Patents Issued in December 15, 2015
  • Patent number: 9214436
    Abstract: Methods for wet etching a UBM layer and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments may include patterning metal bumps on a wafer that has at least two metal layers thereon; exposing the wafer to a first acid solution to remove a portion of a first of the two metal layers exposed by the patterning of the metal bumps; and exposing the wafer to a second acid solution to remove a portion a second of the two metal layers exposed by the patterning of the metal bumps and the exposure of the wafer to the first acid solution, wherein an undercut below the metal bumps, formed by removal of the portions of the first and second metal layers, is less than 1.5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Tanya Andreeva Atanasova, Reiner Willeke, Anh Ngoc Duong
  • Patent number: 9214437
    Abstract: A package method comprises the steps of: providing a metal carrier having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; forming a first wiring layer on the second surface of the metal carrier; forming a first conductive pillar layer on the first wiring layer; forming a dielectric material layer covering the first wiring layer, the first conductive pillar layer and the second surface of the metal carrier; exposing one end of the first conductive pillar layer; forming a second wiring layer on the exposed end of the first conductive pillar layer; forming a solder resist layer on the dielectric material layer and the second wiring layer; removing the metal carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PHOENIX PIONEER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Wei Hsu, Shih-Ping Hsu
  • Patent number: 9214438
    Abstract: The present invention relates to die-die stacking structure and the method for making the same. The die-die stacking structure comprises a top die having a bottom surface, a first insulation layer covering the bottom surface of the top die, a bottom die having a top surface, a second insulation layer covering the top surface of the bottom die, a plurality of connection members between the top die and the bottom die and a protection material between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer. The plurality of connection members communicates the top die with the bottom die. The protection material bridges the plurality of connection members to form a mesh layout between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Tseng Lee, Yi Hsiu Liu
  • Patent number: 9214439
    Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include attaching a die to a carrier material, forming dielectric material surrounding the die, forming buildup layers in the dielectric material to form a coreless bumpless buildup package structure, and patterning the carrier material to form microchannel structures on the package structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi K. Nalla, Mathew J. Manusharow
  • Patent number: 9214440
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for inhibiting or preventing delamination at the interface of the die attach/mold compound and the die pad of a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device formed by such method. The method includes providing a leadframe having a top surface; coating said top surface of said leadframe with first and second silane coating; heating said silane coatings to form a sol-gel layer having a porosity of at least 10%; applying a die to said sol-gel layer; securing said die to said sol-gel layer by a die attaching compound; and after the curing of die attach material and wire bonding, a mold compound is applied through molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rongwei Zhang, Abram Castro
  • Patent number: 9214441
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a semiconductor package includes a first and a second semiconductor package. The first semiconductor package includes a first package substrate, first and second memory chips spaced apart from each other on the first package substrate in a first direction, third and fourth memory chips on the first and second memory chips, respectively, and first and second jumper chips on the first and second memory chips, respectively. The first and second jumper chips are spaced apart from the third and fourth memory chips, respectively, in a second direction crossing the first direction. The second semiconductor package may include a second package substrate and a logic chip on the second package substrate. The first semiconductor package may be on the second semiconductor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heungkyu Kwon, Kyoungmook Lim
  • Patent number: 9214442
    Abstract: In a power semiconductor module, a copper-containing first soldering partner, a connection layer, and a copper-containing second soldering partner are arranged successively and fixedly connected with one another. The connection layer has a portion of intermetallic copper-tin phases of at least 90% by weight. For producing such a power semiconductor module the soldering partners and the solder arranged there between are pressed against one another with a predefined pressure and the solder is melted. After termination of a predefined period of time the diffused copper and the tin from the liquid solder form a connection layer comprising intermetallic copper-tin phases, the portion of which is at least 90% by weight of the connection layer created from the solder layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karsten Guth, Holger Torwesten
  • Patent number: 9214443
    Abstract: The present invention provides a eutectic solder structure for a chip including a substrate and a solder structure on the substrate. The solder structure includes an alternate lamination of a plurality of first metal layers and a plurality of second metal layers, wherein each second metal layer has a continuous region and a plurality of openings and the melting point of the plurality of second metal layers is higher than that of the plurality of first metal layers. The eutectic solder structure for a chip also includes a chip on the solder structure, wherein the chip is bonded to the substrate by a eutectic reaction of the solder structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yi-Jyun Chen
  • Patent number: 9214444
    Abstract: A ribbon, preferably a bonding ribbon for bonding in microelectronics, contains a first layer containing copper, a coating layer containing aluminum superimposed over the first layer, and an intermediate layer. In a cross-sectional view of the ribbon, the area share of the first layer is from 50 to 96% and the aspect ratio between the width and the height of the ribbon in a cross-sectional view is from 0.03 to less than 0.8. The ribbon has a cross-sectional area of 25,000 ?m2 to 800,000 ?m2. The intermediate layer contains at least one intermetallic phase containing materials of the first and coating layers. The invention further relates to a process for making a wire, to a wire obtained by the process, to an electric device containing the wire, to a propelled device comprising said electric device and to a process of connecting two elements through the wire by wedge-bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Heraeus Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Milke, Peter Prenosil, Sven Thomas
  • Patent number: 9214445
    Abstract: An electronic component includes: a substrate formed of ceramic and including one or more pads on an upper surface thereof; a component flip-chip mounted on the upper surface of the substrate with one or more bumps bonded to the one or more pads; and an additional film located on a lower surface of the substrate and overlapping with at least a part of a smaller one of the pad and the bump in each of one or more pad/bump pairs, the one or more pad/bump pairs being composed of the one or more pads and the one or more bumps bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoi Yamauchi, Osamu Kawachi, Yasushi Fukuda, Yoshinobu Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 9214446
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a method of manufacturing an optical module in which optical devices are optically aligned with high precision regardless of elastic return of bonding bumps. The invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical module including the steps of forming bumps for bonding made of metal on a substrate, and bonding a second optical device on the bonding bumps by applying a load so that the bumps for bonding are deformed only by a predetermined amount from a position where a first optical device and the second optical device are optically coupled most efficiently and, after that, releasing the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Yoda
  • Patent number: 9214447
    Abstract: A no-lead type semiconductor package has a mold cap that forms a mold body. The corners of the mold body are reinforced with mold columns such that the corners have rounded protrusions and do not form 90° angles. The mold columns prevent the corner pads from peeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Zhigang Bai, Zhijie Wang, Jinzhong Yao
  • Patent number: 9214448
    Abstract: A bundled memory includes a substrate, a first memory die, a second memory die, a scribe line, and an electrical connection. The first memory die has a first input/output bus, and the second memory die has a second input/output bus, where the first memory die and the second memory die are formed over the substrate. The scribe line is formed between the first memory die and the second memory die. The electrical connection is formed over the scribe line for electrically connecting to the first input/output bus and the second input/output bus, where the electrical connection is electrically connected to an external input/output bus, where a size of the external input/output bus of the bundled memory is larger than or equal to a size of the first input/output bus and a size of the second input/output bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bor-Doou Rong, Chun Shiah
  • Patent number: 9214449
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods comprising semiconductor dice arranged in a stack, a number of connections configured to provide communication among the dice, at least a portion of the connections going through at least one of the dice, and a module configured to check for defects in the connections and to repair defects the connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 9214450
    Abstract: An interposer includes a core dielectric material, a conductive pipe penetrating through the core dielectric material, and a metal pad underlying the conductive pipe. The metal pad includes a center portion overlapped by a region encircled by the conductive pipe, and an outer portion in contact with the conductive pipe. A dielectric layer is underlying the core dielectric material and the metal pad. A via is in the dielectric layer, wherein the via is in physical contact with the center portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiun Yi Wu
  • Patent number: 9214451
    Abstract: A stacked package including: a semiconductor substrate, a circuit layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a bump formed over the circuit layer, a spare bump formed correspondingly to the bump and over the circuit layer, and configured for replacing the bump with the spare bump, a through electrode configuring to pass through the semiconductor substrate on a same line as the bump and electrically coupled the bump or the spare bump in response to a selection signal, and a spare through electrode configured to pass through the semiconductor substrate on a same line as the spare bump and electrically coupled with the bump or the spare bump in response to a selection signal. When a bump has failed, a vertical input/output line of the semiconductor chips is established by a spare bump corresponding to the failed bump through the selective signal routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sk Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Eun Lee, Chang Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9214452
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a package substrate on which a substrate pad is disposed, a structure disposed over the package substrate, a semiconductor chip disposed over the structure using an adhesive member having a magnetic material layer disposed therein, a chip pad disposed on a top surface of the semiconductor chip, and a bonding wire coupling the substrate pad and the chip pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Tae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9214453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device and a method for manufacturing the same. The technical object of the invention is to realize a surface emitting body which allows heat generated from a light-emitting chip to be easily dissipated, eliminates the need for an additional wiring layer, and allows a singular light emitting chips or a plurality of light emitting chips to be arranged in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. The present invention discloses an optical device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of light emitting chips disposed on the substrate; a plurality of conductive wires which electrically connect the substrate with the light emitting chips such that the plurality of light emitting chips are connected to each other in series, in parallel or in series-parallel; and a protective layer which covers the plurality of light emitting chips and the plurality of conductive wires on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Point Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Myung Nam, Tae-Hwan Song, Young-Chul Jun
  • Patent number: 9214454
    Abstract: A microelectronic assembly can be made by joining first and second subassemblies by electrically conductive masses to connect electrically conductive elements on support elements of each subassembly. A patterned layer of photo-imageable material may overlie a surface of one of the support elements and have openings with cross-sectional dimensions which are constant or monotonically increasing with height from the surface of that support element, where the masses extend through the openings and have dimensions defined thereby. An encapsulation can be formed by flowing an encapsulant into a space between the joined first and second subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: Belgacem Haba, Ilyas Mohammed, Liang Wang
  • Patent number: 9214455
    Abstract: A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having memory storage array function overlying a first surface of a substrate, the microelectronic element having a plurality of contacts aligned with an aperture in the substrate. First terminals which are configured to carry all address signals transferred to the package can be exposed within a first region of a second substrate surface, the first region disposed between the aperture and a peripheral edge of the substrate. The first terminals may be configured to carry all command signals, bank address signals and command signals transferred to the package, the command signals being write enable, row address strobe, and column address strobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Dewitt Crisp, Wael Zohni
  • Patent number: 9214456
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) system includes one or more light emitting diodes (LED), or other lighting devices, configured to provide lighting in an area, and a wireless control system configured to control the light emitting diodes (LED). The wireless control system includes at least one transmitter/receiver device in signal communication with the light emitting diode (LED), and a wireless control device operable by a user, configured to send input signals to the transmitter/receiver device for controlling the light emitting diode (LED), and to receive output signals from the transmitter/receiver device for indicating a status of the light emitting diodes (LED).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SemiLEDS Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Trung Tri Doan
  • Patent number: 9214457
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming multiple active components, such as bipolar transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, etc., on a semiconductor substrate so that active components with higher operation voltage may be formed on a common substrate with a lower operation voltage device and incorporating the existing proven process flow of making the lower operation voltage active components. The present invention is further directed to a method for forming a device of increasing operation voltage over an existing device of same functionality by adding a few steps in the early manufacturing process of the existing device therefore without drastically affecting the device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventor: Hideaki Tsuchiko
  • Patent number: 9214458
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a built-in Schottky barrier diode as a reflux diode, a maximum unipolar current is increased in a reflux state and a leakage current is reduced in an OFF state. A Schottky electrode is provided in at least a part of a surface between adjacent well regions of a second conductivity type disposed on a surface layer side of a drift layer of a first conductivity type, and an impurity concentration of a first conductivity type in a first region provided in a lower part of the Schottky electrode and provided between the adjacent well regions is set to be higher than a first impurity concentration of a first conductivity type in the drift layer and to be lower than a second impurity concentration of a second conductivity type in the well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Hino, Naruhisa Miura, Masayuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 9214459
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes: a substrate; circuit units arranged above the substrate, each of the circuit units including a first electrode, a second electrode, a first switching element and a second switching element electrically connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode, a capacitor electrically connected in parallel to the first switching element and the second switching element between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an AC electrode connected between the first switching element and the second switching element; and a housing that encloses the circuit units. A common potential is applied to the first electrodes of the respective circuit units, a common potential is applied to the second electrodes of the respective circuit units, and the AC electrodes of the respective circuit units are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuto Takao, Takashi Shinohe
  • Patent number: 9214461
    Abstract: A GaN transistor with polysilicon layers for creating additional components for an integrated circuit. The GaN device includes an EPI structure and an insulating material disposed over EPI structure. Furthermore, one or more polysilicon layers are disposed in the insulating material with the polysilicon layers having one or more n-type regions and p-type regions. The device further includes metal interconnects disposed on the insulating material and vias disposed in the insulating material layer that connect source and drain metals to the n-type and p-type regions of the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Efficient Power Coversion Corporation
    Inventors: Jianjun Cao, Robert Beach, Alexander Lidow, Alana Nakata, Guangyuan Zhao, Yanping Ma, Robert Strittmatter, Michael A. De Rooji, Chunhua Zhou, Seshadri Kolluri, Fang Chang Liu, Ming-Kun Chiang, Jiali Cao, Agus Jauhar
  • Patent number: 9214462
    Abstract: A semiconductor device fabrication process includes forming a plurality of fins upon a semiconductor substrate and forming a plurality of gate stacks upon the semiconductor substrate orthogonal to the plurality of fins, forming fin portions by recessing the plurality of fins and semiconductor substrate adjacent to the plurality of gate stacks, and forming uniform unmerged epitaxy upon the fin portions. A semiconductor device includes the plurality of fins, the plurality of gate stacks, a first semiconductor substrate recess between a first gate stack pair and a second semiconductor recess between a second gate stack pair, and unmerged epitaxy. The plurality of fins each include fin portions and the unmerged epitaxy including a first epitaxy pair contacting fin portions associated with the first gate stack pair and a second epitaxy pair contacting fin portions associated with the second gate stack pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Eric D. Marshall, Alexander Reznicek, Benjamen N. Taber
  • Patent number: 9214463
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor. The PMO transistor includes a gate electrode, at least one source/drain region, a first sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate electrode of the PMOS transistor, and a multi-part second sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the first sidewall spacer of the PMOS transistor, wherein the multi-part second sidewall spacer includes an upper spacer and a lower spacer. The NMOS transistor includes a gate electrode, at least one source/drain region, a first sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate electrode of the NMOS transistor, and a single second sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the first sidewall spacer of the NMOS transistor. A metal silicide region is positioned on each of the gate electrodes and on each of the at least one source/drain regions of the PMOS and the NMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Thees, Peter Baars
  • Patent number: 9214464
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with NMOS and PMOS transistors is provided. The semiconductor device can lessen a short channel effect, can reduce gate-drain current leakage, and can reduce parasitic capacitance due to gate overlaps, thereby inhibiting a reduction in the operating speed of circuits. An N-type impurity such as arsenic is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of a silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage NMOS region (LNR) thereby to form extension layers (61). Then, a silicon oxide film (OX2) is formed to cover the whole surface of the silicon substrate (1). The silicon oxide film (OX2) on the side surfaces of gate electrodes (51-54) is used as an offset sidewall. Then, boron is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of the silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage PMOS region (LPR) thereby to form P-type impurity layers (621) later to be extension layers (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunobu Ota, Hirokazu Sayama, Hidekazu Oda
  • Patent number: 9214465
    Abstract: A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cell and a semiconductor Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cell are incorporated into a single Non-Volatile Dynamic Random Access Memory (NVDRAM) cell. The NVDRAM cell is operated as the conventional DRAM cell for read, write, and refreshment on dynamic memory applications. Meanwhile the datum in the NVM cells can be directly loaded into the correspondent DRAM cells in the NVDRAM cell array without applying intermediate data amplification and buffering leading to high speed non-volatile data access. The datum in DRAM cells can be also stored back to the correspondent semiconductor NVM cells in the NVDRAM cells for the datum required for non-volatile data storage. The NVDRAM of the invention can provide both fast read/write function for dynamic memory and non-volatile memory storage in one unit memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FlashSilicon Incorporation
    Inventor: Lee Wang
  • Patent number: 9214466
    Abstract: A bitcell may include an insulating region, a first doping proximate to the insulating region, and a second doping surrounding the first doping. The second doping can be characterized by a higher gate voltage breakdown than the first doping. Also, the bitcell may include a gate terminal, and the bitcell may be configured for programming by a voltage on the gate terminal that results in a conductive hole selectively burned in the insulating region between the gate terminal and the first doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9214467
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor includes: forming a storage node contact plug over a substrate; forming an insulation layer having an opening exposing a surface of the storage node contact plug over the storage contact plug; forming a conductive layer for a storage node over the insulation layer and the exposed surface of the storage node contact plug through two steps performed at different temperatures; performing an isolation process to isolate parts of the conductive layer; and sequentially forming a dielectric layer and a plate electrode over the isolated conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Hyock Kim, Seung-Jin Yeom, Ki-Seon Park, Han-Sang Song, Deok-Sin Kil, Jae-Sung Roh
  • Patent number: 9214468
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are provided to enable a bit line to be formed easily, increase a bit line process margin and reduce capacitance between the adjacent bit lines. The semiconductor device comprises: a first pillar and a second pillar each extended vertically from a semiconductor substrate and including a vertical channel region; a first bit line located in the lower portion of the vertical channel region inside the first pillar and the second pillar; and an interlayer insulating film located between the first pillar and the second pillar that include the first bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Seung Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9214469
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory circuit including an oxide semiconductor insulated gate FET enabling advanced performance without being affected by a variation in threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Osaka
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9214470
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of gate electrodes stacked over a semiconductor substrate and stretched in a first direction along the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of junction layers having a first region protruding from the semiconductor substrate and crossing the gate electrodes and a second region formed between the gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jung-Ryul Ahn
  • Patent number: 9214471
    Abstract: A 3D memory device includes a plurality of ridge-shaped stacks, in the form of multiple strips of conductive material separated by insulating material, arranged as strings which can be coupled through decoding circuits to sense amplifiers. Diodes are connected to the bit line structures at either the string select of common source select ends of the strings. The strips of conductive material have side surfaces on the sides of the ridge-shaped stacks. A plurality of conductive lines arranged as word lines which can be coupled to row decoders, extends orthogonally over the plurality of ridge-shaped stacks. Memory elements lie in a multi-layer array of interface regions at cross-points between side surfaces of the conductive strips on the stacks and the conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Shin-Jang Shen, Hang-Ting Lue
  • Patent number: 9214473
    Abstract: To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 9214474
    Abstract: To provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer and having electric characteristics required depending on an intended use and provide a semiconductor device including the transistor, in a transistor in which a semiconductor layer, source and drain electrode layers, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are stacked in this order over an oxide semiconductor insulating film, an oxide semiconductor stack layer which includes at least two oxide semiconductor layers with energy gaps different from each other and a mixed region therebetween is used as the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9214475
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an all n-type transistor inverter circuit. A circuit can include an input thin film transistor (TFT), a pull-down TFT, a discharge TFT, a first pull-up TFT, a second pull-up TFT, and a floating capacitor. The circuit also can include first and second low-voltage voltage sources and first and second high-voltage voltage sources. The TFTs, the capacitor, and the voltage sources can be coupled such that an output of the circuit is the logical opposite of an input of the circuit. In some implementations, the circuit can exhibit zero DC current in both logic states and can output voltages substantially equal to the voltage output by the first low-voltage voltage source and the second high-voltage voltage source. In some implementations, the circuit can be used to construct D flip-flops, buffers, and controllers for an active matrix electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Ilias Pappas
  • Patent number: 9214476
    Abstract: A pixel structure includes a first conductive layer, a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, a second conductive layer, a passivation layer, and a first electrode layer. The first conductive layer includes a scan line and a bottom electrode. The semiconductor layer includes a first semiconductor pattern having a first source region, a first drain region, and a first channel region. The insulating layer is disposed on the semiconductor layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the insulating layer and includes a top electrode, a first gate, a first source, a first drain, and a data line connected with the first source. The bottom electrode and the top electrode overlap to form a capacitor. The passivation layer covers the first and second conductive layers and the semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is disposed on the passivation layer and provides electrical connection to different layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Lin, Yu-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 9214477
    Abstract: A display device includes a pixel array section, the pixel array section having pixels arranged in a matrix form, at least one of the pixels including an electro-optical element, a write transistor, a holding capacitance, a drive transistor, and a switching transistor. A write scan line is disposed for each pixel row of the pixel array section and adapted to convey a write signal to be applied to the gate electrode of the write transistor. The wiring structure of the write scan line does not intersect with the wiring pattern connected to the gate electrode of the drive transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Tanikame
  • Patent number: 9214478
    Abstract: A display panel includes gate lines extending in a first direction, a first column insulating layer between the gate lines, a gate electrode disposed on the first column insulating layer. The first column insulating layer, the gate lines, and the gate electrode are covered by a gate insulating layer. An active layer is disposed on the gate insulating layer. Source and drain electrodes are disposed above the active layer. Data lines are connected to the source electrode. A second column insulating layer is interposed between the data lines and includes a first contact hole to expose the drain electrode. A contact electrode is disposed in the first contact hole and connected to the drain electrode, a second contact hole is formed through a protective layer to correspond to the first contact hole, and a pixel electrode is connected to the contact electrode through the second contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TaeWoo Kim
  • Patent number: 9214479
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) display panel includes a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of first bar-shaped electrode layers arranged along a first direction and a plurality second bar-shaped electrode layers arranged along a second direction. The first bar-shaped electrode layers are coupled to a first power supply and the pixel units, and the second bar-shaped electrode layers are also coupled to the first power supply. Only a non-complete portion of overlap positions between the first and second bar-shaped electrode layers have first conductive paths configured to couple the first bar-shaped electrode layers to the corresponding second bar-shaped electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Peng-Bo Xi
  • Patent number: 9214480
    Abstract: A display device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which a sensing electrode for sensing a touch of a user is built in a display panel, whereby a separate touch screen is not required on an upper surface of the display panel unlike the related art and thus thickness and manufacturing cost are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JongHyun Park, HyunSeok Hong
  • Patent number: 9214481
    Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a driving device for a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and a method for manufacturing the same. The driving device comprises at least one first TFT and at least one second TFT formed a base substrate, wherein load of the first TFT is larger than load of the second TFT, the first TFT is of a top-gate configuration, and the second TFT is of a bottom-gate configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun Cao, Ming Hu
  • Patent number: 9214482
    Abstract: An array substrate and a display device includes: a base substrate; a TFT, a gate line, a data line and a pixel electrode formed on the base substrate, the TFT includes: a bottom gate, a first gate insulating layer, an active layer, a second gate insulating layer, a top gate, a gate isolation layer and a source electrode and a drain electrode sequentially formed on the base substrate; wherein, the source electrode and the drain electrode are in contact with the active layer through a first via hole and a second via hole passing through the gate isolation layer and the second insulating layer, respectively; the pixel electrode is in contact with the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lei Shi
  • Patent number: 9214483
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a thin-film-transistor array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The array substrate includes a thin-film transistor and a compensation electrode. A gate electrode of the thin-film transistor is a portion of a scan-signal line and has an opening, and the opening extends to a side of the scan-signal line. A drain electrode of the thin-film transistor is disposed correspondingly to the opening. A source electrode of the thin-film transistor extends from a side of a data-signal line and surrounds the drain electrode. The compensation electrode extends from another side of the scan-signal line and corresponds to the gate electrode. Therefore, the present invention is capable of reducing parasitic capacitance between the drain electrode and the gate electrode without increasing the resistance value of the scan-signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsunglung Chang
  • Patent number: 9214484
    Abstract: An image sensor package may include: a package substrate including a chip attachment area on an upper surface thereof, a pad area having a plurality of pads around the chip attachment area, and a holder attachment area at an outside of the pad area, wherein an upper surface of the holder attachment area is at a lower level than an upper surface of the pad area; an image sensor chip mounted on the chip attachment area of the package substrate; a transparent member above the package substrate and configured to cover the image sensor chip; and a holder on the holder attachment area of the package substrate and configured to fix the transparent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ok-Gyeong Park, Min-Ok Na
  • Patent number: 9214485
    Abstract: A multilayer optical filter is provided for an integrated circuit including a substrate and a metallization layer interconnection part. The optical filter is formed from a first filter part located within the interconnection part and positioned over a photosensitive region of the substrate. The optical filter further includes a second filter part positioned above the first filter part and the interconnection part. The first and second filter parts each include a metal layer. The first and second filter parts are separated from each other as a function of a wavelength in vacuum of an optical signal to be filtered and received by the photosensitive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics SA, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Laurent Frey, Michel Marty
  • Patent number: 9214486
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels and is operable to generate image information for each pixel from received light. Each of the plurality of pixels includes one of first to fourth color filters. Each of the first to the fourth color filters has different spectral characteristics. The fourth color filter has the highest light transmittance among the color filters. The first to the fourth color filters are arranged in a specific array. The specific array has first to third centroids which make a Bayer array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 9214487
    Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of sensing pixels, a plurality of micro-lenses disposed on the sensing pixels and a plurality of first light distributing elements disposed between the sensing pixels and the micro-lenses is provided. Each of the first light distributing elements includes a first refractive index pattern and a second refractive index pattern surrounding the first refractive index pattern. The refractive index of the first refractive index pattern is larger than the refractive index of the second refractive index pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: I-Hsiu Chen, Shu-Fang Wang, Po-Jen Hsiao