Patents Issued in February 16, 2016
  • Patent number: 9263519
    Abstract: Nanowire array structures based on periodic or aperiodic nanowires are provided in various configurations for sensing and interacting with light and substances to provide various functions such as sensors for detecting DNAs and others and solar cells for converting light into electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Yuerui Lu
  • Patent number: 9263520
    Abstract: Methods are presented for facilitating fabrication of a semiconductor device, such as a gate-all-around nanowire field-effect transistor. The methods include, for instance: providing at least one stack structure including at least one layer or bump extending above the substrate structure; selectively oxidizing at least a portion of the at least one stack structure to form at least one nanowire extending within the stack structure(s) surrounded by oxidized material of the stack structure(s); and removing the oxidized material from the stack structure(s), exposing the nanowire(s). This selectively oxidizing may include oxidizing an upper portion of the substrate structure, such as an upper portion of one or more fins supporting the stack structure(s) to facilitate full 360° exposure of the nanowire(s). In one embodiment, the stack structure includes one or more diamond-shaped bumps or ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Jin Ping Liu, Jing Wan, Andy Wei
  • Patent number: 9263521
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices including Fin field effect transistors (finFETs) and methods of forming those devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fin on a substrate and forming a gate line on the fin. The method may also include forming a first recess in the fin having a first width and a first depth and forming a second recess in the first recess having a second width that is less than the first width and having a second depth that is greater than the first depth. The method may further include forming a source/drain region in the first and second recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Jong Jeong, Jeong-Yun Lee, Shi Li Quan, Dong-Suk Shin, Si-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9263522
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a substrate. The apparatus also comprises a diffusion barrier formed on a surface of a first region of the substrate. The diffusion barrier is formed using a first material having a first band gap energy. The apparatus further comprises a channel region formed on a surface of the diffusion barrier. The channel region is formed using a second material having a second band gap energy that is lower than the first band gap energy. The apparatus further comprises a back gate contact coupled to the first region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bin Yang, Xia Li, PR Chidambaram
  • Patent number: 9263523
    Abstract: An advanced transistor with punch through suppression includes a gate with length Lg, a well doped to have a first concentration of a dopant, and a screening region positioned under the gate and having a second concentration of dopant. The second concentration of dopant may be greater than 5×1018 dopant atoms per cm3. At least one punch through suppression region is disposed under the gate between the screening region and the well. The punch through suppression region has a third concentration of a dopant intermediate between the first concentration and the second concentration of dopant. A bias voltage may be applied to the well region to adjust a threshold voltage of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Mie Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Lucian Shifren, Pushkar Ranade, Paul E. Gregory, Sachin R. Sonkusale, Weimin Zhang, Scott E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9263524
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses involving salt-based compounds and related doping are provided. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a salt-based material is introduced to a semiconductor material, and is heated to generate a neutral compound that dopes the semiconductor material. Other embodiments are directed to semiconductor materials with such a neutral compound as an impurity that affects electrical characteristics therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Peng Wei, Zhenan Bao, Benjamin D. Naab
  • Patent number: 9263525
    Abstract: The present invention includes an n+ type substrate, a drift epitaxial layer formed on the n+ type substrate and having a lower concentration of impurity than the n+ type substrate, a Schottky electrode formed on the drift epitaxial layer, and a PI formed as an insulating film by covering at least an end of the Schottky electrode and an end and a side surface of the drift epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9263526
    Abstract: A semiconductor component (1, 20, 30) comprising a semiconductor substrate (3) composed of silicon carbide and comprising separate electrodes (4, 5) applied thereto, said electrodes each comprising at least one monolayer of epitaxial graphene (11) on silicon carbide, in such a way that a current channel is formed between the electrodes (4, 5) through the semiconductor substrate (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Inventors: Heiko B. Weber, Michael Krieger, Stefan Hertel, Florian Krach, Johannes Jobst, Daniel Waldmann
  • Patent number: 9263527
    Abstract: A first impurity region is formed by ion implantation of a first impurity into a first main surface of a silicon carbide substrate. A metal layer is formed in contact with the first impurity region. By annealing the silicon carbide substrate and the metal layer, an electrode is formed. The metal layer is formed such that a concentration of a first impurity at a boundary portion between the metal layer and the first impurity region becomes less than a maximum value of a concentration of the first impurity in the first impurity region. The electrode is formed such that a concentration of the first impurity at a boundary portion between the electrode and the first impurity region becomes not less than 80% of a maximum value of a concentration of the first impurity in the first impurity region in a normal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamada, So Tanaka, Ryosuke Kubota, Taku Horii
  • Patent number: 9263528
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for forming fins. In an example embodiment, a method includes providing a substrate that includes at least two elongated structures separated by an isolation region. Each elongated structure comprises a semiconductor alloy of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, and a relaxed portion of the elongated structure includes the semiconductor alloy in a relaxed and substantially defect-free condition. The method further includes subjecting the substrate to a condensation-oxidation, such that each elongated structure forms a fin and an oxide layer. The fin includes a fin base portion formed of the semiconductor alloy and a fin top portion of the first semiconductor material in a strained condition. The fin top portion is formed by condensation of the first semiconductor material. The oxide layer includes an oxide of the second semiconductor material. The method further includes removing at least some of the oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventor: Benjamin Vincent
  • Patent number: 9263529
    Abstract: Method of producing a vertically inhomogeneous platinum or gold distribution in a semiconductor substrate with a first and a second surface opposite the first surface, with diffusing platinum or gold into the semiconductor substrate from one of the first and second surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, removing platinum- or gold-comprising residues remaining on the one of the first and second surfaces after diffusing the platinum or gold, forming a phosphorus- or boron-doped surface barrier layer on the first or second surface, and heating the semiconductor substrate for local gettering of the platinum or gold by the phosphorus- or boron-doped surface barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Schmidt, Josef-Georg Bauer
  • Patent number: 9263530
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) disclosed herein comprising a substrate, a C-doped semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, a channel layer disposed on the C-doped semiconductor layer, and an electron supply layer disposed on the channel layer. The FET further comprises a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the C-doped semiconductor layer and the channel layer, wherein the diffusion barrier layer contacts the channel layer directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: EPISTAR CORPORATION, HUGA OPTOTECH INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Ching Cheng, Tsung-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 9263531
    Abstract: An oxide semiconductor film with high crystallinity is formed. An oxide semiconductor film having a single crystal region, which is formed by a sputtering method using a sputtering target including a polycrystalline oxide containing a plurality of crystal grains, is provided. The plurality of crystal grains contained in the sputtering target has a plane that is cleaved or is likely to be cleaved because of a weak crystal bond; therefore, the cleavage planes in the plurality of crystal grains are cleaved when an ion collides with the sputtering target, whereby flat plate-like sputtered particles can be obtained. The obtained flat plate-like sputtered particles are deposited on a deposition surface; accordingly, an oxide semiconductor film is formed. The flat plate-like sputtered particle is formed by separation of part of the crystal grain and therefore the oxide semiconductor film can have high crystallinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9263532
    Abstract: A second epitaxial layer is grown epitaxially over a first epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer includes an epitaxially grown layer and a defect layer. The defect layer is disposed over the epitaxially grown layer and serves as a surface layer of the first epitaxial layer. The defect density of the defect layer is 5×1017 cm?2 or more. Defects penetrating through the defect layer form loops in the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ikarashi, Masayasu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9263533
    Abstract: A device having a channel with multiple voltage thresholds is provided. The channel can include a first section located adjacent to a source electrode, which is a normally-off channel and a second section located between the first section and a drain electrode, which is a normally-on channel. The device can include a charge-controlling electrode connected to the source electrode, which extends from the source electrode over at least a portion of the second section of the channel. During operation of the device, a potential difference between the charge-controlling electrode and the channel can control the on/off state of the normally-on section of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Grigory Simin, Michael Shur, Remigijus Gaska
  • Patent number: 9263534
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which a recess is provided on a back surface thereof, and a shape of the recess is reflected on a surface of a metal film which is also provided on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masamune Takano
  • Patent number: 9263535
    Abstract: The device includes a wafer substrate including an isolation feature, a fin base embedded in the isolation feature, at least one channel disposed above the fin base, and a gate stack disposed around the channel, wherein the gate stack includes a top portion and a bottom portion of the gate stack formed by filling a cavity around the channel such that the top portion and bottom portion are aligned each other. The device further includes at least one source and one drain disposed over the fin base, wherein the channel connects the source and the drain. The device further includes the source and the drain disposed over a fin insulator disposed over the fin base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9263536
    Abstract: Methods include sequentially forming a first mold film, a first support film, a second mold film, and a second support film on a substrate, forming a contact hole through the second support film, the second mold film, the first support film and the first mold film, forming an electrode in the contact hole, and removing portions of the second support film, the second mold film and the first mold film to leave a portion of the first support film as a first support pattern surrounding the electrode and to leave a portion of the second support film as a second support pattern surrounding the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Gun Kim, Young-Min Ko, Kwang-Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 9263537
    Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes forming first and second gate cap protection layers that encapsulate and protect a gate cap layer. A novel transistor device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate, a spacer structure positioned adjacent the gate structure, a layer of insulating material positioned above the substrate and around the spacer structure, a gate cap layer positioned above the gate structure and the spacer structure, and a gate cap protection material that encapsulates the gate cap layer, wherein portions of the gate cap protection material are positioned between the gate cap layer and the gate structure, the spacer structure and the layer of insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Pham, Xiuyu Cai, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Pranita Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 9263538
    Abstract: An ohmic contact to a semiconductor layer including a heterostructure barrier layer and a metal layer adjacent to the heterostructure barrier layer is provided. The heterostructure barrier layer can form a two dimensional free carrier gas for the contact at a heterointerface of the heterostructure barrier layer and the semiconductor layer. The metal layer is configured to form a contact with the two dimensional free carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Remigijus Gaska, Michael Shur
  • Patent number: 9263539
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a thin-film transistor and a fabrication method thereof, an array substrate and a display device. The thin-film transistor comprises a gate electrode (2), an active layer (4), source and drain electrodes (6), and a gate insulating layer (3) provided between the gate electrode (2) and the active layer (4). The gate electrode (2) comprises a gate electrode metal layer (23) and a first protection layer (32), the first protection layer (32) is provided between the gate electrode metal layer (23) and the gate insulating layer (3) to isolate the active layer (4) from the gate electrode metal layer (23). The gate electrode metal layer (23) is made of copper or copper alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventor: Guangcai Yuan
  • Patent number: 9263540
    Abstract: The metal gate structure includes at least a substrate, a dielectric layer, first and second trenches, first metal layer and second metal layers, and two cap layers. In particular, the dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate, and the first and second trenches are disposed in the dielectric layer. The width of the first trench is less than the width of the second trench. The first and second metal layers are respectively disposed in the first trench and the second trench, and the height of the first metal layer is less than or equal to the height of the second metal layer. The cap layers are respectively disposed in a top surface of the first metal layer and a top surface of the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ching-Ling Lin, Chih-Sen Huang, Shih-Fang Tzou, Chien-Ting Lin, Yi-Wei Chen, Shi-Xiong Lin, Chun-Lung Chen, Kun-Yuan Liao, Feng-Yi Chang, Hsiao-Pang Chou, Chia-Lin Lu
  • Patent number: 9263541
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a high-K dielectric film for use with silicon germanium (SiGe) or germanium channel materials, and methods of fabrication. As a first step of this process, an interfacial layer (IL) is formed on the semiconductor substrate providing reduced interface trap density. However, an ultra-thin layer is used as a barrier film to avoid germanium diffusion in high-k film and oxygen diffusion from the high-k film to the interfacial layer (IL), therefore, dielectric films such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zirconium oxide, or lanthanum oxide (La2O3) may be used. In addition, these films can provide high thermal budget. A second dielectric layer is then deposited on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric layer, providing a reduced effective oxide thickness (EOT), resulting in improved device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Shariq Siddiqui, Bhagawan Sahu, Rohit Galatage, Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9263542
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, an active layer over the substrate, and an insulating layer between the substrate and the active layer. The insulating layer is doped with one of positive charge and negative charge and configured to establish an electric field across the active layer when the semiconductor device is powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chee-Wee Liu, Yen-Yu Chen, Hsuan-Yi Lin, Cheng-Yi Peng
  • Patent number: 9263543
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes (a) providing a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate; and (b) forming an electrode structure on the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate by (i) forming a Schottky layer including a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, and chrome on a front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate; (ii) heating the Schottky layer to form a Schottky electrode which has a Schottky contact with the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate; and (iii) forming a surface electrode comprised of aluminum or aluminum including silicon on a surface of the Schottky electrode, while heating at a temperature range effective for the surface electrode to closely cover any uneven portion of the Schottky electrode and provide a surface electrode having a predetermined reflectance that is equal to or less than 80% so that an improved recognition rate by an automatic wire bonding apparatus is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumikazu Imai
  • Patent number: 9263544
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including: forming a silicon layer on an upper face of a nitride semiconductor layer including a channel layer of a FET; thermally treating the nitride semiconductor layer in the process of forming the silicon layer or after the process of forming the silicon layer; and forming an insulating layer on an upper face of the silicon layer after the process of forming the silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Araya, Tsutomu Komatani
  • Patent number: 9263545
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor body including a compound semiconductor material on a substrate, the compound semiconductor material having a channel region, forming a source region extending to the compound semiconductor material, forming a drain region extending to the compound semiconductor material and spaced apart from the source region by the channel region, and forming an insulating region buried in the semiconductor body below the channel region between the compound semiconductor material and the substrate in an active region of the semiconductor device such that the channel region is uninterrupted by the insulating region. The active region includes the source, the drain and the channel region. The insulating region is discontinuous over a length of the channel region between the source region and the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Clemens Ostermaier, Gerhard Prechtl, Oliver Haeberlen
  • Patent number: 9263546
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device, the method includes forming an active region in a substrate. The method further includes forming a first gate structure over the active region, where the forming the first gate structure includes forming a first interfacial layer. An entirety of a top surface of the first interfacial layer is a curved convex surface. Furthermore, the method includes forming a first high-k dielectric over the first interfacial layer. Additionally, the method includes forming a first gate electrode over a first portion of the first high-k dielectric and surrounded by a second portion of the first high-k dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Lee, Xiong-Fei Yu, Da-Yuan Lee, Kuang-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 9263548
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit having a self-aligned structure, the method comprises the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer, a first polysilicon layer, and a first capping layer on top of the semiconductor substrate; patterning the first capping layer, the first polysilicon layer and stopping on the gate dielectric layer to form a gate structure; forming and patterning a composite dielectric layer, a second polysilicon layer, and a second capping layer to form an interconnect structure; forming a composite spacer; removing the photo-resist layer; forming a third polysilicon layer; making blanket removal of the third polysilicon layer to leave a remain third polysilicon layer; removing the first and the second capping layer; forming a source and a drain; and forming a silicide layer overlying the gate structure, source, drain and the interconnect structure to form the self-aligned structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Tzu-Yin Chiu
  • Patent number: 9263549
    Abstract: A method of forming a field effect transistor includes forming a punchthrough region having a first conductivity type in a substrate, forming an epitaxial layer having the first conductivity type on the substrate, patterning the epitaxial layer to form a fin that protrudes from the substrate, forming a dummy gate and gate sidewall spacers on the fin defining preliminary source and drain regions of the fin on opposite sides of the dummy gate, removing the preliminary source and drain regions of the fin, implanting second conductivity type dopant atoms into exposed portions of the substrate and the punchthrough region, and forming source and drain regions having the second conductivity type on opposite sides of the dummy gate and the gate sidewall spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark S. Rodder, Chris Bowen
  • Patent number: 9263550
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device is provided which includes selectively implanting one or more dopants into a semiconductor wafer so as to form doped and undoped regions of the wafer; forming fins in the wafer with at least a given one of the fins being formed both from a portion of the doped region of the wafer and from a portion of the undoped region of the wafer; forming dummy gates on the wafer; depositing a filler layer around the dummy gates; removing the dummy gates forming trenches in the filler layer, at least one of which extends down to the undoped portion of the fin and at least another of which extends down to the doped portion of the fin; selectively forming a gate dielectric lining the trenches which extend down to the undoped portion of the fin; and forming replacement gates in the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9263551
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate stack and a second gate stack over a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of a semiconductor substrate, masking the first portion of the semiconductor substrate, and with the first portion of the semiconductor substrate being masked, implanting the second portion of the semiconductor substrate with an etch-tuning element. The first portion and the second portion of the semiconductor substrate are etched simultaneously to form a first opening and a second opening, respectively, in the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor region in the first opening, and epitaxially growing a second semiconductor region in the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Chih-Fang Liu, Srisuda Thitinun, Dai-Lin Wu, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen, Chao-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9263552
    Abstract: A MOS transistor is produced by forming a first trench in a semiconductor body, forming a first isolation layer on inner surfaces of the first trench, and filling the first trench with conductive material to form a first electrode within the first trench. A portion of the first electrode is removed along one side wall of the first trench to form a cavity located within the first trench. A second isolation layer is formed on inner surfaces of the cavity, and the cavity is at least partially filled with conductive material to form a second electrode within the cavity. A structured third isolation layer is formed on a top surface of the semiconductor body, and a metallization layer is formed on the structured third isolation layer. The first or the second electrode is electrically and thermally connected to the metallization layer via openings in the structured third isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Antonio Vellei
  • Patent number: 9263553
    Abstract: A transistor includes a substrate, a source terminal and a drain terminal, each terminal being supported by the substrate, and the source and drain terminal being separated by a portion of the substrate, a layer of semiconductive material deposited so as to cover the portion of the substrate and to connect the source terminal to the drain terminal, a layer of dielectric material deposited so as to cover at least a portion of the layer of semiconductive material, and a layer of electrically conductive material deposited so as to cover at least a portion of the layer of dielectric material. The layer of electrically conductive material providing a gate terminal to which a potential may be applied to control a conductivity of the layer of semiconductive material connecting the source and drain terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Pragmatic Printing Limited
    Inventor: Richard David Price
  • Patent number: 9263554
    Abstract: Transistors and methods for fabricating the same include forming one or more semiconductor fins on a substrate; covering source and drain regions of the one or more semiconductor fins with a protective layer; annealing uncovered channel portions of the one or more semiconductor fins in a gaseous environment to reduce fin width and round corners of the one or more semiconductor fins; and forming a dielectric layer and gate over the thinned fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Shogo Mochizuki, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9263555
    Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a plurality of trenches that define a fin, performing a plurality of epitaxial deposition processes to form first, second and third layers of epi semiconductor material around an exposed portion of the fin, removing the first, second and third layers of epi semiconductor material from above an upper surface of the fin so as to thereby expose the fin, selectively removing the fin relative to the first, second and third layers of epi semiconductor material so as to thereby define two fin structures comprised of the first, second and third layers of epi semiconductor material, and forming a gate structure around a portion of at least one of the fin structures comprised of the first, second and third layers of epi semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Bartlomiej Jan Pawlak, Behtash Behin-Aein, Mehdi Salmani-Jelodar
  • Patent number: 9263556
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region. The active region includes a first sidewall. An isolation region extends from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The isolation region has a second sidewall, wherein a lower portion of the first sidewall joins a lower portion of the second sidewall to form an interface. A dielectric spacer is disposed on an upper portion of the first sidewall. A silicide region is over and contacting the active region. A sidewall of the silicide region contacts the dielectric spacer, and the dielectric spacer has a top surface substantially lower than a top surface of the silicide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Pang Hsieh, Chih-Ming Lee, Yu-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 9263557
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming a non-planar germanium quantum well structure. In particular, the quantum well structure can be implemented with group IV or III-V semiconductor materials and includes a germanium fin structure. In one example case, a non-planar quantum well device is provided, which includes a quantum well structure having a substrate (e.g. SiGe or GaAs buffer on silicon), a IV or III-V material barrier layer (e.g., SiGe or GaAs or AlGaAs), a doping layer (e.g., delta/modulation doped), and an undoped germanium quantum well layer. An undoped germanium fin structure is formed in the quantum well structure, and a top barrier layer deposited over the fin structure. A gate metal can be deposited across the fin structure. Drain/source regions can be formed at respective ends of the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Pillarisetty, Jack T. Kavalieros, Willy Rachmady, Uday Shah, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Marko Radosavljevic, Niloy Mukherjee, Gilbert Dewey, Been-Yih Jin, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 9263558
    Abstract: A hybrid plasma semiconductor device has a thin and flexible semiconductor base layer. An emitter region is diffused into the base layer forming a pn-junction. An insulator layer is upon one side the base layer and emitter region. Base and emitter electrodes are isolated from each other by the insulator layer and electrically contact the base layer and emitter region through the insulator layer. A thin and flexible collector layer is upon an opposite side of the base layer. A microcavity is formed in the collector layer and is aligned with the emitter region. Collector electrodes are arranged to sustain a microplasma within the microcavity with application of voltage to the collector electrodes. A depth of the emitter region and a thickness of the base layer are set to define a predetermined thin portion of the base layer as a base region between the emitter region and the microcavity. Microplasma generated in the microcavity serves as a collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: J. Gary Eden, Paul A. Tchertchian, Clark J. Wagner, Dane J. Sievers, Thomas J. Houlahan, Benben Li
  • Patent number: 9263559
    Abstract: A radio communication device includes a power amplifier having a semiconductor device formed with a plurality of unit transistors. Base electrodes of the unit transistors are connected with each other by a base line, and an input capacitor is connected to the base line such that the input capacitor is commonly and electrically connected to the base electrodes of a plurality of the unit transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sasaki, Yasunari Umemoto, Yasuo Osone, Tsutomu Kobori, Chushiro Kusano, Isao Ohbu, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9263560
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device may include a first conductivity type first semiconductor region; a second conductivity type second semiconductor region formed on an upper portion of the first semiconductor region; a first conductivity type third semiconductor region formed in an upper inner side of the second semiconductor region; a trench gate formed to penetrate through a portion of the first semiconductor region from the third semiconductor region; and a first conductivity type fourth semiconductor region formed below the second semiconductor region while being spaced apart from the trench gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Park, Jae Kyu Sung, In Hyuk Song, Ji Yeon Oh, Dong Soo Seo
  • Patent number: 9263561
    Abstract: The reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. The semiconductor device includes a wire which is a conductive film pattern for a terminal formed over a first insulation film over a semiconductor substrate, a second insulation film formed over the first insulation film in such a manner as to cover the wire, and a nickel layer formed over the wire at a portion thereof exposed from an opening in the second insulation film. The wire is formed of a lamination film having a main conductor film containing aluminum as a main component, and a conductor film formed over the entire top surface of the main conductor film. The conductor film is formed of a titanium film, a tungsten film, or a titanium tungsten film. The nickel layer is formed over the conductor film at a portion thereof exposed from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, Kenta Sadakata
  • Patent number: 9263562
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection structure includes a first well, a second well disposed in the first well, a first and a second doped region disposed in the first well, a third and a fourth doped region disposed in the second well, a first electrode electrically connected to the first doped region and the second doped region, and a second electrode electrically connected to the fourth doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Lu-An Chen, Ya-Ting Lin, Tien-Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 9263563
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a bidirectional switch circuit. The bidirectional switch circuit includes a first semiconductor transistor mounted on a first die pad, a second semiconductor transistor mounted on a second die pad, the second die pad being separate from the first die pad, and a conductive connector extending between a source electrode of the first transistor and a source electrode of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Otremba, Fabio Brucchi, Franz Stückler, Teck Sim Lee
  • Patent number: 9263564
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power integrated circuit device includes a main lateral high-voltage field-effect transistor (HVFET) and an adjacently-located lateral sense FET, both of which are formed on a high-resistivity substrate. A sense resistor is formed in a well region disposed in an area of the substrate between the HVFET and the sense FET. A parasitic substrate resistor is formed in parallel electrical connection with the sense resistor between the source regions of the HVFET and the sense FET. Both transistor devices share common drain and gate electrodes. When the main lateral HVFET and the sense FET are in an on-state, a voltage potential is produced at the second source metal layer that is proportional to a first current flowing through the lateral HVFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Parthasarathy, Sujit Banerjee
  • Patent number: 9263565
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a first layer. The first layer comprises a first III-V semiconductor material. The semiconductor structure also comprises a second layer over the first layer. The second layer comprises a second III-V semiconductor material different from the first III-V semiconductor material. The semiconductor structure further comprises an insulating layer over the second layer. The insulating layer is patterned to expose a portion of the first layer. The exposed portion of the first layer comprises electrons of the second layer. The semiconductor structure additionally comprises an intermetallic compound over the exposed portion of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Chih Chen, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Fu-Wei Yao, Chun-Wei Hsu, Fu-Chih Yang, Chun Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 9263566
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and its manufacturing method. The semiconductor device comprises: a gate structure located on a substrate, Ge-containing semiconductor layers located on the opposite sides of the gate structure, a doped semiconductor layer epitaxially grown between the Ge-containing semiconductor layers, the bottom surfaces of the Ge-containing semiconductor layers located on the same horizontal plane as that of the epitaxial semiconductor layer. The epitaxial semiconductor layer is used as a channel region, and the Ge-containing semiconductor layers are used as source/drain extension regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumitake Mieno
  • Patent number: 9263567
    Abstract: A normally off nitride-based transistor may include a source electrode and a drain electrode, a channel layer serving as a charge transfer path between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode that controls charge transfer of the channel layer. The channel layer may have a junction structure of a first conductive nitride semiconductor layer and an intrinsic nitride semiconductor layer such that a fixed turn-off blocking electric field is generated in the channel layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode in a turn-off state. The intrinsic nitride semiconductor layer may include an intrinsic GaN semiconductor layer, and the first conductive nitride semiconductor layer may include a p type GaN semiconductor layer stacked over the intrinsic GaN semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motonobu Takeya
  • Patent number: 9263568
    Abstract: The structure, and fabrication method thereof, implements a fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistor using a “Channel Last” procedure in which the active channel is a low-temperature epitaxial layer in an etched recess in the SOI silicon film. An optional ?-layer of extremely high doping allows its threshold voltage to be set to a desired value. Based on high-K metal gate last technology, this transistor has reduced threshold uncertainty and superior source and drain conductance. The use of epitaxial layer improves the thickness control of the active channel and reduces the process induced variations. The utilization of active silicon layer that is two or more times thicker than those used in conventional fully depleted SOI devices, reduces the access resistance and improves the on-current of the SOI transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SemiWise Limited
    Inventor: Asen Asenov
  • Patent number: 9263569
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for forming a semiconductor device, a method for forming a MISFET device, and a MISFET device. An embodiment is a method for forming a semiconductor device, the method including forming a source/drain over a substrate, forming a first etch stop layer on the source/drain, and forming a gate dielectric layer on the first etch stop layer and along the substrate. The method further includes forming a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, forming a second etch stop layer on the gate electrode, and removing the gate dielectric layer from over the source/drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-De Liu, Ming-Chyi Liu, Chung-Yen Chou, Chia-Shiung Tsai