Patents Issued in October 23, 2012
  • Patent number: 8294218
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with gate self-protection comprises a MOS device and a bipolar device, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a semiconductor layer with electrically active regions in which and on which the MOS device and the bipolar device are formed and electrically inactive regions for isolating the electrically active regions from each other. The MOS device comprises a gate structure and a body contacting structure, wherein the body contacting structure is formed of a base layer deposited in a selected region over an electrically active region of the semiconductor layer, and the body contacting structure is electrically connected with the gate structure. The base layer forming the body contacting structure also forms the base of the bipolar device. The present invention further relates to a method for fabricating such an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Badih El-Kareh, Scott Gerard Balster, Hiroshi Yasuda, Manfred Schiekofer
  • Patent number: 8294219
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory elements that are based on resistive switching memory element layers are provided. A nonvolatile memory element may have a resistive switching metal oxide layer. The resistive switching metal oxide layer may have one or more layers of oxide. A resistive switching metal oxide may be doped with a dopant that increases its melting temperature and enhances its thermal stability. Layers may be formed to enhance the thermal stability of the nonvolatile memory element. An electrode for a nonvolatile memory element may contain a conductive layer and a buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra G. Malhotra, Pragati Kumar, Sean Barstow, Tony Chiang, Prashant B. Phatak, Wen Wu, Sunil Shanker
  • Patent number: 8294220
    Abstract: Contacts having different characteristics may be created by forming a first silicide layer over a first device region of a substrate, and then forming a second silicide layer over a second device region while simultaneously further forming the first silicide layer. A first contact hole may be formed in a dielectric layer over a first device region of a substrate. A silicide layer may then be formed in the first contact hole. A second contact hole may be formed after the first contact hole and silicide layer is formed. A second silicidation may then be performed in the first and second contact holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Su Kim, Kwang-Jin Moon, Sang-Woo Lee, Eun-Ok Lee, Ho-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 8294221
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell blocks, a plurality of first wirings, a plurality of second wirings, and a contact. Each of the memory cell blocks includes a plurality of memory cell units. Each of the plurality of memory cell units includes a plurality of memory cells and is provided in a first direction at a prescribed spacing. The plurality of memory cell blocks is arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The plurality of first wirings extends in the second direction and is provided in the first direction at a prescribed spacing. The plurality of second wirings is provided at least one of above and below the first wiring. The contact is provided at both end portions of the second wiring in the second direction and connects the first wiring to the second wiring. A width dimension of the second wiring along the first direction is larger than a width dimension of the first wiring along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiko Kato, Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Masayuki Ichige
  • Patent number: 8294222
    Abstract: Band edge engineered Vt offset devices, design structures for band edge engineered Vt offset devices and methods of fabricating such structures is provided herein. The structure includes a first FET having a channel of a first compound semiconductor of first atomic proportions resulting in a first band structure and a first type. The structure further includes a second FET having a channel of a second compound semiconductor of second atomic proportions resulting in a second band structure and a first type. The first compound semiconductor is different from the second compound semiconductor such that the first FET has a first band structure different from second band structure, giving rise to a threshold voltage different from that of the second FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 8294223
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal gate structure includes providing a substrate (110) having formed thereon a gate dielectric (120), a work function metal (130) adjacent to the gate dielectric, and a gate metal (140) adjacent to the work function metal; selectively forming a sacrificial capping layer (310) centered over the gate metal; forming an electrically insulating layer (161) over the sacrificial capping layer such that the electrically insulating layer at least partially surrounds the sacrificial capping layer; selectively removing the sacrificial capping layer in order to form a trench (410) aligned to the gate metal in the electrically insulating layer; and filling the trench with an electrically insulating material in order to form an electrically insulating cap (150) centered on the gate metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Willy Rachmady, Soley Ozer, Jason Klaus
  • Patent number: 8294224
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a silicon oxynitride layer on a semiconductor device for use in a variety of electronic systems. The silicon oxynitride layer may be structured to control strain in a silicon channel of the semiconductor device to modify carrier mobility in the silicon channel, where the silicon channel is configured to conduct current under appropriate operating conditions of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arup Bhattacharyya, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 8294225
    Abstract: This invention provides a technique whereby, even if a step is produced by splitting a lower electrode into component elements, resistance increase of an upper electrode, damage to a membrane and decrease of dielectric strength between an upper electrode and the lower electrode, are reduced. In an ultrasonic transducer comprising plural lower electrodes, an insulation film covering the lower electrodes, plural hollow parts formed to overlap the lower electrodes on the insulation film, an insulation film filling the gaps among the hollow parts, an insulation film covering the hollow parts and insulation film, plural upper electrodes formed to overlap the hollow parts on the insulation film and plural interconnections joining them, the surfaces of the hollow parts and insulation film are flattened to the same height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuntaro Machida, Hiroyuki Enomoto, Yoshitaka Tadaki
  • Patent number: 8294226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to large surface distributed pressure sensors comprising at least two flexible substrates, at least of one of these being entirely or partially coated by a layer of polythiophene containing repetitive structural units with formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are independently a C1-C12 alkyl group or they form a C1-C12 1,n-alkylene group, with n=1-12, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 alkyl group, C2-C12 alkene, vinylene, benzyl, phenyl group, a halogen atom, or by an ester, amine, amide or ether functional group, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 alkyl group; and one or more insulating spacers. Said sensors are flexible and easy to manufacture and they may present different symmetric, simple or multilayer configurations, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Fundacion Cidetec, S. Coop Ikerlan
    Inventors: Jose Adolfo Pomposo Alonso, Estibalitz Ochoteco Vaquero, Hans-Jürgen Grande Telleria, Fernando Martinez Rodriguez, Gregorio Obieta Zubieta
  • Patent number: 8294227
    Abstract: A magnetic cell includes a ferromagnetic free layer having a free magnetization orientation direction and a first ferromagnetic pinned reference layer having a first reference magnetization orientation direction that is parallel or anti-parallel to the free magnetization orientation direction. A first oxide barrier layer is between the ferromagnetic free layer and the first ferromagnetic pinned reference layer. The magnetic cell further includes a second ferromagnetic pinned reference layer having a second reference magnetization orientation direction that is orthogonal to the first reference magnetization orientation direction. The ferromagnetic free layer is between the first ferromagnetic pinned reference layer and the second ferromagnetic pinned reference layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuankai Zheng, Zheng Gao, Wenzhong Zhu, Wonjoon Jung, Haiwen Xi
  • Patent number: 8294228
    Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction includes an amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer having a first reference layer side and an opposing second reference layer side. The first reference layer side has a greater concentration of boron than the second reference layer side. A magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer is disposed on the second side of the amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer. The magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer has a crystal structure. An amorphous ferromagnetic free layer is disposed on the magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xilin Peng, Konstantin Nikolaev, Taras Pokhil, Victor Sapazhnikov, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 8294229
    Abstract: A wafer-scale array of optical packages and a method for fabricating the same. The wafer-scale array of optical packages includes at least one wafer-scale array of lens structures, including a wafer-scale array of first barrel structures and a wafer-scale array of lenses directly formed on the wafer-scale array of first barrel structures such that the wafer-scale array of lenses is integrally combined with the wafer-scale array of first barrel structures, the wafer-scale array of first barrel structures being made of a material different from a material of the lens of the wafer-scale array of lenses; and at least one wafer-scale array of second barrel structures stacked on and combined with the at least one wafer-scale array of lens structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Co-Operation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Shinill Kang, Ji Seok Lim, Min Seok Choi, Ho Kwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8294230
    Abstract: A surface profile sensor includes an interlayer insulating film provided with a planarized upper surface formed above a semiconductor substrate, a detection electrode film formed on the interlayer insulating film, an upper insulating film formed on the detection electrode film and the interlayer insulating film and including the surface on which a silicon nitride film is exposed, and a protection insulating film deposited on the upper insulating film and made of a tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) film including a window formed on the detection electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamagata, Kouichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8294231
    Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate a semiconductor support substrate, an insulating layer located on the semiconductor support substrate, and a semiconductor layer located on the insulating layer. The optical sensing device further includes a visible light sensor located in the semiconductor support substrate, and an ultraviolet ray sensor located in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8294232
    Abstract: An optical detector includes a detector surface operable to receive light, a depleted field region coupled to the underside of the detector surface, a charge collection node underlying the depleted field region, an active pixel area that includes the portion of the depleted field region above the charge collection node and below the detector surface, and two or more guard regions coupled to the underside of the detector surface and outside of the active pixel area. The depleted field region includes an intrinsic or a near-intrinsic material. The charge collection node has a first width, and the guard regions are separated by a second width that is greater than the first width of the charge collection node. The guard regions are operable to prevent crosstalk to an adjacent optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John L. Vampola, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Robert E. Mills, Kenton T. Veeder
  • Patent number: 8294234
    Abstract: A mesa photodiode which includes a mesa, the sidewall of the mesa is a surface that is inclined in the direction in which the bottom of the mesa becomes wider. At least the sidewall of the mesa is covered with a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type, a semi-insulating type, or an undoped type. The semiconductor layer is grown on at least the sidewall of the mesa. The inclined angle of the inclined surface of the mesa at the upper end portion is smaller than the inclined angle of the inclined surface of the mesa at the lower end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Watanabe, Tomoaki Koi
  • Patent number: 8294235
    Abstract: A MOSFET switch which has a low surface electric field at an edge termination area, and also has increased breakdown voltage. The MOSFET switch has a new edge termination structure employing an N-P-N sandwich structure. The MOSFET switch also has a polysilicon field plate configuration operative to enhance any spreading of any depletion layer located at an edge of a main PN junction of the N-P-N sandwich structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: MaxPower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zeng, Mohamed N. Darwish, Shih-Tzung Su
  • Patent number: 8294236
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a memory cell area and a peripheral circuit area includes a silicon substrate and an isolation structure implemented by a silicon oxide film formed on a surface of the silicon substrate. A depth of the isolation structure in the memory cell area is smaller than a depth of the isolation structure in the peripheral circuit area, and an isolation height of the isolation structure in the memory cell area is substantially the same as an isolation height of the isolation structure in the peripheral circuit area. Reliability of the semiconductor device can thus be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Mitsuhira, Takehiko Nakahara, Yasusuke Suzuki, Jun Sumino
  • Patent number: 8294237
    Abstract: The semiconductor component is intended for a sensor, in particular for a pressure sensor or differential pressure sensor, and includes a semiconductor substrate (1) in or on which electronic components (3) are formed and connected. The semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with an electrically insulated layer, and a metal-containing amorphous protective layer is formed from two metal-containing layers which have different chemical compositions and are vapor-deposited in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Gert Friis Eriksen, Roger De Reus, Carsten Christensen
  • Patent number: 8294238
    Abstract: A peripheral circuit area is formed around a memory cell array area. The peripheral circuit area has element regions, an element isolation region isolating the element regions, and field-effect transistor formed in each of the element regions and including a gate electrode extending in a channel width direction, on a semiconductor substrate. An end portion and a corner portion of the gate electrode are on the element isolation region. A radius of curvature of the corner portion of the gate electrode is smaller than a length from the end portion of the element region in the channel width direction to the end portion of the gate electrode in the channel width direction, and is less than 85 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Takayuki Toba, Yoshiko Kato, Kenji Gomikawa, Haruhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 8294239
    Abstract: An electrically programmable fuse (eFuse) comprises a semiconductor layer, a silicide layer overlying the semiconductor layer, and first and second contact structures electrically coupled to the silicide layer. The first contact structure is configured to function as an anode and the second contact structure is configured to function as a cathode. The eFuse further comprises a back-gate structure disposed underneath the semiconductor layer in a back-gate structure region proximate the second contact structure, the back-gate structure region excluding a region proximate the first contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Byoung W. Min
  • Patent number: 8294240
    Abstract: A semiconductor die, having a substrate, includes a through silicon via. The through silicon via includes a decoupling capacitor having a first co-axial conductor, a second co-axial conductor, and a co-axial dielectric separating the first co-axial conductor from the second co-axial conductor. The decoupling capacitor is configured to provide local charge storage for components on the semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Nowak, Shiqun Gu
  • Patent number: 8294241
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a wiring layer in a first insulating layer, forming a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer, forming a first conductive layer over the second insulating layer, forming a dielectric layer on the first conductive layer, forming a second conductive layer on the dielectric layer, selectively removing the second conductive layer to form an upper electrode on the dielectric layer, forming a first layer over the upper electrode and the dielectric layer, selectively removing the first layer, the dielectric layer, and the first conductive layer to form a lower electrode over which the dielectric layer and the first layer is entirely left, the upper electrode remaining partially over the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuro Osada, Kaoru Saigoh
  • Patent number: 8294242
    Abstract: Confirment techniques for non-volatile resistive-switching memories are described, including a memory element having a first electrode, a second electrode, a metal oxide between the first electrode and the second electrode. A resistive switching memory element described herein includes a first electrode adjacent to an interlayer dielectric, a spacer over at least a portion of the interlayer dielectric and over a portion of the first electrode and a metal oxide layer over the spacer and the first electrode such that an interface between the metal oxide layer and the electrode is smaller than a top surface of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventor: Prashant Phatak
  • Patent number: 8294243
    Abstract: Conduction between source and drain or emitter and collector regions is an important characteristic in transistor operation, particularly for lateral bipolar transistors. Accordingly, techniques that can facilitate control over this characteristic can mitigate yield loss by promoting the production of transistors that have an increased likelihood of exhibiting desired operational performance. As disclosed herein, well regions are established in a semiconductor substrate to facilitate, among other things, control over the conduction between the source and drain regions of a lateral bipolar transistor, thus mitigating yield loss and other associated fabrication deficiencies. Importantly, an additional mask is not required in establishing the well regions, thus further mitigating (increased) costs associated with promoting desired device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kamel Benaissa
  • Patent number: 8294244
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of IGBT cells on the semiconductor substrate, each of the IGBT cells including a gate electrode and a first emitter electrode; a first gate wiring on the substrate and being connected to the gate electrode; an interlayer insulating film covering the first emitter electrode and the first gate wiring; and a second emitter electrode on the interlayer insulating film and being connected to the first emitter electrode through an opening of the interlayer insulating film, wherein the second emitter electrode extends above the first gate wiring via the interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Yoshifumi Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 8294245
    Abstract: Affords a GaN single-crystal mass, a method of its manufacture, and a semiconductor device and method of its manufacture, whereby when the GaN single-crystal mass is being grown, and when the grown GaN single-crystal mass is being processed into a substrate or like form, as well as when an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer is being formed onto a single-crystal GaN mass in substrate form to manufacture semiconductor devices, cracking is controlled to a minimum. The GaN single-crystal mass 10 has a wurtzitic crystalline structure and, at 30° C., its elastic constant C11 is from 348 GPa to 365 GPa and its elastic constant C13 is from 90 GPa to 98 GPa; alternatively its elastic constant C11 is from 352 GPa to 362 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Nakahata, Shinsuke Fujiwara, Takashi Sakurada, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Seiji Nakahata, Tomoki Uemura
  • Patent number: 8294246
    Abstract: A single crystal silicon etching method includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate having at least one trench therein. The substrate is exposed to a buffered fluoride etch solution which undercuts the silicon to provide lateral shelves when patterned in the <100> direction. The resulting structure includes an undercut feature when patterned in the <100> direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Whonchee Lee, Janos Fucsko, David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 8294247
    Abstract: Provided is a high-power device having a thermocouple (thermoelectric couple) for measuring the temperature of a transistor constituting a high-power device. The high-power device includes a heating element, a thermocouple formed adjacent to the heating element, and a dielectric body formed between the heating element and the thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang-Soo Kwak, Man-Seok Uhm, In-Bok Yom
  • Patent number: 8294248
    Abstract: Described herein are microelectronic packages including a plurality of bonding fingers and multiple integrated circuit chips, at least one integrated circuit chip being mounted onto the bonding fingers. According to various embodiments of the present invention, mounting the integrated circuit chip onto the bonding fingers may reduce the pin-out count by allowing multiple integrated circuit chips to be interconnected within the same microelectronic package. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenglin Liu, Shiann-Ming Liou
  • Patent number: 8294249
    Abstract: A lead frame package is disclosed where transmission signals are coupled into a die from a pair of lead frames through bonding wires that are separated by no more than three times a diameter of one of the bonding wires. In some embodiments, pairs of lead frames carrying differential transmission signals can be shielded by adjacent pairs of ground and power leads that are coupled into the die through bonding wires that are also separated by no more than three times a diameter of one of the bonding wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Pilling, Jitesh Shah, Diane Peng, Derek Huang
  • Patent number: 8294250
    Abstract: A wiring substrate for a semiconductor chip includes a substrate, first and second wiring layers and a plurality of first and second bonding pads. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a window extending from the first surface to the second surface to expose chip pads of a semiconductor chip adherable to the first surface. The first and second wiring layers of a multi-layered structure are sequentially formed on the second surface of the substrate with at least one insulation layer interposed between the first and second wiring layers. A plurality of the first and second bonding pads are respectively connected to the first and second wiring layers, the first and second bonding pads having a concavo-convex arrangement on the second surface of the substrate along a side of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Sung Yoon
  • Patent number: 8294251
    Abstract: A semiconductor die and a low profile semiconductor package formed therefrom are disclosed. The semiconductor package may include at least first and second stacked semiconductor die mounted to a substrate. The first and/or second semiconductor die may be fabricated with localized cavities through a bottom surface of the semiconductor die, along a side edge of the semiconductor die. The one or more localized cavities in a side take up less than the entire side. Thus, the localized cavities allow low height stacking of semiconductor die while providing each die with a high degree of structural integrity to prevent cracking or breaking of the die edge during fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hem Takiar, Shrikar Bhagath, Cheemen Yu, Chih-Chin Liao
  • Patent number: 8294252
    Abstract: A semiconductor system in a package in which at least first and second semiconductor substrates are mounted one above the other on a package substrate. The first substrate is mounted on the package substrate with its active (or front) side facing the package substrate. A plurality of through-silicon-vias (TSVs) extend through one or more peripheral regions of the first substrate; and a redistribution layer is located on the back side of the first substrate and connected to the TSVs. The second substrate is mounted on the first substrate and electrically connected to circuits in the active side of the first substrate through the redistribution layer and the TSVs. Illustratively, one of the substrates is an FPGA and one or more of the other substrates stores the configuration memory and/or other functional memory for the FPGA. Advantageously, design costs are reduced by using pre-existing designs and modifying them as needed to provide TSVs along the periphery of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Rakesh H. Patel
  • Patent number: 8294253
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an electronic component including an electrode pad forming face on which electrode pads are formed, a back face opposite to the electrode pad forming face; a sealing resin including a first face provided on the electrode pad forming face side and a second face provided on the back face side, and provided around the electronic component to seal up a side face of the electrode component; a multilayer wiring structure which is provided on the first face, and in which insulating layers, a wiring pattern and external connecting pads are stacked on each other; and a conductive member which is provided in a through-hole passing through the sealing resin and the insulating layer. The wiring pattern is directly connected to the electrode pads and the external connecting pads, and includes a wiring provided in the insulating layers. The conductive member is connected to the wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ihara
  • Patent number: 8294254
    Abstract: A semiconductor device package die and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device package die may comprise a device substrate having one or more front electrodes located on a front surface of the device substrate and electrically connected to one or more corresponding device regions formed within the device substrate proximate the front surface. A back conductive layer is formed on a back surface of the device substrate. The back conductive layer is electrically connected to a device region formed within the device substrate proximate a back surface of the device substrate. One or more conductive extensions are formed on one or more corresponding sidewalls of the device substrate in electrical contact with the back conductive layer, and extend to a portion of the front surface of the device substrate. A support substrate is bonded to the back surface of the device substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventor: Tao Feng
  • Patent number: 8294255
    Abstract: The semiconductor package includes a printed circuit board, a first semiconductor chip, and a second semiconductor chip. The printed circuit board includes a slot. The first semiconductor chip is mounted on the printed circuit board to cover a first part of the slot. The second semiconductor chip is mounted on the printed circuit board to cover a second part of the slot separate from the first part. The first semiconductor chip is substantially coplanar with the second semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kilsoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8294256
    Abstract: Methods and structures related to packaging a chip are disclosed. In one embodiment, a chip package structure includes: (i) a chip having a plurality of first and second contact pads thereon; (ii) a lead frame having a plurality of pins for external connection to the package structure, where the chip is disposed on the lead frame; (iii) a plurality of first bonding wires for connecting the first contact pads to the lead frame; and (iv) a plurality of second bonding wires for connecting the second contact pads to the plurality of pins on the lead frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hangzhou Silergy Semiconductor Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Wei Chen, XiaoChun Tan
  • Patent number: 8294257
    Abstract: A power block includes an insulating substrate, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating substrate, a power semiconductor chip bonded onto the conductive pattern by lead-free solder, a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the power semiconductor chip and extending upwardly away from the insulating substrate, and a transfer molding resin covering the conductive pattern, the lead-free solder, the power semiconductor chip, and the plurality of electrodes, wherein surfaces of the plurality of electrodes are exposed at an outer surface of the transfer molding resin and lie in the same plane as the outer surface, the outer surface being located directly above the conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Seiji Oka, Osamu Usui, Takeshi Oi
  • Patent number: 8294258
    Abstract: In a power semiconductor module, a semiconductor device including electrode surfaces for connection on its front side and back side is connected on its back side to a first extraction electrode through soldering; a metal surface of one side of a laminated conductor having a laminated structure in which at least two types of metals are laminated is directly, intermetallically connected to the front side of the semiconductor device; a second extraction electrode is connected to a metal surface of another side of the laminated conductor through soldering; and the laminated conductor includes a plurality of arch-like protrusions and a straight section connecting the arch-like protrusions, the straight section is connected with the front side of the semiconductor device, and the protrusions are connected with the second extraction electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Azuma
  • Patent number: 8294259
    Abstract: In one embodiment, signaling and ground contacts are located in at least two parallel, rectilinear rows along at least one edge of an interconnect package such as a BGA package. In one row, each of a plurality of ground contacts is located between two pairs of contacts for receiving differential signals. In the second row, each of a plurality of ground contacts is located between two pairs of contacts for transmitting differential signals and the ground contacts in the second row are offset by one column from the ground contacts in the first row. As a result, the ratio of signaling pairs to ground contacts is 2:2. Additional pairs of rows may also be used. In other embodiments, signaling and ground contacts are located in three parallel, rectilinear rows along at least one edge of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaohong Jiang, Hong Shi
  • Patent number: 8294260
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first face and a second face on a side opposite to the first face; an external connection terminal formed on the first face of the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode formed on the first face of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the external connection terminal; an electronic element formed on or above the second face of the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode electrically connected to the electronic element and having a top face and a rear face; a groove portion formed on the second face of the semiconductor substrate and having a bottom face including at least part of the rear face of the second electrode; and a conductive portion formed in the groove portion and electrically connected to the rear face of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Ito, Nobuaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8294261
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a substrate having a top surface including substrate pads, and a through substrate via (TSV) die including a semiconductor substrate including a topside semiconductor surface having active circuitry and a bottomside surface. The topside semiconductor surface includes bonding connectors that are coupled to the substrate pads on the top surface of the substrate. A plurality of TSVs include an inner metal core that extends from the topside semiconductor surface to protruding TSV tips which extend out from the bottomside surface. At least one of the plurality of TSVs are dummy TSVs that have their protruding TSV tips exclusive of any electrically connection thereto that provide additional surface area that enhances heat dissipation from the bottomside of the TSV die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kazuaki Mawatari, Kengo Aoya, Yoshikatsu Umeda, Jeffrey A. West
  • Patent number: 8294262
    Abstract: A LED chip package including a two-phase-flow heat transfer device, at least one LED chip, a metal lead frame and a package material. The two-phase-flow heat transfer device has at least one flat surface. The LED chip is directly or indirectly bonded or adhered to the flat surface of the two-phase-flow heat transfer device. Heat generated by the LED chip can be easily conducted away from the LED chip by the two-phase-flow heat transfer device such as a heat pipe, a vapor chamber and the like so as to prevent heat from accumulating in the LED chip thereby extending the service duration of the LED chip and to prevent the LED chip from deterioration of the light emitting performance caused by the accumulation of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Zhongshan Weiqiang Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ke-Chin Lee
  • Patent number: 8294263
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode packaging structure comprises a light-emitting diode and first and second metal plates on which the light-emitting diode is mounted. The light-emitting diodes includes first and second electrode leads, the second electrode lead having first and second contact surfaces on an outer edge of the second electrode lead. The first metal plate includes at least one clamping portion that clamps and fixes the first electrode lead on the first metal plate. The second metal plate includes at least first and second clamping portions. The first contact surface of the second electrode lead contacts the first clamping portion, and the second contact surface of the second electrode lead contacts the second clamping portion, such that the light-emitting diode is fixed on the second metal plate in at least two dimensions parallel to a primary surface of the second metal plate on which the light-emitting diodes is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Jia Sheu, Chien-Chang Pei
  • Patent number: 8294264
    Abstract: An under-bump metallization (UBM) structure for a semiconductor device is provided. The UBM structure has a center portion and extensions extending out from the center portion. The extensions may have any suitable shape, including a quadrangle, a triangle, a circle, a fan, a fan with extensions, or a modified quadrangle having a curved surface. Adjacent UBM structures may have the respective extensions aligned or rotated relative to each other. Flux may be applied to a portion of the extensions to allow an overlying conductive bump to adhere to a part of the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Wang, Chi-Chun Hsieh, An-Jhih Su, Hsien-Wei Chen, Shin-Puu Jeng, Liwei Lin
  • Patent number: 8294265
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die having a first surface and a second surface wherein at least one bond pad is formed on the first surface. A passivation layer is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor device, wherein a central area of the at least one bond is exposed. A seed layer is formed on exposed portions of the bond pad and the passivation layer. A conductive pillar is formed on the seed layer. The conductive pillar has a base portion wherein the base portion has a diameter smaller than the seed layer and a stress relief portion extending from a lateral surface of a lower section of the base portion toward distal ends of the seed layer. A solder layer is formed on the conductive pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang Sun Oh, Dong Hee Lee, Dong In Kim, Bae Yong Kim, Jin Woo Park
  • Patent number: 8294266
    Abstract: Various semiconductor die conductor structures and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a conductor structure on a conductor pad of a semiconductor die. The conductor layer has a surface. A polymeric layer is formed on the surface of the conductor layer while a portion of the surface is left exposed. A solder structure is formed on the exposed portion of the surface and a portion of the polymeric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Roden R. Topacio, Neil McLellan, Yip Seng Low, Andrew K W Leung
  • Patent number: 8294267
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel nanostructure composed of at least one elongated structure element, an elongated structure element of said nanostructure bearing a different zone made of metal, metal alloy, conductive polymer or semiconductor and selectively grown onto at least one of the end portions of the elongated structure element. The present invention further provides a selective method for forming in a liquid medium, such nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Inventors: Uri Banin, Taleb Mokari
  • Patent number: 8294268
    Abstract: Provided are a resin composition whose storability is not reduced, a prepreg which uses the resin composition and which is uniformly colored, a laminated board, a multilayer printed wiring board having excellent results in reliability tests such as a thermal shock test and the like, and a semiconductor device. The resin composition is a resin composition for a multilayer printed wiring board, comprising (A) a novolac type epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a colorant, wherein the exothermic peak temperature of the resin composition, as measured by DSC, is within ±5° C. of the exothermic peak temperature of a resin composition composed of (A) a novolac type epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, and (C) an inorganic filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadasuke Endo