Patents Issued in March 11, 2014
  • Patent number: 8669591
    Abstract: The present invention describes a transistor based on a Hetero junction FET structure, where the metal gate has been replaced by a stack formed by a highly doped compound semiconductor and an insulating layer in order to achieve enhancement mode operation and at the same time drastically reduce the gate current leakage. The combination of the insulating layer with a highly doped semiconductor allows the tuning of the threshold voltage of the device at the desired value by simply changing the composition of the semiconductor layer forming the gate region and/or its doping allowing a higher degree of freedom. In one of the embodiment, a back-barrier layer and a heavily doped threshold tuning layer are used to suppress Short Channel Effect phenomena and to adjust the threshold voltage of the device at the desired value. The present invention can be realized both with polar and non-polar (or semi-polar) materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eta Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Alessio Marino, Paolo Menegoli
  • Patent number: 8669592
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor multilayer structure is formed on a Si substrate. The compound semiconductor multilayer structure includes an electrode transit layer, an electrode donor layer formed above the electron transit layer, and a cap layer formed above the electron donor layer. The cap layer contains a first crystal polarized in the same direction as the electron transit layer and the electron donor layer and a second crystal polarized in the direction opposite to the polarization direction of the electron transit layer and the electron donor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toyoo Miyajima, Kenji Imanishi, Atsushi Yamada, Norikazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8669593
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention includes an I/O cell, a first PAD connected to the I/O cell, first and second PADs, a package wire which is connected to the first PAD and allows connection between the first PAD and an outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a second package wire which is connected to the second PAD and allows connection between the second PAD and an outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit. A connection point between the first PAD and the fist package wire is located in an area where the I/O cell is placed. A connection point between the second PAD and the second package wire is located outside an area where the I/O cell is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Naruse
  • Patent number: 8669594
    Abstract: First and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions are formed in a semiconductor device. Each diffusion region is electrically connected to a common node. Gate electrodes of cross-coupled transistors are defined to extend over the diffusion regions in only a first parallel direction, with each gate electrode fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The first and second p-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner relative to the first parallel direction, such that no single line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second p-type diffusion regions. At least a portion of the first n-type diffusion region and at least a portion of the second n-type diffusion region are formed over a common line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Jim Mali, Carole Lambert
  • Patent number: 8669595
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS, second PMOS, first NMOS, and second NMOS transistor devices respectively extend along different gate electrode tracks. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Jim Mali, Carole Lambert
  • Patent number: 8669596
    Abstract: In end portions of first and second gate patterns aligned in parallel relation to each other, and opposite end portions of third and fourth gate patterns aligned in parallel relation to each other, the end portion of the first gate pattern extends to be positioned closer to the third and fourth gate patterns than the end portion of the second gate pattern is, and the opposite end portion of the fourth gate pattern extends to be positioned closer to the first and second gate patterns than the opposite end portion of the third gate pattern is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Tamaru
  • Patent number: 8669597
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate having a plurality of bit lines. A first and second inter-level dielectric layer are successively disposed on the substrate. Each of a plurality of source lines and staggered bit line contacts extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer. Each of a plurality of source line vias and a plurality of staggered bit line vias extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer to each respective one of the plurality of source lines and the plurality of staggered bit line contacts. The source lines and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer are formed together by a first set of fabrication processes. The source line vias and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer are also formed together by a second set of fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Shenqing Fang, Connie Wang, Wen Yu, Fei Wang
  • Patent number: 8669598
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector of the present invention configured to absorb light can include: a light-absorbing part configured to absorb light by being formed in a floated structure; an oxide film being in contact with one surface of the light-absorbing part; a source being in contact with one side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; a drain facing the source so as to be in contact with the other side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain and configured to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8669599
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector of the present invention configured to absorb light can include: a light-absorbing part configured to absorb light by being formed in a floated structure; an oxide film being in contact with one surface of the light-absorbing part; a source being in contact with one side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; a drain facing the source so as to be in contact with the other side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain and configured to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8669600
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate; a active pattern and an ohmic contact pattern formed to overlap with the gate electrode with a gate insulating film therebetween; a source electrode formed on the active pattern and the ohmic contact; a drain electrode formed to oppose the source electrode; a pixel electrode overlapped with the drain electrode and directly contacted with the drain electrode; a common electrode formed to overlap with the pixel electrode with a passivation film therebetween and having a plurality of holes; and wherein the plurality of holes of the common electrode are only formed on a region in which the pixel electrode is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Il Park, Dae Lim Park
  • Patent number: 8669601
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming first and second pillar-shaped semiconductors on a substrate at the same time so as to have the same height; forming a first semiconductor layer by doping a bottom region of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor with a donor or acceptor impurity to connect the first semiconductor layer to the second pillar-shaped semiconductor; forming a circuit element including an upper semiconductor region formed by doping an upper region of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor with a donor or acceptor impurity; forming a first conductor layer in the second pillar-shaped semiconductor; forming first and second contact holes that are respectively connected to the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductors; and forming a wiring metal layer that is connected to the upper semiconductor region and the first conductor layer through the first and second contact holes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Nozomu Harada
  • Patent number: 8669602
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a laminated semiconductor chip configured to be obtained by bonding two or more semiconductor chip sections to each other and be obtained by bonding at least a first semiconductor chip section in which a pixel array and a multilayer wiring layer are formed and a second semiconductor chip section in which a logic circuit and a multilayer wiring layer are formed to each other in such a manner that the multilayer wiring layers are opposed to each other and are electrically connected to each other; and a light blocking layer configured to be formed by an electrically-conductive film of the same layer as a layer of a connected interconnect of one or both of the first and second semiconductor chip sections near bonding between the first and second semiconductor chip sections. The solid-state imaging device is a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8669603
    Abstract: Some embodiments include DRAM having transistor gates extending partially over SOI, and methods of forming such DRAM. Unit cells of the DRAM may be within active region pedestals, and in some embodiments the unit cells may comprise capacitors having storage nodes in direct contact with sidewalls of the active region pedestals. Some embodiments include 0C1T memory having transistor gates entirely over SOI, and methods of forming such 0C1T memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kunal R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 8669604
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell that includes a capacitor, a tunnel structure, a state transistor, and an access transistor. In an embodiment, the capacitor and tunnel structure can include upper electrodes, wherein the upper electrode of the capacitor has a first conductivity type, and the upper electrode of the tunnel structure includes at least a portion that has a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. In another embodiment, a process of forming the nonvolatile memory is performed using a single poly process. In a further embodiment, charge carriers can tunnel through a gate dielectric layer of the state transistor during programming and tunnel through a tunnel dielectric of the tunnel transistor during erasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Thierry Coffi Herve Yao, Gregory James Scott
  • Patent number: 8669605
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a circuit cell and a basic end cell. The circuit cell includes a plurality of elements aligned in a first direction, and the basic end cell is arranged adjacent to the circuit cell in the first direction and has a compensation capacitor capable of being connected to a supply voltage of the circuit cell. In the semiconductor device, a diffusion layer forming the compensation capacitor extends along the first direction in a predetermined region of the circuit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8669606
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate with a trench; a tunnel insulating film covering an inner surface of the trench; a trap layer in contact with the tunnel insulating film on an inner surface of an upper portion of the trench; a top insulating film in contact with the trap layer; a gate electrode embedded in the trench, and in contact with the tunnel insulating film at a lower portion of the trench and in contact with the top insulating film at the upper portion of the trench, in which the trap layer and the top insulating film, in between the lower portion of the trench and the upper portion of the trench, extend and protrude from both sides of the trench so as to be embedded in the gate electrode, and a method for manufacturing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Fumiaki Toyama, Fumihiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 8669607
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-volatile memory cells with increased programming efficiency. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a control gate formed over a portion of a floating gate formed over a semiconductor substrate. The control gate includes a source side sidewall spacer adjacent a source region in the semiconductor substrate and a drain side sidewall spacer, the floating gate having an upper surface portion adjacent the source region that is not covered by the control gate; an inter-poly dielectric over the source side sidewall spacer and the upper surface of the floating gate adjacent the source region; and an erase gate formed over the source region and overlying the inter-poly dielectric, and adjacent the source side sidewall of the control gate, the erase gate overlying at least a portion of the upper surface of the floating gate adjacent the source region. Methods for forming the apparatus are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Shiuan Tsair, Wen-Ting Chu, Po-Wei Liu, Wen-Tuo Huang, Yu-Hsiang Yang, Chieh-Fei Chiu, Yu-Ling Hsu
  • Patent number: 8669608
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes; forming a first and a second stacked bodies; forming a through hole penetrating through the first stacked body, a second portion communicating with the first portion and penetrating through a select gate, and a third portion communicating with the second portion and penetrating through a second insulating layer; forming a memory film, a gate insulating film, and a channel body; forming a third insulating layer inside the channel body; forming a first embedded portion above a boundary portion inside the third portion; exposing the channel body by removing part of the first embedded portion and part of the third insulating layer in the third portion; and embedding a second embedded portion including silicon having higher impurity concentration than the first embedded portion above the first embedded portion inside the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sato, Megumi Ishiduki, Masaru Kidoh, Atsushi Konno, Yoshihiro Akutsu, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata
  • Patent number: 8669609
    Abstract: A first dielectric is formed over a semiconductor layer, a first gate layer over the first dielectric, a second dielectric over the first gate layer, and a third dielectric over the second dielectric. An etch is performed to form a first sidewall of the first gate layer. A second etch is performed to remove portions of the first dielectric between the semiconductor layer and the first gate layer to expose a bottom corner of the first gate layer and to remove portions of the second dielectric between the first gate layer and the third dielectric layer to expose a top corner of the first gate layer. An oxide is grown on the first sidewall and around the top and bottom corners to round the corners. The oxide is then removed. A charge storage layer and second gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and overlapping the first sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Taeg Kang
  • Patent number: 8669610
    Abstract: A high-frequency power amplifier of the type to be mounted in an RF module for mobile phones having high-frequency power field effect transistors and gate protective diodes which are coupled between the gates and the sources of the high-frequency power field effect transistors. The gate protective diodes have an n type region formed over the main surface of a p type epitaxial layer, a first p type region formed at the center of the main surface of the n type region, a second p type region formed over the main surface of the epitaxial layer around the n type region from the periphery of the main surface of the n type region, and p+ type buried layers for coupling the second p type region to a substrate body. The distance between the end portions of the p+ type buried layers and the n+ type region is 7 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ono, Tetsuya Iida
  • Patent number: 8669611
    Abstract: A MOS transistor comprises a substrate, a first region formed over the substrate, a second region grown from the first region, a third region of formed in the second region, a first drain/source region formed in the third region, a first gate electrode formed in a first trench, a second drain/source region formed in the second region and on an opposite side of the first trench from the first drain/source region and a second trench coupled between the second drain/source region and the second region, wherein the second trench is of a same depth as the first trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Wai Ng, Hsueh-Liang Chou, Po-Chih Su, Ruey-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 8669612
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed and starts with a semiconductor substrate having a heavily doped N region at the bottom main surface and having a lightly doped N region at the top main surface. There are a plurality of trenches in the substrate, with each trench having a first extending portion extending from the top main surface towards the heavily doped region. Each trench has two sidewall surfaces in parallel alignment with each other. A blocking layer is formed on the sidewalls and the bottom of each trench. Then a P type dopant is obliquely implanted into the sidewall surfaces to form P type doped regions. The blocking layer is then removed. The bottom of the trenches is then etched to remove any implanted P type dopants. The implants are diffused and the trenches are filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Richard A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8669613
    Abstract: A semiconductor die with integrated MOSFET and diode-connected enhancement mode JFET is disclosed. The MOSFET-JFET die includes common semiconductor substrate region (CSSR) of type-1 conductivity. A MOSFET device and a diode-connected enhancement mode JFET (DCE-JFET) device are located upon CSSR. The DCE-JFET device has the CSSR as its DCE-JFET drain. At least two DCE-JFET gate regions of type-2 conductivity located upon the DCE-JFET drain and laterally separated from each other with a DCE-JFET gate spacing. At least a DCE-JFET source of type-1 conductivity located upon the CSSR and between the DCE-JFET gates. A top DCE-JFET electrode, located atop and in contact with the DCE-JFET gate regions and DCE-JFET source regions. When properly configured, the DCE-JFET simultaneously exhibits a forward voltage Vf substantially lower than that of a PN junction diode while the reverse leakage current can be made comparable to that of a PN junction diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sik Lui, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8669614
    Abstract: A monolithic metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)-Schottky diode device including a chip, a MOSFET, a Schottky diode and a termination structure is provided. The chip is divided into a transistor region, a diode region and a termination region. The MOSFET is disposed on the transistor region. The Schottky diode is disposed on the diode region. The termination structure is disposed on the termination region. The transistor region and the diode region are divided by the termination region. The MOSFET and Schottky diode share the termination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Beyond Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Hsing Cheng
  • Patent number: 8669615
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for gate work function engineering in FIN FET devices using a work function setting material an amount of which is provided proportional to fin pitch. In one aspect, a FIN FET device is provided. The FIN FET device includes a SOI wafer having an oxide layer and a SOI layer over a BOX, and a plurality of fins patterned in the oxide layer and the SOI layer; an interfacial oxide on the fins; and at least one gate stack on the interfacial oxide, the gate stack having (i) a conformal gate dielectric layer present, (ii) a conformal gate metal layer, and (iii) a conformal work function setting material layer. A volume of the conformal gate metal layer and a volume of the conformal work function setting material layer present in the gate stack is proportional to a pitch of the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Isaac Lauer, Chung-Hsun Lin, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8669616
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with n-shaped bottom stress liners are formed. Embodiments include forming a protuberance on a substrate, conformally forming a sacrificial material layer over the protuberance, forming a gate stack above the sacrificial material layer on a silicon layer, removing the sacrificial material layer to form a tunnel, and forming a stress liner in the tunnel conforming to the shape of the protuberance. Embodiments further include forming a silicon layer over the sacrificial material layer and lining the tunnel with a passivation layer prior to forming the stress liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Yang, Yanxiang Liu, Vara Govindeswara Reddy Vakada, Jinping Liu, Min Dai
  • Patent number: 8669617
    Abstract: Provided are devices having at least three and at least four different types of transistors wherein the transistors are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions. Methods for making devices having three and at least four different types of transistors that are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Hong Jan, Curtis Tsai, Joodong Park, Jeng-Ya D. Yeh, Walid M. Hafez
  • Patent number: 8669618
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for semiconductor device having metal gate includes providing a substrate having a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device formed thereon, the first semiconductor device having a first gate trench and the second semiconductor device having a second gate trench; sequentially forming a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer and a multiple metal layer on the substrate; forming a first work function metal layer in the first gate trench; performing a first pull back step to remove a portion of the first work function metal layer from the first gate trench; forming a second work function metal layer in the first gate trench and the second gate trench; and performing a second pull back step to remove a portion of the second work function metal layer from the first gate trench and the second gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ssu-I Fu, Wen-Tai Chiang, Ying-Tsung Chen, Shih-Hung Tsai, Chien-Ting Lin, Chi-Mao Hsu, Chin-Fu Lin
  • Patent number: 8669619
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a transistor thereon; a multi-layer contact etching stop layer (CESL) structure covering the transistor, the multi-layer CESL structure comprising a first CESL and a second CESL; and a dielectric layer on the second CESL. The first CESL is made of a material different from that of the second CESL, and the second CESL is made of a material different from that of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Tien-Chang Chang, Jing-Hao Chen, Ming-Tzong Yang
  • Patent number: 8669620
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a circuit including a first MOS transistor having a gate connected to a first signal line, a second MOS transistor having a gate connected to a second signal line, and the circuit outputting an output signal according to a difference in potential between the first signal line and the second signal line, wherein channel regions of the first and second MOS transistors include no maximum impurity concentration at an area, which is shallower than a depth indicating a maximum concentration of one conduction type impurity that forms source and drain regions of the MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Mika Nishisaka
  • Patent number: 8669621
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first insulated gate field effect transistor, a second insulated gate field effect transistor, a bipolar transistor, a first element isolation structure formed on a main surface above a pn junction formed between an emitter region and a base region, a second element isolation structure formed on the main surface above a pn junction formed between the base region and a collector region, and a third element isolation structure formed on the main surface opposite to the second element isolation structure relative to the collector region, in which the semiconductor device further includes a bipolar dummy electrode formed on at least one of the first element isolation structure, the second element isolation structure and the third element isolation structure and having a floating potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8669622
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor device includes a memory cell in a first area of a substrate, a low voltage transistor in a second area of the substrate, and a high voltage transistor in a third area of the substrate. The memory cell includes a tunnel insulation layer formed on the substrate, a charge trapping layer pattern formed on the tunnel insulation layer in the first area of the substrate, a blocking layer pattern formed on the charge trapping layer pattern and a control gate formed on the blocking layer pattern. The control gate has a width substantially smaller than a width of the blocking layer pattern and the width of the control gate is substantially smaller than a width of the charge trapping layer pattern. In addition, an offset is formed between the control gate and the blocking layer pattern such that a spacer is not formed on a sidewall of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hak-Sun Lee, Kyoung-Sub Shin
  • Patent number: 8669623
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure which includes a shielded gate FET is formed as follows. A plurality of trenches is formed in a semiconductor region using a mask. The mask includes (i) a first insulating layer over a surface of the semiconductor region, (ii) a first oxidation barrier layer over the first insulating layer, and (iii) a second insulating layer over the first oxidation barrier layer. A shield dielectric is formed extending along at least lower sidewalls of each trench. A thick bottom dielectric (TBD) is formed along the bottom of each trench. The first oxidation barrier layer prevents formation of a dielectric layer along the surface of the semiconductor region during formation of the TBD. A shield electrode is formed in a bottom portion of each trench. A gate electrode is formed over the shield electrode in each trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James Pan, Christopher Lawrence Rexer
  • Patent number: 8669624
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device which enables reduction of diffusion of Si in the manufacturing process of an MIPS element and suppression of an increase in EOT, and a method of manufacturing the same. An embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor having a gate insulating film provided on a silicon substrate and a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode is a stack-type electrode including a conductive layer containing at least Ti, N, and O (oxygen) and a silicon layer provided on the conductive layer, and the concentration of oxygen in the conductive layer is highest in the side of the silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Naomu Kitano, Takashi Minami, Nobuo Yamaguchi, Takuya Seino, Takashi Nakagawa, Heiji Watanabe, Takayoshi Shimura, Takuji Hosoi
  • Patent number: 8669625
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device provided with an electron transport layer having an excellent electron transport ability and having an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency, and electronic equipment provided with such a photoelectric conversion device and having a high reliability are provided. A solar cell, to which the photoelectric conversion device is applied, has a first electrode provided on a substrate, a second electrode arranged opposite to the first electrode and retained on a facing substrate, an electron transport layer provided between these electrodes and positioned on the side of the first electrode, a dye layer being in contact with the electron transport layer, and an electrolyte layer provided between the electron transport layer and the second electrode and being in contact with the dye layer. The electron transport layer is constituted of a monocrystalline material of multiple oxide as a main component thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: Seiko Epson, Shinshu University
    Inventors: Yuji Shinohara, Yoshiharu Ajiki, Katsuya Teshima, Shuji Oishi
  • Patent number: 8669626
    Abstract: An optical sensor that is a transistor which includes a gate electrode including a semiconductor material where the carrier concentration is 1.0Ă—1014/cm3 to 1.0Ă—1017/cm3, an active layer including a semiconductor layer to form a channel by carriers of the same type as the gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate insulating film, wherein intensity of irradiated light is detected by a change in a value of current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode when the light is irradiated onto a depletion layer formed in the gate electrode; an optical sensor array, an optical sensor driving method, and an optical sensor array driving method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Takeshi Hama
  • Patent number: 8669627
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor is formed using an etched layer sandwiched between first and second substrates. In this case, a structure including a movable portion which is displaceable in the thickness direction of the substrates, and a support frame are formed in the etched layer. In addition, first and second fixed electrodes are formed on the first and second substrates, respectively, at a position facing the movable portion. Further, a remaining sacrificial layer is provided on the substrate by leaving a portion of a second sacrificial layer when a first sacrificial layer is entirely etched away. Therefore, when the first sacrificial layer is etched away, corrosion of the structure and the support beams is prevented because the second sacrificial layer is preferentially corroded as compared to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8669628
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes the following configuration. First nonmagnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer (storage layer) and the second magnetic layer (reference layer). Third magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the storage layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. Fourth magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the reference layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. The third and fourth magnetic layers have a magnetization antiparallel to the magnetization of the storage layer. Second nonmagnetic layer is located between the storage and third magnetic layers. Third nonmagnetic layer is located between the reference and fourth magnetic layers. The thickness of the fourth magnetic layer is smaller than that of the third magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji Ueda, Katsuya Nishiyama, Toshihiko Nagase, Daisuke Watanabe, Eiji Kitagawa, Tadashi Kai
  • Patent number: 8669629
    Abstract: Some embodiments include photonic systems. The systems may include a silicon-containing waveguide configured to direct light along a path, and a detector proximate the silicon-containing waveguide. The detector may comprise a detector material which has a lower region and an upper region, with the lower region having a higher concentration of defects than the upper region. The detector material may comprise germanium in some embodiments. Some embodiments include methods of forming photonic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Meade
  • Patent number: 8669630
    Abstract: The detection device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. A matrix of photodiodes organized along a first organization axis is formed on the substrate. Each photodiode is at least partially formed in the substrate. A peripheral biasing ring is formed around the photodiode matrix. The biasing ring is connected to a bias voltage generator. An electrically conducting contact is connected to the substrate and arranged between two photodiodes on the first organization axis. The distance separating the contact from each of the two photodiodes is equal to the distance separating two adjacent photodiodes along the first organization axis. The contact is connected to the bias voltage generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Societe francaise de detecteurs infrarouges—SOFRADIR
    Inventors: Patrick Maillart, Fabien Chabuel
  • Patent number: 8669631
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate with a solid state imaging element, a first impurity layer, a plurality of external electrodes, and a translucent substrate. The first impurity layer is formed on a back surface side of the substrate, and forms a pn junction with the substrate. The plurality of external electrodes is formed on the back surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the solid state imaging element. The translucent substrate is fixed to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Koseki
  • Patent number: 8669632
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a structure that provides a high sensitivity and high resolution without variations in spectral sensitivity and without halation of colors, and prevents light from penetrating into an adjacent pixel portion. A plurality of photodiodes are formed inside a semiconductor substrate. A wiring layer includes a laminated structure of an insulating film and a wire and is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of color filters are formed individually in a manner corresponding to the plurality of photodiodes above the wiring layer. A planarized film and a microlens are sequentially laminated on each of the color filters. In the solid-state imaging device, each of the color filters has an refraction index higher than that of the planarized film and has, in a Z-axis direction, an upper surface in a concave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakamura, Motonari Katsuno, Masayuki Takase, Masao Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8669633
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first packaged device that contains a first image sensor having first fiducial marks thereon. On a portion of the first packaged device at a predetermined location relative to the first fiducial marks is adhesive, and a first connection body is fixed within the adhesive and registered at the predetermined location relative to the first fiducial marks. The first connection body is mated into the first counter hole formed in a plate at a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Teledyne Dalsa, Inc.
    Inventor: Anton Petrus Maria van Arendonk
  • Patent number: 8669634
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging device able to improve light transmittance of a transparent insulation film in a light incident side of a substrate, suppress the dark current, and prevent a quantum efficiently loss, wherein a pixel circuit is formed in a first surface of the substrate and light is received from a second surface, and having: a light receiving unit formed in the substrate and for generating a signal charge corresponding to an amount of incidence light and storing it; a transparent first insulation film formed on the second surface; and a transparent second insulation film formed on the first insulation film and for retaining a charge having the same polarity as the signal charge in an interface of the first insulation film or in inside, thicknesses of the first and second insulation film being determined to obtain a transmittance higher than when using only the first insulation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kanbe, Takayuki Ezaki
  • Patent number: 8669635
    Abstract: An electrically conductive composite material that includes an electrically conductive polymer, and at least one metal nanoparticle coated with a protective agent, wherein said protective agent includes a compound having a first part that has at least part of the molecular backbone of said electrically conductive polymer and a second part that interacts with said at least one metal nanoparticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yuji Hiroshige, Hideki Minami, Norihisa Watanabe, Jun Fujita
  • Patent number: 8669637
    Abstract: An integrated passive device system is disclosed including forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, depositing a metal capacitor layer on the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the metal capacitor layer, and depositing a metal layer over the second dielectric layer for forming the integrated capacitor, an integrated resistor, an integrated inductor, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Stats ChipPac Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaojian Lin, Haijing Cao, Robert Charles Frye, Pandi Chelvam Marimuthu
  • Patent number: 8669638
    Abstract: A high power semiconductor device for operation at powers greater than 5 watts for wireless applications comprises a semiconductor substrate including an active area of the high power semiconductor device, contact regions formed on the semiconductor substrate providing contacts to the active area of the high power semiconductor device, a dielectric layer formed over a part of the semiconductor substrate, a lead for providing an external connection to the high power semiconductor device and an impedance matching network formed on the semiconductor substrate between the active area of the high power semiconductor device and the lead. The impedance matching network includes conductor lines formed on the dielectric layer. The conductor lines are coupled to the contact regions for providing high power connections to the contact regions of the active area, and have a predetermined inductance for impedance matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Marie Boulay, Ayad Ghannam
  • Patent number: 8669639
    Abstract: A semiconductor element, a manufacturing method thereof and an operating method thereof are provided. The semiconductor element includes a substrate, a first well, a second well, a third well, a fourth well, a bottom layer, a first heavily doping region, a second heavily doping region, a third heavily doping region and a field plane. The first well, the bottom layer and the second well surround the third well for floating the third well and the substrate. The first, the second and the third heavily doping regions are disposed in the first, the second and the third wells respectively. The field plate is disposed above a junction between the first well and the fourth well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Hung, Chien-Wen Chu, Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan
  • Patent number: 8669640
    Abstract: An improved device (20) is provided, comprising, merged vertical (251) and lateral transistors (252), comprising thin collector regions (34) of a first conductivity type sandwiched between upper (362) and lower (30) base regions of opposite conductivity type that are Ohmically coupled via intermediate regions (32, 361) of the same conductivity type and to the base contact (38). The emitter (40) is provided in the upper base region (362) and the collector contact (42) is provided in outlying sinker regions (28) extending to the thin collector regions (34) and an underlying buried layer (28). As the collector voltage increases part of the thin collector regions (34) become depleted of carriers from the top by the upper (362) and from the bottom by the lower (30) base regions. This clamps the thin collector regions' (34) voltage well below the breakdown voltage of the PN junction formed between the buried layer (28) and the lower base region (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Lin, Daniel J. Blomberg, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8669641
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of making an integrated circuit (IC) device. The method includes forming a first IC feature and a second IC feature in a semiconductor substrate, the first and second IC features being spaced from each other and separated by a scribe region; forming, in the semiconductor substrate, a doped routing feature at least partially within the scribe region and configured to connect the first and second IC features; forming a multilayer interconnect (MLI) structure and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the MLI is configured to be absent within the scribe region; and etching the ILD and the semiconductor substrate within the scribe region to form a scribe-line trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Hsieh, Hung-Lin Chen, Hsiu-Mei Yu, Chin Kun Lan, Dong-Lung Lee