Patents Issued in March 31, 2009
  • Patent number: 7510907
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of fabricating a through-wafer via. A first mask is formed over a first side of a first semiconductor die to define a first via area. A deep recess is etched through the first semiconductor die in the first via area and a blanket metal layer is formed over the first side including the deep recess. The blanket metal layer is removed from an outer surface of the first side of the first semiconductor die while retaining a portion of the blanket metal layer within the deep recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John Heck, Qing Ma, Quan Tran, Tsung-Kuan Allen Chou, Semeon Altshuler, Boaz Weinfeld
  • Patent number: 7510908
    Abstract: Disclosed is a packaged semiconductor device. The device includes a die with an active surface having a plurality of electrical contacts, a back surface located opposite the active surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. The device also includes a first light blocking protective coating that covers at least a portion of the side surfaces of the die. Also, disclosed is a semiconductor wafer including an active surface and a back surface, the active surface having a multiplicity of electrical contacts. The wafer includes a plurality of channels formed in the active surface of the wafer, the channels being arranged in a grid that effectively divide the wafer into a plurality of dice, each die having a plurality of the electrical contacts; and a light blocking filler material that fills the channels. Further, disclosed is a stamp suitable for applying a light blocking filler material into grooves on a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hau Thanh Nguyen, Nikhil Kelkar
  • Patent number: 7510909
    Abstract: A fabricating method of wafer protection layers and a wafer structure are provided. The fabricating method includes providing a wafer first. The wafer includes pluralities of chips and has an active surface, a corresponding reverse surface and a plurality of pre-cut trenches on the active surface. On the active surface, pluralities of bumps are disposed. Next, a first curing-type protection layer and a pellicle are disposed over the active surface. Afterwards, the first curing-type protection layer is asked to contact the active surface. Besides, a second curing-type protection layer is disposed on the reverse surface. Afterward, the first and the second curing-type protection layer are cured. Finally, the wafer is cut through the pre-cut trenches to separate the chips from the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Pin Tsai
  • Patent number: 7510910
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a production method thereof capable of reducing warps of a semiconductor wafer when packaging at a wafer level in a SiP-type semiconductor device, which is configured so that an insulating layer is formed by stacking a plurality of resin layers on a semiconductor chip formed with an electronic circuit, wiring layers are buried in the insulating layer and electrically connected to electrodes, and formation areas of the plurality of resin layers become gradually smaller from an area of an upper surface of the semiconductor chip as they get farther from the semiconductor chip, so that a side surface and an upper surface of each of the resin layers and the upper surface of the semiconductor chip form a stepwise shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Yamagata
  • Patent number: 7510911
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of semiconductor chips each having a surface bonded to a wiring board and being electrically connected thereto, a plurality of metal plates each having a one-end portion bonded to the other surface of each of the plurality of semiconductor chips and having an other-end portion bonded to the wiring board to make electric connection therebetween, thermoplastic resin which seals the metal plates integrally as one body, such that a surface opposing the surface bonded to the semiconductor chip, of each of the metal plates, is exposed to outside, and thermosetting resin which seals an outer peripheral portion of the thermoplastic resin, and the semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Taizo Tomioka, Kazuo Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 7510912
    Abstract: A method of making a wirebond electronic package which includes a semiconductor chip bonded to the upper surface of an organic laminate substrate, including to a thermal material located on the substrate and comprised of a plurality of thermally conductive concentric lines. These lines form paths of heat escape for the chip during operation thereof and may operate in combination with other elements to extend the heat paths. Concentric lines also assure sufficient bonding area on the substrate so as to prevent delamination of the chip from the substrate as may occur during high temperatures associated with subsequent processing such as solder ball re-flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David V. Caletka, Varaprasad V. Calmidi, Sanjeev Sathe
  • Patent number: 7510913
    Abstract: A method of making an encapsulated plasma sensitive device. The method comprises: providing a plasma sensitive device adjacent to a substrate; depositing a plasma protective layer on the plasma sensitive device using a process selected from non-plasma based processes, or modified sputtering processes; and depositing at least one barrier stack adjacent to the plasma protective layer, the at least one barrier stack comprising at least one decoupling layer and at least one barrier layer, the plasma sensitive device being encapsulated between the substrate and the at least one barrier stack, wherein the decoupling layer, the barrier layer, or both are deposited using a plasma process, the encapsulated plasma sensitive device having a reduced amount of damage caused by the plasma compared to an encapsulated plasma sensitive device made without the plasma protective layer. An encapsulated plasma sensitive device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Vitex Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenza Moro, Xi Chu, Martin Philip Rosenblum, Kenneth Jeffrey Nelson, Paul E. Burrows, Mark E. Gross, Mac R. Zumhoff, Peter M. Martin, Charles C. Bonham, Gordon L. Graff
  • Patent number: 7510914
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having a plurality of fuses and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device having a fuse including a substrate having a cell region and/or a fuse box region. A first insulation interlayer may be formed on the substrate. A first etch stop layer may be formed on the first insulation interlayer. A metal wiring including a barrier layer, a metal layer and/or a capping layer may be formed on the first etch stop layer of the cell region. Fuses, spaced apart from each other, may be formed on the first etch stop layer of the fuse box region. Each fuse may include the barrier layer and/or the metal layer. A second insulation interlayer having an opening exposing the fuse box region may be formed on the metal wiring and/or the first etch stop layer. The etch stop layer may allow the fuses to be formed more uniformly and decrease the probability of breaking the fuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Yoon, Jong-Kyu Kim, Jang-Bin Yim, Sang-Dong Kwon, Sung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7510915
    Abstract: To realize TFT enabling high-speed operation by fabricating a crystalline semiconductor film in which positions and sizes of crystal grains are controlled and using the crystalline semiconductor film in a channel forming region of TFT, a film thickness is stepped by providing a stepped difference in at least one layer of a matrix insulating film among a plurality of matrix insulating films having refractive indices different from each other. By irradiating laser beam from a rear face side of a substrate (or both sides of a surface side and the rear face side of the substrate), there is formed an effective intensity distribution of laser beam with regard to a semiconductor film and there is produced a temperature gradient in correspondence with a shape of the stepped difference and a distribution of the film thickness of the matrix insulating film in the semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kasahara, Ritsuko Kawasaki, Hisashi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7510916
    Abstract: Structure and methods of fabrication are disclosed for an enhanced FET devices in which dopant impurities are prevented from diffusing through the gate insulator. The structure comprises a Si:C, or SiGe:C, layer which is sandwiched between the gate insulator and a layer which is doped with impurities in order to provide a preselected workfunction. It is further disclosed how this, and further improvements for FET devices, such as raised source/drain and multifaceted gate on insulator, MODFET on insulator are integrated with strained Si based layer on insulator technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Oon Chu
  • Patent number: 7510917
    Abstract: In an active matrix display device integrated with peripheral drive circuits, an image sensor is provided on the same substrate as a pixel matrix and peripheral drive circuits. The image sensor is formed on the substrate having pixel electrodes, pixel TFTs connected to the pixel electrodes and CMOS-TFTs for driving the pixel TFTs. The light receiving unit of the image sensor has light receiving elements having a photoelectric conversion layer and light receiving TFTs. These TFTs are produced in the same step. The lower electrode and transparent electrode of the light receiving element are produced by patterning the same film as the light shielding film and the pixel electrodes arranged in the pixel matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Masayuki Sakakura
  • Patent number: 7510918
    Abstract: In a transistor and a method of manufacturing the transistor, the transistor includes a dummy structure enclosing source/drain structures and channel structures. Thus, a gate electrode of the transistor may be efficiently formed over the channel structures. In addition, the source/drain structure may not grow exceedingly in an epitaxial growth process employed for forming the source/drain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Woong Kang, Joo-Hyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 7510919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film having a thickness of less than 10 nm, made of oxidizable semi-conductor material and patterned in the form of patterns. To prevent the dewetting phenomenon of said patterns, lateral oxidized zones are arranged at the periphery of each pattern of the thin film so as to form an anchoring. This anchoring can be achieved by forming an oxide layer over the whole of the thin film and then depositing a nitride layer. Then the nitride and oxide layers and the thin film are patterned and the thin film is laterally oxidized so that each pattern of the thin film comprises, at the periphery thereof, an oxidized zone of predetermined width. The nitride and oxide layers are then removed so as to release the patterns oxidized at their periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Barbe, Maud Vinet, Béatrice Drevet, Carine Jahan
  • Patent number: 7510920
    Abstract: Position control of a crystal grain in accordance with an arrangement of a TFT is achieved, and at the same time, a processing speed during a crystallization process is increased. More specifically, there is provided a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, in which crystal having a large grain size can be continuously formed through super lateral growth that is artificially controlled and substrate processing efficiency during a laser crystallization process can be increased. In the manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, instead of performing laser irradiation on an entire semiconductor film within a substrate surface, a marker as a reference for positioning is formed so as to crystallize at least an indispensable portion at minimum. Thus, a time period required for laser crystallization can be reduced to make it possible to increase a processing speed for a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Akihisa Shimomura, Hisashi Ohtani, Masaaki Hiroki, Koichiro Tanaka, Aiko Shiga, Mai Akiba, Kenji Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7510921
    Abstract: A self-aligned silicon carbide power MESFET with improved current stability and a method of making the device are described. The device, which includes raised source and drain regions separated by a gate recess, has improved current stability as a result of reduced surface trapping effects even at low gate biases. The device can be made using a self-aligned process in which a substrate comprising an n+-doped SiC layer on an n-doped SiC channel layer is etched to define raised source and drain regions (e.g., raised fingers) using a metal etch mask. The metal etch mask is then annealed to form source and drain ohmic contacts. A single- or multilayer dielectric film is then grown or deposited and anisotropically etched. A Schottky contact layer and a final metal layer are subsequently deposited using evaporation or another anisotropic deposition technique followed by an optional isotropic etch of dielectric layer or layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SemiSouth Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Sankin, Janna B. Casady, Joseph N. Merrett
  • Patent number: 7510922
    Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a T-shaped structure (84) formed from a polysilicon structure (10) and polysilicon spacers (80, 82) and having a narrower bottom dimension (e.g., at or below 40 nm) and a larger top critical dimension (e.g., at or above 40 nm) so that a silicide may be formed from a first material (such as CoSi2) in at least the upper region (100) of the T-shaped structure (84) without incurring the increased resistance caused by agglomeration and voiding that can occur with certain silicides at the smaller critical dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hall, Dharmesh Jawarani, Mehul D. Shroff, Edward O. Travis
  • Patent number: 7510923
    Abstract: Slim spacers are implemented in transistor fabrication. More particularly, wide sidewall spacers are initially formed and used to guide dopants into source/drain regions in a semiconductor substrate. The wide sidewall spacers are then removed and slim sidewall spacers are formed alongside a gate stack of the transistor. The slim spacers facilitate transferring stress from an overlying pre metal dielectric (PMD) liner to a channel of the transistor, and also facilitate reducing a resistance in the transistor by allowing silicide regions to be formed closer to the channel. This mitigates yield loss by facilitating predictable or otherwise desirable behavior of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Manoj Mehrotra, Karen Hildegard Ralston Kirmse, Shirin Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 7510924
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a memory cell on a substrate having a plurality of shallow trench isolations form therein, wherein top surfaces of the shallow trench isolations are lower than a top surface of the substrate and the shallow trench isolations together define a vertical fin structure of the substrate. The memory comprises a straddle gate, a carrier trapping layer and at least two source/drain regions. The straddle gate is located on the substrate and straddles over the vertical fin structure. The carrier trapping layer is located between the straddle gate and the substrate. The source/drain regions are located in a portion of the vertical fin structure of the substrate exposed by the straddle gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Patent number: 7510925
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: the first step of forming a gate electrode over a silicon substrate, with a gate insulating film; and the second step of digging down a surface layer of the silicon substrate by etching conducted with the gate electrode as a mask. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device further includes the third step of epitaxially growing, on the surface of the dug-down portion of the silicon substrate, a mixed crystal layer including silicon and atoms different in lattice constant from silicon so that the mixed crystal layer contains an impurity with such a concentration gradient that the impurity concentration increases along the direction from the silicon substrate side toward the surface of the mixed crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Miyanami
  • Patent number: 7510926
    Abstract: A strained semiconductor material may be positioned in close proximity to the channel region of a transistor, such as an SOI transistor, while reducing or avoiding undue relaxation effects of metal silicides and extension implantations, thereby providing enhanced efficiency for the strain generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Wei, Thorsten Kammler, Jan Hoentschel, Manfred Horstmann
  • Patent number: 7510927
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method including: providing a substrate; forming a buried oxide layer over the substrate; forming a thin silicon body layer over the buried oxide layer, the thin silicon body layer having a thickness of 3-40 nanometers; forming a pad oxide layer over the thin silicon body layer; forming a silicon nitride layer over the pad oxide layer; forming a photoresist over the silicon nitride layer; forming an opening in the photoresist; removing the silicon nitride layer in the opening; partially or completely removing the pad oxide layer in the opening; removing the photoresist over the silicon nitride layer; forming a field oxide layer from the thin silicon body layer in the opening; removing the silicon nitride layer over the pad oxide layer; and removing the pad oxide layer over the thin silicon body layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Bohr, Julie Tsai
  • Patent number: 7510928
    Abstract: A portion of a conductive layer (310, 910) provides a capacitor electrode (310.0, 910.0). Dielectric trenches (410, 414, 510) are formed in the conductive layer to insulate the capacitor electrode from those portions of the conductive layer which are used for conductive paths passing through the electrode but insulated from the electrode. Capacitor dielectric (320) can be formed by anodizing tantalum while a nickel layer (314) protects an underlying copper (310) from the anodizing solution. This protection allows the tantalum layer to be made thin to obtain large capacitance. Chemical mechanical polishing of a layer (610) is made faster, and hence possibly less expensive, by first patterning the layer photolithographically to form, and/or increase in height, upward protrusions of this layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Tru-Si Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Savastiouk, Valentin Kosenko, James J. Roman
  • Patent number: 7510929
    Abstract: A memory cell device, including a memory material element switchable between electrical property states by the application of energy, includes depositing an electrical conductor layer, depositing dielectric material layers and etching to create a first electrode and voids. A memory material is applied into a void to create a memory material element in contact with the first electrode. A second electrode is created to contact the memory material element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 7510930
    Abstract: A method of fabricating self-aligned gate trench utilizing trench top oxide (TTO) poly spacer is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate having thereon a pad oxide layer and pad nitride layer is provided. A plurality of trench capacitors are embedded in a memory array region of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the trench capacitors has a TTO that extrudes from a main surface of the semiconductor substrate. Poly spacers are formed on two opposite sides of the extruding TTO and are used, after oxidized, as an etching hard mask for etching a recessed gate trench in close proximity to the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Pi Lee, Shian-Jyh Lin, Jar-Ming Ho
  • Patent number: 7510931
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a charge tunneling layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a charge trapping layer on the charge tunneling layer, forming a first charge blocking layer on the charge trapping layer by supplying a metal source gas and a first oxidizing gas onto the charge trapping layer, forming a second charge blocking layer on the first charge blocking layer by supplying a metal source gas and a second oxidizing gas onto the first charge blocking layer, wherein the second oxidizing gas has a higher oxidizing power as compared to the first oxidizing gas, and forming a gate electrode layer on the second charge blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-yeon Park, Han-mei Choi, Seung-hwan Lee, Sung-tae Kim, Young-sun Kim
  • Patent number: 7510932
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a field effect transistor and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device preferably includes a device active pattern disposed on a predetermined region of the substrate. The gate electrode preferably crosses over the device active pattern, interposed by a gate insulation layer. A support pattern is preferably interposed between the device active pattern and the substrate. The support pattern can be disposed under the gate electrode. A filling insulation pattern is preferably disposed between the device active pattern and the filling insulation pattern. The filling insulation pattern may be disposed under the source/drain region. A device active pattern under the gate electrode is preferably formed of a strained silicon having a lattice width wider than a silicon lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SAms Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Woo Oh, Dong-Gun Park, Dong-Won Kim, Jeong-Dong Choe
  • Patent number: 7510933
    Abstract: Provided is a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, which comprises disposing, in a ultrapure water preparing system, UF equipment having therein a UF module which has been manufactured by disposing, in a body thereof, a plurality of capillary hollow fiber membranes composed of a polysulfone membrane or polyimide membrane, bonding the plurality of hollow fiber membranes at end portions thereof by hot welding, and by this hot welding, simultaneously adhering the hollow fiber membranes to the body. Upon preparation of ultrapure water to be used for the fabrication of the semiconductor integrated circuit device, the present invention makes it possible to prevent run-off of ionized amine into the ultrapure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Takahashi, Kunio Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7510934
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a device isolation film, a tunnel insulation film, a plurality of floating gates, an inter-gate dielectric film, and a control gate pattern. Trenches are formed in the substrate that define active regions therebetween. The device isolation film is in the trenches in the substrate. The tunnel insulation film is on the active regions of the substrate. The plurality of floating gates are each on the tunnel insulation film over the active regions of the substrate. The inter-gate dielectric film extends across the floating gates and the device isolation film. The control gate pattern is on the inter-gate dielectric film and extends across the floating gates. A central region of the device isolation film in the trenches has an upper major surface that is recessed below an upper major surface of a surrounding region of the device isolation film in the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Pil Chung, Jong-Ho Park, Kyeong-Koo Chi, Dong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7510935
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a charge-trapping dielectric and a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS)-type non-volatile semiconductor device includes forming the charge-trapping dielectric, and a first oxide layer including silicon oxide. A silicon nitride layer including silicon-rich nitride is formed by a cyclic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using a silicon source material and a nitrogen source gas. A second oxide layer is formed on the silicon nitride layer. Hence, the charge-trapping dielectric having good erase characteristics is formed. In the SONOS-type non-volatile semiconductor device including the charge-trapping dielectric, a data erase process may be stably performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hae Lee, Ju-Wan Lim, Jae-Young Ahn, Sang-Ryol Yang, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7510936
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating and driving the same are disclosed. Disclosed devices and method comprises: growing an oxide layer on a substrate and depositing a nitride layer on the oxide layer; patterning the nitride layer; forming injection gates on the lateral faces of the nitride layer; depositing a first polysilicon, a dielectric layer and a second polysilicon on the surface of the resulting structure, sequentially; patterning the second polysilicon, the dielectric layer and the second polysilicon to form gate electrodes; removing the nitride layer between the injection gates; forming source and drain extension regions around each of the gate electrodes by performing an ion implantation process; forming sidewall spacers on the lateral faces of the gate electrodes; and forming source and drain regions in the substrate by performing an ion implantation process with the sidewall spacers as an ion implantation mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Hyo Jung
  • Patent number: 7510937
    Abstract: The fabrication method for a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a memory cell area including memory cells and a peripheral circuit area adjacent to the memory cell area and including peripheral transistors, the method including the steps of: (1) forming a first active region in the memory cell area and a second active region in the peripheral circuit area in a substrate by forming isolation insulating films in the memory cell area and the peripheral circuit area so as to be away from a boundary therebetween; (2) forming a bottom insulating film and an intermediate charge trap film sequentially over the entire surface of the substrate; (3) removing a portion of the intermediate charge trap film formed in the peripheral circuit area using a first mask film; (4) forming a gate insulating film in the peripheral circuit area and also at least part of a top insulating film in the memory cell area; (5) forming a gate electrode film on the top insulating film and the gate insulating film; and (6) forming
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7510938
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided for a semiconductor device (54-11, 54-12) employing a superjunction structure (81). The method comprises, forming (52-6) first spaced-apart regions (70-1, 70-2, 70-3, 70-4, etc.) of a first semiconductor material (70) of a first conductivity type, forming (52-9) second spaced-apart regions (74-1, 74-2, 74-3, etc.) of a second semiconductor material (74) of opposite conductivity type interleaved with the first space-apart regions (70-1, 70-2, 70-3, 70-4, etc.) with PN junctions therebetween, thereby forming a superjunction structure, wherein the second regions have higher mobility than the first regions for the same carrier type. Other regions (88) are provided in contact with the superjunction structure (81) to direct control current flow therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the first material (70) is relaxed SiGe and the second material (74) is strained silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Edouard D. de Frésart
  • Patent number: 7510939
    Abstract: A finFET structure includes a semiconductor fin located over a substrate. A gate electrode is located traversing the semiconductor fin. The gate electrode has a spacer layer located adjoining a sidewall thereof. The spacer layer does not cover completely a sidewall of the semiconductor fin. The gate electrode and the spacer layer may be formed using a vapor deposition method that provides for selective deposition upon a sidewall of a mandrel layer but not upon an adjoining surface of the substrate, so that the spacer layer does not cover completely the sidewall of the semiconductor fin. Other microelectronic structures may be fabricated using the lateral growth methodology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Furukawa, Steven J. Holmes, David V. Horak, Charles W. Koburger
  • Patent number: 7510940
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual-gate semiconductor device. A preferred embodiment comprises forming a gate stack having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion including a different composition of layers, forming photoresist structures on the gate stack to protect the material to be used for the gate structures, etching away a portion of the unprotected material, forming recesses adjacent to at least one of the gate structures in the substrate upon which the gate structures are disposed, and forming a source region and the drained region in the respective recesses. The remaining portions of the gate stack layers that are not a part of a gate structure are then removed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, an oxide is formed on the vertical sides of the gate structures prior to etching to create the source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Nan Yeh, Mong Song Liang, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen, Yuan-Hung Chiu
  • Patent number: 7510941
    Abstract: The invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device. A metal silicide film is formed by a silicide process on a gate electrode and an n+-type source region of an LDMOSFET, and no such metal silicide film is formed on an n?-type offset drain region, an n-type offset drain region, and an n+-type drain region. A side wall spacer comprising a silicon film is formed via an insulating film on the side wall of the gate electrode over the drain side thereof, and a field plate electrode is formed by this side wall spacer. The field plate electrode does not extend above the gate electrode, and a metal silicide film is formed over the entire upper surface of the gate electrode in the silicide process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Makoto Hatori, Yutaka Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7510942
    Abstract: A method of increasing the work function of micro-electrodes includes providing a metal or silica surface functionalized with reactive groups and contacting the functionalized surface with a solution of at least one biochemical, having a permanent dipole moment and being capable of self assembly, for a sufficient time for the biochemical to self assemble molecularly (SAM) on the functionalized surface. The biochemical can be aminopropyl triethoxy silane, fatty acids, organosilicon derivatives, organosulfur compounds, alkyl chains, or diphosphates. Use in a wide variety of metals and metallic compounds is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents, Acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Sandwip K. Dey, Diefeng Gu, Rizaldi Sistiabudi, Jaydeb Goswami
  • Patent number: 7510943
    Abstract: A first gate dielectric of a first transistor is disposed over a workpiece in a first region, and a second gate dielectric of a second transistor is disposed over the workpiece in a second region. The second gate dielectric comprises a different material than the first gate dielectric. A first dopant-bearing metal comprising a first dopant is disposed in recessed regions of the workpiece proximate the first gate dielectric, and a second dopant-bearing metal comprising a second dopant is disposed in recessed regions of the workpiece proximate the second gate dielectric. A first doped region comprising the first dopant is disposed in the workpiece adjacent the first dopant-bearing metal. A second doped region comprising the second dopant is disposed in the workpiece adjacent the second dopant-bearing metal. The dopant-bearing metals and the doped regions comprise source and drain regions of the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Hong-Jyh Li
  • Patent number: 7510944
    Abstract: In a method of forming MIM capacitor structure, a TiW layer is formed and a capacitor mask is used to define areas of the TiW layer that will be sued in the formation of the MIM capacitor. A capacitor mask is then used to expose surface areas of the TiW layer, followed by deposition of a capacitor dielectric layer. A via mask and etch are then performed to provide a contact via to the bottom plate TiW layer. After the via etch, a Ti/TiN liner stack is deposited. The Ti/TiN multilayer stacked film serves as the capacitor top plate as well as the via contact liner film. Next, Tungsten is deposited to fill the vias and a Tungsten planarization step is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Venkat Raghavan, Andrew Strachan
  • Patent number: 7510945
    Abstract: A support-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface is bonded to an active-layer-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface while making the major surfaces oppose each other. The active-layer-side substrate and part of the oxide film are selectively etched from a surface opposite to the major surface of the active-layer-side substrate to a halfway depth of the buried oxide film formed from the thermal oxide films at the bonding portion. A sidewall insulating film is formed on the etching side surface portion of the active-layer-side substrate. Then, the remaining buried oxide film except that immediately under the active-layer-side substrate is selectively etched. A single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed on the support-side substrate exposed by removing the buried oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hajime Nagano, Shinichi Nitta, Takashi Yamada, Tsutomu Sato, Katsujiro Tanzawa, Ichiro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 7510946
    Abstract: A processing method for use in the fabrication of fabrication of nanoscale electronic, optical, magnetic, biological, and fluidic devices and structures, for filling nanoscale holes and trenches, for planarizing a wafer surface, or for achieving both filling and planarizing of a wafer surface simultaneously. The method has the initial step of depositing a layer of a meltable material on a wafer surface. The material is then pressed using a transparent mold while shining a light pulse through the transparent mold to melt the deposited layer of meltable material. A flow of the molten layer material fills the holes and trenches, and conforms to surface features on the transparent mold. The transparent mold is subsequently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Princeton University
    Inventors: Stephen Y. Chou, Bo Cui, Christopher F. Keimel
  • Patent number: 7510947
    Abstract: A cap wafer with patterned film formed thereon is etched through areas not covered by the patterned film to form a plurality of openings. Then, the cap wafer is bonded to a transparent wafer, and the cap wafer around the pattern film is segmented to form a plurality of cap structures. A device wafer with a plurality of devices and a plurality of contact pads electrically connected to the devices is subsequently provided. The cap structures and the device wafer are hermetically sealed to form a plurality of hermetic windows on the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Touch Micro-System Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Feng Shao, Ming-Yen Chiu
  • Patent number: 7510948
    Abstract: Hydrogen gas is ion-implanted into a wafer for active layer via an oxide film. The wafer for active layer is bonded with a supporting wafer using the oxide film as the bonding surface. The bonded wafer is subjected to a heat treatment at the temperature in a range of 400° C. to 1000° C. As a result of this heat treatment, the bonded wafer is cleaved at the site of ion-implanted layer as the interface thereby producing an SOI wafer. In this heat treatment for cleavage, the temperature difference within the surface of the bonded wafer is controlled to be within 40° C. Consequently, the wafer can be cleaved and separated completely across its entire surface at the site of the ion-implanted layer as the interface without leaving any regions uncleaved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Morimoto, Hideki Nishihata
  • Patent number: 7510949
    Abstract: Methods for producing a multilayer semiconductor structure are described. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a support substrate made of a first semiconductor material having a first lattice parameter, and depositing a layer of a second semiconductor material having a second lattice parameter, substantially different than the first, onto the support substrate to form an intermediate structure having an interface therebetween, the depositing being conducted such that most of the defects are confined to an adaptation layer located in a region adjacent to the interface. The method also includes creating a zone of weakness in the intermediate structure, bonding the second semiconductor material layer to a target substrate, detaching the support substrate at the zone to obtain a multilayer semiconductor structure having an exposed surface where detached, and fully removing the adaptation layer to obtain a relaxed thin layer of the second semiconductor material having a high quality surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Carlos Mazure, Bruno Ghyselen
  • Patent number: 7510950
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which is flexible and superiority in physical strength. As a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, an element layer including a plurality of integrated circuits is formed over one surface of a substrate; a hole having curvature is formed in part of one surface side of the substrate; the substrate is thinned (for example, the other surface of the substrate is ground and polished); and the substrate is cut off so that a cross section of the substrate has curvature corresponding to a portion where the hole is formed; whereby a laminated body including an integrated circuit is formed. Further, a thickness of the substrate, which is polished, is 2 ?m or more and 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Tsurume, Naoto Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 7510951
    Abstract: A patterning method comprising (a) providing a substrate having a sacrificial layer made of a first material, partially or totally formed on the substrate, (b) forming pattern grooves, which are free from the first material and have a line width of a first resolution or lower, on the sacrificial layer by using a first means, by which the sacrificial layer is directly processed to form a line, (c) filling the pattern grooves with a second material to a second resolution by using a second means, to form a pattern of the second material on the substrate. This method provides a high-resolution pattern with little or no waste of the second material, thereby reducing production costs. The method uses first high resolution means, such as focused energy beams of laser, combined with a low resolution means, such as ink-jet, to efficiently provide a high-resolution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Youn Shin, Bu Gon Shin
  • Patent number: 7510952
    Abstract: A single crystalline structure includes a first insulation interlayer pattern, a first epitaxial layer pattern, a second insulation interlayer pattern, and a second epitaxial layer pattern. The first insulation interlayer pattern includes a contact hole that exposes a single crystalline seed. The first epitaxial layer pattern fills up the contact hole. The second insulation interlayer pattern is formed on the first insulation interlayer pattern and the first epitaxial layer pattern. The second insulation interlayer pattern has a trench that partially exposes the first epitaxial layer pattern and has an end disposed over an upper surface of the first epitaxial layer pattern. The second epitaxial layer pattern fills up the trench. Thus, voids are not generated in the second epitaxial layer pattern and a semiconductor device having the single crystalline structure exhibits improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hye-Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 7510953
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a schottky device and a trench type semiconductor switching device such as a MOSFET formed in a common die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Donald He, Ritu Sodhi, Davide Chiola
  • Patent number: 7510954
    Abstract: A memory array with staggered local data/bit lines extending generally in a first direction formed in an upper surface of a substrate and memory cell access transistors extending generally upward and aligned generally atop a corresponding local data/bit line. Selected columns of the memory cell access transistors are sacrificed to define local data/bit access transistors which are interconnected with overlying low resistance global data/bit lines. The global data/bit lines provide selectable low resistance paths between memory cells and sense amplifiers. The sacrificed memory cell access transistors and staggered local data/bit lines provide increased footprints for sense amplifiers to facilitate increased circuit integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7510955
    Abstract: A multi-fin field effect transistor includes a substrate, an oxide layer, a conductive layer, a gate oxide layer, and a doped region is provided. The substrate is surrounded by a trench, and there are at least two fin-type silicon layers formed in the substrate in a region prepared to form a gate thereon. The oxide layer is disposed in the trench and the top surface of the oxide layer is lower than that of the fin-type silicon layers. The conductive layer is disposed in the region prepared to form a gate. The top surface of the conductive layer is higher than that of the fin-type silicon layers. The gate oxide layer is disposed between the conductive layer and the fin-type silicon layers and disposed between the conductive layer and the substrate. The doped region is disposed in the substrate on both sides of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiao-Che Wu
  • Patent number: 7510956
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for semiconductor devices. The apparatus comprises a substrate having therein a source region and a drain region separated by a channel region extending to a first surface of the substrate, and a multilayered gate structure located above the channel region. The gate structure comprises, a gate dielectric, preferably of an oxide of Hf, Zr or HfZr substantially in contact with the channel region, a first conductor layer of, for example an oxide of MoSi overlying the gate dielectric, a second conductor layer of, e.g., poly-Si, overlying the first conductor layer and adapted to apply an electrical field to the channel region, and an impurity migration inhibiting layer (e.g., MoSi) located above or below the first conductor layer and adapted to inhibit migration of a mobile impurity, such as oxygen for example, toward the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Fressscale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Li Liu, Marius K. Orlowski, Matthew W. Stoker