With Gaseous Hydrogen Fluoride (hf) (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.227)
  • Patent number: 7829402
    Abstract: A MOSFET device and a method for fabricating MOSFET devices are disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor device structure including a semiconductor device layer of a first conductivity type, and ion implanting a well structure of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor device layer, where the ion implanting includes providing a dopant concentration profile in a single mask implant sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Sean Matocha, Stephen Daley Arthur, Ramakrishna Rao, Peter Almern Losee, Zachary Matthew Stum
  • Patent number: 7816221
    Abstract: High frequency performance of (e.g., silicon) bipolar devices (40, 100, 100?) is improved by reducing the capacitive coupling (Cbc) between the extrinsic base contact (46) and the collector (44, 44?, 44?). A dielectric ledge (453, 453?) is created during fabrication to separate the extrinsic base contract (46) from the collector (44, 44?, 44?) periphery (441). The dielectric ledge (453, 453?) underlies the transition region (461) where the extrinsic base contact (46) is coupled to the intrinsic base. (472) During device fabrication, a multi layer dielectric stack (45) is formed adjacent the intrinsic base (472) that allows the simultaneous creation of an undercut region (457, 457?) in which the intrinsic base (472) to extrinsic base contact (46) transition region (461) can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay P. John, James A. Kirchgessner
  • Patent number: 7786013
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of fabricating semiconductor devices, including forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate by a reactive ion etching (RIE) method with a reactive product of film stack of a carbon film/silicon oxide film/carbon-containing silicon oxide film, the trench having an inner surface; and removing the reactive product, by treating the trench with diluted hydrofluoric acid to remove the carbon film and the silicon oxide film followed by treating the film by a hydrofluoric acid vapor phase cleaning (HFVPC) method to remove the carbon-containing silicon oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tsunoda, Masahisa Sonoda
  • Patent number: 7759256
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for making a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device comprises: providing a substrate with devices and interconnection formed thereon, the substrate having a to-be-etched region; depositing and patterning an etch stop layer; depositing and patterning metal and via layers to form an MEMS structure, the MEMS structure including an isolation region between MEMS parts, an isolation region exposed upwardly, and an isolation region exposed downwardly, wherein the isolation region exposed downwardly is in contact with the etch stop layer; masking the isolation region exposed upwardly, and removing the isolation region between MEMS parts; and removing the etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Chuan Wei Wang, Hsin Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 7727891
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following processes of forming a structure in which a barrier metal containing at least of Ti and Ta and a copper wiring are exposed on its surface, or a structure in which at least one substance selected from the group consisting of Ti, W, and Cu and Al are exposed on its surface, above a semiconductor substrate, and supplying a hydrogen-dissolved solution dissolving hydrogen gas to the surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsui, Masako Kodera
  • Patent number: 7727846
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an SOI substrate provided with a single-crystal semiconductor layer which can be practically used even when a substrate having a low heat-resistant temperature, such as a glass substrate or the like, is used, and further, to manufacture a semiconductor device with high reliability by using such an SOI substrate. A semiconductor layer which is separated from a semiconductor substrate and bonded to a supporting substrate having an insulating surface is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, and the surface of the semiconductor layer is subjected to polishing treatment. At least part of a region of the semiconductor layer is melted by irradiation with electromagnetic waves, and a crystal defect in the semiconductor layer can be reduced. Further, the surface of the semiconductor layer can be polished and planarized by polishing treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hideto Ohnuma, Ryota Imahayashi, Yoichi Iikubo, Kenichiro Makino, Sho Nagamatsu
  • Patent number: 7713842
    Abstract: In a method for producing a bonded wafer by bonding a wafer for active layer to wafer for support layer and then thinning the wafer for active layer, a terrace grinding for forming a terrace portion is carried out prior to a step of exposing the oxygen ion implanted layer to thereby leave an oxide film on a terrace portion of the wafer for support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Nishihata, Isoroku Ono, Akihiko Endo
  • Patent number: 7682956
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method for three-dimensional (3D) microfabrication of complex, high aspect ratio structures with arbitrary surface height profiles in metallic materials, and to devices fabricated in accordance with this process. The method builds upon anisotropic deep etching methods for metallic materials previously developed by the inventors by enabling simplified realization of complex, non-prismatic structural geometries composed of multiple height levels and sloping and/or non-planar surface profiles. The utility of this approach is demonstrated in the fabrication of a sloping electrode structure intended for application in bulk micromachined titanium micromirror devices, however such a method could find use in the fabrication of any number of other microactuator, microsensor, microtransducer, or microstructure devices as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Masaru P. Rao, Marco F. Aimi, Noel C. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7674718
    Abstract: A method for forming spacers of different sizes includes the following steps. First a substrate is provided, which has a first element, a second element, a first material layer and a second material layer thereon. A first dry etching is performed to remove part of the second material layer to form a first spacer by the first element and to form a second side wall by the second element, so that the first material layer between the first spacer and the second side wall is exposed to become a damaged first material layer. A trimming procedure is performed to trim the damaged first material layer. A mask is used to cover the first element, the first spacer and part of the first material layer then a wet etching is performed to remove the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Ho Liu, Chieh-Yu Tsai, Wei-Chen Lin, Chia-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 7645666
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a method of making a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structure. The method includes: forming a partially completed heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structure where the partially completed heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structure includes a silicon layer having an exposed surface and a nitride layer having an exposed surface. The method includes growing a first oxide on the silicon layer and etching the nitride layer using an etchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Detlef Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 7629247
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional, non-volatile memory array utilizing damascene fabrication techniques is disclosed. A bottom set of conductors is formed and a set of first pillar shaped elements of heavily doped semiconductor material as formed thereon. A mold is formed of insulating material having pillar shaped openings self-aligned with the first pillar shaped elements and a second semiconductor is deposited over the mold to form second pillar shaped elements aligned with the first pillar shaped elements. The pillar elements formed may be further processed by forming another mold of insulating material having trench openings aligned with the pillar shaped elements and then filling the trenches with conductive material to form conductors coupled to the pillar shaped elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Kang-Jay Hsia, Calvin Li, Christopher Petti
  • Patent number: 7618853
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) device includes a gate conductor and gate dielectric formed over an active device area of a semiconductor substrate. A drain region is formed in the active device area of the semiconductor substrate, on one side of the gate conductor, and a source region is formed in the active device area of the semiconductor substrate, on an opposite side of the gate conductor. A dielectric halo or plug is formed in the active area of said semiconductor substrate, the dielectric halo or plug disposed in contact between the drain region and a body region, and in contact between the source region and the body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Belyansky, Dureseti Chidambarrao, Oleg Gluschenkov
  • Patent number: 7615456
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an SOI substrate superior in film thickness uniformity and resistivity uniformity in a substrate surface of a silicon layer having a film thickness reduced by an etch-back method is provided. After B ions is implanted into a front surface of a single-crystal Si substrate 10 to form a high-concentration boron added p layer 11 having a depth L in the outermost front surface, the single-crystal Si substrate 10 is appressed against a quartz substrate 20 to be bonded at a room temperature. Chemical etching is performed with respect to the single-crystal Si substrate 10 from a back surface thereof to set its thickness to L or below. A heat treatment is carried out with respect to an SOI substrate in a hydrogen containing atmosphere to outwardly diffuse B from the high-concentration boron added p layer 11, thereby acquiring a boron added p layer 12 having a desired resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Akiyama, Yoshihiro Kubota, Atsuo Ito, Makoto Kawai, Yuuji Tobisaka, Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7611989
    Abstract: Non-production wafers of polycrystalline silicon are placed in non-production slots of a support tower for thermal processing monocrystalline silicon wafers. They may have thicknesses of 0.725 to 2 mm and be roughened on both sides. Nitride may be grown on the non-production wafers to a thickness of over 2 ?m without flaking. The polycrystalline silicon is preferably randomly oriented Czochralski polysilicon grown using a randomly oriented seed, for example, CVD grown silicon. Both sides are ground to introduce sub-surface damage and then oxidized and etch cleaned. An all-silicon hot zone of a thermal furnace, for example, depositing a nitride layer, may include a silicon support tower placed within a silicon liner and supporting the polysilicon non-production wafers with silicon injector tube providing processing gas within the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Integrated Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Boyle, Reese Reynolds, Raanan Y. Zehavi, Robert W. Mytton, Doris Mytton, legal representative, Tom L. Cadwell
  • Patent number: 7608545
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor. In embodiments, the method may include a first exposure step of performing an exposure process for forming a first photoresist on a semiconductor substrate at one side of the outside of a trench pattern which will be formed, a first etching step of performing a predetermined dry etching method with respect to the first photoresist, a second exposure step of performing an exposure process for forming a second photoresist at the other side of the outside of the trench pattern, which is a side opposite to the first photoresist, and a second etching step of performing the predetermined dry etching method with respect to the second photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Je Yun
  • Patent number: 7608546
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an etch target layer over a substrate that includes a cell region and a peripheral region. A first hard mask layer, a second hard mask layer, and an anti-reflective coating layer are formed over the etch target layer. A photosensitive pattern is formed over the anti-reflective coating layer. The anti-reflective coating layer is etched to have a width smaller than the width of the photosensitive pattern. The second hard mask layer is etched. A main etching and an over-etching are performed on the first hard mask layer. The etch target layer is then etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Soo Park, Chang-Heon Park, Dong-Ryeol Lee
  • Patent number: 7601601
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method for manufacturing, with high yield, a semiconductor device having a crystalline semiconductor layer even if a substrate with low upper temperature limit. A groove is formed in a part of a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor substrate that has a projecting portion, and a bonding layer is formed to cover the projecting portion. In addition, before the bonding layer is formed, a portion of the semiconductor substrate to be the projecting portion is irradiated with accelerated ions to form a brittle layer. After the bonding layer and the supporting substrate are bonded together, heat treatment for separation of the semiconductor substrate is performed to provide a semiconductor layer over the supporting substrate. The semiconductor layer is selectively etched, and a semiconductor element is formed and a semiconductor device is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideto Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 7528076
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing gate oxide layers with different thicknesses is disclosed. The method includes that a substrate is provided first. The substrate has a high voltage device region and a low voltage device region. Then, a high voltage gate oxide layer is formed on the substrate. Afterwards, a first wet etching process is performed to remove a portion of the high voltage gate oxide layer in the low voltage device region. Then, a second wet etching process is performed to remove the remaining high voltage gate oxide layer in the low voltage device region. The etching rate of the second wet etching process is smaller than that of the first wet etching process. Next, a low voltage gate oxide layer is formed on the substrate in the low voltage device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shu-Chun Chan, Jung-Ching Chen, Shyan-Yhu Wang
  • Patent number: 7498267
    Abstract: A capacitor is formed by forming a mold insulating layer with a plurality of storage node holes over a semiconductor substrate. A metal storage node is formed on the surface of each of the storage node holes in the mold insulating layer. The mold insulating layer is removed by performing the following steps: loading the semiconductor substrate with the storage node in the chamber for in-situ cleaning, rinsing, and drying processes; removing the mold insulating layer by an etchant in the chamber; then rinsing the semiconductor substrate by introducing deionized water into the chamber while discharging the etchant out of the chamber; finally rinsing the rinsed semiconductor substrate with a mixed solution of the deionized water and organic solvent; drying the finally rinsed semiconductor substrate by IPA vapor in the chamber while discharging the mixed solution of the deionized water and organic solvent out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Gyu Hyun Kim, Yong Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 7494943
    Abstract: In a method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process, process conditions of a film formation process are determined. The process conditions include a preset film thickness of a thin film to be formed on a target substrate. Further, a timing of performing a cleaning process is determined in accordance with the process conditions. The timing is defined by a threshold concerning a cumulative film thickness of the thin film. The cumulative film thickness does not exceed the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N times (N is a positive integer), but exceeds the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N+1 times. The method includes continuously performing first to Nth processes, each consisting of the film formation process, and performing the cleaning process after the Nth process and before an (N+1)th process consisting of the film formation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Naotaka Noro, Yamato Tonegawa, Takehiko Fujita, Norifumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7470594
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the formation of an interfacial oxide layer in a polysilicon emitter transistor device. The interfacial oxide layer is formed between an underlying substrate of single crystal silicon and an upper layer of polysilicon. The current gain and the emitter resistance of the transistor device are related to the thickness of the interfacial oxide layer. The oxide of the interfacial oxide layer is grown in a low pressure, low temperature pure oxygen (O2) environment that greatly reduces the oxidation rate. The low oxidation rate allows the thickness of the interfacial oxide layer to be precisely controlled and sources of variation to be minimized in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Foote, Jr., William Max Coppock, Darren Lee Rust, Charles A. Dark
  • Patent number: 7462562
    Abstract: Fabrication method of semiconductor device to reduce leak current at junction interface of p-type well and n-type well. The method includes forming a first trench portion by selective dry etching of a silicon substrate using a first etching gas and forming a second trench portion including an enlarged width portion downward from a bottom of the first trench portion by additional dry etching of a silicon substrate at the bottom of the first trench portion using a second etching gas. A mixture gas of a chlorine gas and a fluorocarbon gas is used as the second etching gas and also a bias voltage lower than that in the process to form the first trench portion are used in the process to form the second trench portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Fujita
  • Patent number: 7459370
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device is provided which includes forming a mold insulating film over first and second portions of a semiconductor substrate, where the mold insulating film includes a plurality of storage node electrode holes spaced apart over the first portion of the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a plurality of storage node electrodes on inner surfaces of the storage node electrode holes, respectively, and forming a capping film which covers the storage node electrodes and a first portion of the mold insulating film located over the first portion of the semiconductor substrate, and which exposes a second portion of the mold insulating film located over the second portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-hyuk Kang, Jung-min Oh, Chang-ki Hong, Sang-jun Choi, Woo-gwan Shim
  • Patent number: 7459390
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having multiple gate dielectric thickness layers. The method, in one embodiment, includes forming a first layer of gate dielectric material over a semiconductor substrate in a first active region and a second active region of a semiconductor device, and patterning a masking layer to expose the first layer of gate dielectric material located in the first active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, Reima Tapani Laaksonen
  • Patent number: 7452801
    Abstract: Provided is a metal interconnection structure of a semiconductor device, including a first metal film pattern disposed on an upper part of an insulation film of a semiconductor substrate; an intermetallic dielectric film having a metal contact plug in which a barrier layer, a metal film for contact plug and a second metal film are sequentially disposed, on the first metal film pattern; and a second metal film pattern disposed on the metal contact plug and intermetallic dielectric film and connected to the metal contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: In Cheol Ryu, Sung-gon Jin
  • Patent number: 7432137
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating film on the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating film; forming a bank including a first bank portion and a second bank portion, the first bank portion being located at substantially a central portion of the semiconductor layer, the second bank portion having a thin film portion for surrounding the semiconductor layer and a thick film portion for surrounding the thin film portion at a periphery of the semiconductor layer; arranging first functional liquid containing a conductive material in a region surrounded by the thin film portion and the first bank portion such that the first functional liquid covers the semiconductor layer; drying the first functional liquid to obtain a first conductive film; removing the thin film portion selectively after drying the first functional liquid; arranging second functional liquid including a conductive material on a reg
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Denda
  • Publication number: 20080242041
    Abstract: A method of selectively forming a germanium structure within semiconductor manufacturing processes removes the native oxide from a nitride surface in a chemical oxide removal (COR) process and then exposes the heated nitride and oxide surface to a heated germanium containing gas to selectively form germanium only on the nitride surface but not the oxide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ashima B. Chakravarti, Anthony I. Chou, Toshiharu Furukawa, Steven J. Holmes, Wesley C. Natzle
  • Patent number: 7285497
    Abstract: A mask includes a silicon member, and a portion defining an opening penetrating the silicon member; and the corner of the opening is rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Yotsuya