Dielectric Having Perovskite Structure (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.009)
  • Patent number: 7803640
    Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein reduce, in a semiconductor device having a ferroelectric capacitor, the film thickness of an interlayer insulation film covering the ferroelectric capacitor without degrading yield, and reduce the invasion of water into the ferroelectric capacitor. A semiconductor device includes a first interlayer insulation film formed on a substrate, a ferroelectric capacitor formed on the first interlayer insulation film, a second interlayer insulation film formed on the first interlayer insulation film so as to cover the ferroelectric capacitor, and a hydrogen barrier film formed on the second interlayer insulation film, the ferroelectric capacitor is formed of a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed on the ferroelectric film in contact therewith, and a polish-resistant film formed on the upper electrode, wherein the second interlayer insulation film covers the polish-resistant film with a film thickness of 50-100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7795663
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dielectric thin film composition comprising: (1) one or more barium/titanium-containing additives selected from (a) barium titanate, (b) any composition that can form barium titanate during firing, and (c) mixtures thereof; dissolved in (2) organic medium; and wherein said thin film composition is doped with 0.002-0.05 atom percent of a dopant comprising an element selected from Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ca, Zn, Al, Ga, Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof and to capacitors comprising such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seigi Suh, William J. Borland
  • Patent number: 7791125
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes loading a semiconductor substrate into a reaction chamber, and providing metal organic precursors including hafnium and zirconium into the reaction chamber to form hafnium-zirconium oxide (HfxZr1-xO; 0<X<1) with a tetragonal crystalline structure on the semiconductor substrate. Related structures are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon-Sang Choi, Jong-Cheol Lee, Ki-Vin Im, Jae-Hyun Yeo, Eun-Ae Chung, Sang-Yeol Kang
  • Patent number: 7767582
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a sacrifice film on an etching target film, forming an etching mask on the sacrifice film, etching the etching target film using the etching mask as a mask, removing the sacrifice film to allow the etching mask to adhere to the etching target film, and removing the etching mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Tomioka, Tokuhisa Ohiwa
  • Patent number: 7763545
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device manufacturing method having the etching step of an electrode material film constituting a capacitor using ferroelectric substance or high- dielectric substance, etching of a conductive film that acts as an electrode of the capacitor formed over a semiconductor substrate is carried out in an atmosphere containing bromine, and a heating temperature of the semiconductor substrate is set in a range of 300° C. to 600° C., otherwise etching of at least the conductive film is carried out in an atmosphere to which only hydrogen bromide and oxygen are supplied from an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited, ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Genichi Komuro, Mitsuhiro Endo, Naoki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7755125
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a ferroelectric capacitor formed above the lower interlevel insulating film covering a MOS transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, including lamination of a lower electrode, an oxide ferroelectric film, a first upper electrode made of conductive oxide having a stoichiometric composition AOx1 and an actual composition AOx2, a second upper electrode made of conductive oxide having a stoichiometric composition BOy1 and an actual composition BOy2, where y2/y1>x2/x1, and a third upper electrode having a composition containing metal of the platinum group; and a multilayer wiring structure formed above the lower ferroelectric capacitor, and including interlevel insulating films and wirings. Abnormal growth and oxygen vacancies can be prevented which may occur when the upper electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor is made of a conductive oxide film having a low oxidation degree and a conductive oxide film having a high oxidation degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7745233
    Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor comprises a first electrode comprising an alloy of Ir and Ru, a ferroelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the ferroelectric layer. A ferroelectric memory comprises a substrate and a plurality of memory cells arranged on the substrate. Each memory cell comprises a first electrode comprising an alloy of Ir and Ru, a ferroelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-min Shin, Suk-pil Kim, Young-soo Park, Jung-hyun Lee, June-mo Koo
  • Publication number: 20100159666
    Abstract: The use of a conductive bidimensional perovskite as an interface between a silicon, metal, or amorphous oxide substrate and an insulating perovskite deposited by epitaxy, as well as an integrated circuit and its manufacturing process comprising a layer of an insulating perovskite deposited by epitaxy to form the dielectric of capacitive elements having at least an electrode formed of a conductive bidimensional perovskite forming an interface between said dielectric and an underlying silicon, metal, or amorphous oxide substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.A., Universite Francois Rabelais, UFR Sciences & Techniques
    Inventors: Ludovic Goux, Monique Gervais
  • Patent number: 7727910
    Abstract: Methods of forming transparent conducting oxides and devices formed by these methods are shown. Monolayers that contain zinc and monolayers that contain zirconium are deposited onto a substrate and subsequently processed to form zirconium-doped zinc oxide. The resulting transparent conducing oxide includes properties such as an amorphous or nanocrystalline microstructure. Devices that include transparent conducing oxides formed with these methods have better step coverage over substrate topography and more robust film mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20100093150
    Abstract: One capacitor fabrication process of the invention comprises a noble metal layer formation step of forming a noble metal layer on one surface of a substrate, a dielectric layer formation step of forming a dielectric layer on the noble metal layer, a metal foil formation step of forming a metal foil of 10 ?m or greater in thickness on the dielectric layer, a separation step of separating the noble metal layer from the dielectric layer at an interface, and an electrode layer formation step of forming an electrode layer on the second surface of the dielectric layer separated off by the separation step, wherein the second surface faces away from the first surface of the dielectric layer with the metal foil formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko KATO, Yuko Saya, Osamu Shinoura
  • Publication number: 20100072525
    Abstract: According to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device of the present invention, a capacitor lower electrode film is left on the wiring layer located above a dummy transistor. In this manner, when processing of the capacitors is performed by removing a capacitor upper electrode film and a ferroelectric film, removal of the wiring layer can be prevented, and the connection between the diffusion layer of a select transistor and a bit line can be secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yoshiro Shimojo, Tohru Ozaki, Yoshinori Kumura
  • Patent number: 7682898
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a plurality of lower electrodes covering the entire surfaces of a plurality of trenches formed in a first interlayer insulating film, a capacitive insulating film covering the entire surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode covering the surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes from above with the capacitive insulating film interposed between the upper electrode and the plurality of lower electrodes. The upper electrode is formed with a stress-relieving part, such as a crack, a notch or a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7679186
    Abstract: A piezoelectric micro electro-mechanical system switch (MEMS), an array of piezoelectric MEMS switches, and a method of fabricating the switch, which are capable of improving low voltage and switching characteristics while securing high signal isolation, are provided. The piezoelectric MEMS switch includes a semiconductor substrate including a groove, a support formed over the semiconductor substrate and the groove. An actuator including a piezoelectric layer is formed on the support. A switching member is formed on the support on one side of the actuator, wherein upward movement of the switching member changes by a deformation of the piezoelectric layer of the actuator. Radio frequency (RF) transfer lines are arranged at a predetermined distance on the switching member and are separated by a predetermined interval from each other. The actuator is formed to have at least two cantilevers each having one end such that the ends are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung Hae Jung, Myung Lae Lee, Sung Weon Kang
  • Patent number: 7674672
    Abstract: A fabricating process for a substrate with an embedded passive component is provided. The fabricating process includes the following steps. First, a substrate including a top conductive layer, a bottom conductive layer, and at least a dielectric layer is provided. The top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer are separately disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the dielectric layer. Next, a plurality of plating through holes is formed in the substrate. Then, the top and the bottom conductive layers are patterned to form a patterned top conductive layer and a patterned bottom conductive layer separately, and the dielectric layer is exposed in part. The patterned top conductive layer and the patterned bottom conductive layer have many traces and many trenches formed by the traces. Thereafter, the trenches are filled with a material, wherein the traces and the material are adapted for forming the passive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sabtron Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Lian Cheng
  • Publication number: 20100055805
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first film made of a first metal to an upper portion of a substrate, forming a second film made of an amorphous metal oxide or an microcrystalline metal oxide on the first film, subjecting the second film to a heat treatment, subjecting the second film after the heat treatment to a reduction treatment, forming a third film made of a ferroelectric material on the second film, and forming a fourth film made of a second metal on the third film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20100052023
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of transistors connected in series and including a transistor having first and second diffusion regions arranged in the semiconductor substrate. The device also includes an insulating film columnar body arranged above the semiconductor substrate, and having a side which is inclined to a top surface of the substrate by an inclination angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The device includes a memory cell including a first electrode arranged on the side of the insulating film columnar body and connected to the first diffusion region via a first contact plug, a ferroelectric film arranged on the first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on the ferroelectric film, and connected to the second diffusion region via a second contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KANAYA
  • Patent number: 7648893
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor including the steps of supplying a substrate having a support with one face supporting a strained silicon thin layer; forming a first mask on a portion of the strained silicon thin layer; epitaxy of Si1-xGex on the portion of the layer not masked by the first mask; condensating germanium to obtain a strained germanium layer, the strained germanium layer then covered by a silicon oxide layer; eliminating the first mask and of the silicon oxide layer thereby exposing a semi-conducting thin layer; forming a second mask on the semi-conducting thin layer exposed via the previous step, the second mask protecting a region of the exposing a remaining strained germanium portion; epitaxial growing germanium on the remaining strained germanium portion; and removing the second mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Damlencourt, Laurent Clavelier
  • Patent number: 7646050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode that is formed over said semiconductor substrate, a capacitive insulating film that is formed on the first electrode and is made of a metal oxide ferroelectric, a second electrode that is formed on the capacitive insulating film, an insulating film that has a first opening exposing a portion of an upper side of the second electrode and is formed so that it covers the first electrode, the capacitive insulating film, and the second electrode, a first barrier film having an amorphous structure which is formed inside the first opening and on the insulating film, and a wiring film that is formed over the first barrier film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Abe
  • Patent number: 7642156
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a three-dimensional flash memory cell and method of forming the same that may be improve the uniformity of flash memory cell by removing a width difference of a polysilicon pattern when forming a floating gate of flash memory device, to thereby improve the reliability of semiconductor device. The process may be simplified due to the self-alignment in the step of forming the polysilicon pattern, which may improve the yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Gyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20090315144
    Abstract: An upper electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor has a first layer formed of a first oxide expressed by a chemical formula AOx1 (A: metal, O: oxygen) using a stoichiometric composition parameter x1, and expressed by a chemical formula AOx2 using a actual composition parameter x2, and a second layer formed of a second oxide, formed on the first layer, expressed by a chemical formula BOy1 (B: metal) using a stoichiometric composition parameter y1 and expressed by a chemical formula BOy2 using a actual composition parameter y2, which includes at least one of stone-wall crystal and column crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7611958
    Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor that includes producing a first electrode having a first surface; forming a recess in an element, walls of the element and the first surface of the first electrode defining the recess, the element having a first surface exterior of the recess; forming a dielectric layer on the element, the dielectric layer oriented against the first surface of the element and against the walls of the element within the recess; polishing off at least a portion of the dielectric layer oriented against the first surface of the element to electrically isolate the portion of the dielectric layer located in the recess from any portion of the dielectric layer remaining outside the recess; and producing a second electrode, the second electrode oriented at least partially within the recess with the dielectric layer oriented between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Klaus Goller, Tanja Schest
  • Patent number: 7601548
    Abstract: Ferroelectric capacitors are provided that include an integrated circuit substrate and a supporting insulation layer on the integrated circuit substrate having a face and a trench in the face. An oxidation barrier conductive layer is provided in the trench and a lower electrode is provided on the oxidation barrier conductive layer. A ferroelectric layer is provided on the lower electrode and an upper electrode is provided on the ferroelectric layer. Related methods of fabricating ferroelectric capacitors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090243038
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a capacitor having electrodes and a ferroelectric film provided therebetween above a substrate, forming a pad electrode electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the capacitor above the substrate, forming a protective film covering the pad electrode over the substrate, forming an opening in the protective film exposing at least a part of the pad electrode, bringing a measurement terminal into contact with the exposed surface of the pad electrode, etching the surface of the pad electrode after the measurement terminal is brought into contact therewith, and forming a hydrogen absorbing film on the protective film and the pad electrode exposed through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouichi NAGAI, Kaoru Saigoh
  • Patent number: 7595250
    Abstract: There are provided the steps of forming an insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, a second conductive film on the insulating film, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film into a first pattern shape by using a first mask, removing the first mask, and etching simultaneously the first conductive film and the second conductive film having the first pattern shape by using a second mask to form a plurality of capacitor upper electrodes made of the second conductive film and also form a plate line as a capacitor lower electrode, which is covered with the dielectric film having the first pattern shape and has a contact region, made of the first conductive film. Accordingly, a plurality of capacitors can be formed on the capacitor lower electrode with good precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Okita, Genichi Komuro
  • Patent number: 7592626
    Abstract: A capacitor comprises: a lower electrode formed of a foil made of a polycrystalline metal; an upper conductor layer; and a dielectric layer disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode layer. Grain boundaries of the polycrystalline metal appear at the top surface of the lower electrode. The capacitor further comprises an insulator that is disposed between the top surface of the dielectric layer and the bottom surface of the upper electrode layer and that is present only in part of a region in which the top surface of the dielectric layer and the bottom surface of the upper electrode layer face each other. The insulator is disposed to cover at least part of the grain boundaries appearing at the top surface of the lower electrode when seen from above the top surface of the dielectric layer. The insulator is formed by electrophoresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Ozaki, Osamu Shinoura
  • Publication number: 20090224363
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, an insulating film is formed on a first conductive film. By using a mask film having an opening that exposes the insulating film, anisotropic etching is performed to form a recess is formed in an upper part of the insulating film exposed to the opening and to cause a reaction product to adhere to a lower part of a sidewall portion of the mask film. Isotropic etching is then performed to decrease the sidewall portion of the mask film in a horizontal direction, and anisotropic etching is performed to etch the insulating film exposed at a bottom of the recess in a vertical direction while removing the reaction product adhering to the lower part of the sidewall portion of the mask film. Anisotropic etching is then performed to etch the insulating film present around the recess in the vertical direction to form a stepped portion, and also to etch the insulating film exposed at the bottom of the recess to expose the first conductive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroshi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20090224301
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a field effect transistor including a source/drain region, an interlayer insulation film burying the field effect transistor, a ferroelectric capacitor including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film and an upper electrode, the lower electrode with a concave-convex surface, and a plug electrically connecting between the source/drain region and the ferroelectric capacitor. A height and a size in an in-place direction of each convex portion in the concave-convex surface is 1 to 50 nm. The ferroelectric film includes a lower ferroelectric film with a predetermined height from the lower electrode and an upper ferroelectric film formed on the lower ferroelectric film as being formed from the same material as the lower ferroelectric film. The lower ferroelectric film includes a part of which at least one of composition, crystallizing orientation and size of a crystalline particle being different from a crystalline particle in the upper ferroelectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Koji Yamakawa, Soichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7582574
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal silicate as a high k dielectric in an electronic device, comprising the steps of: providing diethylsilane to a reaction zone; concurrently providing a source of oxygen to the reaction zone; concurrently providing a metal precursor to the reaction zone; reacting the diethylsilane, source of oxygen and metal precursor by chemical vapor deposition to form a metal silicate on a substrate comprising the electronic device. The metal is preferably hafnium, zirconium or mixtures thereof. The dielectric constant of the metal silicate film can be tuned based upon the relative atomic concentration of metal, silicon, and oxygen in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Daniel Clark, Hareesh Thridandam, Kirk Scott Cuthill, Arthur Kenneth Hochberg
  • Publication number: 20090212288
    Abstract: A display device including the thin film transistor, and a method of manufacturing the display device are provided. The thin film transistor comprising a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode formed on the first gate electrode, a first semiconductor formed on the first gate electrode and including a polycrystalline semiconductor, a second semiconductor formed on the second gate electrode and including an amorphous semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Joo-Han Kim, Seung-Hwan Shim
  • Patent number: 7560392
    Abstract: Electrical components for microelectronic devices and methods for forming electrical components. One particular embodiment of such a method comprises depositing an underlying layer onto a workpiece, and forming a conductive layer on the underlying layer. The method can continue by disposing a dielectric layer on the conductive layer. The underlying layer is a material that causes the dielectric layer to have a higher dielectric constant than without the underlying layer being present under the conductive layer. For example, the underlying layer can impart a structure or another property to the film stack that causes an otherwise amorphous dielectric layer to crystallize without having to undergo a separate high temperature annealing process after disposing the dielectric layer onto the conductive layer. Several examples of this method are expected to be very useful for forming dielectric layers with high dielectric constants because they avoid using a separate high temperature annealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishikesh Krishnan, Dan Gealy, Vidya Srividya, Noel Rocklein
  • Patent number: 7550344
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a lower hydrogen-barrier film; a capacitor formed on the lower hydrogen-barrier film and including a lower electrode, a capacitive insulating film, and an upper electrode; an interlayer dielectric film formed so as to cover the periphery of the capacitor; and an upper hydrogen-barrier film covering the top and lateral portions of the capacitor. An opening, which exposes the lower hydrogen-barrier film where the lower hydrogen-barrier film is located around the capacitor, and which is tapered and flares upward, is formed in the interlayer dielectric film, and the upper hydrogen-barrier film is formed along the lateral and bottom faces of the opening, and is in contact with the lower hydrogen-barrier film in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoji Ito, Eiji Fujii, Kazuo Umeda
  • Patent number: 7527995
    Abstract: A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming at least two posts, such as posts formed from spin-on glass, on a substrate. In alternate embodiments, the posts may be formed after certain layers of the modulator element have been deposited on the substrate. An interferometric modulator element includes at least two spin-on glass support posts located on the substrate. In alternate embodiments, the support posts may be located over certain layers of the modulator element, rather than on the substrate. A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming a rigid cap over a support post. An interferometric modulator element includes support posts having rigid cap members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 7514734
    Abstract: Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjeev Aggarwal, Kelly J. Taylor, Theodore S. Moise
  • Publication number: 20090075401
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ferroelectric capacitor having a ferroelectric film interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming an electrode film above a substrate; thermally oxidizing a surface layer of the electrode film to form an oxidized electrode layer in an atmosphere of atmospheric-pressure with an oxygen partial pressure being 2% or grater; forming a ferroelectric film on the electrode layer by a MOCVD method thereby forming a first electrode composed of the electrode film including the oxidized electrode layer that serves as a base for the ferroelectric film; and forming a second electrode on the ferroelectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tamura
  • Patent number: 7504275
    Abstract: Provided is a new design and fabrication of scratch drive actuator (SDA) micro rotary motor with low driving voltage and high lifetime characteristics. To substantially reduce the driving voltage from 30˜150 Vo-p to 12˜30 Vo-p ac amplitude, a silicon wafer with very low resistivity (<0.004 ?-cm) was firstly adopted as the substrate of SDA micro motor. Furthermore, a novel SDA structure and geometric design for the improvement of lifetime (>75 hrs) and rotational speed (˜30 rpm) of SDA micro motor was also demonstrated in this patent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, I-Yu Huang, Yen-Chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20090029485
    Abstract: A capacitor in which a ferroelectric film (4) is held between a lower electrode (3) and an upper electrode (5) is formed above a conductive plug (1), with a conductive base structure (2) interposed therebetween. A hard mask (6) used in patterning the conductive base structure (2) is formed over the upper electrode (5). A protective film (7) covering at least an exposed portion of the ferroelectric film (4) is formed and then heat treatment is applied to the ferroelectric film (4) in an oxygen gas atmosphere. This prevents elements constituting the ferroelectric film (4) from being released to the outside at the time of the heat treatment by thus forming the protective film (7) before applying the heat treatment to the ferroelectric film (4). Further, oxygen penetration into the conductive plug (1) is blocked by applying the heat treatment in the state where the conductive base structure (2) is not patterned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng WANG
  • Publication number: 20090020797
    Abstract: An FeRAM is produced by a method including the steps of forming a lower electrode layer (24), forming a first ferroelectric film (25a) on the lower electrode layer (24), forming on the first ferroelectric film (25a) a second ferroelectric film (25b) in an amorphous state containing iridium inside, thermally treating the second ferroelectric film (25b) in an oxidizing atmosphere to crystallize the second ferroelectric film (25b) and to cause iridium in the second ferroelectric film (25b) to diffuse into the first ferroelectric film (25a), forming an upper electrode layer (26) on the second ferroelectric film (25b), and processing each of the upper electrode layer (26), the second ferroelectric film (25b), the first ferroelectric film (25a), and the lower electrode layer (24) to form the capacitor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng WANG
  • Patent number: 7476602
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including forming a low-k dielectric material over a substrate, depositing a liner on a portion of the low-k dielectric material, and exposing the liner to a plasma. The method also includes depositing a layer over the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sameer Kumar Ajmera, Patricia Beauregard Smith, Changming Jin
  • Patent number: 7473598
    Abstract: A method for forming a stack capacitor includes providing a substrate with a bottom layer, a BPSG layer, a USG layer and a top layer thereon; using the top layer as a hard mask and the substrate as a first etching stop layer to perform a dry etching process to form a tapered trench in the bottom layer, the BPSG layer and the USG layer; removing the top layer to perform a selective wet etching process to partially remove the BPSG layer; depositing conformally a poly-Si layer and filling the trench with a sacrificial layer; removing the poly-Si layer unmasked by the sacrificial layer; using the bottom layer as a second etching stop layer to perform a wet etching process to remove the USG layer and BPSG layer; performing a static drying process; and depositing a dielectric layer and a conductive material to form the stack capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shian-Hau Liao, Tsung-Shin Wu, Chih-Chiang Kuo, Chien-Li Cheng
  • Patent number: 7452770
    Abstract: Bottom electrodes of memory cell capacitors are recessed to prevent electrical shorts between neighboring memory cells. A partially fabricated memory cell capacitor has a bottom electrode comprising titanium nitride (TiN) and hemispherical grained (HSG) silicon. The container housing the capacitor is filled with photoresist and then planarized. The TiN layer is then selectively recessed with a peroxide mixture and subsequently the HSG silicon layer is recessed using tetramethyl ammoniumhydroxide. Thus, the bottom electrode is recessed below the level of particles which may overlie the memory cell capacitors and cause shorts by contacting the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin R. Shea
  • Publication number: 20080277704
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns a semiconductor device comprising a switching transistor provided on a semiconductor substrate; an interlayer dielectric film formed on the switching transistor; a ferroelectric capacitor including an upper electrode, a ferroelectric film, and a lower electrode formed on the interlayer dielectric film; a contact plug provided within the interlayer dielectric film and electrically connected to the lower electrode; a diffusion layer connected to between the contact plug and the switching transistor; a barrier metal covering a whole upper surface of the upper electrode; and an insulation sidewall film provided on a side surface of the barrier metal and provided substantially on a same plane as a side surface of the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KANAYA
  • Patent number: 7446361
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a pair of electrodes and a ferroelectric film sandwiched between the electrodes. The electrodes are provided perpendicular to the direction of the polarization axis of the ferroelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kenji Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20080258193
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory that stores information by using a hysteresis characteristic of a ferroelectric, has a semiconductor substrate; a lower electrode formed above said semiconductor substrate; a ferroelectric film formed on said lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed on said ferroelectric film, wherein said upper electrode includes an AOx-type conductive oxide film formed on said ferroelectric film and an “A” metal film formed on said AOx-type conductive oxide film, and said “A” metal is a noble metal selected from among Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Os and Pd.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Koji Yamakawa, Soichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7435678
    Abstract: Provided is a method of depositing a noble metal layer using an oxidation-reduction reaction. The method includes flowing a noble metal source gas, an oxidizing gas, and a reducing gas into a reaction chamber; and generating plasma in the reaction chamber to form a noble metal layer or a noble metal oxide layer on a bottom structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-hyun Lee, Sang-jun Choi
  • Patent number: 7436016
    Abstract: A method for forming a MIM capacitor and a MIM capacitor device formed by same. A preferred embodiment comprises selectively forming a first cap layer over a wafer including a MIM capacitor bottom plate, and depositing an insulating layer over the MIM capacitor bottom plate. The insulating layer is patterned with a MIM capacitor top plate pattern, and a MIM dielectric material is deposited over the patterned insulating layer. A conductive material is deposited over the MIM dielectric material, and the wafer is planarized to remove the conductive material and MIM dielectric material from the top surface of the insulating layer and form a MIM capacitor top plate. A second cap layer is selectively formed over the MIM capacitor top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Barth, Petra Felsner, Erdem Kaltalioglu, Gerald R. Friese
  • Publication number: 20080203530
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate; a first interlayer insulating film provided on the silicon substrate; and a capacitor that is provided on the first interlayer insulating film and that includes a lower electrode, a capacitor dielectric film made of a ferroelectric substance, and an upper electrode, wherein the capacitor dielectric film does not contain a non-oriented component under the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Mitsushi FUJIKI
  • Patent number: 7417276
    Abstract: A thin film capacitor comprising a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a dielectric film held between the top and bottom electrodes. The dielectric film is composed of at least cations Ba, Sr, and Ti and anion O. The concentration of Sr, Ti, and O ions are uniform along the growth direction of the dielectric film while the concentration of the Ba cation is non-uniform along the growth direction such that a reduced Ba-I region in which the average concentration of perovskite type Ba cations (Ba-I) is less than the average concentration of non-perovskite type Ba cations (Ba-II) exists at or near the boundary between at least one of the top and bottom electrodes, with ratio R=(atm % Ba-I)/[(atm % Ba-I)+(atm % Ba-II)] within a range of 0.1<R<0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: John David Baniecki, Takeshi Shioga, Kazuaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7408232
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a plurality of lower electrodes covering the entire surfaces of a plurality of trenches formed in a first interlayer insulating film, a capacitive insulating film covering the entire surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode covering the surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes from above with the capacitive insulating film interposed between the upper electrode and the plurality of lower electrodes. The upper electrode is formed with a stress-relieving part, such as a crack, a notch or a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7390678
    Abstract: A PLZT film (30) is formed as the material film of a capacitor dielectric film and a top electrode film (31) is formed on the PLZT film (30). The top electrode film (31) comprises two IrOx films having different composition. Subsequently, back face of a semiconductor substrate (11) is cleaned and an Ir adhesion film (32) is formed on the top electrode film (31). Substrate temperature is set at 400° C. or above at that time. Thereafter, a TiN film and a TEOS film are formed sequentially as a hard mask. In such a method, carbon remaining on the top electrode film (31) after cleaning the back face is discharged into the chamber while the temperature of the semiconductor substrate (11) is kept at 400° C. or above in order to form the Ir adhesion film (32). Consequently, adhesion is enhanced between a TiN film being formed subsequently and the Ir adhesion film (32) thus preventing the TiN film from being stripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Wensheng Wang, Takashi Ando, Yukinobu Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 7390756
    Abstract: A dielectric layer containing an atomic layer deposited zirconium silicon oxide film disposed in an integrated circuit and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer provide a dielectric layer for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments include forming zirconium silicates as dielectric layers in devices in an integrated circuit. In an embodiment, a zirconium silicon oxide film is formed by atomic layer deposition using a zirconium precursor containing silicon and a silicon precursor. Embodiments include structures for capacitors, transistors, memory devices, and electronic systems with dielectric layers containing an atomic layer deposited zirconium silicon oxide film, and methods for forming such structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes