Patents Issued in June 10, 2014
  • Patent number: 8748955
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a substrate, a punch-through prevention layer formed over the substrate, an epitaxial layer formed over the punch-through prevention layer, a gate electrode formed over the epitaxial layer; a photodiode formed in the epitaxial layer to be substantially aligned with one side of the gate electrode, a floating diffusion region formed in the epitaxial layer to be substantially aligned with the other side of the gate electrode, and an extended photodiode region formed below the photodiode to be coupled with the punch-through prevention layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Youn-Sub Lim
  • Patent number: 8748957
    Abstract: A coherent spin field effect transistor is provided by depositing a ferromagnetic base like cobalt on a substrate. A magnetic oxide layer is formed on the cobalt by annealing at temperatures on the order of 1000° K to provide a few monolayer thick layer. Where the gate is cobalt, the resulting magnetic oxide is Co3O4(111). Other magnetic materials and oxides may be employed. A few ML field of graphene is deposited on the cobalt (III) oxide by molecular beam epitaxy, and a source and drain are deposited of base material. The resulting device is scalable, provides high on/off rates, is stable and operable at room temperature and easily fabricated with existing technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Quantum Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffry Kelber, Peter Dowben
  • Patent number: 8748958
    Abstract: A phase-change random access memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a heating electrode, forming an interlayer insulating layer including a preliminary phase-change region on the semiconductor substrate, reducing a diameter of an inlet portion of the preliminary phase-change region to be smaller than that of a bottom portion of the preliminary phase-change region, filling an insulating layer having a void in the preliminary phase-change region using a difference between the diameter of the inlet portion and the diameter of the bottom portion, removing the insulating layer to an interface between the inlet portion and the bottom portion, thereby forming a key hole exposing the heating electrode, and forming a phase-change material layer to be buried in the key hole and the preliminary phase-change region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Min Lee, Jung Taik Cheong
  • Patent number: 8748959
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Van Buskirk, Christian Caillat, Viktor I Koldiaev, Jungtae Kwon, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 8748960
    Abstract: A multi-layer integrated circuit package includes a switched-mode power supply circuit including a plurality of transistors which form part of a main current loop of the switched-mode power supply circuit. The plurality of transistors are arranged in one or more layers of the integrated circuit package. The package further includes a conductive plate arranged in a different layer of the integrated circuit package than the plurality of transistors. The conductive plate is in close enough proximity to at least part of the main current loop so that a current can be electromagnetically induced in the conductive plate responsive to a change in current in the main current loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jens Ejury
  • Patent number: 8748961
    Abstract: The embodiment provides a buried bit line process and scheme. The buried bit line is disposed in a trench formed in a substrate. The buried bit line includes a diffusion region formed in a portion of the substrate adjacent the trench. A blocking layer is formed on a portion sidewall of the trench. A conductive plug is formed in the trench, covering sidewalls of the diffusion region and the blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Le-Tien Jung, Yung-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 8748962
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a capacitor dielectric film formed on a lower electrode and made of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode formed on a capacitor dielectric film, wherein the lower electrode includes a lowest conductive layer and an upper conductive layer, the lowest conductive layer being made of a noble metal other than iridium, and the upper conductive layer being formed on the lowest conductive layer and made of a conductive material, which is different from a material for the lowest conductive layer, and which is other than platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8748963
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory including a gate structure disposed on a substrate, doped regions, charge storage layers, and a first dielectric layer. There are recesses in the substrate at two sides of the gate structure. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and a gate disposed on the gate dielectric layer. There is an interface between the gate dielectric layer and the substrate. The doped regions are disposed in the substrate around the recesses. The charge storage layers are disposed in the recesses, and a top surface of each of the charge storage layers is higher than the interface. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the charge storage layers and the substrate, and between the charge storage layers and the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guan-Wei Wu, I-Chen Yang, Yao-Wen Chang, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 8748964
    Abstract: Memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8748965
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell transistor obtained by sequentially stacking the gate insulation film, the floating gate electrode, the interelectrode insulation film, and the control gate electrode over the channel semiconductor layer. The control gate electrode has a structure obtained by sequentially stacking the semiconductor film, the silicide phase-change suppressing layer, and the silicide film. In addition, the silicide phase-change suppressing layer includes a polycrystalline silicon film in which at least one of C, F, and N is doped in a concentration range of 1×1020 to 5×1021 [atom/cm3].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagashima, Junya Fujita, Hideyuki Yamawaki, Masahiro Kiyotoshi, Hisataka Meguro
  • Patent number: 8748966
    Abstract: A three dimensional non-volatile memory structure includes a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and a plurality of control gates alternately stacked over a substrate, a channel formed to penetrate the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of control gates, a tunnel insulating layer formed to surround the channel, a plurality of floating gates disposed between the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the tunnel insulating layer, wherein the plurality of floating gates each have a thickness greater than a corresponding one of the interlayer dielectric layers, and a charge blocking layer disposed between the plurality of control gates and the plurality of floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Jin Whang, Kwon Hong, Ki Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 8748967
    Abstract: An aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate, a first insulator above the semiconductor substrate, the first insulator containing tungsten, germanium and silicon, a charge storage film on the first insulator, a second insulator on the charge storage film and, a control gate electrode on the second insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichiro Toratani, Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8748968
    Abstract: Provided are a method of forming nano dots, method of fabricating a memory device including the same, charge trap layer including the nano dots and memory device including the same. The method of forming the nano dots may include forming cores, coating surfaces of the cores with a polymer, and forming graphene layers covering the surfaces of the cores by thermally treating the cores coated with the polymer. Also, the cores may be removed after forming the graphene layers. In addition, the surfaces of the cores may be coated with a graphitization catalyst material before coating the cores with the polymer. Also, the cores may include metal particles that trap charges and may also function as a graphitization catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-young Choi, Hyeon-jin Shin, Seon-mi Yoon
  • Patent number: 8748969
    Abstract: Provided are a non-volatile memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device may include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor pillars on the substrate. A plurality of control gate electrodes may be stacked on the substrate and intersecting the plurality of semiconductor pillars. A plurality of dummy electrodes may be stacked adjacent to the plurality of control gate electrodes on the substrate, the plurality of dummy electrodes being spaced apart from the plurality of control gate electrodes. A plurality of via plugs may be connected to the plurality of control gate electrodes. A plurality of wordlines may be on the plurality of via plugs. Each of the plurality of via plugs may penetrate a corresponding one of the plurality of control gate electrodes and at least one of the plurality of dummy electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xianyu Wenxu, Jung-hyun Lee, Dong-joon Ma, Yeon-hee Kim, Yong-young Park, Chang-soo Lee
  • Patent number: 8748970
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having reduced contact region area achieved at least in part by forming pad portions of the word lines using an asymmetric stair shape separately formed in first and second pad structures. Contact region area is reduced when compared with manufacturing processes known in the art. This leads to an increase in device integrity and a less complex manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Hyun Soo Shon
  • Patent number: 8748971
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a stacked body provided on the semiconductor substrate, the stacked body having electrode films and insulating films being alternately stacked; a first and second semiconductor pillars; and a first and second charge storage layers. The first and second semiconductor pillars are provided inside a through hole penetrating through the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The through hole has a cross section of an oblate circle, when cutting in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. The first and second semiconductor pillars face each other in a major axis direction of the first oblate circle. The first and second semiconductor pillars extend in the stacking direction. The first and second charge storage layers are provided between the electrode film and the first and second semiconductor pillars, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hideaki Aochi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Tomoko Fujiwara, Junya Matsunami, Ryouhei Kirisawa
  • Patent number: 8748972
    Abstract: Flash memory devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a memory device comprises the steps of fabricating a first gate stack and a second gate stack overlying a substrate. A trench is etched into the substrate between the first gate stack and the second gate stack and a first impurity doped region is formed within the substrate underlying the trench. The trench is filled at least partially with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Ning Cheng, Fred Cheung, Ashot Melik-Martirosian, Kyunghoon Min, Michael Brennan, Hiroyuki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8748973
    Abstract: A super junction transistor includes a drain substrate, an epitaxial layer, wherein the epitaxial layer is disposed on the drain substrate, a plurality of gate structure units embedded on the surface of the epitaxial layer, a plurality of trenches disposed in the epitaxial layer between the drain substrate and the gate structure units, a buffer layer in direct contact with the inner surface of the trenches, a plurality of body diffusion regions with a first conductivity type adjacent to the outer surface of the trenches, wherein there is at least a PN junction on the interface between the body diffusion region and the epitaxial layer, and a doped source region, wherein the doped source region is disposed in the epitaxial layer and is adjacent to the gate structure unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Lin, Shou-Yi Hsu, Meng-Wei Wu, Main-Gwo Chen, Chia-Hao Chang, Chia-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8748974
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device has a semiconductor body which includes an active area and a peripheral area which both define a horizontal main surface of the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body further includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a pn junction and at least one trench. The n-type semiconductor layer is embedded in the semiconductor body and extends to the main surface in the peripheral area. The pn junction is arranged between the n-type semiconductor layer and the main surface in the active area. The at least one trench extends in the peripheral area from the main surface into the n-type semiconductor layer and includes a dielectric layer with fixed negative charges. In the vertical direction, the dielectric layer is arranged both below and above the pn junction. The dielectric layer with fixed negative charges typically has a negative net charge. Further, a method for forming a semiconductor device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz Hirler, Wolfgang Lehnert, Rudolf Berger, Klemens Pruegl, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Helmut Strack
  • Patent number: 8748975
    Abstract: A switching element is provided having a semiconductor substrate. A trench gate electrode is formed in the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. An n-type first semiconductor region, a p-type second semiconductor region, and an n-type third semiconductor region are formed in a region in contact with a gate insulating film in the semiconductor substrate. At a position below the second semiconductor region, there is formed a p-type fourth semiconductor region connected to the second semiconductor region and opposing the gate insulating film via the third semiconductor region and containing boron. A high-concentration-carbon containing region having a carbon concentration higher than that of a semiconductor region exposed on the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate is formed in at least a part of the portion of the third semiconductor region, positioned between the fourth semiconductor region and the gate insulating film, that is in contact with the fourth semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Fujiwara, Yukihiko Watanabe, Narumasa Soejima, Toshimasa Yamamoto, Yuichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8748976
    Abstract: A semiconductor device contains a vertical MOS transistor with instances of a vertical RESURF trench on opposite sides of a vertical drift region. The vertical RESURF trench contains a dielectric trench liner on sidewalls, and a lower field plate and an upper field plate above the lower field plate. The dielectric trench liner between the lower field plate and the vertical drift region is thicker than between the upper field plate and the vertical drift region. A gate is disposed over the vertical drift region and is separate from the upper field plate. The upper field plate and the lower field plate are electrically coupled to a source electrode of the vertical MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Boguslaw Kocon, John Manning Savidge Neilson, Simon John Molloy, Hideaki Kawahara, Hong Yang, Seetharaman Sridhar, Hao Wu, Boling Wen
  • Patent number: 8748977
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer 2 of a wide band gap semiconductor arranged on a principal surface of a substrate 1; a trench 5 arranged in the semiconductor layer and including a bottom surface, a plurality of main side surfaces, and a plurality of corner side surfaces each connecting together two adjacent main side surfaces; a gate insulating film 6 arranged on the bottom surface, the main side surfaces and the corner side surfaces of the trench 5; and a gate electrode 8 arranged in the trench, wherein the semiconductor layer includes a drift region 2d of a first conductivity type, and a body region 3 of a second conductivity type arranged on the drift region; the trench runs through the body region 3 and has the bottom surface inside the drift region; the corner side surfaces of the trench do not have a depressed portion; the gate insulating film 6 is thicker on the corner side surfaces of the trench than on the main side surfaces o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Chiaki Kudou
  • Patent number: 8748978
    Abstract: A sense-amp transistor for a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A sense-amp transistor for a semiconductor device includes a recess array formed in a gate region of a sense-amp, a plurality of buried gates formed in each recess of the recess array so as to form a vertical channel region, and an upper gate configured to form a horizontal channel region in an active region between the buried gates. As a result, the number of additional processes is minimized, and the sensing margin of the sense-amp is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8748979
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device whose breakdown voltage is made high by controlling local concentration of an electric field. A source region faces a second plane, one of side faces of a groove part, and a part thereof extends in a direction in parallel to a nodal line of first and second planes. A drift region faces a third plane being the other side face of the groove part opposite to the second plane with a part thereof extending in a direction parallel to the nodal line of the first plane and the third plane, and is formed at a lower concentration than the source region. The drain region is provided so as to be placed on the other side of the drift region opposite to the groove part and so as to touch the drift region, and is formed at a higher concentration than the drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8748980
    Abstract: The present technology discloses a U-shape RESURF MOSFET device. Wherein the MOSFET device comprises a drain having a drain contact region and a drift region, a source, a body, a gate and a recessed-FOX structure. Wherein the recessed-FOX structure is between the gate and the drift region vertically and between the body and the drain contact region laterally, and wherein the recessed-FOX structure is configured to make the drift region into a U shape. The present technology further discloses the depth of the drift region is controlled by adjusting a layout width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeesung Jung
  • Patent number: 8748981
    Abstract: Semiconductor device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device structure includes a first vertical drift region of semiconductor material, a second vertical drift region of semiconductor material, and a buried lateral drift region of semiconductor material that abuts the vertical drift regions. In one or more embodiments, the vertical drift regions and buried lateral drift region have the same conductivity type, wherein a body region of the opposite conductivity type overlies the buried lateral drift region between the vertical drift regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongning Yang, Xin Lin, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8748982
    Abstract: Semiconductor regions are alternately arranged in a parallel pn layer in which an n-type region and a p-type region are alternately arranged parallel to the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Pitch between n drift region and p partition region of a second parallel pn layer in an edge termination region is two thirds of pitch between n drift region and p partition region of a first parallel pn layer in an active region. At boundaries between main SJ cells and fine SJ cells at four corners of the semiconductor substrate having rectangular shape in plan view, ends of two pitches of main SJ cells face the ends of three pitches of fine SJ cells. In this way, it is possible to reduce the influence of a process variation and thus reduce mutual diffusion between n drift region and p partition region of the fine SJ cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dawei Cao, Mutsumi Kitamura, Takahiro Tamura, Yasuhiko Onishi
  • Patent number: 8748983
    Abstract: An embedded source/drain MOS transistor and a formation method thereof are provided. The embedded source/drain MOS transistor comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a gate structure on the semiconductor substrate; and a source/drain stack embedded in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the gate structure with an upper surface of the source/drain stack being exposed, wherein the source/drain stack comprises a dielectric layer and a semiconductor layer above the dielectric layer. The present invention can cut off the path for the leakage current from the source region and the drain region to the semiconductor substrate, thereby reducing the leakage current from the source region and the drain region to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huicai Zhong, Chao Zhao, Qingqing Liang
  • Patent number: 8748984
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. A fin of the semiconductor device including a fin-shaped channel region is configured in the form of a non-uniform structure, and a leakage current caused by the electric field effect generated in the semiconductor device is prevented from being generated, resulting in an increased operation stability of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Kil Chun
  • Patent number: 8748985
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure, including forming a channel in a first portion of a semiconductor layer and forming a doped extension region in a second portion of the semiconductor layer abutting the channel on a first side and abutting an insulator material on a bottom side. The first portion of the semiconductor layer is thicker than the second portion of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher S. Putnam
  • Patent number: 8748986
    Abstract: Structures and methods of fabrication thereof related to an improved semiconductor on insulator (SOI) transistor formed on an SOI substrate. The improved SOI transistor includes a substantially undoped channel extending between the source and the drain, an optional threshold voltage set region positioned below the substantially undoped channel, and a screening region positioned below the threshold voltage set region. The threshold voltage of the improved SOI transistor can be adjusted without halo implants or threshold voltage implants into the channel, using the position and/or dopant concentration of the screening region and/or the threshold voltage set region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Suvolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucian Shifren, Pushkar Ranade
  • Patent number: 8748987
    Abstract: A standard cell has gate patterns extending in Y direction and arranged at an equal pitch in X direction. End portions of the gate patterns are located at the same position in Y direction, and have an equal width in X direction. A diode cell is located next to the standard cell in Y direction, and includes a plurality of opposite end portions formed of gate patterns that are opposed to the end portions, in addition to a diffusion layer which functions as a diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ikegami, Kazuyuki Nakanishi, Masaki Tamaru
  • Patent number: 8748988
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, a field insulating film disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a base insulating film disposed on a surface of the field insulating film, and a resistor disposed on the base insulating film. The resistor is formed of a polycrystalline silicon film and has a resistance region and electrode lead-out regions disposed at both ends of the resistance region. A portion of the base insulating film below the resistance region projects with respect to portions of the base insulating film below the electrode lead-out regions so that a height difference occurs therebetween. The resistance region has a thickness thinner than that of each of the electrode lead-out regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8748989
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). An exemplary structure for a FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a plurality of first trenches having a first width and extending downward from the substrate major surface to a first height, wherein a first space between adjacent first trenches defines a first fin; and a plurality of second trenches having a second width less than first width and extending downward from the substrate major surface to a second height greater than the first height, wherein a second space between adjacent second trenches defines a second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Chao Lin, Chih-Tang Peng, Shun-Hui Yang, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen, Chao-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8748990
    Abstract: A high voltage switching device and associated method of manufacturing, the high voltage switching device having a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a source region, a drain region, a drift region, a gate oxide, a filed oxide, a gate and a snake shaped poly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Yi
  • Patent number: 8748991
    Abstract: A high-k metal gate stack and structures for CMOS devices and a method for forming the devices. The gate stack includes a high-k dielectric having a high dielectric constant greater than approximately 3.9, a germanium (Ge) material layer interfacing with the high-k dielectric, and a conductive electrode layer disposed above the high-k dielectric or the Ge material layer. The gate stack optimizes a shift of the flatband voltage or the threshold voltage to obtain high performance in p-FET devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Takashi Ando, Vijay Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8748992
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) having at least one MOS device includes forming a SiON gate dielectric layer on a silicon surface. A gate electrode layer is deposited on the SiON gate layer and then patterning forms a gate stack. Exposed gate dielectric sidewalls are revealed by the patterning. A supplemental silicon oxide layer is formed on the exposed SiON sidewalls followed by nitriding. After nitriding, a post nitridation annealing (PNA) forms an annealed N-enhanced SiON gate dielectric layer including N-enhanced SiON sidewalls, wherein along lines of constant thickness a N concentration at the N-enhanced SiON sidewalls is ? the N concentration in a bulk of the annealed N-enhanced SiON gate layer ?2 atomic %. A source and drain region on opposing sides of the gate stack are formed to define a channel region under the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian K. Kirkpatrick, James Joseph Chambers
  • Patent number: 8748993
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a FinFET over the semiconductor substrate. The FinFET includes a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin; a gate electrode on the gate dielectric; and a source/drain region at an end of the semiconductor fin. A first pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions includes portions directly underlying portions of the source/drain regions, wherein the first pair of STI regions is separated by, and adjoining a semiconductor strip. The first pair of STI regions further has first top surfaces. A second pair of STI regions comprises portions directly underlying the gate electrode, wherein the second pair of STI regions is separated from each other by, and adjoining, the semiconductor strip. The second pair of STI regions has second top surfaces higher than the first top surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Lin Lee, Chih Chieh Yeh, Chang-Yun Chang, Feng Yuan
  • Patent number: 8748995
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a nitride semiconductor multilayer including an active region, and first and second electrodes, each having a finger-like structure and formed on the active region to be spaced from each other. A first electrode interconnect is formed on the first electrode. A second electrode interconnect is formed on the second electrode. A second insulating film is formed to cover the first and second electrode interconnects. A first metal layer is formed on the second insulating film. The first metal layer is formed above the active region with the second insulating film interposed therebetween, and is coupled to the first electrode interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kaibara, Hidetoshi Ishida, Tetsuzo Ueda
  • Patent number: 8748996
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate having a top semiconductor surface including at least one MOS device including a source and a drain region spaced apart to define a channel region. A SiON gate dielectric layer that has a plurality of different N concentration portions is formed on the top semiconductor surface. A gate electrode is on the SiON layer. The plurality of different N concentration portions include (i) a bottom portion extending to the semiconductor interface having an average N concentration of <2 atomic %, (ii) a bulk portion having an average N concentration >10 atomic %, and (iii) a top portion on the bulk portion extending to a gate electrode interface having an average N concentration that is ?2 atomic % less than a peak N concentration of the bulk portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James Joseph Chambers, Hiroaki Niimi, Brian Keith Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8748997
    Abstract: Provided are a contact-force sensor package and a method of fabricating the same. The contact-force sensor package includes an elastic layer comprising a side that contacts a source of a contact-force; and a substrate layer adhered to the opposing side of the elastic layer from the side that contacts the source of the contact-force and comprising a cantilever beam separated from the elastic layer and deformed due to the contact-force, a pillar extending from a free end portion of the cantilever beam to the elastic layer and transferring the contact-force from the elastic layer to the cantilever beam, and a deformation sensing element for generating an electrical signal that is proportional to a degree of deformation of the cantilever beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Center for University-Industry Corporation
    Inventors: Jong-pal Kim, Byeung-leul Lee
  • Patent number: 8748998
    Abstract: A sensor module includes a substrate system which has multiple substrates situated one on top of the other and connected in each case via a wafer bond connection. The substrate system includes at least one first sensor substrate and at least one second sensor substrate, the first sensor substrate having a first sensor structure and the second sensor substrate having a second sensor structure. The first and second sensor structures are designed for detecting different characteristics. At least the first sensor structure includes a micromechanical functional structure. Moreover, a method for manufacturing such a sensor module is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Frey, Heribert Weber, Eckhard Graf
  • Patent number: 8748999
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitive sensor having a back-plate, wherein the back-plate forms a first capacitor plate of the capacitive sensor. The back-plate is a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive membrane is spaced apart from the semiconductor substrate by an air-gap. A capacitance of the capacitive sensor is configured to change in response to a movement of the polysilicon membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce C. S. Chou, Jung-Kuo Tu, Chen-Chih Fan
  • Patent number: 8749000
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensor device includes a bulk silicon layer, a first doped region of the bulk silicon layer of a first dopant type, a second doped region of the bulk silicon layer of a second dopant type, wherein the first dopant type is a type of dopant different from the second dopant type, the second doped region located at an upper surface of the bulk silicon layer and having a first doped portion bounded by the first doped region, a first cavity portion directly above the second doped region, and an upper electrode formed in an epitaxial layer, the upper electrode directly above the first cavity portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew B. Graham, Gary O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8749001
    Abstract: An electronic component includes: a semiconductor element including a circuit; a vibration element; a first electrode arranged on a first surface of the semiconductor element and connected to the circuit and the vibration element arranged on the first surface side; a second electrode arranged on the first surface; a first wiring board including a first wire connected to the second electrode; and a second wiring board including a second wire to which the first wire is connected. At least a part of an inner side region of an outer contour of the vibration element is arranged to overlap the second electrode in plan view facing the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Terunao Hanaoka, Akinori Shindo, Yasuo Yamasaki, Seiichi Chiba, Toshiyuki Enta, Shuji Kojima
  • Patent number: 8749002
    Abstract: A structure and method for air cavity packaging, the structure comprises a carrier having plural die pads and leads, plural dies, plural wires, plural walls, and a lid. The dies are mounted on the die pads. The wires electrically connect the dies to the leads. The plural walls are disposed on the carrier and form plural cavities in a way that each cavity contains at least one die pad and plural leads, and each wall is provided with at least one air vent for exhausting air to the outside. The lid is attached on the plural walls via an adhesive agent to seal the plural air cavities, so that the plural connected air cavity packages are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Win Semiconductors Corp.
    Inventors: Zi-Hong Fu, Sung-Mao Yang, Chun-Ting Chu, Wen-Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 8749003
    Abstract: A STT-RAM MTJ that minimizes spin-transfer magnetization switching current (Jc) is disclosed. The MTJ has a MgO tunnel barrier layer formed with a natural oxidation process to achieve a low RA (10 ohm-um2) and a Fe or Fe/CoFeB/Fe free layer which provides a lower intrinsic damping constant than a CoFeB free layer. A Fe, FeB, or Fe/CoFeB/Fe free layer when formed with a MgO tunnel barrier (radical oxidation process) and a CoFeB AP1 pinned layer in a MRAM MTJ stack annealed at 360° C. provides a high dR/R (TMR)>100% and a substantial improvement in read margin with a TMR/Rp_cov=20. High speed measurement of 100 nm×200 nm oval STT-RAM MTJs has shown a Jc0 for switching a Fe free layer is one half that for switching an amorphous Co40Fe40B20 free layer. A Fe/CoFeB/Fe free layer configuration allows the Hc value to be increased for STT-RAM applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng T. Horng, Ru-Ying Tong, Chyu-Jiuh Tomg, Witold Kula
  • Patent number: 8749004
    Abstract: A method and structure for fabricating sensor(s) or electronic device(s) using vertical mounting is presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming sensor(s) or electronic device(s) on a first region overlying the surface region. At least one bond pad structure can be formed from at least one trench structure. The resulting device can then be singulated within a vicinity of the bond pad structure(s) to form at least one integrated sensor or electronic devices having at least one vertical bond pad. At least one singulated device(s) can be coupled to a package, having a package surface region, such that the vertical bond pad(s) are configured horizontally, and at least one interconnection can be formed between the vertical bond pad(s) and at least one portion of the package surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventors: Xiao (Charles) Yang, Hong Wan
  • Patent number: 8749005
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in at least a portion of a polygonal shape. The magnetic field sensor includes an electronic circuit to process signals generated by the plurality of vertical Hall elements to identify a direction of a magnetic field. A corresponding method of fabricating the magnetic field sensor is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich, Nicolas Yoakim
  • Patent number: 8749006
    Abstract: An improved image sensor, e.g., CCD, CID, CMOS. The image sensor includes a substrate, e.g., silicon wafer. The sensor also includes a plurality of photo diode regions, where each of the photo diode regions is spatially disposed on the substrate. The sensor has an interlayer dielectric layer overlying the plurality of photo diode regions and a shielding layer formed overlying the interlayer dielectric layer. A silicon dioxide bearing material is overlying the shielding layer. A plurality of lens structures are formed on the silicon dioxide bearing material. The sensor also has a color filter layer overlying the lens structures and a plurality of second lens structures overlying the color filter layer according to a preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Herb Huang, Mieno Fumitake