Patents Issued in May 31, 2011
  • Patent number: 7951664
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing resistors, methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, and structures thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a resistor includes forming a transistor material stack over a workpiece and patterning the transistor material stack, forming a gate of a transistor in a first region of the workpiece and leaving a portion of the transistor material stack in a second region of the workpiece. A top portion of the transistor material stack is removed in the second region, and a top portion of the workpiece is removed in the first region proximate the gate of the transistor, forming recessed regions in the workpiece in the first region. A semiconductive material is formed in the recessed regions of the workpiece in the first region and over a portion of the transistor material stack in the second region, forming a resistor in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Knut Stahrenberg, Jin-Ping Han
  • Patent number: 7951665
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a capacitor element having a lower electrode, a capacitor dielectric film, a TiN film, and a W film, and an interlayer insulation film covering the end and a portion of the upper surface of the lower electrode and disposed with a concave portion at a position corresponding to the lower electrode. The lower electrode is disposed selectively at the bottom of the concave portion, the upper surface of the lower electrode is exposed from the interlayer insulation film in the region for forming the concave portion, the side wall for the concave portion of the interlayer insulation film situates to the inner side of the lower electrode from the end of the lower electrode, and the capacitor dielectric film is disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the lower electrode and cover the interlayer insulation from the side wall for the concave portion to the upper surface of the interlayer insulation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Inoue, Tomoko Inoue
  • Patent number: 7951666
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a deep trench capacitor structure and a method of forming the structure that incorporates a buried capacitor plate contact that is simultaneously formed using an adjacent deep trench. This configuration eliminates the need for additional photolithographic processing, thereby, optimizing process windows. This configuration further eliminates the need to form the deep trench capacitor through an N-doped diffusion region connector and, thereby, allows for greater design flexibility when connecting the deep trench capacitor to another integrated circuit structure (e.g., a memory cell or decoupling capacitor array). Also, disclosed herein are embodiments of another integrated circuit structure and method, and more specifically, a memory cell (e.g., a static random access memory (SRAM) cell)) and method of forming the memory cell that incorporates one or more of these deep trench capacitors in order to minimize or eliminate soft errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert L. Ho, Steven M. Shank
  • Patent number: 7951667
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical transistor in a semiconductor device improves integration of the semiconductor device according to a design rule. After a semiconductor substrate is etched to form a buried bit line, a gate electrode pattern that surrounds a cylindrical channel region pattern of the vertical transistor is formed, thereby preventing damage to the gate electrode pattern due to an etching process. The gate electrode pattern surrounds the channel region pattern where a width is narrower than second source and drain regions. The second source and drain regions are then deposited over the channel region pattern and the gate electrode pattern. As a result, a neck-shaped channel region does not collapse due to the weight of the second source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7951668
    Abstract: A process for fabricating crown capacitors is described. A substrate having a template layer thereon is provided. A patterned support layer is formed over the template layer. A sacrifice layer is formed over the substrate covering the patterned support layer. Holes are formed through the sacrifice layer, the patterned support layer and the template layer, wherein the patterned support layer is located at a depth at which bowing of the sidewalls of the holes occurs and is bowed less than the sacrifice layer at the sidewalls. A substantially conformal conductive layer is formed over the substrate. The conductive layer is then divided into lower electrodes of the crown capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Kun-Jung Wu, Nagai Yukihiro
  • Patent number: 7951669
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a dual control gate non-volatile memory array are described. Parallel strips of floating gate material are formed over the substrate in a first direction but separated from it by a tunnel dielectric. In the gaps between these strips control gate material is formed forming a second set of parallel strips but insulated from both the adjacent floating gate stripes and the substrate. Both sets of strips are isolated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction forming an array of individual floating gates and control gates. The control gates formed from an individual control gate strip are then interconnected by a conductive wordline such the potential on individual floating gates are controlled by the voltages on two adjacent wordlines. In other variations either the floating gates or the control gates may be recessed into the original substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Eliyahou Harari, George Samachisa
  • Patent number: 7951670
    Abstract: A split gate memory cell. A floating gate is disposed on and insulated from a substrate comprising an active area separated by a pair of isolation structures formed therein. The floating gate is disposed between the pair of isolation structures and does not overlap the upper surface thereof. A cap layer is disposed on the floating gate. A control gate is disposed over the sidewall of the floating gate and insulated therefrom, partially extending to the upper surface of the cap layer. A source region is formed in the substrate near one side of the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Ming Huang, Hung-Cheng Sung, Wen-Ting Chu, Chang-Jen Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 7951671
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming an isolation trench in a semiconductor substrate, and the isolation trench defines first and second fins. The method further includes forming an isolation layer partially filling the isolation trench, forming first and second charge trap patterns respectively covering parts of the first and second fins projecting from the isolation layer, and forming a control gate electrode covering the first and second charge trap patterns and crossing the first and second fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Wan Lim, Hyun-Seok Jang, Byung-Hong Chung, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Sang-Ryol Yang
  • Patent number: 7951672
    Abstract: A method that includes measuring stress on at least one of a monitor substrate, a production substrate, and a proxy device on a production substrate to produce stress data, measuring shape on at least one of a proxy device on a production substrate and a production device on a production substrate to produce shape data, and inputting the stress data and the shape data into an elastic deformation calculation to determine a stress value for a production device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wack, Ady Levy, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 7951673
    Abstract: A gate structure may be utilized as a mask to form source and drain regions. Then the gate structure may be removed to form a gap and spacers may be formed in the gap to define a trench. In the process of forming a trench into the substrate, a portion of the source drain region is removed. Then the substrate is filled back up with an epitaxial material and a new gate structure is formed thereover. As a result, more abrupt source drain junctions may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Lindert, Suman Datta, Jack Kavalieros, Mark L. Doczy, Matthew V. Metz, Justin K. Brask, Robert S. Chau, Mark Bohr, Anand S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 7951674
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making SONOS memory, comprising the following steps: depositing silicon oxide layer and silicon oxynitride layer in sequence on underlayer; coating a layer of photoresist on the silicon oxynitride layer; removing part of the photoresist and form the logic area; removing silicon oxynitride layer in the logic area; removing the bottom oxide layer in the logic area; growing top oxide layer on the silicon oxynitride layer and logic area; removing the top oxide layer in the logic area; growing gate oxide layer; forming device structure of SONOS and logic area. The present invention can avoid the damage of top oxide layer and lateral etching in wet etching so as to improve the defect-free rate of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Shanghai IC R&D Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Zhu, Ming Li
  • Patent number: 7951675
    Abstract: Memory devices having improved BVdss characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain bitline dielectrics on bitlines of a semiconductor substrate; first spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the bitline dielectrics and on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a trench in the semiconductor substrate between the first spacers; and second spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the trench. By containing the trench and the first and second spacers between the bitlines, the memory device can improve the electrical isolation between the bitlines, thereby preventing and/or mitigating bitline-to-bitline current leakage and increasing BVdss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Lei Xue, Aimin Xing, Chih-Yuh Yang, Angela Hui, Chungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7951676
    Abstract: The semiconductor device has a semiconductor body with a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure has a first electrode, a second electrode and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is designed to form a conductive channel region. An insulating layer at least partially surrounds the gate electrode. A semi-insulating layer is provided between the gate electrode and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The semi-insulating layer is located outside the conductive channel region and has an interface state density which is greater than the quotient of the breakdown charge and the band gap of the material of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7951677
    Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a top area of a gate opening has a superior cross-sectional shape which is accomplished on the basis of a plasma assisted etch process or an ion sputter process. During the process, a sacrificial fill material protects sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material and a corresponding cap material. Consequently, the subsequent deposition of a work function adjusting material layer may not result in a surface topography which may result in a non-reliable filling-in of the electrode metal. In some illustrative embodiments, the sacrificial fill material may also be used as a deposition mask for avoiding the deposition of the work function adjusting metal in certain gate openings in which a different type of work function adjusting species is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Globalfoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Heinrich, Thomas Werner, Frank Seliger, Frank Richter
  • Patent number: 7951678
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit structure that incorporates at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that have the same conductivity type and essentially identical semiconductor bodies (i.e., the same semiconductor material and, thereby the same conduction and valence band energies, the same source, drain, and channel dopant profiles, the same channel widths and lengths, etc.). However, due to different gate structures with different effective work functions, at least one of which is between the conduction and valence band energies of the semiconductor bodies, these FETs have selectively different threshold voltages, which are independent of process variables. Furthermore, through the use of different high-k dielectric materials and/or metal gate conductor materials, the embodiments allow threshold voltage differences of less than 700 mV to be achieved so that the integrated circuit structure can function at power supply voltages below 1.0V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7951679
    Abstract: First, on a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a trapping film is formed which stores information by accumulating charges. Then, the trapping film is formed with a plurality of openings, and impurity ions of a second conductivity type are implanted into the semiconductor region from the formed openings, thereby forming a plurality of diffused layers of the second conductivity type in portions of the semiconductor region located below the openings, respectively. An insulating film is formed to cover edges of the trapping film located toward the openings, and then the semiconductor region is subjected to a thermal process in an atmosphere containing oxygen to oxidize upper portions of the diffused layers. Thereby, insulating oxide films are formed in the upper portions of the diffused layers, respectively. Subsequently, a conductive film is formed over the trapping film including the edges thereof to form an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yoshida, Keita Takahashi, Fumihiko Noro, Masatoshi Arai, Nobuyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7951680
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including an active device; forming a drift region in the substrate, the drift region bounded in part by a top surface of the substrate and spaced apart from a source; and forming a drain above the drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Guowei Zhang, Yisuo Li, Ming Li, Purakh Raj Verma, Shao-fu Sanford Chu
  • Patent number: 7951681
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit using a novel substrate-triggered lateral bipolar junction transistor (STLBJT) for providing a discharging path between power rails. The ESD protection circuit comprises an ESD detection circuit and a STLBJT device. The STLBJT device formed in a P-type substrate includes N-type collector and emitter regions coupled to the power rails, respectively. The substrate region between the collector and emitter regions, on which there is no field oxide device, serves as a base of the STLBJT device. The STLBJT device further includes a first P-type region coupled to the ESD detection circuit and a second P-type region coupled to one of the power rails, which are spatially separated from the collector/emitter regions, respectively. The STLBJT device is turned on by substrate-triggering responsive to the signal coming from the ESD detection circuit and establishes the discharging path between the power rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Ming-Dou Ker, Chyh-Yih Chang
  • Patent number: 7951682
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor in a semiconductor device includes forming an insulation layer over a substrate, forming a storage node contact plug passing through the insulation layer and coupled to the substrate, recessing the storage node contact plug to a certain depth to obtain a sloped profile, forming a barrier metal over the surface profile of the recessed storage node contact plug, forming a sacrificial layer over the substrate structure, etching the sacrificial layer to form an opening exposing the barrier metal, forming a bottom electrode over the surface profile of the opening, and removing the etched sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Soung-Min Ku
  • Patent number: 7951683
    Abstract: In-situ semiconductor process that can fill high aspect ratio (typically at least 6:1, for example 7:1 or higher), narrow width (typically sub 0.13 micron, for example 0.1 micron or less) gaps with significantly reduced incidence of voids or weak spots is provided. This deposition part of the process may involve the use of any suitable high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP CVD) chemistry. Prior to etch back, the feature gap is plugged with an etch selectivity layer. The etch back part of the process involves multiple steps including a sputter etch to reduce the top hat formations followed by a reactive plasma etch to open the gap. This method improves gapfill, reduces the use of high cost fluorine-based etching and produces interim gaps with better sidewall profiles and aspect ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Sunil Shanker
  • Patent number: 7951684
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (1) and a method are disclosed for obtaining on a substrate (2) a multilayer structure (3) with a quantum well structure (4). The quantum well structure (4) comprises a semiconductor layer (5) sandwiched by insulating layers (6,6?), wherein the material of the insulating layers (6,6?) has preferably a high dielectric constant. In a FET the quantum wells (4,9) function as channels, allowing a higher drive current and a lower off current. Short channel effects are reduced. The multi-channel FET is suitable to operate even for sub-35 nm gate lengths. In the method the quantum wells are formed by epitaxial growth of the high dielectric constant material and the semiconductor material alternately on top of each other, preferably with MBE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Youri Ponomarev
  • Patent number: 7951685
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a gallium nitride semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate with a dielectric film which has a low gate leak current and negligibly low gate lag, drain lag, and current collapse characteristics. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate in which a dielectric layer of a nitride dielectric material or an oxide dielectric material in an amorphous form functioning as a passivation film or a gate insulator is provided on a surface of a nitride semiconductor crystal layer grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. In the method, after the nitride semiconductor crystal layer is grown in an epitaxial growth chamber, the dielectric layer is grown on the nitride semiconductor crystal layer in the epitaxial growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sazawa, Naohiro Nishikawa, Masahiko Hata
  • Patent number: 7951686
    Abstract: A trench is formed in a surface layer of a semiconductor substrate, the trench surrounding an active region. A lower insulating film made of insulating material is deposited over the semiconductor device, the lower insulating film filling a lower region of the trench and leaving an empty space in an upper region. An upper insulating film made of insulating material having therein a tensile stress is deposited on the lower insulating film, the upper insulating film filling the empty space left in the upper space. The upper insulating film and the lower insulating film deposited over the semiconductor substrate other than in the trench are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Sadahiro Kishii, Hirofumi Watatani, Masanori Terahara, Ryo Tanabe, Kaina Suzuki, Shigeo Satoh
  • Patent number: 7951687
    Abstract: An electrical element, such as a thin-film transistor, is defined on a flexible substrate, in that the substrate is attached to a carrier by an adhesive layer, and is delaminated after definition of the transistor. This is for instance due to illumination by UV-radiation. An opaque coating is provided to protect any semiconductor material. A heat treatment is preferably given before application of the layers of the transistor to reduce stress in the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Polymer Vision Limited
    Inventors: Jacobus Bernardus Giesbers, Monique Johanna Beenhakkers, Cornelis Johannus Hermanus Antonius Rijpert, Gerwin Hermanus Gelinck, Fredericus Johannes Touwslager
  • Patent number: 7951688
    Abstract: A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Minhua Li, Qi Wang, Gordon Sim, Matthew Reynolds, Suku Kim, James J. Murphy, Hamza Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 7951689
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device capable of high speed operation is manufactured over a flexible substrate at a high yield. A separation layer is formed over an insulating substrate by a sputtering method; the separation layer is flattened by a reverse sputtering method; an insulating film is formed over the flattened separation layer; a damaged area is formed by introducing hydrogen or the like into a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film is formed over the semiconductor substrate in which the damaged area is formed; the insulating film formed over the insulating substrate is bonded to the insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate is separated at the damaged area so that a semiconductor layer is formed over the insulating substrate; the semiconductor layer is flattened so as to form an SOI substrate; and the semiconductor device is formed over the SOI substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Akimoto, Yuta Endo
  • Patent number: 7951690
    Abstract: An image sensor includes circuitry, a metal interconnection, a first substrate, a metal ion-implanted insulating layer, and a photodiode. The circuitry is formed on and/or over the first substrate, and the metal ion-implanted insulating layer is formed on and/or over the metal interconnection. The photodiode is formed in a crystalline semiconductor layer over the metal ion-implanted insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 7951691
    Abstract: In a method for producing a thin film chip including an integrated circuit, a semi-conductor wafer having a first surface is provided. At least one cavity is produced under a defined section of the first surface by means of porous silicon. A circuit structure is produced in the defined section. The defined wafer section is subsequently released from the semiconductor wafer by severing local web-like connections, which hold the wafer section above the cavity and on the remaining semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Institut fuer Mikroelektronik Stuttgart
    Inventors: Joachim N. Burghartz, Martin Zimmermann, Wolfgang Appel
  • Patent number: 7951692
    Abstract: There is provided a method for suppressing the occurrence of defects such as voids or blisters even in the laminated wafer having an oxide film of a thickness thinner than the conventional one, wherein hydrogen ions are implanted into a wafer for active layer having an oxide film of not more than 50 nm in thickness to form a hydrogen ion implanted layer, and ions other than hydrogen are implanted up to a position that a depth from the surface side the hydrogen ion implantation is shallower than the hydrogen ion implanted layer, and the wafer for active layer is laminated onto a wafer for support substrate through the oxide film, and then the wafer for active layer is exfoliated at the hydrogen ion implanted layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Murakami, Nobuyuki Morimoto, Hideki Nishihata, Akihiko Endo
  • Patent number: 7951693
    Abstract: In a III-nitride light emitting device, the device layers including the light emitting layer are grown over a template designed to reduce strain in the device, in particular in the light emitting layer. Reducing the strain in the light emitting device may improve the performance of the device. The template may expand the lattice constant in the light emitting layer over the range of lattice constants available from conventional growth templates. Strain is defined as follows: a given layer has a bulk lattice constant abulk corresponding to a lattice constant of a free standing material of a same composition as that layer and an in-plane lattice constant ain-plane corresponding to a lattice constant of that layer as grown in the structure. The amount of strain in a layer is |(ain-plane?abulk)|/abulk. In some embodiments, the strain in the light emitting layer is less than 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick N. Grillot, Nathan F. Gardner, Werner K. Goetz, Linda T. Romano
  • Patent number: 7951694
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor structure includes disposing a semiconductor substrate in a molecular beam epitaxy reactor; growing a wetting layer comprising AlxInyGa(1?(x+y))As(0?x+y?1) or AlxInyGa(1?(x+y))P(0?x+y?1) on the substrate; in-situ annealing the wetting layer; growing a first AlGaInN layer on the wetting layer using plasma activated nitrogen as the source of nitrogen with an additional flux of phosphorous or arsenic; and growing a second AlGaInN layer on the first AlGaInN layer using ammonia as a source of nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Stewart Edward Hooper, Jonathan Heffernan
  • Patent number: 7951695
    Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus to provide a way to reduce plasma-induced damage by applying a patterned layer of photoresist (114) which includes resist openings formed (117) over the active circuit areas (13, 14) as well as additional resist openings (119) formed over inactive areas (15) in order to maintain the threshold coverage level to control the amount of resist coverage over a semiconductor structure so that the total amount of resist coverage is at or below a threshold coverage level. Where additional resist openings (119) are required in order to maintain the threshold coverage level, these openings may be used to create additional charge dissipation structures (e.g., 152) for use in manufacturing the final structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schraub, Terry A. Breeden, James D. Legg, Mehul D. Shroff, Ruiqi Tian
  • Patent number: 7951696
    Abstract: Methods for simultaneously forming doped regions of opposite conductivity using non-contact printing processes are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of depositing a first liquid dopant comprising first conductivity-determining type dopant elements overlying a first region of a semiconductor material and depositing a second liquid dopant comprising second conductivity-determining type dopant elements overlying a second region of the semiconductor material. The first conductivity-determining type dopant elements and the second conductivity-determining type dopant elements are of opposite conductivity. At least a portion of the first conductivity-determining type dopant elements and at least a portion of the second conductivity-determining type dopant elements are simultaneously diffused into the first region and into the second region, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Yu-Kwan Leung, Anil Bhanap, Zhe Ding, Nicole Rutherford, Wenya Fan
  • Patent number: 7951697
    Abstract: A method of forming an electronic component package includes forming a patterned dielectric layer comprising circuit pattern artifacts and at least one electronic component opening. An etch stop metal protected circuit pattern is plated with the circuit pattern artifacts. An electronic component is mounted in the electronic component opening. The etch stop metal protected circuit pattern provide an etch stop for substrate formation etch processes. In this manner, etching of a patterned conductor layer is avoided insuring that impedance is controlled to within tight tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Patrick Huemoeller, Sukianto Rusli
  • Patent number: 7951698
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device using nanowires, minimizing the number of E-beam processing steps and thus improving a yield, includes the steps of: forming electrodes on a substrate; depositing a plurality of nanowires on the substrate including the electrodes; capturing an image of the substrate including the nanowires and the electrodes; drawing virtual connection lines for connecting the nanowires with the electrodes on the image using an electrode pattern simulated through a computer program, after capturing the image; coating an E-beam photoresist on the substrate; removing the photoresist from regions corresponding to the virtual connection lines and the electrode pattern using E-beam lithography; depositing a metal layer on the substrate after removing the photoresist from the regions of the virtual connection lines; and removing remaining photoresist from the substrate using a lift-off process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Seung Eon Moon, Eun Kyoung Kim, Hong Yeol Lee, Jong Hyurk Park, Kang Ho Park, Jong Dae Kim, So Jeong Park, Gyu Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7951699
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a first step of forming solder film on metal posts of a mother chip, a second step of forming solder balls after the first step by printing a solder paste on the mother chip and heating the mother chip so that the solder paste is ref lowed, a third step of bonding the metal posts of the mother chip and metal posts of a daughter chip to each other in a thermocompression bonding manner by means of the solder film after the second step, and a fourth step of flip-chip-connecting the mother chip on a circuit substrate by using the solder balls. In the second step, the mother chip is heated in a nitrogen atmosphere in which the oxygen concentration is 500 ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Iwasaki, Shiori Idaka, Yasumichi Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7951700
    Abstract: The invention involves mounting a solder resin composition (6) including a solder powder (5a) and a resin (4) on the first electronic component (2); arranging such that the connecting terminals (3) of the first electronic component (2) and the electrode terminals (7) of the second electronic component (8) are facing each other; ejecting a gas (9a) from a gas generation source (1) included in the first electronic component (2) by heating the first electronic component (2) and the solder resin composition; and inducing the flow of the solder powder (5a) in the solder resin composition (6) by inducing convection of the gas (9a) in the solder resin composition (6), and electrically connecting the connecting terminals (3) and the electrode terminals (7) by self-assembly on the connecting terminals (3) and the electrode terminals (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kitae, Seiichi Nakatani, Seiji Karashima, Yoshihisa Yamashita, Takashi Ichiryu
  • Patent number: 7951701
    Abstract: Regarding a semiconductor device, especially the present invention suppresses disconnection of the connection structure concerned in the semiconductor device which has the electric and mechanical connection structure using solder, and aims at improving connection reliability. And to achieve the above objects, the semiconductor device has the solder bump which electrically connects a semiconductor chip and a package substrate, the under-filling resin with which it filled up between the semiconductor chip and the package substrate, and a solder ball which electrically connects a package substrate with the outside, and the solder bump's elastic modulus is made lower than the elastic modulus of a solder ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7951702
    Abstract: A backside method for fabricating a semiconductor component with a conductive interconnect includes the step of providing a semiconductor substrate having a circuit side, a backside, and a substrate contact on the circuit side. The method also includes the steps of forming a substrate opening from the backside to the substrate contact, and then bonding the conductive interconnect to an inner surface of the substrate contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, William M. Hiatt, David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 7951703
    Abstract: An interconnect connection structure having first and second interconnects and multiple connection elements that electrically connect the first interconnect to the second interconnect is described. The multiple connection elements are formed laterally in a lateral region of the first and second interconnects relative to an overlay orientation of the interconnects. A central region may be free of connection elements so that electro-migration properties of the connection structure are improved and the current-carrying capacity is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Klaus Goller, Roland Wenzel
  • Patent number: 7951704
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate and first and second inter-level dielectric layers successively disposed on the substrate. One or more contacts in the peripheral extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer to respective components. One or more vias and a plurality of dummy vias extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer in the peripheral area. Each of the one or more peripheral vias extend to a respective peripheral contact. The peripheral dummy vias are located proximate the peripheral vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Shenqing Fang, Wenmei Li
  • Patent number: 7951705
    Abstract: Structures having low-k multilayered dielectric diffusion barrier layer having at least one low-k sublayer and at least one air barrier sublayer are described herein. The multilayered dielectric diffusion barrier layer are diffusion barriers to metal and barriers to air permeation. Methods and compositions relating to the generation of the structures are also described. The advantages of utilizing these low-k multilayered dielectric diffusion barrier layer is a gain in chip performance through a reduction in capacitance between conducting metal features and an increase in reliability as the multilayered dielectric diffusion barrier layer are impermeable to air and prevent metal diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hedrick, Elbert E. Huang
  • Patent number: 7951706
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor is provided. A fist metal layer can be formed on a lower structural layer, and an interlayer metal dielectric (IMD) layer can be formed on the first metal layer. A sacrificial oxide layer can be formed on the IMD layer, and a planarization process can be performed on the sacrificial oxide layer and the IMD layer to substantially eliminate a height difference of the IMD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7951707
    Abstract: An etching method for semiconductor element is provided. The etching method includes the following procedure. First, a to-be-etched substrate is provided. Then, a silicon-rich silicon oxide (SRO) layer is formed on the to-be-etched substrate. Afterwards, an anti-reflective layer is formed on the SRO layer. Then, a patterned photo resist layer is formed on the anti-reflective layer. Afterwards, the anti-reflective layer, the SRO layer and the to-be-etched substrate is etched so as to form an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tuung Luoh, Ling-Wuu Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 7951708
    Abstract: A method of forming a diffusion barrier for use in semiconductor device manufacturing includes depositing, by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, an iridium doped, tantalum based barrier layer over a patterned interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer, wherein the barrier layer is deposited with an iridium concentration of at least 60 atomic % such that the barrier layer has a resulting amorphous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. DeHaven, Daniel C. Edelstein, Philip L. Flaitz, Takeshi Nogami, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 7951709
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor die includes forming a trench around a conductive stud extending from the first side to a second side of a substrate to expose a portion of the stud and then forming a conductive layer inside the trench and in electrical contact with the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David Pratt
  • Patent number: 7951710
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a display device and a manufacturing method thereof by which a manufacturing process can be simplified. Further, the present invention discloses technique for manufacturing a pattern such as a wiring into a desired shape with good controllability. A method for forming a pattern for constituting the display device according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a first region and a second region; discharging a composition containing a pattern formation material to a region across the second region and the first region; and flowing a part of the composition discharged to the first region into the second region; wherein wettability with respect to the composition of the first region is lower than that of the second composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gen Fujii
  • Patent number: 7951711
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for depositing metal films are disclosed herein. In general, the disclosed methods utilize precursor compounds comprising gold, silver, or copper. More specifically, the disclosed precursor compounds utilize pentadienyl ligands coupled to a metal to increase thermal stability. Furthermore, methods of depositing copper, gold, or silver are disclosed in conjunction with use of other precursors to deposit metal films. The methods and compositions may be used in a variety of deposition processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Christian Dussarrat
  • Patent number: 7951712
    Abstract: Provided are an interconnection of a semiconductor device which includes a capping layer and a method for forming the interconnection. The interconnection of the semiconductor device is a copper damascene interconnection where the capping layer is formed as a dual layer of a silicon nitride layer and silicon carbide layer on a copper layer processed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high etching selectivity and a low dielectric constant of the silicon carbide layer while providing superior leakage suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-woo Lee, Soo-geun Lee, Ki-chul Park, Won-sang Song
  • Patent number: 7951713
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal wiring of a semiconductor device capable of efficiently preventing a hillock phenomenon occurred in a subsequent annealing process of a metal wiring process. The method for forming a metal wiring of a semiconductor device includes forming an Al growth stop film on the upper interface of an Al wiring film by reacting implanted reactive ions with a Ti film or the Al in the Al wiring film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wan-Shick Kim