Of Capacitor (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.008)
  • Patent number: 9773860
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided, a bottom electrode and a capacitor dielectric layer are formed on the substrate, a conductive layer is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer, a patterned hard mask is formed on the conductive layer, a patterned hard mask is used to remove part of the conductive layer to form a top electrode, the patterned hard mask is removed, and a protective layer is formed on a top surface and sidewalls of top electrode. Preferably, the protective layer includes metal oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yu-Tsung Lai, Ching-Li Yang, Yu-Cheng Tung, Shih-Che Huang, Chih-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 9767730
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a pixel portion displaying an image and a peripheral portion surrounding the pixel portion, a semiconductor layer including a pixel switching semiconductor layer on the pixel portion on the substrate, a being driving semiconductor layer, and a peripheral switching semiconductor layer on the peripheral portion, a first gate insulating layer on the semiconductor layer, a peripheral switching gate electrode on the first gate insulating layer of the peripheral portion, a second gate insulating layer covering the peripheral switching gate electrode and the first gate insulating layer, a pixel switching gate electrode and a driving gate electrode on the second gate insulating layer of the pixel portion, and a third gate insulating layer covering the pixel switching gate electrode, the driving gate electrode, and the second gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Deok-Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 9728812
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrostatic energy storage device and a preparation method thereof. The device comprises at least one electrostatic energy storage unit, wherein each electrostatic energy storage unit is provided with a five-layer structure and comprises two metal film electrodes which form a capacitor, composite nano insulating film layers attached to the inner sides of the two metal film electrodes, and a ceramic nano crystalline film arranged between the composite nano insulating film layers. Based on the electrostatic parallel-plate induction capacitor principle, the metal film electrodes with a nano microstructure and the ceramic nano crystalline film sandwiched between the metal film electrodes and having an ultrahigh dielectric constant form an electrostatic induction plate capacitor to store electrostatic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Jin Bai, Gang Feng
  • Patent number: 9715966
    Abstract: A supercapacitor, principally ceramic, with a fast recharging rate and extremely high energy density. Energy densities can exceed 9.5 KW-hr/L (0.27 MW-hr/ft3). High permittivity, high voltage breakdown and nanoporous electrodes achieve these features. High permittivity is reached through a ceramic dielectric consisting of a titanium oxide variant, doped with various combinations of trivalent positive ions. Example: (Al0.5Nb0.5)0.5%Ti99.5%O2. The dielectric permittivity is further increased by adding layers of conductive island matrices placed in the dielectric. Charge capacity is expanded by use of nanoporous electrodes with an effective area over twenty times a flat surface electrode. Example: graphene. The key process involves sintering wafers, adding conductive island matrices' conductors, typically vacuum impregnating wafers with a polymer, then stacking wafers and electrodes, followed by connecting electrodes. Subassemblies are then stacked into unlimitedly larger macro-assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Down Newberry
  • Patent number: 9711394
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps: providing a substrate having an epitaxial layer, a gate structure and an interlayer dielectric thereon, where the epitaxial structure is disposed at sides of the gate structure and the interlayer dielectric covering the epitaxial structure; forming an opening in the interlayer dielectric so that the surface of the epitaxial layer is exposed from the bottom of the opening; performing a rapid thermal process in an inert environment until non-conductive material is generated on the surface of the epitaxial layer; and removing the non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Hung, Ssu-I Fu, Chih-Kai Hsu, Wei-Chi Cheng, Jyh-Shyang Jenq
  • Patent number: 9691882
    Abstract: After formation of a disposable gate structure, a raised active semiconductor region includes a vertical stack, from bottom to top, of an electrical-dopant-doped semiconductor material portion and a carbon-doped semiconductor material portion. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited over the raised active semiconductor region, and the disposable gate structure is replaced with a replacement gate structure. A contact via cavity is formed through the planarization dielectric material layer by an anisotropic etch process that employs a fluorocarbon gas as an etchant. The carbon in the carbon-doped semiconductor material portion retards the anisotropic etch process, and the carbon-doped semiconductor material portion functions as a stopping layer for the anisotropic etch process, thereby making the depth of the contact via cavity less dependent on variations on the thickness of the planarization dielectric layer or pattern factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhengwen Li, Qing Cao, Kangguo Cheng, Fei Liu, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9679904
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a conductive film over a semiconductor substrate; forming a first ferroelectric film over the conductive film; forming an amorphous second ferroelectric film over the first ferroelectric film; forming a transition metal oxide material film containing ruthenium over the second ferroelectric film; forming a first conductive metal oxide film over the transition metal oxide material film without exposing the transition metal oxide material film to the air; annealing and crystallizing the second ferroelectric film; and patterning the first conductive metal oxide film, the first ferroelectric film, the second ferroelectric film, and the conductive film to form a ferroelectric capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9653311
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and methods for forming stair-like structures with accurate profiles and dimension control for manufacturing three dimensional (3D) stacked semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a method of forming stair-like structures on a substrate includes forming a film stack including a dielectric layer and a ruthenium containing material, and etching the ruthenium containing material in the film stack exposed by a patterned photoresist layer utilizing a first etching gas mixture comprising an oxygen containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Seul Ki Ahn, Seung-Young Son, Gill Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9640776
    Abstract: The present inventions relates to an organic light emitting device capable of decreasing a leakage current, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting device manufacturing method and an organic light emitting device using the same, which can decrease a leakage current, by flattening a lower electrode in order to decrease a leakage current of the lower electrode deposited through a shadow mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Bum Ho Choi, Jong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9620454
    Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) manufactured integrated circuits (ICs) employing local interconnects of metal lines using an elongated via are disclosed. Related methods are also disclosed. In particular, different metal lines in a metal layer may need to be electrically interconnected during a MOL process for an IC. In this regard, to allow for metal lines to be interconnected without providing such interconnections above the metal lines that may be difficult to provide in a printing process for example, in an exemplary aspect, an elongated or expanded via(s) is provided in a MOL layer in an IC. The elongated via is provided in the MOL layer below the metal layer in the MOL layer and extended across two or more adjacent metal layers in the metal layer of the MOL layer. Moving the interconnections above the MOL layer can simplify the manufacturing of ICs, particularly at low nanometer (nm) node sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: John Jianhong Zhu, Kern Rim, Stanley Seungchul Song, Jeffrey Junhao Xu, Da Yang
  • Patent number: 9607885
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide semiconductor devices and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a dielectric layer can be formed on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of pillar structures having a matrix arrangement can be formed on the dielectric layer. A plurality of sidewall spacers can be formed on the dielectric layer. Each sidewall spacer can be formed on a sidewall surface of one of the plurality of pillar structures. A distance between adjacent pillar structures in a same row or in a same column can be less than or equal to a double of a thickness of the each sidewall spacer on the sidewall surface. The plurality of pillar structures can be removed. The dielectric layer can be etched using the plurality of sidewall spacers as an etch mask to form a plurality of trenches or through holes in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Zhang, Steven Zhang
  • Patent number: 9583497
    Abstract: A high-k dielectric metal trench capacitor and improved isolation and methods of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes forming at least one deep trench in a substrate, and filling the deep trench with sacrificial fill material and a poly material. The method further includes continuing with CMOS processes, comprising forming at least one transistor and back end of line (BEOL) layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial fill material from the deep trenches to expose sidewalls, and forming a capacitor plate on the exposed sidewalls of the deep trench. The method further includes lining the capacitor plate with a high-k dielectric material and filling remaining portions of the deep trench with a metal material, over the high-k dielectric material. The method further includes providing a passivation layer on the deep trench filled with the metal material and the high-k dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9570539
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an integrated circuit (IC) arranged on a semiconductor substrate, which includes a flash region, a capacitor region, and a logic region. An upper substrate surface of the capacitor region is recessed relative to respective upper substrate surfaces of the flash and logic regions, respectively. A capacitor, which includes a polysilicon bottom electrode, a conductive top electrode arranged over the polysilicon bottom electrode, and a capacitor dielectric separating the bottom and top electrodes; is disposed over the recessed upper substrate surface of the capacitor region. A flash memory cell is disposed over the upper substrate surface of the flash region. The flash memory cell includes a select gate having a planarized upper surface that is co-planar with a planarized upper surface of the top electrode of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Yu-Hsiung Wang, Chen-Chin Liu
  • Patent number: 9570463
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device including multiple stack structures can be formed with a joint region electrode, which is an electrode formed at a joint region located near the interface between an upper stack structure and a lower stack structure. A memory stack structure is formed through the multiple stack structures. The joint region electrode laterally surrounds a portion of the memory stack structure in proximity to the interface between different stack structures. The joint region electrode includes a layer portion having a thickness and a collar portion that laterally surrounds the memory stack structure and having a greater vertical extent than the thickness of the layer portion. The increased vertical extent of the collar portion with respect to the vertical extent of the layer portion provides enhanced control of a portion of a semiconductor channel in the memory stack structure located near the interface between different stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Raghuveer S. Makala, Jin Liu, Murshed Chowdhury, Yao-Sheng Lee, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 9559298
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory, wherein the semiconductor memory includes a variable resistance element formed over a substrate, and a multi-layer passivation layer positioned over sidewalls of the variable resistance element and having two or more insulating layers formed over the sidewalls of the variable resistance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Ga-Young Ha
  • Patent number: 9548349
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose a method of fabrication and a semiconductor structure comprising a Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The method of fabrication includes depositing a first conductive material on a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric material is deposited on the first conductive material. A second conductive material is deposited on the first dielectric material. The top plate is formed by etching the second conductive material. The bottom plate is formed by etching a portion of the first conductive material. At least one opening is formed in the first dielectric layer down to the first conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Max G. Levy, Gary L. Milo, David C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9530791
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device including multiple stack structures can be formed with a joint region electrode, which is an electrode formed at a joint region located near the interface between an upper stack structure and a lower stack structure. A memory stack structure is formed through the multiple stack structures. The joint region electrode laterally surrounds a portion of the memory stack structure in proximity to the interface between different stack structures. The joint region electrode includes a layer portion having a thickness and a collar portion that laterally surrounds the memory stack structure and having a greater vertical extent than the thickness of the layer portion. The increased vertical extent of the collar portion with respect to the vertical extent of the layer portion provides enhanced control of a portion of a semiconductor channel in the memory stack structure located near the interface between different stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Raghuveer S. Makala, Jin Liu, Murshed Chowdhury, Yao-Sheng Lee, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 9525020
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate having an isolation structure therein is disclosed. A capacitor is disposed on the isolation structure and includes a polysilicon electrode, an insulating layer disposed on the polysilicon electrode, and a metal electrode disposed on the insulating layer. A method for forming the semiconductor device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung-Ren Lao, Hsing-Chao Liu, Tzung-Hsian Wu, Chih-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 9502647
    Abstract: A resistive memory cell is disclosed. The resistive memory cell comprises a pair of electrodes and a resistance-switching network disposed between the pair of electrodes. The resistance-switching network comprises a group-IV element doping layer and a porous low-k layer. The group-IV doping layer comprises silicon oxide doped with a group-IV element. The porous low-k layer comprises porous silicon oxide or porous hafnium oxide. The group-IV element may comprise zirconium, titanium, or hafnium. The porous low-k layer may be prepared by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) treatment. A method of fabricating a resistive memory is disclosed. The method comprises forming a resistance-switching network on a first electrode using sputtering and forming a second electrode on the resistance-switching network using sputtering. The resistance-switching network comprises a group-IV element doping layer and a porous low-k layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ting-Chang Chang, Kuan-Chang Chang, Tsung-Ming Tsai, Chih-Hung Pan, Ying-Lang Wang, Kei-Wei Chen, Shih-Chieh Chang, Te-Ming Kung
  • Patent number: 9472663
    Abstract: An n-type field effect transistor includes silicon-comprising semiconductor material comprising a pair of source/drain regions having a channel region there-between. At least one of the source/drain regions is conductively doped n-type with at least one of As and P. A conductivity-neutral dopant is in the silicon-comprising semiconductor material in at least one of the channel region and the at least one source/drain region. A gate construction is operatively proximate the channel region. Methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjun Jeff Hu, Allen McTeer
  • Patent number: 9472406
    Abstract: Contact openings are formed into a dielectric material exposing a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate. A first transition metal liner including at least one first transition metal element, a second transition metal liner including at least one second transition metal element that is different from the at least one first transition metal element and a metal contact are sequentially formed within each contact opening. Following a planarization process, the structure is annealed forming metal semiconductor alloy contacts at the bottom of each contact opening. Each metal semiconductor alloy contact that is formed includes the at least one first transition metal element, the at least one second transition metal element and a semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Nicolas L. Breil, Christian Lavoie, Ahmet S. Ozcan, Kathryn T. Schonenberg
  • Patent number: 9449827
    Abstract: Contact openings are formed into a dielectric material exposing a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate. A first transition metal liner including at least one first transition metal element, a second transition metal liner including at least one second transition metal element that is different from the at least one first transition metal element and a metal contact are sequentially formed within each contact opening. Following a planarization process, the structure is annealed forming metal semiconductor alloy contacts at the bottom of each contact opening. Each metal semiconductor alloy contact that is formed includes the at least one first transition metal element, the at least one second transition metal element and a semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Nicolas L. Breil, Christian Lavoie, Ahmet S. Ozcan, Kathryn T. Schonenberg
  • Patent number: 9443843
    Abstract: The invention provides an integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit device includes a substrate. A first capacitor is disposed on the substrate. A first metal pattern is coupled to a first electrode of the first capacitor. A second metal pattern is coupled to a first electrode of the second capacitor. A third metal pattern is disposed over the first and second metal patterns. The third metal pattern covers the first capacitor, the first metal pattern and the second metal pattern. The third metal pattern is electrically grounding. An inductor is disposed over the third metal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheng-Yuan Lee, Yin-Ku Chang
  • Patent number: 9443842
    Abstract: The invention provides an integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit device includes a substrate. A first capacitor is disposed on the substrate. A first metal pattern is coupled to a first electrode of the first capacitor. A second metal pattern is coupled to a first electrode of the second capacitor. A third metal pattern is disposed over the first and second metal patterns. The third metal pattern covers the first capacitor, the first metal pattern, and the second metal pattern. The third metal pattern is electrically grounded. An inductor is disposed over the third metal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheng-Yuan Lee, Yin-Ku Chang
  • Patent number: 9419057
    Abstract: A resistive memory storage device includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode and a plurality of composite material layers disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Each composite material layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is a metal-based high-K dielectric material layer having a first metal element, and the second layer is a metal layer having the first metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumitake Mieno
  • Patent number: 9373680
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with MIM capacitors and methods for producing them with metal and oxide hard masks are provided. Embodiments include disposing a dielectric layer over an ILD, the ILD including a contact therethrough in a first region; forming a capacitor trench in the dielectric layer in a second region; forming a MIM hard mask by: disposing a first metal hard mask in the first region and in the capacitor trench in the second region; disposing an oxide hard mask over the first metal hard mask; and disposing a second metal hard mask over the oxide hard mask; forming a metal line trench through the MIM hard mask in the first region, including over the contact, while masking the second region; and removing portions of the MIM hard mask in the capacitor trench, wherein a remaining portion of the first metal hard mask comprises a bottom plate of an MIM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ki Young Lee, Tony Joung, Sanggil Bae
  • Patent number: 9299765
    Abstract: Embodiments include a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having: a first electrode; a second electrode disposed proximate the first electrode; an insulator layer between the first and second electrodes; and a reactive layer positioned proximate the insulator layer and configured to allow altering of the reactive layer to change a capacitive value of the MIM capacitor, the reactive layer including a reactive conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9263302
    Abstract: A via or pillar structure, and a method of forming, is provided. In an embodiment, a polymer layer is formed having openings exposing portions of an underlying conductive pad. A conductive layer is formed over the polymer layer, filling the openings. The dies are covered with a molding material and a planarization process is performed to form pillars in the openings. In another embodiment, pillars are formed and then a polymer layer is formed over the pillars. The dies are covered with a molding material and a planarization process is performed to expose the pillars. In yet another embodiment, pillars are formed and a molding material is formed directly over the pillars. A planarization process is performed to expose the pillars. In still yet another embodiment, bumps are formed and a molding material is formed directly over the bumps. A planarization process is performed to expose the bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Che Ho, Yi-Wen Wu, Chien Ling Hwang, Hung-Jui Kuo, Chung-Shi Liu
  • Patent number: 9231048
    Abstract: A device comprises a substrate having at least one active region, an insulating layer above the substrate, and an electrode in a gate electrode layer above the insulating layer, forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor. A first contact layer is provided on the electrode, having an elongated first pattern extending in a first direction parallel to the electrode. A contact structure contacts the substrate. The contact structure has an elongated second pattern extending parallel to the first pattern. A dielectric material is provided between the first and second patterns, so that the first and second patterns and dielectric material form a side-wall capacitor connected in parallel to the MOS capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Di An, Chien-Hung Chen, Yu-Juan Chan
  • Patent number: 9023693
    Abstract: A multi-mode thin film deposition apparatus including a reaction chamber, a carrying seat, a showerhead, an inert gas supplying source, a first gas inflow system and a second gas inflow system is provided. The carrying seat is disposed in the reaction chamber. The showerhead has a gas mixing room and gas holes disposed at a side of the gas mixing room. The gas mixing room is connected to the reaction chamber through the plurality of gas holes which faces the carrying seat. The first gas inflow system is connected to the reaction chamber and supplies a first process gas during a first thin film deposition process mode. The inert gas supplying source is connected to the gas mixing room for supplying an inert gas. The second gas inflow system is connected to the gas mixing room to supply a second process gas during a second thin film deposition process mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kung-Liang Lin, Chien-Chih Chen, Fu-Ching Tung, Chih-Yung Chen, Shih-Chin Lin, Kuan-Yu Lin, Chia-Hao Chang, Shieh-Sien Wu
  • Patent number: 9018732
    Abstract: A dielectric thin film element that includes a substrate, a close-adhesion layer formed on one principal surface of the substrate, a capacitance section having a lower electrode layer formed on the close-adhesion layer, a dielectric layer formed on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer formed on the dielectric layer, and a protective layer formed to cover the capacitance section, wherein the end of the close-adhesion layer is exposed from the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Nakaiso
  • Patent number: 9012881
    Abstract: Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics are described, including a memory element having a first electrode and a second electrode, a switching layer between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising hafnium oxide and having a first thickness, and a coupling layer between the switching layer and the second electrode, the coupling layer comprising a material including metal titanium and having a second thickness that is less than 25 percent of the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Kuse, Tony P. Chiang, Imran Hashim
  • Patent number: 9006097
    Abstract: A method of forming a bump structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming an under-bump-metallurgy (UBM) layer on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a mask layer on the UBM layer, wherein the mask layer has an opening exposing a portion of the UBM layer. The method further includes forming a copper layer in the opening of the mask layer and removing a portion of the mask layer to form a space between the copper layer and the mask layer. The method further includes performing an electrolytic process to fill the space with a metal layer and removing the mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hsiung Lu, Ming-Da Cheng, Chih-Wei Lin, Jacky Chang, Chung-Shi Liu, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8993403
    Abstract: The present invention provides a socket by which a capacitor element can be produced without causing contamination of chemical conversion treatment liquid or semiconductor layer forming liquid even if the chemical conversion treatment liquid or the semiconductor layer forming liquid has a corrosive property, and a lead wire of a positive electrode can be stably retained even if diameters of the lead wires are difference. The socket (1) of the present invention is provided with a conductive socket body portion (2) having an insertion port, a resin insulation portion (5) covering a part of the socket body portion (2) so as not to close an insertion port (37), and a resin coating portion (3) coating at least the insertion portion (37) of the socket body portion (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Kazumi Naito
  • Patent number: 8994146
    Abstract: Embodiments of MIM capacitors may be embedded into a thick IMD layer with enough thickness (e.g., 10 K?˜30 K?) to get high capacitance, which may be on top of a thinner IMD layer. MIM capacitors may be formed among three adjacent metal layers which have two thick IMD layers separating the three adjacent metal layers. Materials such as TaN or TiN are used as bottom/top electrodes & Cu barrier. The metal layer above the thick IMD layer may act as the top electrode connection. The metal layer under the thick IMD layer may act as the bottom electrode connection. The capacitor may be of different shapes such as cylindrical shape, or a concave shape. Many kinds of materials (Si3N4, ZrO2, HfO2, BST . . . etc.) can be used as the dielectric material. The MIM capacitors are formed by one or two extra masks while forming other non-capacitor logic of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chyuan Tzeng, Luan C. Tran, Chen-Jong Wang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Hsiang-Fan Lee
  • Patent number: 8993405
    Abstract: Embodiments of MIM capacitors may be embedded into a thick IMD layer with enough thickness (e.g., 10 K?˜30 K?) to get high capacitance, which may be on top of a thinner IMD layer. MIM capacitors may be formed among three adjacent metal layers which have two thick IMD layers separating the three adjacent metal layers. Materials such as TaN or TiN are used as bottom/top electrodes & Cu barrier. The metal layer above the thick IMD layer may act as the top electrode connection. The metal layer under the thick IMD layer may act as the bottom electrode connection. The capacitor may be of different shapes such as cylindrical shape, or a concave shape. Many kinds of materials (Si3N4, ZrO2, HfO2, BST . . . etc.) can be used as the dielectric material. The MIM capacitors are formed by one or two extra masks while forming other non-capacitor logic of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chyuan Tzeng, Luan C. Tran, Chen-Jong Wang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Hsiang-Fan Lee
  • Patent number: 8987862
    Abstract: A device structure includes an inter-level dielectric, a via, a first conductive trench, and a second conductive trench. The inter-level dielectric has a top surface and a bottom surface. The via extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. The first conductive trench extends from the top surface to a first depth below the top surface. The second conductive trench extends from the top surface to a second depth below the top surface, wherein the second depth is above the bottom surface and below the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd E. Kastenmeier, Raman E. Evazians
  • Patent number: 8975134
    Abstract: A doped fullerene-based conductive material can be used as an electrode, which can contact a dielectric such as a high k dielectric. By aligning the dielectric with the band gap of the doped fullerene-based electrode, e.g., the conduction band minimum of the dielectric falls into one of the band gaps of the doped fullerene-based material, thermionic leakage through the dielectric can be reduced, since the excited electrons or holes in the electrode would need higher thermal excitation energy to overcome the band gap before passing through the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Barabash, Dipankar Pramanik, Xuena Zhang
  • Patent number: 8975633
    Abstract: A metal oxide bilayer second electrode for a MIM DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the layer of the electrode that is in contact with the dielectric layer (i.e. bottom layer) has a desired composition and crystal structure. An example is crystalline MoO2 if the dielectric layer is TiO2 in the rutile phase. The other component of the bilayer (i.e. top layer) is a sub-oxide of the same material as the bottom layer. The top layer serves to protect the bottom layer from oxidation during subsequent PMA or other DRAM fabrication steps by reacting with any oxygen species before they can reach the bottom layer of the bilayer second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanhong Chen, Wim Y. Deweerd, Hiroyuki Ode
  • Patent number: 8957499
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a capacitor includes forming a first ceramic film on a first base made of a metal, forming a second ceramic film on a second base made of a metal, forming a first copper electrode pattern and a first copper via-plug on a surface of one of the first and second ceramic films, the electrode pattern and the via-plug being separate from each other, bonding the first and second ceramic films together with the first electrode pattern and the via-plug therebetween, by applying a pulsed voltage between the first base and the second base while the first base and the second base are pressed so that the first ceramic film and the second ceramic film are pressed on each other, and removing the second base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Imanaka, Hideyuki Amada, Fumiaki Kumasaka
  • Patent number: 8957500
    Abstract: A high-voltage metal capacitor with easy integration into existing semiconductor manufacturing processes can provide isolation capacitors up to several kilovolts. The capacitor includes a support layer with internal structure, including a lower place, a bond pad on the support layer, an upper plate disposed on the support layer, the upper plate being arranged above the lower plate, a dielectric layer, at least part of which is between the lower and upper plates, and a passivation layer, at least part of which covers at least part of the upper plate and part of the dielectric layer. A first opening extends from the surface through the passivation and dielectric layers to the lower plate, and a second opening extends from the surface through the passivation layer to the upper plate. A method of manufacturing the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Jerôme Guillaume Anna Dubois, Piet Wessels
  • Patent number: 8951880
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus may include one or more insulator layers having a refractory metal and a non-refractory metal for use in a variety of electronic systems and devices. Embodiments can include electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus having a tantalum aluminum oxynitride film. The tantalum aluminum oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The tantalum aluminum oxynitride film may be formed using atomic layer deposition. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a tantalum aluminum oxynitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn, Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 8952490
    Abstract: To provide a redox capacitor that can be used at room temperature and a manufacturing method thereof. Amorphous semiconductor including hydrogen is used as an electrolyte of a redox capacitor. As a typical example of the amorphous semiconductor including hydrogen, an amorphous semiconductor including a semiconductor element such as amorphous silicon, amorphous silicon germanium, or amorphous germanium can be used. As another example of the amorphous semiconductor including hydrogen, oxide semiconductor including hydrogen can be used. As typical examples of the oxide semiconductor including hydrogen, an amorphous semiconductor including a single-component oxide semiconductor such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, nickel oxide, vanadium oxide, and indium oxide can be given. As another example of oxide semiconductor including hydrogen, a multi-component oxide semiconductor such as InMO3(ZnO)m (m>0 and M is one or more metal elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Co) can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Kiyofumi Ogino, Yumiko Saito, Junichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 8946043
    Abstract: A method of forming capacitors includes forming support material over a substrate. A first capacitor electrode is formed within individual openings in the support material. A first etching is conducted only partially into the support material using a liquid etching fluid to expose an elevationally outer portion of sidewalls of individual of the first capacitor electrodes. A second etching is conducted into the support material using a dry etching fluid to expose an elevationally inner portion of the sidewalls of the individual first capacitor electrodes. A capacitor dielectric is formed over the outer and inner portions of the sidewalls of the first capacitor electrodes. A second capacitor electrode is formed over the capacitor dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Neil Greeley, Prashant Raghu, Niraj B. Rana
  • Patent number: 8946854
    Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first damascene electrode layer, an insulating barrier layer, a second dielectric layer and a second damascene electrode layer. The first damascene electrode layer is formed in the first dielectric layer. The insulating barrier layer covers the first dielectric layer and the first damascene electrode layer, and is a single layer structure. The second dielectric layer is formed on the insulating barrier layer. The second damascene electrode layer is formed in the second dielectric layer and is contacted with the insulating barrier layer. The MIM capacitor structure can includes a dual damascene structure formed in the second dielectric layer and the insulating barrier layer and electrically connected to the first damascene electrode layer. A method for manufacturing the MIM capacitor structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Feng, Duan-Quan Liao, Hai-Long Gu, Ying-Tu Chen
  • Patent number: 8946047
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor includes: forming a storage node contact plug over a substrate; forming an insulation layer having an opening exposing a surface of the storage node contact plug over the storage contact plug; forming a conductive layer for a storage node over the insulation layer and the exposed surface of the storage node contact plug through two steps performed at different temperatures; performing an isolation process to isolate parts of the conductive layer; and sequentially forming a dielectric layer and a plate electrode over the isolated conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Hyock Kim, Seung-Jin Yeom, Ki-Seon Park, Han-Sang Song, Deok-Sin Kil, Jae-Sung Roh
  • Patent number: 8940610
    Abstract: An electrode for an energy storage device with less deterioration due to charge and discharge, and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided. Further, an energy storage device having large capacity and high endurance can be provided. In an electrode of an energy storage device in which an active material is formed over a current collector, the surface of the active material is formed of a crystalline semiconductor film having a {110} crystal plane. The crystalline semiconductor film having a {110} crystal plane may be a crystalline silicon film containing a metal element which reacts with silicon to form a silicide. Alternatively, the crystalline semiconductor film having a {110} crystal plane may be a crystalline semiconductor film containing silicon as its main component and also containing germanium and a metal element which reacts with silicon to form a silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Tamae Moriwaka, Satoshi Murakami, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8940613
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate; a first capacitor electrode provided over the substrate and including polysilicon; an insulating layer provided over the first capacitor electrode; and a second capacitor electrode provided over the insulating layer and including a first lower metal layer overlapping with the first capacitor electrode and a first upper metal layer. The first upper metal layer includes a doping opening configured to expose at least a portion of the first lower metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Wook An
  • Patent number: 8937344
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell region and a peripheral circuit region defined therein, semiconductor memory elements formed over the semiconductor substrate in the cell region, an interlayer insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral circuit region, first conductive layers substantially vertically passing through the interlayer insulating layer, and arranged in a matrix, and second conductive layers coupling the first conductive layers in rows or columns, each pair of the second conductive layers and the first conductive layers coupled to the each pair of the second conductive layers, respectively, forming electrodes of a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Ryul Ahn, Jum Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8932932
    Abstract: An improved trench structure, and method for its fabrication are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide a trench in which the collar portion has an air gap instead of a solid oxide collar. The air gap provides a lower dielectric constant. Embodiments of the present invention can therefore be used to make higher-performance devices (due to reduced parasitic leakage), or smaller devices, due to the ability to use a thinner collar to achieve the same performance as a thicker collar comprised only of oxide (with no air gap). Alternatively, a design choice can be made to achieve a combination of improved performance and reduced size, depending on the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Johnathan E. Faltermeier, Anne Marie Kimball