Patents Issued in September 30, 2014
  • Patent number: 8847301
    Abstract: A first connection portion and a second connection portion connect a first control gate to a second control gate, and are separated from each other. The first control gate includes a first disconnection portion between the first connection portion and a source diffusion layer closest to the first connection portion. The second control gate includes a second disconnection portion between the second connection portion and the source diffusion layer closest to the second connection portion. A first word gate and a second word gate are not disconnected in portions overlapping the first disconnection portion and the second disconnection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Onda
  • Patent number: 8847302
    Abstract: A three dimensional memory device including a substrate and a semiconductor channel. At least one end portion of the semiconductor channel extends substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the substrate. The device also includes at least one charge storage region located adjacent to semiconductor channel and a plurality of control gate electrodes having a strip shape extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate. The plurality of control gate electrodes include at least a first control gate electrode located in a first device level and a second control gate electrode located in a second device level. Each of the plurality of control gate electrodes includes a first edge surface which is substantially free of silicide, the first edge surface facing the semiconductor channel and the at least one charge storage region and a silicide located on remaining surfaces of the control gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Alsmeier, Peter Rabkin
  • Patent number: 8847303
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a stacked body provided above the substrate, including a selector gate and an insulating layer provided on the selector gate; an insulating film provided on a sidewall of a hole formed by penetrating the stacked body in the stacking direction; a channel body and a semiconductor layer. The channel body is provided on a sidewall of the insulating film in the hole, that blocks the hole near an end of the insulating layer side in the selector gate, and that encloses a cavity below a part that blocks the hole. The semiconductor layer is formed of a same material as the channel body and is embedded continuously in the hole above the part where the channel body blocks the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Ryota Katsumata
  • Patent number: 8847304
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers formed alternately with each other, at least one channel layer passing through the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of insulating layers, and at least one first charge blocking layer surrounding the at least one channel layer, wherein a plurality of first regions, interposed between the at least one channel layer and the plurality of conductive layers, and a plurality of second regions, interposed between the at least one channel layer and the plurality of insulating layers, are alternately defined on the at least one first charge blocking layer, and each of the plurality of first regions has a greater thickness than each of the plurality of second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Seok Min Jeon
  • Patent number: 8847305
    Abstract: A vertical super junction MOSFET and a lateral MOSFET are integrated on the same semiconductor substrate. The lateral MOSFET is electrically isolated from the vertical super junction MOSFET by an n-buried isolating layer and an n-diffused isolating layer. The lateral MOSFET is formed of a p-well region formed in an n?semiconductor layer bounded by the n-buried isolating layer and n-diffused isolating layer, an n-source region and n-drain region formed in the p-well region, and a gate electrode that covers a portion of the p-well region sandwiched by the n-source region and n-drain region. As the n-buried isolating layer is formed at the same time as an n-layer (3) of the vertical super junction MOSFET, it is possible to reduce cost. Also, it is possible to suppress parasitic action between the elements with the n-buried isolating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Toyoda, Akio Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8847306
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate may be etched to form trenches with three different widths. A first conductive material is formed at the bottom of the trenches. A second conductive material separated by an insulator is formed over the first conductive material. A first insulator layer is formed on the trenches. A body layer is formed in the substrate. A source is formed in the body layer. A second insulator layer is formed on the trenches and source. Source and gate contacts are formed through the second insulator layer. Source and gate metal are formed on the second insulator layer. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Sung-Shan Tai, Hamza Yilmaz, Anup Bhalla, Hong Chang, John Chen
  • Patent number: 8847307
    Abstract: Power devices using refilled trenches with permanent charge at or near their sidewalls. These trenches extend vertically into a drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: MaxPower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed N. Darwish, Jun Zeng, Richard A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8847308
    Abstract: An oxide film is formed by STI in a silicon surface region in which a substrate potential heavily doped diffusion layer and a source heavily doped diffusion layer are to be provided later between trenches at predetermined intervals. The oxide film is removed after the trench is formed, to thereby form a region which is lower than a surrounding surface. Thus, in the vertical MOS transistor having a trench structure which includes a side spacer, a silicide on a gate electrode embedded in the trench and a silicide on the substrate potential heavily doped diffusion layer and the source heavily doped diffusion layer can be separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hashitani
  • Patent number: 8847309
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a base region of a second conductivity type, a drift region of a first conductivity type, an insulating layer, a drain region of the first conductivity type, a gate oxide film, a gate electrode, a first main electrode, and a second main electrode. The base region includes a source region of the first conductivity type. The drift region is adjacent to the base region. The insulating layer is provided from a surface to inside of the drift region. The drain region is provided in the surface of the drift region and opposed to the source region across the base region and the insulating layer. The gate oxide film is provided on a surface of the base region. The gate electrode is provided on the gate oxide film. The first main electrode is connected to the source region. The second main electrode is connected to the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Manji Obatake, Tomoko Matsudai
  • Patent number: 8847310
    Abstract: A MOSFET includes an active region formed on an SOI substrate. A buried well is formed in the active region. A drain region having the first conductivity type is formed in the active region and spaced laterally from a source region and the buried well. A body region is formed in the active region between the source and drain regions on the buried well, and a drift region is formed in the active region between the drain and body regions on at least a portion of the buried well. A shielding structure is formed proximate the upper surface of the active region, overlapping a gate. During conduction, the buried well forms a PN junction with the drift region which, in conjunction with the shielding structure, depletes the drift region. The MOSFET is configured to sustain a linear mode of operation of an inversion channel formed under the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Azure Silicon LLC
    Inventor: Jacek Korec
  • Patent number: 8847311
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor includes a channel region, doped with dopants of a first conductivity type, a source region, a drain region, the source and the drain region being doped with dopants of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a drain extension region, and a gate electrode adjacent to the channel region. The channel region is disposed in a first portion of a ridge. The drain extension region is disposed in a second portion of the ridge, and includes a core portion doped with the first conductivity type. The drain extension region further includes a cover portion doped with the second conductivity type, the cover portion being adjacent to at least one or two sidewalls of the second portion of the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Franz Hirler, Christian Kampen
  • Patent number: 8847312
    Abstract: A lateral-diffused-metal-oxide-semiconductor device having improved safe-operating-area is provided. The LDMOS device includes spaced-apart source and drain, separated by a first insulated gate structure, and spaced-apart source and body contact The spaced-apart source and BC are part of the emitter-base circuit of a parasitic bipolar transistor that can turn on prematurely, thereby degrading the SOA of prior art four-terminal LDMOS devices. Rather than separating the source and BC with a shallow-trench-isolation region as in the prior art, the semiconductor surface in the gap between the spaced-apart source and BC has there-over a second insulated gate structure, with its gate conductor electrically tied to the BC. When biased, the second insulated gate structure couples the source and BC lowering the parasitic resistance in the emitter-base circuit, thereby delaying turn-on of the parasitic transistor and improving the SOA of such 4-T LDMOS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongning Yang, Zhihong Zhang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8847313
    Abstract: Methods and devices for transparent electronics are disclosed. According to an embodiment, transparent electronics are provided based on transfer printed carbon nanotubes that can be disposed on both rigid and flexible substrates. Methods are provided to enable highly aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to be used in transparent electronics for achieving high carrier mobility while using low-temperature processing. According to one method, highly aligned nanotubes can be grown on a first substrate. Then, the aligned nanotubes can be transferred to a rigid or flexible substrate having pre-patterned gate electrodes. Source and drain electrodes can be formed on the transferred nanotubes. The subject devices can be integrated to provide logic gates and analog circuitry for a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Chongwu Zhou, Fumiaki Ishikawa, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Koungmin Ryu
  • Patent number: 8847314
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor substrate is provided, in which a bonding strength can be increased even when a substrate having low heat resistant temperature, e.g., a glass substrate, is used. Heat treatment is conducted at a temperature higher than or equal to a strain point of a support substrate in an oxidation atmosphere containing halogen, so that a surface of a semiconductor substrate is covered with an insulating film. A separation layer is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A blocking layer is provided. Then, heat treatment is conducted in a state in which the semiconductor substrate and the support substrate are superposed with the silicon oxide film therebetween, at a temperature lower than or equal to the support substrate, so that a part of the semiconductor substrate is separated at the separation layer. In this manner, a single crystal semiconductor layer is formed on the support substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8847315
    Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device and methods of formation thereof are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a CMOS device includes a silicon substrate, a dielectric insulator material on the silicon substrate, and an extension layer on the dielectric insulator material. The CMOS device further includes a gate in contact with a channel and in contact with an extension region. The CMOS device also includes a source in contact with the extension region and a drain in contact with the extension region. The extension region includes a first region in contact with the source and the gate and includes a second region in contact with the drain and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bin Yang, Xia Li, Jun Yuan
  • Patent number: 8847316
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having high operation characteristic and reliability. The measures taken are: A pixel capacitor is formed between an electrode comprising anodic capable material over an organic resin film, an anodic oxide film of the electrode and a pixel electrode above. Since the anodic oxide film is anodically oxidized by applied voltage per unit time at 15V/min, there is no wrap around on the electrode, and film peeling can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Murakami, Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Mitsuaki Osame, Yukio Tanaka, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 8847317
    Abstract: An isolated epitaxial modulation device comprises a substrate; a barrier structure formed on the substrate; an isolated epitaxial region formed above the substrate and electrically isolated from the substrate by the barrier structure; a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device located in the isolated epitaxial region; and a modulation network formed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the semiconductor device. The device also comprises a bond pad and a ground pad. The isolated epitaxial region is electrically coupled to at least one of the bond pad and the ground pad. The semiconductor device and the epitaxial modulation network are configured to modulate an input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Li, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 8847318
    Abstract: A device which includes a substrate defined with a device region with an ESD protection circuit having at least first and second transistors is disclosed. Each of the transistors includes a gate having first and second sides, a first diffusion region in the device region adjacent to the first side of the gate, a second diffusion region in the device region displaced away from the second side of the gate, and a drift isolation region disposed between the gate and the second diffusion region. A first device well encompasses the device region and a second device well is disposed within the first device well. The device also includes a drift well which encompasses the second diffusion region. Edges of the drift well do not extend below the gate and is away from a channel region. A drain well is disposed under the second diffusion region and within the drift well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Da-Wei Lai, Handoko Linewih, Ying-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 8847319
    Abstract: Dummy structures between a high voltage (HV) region and a low voltage (LV) region of a substrate are disclosed, along with methods of forming the dummy structures. An embodiment is a structure comprising a HV gate dielectric over a HV region of a substrate, a LV gate dielectric over a LV region of the substrate, and a dummy structure over a top surface of the HV gate dielectric. A thickness of the LV gate dielectric is less than a thickness of the HV gate dielectric. The dummy structure is on a sidewall of the HV gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Huei-Ru Liu, Chien-Chih Chou, Kong-Beng Thei, Gwo-Yuh Shiau
  • Patent number: 8847320
    Abstract: A device comprises a semiconductor substrate having first and second implant regions of a first dopant type. A gate insulating layer and a gate electrode are provided above a resistor region between the first and second implant regions. A first dielectric layer is on the first implant region. A contact structure is provided, including a first contact portion conductively contacting the gate electrode, at least part of the first contact portion directly on the gate electrode. A second contact portion directly contacts the first contact portion and is formed directly on the first dielectric layer. A third contact portion is formed on the second implant region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 8847321
    Abstract: A MOS device includes an active area having first and second contacts. First and second gates are disposed between the first and second contacts. The first gate is disposed adjacent to the first contact and has a third contact. The second gate is disposed adjacent to the second contact and has a fourth contact coupled to the third contact. A transistor defined by the active area and the first gate has a first threshold voltage, and a transistor defined by the active area and the second gate has a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Lung Hsueh, Chih-Ping Chao, Chewn-Pu Jou, Yung-Chow Peng, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Kuo-Tung Sung
  • Patent number: 8847322
    Abstract: A dual polysilicon gate of a semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region, and a channel region with a protrusion structure formed in the substrate of the first region, a gate insulating layer formed over the substrate, a first polysilicon layer filling the channel region, and formed over the gate insulating layer of the first and second regions, a second polysilicon layer formed over the gate insulating layer of the third region, and an insulating layer doped with an impurity, and disposed inside the first polysilicon layer in the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan-Yong Lim, Heung-Jae Cho, Min-Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 8847323
    Abstract: A finFET structure and method of manufacture such structure is provided with lowered Ceff and enhanced stress. The finFET structure includes a plurality of finFET structures and a stress material forming part of a gate stack and in a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of finFET structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, David V. Horak, Hemanth Jagannathan, Charles W. Koburger, III
  • Patent number: 8847324
    Abstract: Roughly described, an integrated circuit transistor structure has a body of semiconductor material, the body having two longitudinally spaced doped source/drain volumes with a channel between, a gate stack disposed outside the body and facing at least one of the surfaces of the body along the channel. The body contains an adjustment volume, longitudinally within the channel volume and spaced behind the first surface by a first distance and spaced longitudinally from both the source/drain volumes. The adjustment volume comprises an adjustment volume material having, at each longitudinal position, an electrical conductivity which differs from that of the adjacent body material at the same longitudinal position, at least while the transistor is in an off-state. In one embodiment the adjustment volume material is a dielectric. In another embodiment the adjustment volume material is an electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Munkang Choi, Victor Moroz, Xi-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8847325
    Abstract: A fin field-effect transistor structure comprises a substrate, a fin channel, a source/drain region, a high-k metal gate and a plurality of slot contact structures. The fin channel is formed on the substrate. The source/drain region is formed in the fin channel. The high-k metal gate formed on the substrate and the fin channel comprises a high-k dielectric layer and a metal gate layer, wherein the high-k dielectric layer is arranged between the metal gate layer and the fin channel. The slot contact structures are disposed at both sides of the metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Teng-Chun Tsai, Chun-Yuan Wu, Chin-Fu Lin, Chih-Chien Liu, Chin-Cheng Chien
  • Patent number: 8847326
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be retained even when power is not supplied, and does not have a limitation on the number of write cycles. The semiconductor device includes a memory cell including a first transistor, a second transistor, and an insulating layer placed between a source region or a drain region of the first transistor and a channel formation region of the second transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are provided to at least partly overlap with each other. The insulating layer and a gate insulating layer of the second transistor satisfy the following formula: (ta/tb)×(?ra/?rb)<0.1, where ta represents the thickness of the gate insulating layer, tb represents the thickness of the insulating layer, ?ra represents the dielectric constant of the gate insulating layer, and ?rb represents the dielectric constant of the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kiyoshi Kato, Shuhei Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 8847327
    Abstract: A layout data creation device includes a transistor adjustment unit. The transistor adjustment unit divides a pillar-type transistor including a plurality of unit pillar-type transistors into the unit pillar-type transistors groups. The unit pillar-type transistors can be placed in a placement area. The number of the unit pillar-type transistors in each group is an integer. The transistor adjustment unit generates sub-pillar-type transistors that are placed in the placement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Shinji Kato, Kazuteru Ishizuka, Kiyotaka Endo, Mitsuki Koda
  • Patent number: 8847328
    Abstract: A power semiconductor module has four power terminals. An IGBT has a collector connected to the first power terminal and an emitter coupled to the third power terminal. An anti-parallel diode is coupled in parallel with the IGBT. A DC-link is connected between the second and fourth power terminals. The DC-link may involve two diodes and two IGBTs, where the IGBTs are connected in a common collector configuration. The first and second power terminals are disposed in a first line along one side of the module, and the third and fourth power terminals are disposed in a second line along the opposite side of the module. Two identical instances of the module can be interconnected together to form a three-level NPC phase leg having low stray inductances, where the phase leg has two parallel DC-links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IXYS Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas Laschek-Enders
  • Patent number: 8847329
    Abstract: A first gate level feature forms gate electrodes of a first transistor of a first transistor type and a first transistor of a second transistor type. A second gate level feature forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the first transistor type. A third gate level feature forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the second transistor type. The gate electrodes of the second transistors of the first and second transistor types are positioned on opposite sides of a gate electrode track along which the gate electrodes of the first transistors of the first and second transistor types are positioned. The gate electrodes of the second transistors of the first and second transistor types are electrically connected to each other through an electrical connection that includes two conductive contacting structures at a location not over an inner non-diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Jim Mali, Carole Lambert
  • Patent number: 8847330
    Abstract: To suppress stress variation on a channel forming region, a semiconductor device includes an element isolating region on the semiconductor substrate principal surface, and an element forming region on the principal surface to be surrounded by the element isolating region. The principal surface has orthogonal first and second directions. A circumferential shape of the element forming region has a first side extending along the first direction. The element forming region has a first transistor region (TR1), a second transistor region (TR2) arranged between the first side and TR1, and a dummy region on the first direction side of TR1. TR1 has a first channel forming region facing the first side. TR2 has a second channel forming region facing the first side. The first channel forming region has a non-facing region that is not facing the second channel forming region. The dummy region faces the non-facing region in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihide Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8847331
    Abstract: A first linear-shaped conductive structure (LCS) forms a gate electrode (GE) of a first transistor of a first transistor type. A second LCS forms a GE of a first transistor of a second transistor type. A third LCS forms a GE of a second transistor of the first transistor type. A fourth LCS forms a GE of a second transistor of the second transistor type. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth LCS's has a respective electrical connection area. The electrical connection areas of the first and third LCS's are offset from each other. The GE of the first transistor of the first transistor type is electrically connected to the GE of the second transistor of the second transistor type. The GE of the second transistor of the first transistor type is electrically connected to the GE of the first transistor of the second transistor type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Becker, Jim Mali, Carole Lambert
  • Patent number: 8847332
    Abstract: A high voltage semiconductor device is provided. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having a high voltage well with a first conductivity type therein. A gate structure is disposed on the semiconductor substrate of the high voltage well. A source doped region and a drain doped region are in the high voltage well on both sides of the gate structure, respectively. A lightly doped region with the first conductivity type is between the source and drain doped regions and relatively near to the source doped region. The disclosure also presents a method for fabricating a high voltage semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chun Chou, Yi-Hung Chiu, Chu-Feng Chen, Cheng-Yi Hsieh, Chung-Ren Lao
  • Patent number: 8847333
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a metal gate is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device with a metal gate includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain features on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the source and drain features. The gate stack includes a HK dielectric layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of barrier layers of a metal compound formed on top of the HK dielectric layer, wherein each of the barrier layers has a different chemical composition; and a stack of metals gate layers deposited over the plurality of barrier layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiong-Fei Yu, Chun-Yuan Chou, Da-Yuan Lee, Kuang-Yuan Hsu, Jeff J. Xu
  • Patent number: 8847334
    Abstract: Methods of forming dielectric structures are shown. Methods of forming dielectric structures are shown that include lutetium oxide and lanthanum aluminum oxide crystals embedded within the lutetium oxide. Specific methods shown include monolayer deposition which yields process improvements such as chemistry control, step coverage, crystallinity/microstructure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 8847335
    Abstract: A micro-electrochemical sensor contains magnetic compounds inserted within a substrate that exert a magnetic force of attraction on paramagnetic beads held in contact with an electrode. The magnetic compounds can be contained within a fluid that is introduced into a void in the substrate. The electrode can be spaced apart from the magnetic compounds by a dielectric multi-layer membrane. During the fabrication process, different layers within the membrane-electrode structure can be tuned to have compressive or tensile stress so as to maintain structural integrity of the membrane, which is thin compared with the size of the void beneath it. During a process of forming the structure of the sensor, the tensile stress in a TiW adhesion layer can be adjusted to offset a composite net compressive stress associated with the dielectric layers of the membrane. The membrane can also be used in forming both the electrode and the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Shian-Yeu Kam, Tien-Choy Loh, Ying Yu, Fery Riswan, Frederic Sala
  • Patent number: 8847336
    Abstract: In a micromechanical component having an inclined structure and a corresponding manufacturing method, the component includes a substrate having a surface; a first anchor, which is provided on the surface of the substrate and which extends away from the substrate; and at least one cantilever, which is provided on a lateral surface of the anchor, and which points at an inclination away from the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Tjalf Pirk, Stefan Pinter, Hubert Benzel, Heribert Weber, Michael Krueger, Robert Sattler, Frederic Njikam Njimonzie, Joerg Muchow, Joachim Fritz, Christoph Schelling, Christoph Friese
  • Patent number: 8847337
    Abstract: Processes and fixtures for producing electromechanical devices, and particularly three-dimensional electromechanical devices such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), through the use of a fabrication process and a three-dimensional assembly process that entail joining single-axis device-IC chips while positioned within a mounting fixture that maintains the orientations and relative positions of the chips during the joining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Evigia Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Navid Yazdi, Yafan Zhang, Weibin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8847338
    Abstract: A magnetic memory cell having a self-aligned hard mask for contact to a magnetic tunnel junction is provided. For example, a magnetic memory cell includes a magnetic storage element formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a hard mask that is self-aligned with the magnetic storage element. The hard mask includes a hard mask material layer formed on an upper surface of a magnetic stack in the magnetic storage element, an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the hard mask material layer, wherein the ARC layer is selected to be removable by a wet etch, and a photoresist layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the ARC layer. The selected portions of the ARC layer and photoresist layer are removed in a same processing step with wet etch techniques without interference to the magnetic stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Solomon Assefa, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy
  • Patent number: 8847339
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10) including semiconductor devices and a metallization stack (20) over said substrate for interconnecting said devices, the metallization stack comprising a cavity (36), and a thermal conductivity sensor comprising at least one conductive portion (16, 18) of said metallization stack suspended in said cavity. A method of manufacturing such an IC is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Merz, Aurelie Humbert, David Tio Castro
  • Patent number: 8847340
    Abstract: Electronic device including a substrate provided with at least one passing opening, a MEMS device with a differential sensor provided with a first and a second surface having at least one portion sensitive to chemical and/or physical variations of fluids present in correspondence with a first and a second opposed active surface thereof. The first surface of the MEMS device leaves the first active surface exposed and the second surface being provided with a further opening which exposes said second opposed active surface, the electronic device being characterized in that the first surface of the MEMS device faces the substrate and is spaced therefrom by a predetermined distance, the sensitive portion being aligned to the passing opening of the substrate, and in that it also comprises a protective package, which incorporates at least partially the MEMS device and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Baldo, Chantal Combi, Mario Francesco Cortese
  • Patent number: 8847341
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device is provided. The magnetic memory device includes a first vertical magnetic layer and a second vertical magnetic layer on a substrate, a tunnel barrier layer between the fist vertical magnetic layer and the second vertical magnetic layer, and an exchange-coupling layer between a first sub-layer of the first vertical magnetic layer and a second sub-layer of the first vertical magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jangeun Lee, Sechung Oh, Jeahyoung Lee, Woojin Kim, Junho Jeong, Woo Chang Lim
  • Patent number: 8847342
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic device includes forming a stack structure, the stack structure including a magnetic layer, and etching the stack structure by using an etching gas, the etching gas including at least 80% by volume of H2 gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-cheol Lee, Tokashiki Ken, Hyung-joon Kwon, Myung-hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 8847343
    Abstract: An oxide film capable of suppressing reflection of a lens is formed under a low temperature. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: (a) forming a lower layer oxide film on a lens formed on a substrate using a first processing source containing a first element, a second processing source containing a second element, an oxidizing source and a catalyst, the lower layer oxide film having a refractive index greater than that of air and less than that of the lens; and (b) forming an upper layer oxide film on the lower layer oxide film using the first processing source, the oxidizing source and the catalyst, the upper layer oxide film having a refractive index greater than that of the air and less than that of the lower layer oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Norikazu Mizuno, Tomohide Kato, Takaaki Noda
  • Patent number: 8847344
    Abstract: An integrated imaging device includes a silicon layer provided over a dielectric multilayer. The dielectric multilayer includes a top silicon-dioxide layer, an intermediate silicon-nitride layer and a bottom silicon-dioxide layer. Imaging circuitry is formed at a frontside of the silicon layer. An isolating structure surrounds the imaging circuitry and extends from the frontside through the silicon layer and top silicon-dioxide layer into and terminating within the intermediate silicon-nitride layer. A filter for the imaging circuitry is mounted to a backside of the bottom silicon-dioxide layer. The isolating structure is formed by a trench filled with a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Croles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Francois Roy, Francois Leverd, Jens Prima
  • Patent number: 8847345
    Abstract: An optical element includes a plurality of optical filters having different characteristics. The element includes a first optical filter including a first metal-structure group including first metal structures periodically arranged in an in-plane direction of a substrate surface and a second optical filter including a second metal-structure group including second metal structures periodically arranged in the in-plane direction, the second metal-structure group exhibiting a plasmon resonance condition different from that of the first metal-structure group. The optical distance between the first metal structures adjacent to each other is in a range of 0.75 to 1.25 times the optical distance between the second metal structures adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Handa
  • Patent number: 8847346
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion portion, a charge holding portion, a transfer portion, and a sense node are formed in a P-type well. The charge holding portion is configured to include an N-type semiconductor region, which is a first semiconductor region holding charges in a portion different from the photoelectric conversion portion. A P-type semiconductor region having a higher concentration than the P-type well is disposed under the N-type semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Onuki, Yuichiro Yamashita, Masahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8847347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit die comprising an active substrate including a plurality of components laterally separated from each other by respective isolation structures, at least some of the isolation structures carrying a further component, wherein the respective portions of the active substrate underneath the isolation structures carrying said further components are electrically insulated from said components. A method of manufacturing such an IC die is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Piet Wessels, Nico Berckmans, Khin Hoong Lim, Michael John Ben Bolt, Jerome Guillaume Anna Dubois, Naveen Agrawal, Gaurav Singh Bisht, Jayaraj Thillaigovindan, Jie Liao
  • Patent number: 8847348
    Abstract: An example embodiment is a complementary transistor inverter circuit. The circuit includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a lateral PNP bipolar transistor fabricated on the SOI substrate, and a lateral NPN bipolar transistor fabricated on the SOI substrate. The lateral PNP bipolar transistor includes a PNP base, a PNP emitter, and a PNP collector. The lateral NPN bipolar transistor includes a NPN base, a NPN emitter, and a NPN collector. The PNP base, the PNP emitter, the PNP collector, the NPN base, the NPN emitter, and the NPN collector abut the buried insulator of the SOI substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Cai, Robert H. Dennard, Wilfried E. Haensch, Tak H. Ning
  • Patent number: 8847349
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package including an IC die and a conductive ink printed circuit layer electrically connected to the IC die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew David Romig, Lance Cole Wright, Leslie Edward Stark, Frank Stepniak, Screenivasan K. Koduri
  • Patent number: 8847350
    Abstract: The embodiments of methods and structures disclosed herein provide mechanisms of forming and programming a metal-via fuse. The metal-via fuse and a programming transistor form a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell. The metal-via fuse has a high resistance and can be programmed with a low programming voltage, which expands the programming window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Chieh Lin, Kuoyuan (Peter) Hsu, Wei-Li Liao, Yun-Han Chen, Chen-Ming Hung