Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9721893
    Abstract: A method of forming electrically conductive structures that includes forming a copper containing layer including a barrier forming element, and applying a first anneal to the copper containing layer. The first anneal increases grain size of the copper in the copper containing layer. The copper containing layer is etched to provide a plurality of copper containing lines. A dielectric fill is deposited in the space between adjacent copper containing lines. A second anneal is applied to the plurality of copper containing lines. During the second anneal the barrier forming element diffuse to an interface between sidewalls of the copper containing lines and the dielectric fill to form a barrier layer along the sidewalls of the copper containing lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theodorus E. Standaert, Vamsi K. Paruchuri
  • Patent number: 9721894
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first pattern and a second pattern are formed in the first interlayer dielectric layer. The first pattern has a width greater than a width of the second pattern. A first metal layer is formed in the first pattern and the second pattern. A second metal layer is formed in the first pattern. A planarization operation is performed on the first and second metal layers so that a first metal wiring by the first pattern and a second metal wiring by the second pattern are formed. A metal material of the first metal layer is different from a metal material of the second metal layer. The first metal wiring includes the first and second metal layers and the second metal wiring includes the first metal layer but does not include the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Kang Fu, Hsien-Chang Wu, Li-Lin Su, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 9721895
    Abstract: An interconnect dielectric material having an opening formed therein is first provided. A surface nitridation process is then performed to form a nitridized dielectric surface layer within the interconnect dielectric material. A metal layer is formed on the nitridized dielectric surface layer and then an anneal is performed to form a metal nitride layer between the metal layer and the nitridized dielectric surface layer. A portion of the originally deposited metal layer that is not reacted with the nitridized dielectric surface is then selectively removed and thereafter an electrical conducting structure is formed directly on the metal nitride layer that is present in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9721896
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a contact region, a silicide present on the contact region, a dielectric layer present on the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric layer comprising an opening to expose a portion of the contact region, a conductor present in the opening, a barrier layer present between the conductor and the dielectric layer, and a metal layer present between the barrier layer and the dielectric layer, wherein a Si concentration of the silicide is varied along a height of the silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Lin, Chi-Wen Liu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9721897
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor transistor and the semiconductor transistor include a source region and a drain region within a substrate. The method includes forming a gate above the substrate, forming a source contact above the source region and a drain contact above the drain region, and forming air spacers within a dielectric between the gate and each of the source contact and the drain contact. Metal caps are formed on the source contact and the drain contact, and a gate cap is formed between the dielectric and at least a portion of a bottom surface of higher-level contacts, which are contacts formed above the source contact and the drain contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Peng Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9721898
    Abstract: Methods of forming microelectronic interconnect under device structures are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a device layer in a first substrate, forming at least one routing layer in a second substrate, and then coupling the first substrate with the second substrate, wherein the first substrate is bonded to the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Morrow, Don Nelson, M. Clair Webb, Kimin Jun, Il-Seok Son
  • Patent number: 9721899
    Abstract: An embedded component package structure includes a substrate. A first conductive component extends from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate, a first conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and a second conductive layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer by the first conductive component. A die is disposed in a through hole in the substrate. A back surface of the die is exposed from the second surface of the substrate. A first dielectric layer covers an active surface of the die and the first surface of the substrate. A third conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the die by a second conductive component. A first metal layer is disposed directly on the back surface of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Lee, Hsing Kuo Tien
  • Patent number: 9721900
    Abstract: Provided is a bonding method to construct a bonding with high thermal reliability between electrodes formed on both chip surfaces of a semiconductor device and wiring. The bonding method includes: bonding a semiconductor chip over a first substrate with a bonding film interposed therebetween; forming a first insulating film over the semiconductor chip; forming a first via in the first insulating film; forming a first wiring over the first insulating film so as to be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip through the first via; forming a second via in the bonding film; and forming a second wiring under the semiconductor chip so as to be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip through the second via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: J-Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9721901
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thin-film transistor substrate including: a substrate; a thin-film transistor formed on the substrate and including an active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; an identification (ID) mark formed on the substrate; and a metal layer contacting an upper surface of the ID mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jihyeon Ryu
  • Patent number: 9721902
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) unit of a base station, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing an RF power amplifier module, an RF power amplifier module, an RF module, and a base station. The RF power amplifier module includes at least a power device, a power circuit board, a heat-dissipation substrate, and input/output ports. A power device die of the power device and the power circuit board are mounted on the heat-dissipation substrate. The power device die is connected to the power circuit board through packaging lead wires. In one exemplary embodiment, a heat-dissipation effect and manufacturing efficiency of the RF power amplifier module are improved and a cost of the RF power amplifier module is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Jiang, Yiwei Ma, Jinpei Ju, Hongmei Hu, Qin Gong
  • Patent number: 9721903
    Abstract: A system in package (SiP) is disclosed that uses an EMI shield to inhibit EMI or other electrical interference on the components within the SiP. A metal shield may be formed on an upper surface of an encapsulant encapsulating the SiP. The metal shield may be electrically coupled to a ground layer in a printed circuit board (PCB) to form the EMI shield around the SiP. The metal shield may be electrically coupled to the ground layer using one or more conductive structures located in the encapsulant. The conductive structures may be located on a perimeter of the components in the SiP. The conductive structures may provide a substantially vertical connection between the substrate and the shield on the upper surface of the encapsulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Meng Chi Lee, Shakti S. Chauhan, Flynn P. Carson, Jun Chung Hsu, Tha-An Lin
  • Patent number: 9721904
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor package and the semiconductor package are provided. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor package may include arranging a conductive elastic plate over a package substrate including through slits disposed along edges of a chip mounting region and a conductive guard rails providing a concave trench shape, and bending the conductive elastic plate. Edge portions of the conductive elastic plate may be inserted into the trenches of the conductive guard rails and supported by the conductive guard rails by a force trying to stretch by the elastic restoring force of the wing portions of the conductive elastic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Ho Kim, Soo Won Kang, Jung Tae Jeong
  • Patent number: 9721905
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip mounted on an interposer board, a encapsulant sealing the semiconductor chip, and a conductive shielding layer covering the encapsulant and at least part of a side surface of the interposer board. The interposer board has plural vias through an insulating substrate. A part of the plural vias has a cutting plane exposing to the side surface of the interposer board and cut in a thickness direction of the interposer board. The cutting plane of the via is electrically connected to the conductive shielding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Keiju Yamada, Takashi Yamazaki, Masatoshi Fukuda, Yasuhiro Koshio
  • Patent number: 9721906
    Abstract: An electronic package that includes a substrate and a die attached to the substrate. A plurality of supports attached to the substrate adjacent to the die. At least one support in the plurality of supports is positioned adjacent to at least one corner of the die such that the at least one corner of the die is positioned adjacent to the at least one support. Other example forms relate to a method of fabricating an electronic package. The method includes securing a die to a substrate and securing a plurality of supports to the substrate such that at least one support is adjacent to at least one corner of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Manish Dubey, Rajendra C. Dias, Baris Bicen, Digvijay Raorane, Bharat P. Penmecha
  • Patent number: 9721907
    Abstract: A wafer that includes a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface having a curved edge profile between an edge of the front surface and a side face of the edge of the wafer. The edge profile includes a first convex curve that joins the edge of the front surface, a second convex curve that joins the side face, and an intermediate concave curve that joins the first convex curve and the second convex curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Oefner, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 9721908
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal flow meter that can be prevented from being eroded due to adhesion of water or like to a cut end portion of the lead exposed from the mold resin of the circuit package. A thermal flow meter 300 of the present invention is a thermal flow meter having a circuit package 400 formed by mounting a detection element 518 on leads 544 and 545 supported by a support frame 512, sealing with a mold resin, and cutting off the support frame 512, wherein cut end portions 544a and 545a of the leads 544 and 545 exposed from the mold resin of the circuit package 400 by cutting off the support frame 512 is covered by a covering portion 371.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Tashiro, Keiji Hanzawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Takeshi Morino, Ryosuke Doi, Akira Uenodan
  • Patent number: 9721909
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit includes a first layer of semiconductor material in which a high electron mobility transfer (HEMT) device is formed. A semiconductor heat spreader substrate supports the first layer of semiconductor material. A pair of matching circuits are electrically connected to the HEMT device, wherein the pair of matching circuits are supported on a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor material different than the semiconductor material of the first semiconductor heat spreader substrate. The first layer of semiconductor material and the first semiconductor heat spreader substrate have a thickness that is less than a second thickness of the semiconductor substrate supporting the pair of matching circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mahesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 9721910
    Abstract: To shorten a maintenance time of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and to improve productivity of a semiconductor manufacturing line. A semiconductor wafer is processed by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in which reaction product in the inside of a wafer lift pin hole was removed using a cleaning jig having a return on its tip part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9721911
    Abstract: A chip package includes a chip, a laser stopper, an isolation layer, a redistribution layer, an insulating layer, and a conductive structure. The chip has a conductive pad, a first surface, and a second surface. The conductive pad is located on the first surface. The second surface has a first through hole to expose the conductive pad. The laser stopper is located on the conductive pad in the first through hole. The isolation layer is located on the second surface and in the first through hole. The isolation layer has a third surface opposite to the second surface, and has a second through hole to expose the laser stopper. The redistribution layer is located on the third surface, a sidewall of the second through hole, and the laser stopper in the second through hole. The conductive structure is located on the redistribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: XINTEC INC.
    Inventors: Ho-Yin Yiu, Ying-Nan Wen, Chien-Hung Liu, Shih-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 9721912
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are described that have bump assemblies configured to furnish shock absorber functionality. In an implementation, a wafer-levelchip-scale package devices include an integrated circuit chip having an array of bump assemblies disposed over the integrated circuit chip. The array of bump assemblies comprises a plurality of first bump assemblies that include solder bumps composed at least substantially of a solder composition (i.e., solder bumps that do not include a core). The array further comprises a plurality of second bump assemblies that includes a solder bump having a core configured to furnish shock absorber functionality to the integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Viren Khandekar, Karthik Thambidurai, Vivek S. Sridharan
  • Patent number: 9721913
    Abstract: A semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip having an active surface with a conductive pad thereon; an electroplated Au—Sn alloy bump over the active surface; and a (glass) substrate comprising conductive traces electrically coupling with the electroplated Au—Sn alloy bump, wherein the electroplated Au—Sn alloy bump has a composition from about Au0.35Sn0.15 to about Au0.75Sn0.25 in weight percent uniformly distributed from an end in proximity to the active surface to an end in proximity to the substrate. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package comprises forming patterns of conductive pads on an active surface of a semiconductor chip; electroplating Au—Sn alloy bump over the conductive pads; and bonding the semiconductor chip on a corresponding conductive trace on a substrate by a reflow operation or a thermal press operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CHIPMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventors: Tung Bao Lu, Heng-Sheng Wang, Tzu-Han Hsu
  • Patent number: 9721914
    Abstract: An array substrate for a display device can include a substrate, a pad positioned on the substrate, an insulating layer positioned on the pad and including a plurality of open portions exposing the pad, a first metal layer positioned on the insulating layer and disposed to be in contact with the pad, a second metal layer positioned on the first metal layer, and a bump electrode positioned on the second metal layer and including a plurality of dimples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yeonwook Kang
  • Patent number: 9721915
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of inhibiting oxidation of a Cu wiring even in a high temperature operation. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a Cu electrode which is selectively formed on a side of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an antioxidant film formed on an upper surface of the Cu electrode except an end portion thereof, an organic resin film which is formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and covers a side surface of the Cu electrode and the end portion of the upper surface thereof, and a diffusion prevention film formed between the organic resin film and the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and between the organic resin film and the side surface and the end portion of the upper surface of the Cu electrode, being in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Motoru Yoshida, Kazuyo Endo, Jun Fujita, Hiroaki Okabe, Kazuyuki Sugahara
  • Patent number: 9721916
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes an alignment bump and an active electrical connector. The alignment bump includes a first non-solder metallic bump. The first non-solder metallic bump forms a ring encircling an opening therein. The active electrical connector includes a second non-solder metallic bump. A surface of the first non-solder metallic bump and a surface of the second non-solder metallic bump are substantially coplanar with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Wei Cheng, Tsung-Ding Wang, Chien-Hsun Lee
  • Patent number: 9721917
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip has a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect layer, an inductor and conductive pads (first pads). The interconnect layer is provided on the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer includes the inductor. The pads are provided on the interconnect layer. The pads are provided in a region within a circuit forming region of the semiconductor chip, which does not overlap the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Nakashiba
  • Patent number: 9721918
    Abstract: A package component includes a dielectric layer and a metal pad over the dielectric layer. A plurality of openings is disposed in the metal pad. The first plurality of openings is separated from each other by portions of the metal pad, with the portions of the metal pad interconnected to form a continuous metal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-Chun Tsai, Yu-Feng Chen, Tin-Hao Kuo, Chen-Shien Chen
  • Patent number: 9721919
    Abstract: Solder-bumped semiconductor substrates (e.g., semiconductor wafers) and methods for forming solder bumped semiconductor substrates are provided, in which solder bumps are formed on a semiconductor substrate using preformed solder balls having different compositions and/or sizes. Two or more solder balls masks are successively utilized to place different types of preformed solder balls (differing in composition and/or size) into corresponding cavities of a solder ball fixture, and thereby form an array of different types of preformed solder balls arranged in the solder ball fixture. The array of preformed solder balls in the solder ball fixture are then transferred to corresponding contact pads of a semiconductor substrate (e.g., semiconductor wafer) using a single solder reflow process. This process allows different types of preformed solder bumps to be bonded to a semiconductor substrate at the same time using a single solder reflow process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 9721920
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embedded chip package is provided. The method may include: forming electrically conductive lines over a substrate; placing the substrate next to a chip arrangement comprising a chip, the chip comprising one or more contact pads, wherein one or more of the electrically conductive lines are arranged proximate to a side wall of the chip; and forming one or more electrical interconnects over the chip arrangement to electrically connect at least one electrically conductive line to at least one contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Beer, Walter Hartner
  • Patent number: 9721921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die disposed over a carrier. An electrical interconnect, such as a stud bump, is formed over the semiconductor die. The stud bumps are trimmed to a uniform height. A substrate includes a bump over the substrate. The electrical interconnect of the semiconductor die is bonded to the bumps of the substrate while the semiconductor die is disposed over the carrier. An underfill material is deposited between the semiconductor die and substrate. Alternatively, an encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and substrate using a chase mold. The bonding of stud bumps of the semiconductor die to bumps of the substrate is performed using gang reflow or thermocompression while the semiconductor die are in reconstituted wafer form and attached to the carrier to provide a high throughput of the flipchip type interconnect to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: KyungMoon Kim, KooHong Lee, JaeHak Yee, YoungChul Kim, Lan Hoang, Pandi C. Marimuthu, Steve Anderson, HunTeak Lee, HeeJo Chi
  • Patent number: 9721922
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first conductive layer including a plurality of conductive traces. The first conductive layer is formed over a substrate. The conductive traces are formed with a narrow pitch. A first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die are disposed over the first conductive layer. A first encapsulant is deposited over the first and second semiconductor die. The substrate is removed. A second encapsulant is deposited over the first encapsulant. A build-up interconnect structure is formed over the first conductive layer and second encapsulant. The build-up interconnect structure includes a second conductive layer. A first passive device is disposed in the first encapsulant. A second passive device is disposed in the second encapsulant. A vertical interconnect unit is disposed in the second encapsulant. A third conductive layer is formed over second encapsulant and electrically connected to the build-up interconnect structure via the vertical interconnect unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC, Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Pandi C. Marimuthu, Yaojian Lin, Won Kyoung Choi, Il Kwon Shim
  • Patent number: 9721923
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a first interposer, a second interposer, and a gap between the first interposer and the second interposer. The first interposer and the second interposer are coplanar. A first die is mounted on the first interposer and the second interposer. The first die includes first connection elements connecting the first die to the first interposer or the second interposer. A redistribution layer (RDL) structure is disposed on bottom surfaces of the first and second interposers for connecting the first interposer with the second interposer. The RDL structure includes at least one bridge trace traversing the gap to electrically connect the first interposer with the second interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shing-Yih Shih
  • Patent number: 9721924
    Abstract: The stack package includes a substrate body layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, first circuit patterns disposed on the bottom surface of the substrate body layer, second circuit patterns disposed on the top surface of the substrate body layer, a first semiconductor chip including first bumps, and a second semiconductor chip including second bumps. The first bumps extend through the substrate body layer to be electrically coupled to the first circuit patterns, and the second bumps extend past sidewalls of the first semiconductor chip to be electrically coupled to the second circuit patterns. The second semiconductor chip is stacked on the first semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9721925
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is made by forming first and second interconnect structures over a first semiconductor die. A third interconnect structure is formed in proximity to the first die. A second semiconductor die is mounted over the second and third interconnect structures. An encapsulant is deposited over the first and second die and first, second, and third interconnect structures. A backside of the second die is substantially coplanar with the first interconnect structure and a backside of the first semiconductor die is substantially coplanar with the third interconnect structure. The first interconnect structure has a height which is substantially the same as a combination of a height of the second interconnect structure and a thickness of the second die. The third interconnect structure has a height which is substantially the same as a combination of a height of the second interconnect structure and a thickness of the first die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC, Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Henry D. Bathan, Zigmund R. Camacho, Jairus L. Pisigan
  • Patent number: 9721926
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least first and second semiconductor chips stacked on each other along a first direction, at least one silicon-through-via (TSV) through at least the first semiconductor chip of the first and second semiconductor chips, a contact pad on the at least one TSV of the first semiconductor chip, the contact pad electrically connecting the TSV of the first semiconductor chip to the second semiconductor chip, and a plurality of dummy pads on the first semiconductor chip, the plurality of dummy pads being spaced apart from each other and from the contact pad along a second direction, and the dummy pads having same heights as the contact pads as measured between respective top and bottom surfaces along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeong-Hwan Choe, Tae-Joo Hwang, Tae-Hong Min, Young-Kun Jee, Sang-Uk Han
  • Patent number: 9721927
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor device, including: a first die including first transistors and first interconnect, overlaid by a second die including second transistors and second interconnect, where the first die has a first die area and the second die has a second die area, where the first die area is at least 10% larger than the second die area, and where the second die has a thickness of less than four microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC 3D INC.
    Inventor: Zvi Or-Bach
  • Patent number: 9721928
    Abstract: A packaged IC device in which a die is sandwiched between first and second substrates such that (i) peripheral electrical contact pads of the die are wire bonded to the first substrate, e.g., for routing functional input/output signals, and (ii) core-area electrical contact pads of the die are connected to the second substrate in a flip-chip arrangement, e.g., for routing one or more power supply voltages to the core area of the die. The second substrate has a shape and position that (i) expose the peripheral electrical contact pads of the die for unencumbered machine-implemented wire bonding during the assembly process, and (ii) enable direct electrical connections between the first and second substrates outside the footprint of the die, e.g., by way of the corresponding solder bumps attached between the two substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Navas Khan Oratti Kalandar, Lan Chu Tan, Chetan Verma
  • Patent number: 9721930
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip stacked on a package substrate in which a first surface of the first semiconductor chip faces the package substrate and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip that includes a third surface facing the first semiconductor chip and a fourth surface that is opposite to the third surface, and an integral adhesive structure that substantially continuously fills a first space between the package substrate and the first semiconductor chip and a second space between the first and second semiconductor chips. The integral adhesive structure includes an extension protruding from outer sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor chips. The extension has one continuously convex sidewall between a level of the first surface and a level of the fourth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyoungjoo Lee, Minsoo Kim, Teak Hoon Lee, Young Kun Jee
  • Patent number: 9721931
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device including a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor light emitting units and a plurality of non-conductive walls is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device is disposed on the substrate in an array. Each of the semiconductor light emitting units has a first electrode and a second electrode opposite to the first electrode. Each of the semiconductor light emitting units is electrically connected to the substrate through the first electrode, and the semiconductor light emitting units are electrically connected together to a conducting layer through the second electrodes. The semiconductor light emitting units have different emission colors. The non-conductive walls are disposed between adjacent semiconductor light emitting units, to separate the semiconductor light emitting units. A fabricating method of semiconductor light emitting device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Huang, Tao-Chih Chang, Chih-Ming Shen
  • Patent number: 9721933
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, a first plurality of redistribution lines underlying the device die, a second plurality of redistribution lines overlying the device die, and a metal pad in a same metal layer as the second plurality of redistribution lines. A laser mark is in a dielectric layer that is overlying the metal pad. The laser mark overlaps the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9721934
    Abstract: An LED lighting apparatus includes an LED substrate, a LED chip, a sealing resin member, and a reflecting face. The LED substrate has a main surface. The LED chip is mounted on the main surface of the LED substrate. The sealing resin member is made of a material that transmits light from the LED chip. The sealing resin member covers the LED chip. The sealing resin member has a shape bulging in the direction in which the main surface faces. The reflecting face surrounds the sealing resin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ishihara, Satohiro Kigoshi
  • Patent number: 9721935
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first chip, a second chip stacked on the first chip, and a third chip stacked on the second chip. The second chip includes a second semiconductor layer having a second circuit surface facing the first wiring layer and a second rear surface opposite to the second circuit surface, a second wiring layer provided on the second circuit surface and connected to a first wiring layer of the first chip, and a second electrode extending through the second semiconductor layer and connected to the second wiring layer. The third chip includes a third semiconductor layer having a third circuit surface and a third rear surface facing the second chip, a third wiring layer provided on the third circuit surface, and a third electrode extending through the third semiconductor layer, connected to the third wiring layer and connected to the second electrode through bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazushige Kawasaki, Yoichiro Kurita
  • Patent number: 9721936
    Abstract: Field-effect transistor (FET) stack voltage compensation. In some embodiments, a switching device can include a first terminal and a second terminal, and a plurality of switching elements connected in series between the first and terminal and the second terminal. Each switching element has a parameter that is configured to yield a desired voltage drop profile among the connected switching elements. Such a desired voltage drop profile can be achieved by some or all FETs in a stack having variable dimensions such as variable gate width or variable numbers of fingers associated with the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhu, David Scott Whitefield, Ambarish Roy, Guillaume Alexandre Blin
  • Patent number: 9721937
    Abstract: An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOEs), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of side-to-side shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of tip-to-tip shorts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PDF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Lam, Dennis Ciplickas, Tomasz Brozek, Jeremy Cheng, Simone Comensoli, Indranil De, Kelvin Doong, Hans Eisenmann, Timothy Fiscus, Jonathan Haigh, Christopher Hess, John Kibarian, Sherry Lee, Marci Liao, Sheng-Che Lin, Hideki Matsuhashi, Kimon Michaels, Conor O'Sullivan, Markus Rauscher, Vyacheslav Rovner, Andrzej Strojwas, Marcin Strojwas, Carl Taylor, Rakesh Vallishayee, Larg Weiland, Nobuharu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9721938
    Abstract: An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOEs), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of tip-to-tip shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of corner shorts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PDF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Lam, Dennis Ciplickas, Tomasz Brozek, Jeremy Cheng, Simone Comensoli, Indranil De, Kelvin Doong, Hans Eisenmann, Timothy Fiscus, Jonathan Haigh, Christopher Hess, John Kibarian, Sherry Lee, Marci Liao, Sheng-Che Lin, Hideki Matsuhashi, Kimon Michaels, Conor O'Sullivan, Markus Rauscher, Vyacheslav Rovner, Andrzej Strojwas, Marcin Strojwas, Carl Taylor, Rakesh Vallishayee, Larg Weiland, Nobuharu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9721939
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a compact semiconductor device having a surge protection element, which can reliably protect against surge and is unlikely to be affected by manufacturing variation. By forming a parasitic n-p-n transistor on a guard ring, and adopting the parasitic n-p-n transistor as a surge protection element, it is possible to provide a compact semiconductor device having a surge protection element. Also, by adopting the parasitic n-p-n transistor as a surge protection element, it is possible to reduce the operating resistance in comparison with when using a parasitic n-p-n transistor as a surge protection element, and thus possible to improve the surge protection function. Further, by providing one surge protection element on the guard ring, rather than providing a surge protection element in each cell, it is possible minimize the effect of manufacturing variation (i.e., in-plane variation) on the surge protection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taichi Karino
  • Patent number: 9721940
    Abstract: A radiation-emitting semiconductor chip having a semiconductor body including a semi-conductor layer sequence having an active region that generates radiation, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductor, and a second semiconductor layer of a second conductor different from the first conductor, and having a carrier on which the semiconductor body is arranged, wherein a pn junction is formed in the carrier, the carrier has a first contact and a second contact on a rear side facing away from the semiconductor body, and the active area and the pn junction connect to one another in antiparallel in relation to the forward-bias direction by the first contact and the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Plössl, Heribert Zull
  • Patent number: 9721941
    Abstract: The present examples relate to a semiconductor chip having a level shifter with an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and a device applying to multiple power supply lines with high and low power inputs to protect the level shifter from the static ESD stress. More particularly, the present examples relate to using a feature to protect a semiconductor device in a level shifter from the ESD stress by using ESD stress blocking region adjacent to a gate electrode of the semiconductor device. The ESD stress blocking region increases a gate resistance of the semiconductor device, which results in reducing the ESD stress applied to the semiconductor device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyong Jin Hwang, Hyun Kwang Jeong
  • Patent number: 9721942
    Abstract: By holding a voltage that depends on a video signal in a first capacitor, holding a voltage that depends on a threshold voltage of a transistor in a second capacitor, and then applying a total voltage of the voltage held in the first capacitor and the voltage held in the second capacitor between a source and a gate of the transistor, even when the threshold voltage varies, a current corresponding to the video signal can be supplied to a load. The voltage that depends on the video signal and the voltage that depends on the threshold voltage of the transistor are separately acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kimura
  • Patent number: 9721943
    Abstract: A wiring structure may include at least two conductive material layers and a two-dimensional layered material layer in an interface between the at least two conductive material layers. The two-dimensional layered material layer may include a grain expander layer which causes grain size of a conductive material layer which is on the two-dimensional layered material layer to be increased. Increased grain size may result in resistance of the second conductive material layer to be reduced. As a result, the total resistance of the wiring structure may be reduced. The two-dimensional layered material layer may contribute to reducing a total thickness of the wiring structure. Thus, a low-resistance and high-performance wiring structure without an increase in a thickness thereof may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changseok Lee, Keunwook Shin, Hyeonjin Shin, Seongjun Park, Hyunjae Song, Hyangsook Lee, Yeonchoo Cho
  • Patent number: 9721944
    Abstract: A hybrid semiconductor bipolar switch in which a normally-on high-voltage wide-bandgap semiconductor bipolar switch and a normally-off field effect transistor are connected in a cascode (Baliga-pair) configuration. The switch may be constructed as a stacked hybrid device where a discrete transistor is bonded on top of a bipolar switch. Power systems may use plural switches paired with anti-parallel diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: United Silicon Carbide, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Fursin, Anup Bhalla