Patents Issued in December 15, 2015
  • Patent number: 9214539
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a hybrid gate dielectric layer that has good interface and bulk dielectric properties. Surface traps can degrade device performance and cause large threshold voltage shifts in III-N HEMTs. This disclosure uses a hybrid ALD (atomic layer deposited)-oxide layer which is a combination of H2O-based and O3/O2-based oxide layers that provide both good interface and good bulk dielectric properties to the III-N device. The H2O-based oxide layer provides good interface with the III-N surface, whereas the O3/O2-based oxide layer provides good bulk properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Chin Chiu, King-Yuen Wong, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Patent number: 9214540
    Abstract: One or more techniques or systems for forming an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) are provided herein. In some embodiments, the NMOS transistor includes a first region, a first n-type plus (NP) region, a first p-type plus (PP) region, a second NP region, a second PP region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a gate stack. In some embodiments, the first PP region is between the first NP region and the second NP region. In some embodiments, the second NP region is between the first PP region and the second PP region, the gate stack is between the first PP region and the second NP region, the STI region is between the second NP region and the second PP region. Accordingly, the first PP region enables ESD current to discharge based on a low trigger voltage for the NMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee
  • Patent number: 9214541
    Abstract: A conductive top surface of a replacement gate stack is recessed relative to a top surface of a planarization dielectric layer by at least one etch. A dielectric capping layer is deposited over the planarization dielectric layer and the top surface of the replacement gate stack so that the top surface of a portion of the dielectric capping layer over the replacement gate stack is vertically recessed relative to another portion of the dielectric layer above the planarization dielectric layer. The vertical offset of the dielectric capping layer can be employed in conjunction with selective via etch processes to form a self-aligned contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ravikumar Ramachandran, Ying Li, Richard S. Wise
  • Patent number: 9214542
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a body region in the substrate and having a first conductivity type, source and drain regions in the substrate, having a second conductivity type, and spaced from one another to define a conduction path that passes through the body region, a doped isolating region in the substrate, having the second conductivity type, and configured to surround a device area in which the conduction path is disposed, an isolation contact region in the substrate, having the second conductivity type, and electrically coupled to the doped isolating region to define a collector region of a bipolar transistor, and first and second contact regions within the body region, having the first and second conductivity types, respectively, and configured to define a base contact region and an emitter region of the bipolar transistor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Weize Chen, Patrice M. Parris
  • Patent number: 9214543
    Abstract: A gate structure including a substrate and a gate dielectric layer formed over the substrate. The gate structure further includes a workfunction layer over the gate dielectric layer and spacers enclosing the gate dielectric layer and the workfunction layer. A top surface of a portion of the workfunction layer in contact with sidewalls of the spacer is a same distance from the gate dielectric layer as a top surface of a center portion of the work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Simon Su-Horng Lin, Chi-Ming Yang, Chyi Shyuan Chern, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 9214544
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a top source region disposed next to the gate electrode, a drain region disposed below the bottom of the gate electrode, a oxide disposed on top of the source region and the gate electrode, and a doped polysilicon spacer disposed along a sidewall of the source region and a sidewall of the oxide. Methods for manufacturing such device are also disclosed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the 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: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: François Hébert, Anup Bhalla
  • Patent number: 9214545
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a plurality of gate electrodes over a gate insulator layer formed in active trenches located in an active region of a semiconductor substrate. A first gate runner is formed in the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the gate electrodes. The first gate runner abuts and surrounds the active region. A second gate runner is connected to the first gate runner to make contact to a gate metal. A dielectric filled trench surrounds the first and second gate runners and the active region and a highly doped channel stop region is formed under the dielectric filled trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Sung-Shan Tai, Sik Lui, Xiaobin Wang
  • Patent number: 9214546
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, a silicon carbide layer, a switching element section, and an overvoltage detection element section whose area is smaller than that of the switching element section. The switching element section includes a first electrode pad, a first terminal section surrounding the first electrode pad and provided in the silicon carbide layer, and a first insulating film covering the first terminal section. The overvoltage detection element section includes a second electrode pad, a second terminal section surrounding the second electrode pad and provided in the silicon carbide layer, and a second insulating film covering the second terminal section and being in contact with the silicon carbide layer. A breakdown field strength of at least part of a portion of the second insulating film being in contact with the silicon carbide layer is lower than that of the first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Masao Uchida
  • Patent number: 9214547
    Abstract: A high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor laterally diffused device (HV LDMOS), particularly an insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT), and a method of making it are provided in this disclosure. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed on the substrate, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, a first doped well formed in the substrate, and a second doped well formed in the first well. The gate, source, second doped well, a portion of the first well, and a portion of the drain structure are surrounded by a deep trench isolation feature and an implanted oxygen layer in the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ker Hsiao Huo, Chih-Chang Cheng, Ru-Yi Su, Jen-Hao Yeh, Fu-Chih Yang, Chun Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 9214548
    Abstract: A high voltage integrated device includes a drift region in a substrate, a source region in the substrate and spaced apart from the drift region, a drain region in the drift region, a trench insulation layer in the drift region between the source region and the drain region, and a gate insulation layer and a gate electrode sequentially stacked on the substrate between the source region and the drift region and extending onto the trench insulation layers. The upper sidewall of the first trench insulation layer has a first angle to the bottom surface thereof and the lower sidewall of the first trench insulation layer has a second angle, which is smaller than the first angle, to the bottom surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chul Kim, Han Ju Oh, Seong Hun Kang, Hyoung Nam Lim, Sang Duk Kim, Kyung Hwan Kim, Jung Su Jin
  • Patent number: 9214549
    Abstract: A high voltage device having Schottky diode includes a semiconductor substrate, a Schottky diode formed on the semiconductor substrate, at least a first doped region having a first conductive type formed in the semiconductor substrate and under the Schottky diode, and a control gate positioned on the semiconductor substrate. The control gate covers a portion of the Schottky diode and the first doped region positioned on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Min-Hsuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 9214550
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a buried layer in a substrate, the buried layer having a first dopant type. The semiconductor device further includes a first layer over the buried layer, the first layer having the first dopant type. The semiconductor device further includes at least one first well in the first layer, the at least one first well having a second dopant type. The semiconductor device further includes an implantation region in a sidewall of the first layer, the implantation region having the second dopant type, wherein the implantation region is below the at least one first well. The semiconductor device further includes a metal electrode extending from the buried layer to a drain contact, wherein the metal electrode is insulated from the first layer and the at least one first well by an insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Chang Cheng, Ruey-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 9214551
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, and a semiconductor device made with the method are described. In the method, a cavity is formed in a substrate, a first epitaxy process is performed under a pressure higher than 65 torr to form a buffer layer in the cavity, and a second epitaxy process is performed to form a semiconductor compound layer on the buffer layer in the cavity. In the semiconductor device, the ratio (S/Y) of the thickness S of the buffer layer on a lower sidewall of the cavity to the thickness Y of the buffer layer at the bottom of the cavity ranges from 0.6 to 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Hua Chang, Tien-Wei Yu, I-Cheng Hu, Chieh-Lung Wu, Yu-Shu Lin, Chun-Jen Chen, Tsung-Mu Yang, Tien-Chen Chan, Chin-Cheng Chien
  • Patent number: 9214552
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate, forming spacers adjoining opposite sidewalls of the gate stack, forming a sacrificial layer adjoining the spacers, removing a portion of the sacrificial layer, removing a portion of the spacers to form a recess cavity below the left spacers. Then, a strain feature is formed in the recess cavity. The disclosed method provides an improved method by providing a space between the spacer and the substrate for forming the strained feature, therefor, to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Lien Huang
  • Patent number: 9214553
    Abstract: One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming an initial fin structure comprised of portions of a substrate, a first epi semiconductor material and a second epi semiconductor material, forming a layer of insulating material so as to over-fill the trenches that define the fin, recessing a layer of insulating material such that a portion, but not all, of the second epi semiconductor portion of the final fin structure is exposed, forming a gate structure around the final fin structure, further recessing the layer of insulating material such that the first epi semiconductor material is exposed, removing the first epi semiconductor material to thereby define an under-fin cavity and substantially filling the under-fin cavity with a stressed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie, Ajey P. Jacob, Witold P. Maszara, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz
  • Patent number: 9214554
    Abstract: A fin-FET or other multi-gate transistor is disclosed. The transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate having a first lattice constant, and a semiconductor fin extending from the semiconductor substrate. The fin has a second lattice constant, different from the first lattice constant, and a top surface and two opposed side surfaces. The transistor also includes a gate dielectric covering at least a portion of the top surface and the two opposed side surfaces, and a gate electrode covering at least a portion of the gate dielectric. The resulting channel has a strain induced therein by the lattice mismatch between the fin and the substrate. This strain can be tuned by selection of the respective materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Nien Lin, Horng-Chih Lin, Tiao-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9214555
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices having FinFETs with channel regions low in crystal defects and current-blocking layers underneath the channels to improve electrostatic control. Optionally, an interface control layer formed of a high bandgap semiconductor is provided between the current-blocking layer and the channel. The disclosure also provides methods of forming integrated circuit devices having these structures. The methods include forming a FinFET fin including a channel by epitaxial growth, then oxidizing a portion of the fin to form a current-blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Kenneth Oxland, Mark van Dal, Martin Christopher Holland, Georgios Vellianitis, Matthias Passlack
  • Patent number: 9214556
    Abstract: A method includes growing an epitaxy semiconductor region at a major surface of a wafer. The epitaxy semiconductor region has an upward facing facet facing upwardly and a downward facing facet facing downwardly. The method further includes forming a first metal silicide layer contacting the upward facing facet, and forming a second metal silicide layer contacting the downward facing facet. The first metal silicide layer and the second metal silicide layer comprise different metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Clement Hsingjen Wann, Sey-Ping Sun, Ling-Yen Yeh, Chi-Yuan Shih, Li-Chi Yu, Chun Hsiung Tsai, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Neng-Kuo Chen, Meng-Chun Chang, Ta-Chun Ma, Gin-Chen Huang, Yen-Chun Huang
  • Patent number: 9214557
    Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a device are presented. A substrate prepared with a device region is provided. A fin is formed in the device region. The fin includes top and bottom portions. An amorphous isolation buffer is formed at least in the bottom fin portion, leaving the top fin portion crystalline. The top fin portion serves as a body of a fin type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dexter Xueming Tan, Eng Huat Toh
  • Patent number: 9214558
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate structure on a semiconductor material region, wherein the gate structure includes spacer elements abutting a gate electrode layer. The gate electrode layer is etched to provide a recess. A hard mask layer is formed over the gate electrode layer in the recess. Silicide layers are then formed on a source region and a drain region disposed in the semiconductor material region, while the hard mask is disposed over the gate electrode layer. A source contact and a drain contact is then provided, each source and drain contact being conductively coupled to a respective one of the silicide layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Ming Chen, Chih-Hao Chang, Chih-Hao Yu
  • Patent number: 9214559
    Abstract: Graphene transferring members, graphene transferrer, methods of transferring graphene, and methods of fabricating a graphene device, may include a metal thin-film layer pattern and a graphene layer sequentially stacked on an adhesive member. The metal thin-film layer and the graphene layer may have the same shape. After transferring the graphene layer onto a transfer-target substrate during the fabrication of a graphene device, the metal thin-film layer is patterned to form electrodes on respective ends of the graphene layer by removing a portion of the metal thin-film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo-ho Lee, Chang-seung Lee, Yong-sung Kim, Hyun-jae Song
  • Patent number: 9214560
    Abstract: A vertical transistor includes a substrate and an electrically conductive gate structure having a top surface and including a reentrant profile. A conformal electrically insulating layer that maintains the reentrant profile is in contact with the electrically conductive gate structure and at least a portion of the substrate. A conformal semiconductor layer that maintains the reentrant profile is in contact with the conformal electrically insulating layer. An electrode that extends into the reentrant profile is in contact with a first portion of the semiconductor layer. Another electrode is vertically spaced apart from the electrode, overlaps a portion of the electrode that extends into the reentrant profile, is in contact with a second portion of the semiconductor material layer over the top surface of the electrically conductive gate structure, and is within the reentrant profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Shelby Forrester Nelson, Carolyn Rae Ellinger, Lee William Tutt
  • Patent number: 9214561
    Abstract: An integrated recessed thin body field effect transistor (FET) and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes recessing a portion of a semiconductor material. The method further includes forming at least one gate structure within the recessed portion of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Alan B. Botula, Mark D. Jaffe, Alvin J. Joseph, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 9214562
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a field-effect transistor, in which on a electroconductive layer including a source electrode, a drain electrode and pixel electrode formed by a conductive layer-forming, an inorganic insulating layer containing an inorganic material as a main component is formed so as to cover the electroconductive layer and an oxide semiconductive layer, and after a photoresist film is formed on the inorganic insulating layer and is exposed in a pattern shape, a resist pattern is formed by being developed using a developer in development, and by removing the area exposed from the resist pattern in the inorganic insulating layer by using the developer as an etching liquid, a part of the electroconductive layer is exposed, thereby forming a contact hole; a field-effect transistor, a display device and an electromagnetic wave detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Imai
  • Patent number: 9214563
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics and a display device including the semiconductor device as a switching element. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a needle crystal group provided on at least one surface side of the oxide semiconductor layer grows in a c-axis direction perpendicular to the surface and includes an a-b plane parallel to the surface, and a portion except for the needle crystal group is an amorphous region or a region in which amorphousness and microcrystals are mixed. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Masayuki Sakakura, Ryosuke Watanabe, Junichiro Sakata, Kengo Akimoto, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takuya Hirohashi, Hideyuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 9214564
    Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) includes a gate electrode disposed on a substrate. An oxide semiconductor layer is disposed on the gate electrode. An insulation layer is disposed on the oxide semiconductor layer. The insulation layer includes a first contact hole that exposes a first part of the oxide semiconductor layer corresponding to a first end of the gate electrode and a second contact hole that exposes a second part of the oxide semiconductor layer corresponding to an opposite end of the gate electrode. A source electrode is disposed on the insulation layer and contacts the first part of the oxide semiconductor layer through the first contact hole. A drain electrode is disposed on the insulation layer and contacts the second part of the oxide semiconductor layer through the second contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chaun-Gi Choi, Sun-Kwang Kim, Hui-Won Yang, Sang-Il Park
  • Patent number: 9214565
    Abstract: Provided is a miniaturized transistor having high electrical characteristics. The transistor includes a source electrode layer in contact with one side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer in the channel-length direction and a drain electrode layer in contact with the other side surface thereof. The transistor further includes a gate electrode layer in a region overlapping with a channel formation region with a gate insulating layer provided therebetween and a conductive layer having a function as part of the gate electrode layer in a region overlapping with the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer with the gate insulating layer provided therebetween and in contact with a side surface of the gate electrode layer. With such a structure, an Lov region is formed with a scaled-down channel length maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sasagawa, Motomu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9214566
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which release of oxygen from side surfaces of an oxide semiconductor film including c-axis aligned crystal parts can be prevented is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first oxide semiconductor film, a second oxide semiconductor film including c-axis aligned crystal parts, and an oxide film including c-axis aligned crystal parts. In the semiconductor device, the first oxide semiconductor film, the second oxide semiconductor film, and the oxide film are each formed using a IGZO film, where the second oxide semiconductor film has a higher indium content than the first oxide semiconductor film, the first oxide semiconductor film has a higher indium content than the oxide film, the oxide film has a higher gallium content than the first oxide semiconductor film, and the first oxide semiconductor film has a higher gallium content than the second oxide semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9214567
    Abstract: An e-fuse is provided in one area of a semiconductor substrate. The E-fuse includes a vertical stack of from, bottom to top, base metal semiconductor alloy portion, a first metal semiconductor alloy portion, a second metal semiconductor portion, a third metal semiconductor alloy portion and a fourth metal semiconductor alloy portion, wherein the first metal semiconductor alloy portion and the third metal semiconductor portion have outer edges that are vertically offset and do not extend beyond vertical edges of the second metal semiconductor alloy portion and the fourth metal semiconductor alloy portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9214568
    Abstract: A thin film transistor includes: a source region; a drain region; and a polycrystalline thin film active channel region connected to the source region and the drain region, the active channel region comprising grains and being doped with a two-dimensional pattern comprising a plurality of doped regions, the plurality of doped regions each comprising at least portions of a plurality of the grains and at least one grain boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi Sing Kwok, Meng Zhang, Shuming Chen, Wei Zhou, Man Wong
  • Patent number: 9214569
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a memory device includes a substrate, a channel region on the substrate, a plurality of gate electrode layers stacked on each other on the substrate, and a plurality of contact plugs. The gate electrode layers are adjacent to the channel region and extend in one direction to define a pad region. The gate electrode layers include first and second gate electrode layers. The contact plugs are connected to the gate electrode layers in the pad region. At least one of the contact plugs is electrically insulated from the from the first gate electrode layer and electrically connected to the second gate electrode layer by penetrating through the first gate electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Jeong Kim, Jung Ik Oh, Sung Soo Ahn, Dae Hyun Jang
  • Patent number: 9214570
    Abstract: The improvement of the reliability of a semiconductor device having a split gate type MONOS memory is implemented. An ONO film and a second polysilicon film are sequentially formed so as to fill between a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Then, the dummy gate electrode is removed. Then, the top surfaces of the first and second polysilicon films are polished, thereby to form a memory gate electrode formed of the second polysilicon film at the sidewall of a control gate electrode formed of the first polysilicon film via the ONO film. As a result, the memory gate electrode high in perpendicularity of the sidewall, and uniform in film thickness is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuyoshi Mihara
  • Patent number: 9214571
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of reducing influences of adjacent word lines is provided in the present invention. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate, and a word line disposed in the substrate. The word line includes: a gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer disposed between the gate electrode and the substrate and at least one first charge trapping dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the gate electrode, wherein the first charge trapping dielectric layer comprises HfO2, TiO2, ZrO2, a germanium nanocrystal layer, an organic charge trapping material, HfSiOxNy, or MoSiOqNz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: Shian-Jyh Lin
  • Patent number: 9214572
    Abstract: A SiC MOSFET device having low specific on resistance is described. The device has N+, P-well and JFET regions extended in one direction (Y-direction) and P+ and source contacts extended in an orthogonal direction (X-direction). The polysilicon gate of the device covers the JFET region and is terminated over the P-well region to minimize electric field at the polysilicon gate edge. In use, current flows vertically from the drain contact at the bottom of the structure into the JFET region and then laterally in the X direction through the accumulation region and through the MOSFET channels into the adjacent N+ region. The current flowing out of the channel then flows along the N+ region in the Y-direction and is collected by the source contacts and the final metal. Methods of making the device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: MONOLITH SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Sujit Banerjee, Kevin Matocha, Kiran Chatty
  • Patent number: 9214573
    Abstract: A bypass diode includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a p electrode as a first conductive type electrode and an n electrode as a second conductive type electrode arranged on the first surface, a back surface electrode arranged on the second surface and having a polarity identical to that of the semiconductor substrate, a first oxide layer arranged on the first surface, and a second oxide layer arranged on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Shimada
  • Patent number: 9214574
    Abstract: Fullerene surfactant compounds useful as interfacial layer in polymer solar cells to enhance solar cell efficiency. Polymer solar cell including a fullerene surfactant-containing interfacial layer intermediate cathode and active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Kwan-Yue Jen, Hin-Lap Yip, Chang-zhi Li
  • Patent number: 9214575
    Abstract: A solar panel comprises a back contact layer, an absorber layer over the back contact layer, a buffer layer over the absorber layer, and a front contact layer comprising a transparent conductive material over the buffer layer. The front contact layer has a plurality of outer edges and a seed layer comprising a seed layer material along the outer edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TSMC Solar Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Chun Hsu, Chen Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 9214576
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a solar cell. The solar cell includes a Si base layer, a passivation layer situated above the Si base layer, a layer of heavily doped amorphous Si (a-Si) situated above the passivation layer, a first transparent-conducting-oxide (TCO) layer situated above the heavily doped a-Si layer, a back-side electrode situated below the Si base layer, and a front-side electrode situated above the first TCO layer. The first TCO layer comprises at least one of: GaInO, GaInSnO, ZnInO, and ZnInSnO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Jianming Fu, Zheng Xu, Jiunn Benjamin Heng, Chentao Yu
  • Patent number: 9214577
    Abstract: Methods for forming a photovoltaic device include forming a buffer layer between a transparent electrode and a p-type layer. The buffer layer includes a work function that falls substantially in a middle of a barrier formed between the transparent electrode and the p-type layer to provide a greater resistance to light induced degradation. An intrinsic layer and an n-type layer are formed over the p-type layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Fogel, Augustin J. Hong, Jeehwan Kim, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 9214578
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a lens array including a plurality of convex meniscus lenses. Each of the convex meniscus lenses is provided between a first member and a second member. The first member has a lower refractive index than each of the convex meniscus lenses and has convex surfaces conforming to respective concave surfaces of the convex meniscus lenses. The second member has a lower refractive index than each of the convex meniscus lenses and has concave surfaces conforming to respective convex surfaces of the convex meniscus lenses. The first member is provided between a group of the convex meniscus lenses and a group of the photoelectric conversion portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9214579
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure includes the following steps. A wafer structure having a silicon substrate and a protection layer is provided. An electrical pad on the protection layer is exposed through the concave region of the silicon substrate. An isolation layer is formed on the sidewall of the silicon substrate surrounding the concave region and a surface of the silicon substrate facing away from the protection layer. A redistribution layer is formed on the isolation layer and the electrical pad. A passivation layer is formed on the redistribution layer. The passivation layer is patterned to form a first opening therein. A first conductive layer is formed on the redistribution layer exposed through the first opening. A conductive structure is arranged in the first opening, such that the conductive structure is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: XINTEC INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Ming Chien, Po-Han Lee, Tsang-Yu Liu, Yen-Shih Ho
  • Patent number: 9214580
    Abstract: A lattice-matched solar cell having a dilute nitride-based sub-cell has exponential doping to thereby control current-carrying capacity of the solar cell. Specifically a solar cell with at least one dilute nitride sub-cell that has a variably doped base or emitter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a lattice matched multi junction solar cell has an upper sub-cell, a middle sub-cell and a lower dilute nitride sub-cell, the lower dilute nitride sub-cell having doping in the base and/or the emitter that is at least partially exponentially doped so as to improve its solar cell performance characteristics. In construction, the dilute nitride sub-cell may have the lowest bandgap and be lattice matched to a substrate, the middle cell typically has a higher bandgap than the dilute nitride sub-cell while it is lattice matched to the dilute nitride sub-cell. The upper sub-cell typically has the highest bandgap and is lattice matched to the adjacent sub-cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Junction Corporation
    Inventors: Pranob Misra, Rebecca Elizabeth Jones, Ting Liu, Ilya Fushman, Homan Bernard Yuen
  • Patent number: 9214581
    Abstract: Systems and methods of implementing barrier infrared detectors on lattice mismatched substrates are provided. The barrier infrared detector systems combine an active detector structure (e.g., contact/barrier/absorber pairs) with a non-lattice matched substrate through a multi-layered transitional structure that forms a virtual substrate that can be strain balanced with the detector structure. The transitional metamorphic layer may include one or both of at least one graded metamorphic buffer layer or interfacial misfit array (IMF). A further interfacial layer may be interposed within the transitional structure, in some embodiments this interfacial layer includes at least one layer of AlSb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Arezou Khoshakhlagh, David Z Ting, Sarath D. Gunapala, Cory J. Hill
  • Patent number: 9214582
    Abstract: A uni-travelling carrier photodiode includes an absorption region of p-type doped material. The photodiode further includes a first collector layer and second collector layer wherein the absorption region is located between the first collector layer and the second collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Mohand Achouche, Mourad Chtioui
  • Patent number: 9214583
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a means to build a solar cell that is transparent to and polarizes visible light, and to transfer the energy thus generated to electrical power wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventors: Hirak Mitra, Karen Ann Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9214584
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a solar cell includes forming a dopant layer by doping a dopant of a first conductive type and a counter dopant of a second conductive type opposite to the first conductive type to a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Here, a doping amount of the counter dopant is less than a doping amount of the dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngsung Yang, Yongduk Jin, Manhyo Ha, Juhwa Cheong
  • Patent number: 9214585
    Abstract: Annealing solutions providing damage-free laser patterning utilizing auxiliary heating to anneal laser damaged ablation regions are provided herein. Ablation spots on an underlying semiconductor substrate are annealed during or after pulsed laser ablation patterning of overlying transparent passivation layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Solexel, Inc.
    Inventors: Virendra V. Rana, Mehrdad M. Moslehi, Pawan Kapur, Benjamin Rattle, Heather Deshazer, Solene Coutant
  • Patent number: 9214586
    Abstract: A package for a solar cell is provided having laminates formed by stacked lead frames to form an integral package supporting a solar cell structure. Lead frames serve as a heat sink, raised portions match a cavity in a middle lead frames that contain and hold individual solar cell chips in place. Beveled interior edges of a carrier lead frame are in electrical contact with bus bars on the periphery of a suspended solar cell and form the electrical connection for the cell, maximizing current handling capability and allowing the use of spring tension and/or a bonding compound for additional connection strength and integrity. Such a “stackable” semiconductor package requires no ribbon bonding and has multiple bias options, maximum scalability, enhanced moisture resistance, and multiple attachment options for heat sink attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Junction Corporation
    Inventor: Paul F. Lamarche
  • Patent number: 9214587
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion module in which an output voltage defect is suppressed is obtained by forming in parallel over a substrate n number (n is a natural number) of integrated photoelectric conversion devices each including a plurality of cells that are connected in series, and electrically connecting in parallel n?1 number or less of integrated photoelectric conversion devices with normal electrical characteristics and excluding an integrated photoelectric conversion device with a characteristic defect such as a short-circuit between top and bottom electrodes or a leak current due to a structural defect or the like formed in a semiconductor layer or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nishi, Yasushi Maeda, Ryosuke Motoyoshi, Yuji Oda, Kei Takahashi, Yoshiaki Ito, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Patent number: 9214588
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a dual junction photodiode semiconductor devices with improved wavelength sensitivity. The photodiode employs a high quality n-type layer with relatively lower doping concentration and enables high minority carrier lifetime and high quantum efficiency with improved responsivity at multiple wavelengths. In one embodiment, the photodiode comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first impurity region of a second conductivity type formed epitaxially in the semiconductor substrate, a second impurity region of the first conductivity type shallowly formed in the epitaxially formed first impurity region, a first PN junction formed between the epitaxially formed first impurity region and the second impurity region, a second PN junction formed between the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxially formed first impurity region, and at least one passivated V-groove etched into the epitaxially formed first impurity region and the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja, Manoocher Mansouri Aliabadi