Having Multilayers, E.g., Comprising Barrier Layer And Metal Layer (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.021)
  • Patent number: 11476267
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory structures are discussed. Specifically, methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form memory structures with a metal nitride barrier layer, an ?-tungsten layer, and a bulk metal material. The barrier layer comprises a TiXN or TaXN material, where X comprises a metal selected from one or more of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), tungsten (W), lanthanum (La), yttrium (Yt), strontium (Sr), or magnesium (Mg).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Yong Wu, Wei V. Tang, Srinivas Gandikota, Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 10964534
    Abstract: Methods of producing metal-containing thin films with low impurity contents on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. The methods preferably comprise contacting a substrate with alternating and sequential pulses of a metal source chemical, a second source chemical and a deposition enhancing agent. The deposition enhancing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, hydrogen plasma, hydrogen radicals, silanes, germanium compounds, nitrogen compounds, and boron compounds. In some embodiments, the deposition-enhancing agent reacts with halide contaminants in the growing thin film, improving film properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ASM International
    Inventors: Antti Rahtu, Eva Tois, Kai-Erik Elers, Wei-Min Li
  • Patent number: 10734218
    Abstract: There is provided a process of forming a film containing a metal element, an additional element different from the metal element and at least one of nitrogen and carbon on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including non-simultaneously performing: (a) supplying a first precursor gas containing the metal element and a second precursor gas containing the additional element to the substrate so that supply periods of the first precursor gas and the second precursor gas at least partially overlap with each other; and (b) supplying a reaction gas containing the at least one of nitrogen and carbon to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arito Ogawa, Atsuro Seino
  • Patent number: 10608086
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure includes a substrate, at least one active area is defined on the substrate, a buried word line is disposed in the substrate, a source/drain region disposed beside the buried word line, a diffusion barrier region, disposed at the top of the source/drain region, the diffusion barrier region comprises a plurality of doping atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms, germanium atoms, oxygen atoms, helium atoms and xenon atoms, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, and a contact structure disposed in the dielectric layer, and electrically connected to the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ger-Pin Lin, Tien-Chen Chan, Shu-Yen Chan
  • Patent number: 9779950
    Abstract: A ruthenium film forming method includes a deposition process of introducing a mixed gas of a ruthenium carbonyl gas and a CO gas into a processing vessel 1 by supplying the CO gas as a carrier gas from a CO gas container 43 configured to contain the CO gas into a film forming source container 41 configured to contain ruthenium carbonyl in a solid state as a film forming source material, and forming ruthenium film by decomposing the ruthenium carbonyl on a wafer W; and a CO gas introduction process of bringing the CO gas into contact with a surface of the wafer W by introducing the CO gas directly into the processing vessel 1 from the CO gas container 43 after stopping the introducing of the mixed gas into the processing vessel 1. The deposition process and the CO gas introduction process are repeated multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Tadahiro Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 9673192
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a resistor metallic layer and method forming the same. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region of a power switch on a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes the resistor metallic layer over the source region and the drain region of the power switch. The resistor metallic layer includes a current sense resistor including a first current sense resistor metallic strip coupled between a first cross member and a second cross member, and a first gain resistor including a first gain resistor metallic strip coupled to the first cross member. The semiconductor device also includes an amplifier over the substrate and coupled to the first gain resistor metallic strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Dean Lopata, Jeffrey Demski, Jay Norton, Miguel Rojas-Gonzales
  • Patent number: 9620582
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. In some embodiments, the MIM capacitor has a capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrode arranged over a semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor has a high-k dielectric disposed over the CBM electrode and a capacitor top metal (CTM) electrode arranged over the high-k dielectric layer. The MIM capacitor has a dummy structure that is disposed vertically over the high-k dielectric layer and laterally apart from the CTM electrode. The dummy structure includes a conductive body having a same material as the CTM electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9530770
    Abstract: Integrated circuits having resistor structures formed from gate metal and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a resistor area and a transistor area. The method deposits a gate metal over the resistor area and the transistor area of the semiconductor substrate, and the gate metal forms a gate metal layer in the resistor area. The method includes etching the gate metal to form a resistor structure from the gate metal layer in the resistor area. Further, the method includes forming contacts to the resistor structure in the resistor area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alexandru Romanescu, Gerd Zschätzsch, Christian Schippel
  • Patent number: 8951901
    Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, the encapsulation of sensitive gate materials, such as a high-k dielectric material and a metal-containing electrode material, which are provided in an early manufacturing stage may be achieved by forming an undercut gate configuration. To this end, a wet chemical etch sequence is applied after the basic patterning of the gate layer stack, wherein at least ozone-based and hydrofluoric acid-based process steps are performed in an alternating manner, thereby achieving a substantially self-limiting removal behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Sven Beyer, Berthold Reimer, Falk Graetsch
  • Patent number: 8940601
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. Firstly, a lower electrode is formed over a substrate (semiconductor substrate). Successively, the lower electrode is primarily crystallized. Successively, a capacitance dielectric layer is formed over the lower electrode after primarily crystallized. Successively, the capacitance dielectric layer is secondarily crystallized. Then, an upper electrode is formed over the capacitance dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Misato Sakamoto, Youichi Yamamoto, Masayuki Tachikawa, Yoshitake Kato
  • Patent number: 8927384
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device includes forming a hard mask pattern using a damascene method on a lower mold layer stacked on a substrate and etching the lower mold layer using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask to define a protrusion under the hard mask pattern. A support pattern is formed on a top surface of the etched lower mold layer, the top surface of the etched lower mold layer being located at a lower level than a top surface of the protrusion. A lower electrode supported by the support pattern is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Kyu Kim, Sangsup Jeong, Kukhan Yoon, Junsoo Lee, SungII Cho, Yong-Joon Choi
  • Patent number: 8871574
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells including a memory component having a first conductive material, a second conductive material, and an oxide material between the first conductive material and the second conductive material. A resistance of the memory component is configurable via a current conducted from the first conductive material through the oxide material to the second conductive material. Other embodiments include a diode comprising metal and a dielectric material and a memory component connected in series with the diode. The memory component includes a magnetoresistive material and has a resistance that is changeable via a current conducted through the diode and the magnetoresistive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8835311
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved process for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, the method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate includes forming an adhesion layer containing titanium nitride on a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, forming a tungsten nitride intermediate layer on the adhesion layer, wherein the tungsten nitride intermediate layer contains tungsten nitride and carbon. The method further includes forming a tungsten barrier layer (e.g., tungsten or tungsten-carbon material) from the tungsten nitride intermediate layer by thermal decomposition during a thermal annealing process (e.g., temperature from about 700° C. to less than 1,000° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Collins, Murali K. Narasimhan, Jingjing Liu, Sang-Hyeob Lee, Kai Wu, Avgerinos V. Gelatos
  • Patent number: 8829524
    Abstract: An exemplary thin film transistor array substrate (200) includes a substrate (210) and a gate electrode (220) formed on the substrate. The gate electrode includes an adhesive layer (226) formed on the substrate, a conductive layer (224) formed on the adhesive layer and a barrier layer (222) formed on the conductive layer, the adhesive layer and the barrier layer both have sandwich structures. A central core of the adhesive layer, the conductive layer, and a central core of the barrier layer are made of a same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Shuo-Ting Yan
  • Patent number: 8815679
    Abstract: First and second multi-layer structures are formed within respective openings in at least one dielectric layer formed over a semiconductor substrate. The first multi-layer structure comprises a gate electrode, and the second multi-layer structure comprises a resistor and a first electrode of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure. The MIM capacitor structure is completed by forming a dielectric film on the at least one dielectric layer and forming a second electrode on the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Jung Yen, Jen-Pan Wang
  • Patent number: 8778799
    Abstract: A method for making conductive traces and interconnects on a surface of a substrate includes, for an embodiment, forming a dielectric or polymer layer on the surface of the substrate, forming a seed layer of an electrically conductive material on the dielectric or polymer layer, patterning a photoresist on the seed layer, forming the conductive traces on the patterned photoresist and seed layer, removing the photoresist from the substrate, and irradiating the surface of the substrate with a fluence of laser light effective to ablate the seed layer from areas of the substrate surface exclusive of the conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tamarack Scientific Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew E. Souter
  • Patent number: 8772922
    Abstract: A chip structure having a redistribution layer includes: a chip with electrode pads disposed on an active surface thereof; a first passivation layer formed on the active surface and the electrode pads; a redistribution layer formed on the first passivation layer and having a plurality of wiring units, wherein each of the wiring units has a conductive pad, a conductive via and a conductive trace connecting the conductive pad and the conductive via, the conductive trace having at least a first through opening for exposing a portion of the first passivation layer; and a second passivation layer disposed on the first passivation layer and the redistribution layer, the second passivation layer being filled in the first through opening such that the first and second passivation layers are bonded to each other with the conductive trace sandwiched therebetween, thereby preventing delamination of the conductive trace from the second passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Yuan Hsu, Sui-An Kao
  • Patent number: 8716858
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a barrier layer between a solder bump and a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) layer. The barrier layer is formed of at least one of an electroless nickel (Ni) layer, an electroless palladium (Pd) layer or an immersion gold (Au) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Fa Lu, Chung-Shi Liu, Mirng-Ji Lii, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8710657
    Abstract: Semiconductor packages connecting a semiconductor chip to an external device by bumps are provided. The semiconductor packages may include a connection pad on a semiconductor chip, a connecting bump on and configured to be electrically connected to the connection pad and a supporting bump on the semiconductor chip and configured to be electrically isolated from the connection pad. The connection bump may include a first pillar and a first solder ball and the supporting bump may include a second pillar and a second solder ball. The semiconductor packages may further include a solder channel in the second pillar configured to allow a portion of the second solder ball to extend into the solder channel along a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-woo Park, Moon-gi Cho, Ui-hyoung Lee, Sun-hee Park
  • Patent number: 8680599
    Abstract: To provide a more reliable semiconductor device including a lower-cost and more reliable capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same. This manufacturing method comprises the steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate; and forming, over one of the major surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, a first metal electrode including an aluminum layer, a dielectric layer over the first metal electrode, and a second metal electrode over the dielectric layer. In the step of forming the first metal electrode, the aluminum layer is formed so that the surface thereof satisfies a relationship of Rmax<80 nm, Rms<10 nm, and Ra<9 nm. The step of forming the first metal electrode comprises the steps of: forming at least one first barrier layer; forming the aluminum layer over the first barrier layer; and recrystallizing a crystal constituting the aluminum layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mitsuyama, Yasuhisa Fujii, Keiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8671560
    Abstract: Low temperature bond balls connect two structures having disparate coefficients of linear thermal expansion. An integrated circuit is made to heat the device such that the low temperature bond balls melt. After melting, the bond balls solidify, and the device is operated with the bond balls solidified. In one example, one of the two structures is a semiconductor substrate, and the other structure is a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit is a die mounted to the semiconductor substrate. The bond balls include at least five percent indium, and the integrated circuit is an FPGA loaded with a bit stream. The bit stream configures the FPGA such that the FPGA has increased power dissipation, which melts the balls. After the melting, a second bit stream is loaded into the FPGA and the FPGA is operated in a normal user-mode using the second bit stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Robert O. Conn, Daniel S. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8664046
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a lead frame made of a copper alloy prevents exfoliation occurring near the surface of the lead frame. A copper oxide layer is formed on the base material made of a copper alloy by immersing the base material into a solution of a strong oxidizer. The copper oxide layer serves as an outermost layer and consists of a copper oxide other than a copper oxide in the form of needle crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Takahiro Yurino
  • Patent number: 8658532
    Abstract: Various lithography methods are disclosed. An exemplary lithography method includes forming a first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over a substrate by removing a first patterned resist layer, wherein the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer includes a first opening having a first dimension and a second opening having the first dimension, the first opening and the second opening exposing the substrate; forming a second patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over the substrate by removing a second patterned resist layer, wherein a portion of the patterned second silicon-containing organic polymer layer combines with a portion of the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer to reduce the first dimension of the second opening to a second dimension; and etching the substrate exposed by the first opening having the first dimension and the second opening having the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 8642400
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first metal film on an insulating film over a substrate; forming a capacitor lower electrode by patterning the first metal film; and forming a dielectric film on upper and side surfaces of the capacitor lower electrode and on the insulating film. The method further includes: forming a conductive protection film on the dielectric film; patterning the conductive protection film into a shape of covering the capacitor lower electrode; forming a capacitor dielectric film in a shape of covering the upper and side surfaces of the capacitor lower electrode, by patterning the dielectric film so that the patterned conductive protection film covers an upper surface of the capacitor dielectric film; forming a second metal film on the patterned conductive protection film; and forming a capacitor upper electrode that covers at least an upper surface of the patterned conductive protection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yoshimura, Kenichi Watanabe, Satoshi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8618645
    Abstract: A package process is provided. An adhesive layer is disposed on a carrier board and then plural first semiconductor devices are disposed on the adhesive layer. A first molding compound formed on the carrier board covers the sidewalls of the first semiconductor devices and fills the gaps between the first semiconductor devices so as to form a chip array board constructed by the first semiconductor devices and the first molding compound. Next, plural second semiconductor devices are flip-chip bonded to the first semiconductor devices respectively. Then, a second molding compound formed on the chip array board at least covers the sidewalls of the second semiconductor devices and fills the gaps between the second semiconductor devices. Subsequently, the chip array board is separated from the adhesive layer. Then, the first and the second molding compound are cut along the gaps between the second semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Chih Shen, Jen-Chuan Chen, Tommy Pan
  • Patent number: 8617985
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved process for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, the method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate includes forming an adhesion layer containing titanium nitride on a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, forming a tungsten nitride intermediate layer on the adhesion layer, wherein the tungsten nitride intermediate layer contains tungsten nitride and carbon. The method further includes forming a tungsten barrier layer (e.g., tungsten or tungsten-carbon material) from the tungsten nitride intermediate layer by thermal decomposition during a thermal annealing process (e.g., temperature from about 700° C. to less than 1,000° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Collins, Murali K. Narasimhan, Jingjing Liu, Sang-Hyeob Lee, Kai Wu, Avgerinos V. Gelatos
  • Patent number: 8614104
    Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor is formed over a semiconductor substrate (10), and thereafter, interlayer insulating films (48, 50, 52) covering the ferroelectric capacitor are formed. Next, a contact hole (54) reaching a top electrode (40) is formed in the interlayer insulating films (48, 50, 52). Next, a wiring (58) electrically connected to the top electrode (40) through the contact hole (54) is formed on the interlayer insulating films (48, 50, 52). At the time of forming the top electrode (40), conductive oxide films (40a, 40b) are formed, and then a cap film (40c) composed of a noble metal exhibiting less catalytic action than Pt and having a thickness of 150 nm or less is formed on the conductive oxide films (40a, 40b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8569080
    Abstract: A method of packaging a light emitting diode comprising: providing a flexible substrate with a heat-conducting layer, an insulating layer covering on a surface of the heat-conducting layer and an electrically conductive layer positioned on the insulating layer; etching the conductive layer to form a gap in the conductive layer and expose a part of the insulating layer, the conductive layer being separated by the gap into a first electrode and a second electrode isolated from each other; stamping the flexible substrate with a mold at the position of the gap to form a recess in the flexible substrate; positioning a light emitting element on the conductive layer and electrically connecting the light emitting element to the conductive layer; and forming an encapsulation to cover the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Optoelectronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Hsiang Chen, Hsin-Chiang Lin, Pin-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8541867
    Abstract: A structure includes a first metallic electrode, a dielectric film formed over the first metallic electrode, and a second metallic electrode formed over the dielectric film. The second metallic electrode includes an oxygen scavenging material. The oxygen scavenging material is selected such that an oxygen density decreases in a region between the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode responsive to elevating a temperature of the first metallic electrode, the dielectric film, and the second metallic electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Martin M. Frank
  • Patent number: 8497537
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a ferro-electric capacitor with small leak current and less process deterioration even upon miniaturization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Wensheng Wang, Ko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130181326
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor capacitor and method of fabrication is disclosed. A MIM stack, comprising alternating first-type and second-type metal layers (each separated by dielectric) is formed in a deep cavity. The entire stack can be planarized, and then patterned to expose a first area, and selectively etched to recess all first metal layers within the first area. A second selective etch is performed to recess all second metal layers within a second area. The etched recesses can be backfilled with dielectric. Separate electrodes can be formed; a first electrode formed in said first area and contacting all of said second-type metal layers and none of said first-type metal layers, and a second electrode formed in said second area and contacting all of said first-type metal layers and none of said second-type metal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 8461012
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive layer over the isolation region; forming a first dielectric layer over the conductive layer; forming a plurality of conductive vias extending through the first dielectric layer to the conductive layer and electrically contacting the conductive layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; and forming a conductive ground plane in the second dielectric layer. Each of the plurality of conductive vias is in electrical contact with the conductive ground plane, and the conductive ground plane includes an opening, wherein the opening is located directly over the conductive layer. At least one interconnect layer may be formed over the second dielectric layer and may include a transmission line which transmits a signal having a frequency of at least 30 gigahertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Vishal P. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 8455360
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a storage node of a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial dielectric pattern with a storage node hole on a substrate, forming a support layer on the sacrificial dielectric pattern, forming a storage node, supported by the support layer, in the storage node hole, performing a full dip-out process to expose the outer wall of the storage node, and performing a cleaning process for removing or reducing a bridge-causing material formed on the surface of the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Hyo Geun Yoon, Ji Yong Park, Sun Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8441077
    Abstract: A method for forming a ruthenium metal layer comprises combining a ruthenium precursor with a measured amount of oxygen to form a ruthenium oxide layer. The ruthenium oxide is annealed in the presence of a hydrogen-rich gas to react the oxygen in the ruthenium oxide with hydrogen, which results in a ruthenium metal layer. By varying the oxygen flow rate during the formation of ruthenium oxide, a ruthenium metal layer having various degrees of smooth and rough textures can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Yang
  • Patent number: 8426972
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has: a semiconductor substrate; and an upper surface electrode laminated on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein at least one portion of the upper surface electrode includes a first layer formed on an upper surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a second layer formed on an upper surface side of the first layer, a third layer in contact with the upper surface of the second layer, and a fourth layer formed on an upper surface side of the third layer. The first layer is a barrier metal layer. The second layer is an Al (aluminum) layer. The third layer is one of an Al—Si (aluminum-silicon alloy) layer, an Al—Cu (aluminum-copper alloy) layer and an Al—Si—Cu (aluminum-silicon-copper alloy) layer. The fourth layer is a solder joint layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Kimura
  • Patent number: 8283227
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, a three dimensional lower electrode including a titanium nitride film is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric film is formed on the surface of the lower electrode. After a first upper electrode is formed at a temperature that the crystal of the dielectric film is not grown on the surface of the dielectric film, the first upper electrode and the dielectric film are heat-treated at a temperature that the crystal of the dielectric film is grown to convert at least a portion of the dielectric film into a crystalline state. Thereafter, a second upper electrode is formed on the surface of the first upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirota, Takakazu Kiyomura
  • Patent number: 8258056
    Abstract: A method of lithography patterning includes forming a first material layer on a substrate; forming a first patterned resist layer including at least one opening therein on the first material layer; forming a second material layer on the first patterned resist layer and the first material layer; forming a second patterned resist layer including at least one opening therein on the second material layer; and etching the first and second material layers uncovered by the first and second patterned resist layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 8258626
    Abstract: A copper interconnection structure includes an insulating layer, an interconnection body including copper and a barrier layer surrounding the interconnection body. The barrier layer includes a first barrier layer formed between a first portion of the interconnection body and the insulating layer. The first portion of the interconnection body is part of the interconnection body that faces the insulating layer. The barrier layer also includes a second barrier layer formed on a second portion of the interconnection body. The second portion of the interconnection body is part of the interconnection body not facing the insulating layer. Each of the first and the second barrier layers is formed of an oxide layer including manganese, and each of the first and the second barrier layers has a position where the atomic concentration of manganese is maximized in their thickness direction of the first and the second barrier layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Interconnect Materials, LLC
    Inventors: Junichi Koike, Akihiro Shibatomi
  • Patent number: 8254175
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region, a tunnel insulating film formed on the semiconductor region, a charge-storage insulating film formed on the tunnel insulating film, a block insulating film formed on the charge-storage insulating film, and a control gate electrode formed on the block insulating film, wherein the tunnel insulating film comprises a first region which is formed on a surface of the semiconductor region and contains silicon and oxygen, a second region which contains silicon and nitrogen, a third region which is formed on a back surface of the charge-storage insulating film and contains silicon and oxygen, and an insulating region which is formed at least between the first region and the second region or between the second region and the third region, and contains silicon and nitrogen and oxygen and the second region is formed between the first region and the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Higuchi, Hiroshi Matsuba, Yoshio Ozawa, Tetsuya Kai
  • Patent number: 8242498
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor substrate 10 according to the present invention is comprised of a Group III nitride and has a surface layer 12 containing a chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and an oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, at a surface. The inventors conducted elaborate research and newly discovered that when the surface layer 12 at the surface of the compound semiconductor substrate 10 contained the chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and the oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, Si was reduced at an interface between the compound semiconductor substrate 10 and an epitaxial layer 14 formed thereon and, as a result, the electric resistance at the interface was reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Ishibashi, Fumitake Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8227893
    Abstract: In a capacitor element in which a highly dielectric metal oxide film formed between wiring layers is used as a capacitor insulation film, the diffusion and thermal oxidation of a lower-layer wiring material are reduced, and the surface on which a thin capacitor insulation film that constitutes a capacitor element is formed is kept flat. A lower electrode (111b) having the ability to prevent diffusion of the wiring material is embedded and formed so as to be in direct contact with a lower-layer wiring (105) in a prescribed area of a wiring cap film (103), and the surface on which the capacitor insulation film is formed is flat. The wiring cap film functions to prevent diffusion and oxidation of the wiring material formed on a wiring disposed in a lower layer of the capacitor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Inoue, Yoshihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8188599
    Abstract: A semiconductor device enables a barrier layer to fully acquire a barriering property against the diffusion of Cu from a wiring main body and the diffusion of Si from an insulating film, enhances the adhesiveness of the barrier layer and the insulating film and excels in reliability of operation over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Interconnect Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Junichi Koike
  • Patent number: 8169079
    Abstract: A copper interconnection structure includes an insulating layer, an interconnection body including copper in an opening provided on the insulating layer and a barrier layer including a metal element and copper, formed between the insulating layer and the interconnection body. An atomic concentration of the metal element in the barrier layer is accumulated toward an outer surface of the barrier layer facing the insulating layer, and an atomic concentration of copper in the barrier layer is accumulated toward an inner surface of the barrier layer facing the interconnection body. The inner surface of the barrier layer comprises copper surface orientation of {111} and {200}, and an intensity of X-ray diffraction peak from the inner surface of the barrier layer is stronger for the {111} peak than for the {200} peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Interconnect Materials, LLC
    Inventors: Junichi Koike, Akihiro Shibatomi
  • Patent number: 8158512
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps: flowing a first precursor gas to the semiconductor substrate within a ALD chamber to form a first discrete monolayer on the semiconductor substrate; flowing an inert purge gas to the semiconductor substrate within the ALD chamber; flowing a second precursor gas to the ALD chamber to react with the first precursor gas which has formed the first monolayer, thereby forming a first discrete compound monolayer; and flowing an inert purge gas; forming a first dielectric layer to cover the discrete compound monolayer; forming a second third monolayer above first dielectric layer; and forming a second discrete compound monolayer; and forming a second dielectric layer to cover the second discrete compound monolayer above the first dielectric layer. There is also provided a semiconductor device formed by the ALD method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Hua Ji, Min-Hwa Chi, Fumitake Mieno, Sean Fuxiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8143138
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for fabricating dual-damascene interconnect structures. In one embodiment, the interconnect structures are fabricated with a dual-damascene method having trenches then vias formed. The method includes novel liner depositions after the trench and via etches. The method includes etching trenches in a dielectric layer. Next, the method includes depositing a first liner layer on the dielectric layer. Next, the method includes etching vias in the dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. Next, the method includes depositing a second liner layer on the first liner layer. The second liner layer is deposited on the exposed surfaces of the first liner layer, dielectric layer, etch stop layer, and the first metal layer. Then, a second metal layer is deposited on the second liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan James Patz, Igor Peidous, Jeremiah Pender, Michael D. Armacost
  • Patent number: 8134194
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells including a memory component having a first conductive material, a second conductive material, and an oxide material between the first conductive material and the second conductive material. A resistance of the memory component is configurable via a current conducted from the first conductive material through the oxide material to the second conductive material. Other embodiments include a diode including metal and a dielectric material and a memory component connected in series with the diode. The memory component includes a magnetoresistive material and has a resistance that is changeable via a current conducted through the diode and the magnetoresistive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8133792
    Abstract: A structure of a capacitor set is described, including at least two capacitors that are disposed at the same position on a substrate and include a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor includes multiple first capacitor units electrically connected with each other in parallel. The second capacitor includes multiple second capacitor units electrically connected with each other in parallel. The first and the second capacitor units are arranged spatially intermixing with each other to form an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Victor-Chiang Liang, Chien-Kuo Yang, Hua-Chou Tseng, Chun-Yao Ko, Cheng-Wen Fan, Yu-Ho Chiang, Chih-Yuh Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20120049356
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor substrate, a redistribution trace, and a surface layer are provided. On the semiconductor substrate, a wire and a pad electrode are formed. The redistribution trace is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The surface layer is larger in width than the redistribution trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Migita, Hirokazu Ezawa, Soichi Yamashita, Masaya Shima
  • Patent number: 8114752
    Abstract: A structure of a capacitor set is described, including at least two capacitors that are disposed at the same position on a substrate and include a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor includes multiple first capacitor units electrically connected with each other in parallel. The second capacitor includes multiple second capacitor units electrically connected with each other in parallel. The first and the second capacitor units are arranged spatially intermixing with each other to form an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Chiang Liang, Chien-Kuo Yang, Hua-Chou Tseng, Chun-Yao Ko, Cheng-Wen Fan, Yu-Ho Chiang, Chih-Yuh Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20120032328
    Abstract: A method for packaging semiconductor device is provided, which comprises: providing a carrier substrate having a top surface and a back surface, a circuit arrangement on the top surface of the carrier substrate, and a through hole is disposed near the center of the carrier substrate and is formed passed through the carrier substrate; providing a chip having an active surface and a back surface, a plurality of pads is disposed on the periphery of the active surface and a plurality of connecting elements is disposed thereon; the active surface of chip is flipped and bonded on the circuit arrangement on the top surface of the carrier substrate, and the plurality of connecting elements is not covering the through hole; filling the underfilling material to encapsulate between the plurality of connecting elements and the top surface of the carrier substrate and to fill with the through hole; and performing a suction process to remove the air within the underfilling material between the plurality of connecting eleme
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Global Unichip Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Yu Lin, Chung-Kai Wang, Li-Hua Lin