Patents Issued in July 1, 2014
-
Patent number: 8765572Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, in which an interference effect between word lines is substantially reduced or eliminated, includes forming a plurality of gate patterns on a substrate; forming a first insulating layer between the gate patterns, the first insulating layer filling a region between the gate patterns; etching the first insulating layer to remove a portion of the first insulating layer to a predetermined depth; and forming a second insulating layer on the gate patterns and the first insulating layer. A low-dielectric-constant material is formed between the gate patterns.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-lack Choi, Chang-hyun Cho, Seung-pil Chung, Hyun-seok Jang, Du-heon Song, Jung-dal Choi
-
Patent number: 8765573Abstract: A method of forming air gaps between adjacent raised features on a substrate includes forming a carbon-containing material in a bottom region between the adjacent raised features using a flowable deposition process. The method also includes forming a silicon-containing film over the carbon-containing material using a flowable deposition process, where the silicon-containing film fills an upper region between the adjacent raised features and extends over the adjacent raised features. The method also includes curing the carbon-containing material and the silicon-containing material at an elevated temperature for a period of time to form the air gaps between the adjacent raised features.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Abhijit Basu Mallick, Nitin Ingle
-
Patent number: 8765574Abstract: A method for conformal dry etch of a liner material in a high aspect ratio trench is achieved by depositing or forming an inhomogeneous passivation layer which is thicker near the opening of a trench but thinner deep within the trench. The method described herein use a selective etch following formation of the inhomogeneous passivation layer. The selective etch etches liner material faster than the passivation material. The inhomogeneous passivation layer suppresses the etch rate of the selective etch near the top of the trench (where it would otherwise be fastest) and gives the etch a head start deeper in the trench (where is would otherwise be slowest). This method may also find utility in removing bulk material uniformly from within a trench.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jingchun Zhang, Nitin K. Ingle, Anchuan Wang
-
Patent number: 8765575Abstract: A method for forming a trench filled with an insulator crossing a single-crystal silicon layer and a first SiO2 layer and penetrating into a silicon support, this method including the steps of forming on the silicon layer a second SiO2 layer and a first silicon nitride layer, forming the trench, and performing a first oxidizing processing to form a third SiO2 layer; performing a second oxidizing processing to form, on the exposed surfaces of the first silicon nitride layer a fourth SiO2 layer; depositing a second silicon nitride layer and filling the trench with SiO2; and removing the upper portion of the structure until the upper surface of the silicon layer is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SASInventors: Daniel Benoit, Laurent Favennec
-
Patent number: 8765576Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminated substrate is provided. The method includes: forming an oxide film on at least a surface of a first substrate having a hardness of equal to or more than 150 GPa in Young's modulus, and then smoothing the oxide film; implanting hydrogen ions or rare gas ions, or mixed gas ions thereof from a surface of a second substrate to form an ion-implanted layer inside the substrate, laminating the first substrate and the second substrate through at least the oxide film, and then detaching the second substrate in the ion-implanted layer to form a laminated substrate; heat-treating the laminated substrate and diffusing outwardly the oxide film.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Akiyama, Atsuo Ito, Yoshihiro Kubota, Koichi Tanaka, Makoto Kawai, Yuuji Tobisaka
-
Patent number: 8765577Abstract: A method of forming a strained semiconductor material that in one embodiment includes forming a cleave layer in a host semiconductor substrate, and contacting a strain inducing material layer on a surface of a transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate. A handle substrate is then contacted to an exposed surface of the stress inducing material layer. The transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate may then be separated from the host semiconductor substrate along the cleave layer. A dielectric layer is formed directly on the transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate. The handle substrate and the stress inducing material are then removed, wherein the transferred portion of the host semiconductor substrate provides a strained semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with a dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
-
Patent number: 8765578Abstract: A method of edge protecting bonded semiconductor wafers. A second semiconductor wafer and a first semiconductor wafer are attached by a bonding layer/interface and the second semiconductor wafer undergoes a thinning process. As a part of the thinning process, a first protective layer is applied to the edges of the second and first semiconductor wafers. A third semiconductor wafer is attached to the second semiconductor wafer by a bonding layer/interface and the third semiconductor wafer undergoes a thinning process. As a part of the thinning process, a second protective layer is applied to the edges of the third semiconductor wafer and over the first protective layer. The first, second and third semiconductor wafers form a wafer stack. The wafer stack is diced into a plurality of 3D chips while maintaining the first and second protective layers.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Douglas C. La Tulipe, Jr., Spyridon Skordas, Tuan A. Vo, Kevin R. Winstel
-
Patent number: 8765579Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a device area where a plurality of semiconductor devices are respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the semiconductor wafer and a peripheral area surrounding the device area. The back side of the semiconductor wafer corresponding to the device area is ground to thereby form a circular recess and an annular projection surrounding the circular recess. In a chip stacked wafer forming step, a plurality of semiconductor device chips are provided on the bottom surface of the circular recess of the semiconductor wafer at the positions respectively corresponding to the semiconductor devices of the semiconductor wafer. The chip stacked wafer is ground to reduce the thickness of each semiconductor device chip to a finished thickness, and a through electrode is formed in each semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Disco CorporationInventors: Youngsuk Kim, Shigenori Harada
-
Patent number: 8765580Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor devices includes: (a) forming a layered structure that includes a temporary substrate, a plurality of spaced apart sacrificial film regions on the temporary substrate, and a plurality of valley-and-peak areas among the sacrificial film regions; (b) growing laterally and epitaxially an epitaxial film layer over the sacrificial film regions and the valley-and-peak areas, wherein gaps are formed among the epitaxial film layer and the valley-and-peak areas; (c) forming a conductive layer to contact the epitaxial film layer; (d) forming a plurality of grooves to divide the epitaxial film layer and the conductive layer into a plurality of epitaxial structures on the temporary substrate; and (e) removing the temporary substrate and the sacrificial film regions from the epitaxial structures by etching the sacrificial film regions through the gaps and the grooves.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: National Chung-Hsing UniversityInventors: Dong-Sing Wuu, Ray-Hua Horng
-
Patent number: 8765581Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to a self-aligned cross-point phase change memory-switch array and methods of fabricating same.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jong Won Lee, Gianpaolo Spadini, Derchang Kau
-
Patent number: 8765582Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a backside surface; integrated circuit features formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a polycrystalline silicon layer disposed on the backside surface of the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chia-Hao Hsu, Chia-Chen Chen, Tzung-Chi Fu, Tzu-Wei Kao, Yu Chao Lin
-
Patent number: 8765583Abstract: An improved method of tilting a mask to perform a pattern implant of a substrate is disclosed. The mask has a plurality of apertures, and is placed between the ion source and the substrate. The mask and substrate are tilted at a first angle relative to the incoming ion beam. After the substrate is exposed to the ion beam, the mask and substrate are tilted at a second angle relative to the ion beam and a subsequent implant step is performed. Through the selection of the aperture size and shape, the cross-section of the mask, the distance between the mask and the substrate and the number of implant steps, a variety of implant patterns may be created. In some embodiments, the implant pattern includes heavily doped horizontal stripes with lighter doped regions between the stripes. In some embodiments, the implant pattern includes a grid of heavily doped regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Riordon, Nicholas Bateman, Atul Gupta
-
Patent number: 8765584Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor, wherein, during lift-off, no cracks due to internal stresses occur in the compound semiconductor layer. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a structure in which a semiconductor layer is bonded on a supporting substrate, including: a device region formation step of forming a device region including the semiconductor layer on a growth substrate through a lift-off layer; a columnar member formation step of forming a columnar member on the growth substrate; a bonding step of bonding the tops of the semiconductor layer and the columnar member to a supporting substrate; a lift-off step of separating the bottom face of the semiconductor layer from the growth substrate by removing the lift-off layer, and not separating the columnar member from the growth substrate; and a step of separating the columnar member from the supporting substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Dowa Electronics Materials Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Kadowaki, Tatsunori Toyota
-
Patent number: 8765585Abstract: Each gate structure formed on the substrate includes a gate dielectric, a gate conductor, a first etch stop layer, and a gate cap dielectric. A second etch stop layer is formed over the gate structures, gate spacers, and source and drain regions. A first contact-level dielectric layer and a second contact-level dielectric layer are formed over the second etch stop layer. Gate contact via holes extending at least to the top surface of the gate cap dielectrics are formed. Source/drain contact via holes extending to the interface between the first and second contact-level dielectric layers are subsequently formed. The various contact via holes are vertically extended by simultaneously etching exposed gate cap dielectrics and exposed portions of the first contact-level dielectric layer, then by simultaneously etching the first and second etch stop layers. Source/drain contact vias self-aligned to the outer surfaces gate spacers are thereby formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Su C. Fan, David V. Horak, Charles W. Koburger, III, Shom Ponoth, Chih-Chao Yang
-
Patent number: 8765586Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming metal silicide regions on semiconductor devices. In one example, the method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a semiconducting substrate, performing a selective metal silicide formation process to form metal silicide regions in source/drain regions formed in or above the substrate, after forming the metal silicide regions, removing the sacrificial gate structure to define a gate opening and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate opening, the replacement gate structure comprised of at least one metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.Inventors: Clemens Fitz, Peter Baars, Markus Lenski
-
Patent number: 8765587Abstract: A method of manufacturing non-volatile memory devices includes forming a gate insulating layer and a first conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate, etching the first conductive layer and the gate insulating layer to expose part of the semiconductor substrate, forming trenches at a target depth of the semiconductor substrate by repeatedly performing a dry etch process for etching the exposed semiconductor substrate and a cleaning process for removing residues generated in the dry etch process, forming isolation layers within the trenches, forming a dielectric layer on a surface of the entire structure in which the isolation layers are formed, and forming a second conductive layer on the dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Su Hyun Lim, Seung Cheol Lee
-
Patent number: 8765588Abstract: A semiconductor process includes the following steps. An interdielectric layer is formed on a substrate and the interdielectric layer has a first recess and a second recess. A metal layer is formed to cover the surface of the interdielectric layer, the first recess and the second recess. Partially fills a sacrificed material into the first recess and the second recess so that a portion of the metal layer in each of the recesses is respectively covered. The uncovered metal layer in each of the recesses is removed. The sacrificed material is removed. An etching process is performed to remove the remaining metal layer in the first recess and reserve the remaining metal layer in the second recess.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.Inventors: Pong-Wey Huang, Chan-Lon Yang, Chang-Hung Kung, Wei-Hsin Liu, Ya-Hsueh Hsieh, Bor-Shyang Liao, Teng-Chun Hsuan, Chun-Yao Yang
-
Patent number: 8765589Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method, the method including: forming an insulation layer having a protruding portion, the insulation layer having a surface and a rising surface that protrudes upward from the surface, on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive layer to cover the insulation layer having the protruding portion; and removing a predetermined region of the conductive layer by patterning the predetermined region according to an etching process using microwave plasma, which uses a microwave as a plasma source, while applying bias power of 70 mW/cm2 or above on the semiconductor substrate, under a high pressure condition of 85 mTorr or above.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Tetsuya Nishizuka, Masahiko Takahashi
-
Patent number: 8765590Abstract: A method comprises: forming a semiconductor device on a base substrate, the semiconductor device having a core metal positioned proximate a source and a drain in the base substrate, a work function metal on a portion of the core metal, and a dielectric layer on a portion of the work function metal; forming a metal gate in electrical communication with one of the source and the drain; and implanting an insulator film on the core metal of the semiconductor device. The insulator film on the core metal forms an insulative barrier across the metal gate and between the core metal of the semiconductor device and the source or the drain.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kangguo Cheng, Junli Wang, Keith Kwong Hon Wong, Chih-Chao Yang
-
Patent number: 8765591Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having metal gate includes providing a substrate having at least a dummy gate, a sacrificial layer covering sidewalls of the dummy gate and a dielectric layer exposing a top of the dummy gate formed thereon, forming a sacrificial layer covering sidewalls of the dummy gate on the substrate, forming a dielectric layer exposing a top of the dummy gate on the substrate, performing a first etching process to remove a portion of the sacrificial layer surrounding the top of the dummy gate to form at least a first recess, and performing a second etching process to remove the dummy gate to form a second recess. The first recess and the second recess construct a T-shaped gate trench.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.Inventors: Ssu-I Fu, I-Ming Tseng, En-Chiuan Liou, Cheng-Guo Chen
-
Patent number: 8765592Abstract: A method for contacting MOS devices. First openings in a photosensitive material are formed over a substrate having a top dielectric in a first die area and a second opening over a gate stack in a second die area having the top dielectric, a hard mask, and a gate electrode. The top dielectric layer is etched to form a semiconductor contact while etching at least a portion the hard mask layer thickness over a gate contact area exposed by the second opening. An inter-layer dielectric (ILD) is deposited. A photosensitive material is patterned to generate a third opening in the photosensitive material over the semiconductor contact and a fourth opening inside the gate contact area. The ILD is etched through to reopen the semiconductor contact while etching through the ILD and residual hard mask if present to provide a gate contact to the gate electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Fei Xie, Wen Cheng Tien, Ya Ping Chen, Li Bin Man, Kuo Jung Chen, Yu Liu, Tian Yi Zhang, Sisi Xie
-
Patent number: 8765593Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a controlled collapse chip connection (C4) structures. Various embodiments include a method of forming a controlled collapse chip connection (C4) structure. The method can include: providing a precursor structure including: a substrate, a dielectric over the substrate, the dielectric including a plurality of trenches exposing a portion of the substrate, and a metal layer over the dielectric and the portion of the substrate in each of the plurality of trenches, forming a resist layer over the metal layer, forming a rigid liner over a surface of the resist layer and the metal layer, and forming solder over the rigid liner between portions of the resist layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stephen P. Ayotte, Timothy H. Daubenspeck, David J. Hill, Glen E. Richard, Timothy M. Sullivan
-
Patent number: 8765594Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, includes: removing, after forming solder for forming a plurality of bumps on a semiconductor substrate, an oxide film formed on a surface of the solder while heating the semiconductor substrate with first radiant heat; and heating the semiconductor substrate with an amount of second radiant heat that is greater than the amount of the first radiant heat by holding the semiconductor substrate at a position apart from a front surface of a heater stage at a predetermined distance to reflow the solder from which the oxide film is removed.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Inventor: Yoshihiro Kitamura
-
Patent number: 8765595Abstract: Methods for fabricating a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure, BEOL wiring structures, and design structures for a BEOL wiring structure. The BEOL wiring may be fabricated by forming a first wire in a dielectric layer and annealing the first wire in an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the first wire is annealed, a second wire is formed in vertical alignment with the first wire. A final passivation layer, which is comprised of an organic material such as polyimide, is formed that covers an entirety of a sidewall of the second wire.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Edward C. Cooney, III, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, Xiao H. Liu
-
Patent number: 8765596Abstract: Material is removed from a substrate surface (e.g., from a bottom portion of a recessed feature on a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate) by subjecting the surface to a plurality of profiling cycles, wherein each profiling cycle includes a net etching operation and a net depositing operation. An etching operation removes a greater amount of material than is being deposited by a depositing operation, thereby resulting in a net material etch-back per profiling cycle. About 2-10 profiling cycles are performed. The profiling cycles are used for removing metal-containing materials, such as diffusion barrier materials, copper line materials, and metal seed materials by PVD deposition and resputter. Profiling with a plurality of cycles removes metal-containing materials without causing microtrenching in an exposed dielectric. Further, overhang is reduced at the openings of the recessed features and sidewall material coverage is improved. Integrated circuit devices having higher reliability are fabricated.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anshu A. Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
-
Patent number: 8765597Abstract: A line trough and a via cavity are formed within a dielectric layer comprising a fluorosilicate glass (FSG) layer. A fluorine depleted adhesion layer is formed within the line trough and the via cavity either by a plasma treatment that removes fluorine from exposed surfaces of the FSG layer, or by deposition of a substantially fluorine-free dielectric layer. Metal is deposited within the line trough and the via cavity to form a metal line and a metal via. The fluorine depleted adhesion layer provides enhanced adhesion to the metal line compared with prior art structures in which a metal line directly contacts a FSG layer. The enhanced adhesion of metal with an underlying dielectric layer provides higher resistance to delamination for a semiconductor package employing lead-free C4 balls on a metal interconnect structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Emily R. Kinser
-
Patent number: 8765598Abstract: Conductive structures include a plurality of conductive steps and a contact extending at least partially therethrough in communication with at least one of the plurality of conductive steps and insulated from at least another one of the conductive steps. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and a stair step conductive structure having a plurality of contacts extending through a step of the stair step conductive structure. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through at least one conductive step of a conductive structure. Methods of forming electrical connections in stair step conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through each step of the stair step conductive structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Smith, Eric H. Freeman
-
Patent number: 8765599Abstract: Fabrication methods for semiconductor device structures are provided. One method for fabricating a semiconductor device structure involves forming a first layer of a first dielectric material overlying a doped region formed in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductive contact electrically connected to the doped region within the first layer, forming a dielectric cap on the first conductive contact, forming a second layer of a second dielectric material overlying the dielectric cap and a gate structure overlying the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second conductive contact electrically connected to the gate structure within the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.Inventors: Lei Yuan, Jin Cho, Jongwook Kye
-
Patent number: 8765600Abstract: A semiconductor device having a gate on a substrate with source/drain (S/D) regions adjacent to the gate. A first dielectric layer overlays the gate and the S/D regions, the first dielectric layer having first contact holes over the S/D regions with first contact plugs formed of a first material and the first contact plugs coupled to respective S/D regions. A second dielectric layer overlays the first dielectric layer and the first contact plugs. A second contact hole formed in the first and second dielectric layers is filled with a second contact plug formed of a second material. The second contact plug is coupled to the gate and interconnect structures formed in the second dielectric layer, the interconnect structures coupled to the first contact plugs. The second material is different from the first material, and the second material has an electrical resistance lower than that of the first material.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chung-Long Chang, Chih-Ping Chao, Chun-Hung Chen, Hua-Chao Tseng, Jye-Yen Cheng, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang
-
Patent number: 8765601Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for forming materials on a substrate used for metal gate and other applications. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a cobalt stack over a barrier layer disposed on a substrate by depositing a cobalt layer during a deposition process, exposing the cobalt layer to a plasma to form a plasma-treated cobalt layer during a plasma process, and repeating the cobalt deposition process and the plasma process to form the cobalt stack containing a plurality of plasma-treated cobalt layers. The method further includes exposing the cobalt stack to an oxygen source gas to form a cobalt oxide layer from an upper portion of the cobalt stack during a surface oxidation process and heating the remaining portion of the cobalt stack to a temperature within a range from about 300° C. to about 500° C. to form a crystalline cobalt film during a thermal annealing crystallization process.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yu Lei, Xinyu Fu, Anantha Subramani, Seshadri Ganguli, Srinivas Gandikota
-
Patent number: 8765602Abstract: A method of forming a metal interconnect structure includes forming a copper line within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer; directly doping a top surface of the copper line with a copper alloy material; and forming a dielectric layer over the ILD layer and the copper alloy material; wherein the copper alloy material serves an adhesion interface layer between the copper line and the dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Dyer, Daniel C. Edelstein, Tze-man Ko, Andrew H. Simon, Wei-tsu Tseng
-
Patent number: 8765603Abstract: Buffer layer and method of forming the buffer layer, the method including forming a high-k dielectric layer, forming a titanium nitride layer over the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicon layer on the titanium nitride layer, annealing the silicon layer into the titanium nitride layer to form an annealed silicon layer and forming an n-metal over the high-k dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Cheng-Hao Hou, Wei-Yang Lee, Xiong-Fei Yu, Kuang-Yuan Hsu
-
Patent number: 8765604Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating an interconnection structure of an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of: forming a first conductive element within a first dielectric layer; depositing a first etch stop layer above the first conductive element and the first dielectric layer; forming an opening in the first etch stop layer above the first conductive element, to form a first connection area; depositing a second dielectric layer above the etch stop layer and above the first conductive element in the connection area; etching the second dielectric layer to form at least one hole which is at least partially aligned with the connection area; and filling the hole with a conductive material to form a second conductive element in electrical contact with the first conductive element.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SASInventor: Patrick Vannier
-
Patent number: 8765605Abstract: A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes the steps of annealing an insulating layer and forming a barrier layer including a metal element over the insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a fluorocarbon (CFx) film. The barrier layer is formed by a high-temperature sputtering process after the annealing step.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Masahiro Horigome, Takuya Kurotori, Yasuo Kobayashi, Takaaki Matsuoka, Toshihisa Nozawa
-
Patent number: 8765606Abstract: Methods are provided for producing a pristine hydrogen-terminated silicon wafer surface with high stability against oxidation. The silicon wafer is treated with high purity, heated dilute hydrofluoric acid with anionic surfactant, rinsed in-situ with ultrapure water at room temperature, and dried. Alternatively, the silicon wafer is treated with dilute hydrofluoric acid, rinsed with hydrogen gasified water, and dried. The silicon wafer produced by the method is stable in a normal clean room environment for greater than 3 days and has been demonstrated to last without significant oxide regrowth for greater than 8 days.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: ASM America, Inc.Inventor: Robert H. Pagliaro, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8765607Abstract: A semiconductor device includes CMP dummy tiles (36) that are converted to active tiles by forming well regions (42) at a top surface of the dummy tiles, forming silicide (52) on top of the well regions, and forming a metal interconnect structure (72, 82) in contact with the silicided well tie regions for electrically connecting the dummy tiles to a predetermined supply voltage to provide latch-up protection.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Ruth, Mark A. Kearney, Bernard J. Pappert, Juxiang Ren, Jeff L. Warner
-
Patent number: 8765608Abstract: Methods for making a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of gate stacks on a substrate, forming an etch buffer layer on the substrate, forming a dielectric material layer on the etch buffer layer, forming a hard mask layer on the substrate, wherein the hard mask layer includes one opening, and etching the dielectric material layer to form a plurality of trenches using the hard mask layer and the etch buffer layer as an etch mask.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventor: Ya Hui Chang
-
Patent number: 8765609Abstract: A process for fabricating a tapered field plate dielectric for high-voltage semiconductor devices is disclosed. The process may include depositing a thin layer of oxide, depositing a polysilicon hard mask, depositing a resist layer and etching a trench area, performing deep silicon trench etch, and stripping the resist layer. The process may further include repeated steps of depositing a layer of oxide and anisotropic etching of the oxide to form a tapered wall within the trench. The process may further include depositing poly and performing further processing to form the semiconductor device.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Vijay Parthasarathy, Sujit Banerjee, Wayne B. Grabowski
-
Patent number: 8765610Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of second core films, the second core film having a first array portion, and a second array portion which is arranged so as to be spaced at a larger second space than the first space in the first direction from the first array portion, the second space being positioned above the loop portion. The method includes processing the second film to be processed below the first array portion into a second line and space pattern which includes a second line pattern extending in the second direction, and removing the second film to be processed below the second space and the loop portion of the first film to be processed, by an etching using the second spacer film as a mask.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masato Shini
-
Patent number: 8765611Abstract: A process for etching semiconductors, such as II-VI or III-V semiconductors is provided. The method includes sputter etching the semiconductor through an etching mask using a nonreactive gas, removing the semiconductor and cleaning the chamber with a reactive gas. The etching mask includes a photoresist. Using this method, light-emitting diodes with light extracting elements or nano/micro-structures etched into the semiconductor material can be fabricated.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Jun-Ying Zhang
-
Patent number: 8765612Abstract: A double patterning process is described. A substrate having a first area and a second area is provided. A target layer is formed over the substrate. A patterned first photoresist layer is formed over the target layer, wherein the patterned first photoresist layer has openings and has a first thickness in the first area, and at least a portion of the patterned first photoresist layer in the second area has a second thickness less than the first thickness. A second photoresist layer is then formed covering the patterned first photoresist layer and filling in the openings.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Nanya Technology CorporationInventors: Jenn-Wei Lee, Hung-Jen Liu
-
Patent number: 8765613Abstract: An anisotropic silicon nitride etch provides selectivity to silicon and silicon oxide by forming a fluorohydrocarbon-containing polymer on silicon surfaces and silicon oxide surfaces. Selective fluorohydrocarbon deposition is employed to provide selectivity to non-nitride surfaces. The fluorohydrocarbon-containing polymer interacts with silicon nitride to form a volatile compound, thereby enabling etching of silicon nitride. The fluorohydrocarbon-containing polymer interacts with silicon oxide at a low reaction rate, retarding, or completely stopping, the etching of silicon oxide. The fluorohydrocarbon-containing polymer does not interact with silicon, and protects silicon from the plasma. The anisotropic silicon nitride etch can be employed to etch silicon nitride selective to silicon and silicon oxide in any dimension, including small dimensions less than 50 nm.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Zeon CorporationInventors: Josephine B. Chang, Sebastian U. Engelmann, Nicholas C. M. Fuller, Michael A. Guillorn, Masahiro Nakamura
-
Patent number: 8765614Abstract: A method of forming a metal pattern on a display substrate includes blanket depositing a copper-based layer having a thickness between about 1,500 ? and about 5,500 ? on a base substrate, and forming a patterned photoresist layer on the copper-based layer. The copper-based layer is over-etched by an etching composition containing an oxidizing moderating agent where the over-etch factor is between about 40% and about 200% while using the patterned photoresist layer as an etch stopping layer, and where the etching composition includes ammonium persulfate between about 0.1% by weight and about 50% by weight, includes an azole-based compound between about 0.01% by weight and about 5% by weight and a remainder of water. Thus, reliability of the metal pattern and that of manufacturing a display substrate may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-Hyun Choung, Ji-Young Park, Seon-Il Kim, Sang-Gab Kim, In-Bae Kim, Jae-Woo Jeong
-
Patent number: 8765615Abstract: A quart resonator for use in lower frequency applications (typically lower than the higher end of the UHF spectrum) where relatively thick quartz members, having a thickness greater than ten microns, are called for.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: David T. Chang, Frederic P. Stratton, Hung Nguyen, Randall L. Kubena
-
Patent number: 8765616Abstract: Dielectric layers containing a zirconium-doped tantalum oxide layer, where the zirconium-doped tantalum oxide layer can be formed of one or more monolayers of tantalum oxide doped with zirconium, provide an insulating layer in a variety of structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
-
Patent number: 8765617Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of preparing a substrate with an epitaxial growth layer made of silicon carbide, performing ion implantation into the substrate with the epitaxial growth layer, forming a protective film made of silicon nitride on the substrate with the epitaxial growth layer into which the ion implantation was performed, and heating the substrate with the epitaxial growth layer on which the protective film was formed to a temperature range of 1600° C. or more in an atmosphere containing gas including a nitrogen atom.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Inc.Inventor: Takeyoshi Masuda
-
Patent number: 8765618Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Muir Hunter, Bruce E. Adams, Joseph M. Ranish
-
Patent number: 8765619Abstract: A glass-ceramic plate of lithium aluminosilicate free of arsenic and antimony, the optical transmission of which, for a thickness of 4 mm, is between 0.2 and 4% for at least one wavelength between 400 and 500 nm.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Eurokera S.N.C.Inventors: Edouard Brunet, Marie Helene Chopinet
-
Patent number: 8765620Abstract: A fused and cast refractory product containing, in weight percentages on the basis of the oxides and for a total of 100%: ZrO2: remainder up to 100% Hf2O: <5% SiO2: 2% to 10% 0.9%<Y2O3+CeO2+CaO+MgO?4.0% B2O3: ?4.5% B2O3: ?0.09×(Y2O3+?(CeO2+CaO+MgO))×SiO2 Al2O3: 0.3% to 2.0% Na2O+K2O: ?0.5% P2O5: <0.05% Fe2O3+TiO2: <0.55% other species: <1.0%, as long as the Y2O3 content is no lower than 0.5% and the CeO2+CaO+MgO content is no lower than 2%.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Saint-Gobain Centre de Recherches et d'Etudes EuropeenInventors: Michel Gaubil, Ludovic Massard, Isabelle Cabodi
-
Patent number: 8765621Abstract: There is provided a dielectric ceramic composition for high-frequency use represented by a composition formula of a(Sn,Ti)O2-bMg2SiO4-cMgTi2O5-dMgSiO3. In the composition formula, a, b, c and d (provided that a, b, c and d are mol %) are within the following ranges: 4?a?37, 34?b?92, 2?c?15 and 2?d?15, respectively, and a+b+c+d=100. The dielectric ceramic composition for high-frequency use has a relative permittivity ?r of 7.5-12.0, a Qm×fo value of not less than 50000 (GHz) and an absolute value of a temperature coefficient ?f of resonance frequency fo of not more than 30 ppm/° C.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takafumi Kawano, Masataka Yamanaga, Atsushi Okabe