Plural Recrystallized Semiconductor Layers (e.g., "3-dimensional Integrated Circuit") Patents (Class 257/74)
  • Patent number: 11487445
    Abstract: A system may include a host processor, a coprocessor for accelerating tasks received from the host processor, and one or more memory dies mounted to the coprocessor. The coprocessor and the memory die may be part of an integrated circuit package. The memory die may convey configuration bit streams to one or more logic sectors in programmable circuitry of the coprocessor over through-silicon vias. Each logic sector may include one or more data registers that are loaded with configuration data from the memory die. Multiple data registers may be loaded with configuration data simultaneously. The configuration data may be loaded onto an array of configuration memory cells using the data registers. Multiple data registers may be pipelined to allow simultaneous loading of configuration data into multiple sub-arrays of the array of configuration memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aravind Dasu, Scott Weber, Jun Pin Tan, Arifur Rahman
  • Patent number: 11101404
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: preparing a wafer including sapphire, the wafer having an upper surface that includes a first region and a second region, the second region surrounding the first region and located at a position at least 2 ?m higher or lower than the first region; and forming a semiconductor layer at the upper surface, the semiconductor layer including at least one layer that comprises AlzGa1?zN (0.03?z?0.15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyamoto, Tokutaro Okabe, Yuya Kagoshima, Keisuke Higashitani, Chiaki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10923399
    Abstract: A method for making a tri-gate FinFET and a dual-gate FinFET includes providing a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) wafer having a semiconductor layer over an insulator layer. The method further includes forming a hard mask on the semiconductor layer and patterning the hard mask to form first and second cap portions. The method also includes etching the semiconductor layer to form first and second fins using the first and second cap portions as an etch mask. The method also includes removing the second cap portion to expose the top surface of the second fin and forming a gate dielectric layer on the first and second fins. The method further includes forming a conductive layer over the gate dielectric layer, selectively etching the conductive layer to form first and second gate structures, forming an interlayer dielectric layer over the gate structures, and planarizing the interlayer dielectric layer using the first cap portion as a polish stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Deyuan Xiao, Guo Qing Chen, Roger Lee
  • Patent number: 10697598
    Abstract: A light string includes an illumination device, a first wire, a second wire, soldering material, and transparent adhesive. The illumination device includes two soldering portions. The conductors of the first wire and the second wire are partially exposed to form a first soldering section and a second soldering section. Soldering material is used to attach the first soldering section and the second soldering section to the two soldering portions. The transparent adhesive forms a layer over, and covers, the illumination device, the first soldering section and the second soldering section, and extends to partially cover other portions of the first wire and the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Blooming International Limited
    Inventors: Johnny Chen, Shu-Fa Shao
  • Patent number: 10600674
    Abstract: Circuits, structures and techniques for independently connecting a surrounding material in a part of a semiconductor device to a contact of its respective device. To achieve this, a combination of one or more conductive wells that are electrically isolated in at least one bias polarity are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lidow, Jianjun Cao, Robert Beach, Johan T. Strydom, Alana Nakata, Guangyuan Zhao
  • Patent number: 10388632
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes, a plurality of semiconductor dies formed using semiconductor substrates, plane orientations of which are the same, and the plurality of the semiconductor dies are stacked such that a crystal orientation of at least one layer is different from other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Aki Dote
  • Patent number: 10312401
    Abstract: A method for producing an electronic semiconductor chip and a semiconductor chip are disclosed. In embodiments, the method includes providing a growth substrate having a growth surface formed by a flat region having a plurality of three-dimensional surface structures on the flat region, directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN over a large area to the growth surface and growing a nitride-based semiconductor layer sequence on the nucleation layer, wherein growing the semiconductor layer sequence includes selectively growing the semiconductor layer sequence upwards from the flat region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Bergbauer, Thomas Lehnhardt, Jürgen Off, Joachim Hertkorn
  • Patent number: 10205073
    Abstract: A light set and method of manufacturer with first and second spaced apart conducting wire conducting wires with one of the wires having an insulated coating and the other bare uninsulated. An LED chip is surfaced mounted at intervals along the wires. The insulated wire has its insulation removed at the intervals which may weaken the wire. The bare wire does not require removal of insulation and thus remains stronger and resists kinking. Alternative structures and method of creating an insulated coating are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Seasonal Specialties, LLC
    Inventor: Steven J. Altamura
  • Patent number: 10128314
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit comprising a transistor comprising first and second conduction terminals and a control terminal. The integrated circuit further comprises a stack of a first dielectric layer, a conductive layer, and a second dielectric layer, the first conduction terminal comprising a first semiconductor region formed in the first dielectric layer, the control terminal comprising a second semiconductor region formed in the conductive layer, and the second conduction terminal comprising a third semiconductor region formed in the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Boivin, Francesco La Rosa, Julien Delalleau
  • Patent number: 10043747
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods are provided in which vertical fuse devices are integrally formed with FINFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor) devices, wherein the vertical fuse devices are formed as part of a process flow for fabricating the FINFET devices. For example, a semiconductor device comprises first and second vertical semiconductor fins, a vertical fuse device, and a FINFET device. The vertical fuse device comprises a metal fuse element formed over a portion of the first vertical semiconductor fin, and the FINFET device comprises a metal gate electrode formed over a portion of the second vertical semiconductor fin. The metal fuse element and the metal gate electrode are concurrently formed as part of a replacement metal gate process flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Junli Wang, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 10032717
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods are provided in which vertical fuse devices are integrally formed with FINFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor) devices, wherein the vertical fuse devices are formed as part of a process flow for fabricating the FINFET devices. For example, a semiconductor device comprises first and second vertical semiconductor fins, a vertical fuse device, and a FINFET device. The vertical fuse device comprises a metal fuse element formed over a portion of the first vertical semiconductor fin, and the FINFET device comprises a metal gate electrode formed over a portion of the second vertical semiconductor fin. The metal fuse element and the metal gate electrode are concurrently formed as part of a replacement metal gate process flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Junli Wang, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9607876
    Abstract: Circuits, structures and techniques for independently connecting a surrounding material in a part of a semiconductor device to a contact of its respective device. To achieve this, a combination of one or more conductive wells that are electrically isolated in at least one bias polarity are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lidow, Jianjun Cao, Robert Beach, Johan Strydom, Alana Nakata, Guang Y. Zhao
  • Patent number: 9385088
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a first layer including first transistors including at least one first monocrystalline silicon transistor channel; a second layer including second transistors including at least one second monocrystalline non-silicon transistor channel; a plurality of connection paths extending from the second transistors to the first transistors, where at least one of the connection paths includes at least one through layer via with a diameter of less than 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC 3D INC.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Deepak C. Sekar, Brian Cronquist
  • Patent number: 9312266
    Abstract: Memories and their formation are disclosed. One such memory has a first array of first memory cells extending in a first direction from a first surface of a semiconductor. A second array of second memory cells extends in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, from a second surface of the semiconductor. Both arrays may be non-volatile memory arrays. For example, one of the memory arrays may be a NAND flash memory array, while the other may be a one-time-programmable memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, John Zahurak, Siddartha Kondoju, Haitao Liu, Nishant Sinha
  • Patent number: 9252334
    Abstract: A light emitting element includes an insulating substrate; a semiconductor portion disposed on the substrate, the semiconductor portion having an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer in order from a substrate side; an n-side electrode electrically connected to the n-type semiconductor layer; and a p-side electrode electrically connected to the p-type semiconductor layer. The semiconductor portion includes a first through portion defined by a first inner surface formed at the semiconductor portion, the first through portion penetrating through the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer to expose the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki Yamane
  • Patent number: 9117830
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a backside surface; integrated circuit features formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a polycrystalline silicon layer disposed on the backside surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manuacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Hsu, Chia-Chen Chen, Tzung-Chi Fu, Tzu-Wei Kao, Yu Chao Lin
  • Patent number: 8872183
    Abstract: Three-dimensional semiconductor devices are provided. The three-dimensional semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate. The buffer layer includes a material having an etching selectivity relative to that of the substrate. A multi-layer stack including alternating insulation patterns and conductive patterns is provided on the buffer layer opposite the substrate. One or more active patterns respectively extend through the alternating insulation patterns and conductive patterns of the multi-layer stack and into the buffer layer. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Il Chang, Changhyun Lee, Byoungkeun Son, Jin-Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 8872249
    Abstract: The technology of the present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device and a fabrication method thereof. The non-volatile memory device includes channel layers protruding vertically from a substrate, a plurality of hole-supply layers and a plurality of gate electrodes, which are alternately stacked along the channel layers, and a memory film interposed between the channel layers and the gate electrodes and between the hole-supply layers and the gate electrodes. According to this technology, the hole-supply layers are formed between the memory cells such that sufficient holes are supplied to the memory cells during the erase operation of the memory cells, whereby the erase operation of the memory cells is smoothly performed without using the GIDL current, and the properties of the device are protected from being deteriorated due to program/erase cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Wook Jung
  • Patent number: 8823007
    Abstract: An integrated MEMS System. CMOS and MEMS devices can be provided in order to form an integrated CMOS-MEMS system. The system can include a silicon substrate layer, a CMOS layer, MEMS and CMOS devices, and a wafer level packaging (WLP) layer. The CMOS layer can form an interface region, one which any number of CMOS MEMS devices can be configured. The integrated MEMS devices can include, but not exclusively, an combination of the following types of sensors: magnetic, pressure, humidity, temperature, chemical, biological, or inertial. Furthermore, the overlying WLP layer can be configured to hermetically seal any number of these integrated devices. The present technique provides an easy to use process that relies upon conventional process technology without substantial modifications to conventional equipment and process and reduces off-chip connections, which make the mass production of smaller and thinner units possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventor: Xiao “Charles” Yang
  • Patent number: 8791464
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked structure, a semiconductor pillar, a memory layer and an outer insulating film. The stacked structure includes a plurality of electrode films and a plurality of interelectrode insulating films alternately stacked in a first direction. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked structure in the first direction. The memory layer is provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar. The outer insulating film is provided between the electrode films and the memory layer. The device includes a first region and a second region. An outer diameter of the outer insulating film along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the first region is larger than that in the second region. A thickness of the outer insulating film along the second direction in the first region is thicker than that in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoko Fujiwara, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Hideaki Aochi, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Yoshimasa Mikajiri, Shigeto Oota
  • Patent number: 8735902
    Abstract: Memories and their formation are disclosed. One such memory has a first array of first memory cells extending in a first direction from a first surface of a semiconductor. A second array of second memory cells extends in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, from a second surface of the semiconductor. Both arrays may be non-volatile memory arrays. For example, one of the memory arrays may be a NAND flash memory array, while the other may be a one-time-programmable memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, John Zahurak, Siddartha Kondoju, Haitao Liu, Nishant Sinha
  • Patent number: 8704238
    Abstract: A three-dimensional integrated circuit device includes a first substrate having a first crystal orientation comprising at least one or more PMOS devices thereon and a first dielectric layer overlying the one or more PMOS devices. The three-dimensional integrated circuit device also includes a second substrate having a second crystal orientation comprising at least one or more NMOS devices thereon; and a second dielectric layer overlying the one or more NMOS devices. An interface region couples the first dielectric layer to the second dielectric layer to form a hybrid structure including the first substrate overlying the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventor: Xiao (Charles) Yang
  • Patent number: 8689152
    Abstract: A double-sided integrated circuit chips, methods of fabricating the double-sided integrated circuit chips and design structures for double-sided integrated circuit chips. The method includes removing the backside silicon from two silicon-on-insulator wafers having devices fabricated therein and bonding them back to back utilizing the buried oxide layers. Contacts are then formed in the upper wafer to devices in the lower wafer and wiring levels are formed on the upper wafer. The lower wafer may include wiring levels. The lower wafer may include landing pads for the contacts. Contacts to the silicon layer of the lower wafer may be silicided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Mark D. Jaffe, Paul D. Kartschoke, Stephen E. Luce, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8686419
    Abstract: A memory device in a 3-D read and write memory includes a resistance-changing layer, and a local contact resistance in series with, and local to, the resistance-changing layer. The local contact resistance is established by a junction between a semiconductor layer and a metal layer. Further, the local contact resistance has a specified level of resistance according to a doping concentration of the semiconductor and a barrier height of the junction. A method for fabricating such a memory device is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Franz Kreupl, Deepak C Sekar
  • Patent number: 8659028
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) high density memory array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines (i.e., sense lines) with segment switch devices within the memory array that connect the segments to global bit lines. The segment switch devices reside on one or more layers of the integrated circuit, preferably residing on each bit line layer. The global bit lines reside preferably on one layer below the memory array, but may reside on more than one layer. The bit line segments preferably share vertical connections to an associated global bit line. In certain EEPROM embodiments, the array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines with segment connection switches on multiple layers and shared vertical connections to a global bit line layer. Such memory arrays may be realized with much less write-disturb effects for half selected memory cells, and may be realized with a much smaller block of cells to be erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Roy E. Scheuerlein, Alper Ilkbahar, Luca G. Fasoli
  • Publication number: 20140027776
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a transistor is disclosed. The transistor comprises a collector, a base and an emitter, wherein a first end width of the base is larger than a middle width of the base, wherein a first end width of the collector is larger than a middle width of the collector, or wherein a first end width of the emitter is larger than a middle width of the emitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Klaus Diefenbeck
  • Patent number: 8637925
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming nickel-silicide. The method may include depositing first and second metal layers over at least one of a gate, a source, and a drain region of a field-effect-transistor (FET) through a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, wherein the first metal layer is deposited using a first nickel target material containing platinum (Pt), and the second metal layer is deposited on top of the first metal layer using a second nickel target material containing no or less platinum than that in the first nickel target material; and annealing the first and second metal layers covering the FET to form a platinum-containing nickel-silicide layer at a top surface of the gate, source, and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Asa Frye, Andrew Simon
  • Patent number: 8637870
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) high density memory array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines (i.e., sense lines) with segment switch devices within the memory array that connect the segments to global bit lines. The segment switch devices reside on one or more layers of the integrated circuit, preferably residing on each bit line layer. The global bit lines reside preferably on one layer below the memory array, but may reside on more than one layer. The bit line segments preferably share vertical connections to an associated global bit line. In certain EEPROM embodiments, the array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines with segment connection switches on multiple layers and shared vertical connections to a global bit line layer. Such memory arrays may be realized with much less write-disturb effects for half selected memory cells, and may be realized with a much smaller block of cells to be erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Roy E. Scheuerlein, Alper Ilkbahar, Luca G. Fasoli
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8618542
    Abstract: Testing of integrated circuits is achieved by a test architecture utilizing a scan frame input shift register, a scan frame output shift register, a test controller, and a test interface comprising a scan input, a scan clock, a test enable, and a scan output. Scan frames input to the scan frame input shift register contain a test stimulus data section and a test command section. Scan frames output from the scan frame output shift register contain a test response data section and, optionally, a section for outputting other data. The command section of the input scan frame controls the test architecture to execute a desired test operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8598564
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has a first wire, a second wire, and a memory cell electrically coupled to the first wire at one end and to the second wire at the other end. The memory cell has a resistance change layer to store information by changing a resistance value and a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to both ends of the resistance change layer and not containing a precious metal. The first electrode includes an outside electrode and an interface electrode formed between the outside electrode and the resistance change layer. The thickness of the interface electrode is less than the thickness of the outside electrode. The resistivity of the interface electrode is higher than the resistivity of the outside electrode. The resistance value of the first electrode is lower than the resistance value of the resistance change layer in a low resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Sakotsubo
  • Patent number: 8513791
    Abstract: A multi-ported CAM cell in which the negative effects of increased travel distance have been substantially reduced is provided. The multi-ported CAM cell is achieved in the present invention by utilizing three-dimensional integration in which multiple active circuit layers are vertically stack and vertically aligned interconnects are employed to connect a device from one of the stacked layers to another device in another stack layer. By vertically stacking multiple active circuit layers with vertically aligned interconnects, each compare port of the multi-port CAM can be implemented on a separate layer above or below the primary data storage cell. This allows the multi-port CAM structure to be implemented within the same area footprint as a standard Random Access Memory (RAM) cell, minimizing data access and match compare delays. Each compare match line and data bit line has the length associated with a simple two-dimensional Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Bucki, Jagreet S. Atwal, Joseph S. Barnes, Kerry Bernstein, Eric Robinson
  • Patent number: 8507918
    Abstract: Memory devices include a stack of interleaved conductive patterns and insulating patterns disposed on a substrate. A semiconductor pattern passes through the stack of conductive patterns and insulating patterns to contact the substrate, the semiconductor pattern having a graded grain size distribution wherein a mean grain size in a first portion of the semiconductor pattern proximate the substrate is less than a mean grain size in a second portion of the semiconductor pattern further removed from the substrate. The graded grain size distribution may be achieved, for example, by partial laser annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Hoon Son, Myoungbum Lee, Kihyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20130168684
    Abstract: A crystal oriented metal back contact for solar cells is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device and methods for making the photovoltaic device are disclosed. The photovoltaic device includes a metal substrate with a crystalline orientation and a heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer having the same crystal orientation of the metal substrate. A heteroepitaxial buffer layer having the crystal orientation of the metal substrate is positioned between the substrate and the crystal silicon layer to reduce diffusion of metal from the metal foil into the crystal silicon layer and provide chemical compatibility with the heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer. Additionally, the buffer layer includes one or more electrically conductive pathways to electrically couple the crystal silicon layer and the metal substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
  • Patent number: 8471263
    Abstract: An information storage system includes a bonded semiconductor structure having a memory circuit region carried by an interconnect region. The memory circuit region includes a memory control device region having a vertically oriented memory control device. The memory circuit region includes a memory device region in communication with the memory control device region. The memory device region includes a memory device whose operation is controlled by the vertically oriented memory control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Sang-Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 8471306
    Abstract: A double-sided integrated circuit chips, methods of fabricating the double-sided integrated circuit chips and design structures for double-sided integrated circuit chips. The method includes removing the backside silicon from two silicon-on-insulator wafers having devices fabricated therein and bonding them back to back utilizing the buried oxide layers. Contacts are then formed in the upper wafer to devices in the lower wafer and wiring levels are formed on the upper wafer. The lower wafer may include wiring levels. The lower wafer may include landing pads for the contacts. Contacts to the silicon layer of the lower wafer may be silicided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Paul David Kartschoke, Stephen Ellinwood Luce, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Patent number: 8445908
    Abstract: Testing of integrated circuits is achieved by a test architecture utilizing a scan frame input shift register, a scan frame output shift register, a test controller, and a test interface comprising a scan input, a scan clock, a test enable, and a scan output. Scan frames input to the scan frame input shift register contain a test stimulus data section and a test command section. Scan frames output from the scan frame output shift register contain a test response data section and, optionally, a section for outputting other data. The command section of the input scan frame controls the test architecture to execute a desired test operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8421126
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures. The semiconductor structures include two silicon-on-insulator wafers having devices fabricated therein and bonding them back to back utilizing the buried oxide layers or bonding them back to back utilizing an inter-substrate dielectric layer and a bonding layer between the buried oxide layers. The structures include contacts formed in the upper wafer to devices in the lower wafer and wiring levels formed on the upper wafer. The lower wafer may include wiring levels. The lower wafer may include landing pads for the contacts. Contacts to the silicon layer of the lower wafer may be silicided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Paul David Kartschoke, Stephen Ellinwood Luce, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Patent number: 8415218
    Abstract: A method of growing an epitaxial silicon layer is provided. The method comprising providing a substrate including an oxygen-terminated silicon surface and forming a first hydrogen-terminated silicon surface on the oxygen-terminated silicon surface. Additionally, the method includes forming a second hydrogen-terminated silicon surface on the first hydrogen-terminated silicon surface through atomic-layer deposition (ALD) epitaxy from SiH4 thermal cracking radical assisted by Ar flow and flash lamp annealing continuously. The second hydrogen-terminated silicon surface is capable of being added one or more layer of silicon through ALD epitaxy from SiH4 thermal cracking radical assisted by Ar flow and flash lamp annealing continuously. In one embodiment, the method is applied for making devices with thin-film transistor (TFT) floating gate memory cell structures which is capable for three-dimensional integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Fumitake Mieno
  • Patent number: 8394669
    Abstract: A resistance variable element (100) used in a through-hole cross-point structure memory device, according to the present invention, and a resistance variable memory device including the resistance variable element, includes a substrate (7) and an interlayer insulating layer (3) formed on the substrate, and have a configuration in which a through-hole (4) is formed to penetrate the interlayer insulating layer, a first resistance variable layer (2) comprising transition metal oxide is formed outside the through-hole, a second resistance variable layer (5) comprising transition metal oxide is formed inside the through-hole, the first resistance variable layer is different in resistivity from the second resistance variable layer, and the first resistance variable layer and the second resistance variable layer are in contact with each other only in an opening (20) of the through-hole which is closer to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Arita, Takumi Mikawa, Atsushi Himeno, Yoshio Kawashima, Kenji Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8384185
    Abstract: A technique is provided which allows a chip mounted by wire bonding and a chip mounted by bump electrodes to share a manufacturing process. Both in a case where a chip is electrically coupled to an external circuit by bump electrodes and a case where the chip is electrically coupled to the external circuit by bonding wires, a bump coupling part and a bonding pad are both provided in a single uppermost wiring layer. When the bump electrodes are used, an opening is provided in an insulating film on the bump coupling part and a surface of the bonding pad is covered with the insulating film. On the other hand, when the bonding wires are used, an opening is provided in an insulating film on the bonding pad and a surface of the bump coupling part is covered with the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Niichi Ito, Tetsuji Nakamura, Takamitsu Nagaosa, Hisashi Okamura
  • Patent number: 8372762
    Abstract: In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique and a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device which simplify a lithography step using a photoresist is provided, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the throughput is improved. An irradiated object, in which a light absorbing layer and an insulating layer are stacked over a substrate, is irradiated with a multi-mode laser beam and a single-mode laser beam so that both the laser beams overlap with each other, and an opening is formed by ablation in part of the irradiated object the irradiation of which is performed so that both the laser beams overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotada Oishi, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8354677
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display, which can obtain a resonance effect by its metal mirror, and a manufacturing method thereof. The display includes a semiconductor layer, a dummy pattern layer, a gate insulating film, a pixel electrode, and a gate electrode. The semiconductor layer is formed of polysilicon on a base substrate. The dummy pattern layer is formed of polysilicon at a same layer level as the semiconductor layer and surrounds a light emitting region. The gate insulating film is on the base substrate while covering the semiconductor layer and the dummy pattern layer, and has recess portions corresponding to the light emitting region. The pixel electrode is filled in the recess portions, and is formed of a metal mirror multilayer including a transmissive conductive film and a reflective conductive film. The gate electrode is on the gate insulating film at a distance from the pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hyun Park, Chun-Gi You, Sun Park, Yul-Kyu Lee, Kyu-Sik Cho, Sang-Ho Moon
  • Patent number: 8350269
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure on bulk semiconductor starting wafer. Parallel semiconductor bodies are formed at the top surface of the wafer. An insulator layer is deposited and recessed. Exposed upper portions of the semiconductor bodies are used as seed material for growing epitaxial layers of semiconductor material laterally over the insulator layer, thereby creating a semiconductor layer. This semiconductor layer can be used to form one or more SOI devices (e.g., single-fin or multi-fin MUGFET, multiple series-connected single-fin, multi-fin MUGFETs). However, placement of SOI device components in and/or on portions of the semiconductor layer should be predetermined to avoid locations which might impact device performance (e.g., placement of any FET gate on a semiconductor fin formed from the semiconductor layer can be predetermined to avoid interfaces between joined epitaxial semiconductor material sections).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subramanian S. Iyer, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 8344385
    Abstract: In a vertical-type non-volatile memory device, an insulation layer pattern is provided on a substrate, the insulation layer pattern having a linear shape. Single-crystalline semiconductor patterns are provided on the substrate to make contact with both sidewalls of the insulation layer pattern, the single-crystalline semiconductor patterns having a pillar shape that extends in a vertical direction relative to the substrate. A tunnel oxide layer is provided on the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. A lower electrode layer pattern is provided on the tunnel oxide layer and on the substrate. A plurality of insulation interlayer patterns is provided on the lower electrode layer pattern, the insulation interlayer patterns being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance along the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. A charge-trapping layer and a blocking dielectric layer are sequentially formed on the tunnel oxide layer between the insulation interlayer patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Hoo Kim, Hyo-San Lee, Sang-Won Bae, Bo-Un Yoon, Kun-Tack Lee
  • Patent number: 8294159
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of 3D semiconductor devices utilizing a layer transfer and steps for forming transistors on top of a pre-fabricated semiconductor device comprising transistors formed on crystallized semiconductor base layer and metal layer for the transistors interconnections and insulation layer. The advantage of this approach is reduction of the over all metal length used to interconnect the various transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: MonolithIC 3D Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Deepak C. Sekar, Brian Cronquist, Israel Beinglass, Jan Lodewijk de Jong
  • Patent number: 8283665
    Abstract: Testing of integrated circuits is achieved by a test architecture utilizing a scan frame input shift register, a scan frame output shift register, a test controller, and a test interface comprising a scan input, a scan clock, a test enable, and a scan output. Scan frames input to the scan frame input shift register contain a test stimulus data section and a test command section. Scan frames output from the scan frame output shift register contain a test response data section and, optionally, a section for outputting other data. The command section of the input scan frame controls the test architecture to execute a desired test operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8264018
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may include a local bitline extending in a direction substantially vertical to an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate and a local wordline intersecting the local bitline. The local bitline is electrically connected to a bitline channel pillar penetrating a gate of a bitline transistor, and the local wordline is electrically connected to a wordline channel pillar penetrating a gate of a wordline transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Sik Yoon, Jinshi Zhao, Ingyu Baek, Hyun Jun Sim, Minyoung Park
  • Patent number: 8258517
    Abstract: One embodiment exemplarily described herein can be generally characterized as a semiconductor device that includes a lower level device layer located over a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating film located over the lower level device layer and an upper level device layer located over the interlayer insulating film. The lower level device layer may include a plurality of devices formed in the substrate. The upper level device layer may include a plurality of semiconductor patterns and at least one device formed in each of the plurality of semiconductor patterns. The plurality of semiconductor patterns may be electrically isolated from each other. Each of the plurality of semiconductor patterns may include at least one active portion and at least one body contact portion electrically connected to the at least one active portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-In Yun, Soon-Moon Jung, Han-Soo Kim, Hoo-Sung Cho, Jun-Beom Park, Jae-Hun Jeong
  • Patent number: 8193536
    Abstract: A light emitting device including a light emitting structure having a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer; a first electrode on the light emitting structure; and a photon escape layer on the light emitting structure. Further, the photon escape layer has a refractive index that is between a refractive index of the light emitting structure and a refractive index of an encapsulating material with respect to the light emitting structure such that an escape probability for photons emitted by the light emitting structure is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Don Song