Patents Issued in February 16, 2016
  • Patent number: 9263417
    Abstract: The embedded package includes a semiconductor chip having contact portions disposed on a top surface thereof, a first dielectric layer substantially surrounding sidewalls of the semiconductor chip and including first fillers dispersed therein, a second dielectric layer substantially covering the top surface of the semiconductor chip and including second fillers dispersed therein, and first external interconnection portions disposed on the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the contact portions, wherein an average size of the first fillers is different from that of the second fillers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Jee Kim
  • Patent number: 9263418
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first loop and a second loop. A folded-back portion is a portion formed by stretching out the first loop from a first bond in a first direction and then folding it back in a second direction. The folded-back portion is in a shape in which it is squashed against the first bond. The second loop is bonded to the folded-back portion. An end of the second loop is located at a second position. The second position is offset in a direction in which the first loop extends, from a first position. The first position is the center of the first bond of the first loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobutaka Kasuya, Junichi Saijo
  • Patent number: 9263419
    Abstract: A lead frame strip includes connected unit lead frames each having a die paddle, a tie bar directly connecting the die paddle to a periphery of the unit lead frame, leads directly connected to the periphery of the unit lead frame and projecting toward the die paddle, and an opening in the periphery adjacent the tie bar. The openings in the periphery of the unit lead frames are spanned with an electrically insulating material that connects the tie bar of each unit lead frame to the periphery of the unit lead frame. The direct connections between the tie bars and the periphery of the unit lead frames are severed prior to subsequent processing, so that the tie bars remain connected to the periphery of the unit lead frames by the electrically insulating material and the die paddles are electrically disconnected from the periphery of the unit lead frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Nee Wan Khoo, Lay Yeap Lim
  • Patent number: 9263420
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for forming a device include performing an oxidation inhibiting treatment to exposed ends of first and second device-to-edge conductors, and forming a package surface conductor to electrically couple the exposed ends of the first and second device-to-edge conductors. Performing the oxidation inhibiting treatment may include applying an organic solderability protectant coating to the exposed ends, or plating the exposed ends with a conductive plating material. The method may further include applying a conformal protective coating over the package surface conductor. An embodiment of a device formed using such a method includes a package body, the first and second device-to-edge conductors, the package surface conductor on a surface of the package body and extending between the first and second device-to-edge conductors, and the conformal protective coating over the package surface conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Vincent, Scott M. Hayes
  • Patent number: 9263421
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a chip carrier having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The device further includes a first semiconductor chip mounted on the first surface of the chip carrier. A second semiconductor chip is mounted on the second surface of the chip carrier, wherein a portion of a first surface of the second semiconductor chip which faces the chip carrier projects over an edge of the chip carrier. A first electrical conductor is coupled to an electrode formed on the portion of the first surface of the second semiconductor chip that projects over the edge of the chip carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Boon Seong Lee, Chee Voon Tan
  • Patent number: 9263422
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide capacitive AC coupling inter-layer communications for 3D stacked modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Guido Droege, Niklas Linkewitsch, Andre Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9263423
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a plurality of interdigitated pixels arranged in an array, having a very low series-resistance with improved current spreading and improved heat-sinking. Each pixel is a square with sides of dimension l. The series resistance is minimized by increasing the perimeter of an active region for the pixels. The series resistance is also minimized by shrinking the space between a mesa and n-contact for each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Arpan Chakraborty, Likun Shen, Umesh K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 9263424
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide semiconductor chip stacking assemblies that provide direct attachment of a first semiconductor device with a second semiconductor device. An assembly comprises a first semiconductor chip that has a first and a second set of electrical interconnect regions disposed on its surface and a second semiconductor chip. The first set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically connected with the electrical interconnect regions of a second semiconductor chip, and the second set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically interconnected with the substrate. Direct electrical connections are for example, silicon photonics device-to-driver or device-to-signal converters, logic-to-memory, memory-to-memory, and logic-to-logic chip interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Qing Tan
  • Patent number: 9263425
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a laminate, a first semiconductor chip at least partly embedded in the laminate, a second semiconductor chip mounted on a first main surface of the laminate, and a first electrical contact arranged on the first main surface of the laminate. The second semiconductor chip is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Scharf, Petteri Palm, Angela Kessler
  • Patent number: 9263426
    Abstract: A PoP (package-on-package) package includes a bottom package coupled to a top package. Terminals on the top of the bottom package are coupled to terminals on the bottom of the top package with an electrically insulating material located between the upper surface of the bottom package and the lower surface of the top package. The bottom package and the top package are coupled during a process that applies force to bring the packages together while heating the packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jie-Hua Zhao, Yizhang Yang, Jun Zhai, Chih-Ming Chung
  • Patent number: 9263427
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises: a transistor region having a center line; a first block arranged in one side of the center line of the transistor region, and comprising a plurality of first and second groups each having a plurality of first and second segment transistors constituting first and second transistors of a differential amplifier; and a second block arranged in the other side of the center line, and having an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of the first and second groups of the first block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Huk Min Jung
  • Patent number: 9263428
    Abstract: An ESD protection device includes an MOS transistor with a source region, drain region and gate region. A node designated for ESD protection is electrically coupled to the drain. A diode is coupled between the gate and source, wherein the diode would be reverse biased if the MOS transistor were in the active operating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Cornelius Christian Russ, David Alvarez
  • Patent number: 9263429
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first doping region, a first well, a resistor element, and a first, a second, and a third heavily doping regions. The first well and the third heavily doping region are disposed in the first doping region, which is disposed on the substrate. The first heavily doping region and the second heavily doping region, which are separated from each other, are disposed in the first well. The second and the third heavily doping regions are electrically connected via the resistor element. Each of the substrate, the first well, and the second heavily doping region has a first type doping. Each of the first doping region, the first heavily doping region, and the third heavily doping region has a second type doping, complementary to the first type doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Hung, Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan
  • Patent number: 9263430
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 9263431
    Abstract: In certain examples an integrated circuit protection circuit can include a circuit module, and an isolation device. The isolation device can be configured to couple a ground node of the circuit module to a power ground in an on state, and to isolate the ground node of the circuit module from the power ground in an off state, wherein the isolation module is configured to enter the off state when the IC receives a negative input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sam Zheng, Gary Sun, Steven M. Leibiger, Tyler Daigle, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Patent number: 9263432
    Abstract: A high voltage semiconductor device is provided, comprising a high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (HVMOS), and a normally-on low voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (LVMOS) electrically connected to the HVMOS. The HVMOS has a first collector and a first emitter, and the LVMOS has a second collector and a second emitter, wherein the second collector of the LVMOS is electrically connected to the first emitter of the HVMOS. The LVMOS electrically connected to the HVMOS provides an electro-static discharge bipolar transistor (ESD BJT), such as a NPN-type ESD BJT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan, Shyi-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 9263433
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a power supply node, a ground node and a gated domain coupled between the power node and the ground node. A Charged Device Model electrostatic discharge protection module is provided for shunting electrical energy of a CDM ESD event away from the gated domain. A gating switch makes an electrical connection in a connected state between the gated domain and at least one of the power node and the ground node. ESD gating control circuitry is coupled to the CDM ESD protection module and controls shunting of energy away from the gated domain by the CDM ESD protection module, thereby avoiding the energy flowing through the gated domain. The ESD gating control circuitry inhibits actuation of the CDM ESD protection module to prevent response to CDM ESD events when the gating domain is powered-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Sergey Sofer, Valery Neiman, Michael Priel
  • Patent number: 9263434
    Abstract: An array substrate includes a substrate, a dummy pad and a driving signal output line. The substrate includes a display area displaying an image, and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. The dummy pad extends along a first direction in the peripheral area of the substrate, and includes a first protrusion portion protruding from an end portion of the dummy pad along the first direction. The driving signal output line extends along a second direction crossing with the first direction, is disposed adjacent to the dummy pad, and provides an external signal. Accordingly static electricity provided to the driving signal output line flows into the dummy pad having the first protrusion portion, so that static electricity may be prevented from flowing into the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Moon Moh, Mi-Sun Lee
  • Patent number: 9263435
    Abstract: Technology capable of improving reliability of a semiconductor device is provided. In the present invention, a gate pad GPj formed on a front surface of a semiconductor chip CHP1 is disposed so as to be closer to a source lead SL than to other leads (a drain lead DL and a gate lead GL). As a result, according to the present invention, a distance between the gate pad GPj and the source lead SL can be shortened, and thus a length of the wire Wgj for connecting the gate pad GPj and the source lead SL together can be shortened. Thus, according to the present invention, a parasitic inductance that is present in the wire Wgj can be sufficiently reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Kanazawa, Satoru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9263436
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; a first doped well region disposed in a portion of the semiconductor layer; a first doped region disposed in the first doped well region; a second doped well region of an asymmetrical cross-sectional profile disposed in another portion of the semiconductor layer; second, third, and fourth doped regions formed in the second doped well region; a first gate structure disposed over a portion of the semiconductor layer, practically covering the second doped well region; and a second gate structure embedded in a portion of the semiconductor layer, penetrating a portion of the second doped well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsiung-Shih Chang, Jui-Chun Chang, Shang-Hui Tu, Priyono Tri Sulistyanto, Chia-Hao Lee
  • Patent number: 9263437
    Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure are provided. The metal-insulator-metal capacitor structure includes a substrate. The MIM capacitor structure also includes a CBM layer formed on the substrate, and the CBM layer includes a bottom barrier layer, a main metal layer and a top barrier layer. The MIM capacitor structure further includes a first high-k dielectric layer formed on the CBM layer, an insulating layer formed on the first high-k dielectric layer and a second high-k dielectric layer formed on the insulating layer. The MIM capacitor structure also includes a CTM layer formed on the second high-k dielectric layer, and the CBM layer includes a bottom barrier layer, a main metal layer and a top barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chieh-Shuo Liang, Hsing-Chih Lin, Yu-Lung Yeh, Chih-Ho Tai, Ching-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 9263438
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an anode terminal, and a cathode terminal. The apparatus can include a junction field-effect transistor (JFET) portion having a channel disposed within a semiconductor substrate and defining a first portion of an electrical path between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal. The apparatus can also include a diode portion formed within the semiconductor substrate and defining a second portion of the electrical path between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal. The diode portion can be serially coupled to the channel of the JFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sunglyong Kim, Jongjib Kim
  • Patent number: 9263439
    Abstract: Some exemplary embodiments of a III-nitride switching device with an emulated diode have been disclosed. One exemplary embodiment comprises a GaN switching device fabricated on a substrate comprising a high threshold GaN transistor coupled across a low threshold GaN transistor, wherein a gate and a source of the low threshold GaN transistor are shorted with an interconnect metal to function as a parallel diode in a reverse mode. The high threshold GaN transistor is configured to provide noise immunity for the GaN switching device when in a forward mode. The high threshold GaN transistor and the low threshold GaN transistor are typically fabricated on the same substrate, and with significantly different thresholds. As a result, the superior switching characteristics of III-nitride devices may be leveraged while retaining the functionality and the monolithic structure of the inherent body diode in traditional silicon FETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventor: Jason Zhang
  • Patent number: 9263440
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a power transistor arrangement, which may include a carrier including at least a main region, a first terminal region and a second terminal region being electrically isolated from each other; a first power transistor having a control electrode, a first power electrode and a second power electrode, and being arranged on the main region of the carrier such that its first power electrode is facing towards and is electrically coupled to the main region of the carrier; a second power transistor having a control electrode, a first power electrode and a second power electrode, and being arranged on the terminal regions of the carrier such that its control electrode and its first power electrode are facing towards the terminal regions, and having its control electrode being electrically coupled to the first terminal region and its first power electrode being electrically coupled to the second terminal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Ralf Otremba, Josef Hoeglauer, Juergen Schredl, Xaver Schloegel, Klaus Schiess
  • Patent number: 9263441
    Abstract: A first implant is performed into a substrate to form a well in which a plurality of transistors will be formed. Each transistor of a first subset of the plurality of transistors to be formed has a width that satisfies a predetermined width constraint and each transistor of a second subset has a width that does not satisfy the constraint. A second implant is performed at locations in the well in which transistors of the first subset will be formed and not at locations in the well in which transistors of the second subset will be formed. The transistors are formed, wherein a channel region of each transistor of the first subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which received the second implant and a channel region of each transistor of the second subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which did not receive the second implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Mehul D. Shroff, William F. Johnstone, Chad E. Weintraub
  • Patent number: 9263442
    Abstract: Gate structures and methods of manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes forming a continuous replacement gate structure within a trench formed in dielectric material. The method further includes segmenting the continuous replacement gate structure into separate replacement gate structures. The method further includes forming insulator material between the separate replacement gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 9263443
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die including a normally-off transistor and a second semiconductor die including a plurality of transistor cells of a normally-on GaN HEMT. One of a source terminal and a drain terminal of the normally-off transistor is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the normally-on GaN HEMT, and the other one of the source terminal and the drain terminal of the normally-off transistor is electrically coupled to one of a source terminal and a drain terminal of the normally-on GaN HEMT. The second semiconductor die further includes a gate resistor electrically coupled between the gate terminal of the normally-off transistor and respective gates of the plurality of transistor cells, and a voltage clamping element electrically coupled between the gate terminal and one of the source terminal and the drain terminal of the normally-on GaN HEMT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Michael Treu, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 9263444
    Abstract: A method of fabricating Schottky barrier contacts for an integrated circuit (IC). A substrate including a silicon including surface is provided having a plurality of transistors formed thereon, where the plurality of transistors include at least one exposed p-type surface region and at least one exposed n-type surface region on the silicon including surface. A plurality of metals are deposited including Yb and Pt to form at least one metal layer on the substrate. The metal layer is heated to induce formation of an inhomogeneous silicide layer including both Ptsilicide and Ybsilicide on the exposed p-type and n-type surface regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Deborah Jean Riley, Judy Browder Shaw, Christopher L. Hinkle, Creighton T. Buie
  • Patent number: 9263445
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a capping layer over the high-k dielectric layer in the first region, forming a first metal layer over capping layer in the first region and over the high-k dielectric in the second region, thereafter, forming a first gate stack in the first region and a second gate stack in the second region, protecting the first metal layer in the first gate stack while performing a treatment process on the first metal layer in the second gate stack, and forming a second metal layer over the first metal layer in the first gate stack and over the treated first metal layer in the second gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Fu Hsu, Kang-Cheng Lin, Kuo-Tai Huang
  • Patent number: 9263446
    Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a shared gate cavity that spans across an isolation region and is positioned above first and second active regions, forming at least one layer of material in the shared gate cavity above the first and second active regions and above the isolation region, forming a first masking layer that covers portions of the shared gate cavity positioned above the first and second active regions while exposing a portion of the shared gate cavity positioned above the isolation region, with the first masking layer in position, performing at least one first etching process to remove at least a portion of the at least one layer of material in the exposed portion of the shared gate cavity above the isolation region, and removing the first masking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Kwan-Yong Lim, Min Gyu Sung, Chanro Park
  • Patent number: 9263447
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, including: a P-type substrate; an N-type region, contacting with the P-type substrate; a N+-type doped region, disposed in the N-type region; a first P+-type doped region, disposed in the N-type region; a second P+-type doped region, disposed in the N-type region; a P-type buried layer, disposed in the P-type substrate under the N-type region and contacting with the N-type region; and a N-type doped region, disposed in the P-type substrate under a contact surface between the P-type buried layer and the N-type region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Chang, Po-An Chen
  • Patent number: 9263448
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first active region defined by a recess contained in a device isolation film of a semiconductor substrate belonging to a first region and a second region, in a peripheral region including the first region, the second region, and a third region; a second active region defined by the device isolation film contained in the semiconductor substrate of the third region; a buried metal layer buried in the recess; a first conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate of the first region; and a second conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate of the second region, wherein the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate of the third region. A three-dimensional dual gate is formed in a peripheral region, such that performance or throughput of transistors is maximized even in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Min Soo Yoo, Yun Ik Son
  • Patent number: 9263449
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure within a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method may include forming, on the substrate, a first group of fins associated with a first device; a second group of fins associated with a second device; and a third group of fins located between the first group of fins and the second group of fins, whereby the third group of fins are associated with a third device. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed between the first and the second group of fins by recessing the third group of fins into an opening within the substrate, such that the recessed third group of fins includes a fin top surface that is located below a top surface of the substrate. The top surface of the substrate is substantially coplanar with a fin bottom surface corresponding to the first and second group of fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni, Ali Khakifirooz, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 9263450
    Abstract: A one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell is provided, which includes: a well of a first conductivity type; a gate insulating layer formed on the well and including first and second fuse regions; a gate electrode of a second conductivity type formed on the gate insulating layer, the second conductivity type being opposite in electric charge to the first conductivity type; a junction region of the second conductivity type formed in the well and arranged to surround the first and second fuse regions; and an isolation layer formed in the well between the first fuse region and the second fuse region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-do Jeon
  • Patent number: 9263451
    Abstract: A storage device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied, and stored data can be read at high speed without turning on a transistor included in a storage element is provided. In the storage device, a memory cell having a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer as a channel region and a storage capacitor is electrically connected to a capacitor to form a node. The voltage of the node is boosted up in accordance with stored data by capacitive coupling through a storage capacitor and the potential is read with an amplifier circuit to distinguish data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsubayashi, Tatsuya Ohnuki
  • Patent number: 9263452
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a reservoir capacitor of a semiconductor device where a first peripheral circuit region and a second peripheral circuit region are defined comprises: forming a gate on an upper portion of a semiconductor substrate of the second peripheral circuit region; forming an interlayer insulating film on the entire upper portion of the semiconductor substrate including the gate; etching the interlayer insulating film of the second peripheral circuit region to form a bit line contact hole; forming a bit line material and a sacrificial film on the upper portion of the interlayer insulating film including the bit line contact hole; and etching the sacrificial film of the first peripheral circuit region to form a trench that exposes the bit line material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Ae Rim Jin
  • Patent number: 9263453
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided according to a method in which an aspect ratio trapping process is employed. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant. A first layer of second semiconductor material formed on the substrate, the first layer having a second lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A second layer of a semi-insulating, third semiconductor material is formed atop a top surface of the first layer. A transistor device is formed on top of the second layer. An eDRAM structure is connected electronically with a channel region of the transistor device, the eDRAM structure extending from the channel region of the transistor device to a sub-surface below a top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9263454
    Abstract: Embodiments for the present invention provide a semiconductor device and methods for fabrication. In an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor structure comprises a first conductor horizontally formed on a semiconductor substrate. A second conductor is vertically formed in a semiconductor stack that includes the semiconductor substrate. An oxidized region is formed proximate to the first conductor. The second conductor is formed in a manner to be in electrical communication with the first conductor. The first conductor is formed in a manner to be laterally connected to the second conductor. The first conductor is formed in a manner to not traverse beneath the oxidized region. The first conductor is formed in a manner to have a reduced link-up resistance with adjacent epitaxial material included in the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Pooja R. Batra, Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni, Johnathan E. Faltermeier, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Patent number: 9263455
    Abstract: An array of recessed access gate lines includes active area regions having dielectric trench isolation material there-between. The trench isolation material comprises dielectric projections extending into opposing ends of individual active area regions under an elevationally outermost surface of material of the active area regions. The active area material is elevationally over the dielectric projections. Recessed access gate lines individually extend transversally across the active area regions and extend between the ends of immediately end-to-end adjacent active area regions within the dielectric trench isolation material. Other arrays are disclosed, as are methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Kamal M. Karda, Wolfgang Mueller, Sourabh Dhir, Robert Kerr, Sangmin Hwang, Haitao Liu
  • Patent number: 9263456
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor including a gate insulating film and a gate electrode sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate, a sidewall, an interlayer insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a contact plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and reaches the semiconductor substrate. The sidewall is formed on a side surface of the gate electrode, and includes a first insulating film and a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film and containing a metal oxide different from the first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Kanta Saino
  • Patent number: 9263457
    Abstract: Cross-coupling between a gate conductor and an active region of a semiconductor substrate is provided by forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and lithographically patterning the gate dielectric layer to form opening therein over a portion of the active region at which electrical contact with the gate conductor is desired. After implanting electrical dopants, a gate conductor layer is deposited and patterned. A remaining portion of the gate conductor layer includes an integral conductor structure, which includes a first portion overlying a gate dielectric over an active region and a second portion contacting the semiconductor material of the same active region or a different active region. The gate dielectric layer can be deposited within gate cavities in planarization dielectric material layer in a replacement gate scheme, or can be deposited on planar surfaces of active regions and/or shallow trench isolation structures in a gate first processing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Viraj Y. Sardesai, Robert C. Wong
  • Patent number: 9263458
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory includes a first non-volatile memory cell and a first selected transistor. A first cell block is formed by connecting a plurality of first non-volatile memory cells in series. An area S1 of the first insulating film at which the first floating gate is in contact with the first silicon channel is larger than an area S2 of the second insulating film at which the first floating gate is in contact with the first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Daisaburo Takashima
  • Patent number: 9263459
    Abstract: A three dimensional or stacked circuit device includes a conductive channel cap on a conductor channel. The channel cap can be created via selective deposition or other process to prevent polishing down the conductive material to isolate the contacts. The conductor channel extends through a deck of multiple tiers of circuit elements that are activated via a gate. The gate is activated by electrical potential in the conductor channel. The conductive cap on the conductor channel can electrically connect the conductor channel to a bitline or other signal line, and/or to another deck of multiple circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hongqi Li, Gowrisankar Damarla, Roger Lindsay, Zailong Bian, Jin Lu, Shyam Ramalingam, Prasanna Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9263460
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a memory cell string including memory cells located in different levels of the apparatuses and a select transistor coupled to the memory cell string. In at least one of such apparatuses, the select transistor can include a body region including a monocrystalline semiconductor material. Other embodiments including additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 9263461
    Abstract: Various apparatuses, including three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and systems including the same, are described herein. In one embodiment, a 3D memory device can include at least two sources; at least two memory arrays respectively formed over and coupled to the at least two sources; and a source conductor electrically respectively coupled to the at least two sources using source contacts adjacent one or more edges of the source. Each of the at least two memory arrays can include memory cells, control gates, and data lines. There is no data line between an edge of a source and the source contacts adjacent the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 9263462
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first insulating pillar having a substantially Y-shaped cross-sectional structure to define first through third regions, channel pillars formed in the first through third regions, respectively, and second insulating pillars disposed opposite one another across the first through third regions. The semiconductor device may also include third insulating pillars disposed between the second insulating pillars and disposed opposite one another across the first through third regions. The third insulating pillars may extend in a direction intersecting the second insulating pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dae Sung Eom
  • Patent number: 9263463
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes nonvolatile memory areas, each includes a first nonvolatile memory transistor, a second nonvolatile memory transistor and an output line, the first nonvolatile memory transistor includes a first source diffusion region, a first drain diffusion region and a first control gate electrode, the second nonvolatile memory transistor includes a second source diffusion region, a second drain diffusion region and a second control gate electrode, the output line connected the first drain diffusion region and the second drain diffusion region, and logic transistor areas, each includes a logic transistor, the logic transistor includes a third source diffusion region, a third drain diffusion region and a first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichiro Zaitsu, Kosuke Tatsumura, Mari Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9263464
    Abstract: Disposable gate structures and a planarization dielectric layer are formed over doped semiconductor material portions on a crystalline insulator layer. Gate cavities are formed by removing the disposable gate structures selective to the planarization dielectric layer. Doped semiconductor material portions are removed from underneath the gate cavities to provide pairs of source and drain regions separated by a gate cavity. Within a first gate cavity, a faceted crystalline dielectric material portion is grown from a physically exposed surface of the crystalline insulator layer, while a second gate is temporarily coated with an amorphous material layer. A contoured semiconductor region is epitaxially grown on the faceted crystalline dielectric material portion in the first gate cavity, while a planar semiconductor region is epitaxially grown in the second gate cavity. The semiconductor regions can provide at least one contoured channel region and at least one planar channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anirban Basu, Pouya Hashemi
  • Patent number: 9263465
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for creating a CMOS with a dual raised source and drain for NMOS and PMOS. The spacers on both stack gates are of equal thickness. In this method, a first insulating layer is formed on the surface. The first region is then masked while the other region has the first layer etched away and has an epitaxial source and drain grown on the region. A second layer is formed to all exposed surfaces. The second region is then masked while the first region is etched away. The epitaxial source and drain is formed on the first region. The second region can also be masked by adding a thin layer of undoped silicon and then oxidize it. Another way to mask the second region is to use a hard mask. Another way to form the second source and drain is to use amorphous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Ali Khakifirooz
  • Patent number: 9263466
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for creating a CMOS with a dual raised source and drain for NMOS and PMOS. The spacers on both stack gates are of equal thickness. In this method, a first insulating layer is formed on the surface. The first region is then masked while the other region has the first layer etched away and has an epitaxial source and drain grown on the region. A second layer is formed to all exposed surfaces. The second region is then masked while the first region is etched away. The epitaxial source and drain is formed on the first region. The second region can also be masked by adding a thin layer of undoped silicon and then oxidize it. Another way to mask the second region is to use a hard mask. Another way to form the second source and drain is to use amorphous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Ali Khakifirooz