Patents Issued in December 25, 2007
  • Patent number: 7312476
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of an optical element and its manufacturing method. An optical element 100 includes a substrate 110, a columnar section 130 formed above the substrate 110 and having an upper surface 132 for light emission or incidence, a resin layer 140 formed above the substrate 110 and in a region including a circumference of the columnar section 130, a reinforcing layer 180 that is formed above the resin layer 140 and is composed of a material harder than the resin layer 140, and an electrode 150 that has a bonding section 156 formed above the reinforcing layer 180 and is electrically connected to an end section of an exposed area in the upper surface 132 of the columnar section 130.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Michifumi Nagawa, Tsuyoshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7312477
    Abstract: Whereas incandescent light bulbs and other similar light sources known in the related art emit light in all directions, LED lamps can emit light in a single direction, and this is manifested in the problem of being unable to achieve light distribution characteristics satisfied by conventional headlamp designs. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an LED lamp for a light source of a headlamp can include an LED chip 2 in the vicinity of the focus of a projection means and a shielding member 7 covering a portion of the LED chip 2 in a formation allowing a light distribution characteristic suitable for a vehicle front-illumination light to be obtained when light from the LED chip 2 is magnified and projected in an illumination direction by a projection lens 10 or the like constituting the projection means. Accordingly, accurate light distribution characteristics can be obtained in a simple manner by projecting in the illumination direction using the projection lens 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Takashi Ebisutani, Teruo Koike, Takuya Kushimoto, Ryotaro Owada, Masafumi Ohno, Takashi Futami
  • Patent number: 7312478
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a side structure of a bare LED and a backlight module thereof, wherein the backlight module is preferably a light source of a display device such as an LCD device. The backlight module includes a flat plate covered with a thermally conductive dielectric material, a plurality of the side structures of the bare LEDs placed on the flat plate and in contact with the thermally conductive dielectric material, and a plurality of reflection parts also placed on the flat plate, each side structure of each bare LED includes a bare LED and two electrically conductive materials coupled to two bonding pads of the side structure of the bare LED respectively, and positioned on the flat plate therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ra-Min Tain, Shyi-Ching Liau, Tzong-Che Ho
  • Patent number: 7312479
    Abstract: A side-emission type semiconductor light-emitting device 10 includes a substrate 12, and the substrate 12 is provided with a case 14 formed of a resin having opacity and reflectivity. The substrate 12 is formed, on its surface, with electrodes 18a and 18b onto which an LED chip 20 is bonded. A transparent or translucent resin 16 is charged between the substrate 12 and the case 14 whereby the LED chip 20 is molded. A light-emitting surface of the side-emission type semiconductor light-emitting device 10 includes surfaces 16a, 16b and a surface opposite to the surface 16b which are formed of the transparent or translucent resin 16. Furthermore, the light-emitting surface is formed by a roughened surface. Due to this, a light outputted from the LED chip and a light reflected from the case 14 is scattered by the light-emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 7312480
    Abstract: A first buffer layer is formed on a substrate at a lower temperature than a single-crystal-growth-temperature, one or more of a layer composed of a nitride containing neither Ga nor In, a layer which has two or more thin films having different moduli of elasticity cyclically laminated therein, and a layer having an Al composition ratio which decreases and a Ga composition ratio which increases in a direction from the first buffer layer to a device-constituting layer are formed as a second buffer layer on the first buffer layer at the single-crystal-growth-temperature, and a device-constituting layer composed of a nitride semiconductor is formed on the second buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hata, Tatsuya Kunisato, Kouji Tominaga, Yasuhiko Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7312481
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-voltage junction field effect transistor (JFET), a method of manufacture and an integrated circuit including the same. One embodiment of the high-voltage junction field effect transistor (JFET) (300) includes a well region (320) of a first conductive type located within a substrate (318) and a gate region (410) of a second conductive type located within the well region (320), the gate region (410) having a length and a width. This embodiment further includes a source region (710) and a drain region (715) of the first conductive type located within the substrate (318) in a spaced apart relation to the gate region (410) and a doped region (810) of the second conductive type located in the gate region (410) and extending along the width of the gate region (410).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kaiyuan Chen, Joe Trogolo, Tathagata Chatterjee, Steve Merchant
  • Patent number: 7312482
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improve high frequency characteristics by reducing inductance of a source. In an HEMT assembled in a power amplifier device, each of a drain electrode, a source electrode, and a gate electrode is constructed by a base portion and a plurality of fingers projected in a comb-teeth shape from the base portion, and the fingers of the electrodes mesh with each other. In the source electrode, a width of the fingers positioned at both ends of the plurality of fingers is wider than a width of each of the fingers positioned between both ends. The width of each of the fingers positioned at both ends is a width equal to or larger than a sum of the widths of the plurality of fingers positioned between both ends, and the width of the base portion is wider than that of each of the fingers positioned at both ends. An electrode pad provided for the source base portion and an external electrode terminal are connected to each other via a conductive wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Akishige Nakajima, Hidenori Suenaga, Eigo Tange
  • Patent number: 7312483
    Abstract: A semiconductor film is formed on a substrate. Subsequently, a resist film is formed on the semiconductor film, and dry etching is performed to the semiconductor film using the resist film as a mask. Due to the dry etching, the edge portion of the semiconductor film protrudes from the resist film. Next, the p-type impurities are introduced into the edge portion of the semiconductor film using the resist film as a mask. The volume density of the p-type impurities in a channel edge portion of the semiconductor film is two to five times the volume density of the p-type impurities in a channel center section. Subsequently, the resist film is removed to form a gate insulating film and a gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 7312484
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, having a doped well region being formed in a substrate layer and a transistor having a terminal provided within said doped well region. The semiconductor structure also includes an oxide layer formed over the substrate layer, the doped well region, a poly silicon region, and the terminal of the transistor. The oxide layer including a step region being located where a height of the oxide layer transitions from a height associated with the doped well region to a height associated with the terminal of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Clifford I. Drowley, Ching-Chun Wang, Jungwook Yang
  • Patent number: 7312485
    Abstract: Complementary metal oxide semiconductor transistors are formed on a silicon substrate. The substrate has a {100} crystallographic orientation. The transistors are formed on the substrate so that current flows in the channels of the transistors are parallel to the <100> direction. Additionally, longitudinal tensile stress is applied to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Armstrong, Gerhard Schrom, Sunit Tyagi, Paul A. Packan, Kelin J. Kuhn, Scott Thompson
  • Patent number: 7312486
    Abstract: Dishing is known to be a problem after CMP of dielectric layers in which the distribution of embedded metal is non-uniform. This problem has been solved by populating those areas where the density of embedded metal is low with unconnected regions that, instead of being uniformly filled with metal, are made up of metallic patterns whose combined area within a given region is about half the total area of the region itself. Two examples of such patterns are a line stripe pattern (similar to a parquet flooring tile) and a checker board pattern. Data is presented comparing the parasitic capacitances resulting from the use of patterns of this type relative to conventional solid patterns. The effect of aligning the regions so as to reduce their degree of overlap with wiring channels is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang-Cheng Lin, Chin-Chiu Hsia
  • Patent number: 7312487
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC), 3D IC chip and method of fabricating a 3D IC chip. The chip includes multiple layers of circuits, e.g., silicon insulator (SOI) CMOS IC layers, each including circuit elements. The layers may be formed in parallel and one layer attached to another to form a laminated 3D chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Syed M. Alam, Ibrahim M. Elfadel, Kathryn W. Guarini, Meikei Ieong, Prabhakar N. Kudva, David S. Kung, Mark A. Lavin, Arifur Rahman
  • Patent number: 7312488
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor storage device comprising a ferroelectric capacitor superior in barrier capability against penetration of hydrogen from all directions including a transverse direction. The device comprises a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, the ferroelectric capacitor formed above the transistor and including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode, a first hydrogen barrier film which continuously surrounds side portions of a ferroelectric capacitor cell array constituted of a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors, and a second hydrogen barrier film which is formed above the ferroelectric capacitor cell array and which is brought into contact with the first hydrogen barrier film in the whole periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tohru Ozaki, Iwao Kunishima
  • Patent number: 7312489
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, a bit line interlayer insulating layer is placed over a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of parallel bit line patterns are placed on the bit line interlayer insulating layer. Each of the bit line patterns has a bit line and a bit line capping layer pattern stacked thereon. Bit line spacers covers side walls of the bit line patterns, buried holes penetrate predetermined regions of the bit line interlayer insulating layer between the bit line patterns. And a plurality of storage node contact plugs are placed between the bit line patterns surrounding by the bit line spacers. At this time, the storage node contact plugs fill the buried holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Shik Bae
  • Patent number: 7312490
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for a memory cell includes a substrate, a body extending vertically from the substrate, a first gate having a vertical member and a horizontal member and a second gate comprising a vertical member and a horizontal member. The first gate is disposed laterally from the body and the second gate is disposed laterally from the first gate. The horizontal member of the first gate overlaps the horizontal member of the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-Fei Zheng, Pranav Kalavade
  • Patent number: 7312491
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory element, which can be controlled via field effect, includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conduction type, a first doping region of a second conduction type provided in the semiconductor substrate, a second doping region of the second conduction type provided in the semiconductor substrate, a channel region located between the first and second doping regions, a multilayer gate dielectric which is arranged adjacent to the channel region and has a charge trapping memory layer, and a gate terminal provided above the gate dielectric. The charge trapping memory layer includes at least one sequence of adjacent layers, wherein the sequence of adjacent layers comprises an amorphous silicon carbide layer and an amorphous silicon nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Ufert, Josef Willer
  • Patent number: 7312492
    Abstract: The invention relates to the fabrication of DRAM memory cell arrangements having fin field effect transistors and curved channel field effect transistors. The FinFETs and CFETs are formed in a manner oriented to semiconductor fins arranged in cell rows. Within the cell rows, the semiconductor fins are spaced apart from one another by cell insulator structures. Adjacent cell rows are spaced apart from one another by striplike trench insulator structures. The semiconductor fins are in each case recessed in one or in two inner trench sections by means of gate trenches which extend from a longitudinal side of the respective semiconductor fin to the opposite longitudinal side. By isotropically etching the oxide of the trench insulator structures, pockets (fin trenches) are formed, in a self-aligned manner with respect to the gate trenches in the trench insulator structures and filled with a gate conductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Ulrike Gruning-Von Schwerin
  • Patent number: 7312493
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a vertical gate and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. An example semiconductor device includes a pair of first source/drain regions formed apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a silicon substrate, a first silicon epitaxial layer formed on the pair of first source/drain regions, a vertical gate insulation layer formed at both sidewalls of the first silicon epitaxial layer, and a second silicon epitaxial layers formed on the first silicon epitaxial layer and on the gate insulation layer. The example device includes a pair of second source/drain regions formed in the second silicon epitaxial layer formed on the first silicon epitaxial layer, at positions above the pair of first source/drain regions, and a plurality of vertical gates respectively connected to the second silicon epitaxial layer formed on the gate insulation layer and to the pair of second source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Hong Lim
  • Patent number: 7312494
    Abstract: Dielectric layers containing a hafnium oxide hafnium oxide layer arranged as one or more monolayers and a lanthanide oxide layer and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer produce a reliable dielectric layer having an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. The dielectric can be formed as a nanolaminate of hafnium oxide and a lanthanide oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7312495
    Abstract: A multi-bit memory cell (200) with a control gate (220) for controlling a middle portion of a channel region (208) provides improved operation including faster programming at smaller voltages and currents. The memory cell (200) includes a source (204) and a drain (206) diffused into a substrate (202) forming a channel region (208) therebetween. A first charge storing layer (214), a second charge storing layer (216) and the control gate (220) are formed on the substrate (202) over the channel region (208) and a gate (218) is formed over the source (204), the drain (206), the first and second charge storing layers (214, 216) and the control gate (220). Dielectric material (210, 212, 224, 226, 228) separates the source (204) and the drain (206) from the gate (218), and the control gate (220) from the first charge storing layer (214), the second charge storing layer (216) and the gate (218).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventor: Wei Zheng
  • Patent number: 7312496
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first transistor having a composite gate structure containing a lamination of a first polycrystalline silicon film, an interlayer insulating film, and a second polycrystalline silicon film; and a second transistor having a single gate structure containing a lamination of a third polycrystalline silicon film and a fourth polycrystalline silicon film, wherein the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness; the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have different impurity concentrations controlled independently of each other; the second polycrystalline silicon film and the fourth polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness, and the second polycrystalline silicon film, the fourth polycrystalline silicon film, and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same impurity concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Pegre Semiconductors, LLC
    Inventor: Katsuki Hazama
  • Patent number: 7312497
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory, the select gates (144S) are formed from one conductive layer (e.g. polysilicon or polyside), and the wordlines (144) interconnecting the select gates are made from a different conductive layer (e.g. metal). The wordlines overlie an dielectric (302, 304, 310) formed over control gate lines (134). Each control gate line provides control gates for one column of the memory cells. The adjacent control gate lines for the adjacent memory columns are spaced from each other. The dielectric thickness can be controlled to reduce the capacitance between the wordlines and the control gates. In some embodiments, the floating gates (120) are fabricated in a self-aligned manner using an isotropic etch of the floating gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Yi Ding
  • Patent number: 7312498
    Abstract: A stacked-gate structure includes a tunnel insulation film, a floating gate electrode, an inter-electrode insulation film and a control gate electrode, which are stacked on a semiconductor substrate. The inter-electrode insulation film has a three-layer structure that includes a first oxidant barrier layer, an intermediate insulation layer and a second oxidant barrier layer. Gate side-wall insulation films are formed on both side surfaces of the stacked-gate structure. The thickness of the gate side-wall insulation film increases, at a side portion of the floating gate electrode, from the inter-electrode insulation film side toward the tunnel insulation film side. The width of the floating gate electrode in a channel length direction decreases from the inter-electrode insulation film side toward the tunnel insulation film side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7312499
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a field effect transistor which has a gate insulator, a gate electrode and a pair of source/drain diffusion regions on a semiconductor substrate. The device also includes a coating film made of a dielectric having a function of storing electric charge and formed on the substrate in such a manner as to cover an upper surface and side surfaces of the gate electrode. The device further includes an interlayer insulator formed on and in contact with the coating film. The device still further includes contact members which extend vertically through the interlayer insulator and the coating film on the source/drain diffusion regions and which are electrically connected to the source/drain diffusion regions, respectively. The coating film and the interlayer insulator are made of materials which are selectively etchable to each other. Thus, the issues of overerase and read failures due to the overerase can be solved, and the device reliability can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwata, Takayuki Ogura, Akihide Shibata, Kouichirou Adachi
  • Patent number: 7312500
    Abstract: An ideal step-profile in a channel region is realized easily and reliably, whereby suppression of the short-channel effect and prevention of mobility degradation are achieved together. A silicon substrate is amorphized to a predetermined depth from a semiconductor film, and impurities to become the source/drain are introduced in this state. Then the impurities are activated, and the amorphized portion is recrystallized, by low temperature solid-phase epitaxial regrowth. With the processing temperature required for the low temperature solid-phase epitaxial regrowth being within a range of 450° C.-650° C., thermal diffusion of the impurities into the semiconductor film is suppressed, thereby maintaining the initial steep step-profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Miyashita, Kunihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7312501
    Abstract: ON resistance and leakage current of a vertical power MOSFET are to be diminished. In a vertical high breakdown voltage MOSFET with unit MOSFETs (cells) arranged longitudinally and transversely over a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, the cells are made quadrangular in shape, and in each of the cells, source regions whose inner end portions are exposed to the interior of a quadrangular source contact hole are arranged separately and correspondingly to each side of the quadrangle. Each source region is trapezoidal in shape, and a lower side of the trapezoid is positioned below a gate electrode (gate insulating film), while an upper side portion of the trapezoid is exposed to the interior of the source contact hole. The four source regions are separated from one another by diagonal regions of the quadrangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Katuo Ishizaka, Tetsuo Iijima
  • Patent number: 7312502
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure for a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure that has different thickness gate dielectrics covering the fins extending from the substrate. These fins have a central channel region and source and drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The thicker gate dielectrics can comprise multiple layers of dielectric and the thinner gate dielectrics can comprise less layers of dielectric. A cap comprising a different material than the gate dielectrics can be positioned over the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7312503
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of local bit lines, a global bit line, a first switch element, and a holding circuit. The memory cell includes first and second MOS transistors. The first MOS transistor has a charge accumulation layer and a control gate. The second MOS transistor has one end of its current path connected to one end of a current path of the first MOS transistor. The local bit line connects other end of the current paths of the first MOS transistors. The first switch element makes a connection between the local bit lines and the global bit line. The holding circuit is connected to the global bit line and holds data to be written into the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Umezawa, Takehiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7312504
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor for a memory device realizing both a step-gated asymmetry transistor and a fin transistor in a cell and a method for manufacturing the same. The transistor has an active region protruding from a predetermined region of a substrate and a groove formed in the active region. A field oxide layer is formed on the substrate around the active region in such a manner that it has a surface lower than the upper surface of the active region including the groove. A pair of gates are placed along one and the other ends of groove across the upper surface of the active region while overlapping the stepped portion of the active region. The transistor has the structure of a step-gated asymmetry transistor when seen in a sectional view taken in a first direction, as well as that of a fin transistor when seen in a sectional view taken in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 7312505
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate integrated with interconnections and circuit components. A silicon backplane is processed with silicon processing to provide electrical connectivity for circuit elements. In one embodiment functional circuit elements, e.g., MEMS, switches, filters, are integrated on the silicon backplane. In one embodiment the function circuit elements are monolithically processed into the silicon backplane. In one embodiment the silicon backplane includes interconnections for integrated circuits on different substrates to be bonded to the silicon backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Issy Kipnis, Valluri R. Rao
  • Patent number: 7312506
    Abstract: A memory cell structure. A first conductive line is cladded by at least two first ferromagnetic layers respectively having a first easy axis and a second easy axis, a nano oxide layer located between the first ferromagnetic layers, and a first pinned ferromagnetic layer. The first and second easy axes are 90 degree twisted-coupled with the first easy axis parallel to the length of the first conductive line and the second easy axis perpendicular to the length of the first conductive line. A storage device is adjacent to the first conductive line, receiving a magnetic field generated from a current flowing through the first conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Wang, Chih-Huang Lai, Denny Tang, Wen Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 7312507
    Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell with high conversion efficiency is provided. The dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention has, between an electrode (2) formed on a surface of a transparent substrate (1) and a counter electrode (6), a light-absorbing layer (3) containing light-absorbing particles carrying dye and an electrolyte layer (5), characterized in that the light-absorbing layer (3) containing light-scattering particles (4) different in size from the light-absorbing particles. In such a dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, the energy of light, which passes through a light-absorbing layer in a conventional cell structure, can be strongly absorbed by the dye in the light-absorbing layer of the present invention. This will increase the conversion efficiency and output current of the dye-sensitized solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Tomita
  • Patent number: 7312508
    Abstract: To provide an optical element including a surface-emitting type semiconductor laser and an photodetector element, having a desired plurality of dielectric layers, and its manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7312509
    Abstract: A digital temperature sensing device uses temperature depending characteristic of contact resistance of a MOS transistor and a self-refresh driving device adjusts its self-refresh period depending on temperature using the digital temperature sensing device. The self-refresh driving device includes a first reference voltage generating unit for generating a reference voltage robust to temperature, the first reference voltage generating means being formed with a plurality of MOS transistors, the number of source contacts of the MOS transistors being adjusted such that variation of saturation current through source-drain is compensated for; a second reference voltage generating unit for generating a second reference voltage sensitive to temperature; a level comparator for comparing the first reference voltage with the second reference voltage; and an oscillator for generating a clock signals having differing period depending on the output signal of the level comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hi-Hyun Han, Jun-Gi Choi
  • Patent number: 7312510
    Abstract: A device using an ambipolar transport of an SB-MOSFET and a method for operating the same are provided. The SB-MOSFET includes: a silicon channel region; a source and a drain contacted on both sides of the channel region and formed of material including metal layer; and a gate formed on the channel region, with a gate dielectric layer interposed therebetween. Positive (+), 0 or negative (?) gate voltage is selectively applied to the gate, the channel becomes off-state when the gate voltage between a negative threshold voltage and a positive threshold voltage is applied, and the channel becomes a first on-state and a second on-state when the gate voltage is lower than the negative threshold voltage or higher than the positive threshold voltage. Accordingly, it is possible to implement three current states, that is, hole current, electron current, and no current. The SB-MOSFET can be applied to a multi-bit memory and/or multi-bit logic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae Heon Shin, Moon Gyu Jang, Yark Yeon Kim, Seong Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 7312511
    Abstract: This invention provides a high frequency power module which is incorporated into a mobile phone and which incorporates high frequency portion analogue signal processing ICs including low noise amplifiers which amplify an extremely weak signal therein. A semiconductor device includes a sealing body which is made of insulation resin, a plurality of leads which are provided inside and outside the sealing body, a tab which is provided inside the sealing body and has a semiconductor element fixing region and a wire connection region on a main surface thereof, a semiconductor element which is fixed to the semiconductor element fixing region and includes electrode terminals on an exposed main surface, conductive wires which connect electrode terminals of the semiconductor element and the leads, and conductive wires which connect electrode terminals of the semiconductor element and the wire connecting region of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tadatoshi Danno, Tsutomu Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7312512
    Abstract: Interconnect structures with polygonal cell structures. An exemplary interconnect structure comprises a substrate and a first dielectric layer, overlying the substrate and exposing a conductive feature formed therethrough and connected with the substrate, wherein the first dielectric layer includes a plurality of polygon cell structures with hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ding-Chung Lu, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Cheng-Yuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 7312513
    Abstract: An antifuse circuit includes a terminal, an antifuse transistor, and a bias transistor. The antifuse transistor is formed on a substrate. The antifuse transistor is coupled to the terminal and includes a first gate terminal coupled to receive a first select signal. The bias transistor is coupled between the substrate and a bias voltage terminal. The bias transistor has a second gate terminal and is operable to couple the bias voltage terminal to the substrate responsive to an assertion of a bias enable signal at the second gate terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: William J. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7312514
    Abstract: A dielectric thin film 8, comprising a first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Am?1 Bm O3m+1)2? or Bi2 Am?1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is a positive number, “A” is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and “B” is at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo and W. Between the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and a lower portion electrode 6, a second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b including bismuth in excess of that in the composition formula of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Miyamoto, Yukio Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7312515
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a wiring pattern, an insulating film, and a thin-metal-film resistor element. The insulating film is formed on the wiring pattern having connection holes vertically penetrating there-through to expose part of the wiring pattern at bottom regions of the connection holes. The connection holes are arranged with a space there-between. The thin-metal-film resistor element is formed on the insulating film and extending to continuously overlay and contact surfaces of the insulating film, inner walls of the connection holes, and the wiring pattern at the bottom regions of the connection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Yamashita, Yasunori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7312516
    Abstract: A dense semiconductor flip-chip device assembly is provided with a heat sink/spreading/dissipating member that is formed as a paddle of a metallic paddle frame in a strip of paddle frames. Semiconductor dice are bonded to the paddles by, e.g., conventional semiconductor die attachment methods, enabling bump attachment and testing to be conducted before detachment from the paddle frame strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Corisis
  • Patent number: 7312517
    Abstract: A system-in-package type semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor chips, a first semiconductor chip 1110 to which electric power is supplied from first power supply wiring 1111, and first ground wiring 1112 to which the first circuit unit is coupled. Moreover, the system-in-package type semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor chip 1120 to which electric power is supplied from second power supply wiring 1124, and second ground wiring 1125 coupled to the second circuit unit. The first semiconductor chip includes a first interface circuit unit 1412, and the second circuit unit includes a second interface circuit unit 1121 configured to perform inputting or outputting of a signal to and from the first interface circuit unit. The first ground wiring 1414 is coupled to the second ground wiring 1424 through a protection circuit 1442, and the second interface circuit unit is placed in the vicinity of the first interface circuit unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Morihisa Hirata
  • Patent number: 7312518
    Abstract: A miniaturized multi-chip module suitable for application to wireless transmission devices includes a substrate, integrated circuit chips mounted on and connected electrically to the substrate, and an interposer mounted on one surface of the substrate. The interposer cooperates with the substrate to confine a receiving space for receiving the integrated circuit chips on the surface of the substrate to which the interposer is attached, and is provided with conductors that are connected electrically to the substrate. Therefore, when the interposer is mounted on a circuit board, the conductors serve as external electrical connections for the integrated circuit chips. A method for manufacturing the miniaturized multi-chip module is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Hsien Liao, Jia-Yang Chen, Chuei-Tang Wang
  • Patent number: 7312519
    Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit package-in-package system is provided forming a first device having a first integrated circuit package comprises forming a first substrate with a first integrated circuit thereon, electrically connecting first electrical interconnects between the first integrated circuit and a top side of the first substrate, encapsulating a first top molding compound to cover the first electrical interconnects and a portion of the top side of the first substrate, and encapsulating a first bottom molding compound to cover the first integrated circuit and a bottom side the first substrate, and stacking a second device, having a second integrated circuit package, below the first device with a second top molding compound of the second device providing a space between the first device and the second device, wherein the second device includes the second top molding compound and a second bottom molding compound in a similar manner to the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Stats Chippac Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungmin Song, Choong Bin Yim, Seongmin Lee, Jaehyun Lim, Joungin Yang, Dongsam Park
  • Patent number: 7312520
    Abstract: An interface module for connecting LSI packages includes a connecting member which is to be mounted on an LSI package including an LSI chip and which includes lines to be electrically connected to the LSI package, an optoelectronic transducer which is mounted on the connecting member, which is connected to the lines of the connecting member, and which converts optical signal to electric signal or converts electric signal to optical signal, an optical waveguide which includes an optical input end and an optical output end, one of which is optically connected to the optoelectronic transducer, and a reinforcing film which is adhered to the optical waveguide, covering at least one side of the optical waveguide, and which is secured at one end to the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideto Furuyama, Hiroshi Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 7312521
    Abstract: Cost is reduced and reliability is improved with a BGA (Ball Grid Array) type semiconductor device which has ball-shaped conductive terminals. A first wiring is formed on an insulation film which is formed on a surface of a semiconductor die. A glass substrate is bonded over the surface of the semiconductor die, and a side surface and a back surface of the semiconductor die are covered with an insulation film. A second wiring is connected to a side surface or a back surface of the first wiring and extending over the back surface of the semiconductor die. A conductive terminal such as a bump is formed on the second wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Noma, Hiroyuki Shinogi, Nobuyuki Takai, Katsuhiko Kitagawa, Ryoji Tokushige, Takayasu Otagaki, Tatsuya Ando, Mitsuru Okigawa
  • Patent number: 7312522
    Abstract: A mounting member of a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a wiring substrate to input and/or output actuating signals to a semiconductor device, a power supplying conductor plate to supply actuating power to the semiconductor device, and the GND conductor plate. The wiring substrate, the power supplying conductor plate, and the GND conductor plate are laminated with insulation films between respective layers. Input/output signals as well as minute driving current is supplied from wiring substrate, and the large main driving current is supplied through the power supplying conductor plate as well as the GND conductor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventor: Kenichi Oi
  • Patent number: 7312523
    Abstract: A circuit board comprises a resin-filled plated (RFP) through-hole; a dielectric layer over the RFP through-hole; a substantially circular RFP cap in the dielectric layer and connected to an upper opening of the RFP through-hole; a via stack in the dielectric layer; and a plurality of via lands extending radially outward from the via stack, wherein each of the plurality of via lands is diametrically larger than the RFP cap. Preferably, the RFP cap comprises a diameter of at least 300 ?m. Preferably, each of the via lands comprises a substantially circular shape having a diameter of at least 400 ?m. Moreover, the circuit board further comprises a ball grid array pad connected to the via stack; and input/output ball grid array pads connected to the ball grid array pad. Additionally, the circuit board further comprises metal planes in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean J. Audet, Jon A. Casey, Luc Guerin, David L. Questad, David J. Russell
  • Patent number: 7312524
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film including Si, C, O and H atoms in a parallel plate chemical vapor deposition process utilizing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (“PECVD”) process is disclosed. Electronic devices containing insulating layers of thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant materials that are prepared by the method are further disclosed. To enable the fabrication of a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film, specific precursor materials are used, such as, silane derivatives, for instance, diethoxymethylsilane (DEMS) and organic molecules, for instance, bicycloheptadiene and cyclopentene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, David R. Medeiros, Deborah Newmayer, Son Van Nguyen, Vishnubhai V. Patel, Xinhui Wang
  • Patent number: 7312525
    Abstract: A circuit assembly having an insulating base, a heat-conducting plate and a circuit containing die is disclosed. The die is in thermal contact with the heat-conducting plate, which is bonded to the insulating base. The insulating base includes heat-conducting channels that are in thermal contact with the heat-conducting plate. The die includes an integrated circuit therein and is mounted such that the heat-conducting plate is disposed between the die and the insulating plate. The insulating base preferably includes signal conducting channels for providing electrical connections to the die, the heat-conducting plate having an opening therein for making the connections between the die and the conducting channels. The assembly may also include a heat-spreading cover in thermal contact with the heat-conducting base plate, the heat-spreading cover overlying the die. The heat-conducting channels are preferably filled with solder, and include a solder protrusion extending from the heat-conducting channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventors: Koay Hean Tatt, Tan Gin Ghee