Patents Issued in May 31, 2011
  • Patent number: 7952117
    Abstract: At least two drain ohmic contacts are arranged to intersect with an active area. A source ohmic contact is arranged between the drain ohmic contacts. A drain coupling portion on an element separating area couples ends of the drain ohmic contacts on the same side thereof. A gate power supply wiring on the element separating area couples gate fingers at the end thereof on the opposite side of the arrangement side of the drain coupling portion. A gate edge coupling portion couples two gate fingers adjacent to each other, sandwiching the source ohmic contact at the end thereof on the arrangement side of the drain coupling portion. The gate edge coupling portion does not intersect with the drain ohmic contact and the drain coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Satoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7952118
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a channel region in a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric film on the channel region, and a gate on the gate dielectric film. The gate includes a doped metal nitride film, formed from a nitride of a first metal and doped with a second metal which is different from the first metal, and a conductive polysilicon layer formed on the doped metal nitride film. The gate may further include a metal containing capping layer interposed between the doped metal nitride film and the conductive polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-suk Jung, Jong-ho Lee, Sung-kee Han, Ha-jin Lim
  • Patent number: 7952119
    Abstract: A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout that includes a number of diffusion region layout shapes to be formed within a portion of a substrate of a semiconductor device. The diffusion region layout shapes define at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region. The restricted layout region includes a gate electrode level layout defined to pattern conductive features within a gate electrode level above the portion of the substrate. The gate electrode level layout includes rectangular-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective PMOS transistor devices, and some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective NMOS transistor devices. A number of the PMOS transistor devices is equal to a number of the NMOS transistor devices in the restricted layout region of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Michael C. Smayling
  • Patent number: 7952120
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a semiconductor device having bit lines and bit bar lines. The bit lines and the bit bar lines are arranged in alternate succession across a substrate. At least two of proximate bit lines, bit line bars, power lines, and ground lines of the semiconductor device are formed on different layers, in order to reduce defects due to particles between lines, and increase yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7952121
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a charge storage portion for storing and transferring signal charges, a first electrode for forming an electric field storing the signal charges in the charge storage portion, a charge increasing portion for increasing the signal charges stored in the charge storage portion and a second electrode for forming another electric field increasing the signal charges in the charge increasing portion, wherein the quantity of the signal charges storable in the charge storage portion is not less than the quantity of the signal charges storable in the charge increasing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Arimoto, Hayato Nakashima, Kaori Misawa, Ryu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7952122
    Abstract: To form a semiconductor device, an electrode layer is formed over a semiconductor body. The electrode layer includes an amorphous portion. A liner, e.g., a stress-inducing liner, is deposited over the electrode layer. The electrode layer is annealed to recrystallize the amorphous portion of the electrode layer. The liner can then be removed and an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) that includes a feature (e.g., a gate) formed from the electrode layer can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Richard Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7952123
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor substrate in which an aluminum alloy film composing a source/drain wiring is directly connected with a transparent electrode. The thin-film transistor substrate includes a gate wiring, and source wiring and drain wiring, the gate wiring and the source and drain wiring being arranged orthogonally to each other. The single-layer aluminum alloy film composing the gate wiring and the single-layer aluminum alloy film composing the source wiring and the drain wiring are the same in composition. Furthermore, display devices can be mounted with the above thin-film transistor substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Gotoh, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Katsufumi Tomihisa
  • Patent number: 7952124
    Abstract: An image sensor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. An insulating layer having a wiring can be provided on a semiconductor substrate. A barrier wiring can be provided in the insulating layer between the wiring of a unit pixel and an adjacent wiring of an adjacent pixel. A device isolating pattern can be provided on the barrier wiring, and a lower electrode can be provided on the insulating layer and the wiring. A photodiode can be provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode can be provided on the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 7952125
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device capable of reducing an eclipse (blocking) of an incident light at a circumferential portion of a light receiving portion and realizing a larger angle of view and high-speed driving. A single-layer transfer electrode configuration of forming first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes by one polysilicon layer is adopted. Two shunt wirings extending in a horizontal direction are formed on the first transfer electrodes connected in a horizontal direction and, for example, four-phase transfer pulses are supplied to first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes on transfer channels through low-resistance shunt wirings extending in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Kanbe
  • Patent number: 7952127
    Abstract: A storage node structure includes a substrate having thereon a conductive block region; an etching stop layer covering the conductive block region; a conductive layer penetrating the etching stop layer and electrically connecting the conductive block region; an annular shaped conductive spacer on sidewall of the conductive layer, wherein the annular shaped conductive spacer is disposed on the etching stop layer and wherein the annular shaped conductive spacer and the conductive layer constitute a storage node pedestal; and an upper node portion stacked on the storage node pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Hsiao-Ting Wu
  • Patent number: 7952128
    Abstract: Provided is a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor, in which trenches (3) are formed in a charge accumulation region (6) of a p-type silicon substrate (1) to reduce a contact area between the p-type silicon substrate (1) and a lightly doped n-type well region (2), thereby reducing a leak current from the lightly doped n-type well region (2) to the p-type silicon substrate (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Kato, Jun Osanai
  • Patent number: 7952129
    Abstract: Embodiments according to the inventive concept can provide semiconductor devices including a substrate and a plurality of active pillars arranged in a matrix on the substrate. Each of the pillars includes a channel part that includes a channel dopant region disposed in a surface of the channel part. A gate electrode surrounds an outer surface of the channel part. The plurality of active pillars may be arranged in rows in a first direction and columns in a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeoung-won Seo, Jae-man Yoon, Dong-gun Park, Seong-goo Kim
  • Patent number: 7952130
    Abstract: In an eDRAM-type semiconductor device, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) section and a logic circuit section are formed on a semiconductor substrate, and an insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first capacitor is formed in the insulating layer at the DRAM section, the first capacitor defining a part of memory cell of the DRAM section. A second capacitor is formed in the insulating layer at the logic circuit section. The first capacitor comprises a lower electrode layer formed on an inner wall face of a hole formed in the insulating layer, and the second capacitor comprises a first lower electrode layer portion formed on an inner wall face of a groove formed in the insulating layer, and a second lower electrode layer portion formed on a surface of the insulating layer so as to be integrated with the first lower electrode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shintaro Arai
  • Patent number: 7952131
    Abstract: Large tuning range junction varactor includes first and second junction capacitors coupled in parallel between first and second varactor terminals. First and second plates of the capacitors are formed by three alternating doped regions in a substrate. The second and third doped regions are of the same type sandwiching the first doped region of the second type. A first varactor terminal is coupled to the second and third doped regions and a second varactor terminal is coupled to the first doped region. At the interfaces of the doped regions are first and second depletion regions, the widths of which can be varied by varying the voltage across the terminals from zero to full reverse bias. At zero bias condition, junction capacitance (Cmax) is enhanced due to summation of two junction capacitances in parallel. At reverse bias condition, with the merging of the two junction depletion widths, the capacitor areas are drastically reduced, thereby reducing Cmin significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventor: Manju Sarkar
  • Patent number: 7952132
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode. The source region and drain region are formed separately from each other in a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The channel region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and located between the source region and the drain region. The charge storage layer is formed on the channel region with a first insulating film interposed therebetween. The control gate electrode is formed on the charge storage layer with a second insulating film interposed therebetween. The control gate has an upper corner portion rounded with a radius of curvature of 5 nm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Tsurumi, Mitsuhiro Noguchi, Haruhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7952133
    Abstract: Provided are a flash memory and a method for manufacturing the same. The flash memory includes a semiconductor substrate having a device isolation region and an active region; a stacked gate on the semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer covering the semiconductor substrate and the stacked gate; a drain contact penetrating the insulation layer on one side of the stacked gate; and a source line penetrating the insulation layer on an opposite side of the stacked gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 7952134
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an active region of which an edge is curved. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulating layer, a floating gate, a gate interlayer dielectric layer and a control gate line on the active region. The semiconductor device includes an oxide pattern having a concave top surface between adjacent floating gates. The control gate may be sufficiently spaced apart from the active region by the oxide pattern. The method can provide a semiconductor device that includes a reoxidation process, an active region having a curved edge and an oxide pattern having a top surface of a curved concave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Yeol Byun, Chan-Kwang Park, Jae-Hwan Moon, Tae-Wan Lim, Seung-Ah Kim
  • Patent number: 7952135
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell which includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate, a control electrode formed over the first insulating film, the first insulating film acting as a gate insulator for the control gate electrode, a second insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate, and a memory gate electrode formed over the second insulating film and being adjacent to the control gate electrode, the second insulating film acting as a gate insulator for the memory gate electrode and featuring a non-conductive charge trap film, the control gate electrode having a different type conductivity than that of the memory gate electrode. The second insulating film may be a laminated multi-layered insulator featuring a non-conductive charge trap film as an intermediate layer therein which is made of a silicon nitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Shukuri
  • Patent number: 7952136
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor storage apparatus including: a substrate; a columnar semiconductor disposed perpendicular to the substrate; a charge storage laminated film disposed around the columnar semiconductor; a first conductor layer that is in contact with the charge storage laminated film and that has a first end portion having a first end face; a second conductor layer that is in contact with the charge storage laminated film, that is separated from the first conductor layer and that has a second end portion having a second end face; a first contact plug disposed on the first end face; and a second contact plug disposed on the second end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Hirofumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7952137
    Abstract: A trench semiconductor device and a method of making the same are provided. The trench semiconductor device includes a trench MOS device and a trench ESD protection device. The trench ESD protection device is electrically connected between the gate electrode and source electrode of the trench MOS device so as to provide ESD protection. The fabrication of the ESD protection device is integrated into the process of the trench MOS device, and therefore no extra mask is required to define the doped regions of the trench ESD protection device. Consequently, the trench semiconductor device is advantageous for its simplified manufacturing process and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chieh Lin, Li-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 7952138
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a field effect transistor formed in an active area segment of a semiconductor substrate. The transistor comprises: a first source/drain contact region including a first vertical extension and a second source/drain contact region including a second vertical extension and a channel region formed around a recessed channel transistor groove, the groove being formed in the active area segment and extending to a groove depth larger than a lower first contact region depth, wherein the second vertical extension of the second source/drain contact region is arranged above the first extension of the first source/drain contact region, and wherein the recessed channel transistor groove is filled with a conductive gate material at a groove depth lower than the first contact region depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Klaus Muemmler, Peter Baars, Stefan Tegen
  • Patent number: 7952139
    Abstract: This invention discloses a semiconductor power device that includes an active cell area having a plurality of power transistor cells. Each of said power transistor cells has a planar Schottky diode that includes a Schottky junction barrier metal covering areas above gaps between separated body regions between two adjacent power transistor cells. The separated body regions further provide a function of adjusting a leakage current of said Schottky diode in each of said power transistor cells. Each of the planar Schottky diodes further includes a Shannon implant region disposed in a gap between the separated body regions of two adjacent power transistor cells for further adjusting a leakage current of said Schottky diode. Each of the power transistor cells further includes heavy body doped regions in the separated body regions next to source regions surrounding said Schottky diode forming a junction barrier Schottky (JBS) pocket region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Anup Bhalla, Xiaobin Wang, Moses Ho
  • Patent number: 7952140
    Abstract: In methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having multiple channel transistors and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby, the semiconductor device includes an isolation region disposed within a semiconductor substrate and defining a first region. A plurality of semiconductor pillars self-aligned with the first region and spaced apart from each other are disposed within the first region, and each of the semiconductor pillars has at least one recessed region therein. At least one gate structure may be disposed across the recessed regions, which crosses the semiconductor pillars and extends onto the isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Myeong Jang, Makoto Yoshida, Jae-Rok Kahng, Hyun-Ju Sung, Hui-Jung Kim, Chang-Hoon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7952141
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises an active region comprising trenches extending into a semiconductor region. Each trench includes a shield electrode and a gate electrode. The semiconductor structure also comprises a shield contact region adjacent to the active region. The shield contact region comprises at least one contact trench extending into the semiconductor region. The shield electrode from at least one of the trenches in the active region extends along a length of the contact trench. The semiconductor structure also comprises an interconnect layer extending over the active region and the shield contact region. In the active region the interconnect layer is isolated from the gate electrode in each trench by a dielectric layer and contacts mesa surfaces of the semiconductor region adjacent to the trenches. In the shield contact region the interconnect layer contacts the shield electrode and the mesa surfaces of the semiconductor region adjacent to the contact trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Dixie Dunn, Paul Thorup, Dean E. Probst, Michael D. Gruenhagen
  • Patent number: 7952142
    Abstract: MOSFET gate structures comprising multiple width offset spacers are provided. A first and a second gate structure are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A pair of first offset spacers are formed adjacent either side of the first gate structure. Each of the first offset spacers comprises a first silicon oxide layer with a first dielectric layer overlying. A pair of second offset spacers are formed adjacent either side of the second gate structure. Each of the second offset spacers comprises a second silicon oxide layer with a second dielectric layer overlying. Ion implanted doped regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the first and second offset spacers respectively to form a first and second MOSFET device. A maximum width of each of the first offset spacers is different from that of the second offset spacers. The first silicon oxide layer is thinner than the second silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shien-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 7952143
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which both an IGBT element region and a diode element region exist in the same semiconductor substrate includes a low lifetime region, which is formed in at least a part of a drift layer within the diode element region and shortens the lifetime of holes. A mean value of the lifetime of holes in the drift layer that includes the low lifetime region is shorter within the IGBT element region than within the diode element region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akitaka Soeno, Yukihiro Hisanaga
  • Patent number: 7952144
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a main field effect transistor (FET) and one or more sense FETs, and a common gate pad. The main FET and the one or more sense FETs are formed in a common substrate. The main FET and each of the sense FETs include a source terminal, a gate terminal and a drain terminal. The common gate pad connects the gate terminals of the main FET and the one or more sense FETs. An electrical isolation is disposed between the gate terminals of the main FET and the one or more sense FETs. Embodiments of this invention may be applied to both N-channel and P-channel MOSFET devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd
    Inventors: Yi Su, Anup Bhalla, Daniel Ng
  • Patent number: 7952145
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Lehigh Valley Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 7952146
    Abstract: An interconnect structure of the single or dual damascene type and a method of forming the same, which substantially reduces the electromigration problem that is exhibited by prior art interconnect structures, are provided. In accordance with the present invention, a grain growth promotion layer, which promotes the formation of a conductive region within the interconnect structure that has a bamboo microstructure and an average grain size of larger than 0.05 microns is utilized. The inventive structure has improved performance and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Shom Ponoth
  • Patent number: 7952147
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with improved transistor operating and flicker noise characteristics includes a substrate, an analog NMOS transistor and a compressively-strained-channel analog PMOS transistor disposed on the substrate. The device also includes a first etch stop liner (ESL) and a second ESL which respectively cover the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor. The relative measurement of flicker noise power of the NMOS and PMOS transistors to flicker noise power of reference unstrained-channel analog NMOS and PMOS transistors at a frequency of 500 Hz is less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Ueno, Hwa-sung Rhee, Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7952148
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the embodiments comprises a gate insulator formed on a substrate, the gate insulator including a high-dielectric film in whole or part, a reaction film including a first metal on the gate insulator; a metal film including a second metal on the reaction film; and a film including Si formed on the metal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7952149
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the net doping in the active region of a semiconductor device in accordance with a gate length is provided. A compensating dopant is chosen to be a type of dopant which will electrically neutralize dopant of the opposite type in the substrate. By implanting the compensating dopant at relatively high angle and high energy, the compensating dopant will pass into and through the gate region for short channels and have little or no impact on the total dopant concentration within the gate region. Where the channel is of a longer length, the high implant angle and the high implant energy cause the compensating dopant to lodge within the channel thereby neutralizing a portion of the dopant of the opposite type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Omer H. Dokumaci, Oleg Gluschenkov
  • Patent number: 7952150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to providing an enhancement-mode (e-mode) Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) with a complementary depletion-mode (d-mode) FET on a common group III-V substrate. The depletion mode FET may be another MOSFET, a MEtal-Semiconductor FET (MESFET), a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT), or like FET structure. In particular, the e-mode MOSFET includes a gate structure that resides between source and drain structures on a transistor body. The gate structure includes a gate contact that is separated from the transistor body by a gate oxide. The gate oxide is an oxidized material that includes Indium and Phosphorus. The gate oxide is formed beneath the gate contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter A. Wohlmuth
  • Patent number: 7952151
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, an active semiconductor region of the substrate, and a gate electrode. The active semiconductor region may include a channel region between first and second junction regions. The channel region may include a first semiconductor material, the first and second junction regions may include a second semiconductor material, and the first and second semiconductor materials may be different. The gate electrode may be on the channel region with portions of the first and second junction regions being free of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-woo Oh, Dong-gun Park, Dong-won Kim, Sung-dae Suk
  • Patent number: 7952152
    Abstract: For forming a gate electrode, a conductive film with low resistance including Al or a material containing Al as its main component and a conductive film with low contact resistance for preventing diffusion of Al into a semiconductor layer are laminated, and the gate electrode is fabricated by using an apparatus which is capable of performing etching treatment at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideomi Suzawa, Koji Ono, Yoshihiro Kusuyama
  • Patent number: 7952153
    Abstract: At least one differential pressure sensing device has an active surface with an active region and a back surface with a recess. Next, a sacrificial layer is formed on a surface of the active region. Then, the differential pressure sensing device is bonded and electrically coupled with a surface of a carrier that has at least one through-hole corresponding to the recess of the differential pressure sensing device. Afterwards, at least one molding compound is formed to encapsulate the carrier and differential pressure sensing device while exposing the through-hole region and an upper surface of the sacrificial layer. Then, a solvent is used to naturally decompose the sacrificial layer, such that the active region of the differential pressure sensing device is exposed to atmosphere, thereby forming a differential pressure sensing device package with the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Tai Chen, Chun-Hsun Chu, Wen-Lo Shieh
  • Patent number: 7952154
    Abstract: A harsh environment transducer including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is in communication with the environment. The transducer includes a device layer sensor means located on the substrate for measuring a parameter associated with the environment. The sensor means including a single crystal semiconductor material having a thickness of less than about 0.5 microns. The transducer further includes an output contact located on the substrate and in electrical communication with the sensor means. The transducer includes a package having an internal package space and a port for communication with the environment. The package receives the substrate in the internal package space such that the first surface of the substrate is substantially isolated from the environment and the second surface of the substrate is substantially exposed to the environment through the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Shuwen Guo, Odd Harald Steen Eriksen, David P. Potasek, Kimiko J. Childress
  • Patent number: 7952155
    Abstract: Methods for making a recessed color filter array for a semiconductor imager employing a sidewall spacer for reducing an edge effect from the array are disclosed. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided having an upper surface. Then, a recess is formed into the upper surface of the substrate. The recess has a bottom and a sidewall. Subsequently, a sidewall spacer is formed on the sidewall of the recess. A color resist is deposited into the recess after forming the sidewall spacer. In the embodiment, the sidewall spacer is formed of a material having a surface energy lower than that of a material defining the bottom of the recess. The color resist adheres less to the sidewall than to the bottom of the recess. Thus, the color resist does not conform to a shape of an edge portion of the recess, thereby reducing the edge effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Saijin Liu
  • Patent number: 7952156
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising a photo-electric conversion part including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein light is made incident from an upper part of the second electrode layer into the photoelectric conversion layer; the photoelectric conversion layer generates a charge containing an electron and a hole corresponding to the incident light from the upper part of the second electrode layer; and the first electrode layer works as an electrode for extracting the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mitsui, Daisuke Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7952157
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shielding device in an infrared receiver comprises of a wiring frame (4) of metal and an electromagnetic shielding cover (1) of metal. There is a window (2) in the electromagnetic shielding cover (1), in which there is provided a shielding net (3). The electromagnetic shielding cover (1) has a protruding tongue (6) in the bottom of its both sides respectively and the protruding tongues (6) are bent downwards and entad to engage on the wiring frame (4), thus forming an electromagnetic shielding structure transparent to a chip inside. The electromagnetic shielding device of the present invention is simple in structure, reasonable in design, easy to manufacture, low-cost, high qualified ratio and thus suitable for mass productivity. The electromagnetic shielding device improves the electromagnetic interference preventive capability of a semiconductor element and thus increases the sensibility and reliability of an infrared receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Jiaxiang Yang
  • Patent number: 7952158
    Abstract: An elevated photosensor for image sensors and methods of forming the photosensor. The photosensor may have light sensors having indentation features including, but not limited to, v-shaped, u-shaped, or other shaped features. Light sensors having such an indentation feature can redirect incident light that is not absorbed by one portion of the photosensor to another portion of the photosensor for additional absorption. In addition, the elevated photosensors reduce the size of the pixel cells while reducing leakage, image lag, and barrier problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 7952159
    Abstract: A photo sensor includes a patterned shielding conductive layer disposed on a transparent substrate, and a buffer dielectric layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, and a dielectric layer disposed on the patterned shielding layer in order. The patterned semiconductor layer includes an intrinsic region, a first doped region, and a second doped region, wherein the first and second doped regions are positioned at two sides of the intrinsic region separately. A patterned transparent conductive layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and covers the boundary of the intrinsic region and the first doped region and the boundary of the intrinsic region and the second doped region. The patterned transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to the patterned shielding conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Sen Weng, Chih-Wei Chao, Chrong-Jung Lin, Ya-Chin King
  • Patent number: 7952160
    Abstract: Inductors packaged with a voltage regulator for an integrated circuit within the same package are deposited to a sufficient thickness to reduce resistance and improve the quality factor. Furthermore, the voltage regulator switches currents through the inductors at a relatively high frequency such that the overall size and inductances of the inductors may be reduced. As a consequence, integrating both the integrated circuits including a voltage regulator and associated inductor array in a single package is facilitated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Triantafillou, Malay Trivedi, Erik A. McShane, James T. Doyle, Mark J. Kachmarek
  • Patent number: 7952162
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate; isolation layers, each of which is formed in a trench formed on the substrate and has an insulating film and a conductive layer; a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type for storing signal charges, formed between the isolation layers and isolated from the conductive layers by the insulating films; a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, formed under the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type; and a transistor having a gate insulator film formed on the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulator film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takeshi Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 7952163
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device, a method of fabricating the nonvolatile memory device and a processing system including the nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device may include a plurality of internal electrodes that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a face of a substrate, a plurality of first external electrodes that extend substantially in parallel with the face of the substrate, and a plurality of second external electrodes that also extend substantially in parallel with the face of the substrate. Each first external electrode is on a first side of a respective one of the internal electrodes, and each second external electrode is on a second side of a respective one of the internal electrodes. These devices also include a plurality of variable resistors that contact the internal electrodes, the first external electrodes and the second external electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Gyu Baek, Hyun-Jun Sim, Jin-Shi Zhao, Eun-Kyung Yim
  • Patent number: 7952164
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a resistor cell that includes a diffused layer resistor, a P-well contact and an N-well contact. The diffused layer resistor is arranged on a semiconductor substrate and is formed by a diffused layer. The P-well contact surrounds an outer rim of the diffused layer resistor and is formed by another diffused layer. The N-well contact is arranged surrounding the outer rim of the P-well contact and is formed by a further diffused layer. Both the P-well and N-well contacts are partitioned into contact portions. Control electrode layer portions are arranged between neighboring contact sections of the P-well contact so the contact sections of the P-well contact and the control electrode layer portions alternate. Control electrode layer portions are arranged between neighboring contact sections of the N-well contact so that the contact sections of the N-well contact and the control electrode layer portions alternate with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7952165
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor structure with self-aligned sub-lithographic extrinsic base region including a self-aligned metal-semiconductor alloy and self-aligned metal contacts made to the base is disclosed. The lateral dimension of the extrinsic base region is defined by the footprint of a sacrificial spacer, and its thickness is controlled by selective epitaxy. A self-aligned semiconductor-metal alloy and self-aligned metal contacts are made to the extrinsic base using a method compatible with conventional silicon processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy M. Cohen, Francois Pagette
  • Patent number: 7952166
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with switch electrode and gate electrode and a method for switching a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate with an emitter region, a drift region, a body region and a source region. The drift region is formed between the emitter and the body region while the body region is formed between the drift and the source region. A first trench structure extends from the source region at least partially into the drift region. The first trench structure includes a gate electrode arranged next to the body region and a switch electrode arranged in portions next to the drift region, wherein the switch and gate electrodes are electrically insulated from each other in the trench structure. A first gate driver is electrically connected to the gate electrode while a second gate driver is electrically connected to the switch gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Thomas Raker
  • Patent number: 7952167
    Abstract: A scribe line layout design to reduce the damage caused by sawing the wafer is presented. An embodiment comprises metal plates located within the scribe lines and at least partially within the junctions of the scribe lines. Each of these metal plates has one or more slots to help relieve the pressure. Alternatively, instead of metal plates, grooves that may be filled with metal could be placed into the scribe lines. These metal plates could also be used concurrently with a seal ring for better protection during sawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hui Lee, Mirng-Ji Lii, Shin-Puu Jeng, Shang-Yun Hou
  • Patent number: 7952168
    Abstract: A substrate strip for semiconductor packages to slow the crack growth, primarily comprises a molding area and two side rails. The molding area includes a plurality of packaging units. The side rails are located outside the molding area and include two opposing longer sides of the substrate strip. A metal mesh is disposed on the side rails. The metal mesh consists of a plurality of crisscrossed wires having a plurality of isolated wire terminals at one edge of the metal mesh. Accordingly, crack growth is slowed by the specific metal mesh without damaging the packaging units. In one embodiment, the metal mesh is without boundary wires connecting to the isolated wire terminals to enhance the resistance to crack growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Powertech Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Jeng Fan