Including Dielectric Isolation Means Patents (Class 257/506)
  • Patent number: 8704331
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) integrated chip with cross-area interconnection, comprising: a substrate; a MEMS device area on the substrate; a microelectronic device area on the substrate; a guard ring separating the MEMS device area and the microelectronic device area; and a conductive layer on the surface of the substrate below the guard ring, or a well in the substrate below the guard ring, as a cross-area interconnection electrically connecting the MEMS device area and the microelectronic device area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc., R.O.C.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hui Hsu, Chuan-Wei Wang, Sheng-Ta Lee
  • Patent number: 8703577
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a deep trench isolation structure, wherein the method comprising steps as follows: A first hard mask layer, a second hard mask layer and a third hard mask layer are firstly formed in sequence on a substrate. The third hard mask layer is then patterned using the second hard mask layer as an etching stop layer. Subsequently, a trench etching process is performed using the patterned third hard mask layer as a mask to form a deep trench in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Meng-Kai Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140103483
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate; an element-forming region that includes semiconductor elements formed on the semiconductor substrate; a buried electrode plug formed so as to penetrate through the semiconductor substrate; and a trench-type electrode that is buried in a trench within the semiconductor substrate positioned between the element-forming region and the buried electrode plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyonori OYU
  • Publication number: 20140103366
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing is provided. The method of manufacturing includes forming shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate and providing a first material and a second material on the substrate. The first material and the second material are mixed into the substrate by a thermal anneal process to form a first island and second island at an nFET region and a pFET region, respectively. A layer of different material is formed on the first island and the second island. The STI relaxes and facilitates the relaxation of the first island and the second island. The first material may be deposited or grown Ge material and the second material may deposited or grown Si:C or C. A strained Si layer is formed on at least one of the first island and the second island.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dureseti CHIDAMBARRAO, Omer H. DOKUMACI, Oleg GLUSCHENKOV
  • Publication number: 20140097499
    Abstract: Methods of pitch doubling of asymmetric features and semiconductor structures including the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single photolithography mask may be used to pitch double three features, for example, of a DRAM array. In one embodiment, two wordlines and a grounded gate over field may be pitch doubled. Semiconductor structures including such features are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal R. Parekh, John K. Zahurak
  • Patent number: 8692350
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing the device, having a p type diffusion layer; a V-groove including a bottom surface parallel to the rear surface and exposing the p type diffusion layer and a tapered side surface rising from the bottom surface; a p type semiconductor layer on the rear surface surrounded by the tapered side surface of the V-groove; and a p type isolation layer formed on the side surface and electrically connecting the p type diffusion layer on the front surface and the p type semiconductor layer on the rear surface. The V-groove has a chamfered configuration around the intersection between a corner part of the side surface and the bottom surface of the V-groove. An object is to prevent performance degradation due to stress concentration at the corner part of a recessed part caused by thermal history in soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Nakazawa, Takahito Harada, Fumio Shigeta, Kyohei Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8692266
    Abstract: A circuit substrate structure including a substrate, a dielectric stack layer, a first plating layer and a second plating layer is provided. The substrate has a pad. The dielectric stack layer is disposed on the substrate and has an opening exposing the pad, wherein the dielectric stack layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a third dielectric layer located between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and there is a gap between the portion of the first dielectric layer surrounding the opening and the portion of the second dielectric layer surrounding the opening. The first plating layer is disposed at the dielectric stack layer. The second plating layer is disposed at the pad, wherein the gap isolates the first plating layer from the second plating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Optromax Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kuo-Tso Chen
  • Patent number: 8692299
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device and a process for making the integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit device including a substrate having a trench formed therein, a first layer of isolation material occupying the trench, a second layer of isolation material formed over the first layer of isolation material, an epitaxially-grown silicon layer on the substrate and horizontally adjacent the second layer of isolation material, and a gate structure formed on the epitaxially-grown silicon, the gate structure defining a channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Hao Hong, You-Hua Chou, Chih-Tsung Lee, Shiu-Ko JangJian, Miao-Cheng Liao, Hsiang Hsiang Ko, Chen-Ming Huang
  • Publication number: 20140091425
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device including fuse elements for performing laser trimming processing, a dummy fuse formed of a first polycrystalline Si film is formed between the fuse elements formed of a second polycrystalline Si film, and a nitride film is formed on the dummy fuse. In this manner, the step difference of an interlayer film caused by the presence and absence of the fuse element formed of the polycrystalline Si film is eliminated, to thereby prevent SOG films having moisture-absorption characteristics on an inner surface of a fuse opening region and on an internal element side from connecting to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Yukimasa MINAMI
  • Patent number: 8686534
    Abstract: A trench isolation structure and a method of forming the same are provided. The trench isolation structure includes: a semiconductor substrate, and trenches formed in the semiconductor substrate and filled with a dielectric layer, where the material of the dielectric layer is a crystalline material. By using the present invention, the size of the divot can be reduced, and device performances can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huicai Zhong, Chao Zhao, Qingqing Liang
  • Patent number: 8686533
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, forming a first circuit and a second circuit at the front side of the semiconductor substrate, bonding the front side of the semiconductor substrate to a carrier substrate, thinning the semiconductor substrate from the back side, and forming an trench from the back side to the front side of the semiconductor substrate to isolate the first circuit from the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chun Wang, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140084412
    Abstract: A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with integrated passive structures and methods of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The method includes forming a stacked structure in an active region and at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) structure adjacent to the stacked structure. The method further includes forming a semiconductor layer directly in contact with the at least one STI structure and the stacked structure. The method further includes patterning the semiconductor layer and the stacked structure to form an active device in the active region and a passive structure of the semiconductor layer directly on the at least one STI structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony I. Chou, Arvind Kumar, Renee T. Mo, Shreesh Narasimha
  • Publication number: 20140084411
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) deep trench capacitor. One embodiment includes a method of forming a deep trench capacitor structure. The method includes: providing a SOI structure including a first and second trench opening in a semiconductor layer of the SOI structure, forming a doped semiconductor layer covering the semiconductor layer, forming a first dielectric layer covering the doped semiconductor layer, forming a node metal layer over the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer covering the node metal layer, filling a remaining portion of each trench opening with a metal layer to form an inner node in each of the trench openings, the metal layer including a plate coupling each of the inner nodes, and forming a node connection structure to conductively connect the node metal layer in the first trench opening with the node metal layer in the second trench opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John E. Barth, JR., Herbert L. Ho, Babar A. Khan, Kirk D. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8680645
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a semiconductor die is provided. The semiconductor die includes a main horizontal surface, an outer edge, an active area, and a peripheral area. The peripheral area includes a dielectric structure surrounding the active area and extending from the main horizontal surface into the semiconductor die. The dielectric structure includes, in a horizontal cross-section, at least one substantially L-shaped portion that is inclined against the outer edge. Further, a method for forming a semiconductor device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Anton Mauder, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20140077332
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to a band engineered semiconductor device comprising a substrate, a protruding structure that is formed in a recess in the substrate and is extending above the recess having a buried portion and an extended portion, and wherein at least the extended portion comprises a semiconductor material having an inverted ā€˜Vā€™ band gap profile with a band gap value increasing gradually from a first value at lateral edges of the structure to a second value, higher than the first value, in a center of the structure. The disclosure is also related to the method of manufacturing of such band engineered semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., IMEC
    Inventors: Benjamin Vincent, Geert Hellings, David Brunco
  • Publication number: 20140070360
    Abstract: In a method for forming a device, a (110) silicon substrate is etched to form first trenches in the (110) silicon substrate, wherein remaining portions of the (110) silicon substrate between the first trenches form silicon strips. The sidewalls of the silicon strips have (111) surface orientations. The first trenches are filled with a dielectric material to from Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions. The silicon strips are removed to form second trenches between the STI regions. An epitaxy is performed to grow semiconductor strips in the second trenches. Top portions of the STI regions are recessed, and the top portions of the semiconductor strips between removed top portions of the STI regions form semiconductor fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chyi Liu
  • Publication number: 20140061742
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an isolation region, an active region, a first gate trench extending continuously from the active region to the isolation region, first and second insulating films, a first conductive layer, and a cap insulating film. The first insulating film covers an inner surface of the first gate trench. The second insulating film interposes between the first insulating film and the inner surface of the first gate trench at the active region. The first conductive layer buries a lower portion of the first gate trench so as to cover at least a part of the first insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Junichiro NISHITANI, Hirotoshi SEKI, Kenji WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20140061850
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming active regions which are separated by a plurality of first trenches, forming supports which fill the first trenches; etching the active regions and defining second trenches which are shallower than the first trenches, forming spacers on sidewalls of the second trenches, etching bottoms of the second trenches and defining third trenches, forming punch-through preventing patterns which fill lower portions of the third trenches, etching sidewalls which are not protected by the punch-through preventing patterns and the spacers, and forming recessed sidewalls which face each other, and forming buried bit lines in the recessed sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Heung-Jae CHO, Eui-Seong HWANG, Eun-Shil PARK, Tae-Yoon KIM, Ju-Hyun MYUNG, Kyu-Hyung YOON
  • Patent number: 8664080
    Abstract: A method for forming a vertical electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes depositing a multi-layer n-type epitaxial layer on a substrate having p-type surface including first epitaxial depositing to form a first n-type epitaxial layer on the p-type surface, and second epitaxial depositing to form a second n-type epitaxial layer formed on the first n-type epitaxial layer. The first type epitaxial layer has a peak doping level which is at least double that of the second n-type epitaxial layer. A p+ layer is formed on the second n-type epitaxial layer. An etch step etches through the p+ layer and multi-layer n-type epitaxial layer to reach the substrate to form a trench. The trench is filled with a filler material to form a trench isolation region. A metal contact is formed on the p+ layer for providing contact to the p+ layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tani, Hiroshi Yamasaki, Kentaro Takahashi, Lily Springer
  • Patent number: 8664742
    Abstract: An intermediate semiconductor structure that comprises a substrate and at least one undercut structure formed in the substrate is disclosed. The undercut feature may include a vertical opening having a lateral cavity therein, the vertical opening extending below the lateral cavity. The lateral cavity may include faceted sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20140054699
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a substrate, a buried oxide (BOX) layer overlying the substrate, at least one semiconductor device overlying the BOX layer, and at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) region in the substrate and adjacent the at least one semiconductor device. The at least one STI region defines a sidewall surface with the substrate and may include an oxide layer lining a bottom portion of the sidewall surface, a nitride layer lining a top portion of the sidewall surface above the bottom portion, and an insulating material within the nitride and oxide layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics, Inc., COMMISSARIATE A ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: QING LIU, PRASANNA KHARE, NICOLAS LOUBET, SHOM PONOTH, MAUD VINET, BRUCE DORIS
  • Patent number: 8659116
    Abstract: A transistor is formed inside an isolation structure which includes a floor isolation region and a trench extending from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material or may have a conductive material in a central portion with a dielectric layer lining the walls of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald R. Disney, Richard K. Williams
  • Patent number: 8659114
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a trench formed in an element isolating area of the semiconductor substrate, and a silicon oxide film that is embedded in the trench and contains an alkali metal element or alkali earth metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Keisuke Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8659115
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an airgap-containing interconnect structure in which a patternable low-k material replaces the need for utilizing a separate photoresist and a dielectric material is provided. Specifically, a simplified method of fabricating single-damascene and dual-damascene airgap-containing low-k interconnect structures with at least one patternable low-k dielectric and at least one inorganic antireflective coating is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Qinghuang Lin
  • Patent number: 8652934
    Abstract: A method of forming a substrate with isolation areas suitable for integration of electronic and photonic devices is provided. A common reticle and photolithographic technique is used to fabricate a mask defining openings for etching first and second areas in a substrate, with the openings for the second trench isolation areas being wider than the openings for the first trench isolation areas. The first and second trench isolation areas are etched in the substrate through the mask and filled with an oxide material. The oxide material is removed from the bottom of the second trench isolation areas. The second trench isolation areas are further etched to the deeper than the first trench isolation areas, and are then filled with oxide material. Electrical devices can be formed on the substrate and electrically isolated by the first trench isolation areas and photonic devices can be formed over the second trench isolation areas and be optically isolated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Meade, Gurtej Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8653568
    Abstract: Manufacturing a semiconductor device with higher operating characteristics and achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A single crystal semiconductor layer is formed so that crystal plane directions of single crystal semiconductor layers which are used for channel regions of an n-channel and a p-channel TFT and which are formed over the same plane of the substrate are the most appropriate crystal plane directions for each TFT. In accordance with such a structure, mobility of carrier flowing through a channel is increased and the semiconductor device with higher operating characteristics can be provided. Low voltage driving can be performed, and low power consumption can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Moriwaka
  • Publication number: 20140042586
    Abstract: There are provided a silicon substrate and a method of fabricating the same, the silicon substrate including: first and second silicon substrates having corresponding bonding surfaces; a silicon oxide film formed between the first and second silicon substrates and having at least one trench communicating with the outside; and a hermetic portion formed on an end portion of the trench according to oxidation of the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Kee LEE, Sung Min CHO
  • Patent number: 8648643
    Abstract: An electronic component is described which includes a first transistor encased in a first package, the first transistor being mounted over a first conductive portion of the first package, and a second transistor encased in a second package, the second transistor being mounted over a second conductive portion of the second package. The component further includes a substrate comprising an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first package is on one side of the substrate with the first conductive portion being electrically connected to the first metal layer, and the second package is on another side of the substrate with the second conductive portion being electrically connected to the second metal layer. The first package is opposite the second package, with at least 50% of a first area of the first conductive portion being opposite a second area of the second conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventor: Yifeng Wu
  • Publication number: 20140035094
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure, comprising: a silicon rubber layer; and a semiconductor layer overlying the silicon rubber layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Eric GRAETZ
  • Publication number: 20140035093
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an interposer for coupling two or more integrated circuit dies to a circuit package. A first integrated circuit portion is disposed on a first location of a single semiconductor substrate. A second integrated circuit portion is disposed on a second location of the single semiconductor substrate, where the second integrated circuit portion is electrically isolated from the first integrated circuit portion along a first axis. The first and second integrated circuit portions are configured to provide an electrical coupling to two or more corresponding top die integrated circuits across a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Carol Pincu, Ido Bourstein
  • Patent number: 8642429
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure with an oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) portion having trench size TCS and trench depth TCD is disclosed. A bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) is provided with a thickness BSLT>TCD. A large trench top area (LTTA) is mapped out atop BSL with its geometry equal to OFLDT. The LTTA is partitioned into interspersed, complementary interim areas ITA-A and ITA-B. Numerous interim vertical trenches of depth TCD are created into the top BSL surface by removing bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-B. The remaining bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-A are converted into oxide. If any residual space is still left between the so-converted ITA-A, the residual space is filled up with oxide deposition. Importantly, the geometry of all ITA-A and ITA-B should be configured simple and small enough to facilitate fast and efficient processes of oxide conversion and oxide filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaobin Wang, Anup Bhalla, Yeeherg Lee
  • Patent number: 8642441
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a memory device with a self-aligned trap layer and rounded active region corners is disclosed. In the present invention, an STI process is performed before any of the charge-trapping and top-level layers are formed. Immediately after the STI process, the sharp corners of the active regions are exposed. Because these sharp corners are exposed at this time, they are available to be rounded through any number of known rounding techniques. Rounding the corners improves the performance characteristics of the memory device. Subsequent to the rounding process, the charge-trapping structure and other layers can be formed by a self-aligned process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Tim Thurgate, Shenqing Fang, Kuo-Tung Chang, YouSeok Suh, Meng Ding, Hidehiko Shiraiwa, Amol Joshi, Harpreet Sachar, David Matsumoto, Lovejeet Singh, Chih-Yuh Yang
  • Publication number: 20140027878
    Abstract: A stack of a first hard mask portion and a second hard mask portion is formed over a semiconductor material layer by anisotropically etching a stack, from bottom to top, of a first hard mask layer and a second hard mask layer. The first hard mask portion is laterally recessed by an isotropic etch. A dielectric material layer is conformally deposited and planarized. The dielectric material layer is etched employing an anisotropic etch that is selective to the first hard mask portion to form a dielectric material portion that laterally surrounds the first hard mask portion. After removal of the second and first hard mask portions, the semiconductor material layer is etched employing the dielectric material portion as an etch mask. Optionally, portions of the semiconductor material layer underneath the first and second hard mask portions can be undercut at a periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chiahsun Tseng, Chun-chen Yeh, Yunpeng Yin, Lei L. Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8637955
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is formed with a NFET device and a PFET device. The NFET device is formed by masking the PFET device regions of a substrate, forming a screen layer through epitaxial growth and in-situ doping, and forming an undoped channel layer on the screen layer through epitaxial growth. The PFET device is similarly formed by masking the NFET regions of a substrate, forming a screen layer through epitaxial growth and in-situ doping, and forming an undoped channel layer on the screen layer through epitaxial growth. An isolation region is formed between the NFET and the PFET device areas to remove any facets occurring during the separate epitaxial growth phases. By forming the screen layer through in-situ doped epitaxial growth, a reduction in junction leakage is achieved versus forming the screen layer using ion, implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SuVolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Lingquan Wang, Teymur Bakhishev, Dalong Zhao, Pushkar Ranade, Sameer Pradhan, Thomas Hoffmann, Lucian Shifren, Lance Scudder
  • Publication number: 20140021470
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode structure includes an insulating layer of a dielectric material on the semiconductor substrate, an oxygen barrier layer on the insulating layer, and a tungsten (W) metal layer on the oxygen barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN M. FRANK, VIJAY NARAYANAN
  • Patent number: 8633090
    Abstract: A method for forming an edge-chamfered substrate with a buried insulating layer is provided, which comprises the following steps: providing a first substrate (S10); forming an etching mask layer on surfaces of the first substrate, wherein said etching mask layer is formed on the whole surfaces of the first substrate (S11); chamfering a glazed surface of the first substrate and the etching mask layer thereon by the edge grinding (S12); by rotary etching, etching the first substrate which is exposed by the edge grinding on the etching mask layer (S13); providing a second substrate (S14); and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate with a buried insulating layer (S15). The method avoids the edge collapses and the changes of the warp degree in subsequent processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Shanghai Simgui Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xiang Wang, Xing Wei, Miao Zhang, Chenglu Lin, Xi Wang
  • Patent number: 8633564
    Abstract: A method of formation of an isolation structure for vertical semiconductor devices, the resulting isolation structure, and a memory device to prevent leakage among adjacent vertical semiconductor devices are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal Karda, Chandra Mouli
  • Publication number: 20140015092
    Abstract: A method for formation of a sealed shallow trench isolation (STI) region for a semiconductor device includes forming a STI region in a substrate, the STI region comprising a STI fill; forming a sealing recess in the STI fill of the STI region; and forming a sealing layer in the sealing recess over the STI fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicants: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael V. Aquilino, Xiang Hu, Daniel J. Jaeger, Byeong Y. Kim, Yong M. Lee, Ying Li, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Publication number: 20140015093
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least one capacitor formed in wiring levels on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an SOI substrate, forming a BOX layer over the SOI substrate, and forming at least one capacitor in wiring levels on the BOX layer, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: William F. CLARK, JR., Stephen E. LUCE
  • Patent number: 8629433
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method for manufacturing, with high yield, a semiconductor device having a crystalline semiconductor layer even if a substrate with low upper temperature limit. A groove is formed in a part of a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor substrate that has a projecting portion, and a bonding layer is formed to cover the projecting portion. In addition, before the bonding layer is formed, a portion of the semiconductor substrate to be the projecting portion is irradiated with accelerated ions to form a brittle layer. After the bonding layer and the supporting substrate are bonded together, heat treatment for separation of the semiconductor substrate is performed to provide a semiconductor layer over the supporting substrate. The semiconductor layer is selectively etched, and a semiconductor element is formed and a semiconductor device is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideto Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 8629527
    Abstract: Methods of pitch doubling of asymmetric features and semiconductor structures including the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single photolithography mask may be used to pitch double three features, for example, of a DRAM array. In one embodiment, two wordlines and a grounded gate over field may be pitch doubled. Semiconductor structures including such features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal R. Parekh, John K. Zahurak
  • Patent number: 8629028
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes forming an oxide containing isolation region in a semiconductor substrate to define an active semiconductor region. A blanket gate stack including a high-k gate dielectric layer may then be formed on the active semiconductor region. At least a portion of the blanket gate stack extends from the active semiconductor device region to the isolation region. The blanket gate stack may then be etched to provide an opening over the isolation region. The surface of the isolation region that is exposed by the opening may then be isotropically etched to form an undercut region in the isolation region that extend under the high-k gate dielectric layer. An encapsulating dielectric material may then be formed in the opening filling the undercut region. The blanket gate stack may then be patterned to form a gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher V. Baiocco, Daniel J. Jaeger, Carl J. Radens, Helen Wang
  • Patent number: 8629038
    Abstract: In a method for forming a device, a (110) silicon substrate is etched to form first trenches in the (110) silicon substrate, wherein remaining portions of the (110) silicon substrate between the first trenches form silicon strips. The sidewalls of the silicon strips have (111) surface orientations. The first trenches are filled with a dielectric material to from Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions. The silicon strips are removed to form second trenches between the STI regions. An epitaxy is performed to grow semiconductor strips in the second trenches. Top portions of the STI regions are recessed, and the top portions of the semiconductor strips between removed top portions of the STI regions form semiconductor fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chyi Liu
  • Patent number: 8629553
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. According to the method, a first active circuitry layer wafer is provided. The first active circuitry layer wafer comprises a P+ portion covered by a P? layer, and the P? layer includes active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded face down to an interface wafer that includes a first wiring layer, and then the P+ portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is selectively removed with respect to the P? layer of the first active circuitry layer wafer. Next, a wiring layer is fabricated on the backside of the P? layer. Also provided are a tangible computer readable medium encoded with a program for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure, and a 3D integrated circuit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Sampath Purushothaman, Roy R. Yu
  • Publication number: 20140008756
    Abstract: A method including providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate including a SOI layer, a buried oxide layer, and a base layer; the buried oxide layer is located below the SOI layer and above the base layer, and the buried oxide layer insulates the SOI layer from the base layer; etching a deep trench into the SOI substrate, the deep trench having a sidewall and a bottom, the deep trench extends from a top surface of the SOI layer, through the buried oxide layer, down to a location within the base layer; forming a dielectric liner on the sidewall and the bottom of the deep trench; forming a conductive fill material on top of the dielectric liner and substantially filling the deep trench, the fill material being thermally conductive; and transferring heat from the SOI layer to the base layer via the fill material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chengwen Pei, Gan Wang
  • Publication number: 20140008757
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has an integrated through substrate via created from a backside of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor substrate and a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer pad on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor wafer also includes an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer formed on a contact etch stop layer, separating the ILD layer from the STI layer pad on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor wafer further includes a through substrate via that extends through the STI layer pad and the semiconductor substrate to couple with at least one contact within the ILD layer. The through substrate via includes a conductive filler material and a sidewall isolation liner layer. The sidewall isolation liner layer has a portion that possibly extends into, but not through, the STI layer pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vidhya Ramachandran, Shiqun Gu
  • Patent number: 8623713
    Abstract: A trench isolation structure and method of forming the trench isolation structure are disclosed. The method includes forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure having an overhang and forming a gate stack. The method further includes forming source and drain recesses adjacent to the STI structure and the gate stack. The source and drain recesses are separated from the STI structure by substrate material. The method further includes forming epitaxial source and drain regions associated with the gate stack by filling the source and drain recesses with stressor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael V. Aquilino, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Patent number: 8624350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device, wherein a storage node contact hole is made large to solve any problem caused during etching a storage node contact hole with a small CD, a landing plug is formed to lower plug resistance. A semiconductor device according to the invention comprises: first and second active regions formed in a substrate, the first and second active being adjacent to each other, each of the first and second active regions including a bit-line contact region and a storage node contact region and a device isolation structure; a word line provided within a trench formed in the substrate; first and second storage node contact plugs assigned to the first and second active regions, respectively, the first and second storage node contact plugs being separated from each other by a bit line groove; and a bit line formed within the bit-line groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Do Hyung Kim, Young Man Cho
  • Patent number: 8624349
    Abstract: Techniques are described to simultaneously form an isolation trench and a handle wafer contact without additional mask steps. In one or more implementations, an isolation trench and a handle wafer contact trench are simultaneously formed in a substrate. The substrate includes an insulating layer that defines a trench bottom of the handle wafer contact trench. A handle wafer is bonded to a bottom surface of the substrate. An oxide insulating layer is deposited in the isolation trench and the handle wafer contact trench. The oxide insulating layer is then etched so that the oxide insulating layer covering the trench bottom is at least partially removed. The trench bottom is then etched so that a top surface of the handle wafer is at least partially exposed. The handle wafer contact trench may then be at least partially filled with an electrical conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S Blair
  • Publication number: 20140001596
    Abstract: The width of a heavily-doped sinker is substantially reduced by forming the heavily-doped sinker to lie in between a number of closely-spaced trench isolation structures, which have been formed in a semiconductor material. During drive-in, the closely-spaced trench isolation structures significantly limit the lateral diffusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Binghua Hu, Sameer Pendharkar, Guru Mathur, Tamura Takehito