Vertical Walled Groove Patents (Class 257/513)
  • Publication number: 20080217729
    Abstract: An isolated CMOS pair of transistors formed in a P-type semiconductor substrate includes an N-type submerged floor isolation region and a filled trench extending downward from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. Together the floor isolation region and the filled trench form an isolated pocket of the substrate which contains a P-channel MOSFET in an N-well and an N-channel MOSFET in a P-well. The substrate does not contain an epitaxial layer, thereby overcoming the many problems associated with fabricating the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Disney, Richard K. Williams
  • Patent number: 7420262
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic component and a semiconductor wafer, and a method for producing them. The semiconductor wafer has strip-type separating regions. The separating regions are provided with through contacts in the direction of the rear side of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor chip separated from such a semiconductor wafer constitutes an electronic component with external contacts in the form of edge contacts. Such an electronic component of semiconductor chip size can be used in diverse ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bauer, Peter Strobel, Gerald Ofner, Edward Fürgut, Simon Jerebic, Thomas Bemmerl, Markus Fink, Hermann Vilsmeier
  • Publication number: 20080135976
    Abstract: A plurality of trenches are provided in a semiconductor layer and integrated by thermal oxidation to form an insulating region having void parts therein. The thickness of the insulating region can be controlled by the depth of the trenches. This makes it possible to form the insulating region having a thickness larger than that formed by using a conventional LOCOS method, without increasing crystal defects and the like. By providing the insulating region, for example, below an electrode pad, a stray capacitance can be reduced. Moreover, the stray capacitance can be further reduced by the void parts inside the insulating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita ODAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7382015
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, which is intended to prevent data destruction by movements of electric charges between floating gates and thereby improve the reliability, includes element isolation/insulation films buried into a silicon substrate to isolate stripe-shaped element-forming regions. Formed on the substrate are a floating gate via a first gate insulating film and further a control gate via a second gate insulating film. Source and drain diffusion layers are formed in self-alignment with control gates. The second gate insulating film on the floating gate is divided and separated together with the floating gate by slits above the element isolation/insulation films into discrete portions of individual memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Iguchi, Yoshiaki Himeno, Hiroaki Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 7358587
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a material within an opening, comprising: a) forming an etch-stop layer over a substrate, the etch-stop layer having an opening extending therethrough to expose a portion of the underlying substrate and comprising an upper corner at a periphery of the opening, the upper corner having a corner angle with a first degree of sharpness; b) reducing the sharpness of the corner angle to a second degree; c) after reducing the sharpness, forming a layer of material within the opening and over the etch-stop layer; and d) planarizing the material with a method selective for the material relative to the etch-stop layer to remove the material from over the etch-stop layer while leaving the material within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Moore, Guy T. Blalock
  • Patent number: 7345352
    Abstract: An insulating tube includes a underlying insulating film, a first sidewall insulating film disposed on the underlying insulating film, a second sidewall insulating film disposed on the underlying insulating film, opposite to the first sidewall insulating film so as to provide a cavity between the first and second sidewall insulating films having the same height as the first sidewall insulating film, and an upper insulating film provided over the first and second sidewall insulating films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Matsumura, Takahito Nakajima, Hiroshi Kawamoto, Mikie Miyasato, Yoshihiro Uozumi
  • Patent number: 7332790
    Abstract: A process of making a partial silicon-on-insulator ledge is disclosed. A deep implantation region is created in a substrate. During a lateral cavity etch, the deep implantation region resists etching. The lateral cavity etch acts to partially isolate an active area above the deep implantation region. The deep implantation region is formed at various process stages according to embodiments. An active device is also disclosed that is achieved by the process. A system is also disclosed that uses the active device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, Chandra Mouli, Lyle Jones
  • Patent number: 7332407
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for a high-k gate dielectric MOS transistor is described. A substrate is provided, a high-k gate dielectric material is deposited over the substrate, a gate electrode layer is deposited over the dielectric material and a patterning step is performed creating sidewalls of the electrode and dielectric and removing a portion of the substrate. Sidewall material is deposited over the patterned gate electrode and dielectric creating protective sidewalls on the patterned gate electrode and dielectric that extend beneath the bottom of the dielectric. In alternative embodiments a channel material is deposited beneath the high-k gate dielectric and the patterning step removes at least a portion of the channel material beneath the high-k gate dielectric. In alternative embodiments the channel material is counter-doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Shang-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 7329938
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first cell spanning one of the p-wells and one of the n-wells adjacent to each other, and having one end on a dividing line inside the p-well and another end on a dividing line inside the n-well, and having a height determined by the one end and the another end; and a second cell, spanning another one of the p-wells and another one of the n-wells adjacent to each other, with a height covering the entire widths of the p- and n-wells measured along the column direction, the height of the second cell is double that of the first cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koichi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7326983
    Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention is a method of forming an isolation structure including: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a buried N-doped region in the substrate; (c) forming a vertical trench in the substrate, the trench extending into the N-doped region; (d) removing the N-doped region to form a lateral trench communicating with and extending perpendicular to the vertical trench; and (e) at least partially filling the lateral trench and filling the vertical trench with one or more insulating materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: An L. Steegen, Maheswaran Surendra, Hsing-Jen Wann, Ying Zhang, Franz Zach, Robert Wong
  • Patent number: 7288462
    Abstract: Particle migration, such as silver electro-migration, on a flat ceramic surface is effectively eliminated by an upward vertical barrier formed on the surface or a groove formed in the surface between two silver conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhonglin Wu, Scott R. Sehlin, Deno K. Georgaras
  • Patent number: 7279770
    Abstract: A structure for isolating areas in a semiconductor device is provided. The structure includes a trench having first and second portions formed in a substrate. The first portion has a first width, and the second portion has a second width and is below the first portion. The first width is greater than the second width. A first insulating liner is formed along at least lateral sidewalls of the first portion. A spacer material is formed along at least lateral sidewalls of the insulating liner and filling the second portion. A filler material is over said spacer material and within the first portion. Methods for forming the structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 7279769
    Abstract: To suppress occurrence of dislocation in a substrate of a semiconductor device at an end portion of a gate electrode. Provided is a semiconductor device having a plurality of element formation regions formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation trench located between the element formation regions and having an element isolation insulating film embedded therein, and a gate insulating film, a gate electrode and a plurality of interconnect layers formed thereabove, each formed in the element formation region, wherein the element isolation trench has a thermal oxide film formed between the semiconductor substrate and the element isolation insulating film, and the element isolation film has a great number of micro-pores formed inside thereof and is more porous than the thermal oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Norio Ishitsuka, Jun Tanaka, Tomio Iwasaki, Hiroyuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 7274073
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having devices fabricated in both SOI regions and bulk regions, wherein the regions are connected by a trench filled with epitaxially deposited material. The filled trench provides a continuous semiconductor surface joining the SOI and bulk regions. The SOI and bulk regions may have the same or different crystal orientations. The present integrated circuit is made by forming a substrate with SOI and bulk regions separated by an embedded sidewall spacer (made of dielectric). The sidewall spacer is etched, forming a trench that is subsequently filled with epitaxial material. After planarizing, the substrate has SOI and bulk regions with a continuous semiconductor surface. A butted P-N junction and silicide layer can provide electrical connection between the SOI and bulk regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7268402
    Abstract: An isolation trench in a semiconductor includes a first isolation trench portion having a first depth and having a first sidewall intersecting a surface of the semiconductor at a first angle. A second isolation trench portion extends within and below the first isolation trench portion. The second isolation trench portion has a second depth and includes a second sidewall. The second sidewall intersects the first sidewall at an angle with respect to the surface that is greater than the first angle. A dielectric material fills the first and second isolation trench portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiji Jono, Hirokazu Ueda, Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7262477
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate with a trench, and a particulate insulating layer filling at least a lower portion of the trench and containing insulating particles. The semiconductor device may further include a reflowable dielectric layer covering an upper surface of the particulate insulating layer, the insulating particles being stable at the melting point or the softening point of the reflowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideki Okumura, Hitoshi Kobayashi, Masanobu Tsuchitani, Akihiro Osawa, Satoshi Aida, Shigeo Kouzuki, Masaru Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 7239003
    Abstract: Isolation methods and devices for isolating regions of a semiconductor device. The isolation method and structure include forming an isolating trench in an active area and filling the trench with a doped conductive material containing silicon. Suitable conductive materials containing silicon include polysilicon and silicon-germanium. There is also provided a method and structure for isolating the regions by providing a trench in an active area of a substrate, growing an epitaxial layer in the trench to fill the trench or to partially fill the trench and depositing an insulating material over the epitaxial layer and within the trench to completely fill the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Mouli, Howard Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7235856
    Abstract: In etching trench isolation structures, a pad oxide or sacrificial oxide may be formed with substantially the same (or higher) etch rate as the trench filler. Because the etch rate in the trench area is substantially similar to (or less than) the etch rate in the non-trench area, similar amounts of material are removed in both the trench area and non-trench area in a subsequent etching process. Consequently, formation of notches and grooves in the semiconductor structure is minimized. A sacrificial oxide layer may be made by depositing a layer of a suitable material on the surface of a semiconductor structure. By depositing a sacrificial oxide layer instead of thermally growing a sacrificial oxide layer, grooves and the notches in the trench areas are filled by the deposited material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Moore, David L. Chapek
  • Patent number: 7221030
    Abstract: A pad oxide film and a silicon nitride film are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Next, after the patterning of the silicon nitride film, by etching the pad oxide film and the substrate, a first trench is formed in a first region and a second trench is formed in a second region. After that, by performing side etching of the pad oxide film of the first region while protecting the second region with a resist, a gap is formed between the substrate and the silicon nitride film. Subsequently, the inner surfaces of the first and second trenches are oxidized. At this time, a relatively large volume of oxidizing agent (oxygen) is supplied to a top edge portion of the first trench, and the curvature of the corner of the substrate increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hitoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 7205617
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has p-channel field effect transistors disposed in a lattice shape. In order to generate compression stress in the channel of a p-channel field effect transistor, a long active region of a plurality of transistors is divided for each gate electrode and a sufficiently thin shallow trench isolation (STI) is formed between adjacent gate electrodes. The drain current characteristics can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohta, Yukihiro Kumagai, Yasuo Sonobe, Kousuke Ishibashi, Yasushi Tainaka, Masafumi Miyamoto, Hideo Miura
  • Patent number: 7196394
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconducting wafer is provided that utilizes fewer processing operations, reduces process variation, and lowers cost as well as production time. The method provided further improves via reliability by permitting vias to be formed with consistent aspect ratios. Devices and method are provided that substantially eliminate four way intersections on semiconductor wafers between conducting elements and supplemental elements. The devices and methods provide a more uniform deposition rate of a subsequent dielectric layer. Four way intersections are removed from both conductive element regions as well as supplemental element regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Ireland, Werner Juengling, Stephen M. Krazit
  • Patent number: 7176549
    Abstract: A shallow trench isolation is disclosed wherein the trench depth is reduced beyond that achieved in prior art processes. The reduced trench depth helps to eliminate the formation of voids during the trench refill process and provides for greater planarity in the final isolation structure. Effective device isolation is achieved with a reduced trench depth by utilizing refilling dielectric materials having low dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus F. Schuegraf, Aftab Ahmad
  • Patent number: 7170109
    Abstract: A technique enabling to improve element isolation characteristic of a semiconductor device is provided. An element isolation structure is provided in a semiconductor substrate in which a silicon layer, a compound semiconductor layer and a semiconductor layer are laminated in this order. The element isolation structure is composed of a trench, a semiconductor film, and first and second insulating films. The trench extends through the semiconductor layer and extends to the inside of the compound semiconductor layer. The semiconductor film is provided on the surface of the trench, and the first insulating film is provided on the semiconductor film. The second insulting film is provided on the first insulating film and fills the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kohei Sugihara, Kazunobu Ota, Hidekazu Oda, Takahashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7138319
    Abstract: A protective structure for blocking the propagation of defects generated in a semiconductor device is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the structure includes a deep trench isolation formed between a memory storage region of the semiconductor device and a logic circuit region of the semiconductor device, the deep trench isolation being filled with an insulative material. The deep trench isolation thereby prevents the propagation of crystal defects generated in the logic circuit region from propagating into the memory storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tze-Chiang Chen, Kiang-Kai Han
  • Patent number: 7135753
    Abstract: III-nitride materials are used to form isolation structures in high voltage ICs to isolate low voltage and high voltage functions on a monolithic power IC. Critical performance parameters are improved using III-nitride materials, due to the improved breakdown performance and thermal performance available in III-nitride semiconductor materials. An isolation structure may include a dielectric layer that is epitaxially grown using a III-nitride material to provide a simplified manufacturing process. The process permits the use of planar manufacturing technology to avoid additional manufacturing costs. High voltage power ICs have improved performance in a smaller package in comparison to corresponding silicon structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Beach, Paul Bridger
  • Patent number: 7105454
    Abstract: Method for etching organic low-k dielectric using ammonia, NH3, as an active etchant. Processes using ammonia results in at least double the etch rate of organic low-k dielectric materials than processes using N2/H2 chemistries, at similar process conditions. The difference is due to the much lower ionization potential of NH3 versus N2 in the process chemistry, which results in significantly higher plasma densities and etchant concentrations at similar process conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Chok W. Ho, Kuo-Lung Tang, Chung-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7098515
    Abstract: An inventive semiconductor chip is provided. Generally, shallow trenches containing field oxide are provided on a substrate. At least one semiconductor device is formed between the shallow trenches. An oxide layer is formed over the at least one semiconductor device and the field oxide. An etch stop layer is formed over the oxide layer. An inter layer dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop layer. At least one contact hole is etched through the inter layer dielectric layer, the etch stop layer and at least partially through the oxide layer. The contact hole is filled with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Shioun Gu, Derryl J. Allman, Peter McGrath
  • Patent number: 7081397
    Abstract: A lateral trench in a semiconductor substrate is formed by the following steps. Form a lateral implant mask (LIM) over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. Implant a heavy dopant concentration into the substrate through the LIM to form a lateral implant region (LIR) in the substrate. Strip the LIM exposing the top surface of the substrate. Form an epitaxial silicon layer over the top surface of the substrate burying the LIR. Form a trench mask over the epitaxial layer. Etch a trench reaching through the epitaxial layer and the LIR. Form oxidized trench sidewalls, an oxidized trench bottom and oxidized sidewalls of the LIR. Etch the oxidized sidewalls of the LIR until the LIR is exposed. Form laterally extending trenches by etching away the LIR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher V. Baiocco, An L. Steegen, Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 7071529
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes semiconductor elements and at least one dummy pattern. Each or at least some of the semiconductor elements has a Damascene gate structure or a replacing gate structure and is located in element-forming regions. In addition, at least a dummy pattern is located in a region different from the element-forming regions. The dummy pattern may have a semiconductor element structure of the same or different kind from the Damascene gate structure or replacing gate structure. The dummy pattern may be a pattern of an insulating film, an interface transistor, or an analog circuit capacitor electrode instead of the dummy gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miyagawa, Mitsuo Yasuhira, Yasushi Akasaka, Isamu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7053451
    Abstract: In formation of a source/drain region of an NMOS transistor, a gate-directional extension region <41a> of an N+ block region <41> in an N+ block resist film <51> prevents a well region <11> located under the gate-directional extension region <41a> from implantation of an N-type impurity. A high resistance forming region, which is the well region <11> having a possibility for implantation of an N-type impurity on a longitudinal extension of a gate electrode <9>, can be formed as a high resistance forming region <A2> narrower than a conventional high resistance forming region <A1>. Thus, a semiconductor device having a partially isolated body fixed SOI structure capable of reducing body resistance and a method of manufacturing the same are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Maeda, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Takashi Ipposhi
  • Patent number: 7045875
    Abstract: A plurality of trenches for defining active regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate, using a plurality of trench masks. A gap fill insulating layer is formed on the resulting structure to fill a gap region bounded by the trench and the trench masks. Next, the trench mask and the gap fill insulating layer are patterned to form a trench mask pattern and a gap fill insulating pattern for defining a slit-type opening, extending across and exposes the active region. A gate pattern is formed in the slit-type opening and the trench mask pattern is removed to form a contact opening exposing the active region. Next, a contact plug is formed to fill the contact opening. Here, the contact opening is self-alignedly formed using an etch selectivity between the trench mask and the gap fill insulating layer. The resulting contact opening is a vacancy in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Young Kim, Je-Min Park
  • Patent number: 7033867
    Abstract: The antifuse device comprises an insulating layer positioned in the trench, a conductive member positioned above the insulating layer, at least a portion of the conductive member being positioned within the trench, the conductive member adapted to have at least one programming voltage applied thereto, and at least one doped active region formed in the substrate adjacent the trench. The antifuse further comprises at least one conductive contact coupled to the conductive member, and at least one conductive contact coupled to the doped active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Porter
  • Patent number: 7030445
    Abstract: A source terminal layer, a gate terminal layer, and a drain terminal layer are disposed on main surfaces, opposite to each other, on main surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. These terminal layers are laid out on the respective main surfaces with such sizes as to fall within the areas of the respective main surfaces and joined to their corresponding source, gate, and drain electrodes. A power MOSFET is packaged on a circuit board such that the respective main surfaces intersect substantially at right angles to the circuit board. By a terminal board isolating step or a method of evaporating a metal layer onto the source, gate, and drain electrodes, the power MOSFET is formed with the source terminal layer, gate terminal layer, and drain terminal layer at the stage of a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Kazuya Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 7022583
    Abstract: A method of forming a shallow trench isolation device in order to prevent kick effects comprising a semiconductor structure having a patterned masking layer formed thereon. A shallow trench is formed in the semiconductor structure by using the patterned masking layer as a mask. A liner oxide layer and a doped dielectric layer are formed in sequence on the semiconductor structure to cover the surface of the shallow trench. A layer of oxide is formed on the semiconductor structure to fill the shallow trench. The dopants in the doped dielectric layer diffuse into the semiconductor structure surrounding the shallow trench to form an ion doped area, thereby increasing the threshold voltage caused by the recess on the corner structure in order to prevent the kick effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: DeXue Leng, Wang Zheng
  • Patent number: 7019380
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an element region, and an element isolation region formed around the element region, the element isolation region being formed of an insulation material having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the element region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomoya Sanuki
  • Patent number: 7009239
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an n-type semiconductor substrate (1) including a p-type collector layer (2) formed in a second main surface side thereof, a trench (13) is formed in a peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate (1) so as to surround the inside and reach the collector layer (2) from a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate (1), and a p-type isolation region (14) formed by diffusion from a sidewall of the trench (13) is provided to be connected to the collector layer (2). The trench (13) is filled with a filling material (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norifumi Tokuda, Tadaharu Minato, Mitsuru Kaneda
  • Patent number: 6960818
    Abstract: A method for reducing hot carrier reliability problems within an integrated circuit device. The method includes forming a shallow trench isolation structure incorporated with the device by filling a trench with a photoresist plug and removing a portion of the photoresist plug to a level below the depth of a channel also incorporated with the device. A nitride liner disposed within the trench under the photoresist plug is then recessed to a level substantially equal to the level of the photoresist material, which is then removed. The method further includes the deposition of oxide fill within the trench, thereby encapsulating the recessed nitride liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rajesh Rengarajan, Venkatachalam C. Jaiprakash
  • Patent number: 6958518
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a method of manufacture therefor. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a gate formed there over. The semiconductor device further includes an isolation region having at least one source/drain region formed there over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Wylie
  • Patent number: 6940145
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (e.g. MOSFET or IGBT) comprises active and termination regions (1,2) formed in a semiconductor substrate (4). The substrate (4) has an upper surface and a termination including a trench (12) extending into the substrate (4) from the upper surface within the termination region (1). Termination trench (12) is at least partly filled with an insulating material (13) which extends from the termination trench (12) to overlie adjacent regions of the device above the surface. A channel stop region (11) extends laterally from a side wall of the termination trench (12) into the substrate (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Zetex PLC
    Inventors: Peter Blair, Adrian Finney, Paul Gerrard, Andrew Wood, David Mottram
  • Patent number: 6933206
    Abstract: An isolation trench formed in a semiconductor substrate and is filled with at least one insulating liner layer that is deposited along sidewalls and a bottom region of the isolation trench and with at least one silicon liner layer that is deposited atop the insulating liner layer. An upper portion of the insulating liner layers are removed, and the silicon liner layers are removed. A remaining portion of the trench is filled with another insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jochen Beintner, Andreas Knorr
  • Patent number: 6924542
    Abstract: A method and structure to form shallow trench isolation regions without trench oxide grooving is provided. In particular, a method includes a two-step oxide process in which an oxide liner lines the inside surface of a trench and the trench is filled with a bulk oxide layer, preferably using a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) process. The oxide liner and the bulk oxide layer are formed to have similar etch rates. Thus, when etching the oxide liner and the bulk oxide layer between stack structures, a common dielectric top surface is formed that is substantially planar and without grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: ProMos Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hua Ji, Dong Jun Kim, Jin-Ho Kim, Chuck Jang
  • Patent number: 6924543
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a semiconductor device having increased electrical carrier mobility is described. That method and apparatus comprises forming two recesses within a substrate, and providing a material within the two recesses. The material has a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to facilitate introduction of a predetermined strain within the substrate in a location between the two recesses. Also described is a semiconductor device that comprises a substrate having two recesses formed therein, and a material disposed within the two recesses. The material has a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to facilitate introduction of a predetermined strain within the substrate in a location between the two recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter G. Tolchinsky, Irwin Yablok
  • Patent number: 6919611
    Abstract: Gate structures, comprising a first insulation film, a first gate material and a gate oxide film, are formed. A second insulation film is formed on side surfaces of the gate structures in the peripheral region. Trenches are formed at a surface of the semiconductor substrate by etching the semiconductor substrate with the first and the second insulation films used as masks. The second insulation film formed on side surface of the gate structures is removed, exposing the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the vicinity of the gate structures on both sides of the trenches. Element-isolating insulation films are formed in the trenches and on the exposed substrate. The gate structures in the peripheral region are removed. Gate structures of peripheral transistors are formed between the element-isolating insulation films in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiko Kanda
  • Patent number: 6917092
    Abstract: A wiring structure includes wiring embedded in an insulating layer. A plurality of slit dummies each of that spaced each other are formed in the wiring. The wiring has a first portion that has a width wider than a reference width, and has a second portion that has a width shallower than the reference width. A distance of each slit dummy is less than a width of the reference width. The slit dummies are not formed in the second portion of the wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yoshie
  • Patent number: 6914316
    Abstract: A trench structure of a semiconductor device includes first and second regions of a substrate having first and second trenches, respectively, the first trench having an aspect ratio larger than that of the second trench, a first insulation material on a bottom and sidewalls of the first trench forming a first sub-trench in the first trench, a second insulation material completely filling the first sub-trench, a third insulation material formed on a bottom and sidewalls of the second trench forming a second sub-trench in the second trench, a fourth insulation material formed on a bottom and sidewalls of the second sub-trench, and a fifth insulation material completely filling a third sub-trench formed in the second sub-trench by the fourth insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Jung Yun, Sung-Eui Kim
  • Patent number: 6906419
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a wiring pattern groove is formed in a surface portion of a silicon oxide film provided above a semiconductor substrate. A wiring layer is buried into the wiring pattern groove with a barrier metal film interposed therebetween. The barrier metal film is selectively removed from each sidewall portion of the wiring pattern groove. In other words, the barrier metal film is left only on the bottom of the wiring pattern groove. Thus, a damascene wiring layer having a hollow section whose dielectric constant is low between each sidewall of the wiring pattern groove and each side of the wiring layer can be formed in the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nitta, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Yusuke Kohyama
  • Patent number: 6888213
    Abstract: A dielectric insulation structure is formed in a silicon layer by integrating a dielectric trench structure therein. The dielectric trench structure defines an insulation well where semiconductor devices are to be integrated therein. The dielectric trench structure is on a hollow region that is completely surrounded by a dielectric area. The dielectric area also forms the side insulation of the dielectric trench structure. The dielectric trench structure is interrupted by a plurality of points to define a plurality of side support regions for the insulation well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Leonardi, Roberto Modica, Giuseppe Arena
  • Patent number: 6888214
    Abstract: Isolation methods and devices for isolating regions of a semiconductor device. The isolation method and structure include forming an isolating trench in an active area and filling the trench with a doped conductive material containing silicon. Suitable conductive materials containing silicon include polysilicon and silicon-germanium. There is also provided a method and structure for isolating the regions by providing a trench in an active area of a substrate, growing an epitaxial layer in the trench to fill the trench or to partially fill the trench and depositing an insulating material over the epitaxial layer and within the trench to completely fill the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Mouli, Howard Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6885080
    Abstract: A protective structure for blocking the propagation of defects generated in a semiconductor device is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the structure includes a deep trench isolation formed between a memory storage region of the semiconductor device and a logic circuit region of the semiconductor device, the deep trench isolation being filled with an insulative material. The deep trench isolation thereby prevents the propagation of crystal defects generated in the logic circuit region from propagating into the memory storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tze-Chiang Chen, Liang-Kai Han
  • Patent number: 6882025
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a region of semiconductor material with first and second isolation trenches formed therein. The first isolation trench is lined with a first material having a low oxygen diffusion rate and is filled with an insulating material. The second isolation trench is not lined with the first material but is filled with an insulating material. A first transistor is formed adjacent the first isolation region and a second transistor formed adjacent the second isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yee-Chia Yeo, Chih-Hsin Ko, Wen-Chin Lee, Chenming Hu