Patents Issued in November 20, 2007
  • Patent number: 7297577
    Abstract: An SOI device, and a method for producing the SOI device, for use in an SRAM memory having enhanced stability. The SRAM is formed with a wider W and a fully-depleted FET. The wider FET is extended by an expitaxial silicon sidewall, and the performance of the FET is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Taku Umebayashi
  • Patent number: 7297578
    Abstract: A field effect transistor is produced on a substrate. A semiconductor material is deposited on a portion of a single crystal temporary material. At least part of the temporary material is removed. A portion of a conducting material is then formed above and beneath the portion of semiconductor material. A layer of an electrically insulating material is located between the portion of temporary material and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Skotnicki, Philippe Coronel, Joël Hartmann
  • Patent number: 7297579
    Abstract: The objectives of the present invention are achieving TFTs having a small off current and TFT structures optimal for the driving conditions of a pixel portion and driver circuits, and providing a technique of making the differently structured TFTs without increasing the number of manufacturing steps and the production costs. A semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode on the gate insulating film. The semiconductor layer contains a channel forming region, a region containing a first concentration impurity element, a region containing a second concentration impurity element, and a region containing a third concentration impurity element. The gate electrode is formed by laminating an electrode (A) and an electrode (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ritsuko Nagao, Masahiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7297580
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unit cell of a metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET). The unit cell of the MESFET includes a source, a drain and a gate. The gate is disposed between the source and the drain and on an n-type conductivity channel layer. A p-type conductivity region is provided beneath the source and has an end that extends towards the drain. The p-type conductivity region is spaced apart from the n-type conductivity channel region and is electrically coupled to the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Saptharishi Sriram
  • Patent number: 7297581
    Abstract: A method of doping fins of a semiconductor device that includes a substrate includes forming multiple fin structures on the substrate, each of the fin structures including a cap formed on a fin. The method further includes performing a first tilt angle implant process to dope a first pair of the multiple fin structures with n-type impurities and performing a second tilt angle implant process to dope a second pair of the multiple fin structures with p-type impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Wiley Eugene Hill, Bin Yu
  • Patent number: 7297582
    Abstract: A method and structure is disclosed for a transistor having a gate, a channel region below the gate, a source region on one side of the channel region, a drain region on an opposite side of the channel region from the source region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in the substrate between the drain region and the channel region, and a drain extension below the STI region. The drain extension is positioned along a bottom of the STI region and along a portion of sides of the STI. Portions of the drain extension along the bottom of the STI may comprise different dopant implants than the portions of the drain extensions along the sides of the STI. Portions of the drain extensions along sides of the STI extend from the bottom of the STI to a position partially up the sides of the STI. The STI region is below a portion of the gate. The drain extension provides a conductive path between the drain region and the channel region around a lower perimeter of the STI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wagdi W. Abadeer, Jeffrey S. Brown, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Jed H. Rankin, William R. Tonti
  • Patent number: 7297583
    Abstract: A method is provided in which an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) and a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) each have a channel region disposed in a first single-crystal semiconductor region having a first composition. A stress is applied at a first magnitude to a channel region of the PFET but not at that magnitude to the channel region of the NFET. The stress is applied by a single-crystal semiconductor layer having a second composition such that the single-crystal semiconductor layer is lattice-mismatched to the first region. The semiconductor layer is formed over the source and drain regions and optionally over the extension regions of the PFET at a first distance from the channel region of the PFET and is formed over the source and drain regions of the NFET at a second, greater distance from the channel region of the NFET, or the semiconductor layer having the second composition is not formed at all in the NFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Huajie Chen, Dureseti Chidambarrao, Omer O. Dokumaci, Haining S. Yang
  • Patent number: 7297584
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a dual stress liner for improving electron mobility, the dual stress liner includes a first liner portion formed on a PMOSFET and a second liner portion formed on an NMOSFET. The first liner portion has a first compressive stress, and the second liner portion has a second compressive stress smaller than the first compressive stress. The dual stress liner may be formed by forming a stress liner on a semiconductor substrate on which the PMOSFET and the NMOSFET are formed and selectively exposing a portion of the stress liner on the NMOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Eon Park, Ja-Hum Ku, Jun-Jung Kim, Dae-Kwon Kang, Young Way Teh
  • Patent number: 7297585
    Abstract: In formation of a source/drain region of an NMOS transistor, a gate-directional extension region <41a> of an N+ block region <41> in an N+ block resist film <51> prevents a well region <11> located under the gate-directional extension region <41a> from implantation of an N-type impurity. A high resistance forming region, which is the well region <11> having a possibility for implantation of an N-type impurity on a longitudinal extension of a gate electrode <9>, can be formed as a high resistance forming region <A2> narrower than a conventional high resistance forming region <A1>. Thus, a semiconductor device having a partially isolated body fixed SOI structure capable of reducing body resistance and a method of manufacturing the same are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Maeda, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Takashi Ipposhi
  • Patent number: 7297586
    Abstract: A CMOS device is provided which comprises (a) a substrate (103); (b) a gate dielectric layer (107) disposed on the substrate, the gate dielectric comprising a metal oxide; (c) an NMOS electrode (105) disposed on a first region of said gate dielectric; and (d) a PMOS electrode (115) disposed on a second region of said gate dielectric, the PMOS electrode comprising a conductive metal oxide; wherein the surface of said second region of said gate dielectric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxynitrides and metal silicon-oxynitrides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Dina H. Triyoso, Olubunmi O. Adetutu
  • Patent number: 7297587
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having composite gate structures and a method of forming the same are provided. The integrated circuit includes a first MOS device, a second MOS device and a third MOS device. The gate stack of the first MOS device includes a high-k gate dielectric and a first metal gate on the high-k gate dielectric. The gate stack of the second MOS device includes a second metal gate on a high-k gate dielectric. The first metal gate and the second metal gate have different work functions. The gate stack of the third MOS device includes a silicon gate over a gate dielectric. The silicon gate is preferably formed over the gate stacks of the first MOS device and the second MOS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Lu Wu, Kuang-Hsin Chen, Liang-Kai Han
  • Patent number: 7297588
    Abstract: One or more impurities may be incorporated within a metal-containing layer of a metal-containing gate electrode to modify the work function of the metal-containing gate electrode of a transistor can affect the threshold voltage of the transistor. In one embodiment, the impurity can be used in a p-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the valence band for silicon. In another embodiment, the impurity can be used in an n-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the conduction band for silicon. In a particular embodiment, a boron-containing species is implanted into a metal-containing layer within the metal-containing gate electrode within a p-channel transistor, so that the metal-containing gate electrode has a work function closer to the valence band for silicon as compared to the metal-containing gate electrode without the boron-containing species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Olubunmi O. Adetutu, David C. Gilmer, Philip J. Tobin
  • Patent number: 7297589
    Abstract: A method for making a heterojunction bipolar transistor includes the following steps: forming a heterojunction bipolar transistor by depositing, on a substrate, subcollector, collector, base, and emitter regions of semiconductor material; the step of depositing the subcollector region including depositing a material composition transition from a relatively larger bandgap material nearer the substrate to a relatively smaller bandgap material adjacent the collector; and the step of depositing the collector region including depositing a material composition transition from a relatively smaller bandgap material adjacent the subcollector to a relatively larger bandgap material adjacent the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
    Inventor: Milton Feng
  • Patent number: 7297590
    Abstract: A method for producing an integrated PIN photodiode. The PIN photodiode contains a doped region of a first conduction type near the substrate and a doped region that is remote from the substrate. The doped region that is remote from the substrate has a different construction type than the region near the substrate. In addition, an intermediate region provided that is a range between the doped region remote from the substrate and the doped region near the substrate. The intermediate region is undoped or provided with weak doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Müller, Johannes Karl Sturm
  • Patent number: 7297591
    Abstract: Provided is a capacitor of a semiconductor device. The capacitor includes a capacitor lower electrode disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric layer comprising aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is disposed on the capacitor lower electrode. A second dielectric layer comprising a material having a higher dielectric constant than that of aluminum oxide is disposed on the first dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer comprising aluminum oxide is disposed on the second dielectric layer. A capacitor upper electrode is disposed on the third dielectric layer. The capacitor of the present invention can improve electrical properties. Thus, power consumption can be reduced and capacitance per unit area is high enough to achieve high integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-Jun Won, Myong-geun Yoon, Yong-Kuk Jeong, Dae-jin Kwon
  • Patent number: 7297592
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a dual bit flash memory includes providing a semiconductor substrate and depositing a charge-trapping dielectric layer with the depositing performed without using ammonia at an ultra-slow deposition rate. First and second bitlines are implanted and a wordline layer is deposited. A hard mask layer is deposited over the wordline layer. A photoresist is deposited over the wordline layer and used to form a hard mask. The photoresist is removed. The wordline layer is processed using the hard mask to form a wordline and the hard mask is removed. A reduced hydrogen, high-density data retention liner to reduce charge loss, covers the wordline and the charge-trapping dielectric layer. An interlayer dielectric layer is deposited over the data retention liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Minh Van Ngo, Arvind Halliyal, Tazrien Kamal, Hidehiko Shiraiwa, Rinji Sugino, Dawn Hopper, Pei-Yuan Gao
  • Patent number: 7297593
    Abstract: A method of forming a floating gate of a flash memory device wherein a hard mask nitride film is stripped using two or more etching steps. Accordingly, a seam can be prevented when depositing a floating gate polysilicon film. Furthermore, the floating gate polysilicon film may be blanket-etched to make rounded upper edge portions of the floating gate polysilicon film. In this way, a void can be prevented when depositing a control gate polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Heon Kim
  • Patent number: 7297594
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a memory cell array formed on the semiconductor substrate, and including a first gate insulator having a first thickness. The device further includes a high-voltage transistor circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate, and including a second gate insulator having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a peripheral circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate, and including the second gate insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Eiji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7297595
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-volatile memory device and fabricating method thereof, in which a height of a floating gate conductor layer pattern is sustained without lowering a degree of integration and by which a coupling ratio is raised. The present invention includes a trench type device isolation layer defining an active area within a semiconductor substrate, a recess in an upper part of the device isolation layer to have a prescribed depth, a tunnel oxide layer on the active area of the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate conductor layer pattern on the tunnel oxide layer, a conductive floating spacer layer provided to a sidewall of the floating gate conductor layer pattern and a sidewall of the recess, a gate-to-gate insulating layer on the floating fate conductor layer pattern and the conductive floating spacer layer, and a control gate conductor layer on the gate-to-gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Mun Jung, Jum Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7297596
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of suppressing void migration is provided. The semiconductor device includes a dummy region extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a second direction in which a word line extends. In addition, an isolation layer pattern may not cut the dummy region in the second direction. Consequently, leaning of the dummy region and void migration are prevented. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Sam Lee, Yong-Tae Kim, Mi-Youn Kim, Gyo-Young Jin, Dae-Won Ha, Yun-Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 7297597
    Abstract: Conventional fabrication of top oxide in an ONO-type memory cell stack usually produces Bird's Beak. Certain materials in the stack such as silicon nitrides are relatively difficult to oxidize. As a result oxidation does not proceed uniformly along the multi-layered height of the ONO-type stack. The present disclosure shows how radical-based fabrication of top-oxide of an ONO stack (i.e. by ISSG method) can help to reduce formation of Bird's Beak. More specifically, it is indicated that short-lived oxidizing agents (e.g., atomic oxygen) are able to better oxidize difficult to oxidize materials such as silicon nitride and the it is indicated that the short-lived oxidizing agents alternatively or additionally do not diffuse deeply through already oxidized layers of the ONO stack such as the lower silicon oxide layer. As a result, a more uniform top oxide dielectric can be fabricated with more uniform breakdown voltages along its height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Promos Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhong Dong, Chuck Jang, Ching-Hwa Chen, Chia-Shun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7297598
    Abstract: A method of making embedded non-volatile memory devices includes forming a first mask layer overlying a polycrystalline silicon layer in a cell region and a peripheral region on a semiconductor substrate wherein the first mask layer has a plurality of openings in the cell region. Portions of the polycrystalline silicon layer exposed in the plurality of openings can be oxidized to form a plurality of poly-oxide regions, and the first mask layer can then be removed. The polycrystalline silicon layer not covered by the plurality of poly-oxide regions can be etched to form a plurality of floating gates, wherein etching the polycrystalline silicon layer is accompanied by a sputtering. A dielectric layer can then be formed, as well as a second mask layer in both the cell region and the peripheral region. The second mask layer in the cell region is partially etched back after a photoresist layer is formed over the second mask layer in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Liu, Chi-Hsin Lo, Shih-Chi Fu, Chia-Ta Hsieh, Wen-Ting Chu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7297599
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming on a semiconductor substrate a gate electrode with a gate insulating film being interposed between the substrate and the electrode, forming an insulating film for element isolation protruding from a surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming an oxide film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate with the gate electrode and the element isolation insulating film having been formed, removing the oxide film in a region in which a self-aligned contact hole is to be formed while using a resist pattern for removing the oxide film formed in a region in which the self-aligned contact hole is formed, and etching a part of the element isolation insulating film protruding from the surface of the semiconductor substrate so that said part is substantially on a level with the surface of the semiconductor substrate, while using the resist pattern for removing the oxide film formed in the region in which the self-aligned contact hole is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norio Ohtani, Hirohisa Iizuka, Hiroaki Hazama, Kazuhito Narita, Eiji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7297600
    Abstract: A method of forming a fin field effect transistor on a semiconductor substrate includes forming a fin-shaped active region vertically protruding from the substrate. An oxide layer is formed on a top surface and opposing sidewalls of the fin-shaped active region. An oxidation barrier layer is formed on the opposing sidewalls of the fin-shaped active region and is planarized to a height no greater than about a height of the oxide layer to form a fin structure. The fin structure is oxidized to form a capping oxide layer on the top surface of the fin-shaped active region and to form at least one curved sidewall portion proximate the top surface of the fin-shaped active region. The oxidation barrier layer has a height sufficient to reduce oxidation on the sidewalls of the fin-shaped active region about halfway between the top surface and a base of the fin-shaped active region. Related devices are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Woo Oh, Dong-Gun Park, Dong-Won Kim, Yong-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 7297601
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming source and drain extension regions in an upper surface of a SiGe-based substrate. The source and drain extension regions contain an N type impurity. Reducing vacancy concentration in the source and drain extension regions to decrease diffusion of the N type impurity contained in the first source and drain extension regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dureseti Chidambarrao, Omer H. Dokumaci
  • Patent number: 7297602
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a ferroelectric transistor having a conductive oxide in the place of the gate dielectric. The conductive oxide gate ferroelectric transistor can have a three-layer metal/ferroelectric/metal or a two-layer metal/ferroelectric on top of the conductive oxide gate. By replacing the gate dielectric with a conductive oxide, the bottom gate of the ferroelectric layer is conductive through the conductive oxide to the silicon substrate, thus minimizing the floating gate effect. The memory retention degradation related to the leakage current associated with the charges trapped within the floating gate is eliminated. The fabrication of the ferroelectric transistor by a gate etching process or a replacement gate process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng Teng Hsu, Tingkai Li
  • Patent number: 7297603
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to conduct current in both directions through the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Robb, Francine Y. Robb, Robert F. Hightower
  • Patent number: 7297604
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a dual isolation structure, and a method of fabricating the same, an epitaxial layer is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor device. A device region including the semiconductor device and the epitaxial layer is defined by a device isolation layer. The device isolation layer has a dual structure that includes a diffused isolation layer and a trench isolation layer. The diffused isolation layer is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and surrounds the base and the bottom sidewall of the device region, and the trench isolation layer surrounds the upper sidewall of the device region by vertically penetrating the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwa-Sook Shin, Soo-Cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 7297605
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a process for fabricating a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device (100). The process includes forming a gate (120) on a substrate (105) and forming a source/drain extension (160) in the substrate (105). Forming the source/drain extension (160) comprises an abnormal-angled dopant implantation (135) and a dopant implantation (145). The abnormal-angled dopant implantation (135) uses a first acceleration energy and tilt angle of greater than about zero degrees. The dopant implantation (145) uses a second acceleration energy that is higher than the first acceleration energy. The process also includes performing an ultrahigh high temperature anneal of the substrate (105), wherein a portion (170) of the source/drain extension (160) is under the gate (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Amitabh Jain, Gordon Pollack
  • Patent number: 7297606
    Abstract: An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a source region of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer, and a drain region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from the source region. A gate is formed proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the source and drain regions. The MOS device further includes a buried LDD region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer between the gate and the drain region, the buried LDD region being spaced laterally from the drain region, and a second LDD region of the first conductivity type formed in the buried LDD region and proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The second LDD region is self-aligned with the gate and spaced laterally from the gate such that the gate is non-overlapping relative to the second LDD region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammed Ayman Shibib, Shuming Xu
  • Patent number: 7297607
    Abstract: A method of performing a seasoning process for a semiconductor device processing apparatus is provided by the present invention. The method includes: forming a material layer on a test wafer; coating a photoresist on the material layer; patterning the photoresist so as to expose a central region of the wafer and cover an edge region thereof; and etching the material layer exposed by the photoresist pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bo-Yeoun Jo
  • Patent number: 7297608
    Abstract: A method employing atomic layer deposition rapid vapor deposition (RVD) conformally deposits a dielectric material on small features of a substrate surface. The resulting dielectric film is then annealed using a high density plasma (HDP) at a temperature under 500° C. in an oxidizing environment. The method includes the following three principal operations: exposing a substrate surface to an aluminum-containing precursor gas to form a substantially saturated layer of aluminum-containing precursor on the substrate surface; exposing the substrate surface to a silicon-containing precursor gas to form the dielectric film; and annealing the dielectric film in a low temperature oxygen-containing high density plasma. The resulting film has improved mechanical properties, including minimized seams, improved WERR, and low intrinsic stress, comparable to a high temperature annealing process (˜800° C.), but without exceeding the thermal budget limitations of advanced devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. Papasouliotis, Raihan M. Tarafdar, Ron Rulkens, Dennis M. Hausmann, Jeff Tobin, Adrianne K. Tipton, Bunsen Nie
  • Patent number: 7297609
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of sequentially forming a pad oxide layer and a pad nitride layer on a substrate, the pad oxide layer including a first oxide layer formed on an upper surface of the substrate and a second oxide layer formed on a lower surface of the substrate, and the pad nitride layer including a first nitride layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate and a second nitride layer formed on the lower surface of the substrate; patterning the first nitride layer by removing a portion of the first nitride layer; forming a trench in the substrate corresponding to the removed portion of the first nitride layer, thereby patterning the first oxide layer; filling the trench with an insulating material to form a device isolation layer; forming a passivation layer on the substrate, the passivation layer including a first passivation layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate including the device isolation layer, and a second passivation layer formed on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Donogbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 7297610
    Abstract: First, a device wafer having a substrate layer and a device layer is provided. Then, a first mask pattern is utilized to remove the device layer uncovered by the first mask pattern. Subsequently, a medium layer is formed on the surface of the device wafer, and the medium layer is then bonded to a carrier wafer. Thereafter, a second mask pattern is utilized to remove the substrate layer uncovered by the second mask pattern. Finally, the medium layer is separated from the carrier wafer, the substrate layer is bonded to an extendable film, and the medium layer is then removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Touch Micro-System Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chen-Hsiung Yang
  • Patent number: 7297611
    Abstract: A method for producing thin layers of a semiconductor material from a donor wafer, which comprises in succession forming a first weakened region in a donor wafer below a first face and at a depth corresponding substantially to the thickness of a first thin layer to be transferred, detaching the first thin layer having upper and lower boundaries defined by the first face and the first weakened region, forming a second weakened region in the donor wafer after detachment of the first thin layer and without conducting an intermediate recycling step, with the second weakened region formed below a second face of the donor wafer and at a depth corresponding substantially to the thickness of a second thin layer to be transferred, and detaching the second thin layer having upper and lower boundaries defined by the second face and the second weakened region. Resultant semiconductor-on-insulator structures are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventor: Christophe Maleville
  • Patent number: 7297612
    Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: AmberWave Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Langdo, Matthew T. Currie, Richard Hammond, Anthony J. Lochtefeld, Eugene A. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 7297613
    Abstract: Method of making an integrated passive, such as a high quality decoupling capacitor, includes providing a first temporary support, a silicon capacitor wafer, and providing an oxide layer and a conductive layer on it. Then, a second temporary support, such as a handle wafer, may be attached to the capacitor wafer (i.e., to the oxide layer on it) by an adhesive bond. The capacitor wafer may then be destructively removed. A second conductive layer is then provided on an exposed backside of the oxide layer. The addition of a second electrode on the second conductive layer yields the desired high quality capacitor. Further processing steps, such as solder bumping, may be carried out while the capacitor wafer is still attached to the handle wafer. When the desired processing steps are complete, the handle wafer is removed, and the relatively thin high quality integrated capacitor wafer results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency
    Inventor: David Jerome Mountain
  • Patent number: 7297614
    Abstract: An integrated chip package structure and method of manufacturing the same is by adhering dies on an organic substrate and forming a thin-film circuit layer on top of the dies and the organic substrate. Wherein the thin-film circuit layer has an external circuitry, which is electrically connected to the metal pads of the dies, that extends to a region outside the active surface of the dies for fanning out the metal pads of the dies. Furthermore, a plurality of active devices and an internal circuitry is located on the active surface of the dies. Signal for the active devices are transmitted through the internal circuitry to the external circuitry and from the external circuitry through the internal circuitry back to other active devices. Moreover, the chip package structure allows multiple dies with different functions to be packaged into an integrated package and electrically connecting the dies by the external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: MEGICA Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Yuan Lee, Mou-Shiung Lin, Ching-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 7297615
    Abstract: A silicon nanowire substrate having a structure in which a silicon nanowire film having a fine line-width is formed on a substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the same. The method of manufacturing the silicon nanowire substrate includes preparing a substrate, forming an insulating film on the substrate, forming a silicon film on the insulating film, patterning the insulating film and the silicon film into a strip shape, reducing the line-width of the insulating film by undercut etching at least one lateral side of the insulating film, and forming a self-aligned silicon nanowire film on an upper surface of the insulating film by melting and crystallizing the silicon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans S. Cho, Takashi Noguchi, Wenxu Xianyu, Do-Young Kim, Huaxiang Yin, Xiaoxin Zhang
  • Patent number: 7297616
    Abstract: New photoresists are provided that can be applied and imaged with reduced undesired outgassing and/or as thick coating layers. Preferred resists of the invention are chemically-amplified positive-acting resists that contain photoactive and resin components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: James F. Cameron, Peter Trefonas, III, George G. Barclay, Jin Wuk Sung
  • Patent number: 7297617
    Abstract: A method and device for reducing a dopant diffusion rate in a doped semiconductor region is provided. The methods and devices include selecting a plurality of impurity elements, including at least one dopant element. Selection of a plurality of impurity elements includes selecting a first impurity element with a first atomic radius larger than an average host matrix atomic radius and selecting a second impurity element with a second atomic radius smaller than an average host matrix atomic radius. The methods and devices further include selecting amounts of each impurity element of the plurality of impurity elements wherein amounts and atomic radii of each of the plurality of impurity elements complement each other to reduce a host matrix lattice strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Farrar, Jerome M. Eldridge
  • Patent number: 7297618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selectively fabricating metal gate electrodes in one or more device regions by fully siliciding (FUSI) the gate electrode. The selective formation of FUSI enables metal gate electrodes to be fabricated on devices that are compatible with workfunctions that are different from conventional n+ and p+ doped poly silicon electrodes. Each device region consists of at least one Field Effect Transistor (FET) device which consists of either a polysilicon gate electrode or a fully silicided (FUSI) gate electrode. A gate electrode comprised of silicon and a Ge containing layer is used in combination with a selective removal process of the Ge containing layer. The Ge containing layer is not removed on devices with threshold voltages that are not compatible with the FUSI workfunction. Devices that are compatible with the FUSI workfunction have the Ge containing layer removed prior to the junction silicidation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Henson, Kern Rim
  • Patent number: 7297619
    Abstract: A system and method for making nanoparticles. The system includes a first cathode including a first metal tube associated with a first end and a second end, a first anode including a second metal tube associated with a third end and a fourth end, and a first container including a first gas inlet. The first end and the third end are located inside the first container. The first end and the third end are separated by a first gap, the first metal tube is configured to allow a first gas to flow from the second end to the first end, and the first container is configured to allow a second gas to flow from the first gas inlet into the second metal tube through at least a first part of the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: R. Mohan Sankaran, Konstantinos P. Giapis, Richard C. Flagan, Dean Holunga
  • Patent number: 7297620
    Abstract: In methods of forming an oxide layer and an oxynitride layer, a substrate is loaded into a reaction chamber having a first pressure and a first temperature. The oxide layer is formed on the substrate using a reaction gas while increasing a temperature of the reaction chamber from the first temperature to a second temperature under a second pressure. Additionally, the oxide layer is nitrified in the reaction chamber to form the oxynitride layer on the substrate. When the oxide layer and/or the oxynitride layer are formed on the substrate, minute patterns of a semiconductor device, for example a DRAM device, an SRAM device or an LOGIC device may be easily formed on the oxide layer or the oxynitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Sub You, Hun-Hyeoung Leam, Seok-Woo Nam, Bong-Hyun Kim, Woong Lee, Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7297621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). More specifically, the present invention relates to employing a flexible, conductive particle-polymer composite material for ohmic contacts (i.e. drain and source).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Erik Brandon
  • Patent number: 7297622
    Abstract: A method of forming a wiring in a thin-film transistor includes a step of providing a bank having a groove defined thereon, a step of placing a liquid material in a wiring formation area of the by depositing droplets of the liquid material, and a step of placing the liquid material in a secondary area. The groove has the wiring formation area and the secondary area that are contiguously connected with each other. The liquid material contains a structural material for the wiring. The per unit amount of the liquid material placed in the secondary area is smaller than the per unit amount of the liquid material deposited in the wiring formation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7297623
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of interfacing a poly-metal structure and a semiconductor substrate is provided where an etch stop layer is provided in a polysilicon region of the structure. The present invention also addresses the relative location of the etch stop layer in the polysilicon region and a variety of structure materials and oxidation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kishnu K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 7297624
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including forming a depression in a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming an electrode pad within the depression, forming structures including circuit devices and metal wires on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and exposing the electrode pad by removing a rear surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Meng An Jung
  • Patent number: 7297625
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a group III-V crystal is made available by which good-quality group III-V crystals are easily obtained at low cost without causing cracks, even when using a variety of substrates. A method of manufacturing a group III-V crystal, characterized in including: a step of depositing a metal film (2) on a substrate (1); a step of heat-treating the metal film (2) in an atmosphere in which a patterning compound is present; and a step of growing a group III-V crystal (4) on the metal film after the heat treatment. Additionally, a method of manufacturing a group III-V crystal, characterized in including: a step of growing a group III-V compound buffer film on the metal film after the heat treatment; and a step of growing a group III-V crystal on the group III-V compound buffer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nakahata, Koji Uematsu, Ryu Hirota
  • Patent number: 7297626
    Abstract: A Ni2Si-nSiC Ohmic contact is formed by pulsed laser ablation deposition (PLD) of Ni2Si source target deposited on a n-SiC substrate or SiC substrate wafer with SiC epilayer. The Ni2Si Ohmic contact on n-SiC was rapid thermal annealed at 950° C. for 30 s in a N2 ambient. The resultant Ohmic contact is characterized by excellent current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, an abrupt void free contact-SiC interface, retention of the PLD as-deposited contact layer width, smooth surface morphology, and absence of residual carbon within the contact layer or at the interface. The detrimental effects of contact delamination due to stress associated with interfacial voiding; and wire bond failure, non-uniformity of current flow and SiC polytype alteration due to extreme surface roughness; have been eliminated as has electrical instability associated with carbon inclusions at the contact-SiC interface, after prolonged high temperature and power device operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Melanie W. Cole, Timothy P. Weihs