region; and an emitter region of said first conductivity type formed over a portion of said base region, wherein said collector region and said base region include carbon continuously therein. The SiGe base region is further doped with boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Oon Chu, Douglass Duane Coolbaugh, James Stuart Dunn, David R. Greenberg, David L. Harame, Basanth Jagannathan, Robb Allen Johnson, Louis D. Lanzerotti, Kathryn Turner Schonenberg, Ryan Wayne Wuthrich
  • Patent number: 6815803
    Abstract: A semiconductor packaging arrangement, or module, includes a printed circuit board having an electrical interconnect thereon and a semiconductor package mounted to the printed circuit board. The semiconductor package includes a fractional portion of a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuit chips thereon, such chips being separated by regions in the fractional portion of the wafer. The fractional portion of the wafer has a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the chips. The package also includes a dielectric member having an electrical conductor thereon. The electrical conductor are electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the plurality of chips to electrically interconnect such plurality of chips with portions of the electrical conductor spanning the regions in the fractional portion of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Manfred Reithinger, Mike Killian, Gerd Frankowsky, Oliver Kiehl, Gerhard Mueller, Ernst Stahl, Hartmud Terletzki, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 6815804
    Abstract: An electronic system is provided with a structure for improved transmission line operation on integrated circuits. The structure for transmission line operation includes a first layer of electrically conductive material on a substrate. A first layer of insulating material is formed on the first layer of the electrically conductive material. A number of high permeability metal lines are formed on the first layer of insulating material. The number of high permeability metal lines includes composite hexaferrite films. A number of transmission lines is formed on the first layer of insulating material and between and parallel with the number of high permeability metal lines. A second layer of insulating material is formed on the transmission lines and the high permeability metal lines. The structure for transmission line operation includes a second layer of electrically conductive material on the second layer of insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn, Salman Akram