Patents Issued in February 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9576917
    Abstract: Methods for an embedded die panel are disclosed and may include fabricating a first layered structure by: forming first redistribution layers on a first carrier, forming a first dielectric layer on the first redistribution layers and carrier, forming a mask pattern on the first dielectric layer exposing a portion of the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on the exposed portion of the first dielectric layer, forming vias in the first and second dielectric layers, and forming second redistribution layers on the second dielectric layer. The mask pattern may be removed forming a die cavity defined by the second dielectric layer. A second layered structure coupled to the first layered structure may be formed comprising a second carrier, a third dielectric layer, third and fourth redistribution layers on opposite surfaces of the third dielectric layer, and a semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Patrick Huemoeller, Curtis Zwenger, David Jon Hiner, Corey Reichman
  • Patent number: 9576918
    Abstract: Conductive paths through a dielectric are described that have a high aspect ratio for semiconductor devices. In one example, a plurality of conductive connection pads are formed on a semiconductor substrate to connect to circuitry formed on the substrate. A post is formed on each of a subset of the connection pads, the posts being formed of a conductive material. A dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate including over the connection pads and the posts. Holes are formed by removing the dielectric layer directly over the posts. The formed holes are filled with a conductive material and a connector is formed over each filled hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thorsten Meyer, Andreas Wolter
  • Patent number: 9576919
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor package can include forming a plurality of redistribution layer (RDL) traces disposed over active surfaces of a plurality of semiconductor die and electrically connected to contact pads on the plurality of semiconductor die. The method can include disposing an encapsulant material over the active surfaces, contacting at least four side surfaces of each of the plurality of semiconductor die, and disposed over the plurality of RDL traces. The method can also include forming a via through the encapsulant material to expose at least one of the plurality of RDL traces, forming an electrical interconnect disposed within the via and coupled to the at least one RDL trace, and singulating the plurality of semiconductor packages through the encapsulant material to leave an offset of 30-140 ?m of the encapsulant material disposed around a periphery of each of the plurality of semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DECA Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Scanlan, Craig Bishop
  • Patent number: 9576920
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes an electrically conductive layer disposed over a substrate. A moisture barrier layer is disposed over the substrate and between the substrate and the electrically conductive layer. A dielectric layer is disposed over the moisture barrier layer. The dielectric layer has an elastic modulus that is lower than an elastic modulus of the moisture barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Abrokwah, Forest Dixon, Thomas Dungan, Greg Halac, Rick Snyder
  • Patent number: 9576921
    Abstract: To improve an integration degree of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of wiring layers formed on the semiconductor substrate, a pad electrode formed on an uppermost wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers, a base insulating film having a pad opening above the pad electrode, and a rewiring electrically connected to the pad electrode and extending over the base insulating film. Further, the semiconductor device includes a protective film covering an upper surface of the rewiring and having an external pad opening exposing part of the upper surface of the rewiring, an external pad electrode electrically connected to the rewiring through the external pad opening and extending over the protective film, and a wire connected to the external pad electrode. Part of the external pad electrode is located in a region outside the rewiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Yajima, Seiji Muranaka
  • Patent number: 9576922
    Abstract: A method of forming a stacked surface arrangement for semiconductor devices includes joining a first surface to a second surface with a solder bump, the solder bump including a substantially pure first metal; depositing nanoparticles of a second metal onto a surface of the solder bump; performing an annealing operation to form a film of the second metal on the surface of the solder bump; and performing a reflow or a second annealing operation to transform the solder bump from the substantially pure first metal to an alloy of the first metal and the second metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Eric D. Perfecto, Jonas Zuercher
  • Patent number: 9576923
    Abstract: Various semiconductor chip solder bump and underbump metallization (UBM) structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes forming a first underbump metallization layer on a semiconductor chip is provided. The first underbump metallization layer has a hub, a first portion extending laterally from the hub, and a spoke connecting the hub to the first portion. A polymer layer is applied to the first underbump metallization layer. The polymer layer includes a first opening in alignment with the hub and a second opening in alignment with the spoke. A portion of the spoke is removed via the second opening to sever the connection between the hub and the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Roden R. Topacio, Suming Hu, Yip Seng Low
  • Patent number: 9576924
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing technique which allows reduction of semiconductor chip size. First, a pad and other wires are formed over an insulating film. A surface protective film is formed over the insulating film including the pad and wires, and an opening is made in the surface protective film. The opening lies over the pad and exposes a surface of the pad. A bump electrode is formed over the surface protective film including the opening. Here, the pad is smaller than the bump electrode. Consequently, the wires are arranged just beneath the bump electrode in the same layer as the pad 10. In other words, the wires are arranged in space which becomes available because the pad is small enough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Yoshioka, Shinya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9576925
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, a first layer, and a second layer. The first conductive portion includes a first end portion and a first extending portion. The first extending portion extends in a first direction. The length of the first extending portion in a second direction is shorter than a length of at least a part of the first end portion in the second direction. The first layer includes multiple semiconductor chips, multiple passive chip components, and a resin. The first extending portion includes a first portion and a second portion. The first layer is provided around the first portion. The first layer expands along a first plane. The first plane intersects the first direction. The second layer includes a first multilayer wiring. The second layer expands along a second plane intersecting the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuto Managaki, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9576926
    Abstract: A package includes a corner, a device die, a plurality of redistribution lines underlying the device die, and a plurality of non-solder electrical connectors underlying and electrically coupled to the plurality of redistribution lines. The plurality of non-solder electrical connectors includes a corner electrical connector. The corner electrical connector is elongated. An electrical connector is farther away from the corner than the corner electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is non-elongated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Shin-Puu Jeng, Der-Chyang Yeh, Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9576927
    Abstract: A bonding tool cooling apparatus (10) provided in the vicinity of a bonding stage, including a frame (12); a cooling member (16) including a ground plate (14) having a ground surface (14a) on which a front edge surface of a bonding tool (61) is grounded, and a heat radiation fin (15) attached to an opposite surface of the ground plate (14) to the ground surface (14a), wherein the cooling member (16) is supported on the frame (12) by a support mechanism (200) so that the cooling member (16) is rotatable about two axes, i.e., an X axis extending along the ground surface (14a) and a Y axis extending along the ground surface (14a). Bonding tool cooling time can be thereby reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHINKAWA LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Kakutani, Takatoshi Kawamura, Kohei Seyama, Akira Sato
  • Patent number: 9576928
    Abstract: A bond head assembly for bonding a semiconductor element to a substrate is provided. The bond head assembly includes a base structure, a heater, and a clamping system securing the heater to the base structure. The clamping system includes a plurality of elastic elements constraining the heater along a plurality of axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew B. Wasserman
  • Patent number: 9576929
    Abstract: A method includes performing a first strike process to strike a metal bump of a first package component against a metal pad of a second package component. A first one of the metal bump and the metal pad includes copper. A second one of the metal bump and the metal pad includes aluminum. The method further includes performing a second strike process to strike the metal bump against the metal pad. An annealing is performed to bond the metal bump on the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Liang Shao, Chih-Hang Tung, Wen-Lin Shih, Hsiao-Yun Chen, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 9576930
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor package includes providing a substrate, wherein the substrate has at least one chip attached on an upper surface of the substrate. An insulating barrier layer is deposited above the substrate, wherein the at least one chip is at least partially embedded within the insulating barrier layer. A thermally conductive layer is formed over the insulating barrier layer to at least partially encapsulate the at least one chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hao Tseng, Ying-Hao Kuo, Kuo-Chung Yee
  • Patent number: 9576931
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a wafer level package is disclosed. A carrier is provided. A redistributed layer (RDL) layer is formed on the carrier. Semiconductor dies are mounted on the RDL layer. The semiconductor dies are molded with a molding compound, thereby forming a molded wafer. A grinding process is then performed to remove a central portion of the molding compound, thereby forming a recess and an outer peripheral ring portion surrounding the recess. The carrier is then removed to expose a lower surface of the RDL layer. Solder bumps or solder balls are formed on the lower surface of the RDL layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shing-Yih Shih
  • Patent number: 9576932
    Abstract: In the fabrication of semiconductor packages, a leadframe is formed by masking and etching a metal sheet from both sides, and a plastic block is formed over a plurality of dice attached to die pads in the leadframe. A laser beam is used to form individual plastic capsules for each package, and a second laser beam is used to singulate the packages by severing the metal conductors, tie bars and rails between the packages. A wide variety of different types of packages, from gull-wing footed packages to leadless packages, with either exposed or isolated die pads, may be fabricated merely by varying the patterns of the openings in the mask layers and the width of the plastic trenches created by the first laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ADVENTIVE IPBANK
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Keng Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 9576933
    Abstract: A fan-out wafer-level-package (FOWLP) is provided. The FOWLP includes a redistribution layer (RDL) comprising a dielectric layer and a first metal layer; a passive device in the first metal layer; a first passivation layer covering a top surface of the RDL; a second passivation layer covering a bottom surface of the RDL; a chip mounted on the first passivation layer; a molding compound around the chip and on the first passivation layer; a via opening penetrating through the second passivation layer, the dielectric layer, and the second passivation layer, thereby exposing a terminal of the chip; a contact opening in the second passivation layer; and a second metal layer in the via opening and the contact opening to electrically connect one electrode of the passive device with the terminal of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yi-Jen Lo
  • Patent number: 9576934
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a through via formed to penetrate a semiconductor substrate; first and second buffer circuits; a wiring forming layer formed in an upper layer of the semiconductor substrate; a connecting wiring portion formed in an upper portion of the through via assuming that a direction from the semiconductor substrate to the wiring forming layer is an upward direction, the connecting wiring portion being formed on a chip inner end face that faces the upper portion of the semiconductor substrate at an end face of the through via; a first path connecting the first buffer circuit and the through via; and a second path connecting the second buffer circuit and the through via. The first path and the second path are electrically connected through the connecting wiring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9576935
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor packages includes providing a first substrate having an aperture, providing a first semiconductor chip, connecting the first semiconductor chip to the first substrate, filling the aperture with a first insulating material and encapsulating the semiconductor chip with a second insulating material to create a first encapsulation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bauer, Ludwig Heitzer, Christian Stuempfl
  • Patent number: 9576936
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes: a slave chip including a signal transfer unit configured to determine whether or not to transfer an input signal in response to a chip select signal; a master chip including a replica circuit unit having the same configuration as the signal transfer unit and a signal output unit configured to receive an output signal of the signal transfer unit and an output signal of the replica circuit unit and generate an output signal in response to the control signal; a first through-chip via vertically formed through the slave chip, and having one end connected to the master chip to receive the input signal and the other end connected to the signal transfer unit; and a second through-chip via vertically formed through the slave chip, and having one end connected to the signal transfer unit and the other end connected to the signal output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Tae Sik Yun, Sang Jin Byeon
  • Patent number: 9576937
    Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate, with active layers formed on the first surfaces of each substrate, and with the second surfaces of each substrate coupled together. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit assembly includes forming active layers on the first surfaces of each of two substrates, and coupling the second surfaces of the substrates together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael A. Stuber, Stuart B. Molin
  • Patent number: 9576938
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die underlying the first die and in a same first die stack as the first die. The second die includes a first portion overlapped by the first die, and a second portion not overlapped by the first die. A first Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is over and contacting a top surface of the first die. A heat dissipating lid has a first bottom surface contacting the first TIM. A second TIM is over and contacting the second portion of the second die. A heat dissipating ring is over and contacting the second TIM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wensen Hung, Szu-Po Huang, Kim Hong Chen, Shin-Puu Jeng
  • Patent number: 9576939
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light emitting device comprising a first light emitting portion that emits white light at a color temperature of 6000K or more and a second light emitting portion that emits white light at a color temperature of 3000K or less, which include light emitting diode chips and phosphors and are independently driven. The present invention has an advantage in that a light emitting device can be diversely applied in a desired atmosphere and use by realizing white light with different light spectrums and color temperatures. Particularly, the present invention has the effect on health by adjusting the wavelength of light or the color temperature according to the circadian rhythm of humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gundula Roth, Walter Tews, Chung-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9576940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light emitting device which comprises blue and red light emitting diode (LED) chips and at least one phosphor for emitting green light by means of light emitted from the blue LED chip, and an LCD backlight including the light emitting device. According to the light emitting device of the present invention, uniform white light can be implemented and both high luminance and wider color reproduction range can also be obtained. Accordingly, an LCD backlight for uniform light distribution on an LCD as well as low power consumption and high durability can be manufactured using the light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Nam Kim, Sang Mi Park, Tomizo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9576941
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements face-down mounted on a substrate, a plurality of structures each including a transparent plate, a phosphor-containing film provided on a lower surface of the transparent plate and a transparent covering layer provided on the lower surface of the transparent plate so as to cover lower and side surfaces of the phosphor-containing film, the structures being each provided on each of the plurality of light-emitting elements such that a lower surface of the transparent covering layer contacts a top surface of the plurality of light-emitting elements, and a white reflector to cover a side surface of the plurality of light-emitting elements and a side surfaces of the transparent covering layer. At least a portion of a region directly above a gap between the plurality of light-emitting elements is not covered with the phosphor-containing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Wada, Aya Kawaoka
  • Patent number: 9576942
    Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly that includes a substrate; a member formed on the substrate; a first die mounted to the substrate within an opening in the member such that there is space between the first die and the member and the member surrounds the first die, and wherein the first die does not extend above an upper surface of the member; an underfill between the first the die and the substrate, wherein the underfill at least partially fills the space between the die and member; and a second die mounted to the first die and the member, wherein the second die is mounted to the member on all sides of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Omkar Karhade, Nitin Deshpande, Bassam M. Ziadeh, Yoshihiro Tomita
  • Patent number: 9576943
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed, including an apparatus that includes a differential driver with charge injection pre-emphasis. One such apparatus includes a pre-emphasis circuit and an output stage circuit. The pre-emphasis circuit is configured to receive differential serial signals, and buffer the differential serial signals to provide buffered differential serial signals. The output stage circuit is configured to receive the buffered differential serial signals and drive the buffered differential serial signals onto differential communication paths. The pre-emphasis circuit is configured to selectively inject charge onto the differential communication paths to assist with a signal transition on at least one of the differential communication paths. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. King
  • Patent number: 9576944
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first load terminal electrically coupled to a source zone of a transistor cell. A gate terminal is electrically coupled to a gate electrode which is capacitively coupled to a body zone of the transistor cell. The source and body zones are formed in a semiconductor portion. A thermoresistive element is thermally connected to the semiconductor portion and is electrically coupled between the gate terminal and the first load terminal. Above a maximum operation temperature specified for the semiconductor device, an electric resistance of the thermoresistive element decreases by at least two orders of magnitude within a critical temperature span of at most 50 Kelvin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Laven, Christian Jaeger, Joachim Mahler, Daniel Pedone, Anton Prueckl, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Andre Schwagmann, Patrick Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9576945
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increased holding voltage SCRs. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a first well of the first conductivity type; a second well of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first well, an intersection of the first well and the second well forming a p-n junction; a first diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the first well and coupled to a ground terminal; a first diffused region of the second conductivity type formed at the first well; a second diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the second well and coupled to a pad terminal; a second diffused region of the second conductivity type formed in the second well; and a Schottky junction formed adjacent to the first diffused region of the second conductivity type coupled to a ground terminal. Methods for forming devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jam-Wem Lee, Tzu-Heng Chang, Tsung-Che Tsai, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Patent number: 9576946
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: providing a substrate; forming a first trough structure, which comprises at least a first sidewall, on the substrate; forming a first doping layer on the first sidewall; covering the first doping layer and a part of a surface of the substrate by a photoresist; forming a second trough structure, which comprises at least a second sidewall, on a part of the substrate which is not covered by the photoresist; removing the photoresist; forming an insulation layer on the substrate, the first trough structure, and the second trough structure; forming a conductive layer on the substrate, the first trough structure, and the second trough structure; and removing parts of the insulation layer and the conductive layer outside the first trough structure and the second trough structure to expose a surface of the first doping layer at the opening of the first trough structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsiao-Tsung Yen, Yuh-Sheng Jean, Ta-Hsun Yeh
  • Patent number: 9576947
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a plurality of electrode pads for external connection are arranged in a zigzag pattern. Some electrode pads of the electrode pads of the plurality of I/O cells which are closer to a side of the semiconductor chip, each have an end portion closer to the side of the semiconductor chip, the end portion being set at the same position as that of an end portion of the corresponding I/O cell. A power source-side protective circuit and a ground-side protective circuit against discharge of static electricity are provided with the power source-side protective circuit being closer to the scribe region. A distance between a center position of one of the electrode pads and the ground-side protective circuit of the corresponding I/O cell and a distance between a center position of the other one electrode pad and the ground-side protective circuit of the corresponding I/O cell are both short and are substantially equal between each I/O cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Koichi Taniguchi, Masato Maede
  • Patent number: 9576948
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first and second transistor. Each of the first and the second transistors includes a well of a first conductivity type, a band-shaped region provided on the well, a drain region of a second conductivity type provided on the well, and a gate electrode. The band-shaped region, the drain region and the gate electrode extend in a first direction. The band-shaped region includes a back gate region of the first conductivity type and a source region of the second conductivity type. The back gate region and the source region are arranged alternately along the first direction in the band-shaped region. A ratio of a length of the source region to a length of the back gate region along the first direction of the first transistor is greater than the ratio of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kanako Komatsu, Keita Takahashi, Masahiro Inohara
  • Patent number: 9576949
    Abstract: A P-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (PMOSFET) includes a gate, a first source/drain region connected to the gate, and a second source/drain region on an opposite side of the gate than the first source/drain region. A first Schottky diode includes a first anode connected to the first source/drain region, and a first cathode connected to a body of the PMOSFET. A second Schottky diode includes a second anode connected to the second source/drain region, and a second cathode connected to the body of the PMOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jam-Wem Lee, Wan-Yen Lin, Ming-Hsiang Song, Cheng-Hsiung Kuo, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 9576950
    Abstract: A device includes a transition metal dichalcogenide layer having a first edge with a zigzag atomic configuration. A metallic material has a portion overlapping the transition metal dichalcogenide layer. The metallic material has a second edge contacting the first edge of the transition metal dichalcogenide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yee-Chia Yeo, Ling-Yen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9576951
    Abstract: Materials, methods, structures and device including the same can provide a semiconductor device such as an LED using an active region corresponding to a non-polar face or surface of III-V semiconductor crystalline material. In some embodiments, an active diode region contains more non-polar III-V material oriented to a non-polar plane than III-V material oriented to a polar plane. In other embodiments, a bottom region contains more non-polar m-plane or a-plane surface area GaN than polar c-plane surface area GaN facing an active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Lochtefeld
  • Patent number: 9576952
    Abstract: Integrated circuits and fabrication methods are provided. The integrated circuit includes: a varying gate structure disposed over a substrate structure, the varying gate structure including a first gate stack in a first region of the substrate structure, and a second gate stack in a second region of the substrate structure; a first field-effect transistor in the first region, the first field-effect transistor including the first gate stack and having a first threshold voltage; and a second field-effect transistor in the second region, the second field-effect transistor including the second gate stack and having a second threshold voltage, where the first threshold voltage is different from the second threshold voltage. The methods include providing the varying gate structure, the providing including: sizing layer(s) of the varying gate structure with different thickness(es) in different region(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Manoj Joshi, Manfred Eller, Richard J. Carter, Srikanth Balaji Samavedam
  • Patent number: 9576953
    Abstract: A layout design system for designing a semiconductor device includes a processor, a storage module storing an intermediate design, and a correction module used by the processor to correct the intermediate design. The intermediate design includes an active region and dummy designs on the active region. Each dummy design includes a dummy structure and dummy spacers disposed at opposite sides of the dummy structure. The correction module is configured to alter widths of regions of at least some of the dummy designs. The corrected design is used to produce a semiconductor device having an active fin, a hard mask layer disposed on the active fin, a gate structure crossing the over the hard mask layer, and a spacer disposed on at least one side of the gate structure. The hard mask layer, and the active fin, are provided with widths that vary due to the dummy designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang-Hyun Baek, Jin-Hyun Noh, Tae-Joong Song, Gi-Young Yang, Sang-Kyu Oh
  • Patent number: 9576954
    Abstract: A method of filling trenches between gates includes forming a first and a second dummy gate over a substrate, the first and second dummy gates including a sacrificial gate material and a hard mask layer; forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the first dummy gate and a second gate spacer along a sidewall of the second dummy gate; performing an epitaxial growth process to form a source/drain on the substrate between the first and second dummy gates; disposing a conformal liner over the first and second dummy gates and the source/drain; disposing an oxide on the conformal liner between the first and second dummy gates; recessing the oxide to a level below the hard mask layers of the first and second dummy gates to form a recessed oxide; and depositing a spacer material over the recessed oxide between the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Greene, Sanjay C. Mehta, Balasubramanian S. Pranatharthiharan, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 9576955
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices include active fins including a buffer layer disposed on a substrate and a channel layer disposed on the buffer layer and having a first second lattice constant higher than a lattice constant of the buffer layer, a gate structure covering the channel layer and intersecting the active fins, sidewall spacers disposed on both sidewalls of the gate structure, and capping layers disposed to contact lower surfaces of the sidewall spacers and having a width substantially the same as a width of the lower surfaces of the sidewall spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Lee, Tae Yong Kwon, Sang Su Kim, Chang Jae Yang, Jung Han Lee, Hwan Wook Choi, Yeon Cheol Heo, Sang Hyuk Hong
  • Patent number: 9576956
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a plurality of semiconductor pillars. A dielectric spacer is formed between at least one set of adjacent semiconductor pillars. Semiconductor material is epitaxially formed on sidewalls of the adjacent semiconductor pillars, wherein the dielectric spacer obstructs a first portion of epitaxial semiconductor material formed on a first semiconductor pillar from merging with a second portion of epitaxial semiconductor material formed on a second semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9576957
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes lower source/drain (S/D) regions. A replacement metal gate (RMG) structure is arranged upon the semiconductor substrate between the lower S/D regions. Raised S/D regions are arranged upon the lower S/D regions adjacent to the RMG structure, respectively. The raised S/D regions may be recessed to form contact trenches. First self-aligned contacts are located upon the raised S/D regions within a first active area and second self-aligned contacts are located upon the recessed raised S/D regions in the second active area. The first and second self-aligned contacts allows for independent reduction of source drain contact resistances. The first self-aligned contacts may be MIS contacts or metal silicide contacts and the second self-aligned contacts may be metal-silicide contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Praneet Adusumilli, Emre Alptekin, Kangguo Cheng, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Shom S. Ponoth
  • Patent number: 9576958
    Abstract: An approach to forming a semiconductor structure with improved negative bias temperature instability includes forming an interfacial layer on a semiconductor substrate with an nFET and a pFET. The semiconductor structure includes a gate dielectric layer on the interfacial layer and a pFET work function metal layer on a portion of the gate dielectric layer over an area above the pFET. The semiconductor structure includes a nFET work function metal layer on a portion of the gate dielectric layer over an area above the nFET and on the pFET work function metal layer in the area above the pFET. The semiconductor structure includes a gate electrode metal on the nFET work function metal layer where a plurality of fluorine atoms and a plurality of reducing gas atoms are incorporated into at least a portion of the interfacial layer, the gate layer, and a portion of the nFET work function metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruqiang Bao, Siddarth A. Krishnan
  • Patent number: 9576959
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having first and second gate electrodes. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active region extending in a first direction on the substrate, a first gate electrode crossing the active region and extending in a second direction, and a second gate electrode extending in the second direction on the first gate electrode, wherein the first gate electrode has a first width in the first direction, and wherein the second gate electrode has a second width in the first direction, the second width being less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaoqi Dong, Mun Hyeon Kim, Keun Hwi Cho, Shigenobu Maeda, Han Su Oh
  • Patent number: 9576960
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, the invention provides an nFET/pFET pair of finFETs formed on a gate stack. At least one fin extends into a source drain region of each of the FET pair and a carbon doped silicon (Si:C) layer is formed on each such fin. Another aspect of the invention is a process flow to enable dual in-situ doped epitaxy to fill the nFET and pFET source drain with different epi materials while avoiding a ridge in the hard cap on the gate between the pair of finFETS. The gate spacer in both of the pair can be the same thickness. The extension region of both of the pair of finFETs can be activated by a single anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Khakifirooz, Kangguo Cheng, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9576961
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures with different devices each having spacers of equal thickness and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a first gate stack and a second gate stack. The method further includes forming sidewall spacers of equal thickness for both the first gate stack and the second gate stack by depositing a liner material over spacer material on sidewalls of the first gate stack and the second gate stack and within a space formed between the spacer material and source and drain regions of the first gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 9576962
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory cell includes a floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a state of the memory cell selected from at least first and second states. A first region of the memory cell is in electrical contact with the floating body region. A second region of the memory cell is spaced apart from the first region and is also in electrical contact with the floating body region. A gate is positioned between the first and second regions. A back-bias region is configured to generate impact ionization when the memory cell is in one of the first and second states, and the back-bias region is configured so as not to generate impact ionization when the memory cell is in the other of the first and second states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Zeno Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuniarto Widjaja, Jin-Woo Han, Benjamin S. Louie
  • Patent number: 9576963
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a vertical channel transistor array is provided. The method includes following steps. A plurality of embedded word lines are formed at bottoms of trenches, and each of the embedded word lines is located at a first side wall of one of the trenches and connected to first sides of the semiconductor pillars in the same row. Each of the embedded word lines is not connected to second sides of the semiconductor pillars in the same row, and the first sides are opposite to the second sides. Only one embedded word line is correspondingly connected to the semiconductor pillars arranged in one row. An isolation structure is formed between a second side wall of each of the trenches and each of the embedded word lines. The first side wall is opposite to the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Powerchip Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 9576964
    Abstract: At least one dielectric pad layer is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A deep trench is formed in the SOI substrate, and a combination of an outer electrode, a node dielectric, and an inner electrode are formed such that the top surface of the inner electrode is recessed below the top surface of a buried insulator layer of the SOI substrate. Selective epitaxy is performed to fill a cavity overlying the inner electrode with an epitaxial semiconductor material portion. A top semiconductor material layer and the epitaxial semiconductor material portion are patterned to form a fin structure including a portion of the top semiconductor material layer and a portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material portion. The epitaxial semiconductor material portion functions as a conductive strap structure between the inner electrode and a semiconductor device to be formed on the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin K. Chan, Babar A. Khan, Dae-Gyu Park, Xinhui Wang
  • Patent number: 9576965
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bit line disposed over a semiconductor substrate, a supporting film being perpendicular to the bit line, a first storage node contact disposed at a lower part of a region disposed between the bit line and the supporting film, and a second storage node contact having a line shape, disposed over the first storage node contact and the bit line, isolated by the supporting film, and patterned in a diagonal direction across the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Jae Man Yoon, Young Bog Kim, Yun Seok Chun, Woong Choi, Woo Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 9576966
    Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers can be formed over a substrate. Memory stack structures and a backside trench are formed through the alternating stack. Backside recesses are formed by removing the sacrificial material layers from the backside trench selective to the insulating layers. A cobalt-containing material is deposited such that the cobalt-containing material continuously extends at least between a neighboring pair of cobalt-containing material portions in respective backside recesses. An anneal is performed at an elevated temperature to migrate vertically-extending portions of the cobalt-containing material into the backside recesses, thereby forming vertically separated cobalt-containing material portions confined within the backside recesses. Sidewalls of the insulating layers may be rounded or tapered to facilitate migration of the cobalt-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Somesh Peri, Raghuveer S. Makala, Sateesh Koka, Rahul Sharangpani