Of Silicon On Insulator (soi) (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.32)
  • Patent number: 12159873
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving a composite substrate including a first region and a second region, the composite substrate comprising a semiconductor substrate and an insulator layer over the semiconductor substrate; bonding a silicon layer to the composite substrate; depositing a capping layer over the silicon layer; forming a trench through the capping layer, the silicon layer and the insulator layer, the trench exposing a surface of the semiconductor substrate in the first region; growing an initial epitaxial layer in the trench; removing the capping layer to form an epitaxial layer from the silicon layer and the initial epitaxial layer; forming a transistor layer over the epitaxial layer, the transistor layer including a first transistor and a second transistor in the first region and the second region, respectively; and forming an interconnect layer over the transistor layer and electrically coupling the first transistor to the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chih Tsai, Chih-Ping Chao, Chun-Hung Chen, Shaoqiang Zhang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Chun-Pei Wu, Alexander Kalnitsky
  • Patent number: 12148802
    Abstract: A driver circuit for a three-dimensional (3D) memory device has a field management structure electrically coupled to a gate conductor. The field management structure causes an electric field peak in a vertical channel of the 3D memory device when a voltage differential exists between the source conductor and the drain conductor and the gate conductor is not biased. The electrical field peak can adjust the electrical response of the driver circuit, enabling the circuit to have a higher breakdown threshold voltage and improved drive current. Thus, the driver circuit can enable a scalable vertical string driver that is above the memory array instead of under the memory array circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Intel NDTM US LLC
    Inventors: Dong Ji, Guangyu Huang, Deepak Thimmegowda
  • Patent number: 12040221
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) device with an impurity competing layer to absorb potential contamination metal particles during an annealing process, and the SOI structure thereof. In some embodiments, an impurity competing layer is formed on the dummy substrate. An insulation layer is formed over a support substrate. A front side of the dummy wafer is bonded to the insulation layer. An annealing process is performed and the impurity competing layer absorbs metal from an upper portion of the dummy substrate. Then, a majority portion of the dummy substrate is removed including the impurity competing layer, leaving a device layer of the dummy substrate on the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Pu-Fang Chen, Cheng-Ta Wu, Po-Jung Chiang, Ru-Liang Lee, Victor Y. Lu, Yen-Hsiu Chen, Yeur-Luen Tu, Yu-Lung Yeh, Shi-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 11948988
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, and a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the gate structure. The S/D region can include first and second side surfaces separated from each other. The S/D region can further include top and bottom surfaces between the first and second side surfaces. A first separation between the top and bottom surfaces can be greater than a second separation between the first and second side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Cheng-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 11932535
    Abstract: Provided is a method including at least the thermal treatment step of thermally treating a SOI substrate having a first silicon layer at a first temperature that the diffusion flow rate of an interstitial silicon atom in a silicon single crystal is higher than the diffusion flow rate of an interstitial oxygen atom and the processing step of processing the SOI substrate after the thermal treatment step to obtain a displacement enlarging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO PRECISION PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gen Matsuoka, Mario Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 11855194
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics, and a manufacturing method thereof. In the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor where a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region is an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment which reduces impurities such as moisture to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor layer and oxidize the oxide semiconductor layer (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed. Not only impurities such as moisture in the oxide semiconductor layer but also those existing in a gate insulating layer are reduced, and impurities such as moisture existing in interfaces between the oxide semiconductor layer and films provided over and under and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Miyuki Hosoba, Kosei Noda, Hiroki Ohara, Toshinari Sasaki, Junichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 11515683
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element is a method for manufacturing an optical element in which laser light is transmitted, reciprocated, or reflected, and the method includes a first step of obtaining a bonded element formed by subjecting a first element part and a second element part, both being transparent to laser light, to surface activated bonding with a non-crystalline layer interposed therebetween; and after the first step, a second step of crystallizing at least a portion of the non-crystalline layer by raising the temperature of the bonded element. In the second step, the temperature of the bonded element is raised to a predetermined temperature that is lower than the melting points of the first element part and the second element part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF NATURAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Takunori Taira, Arvydas Kausas, Lihe Zheng
  • Patent number: 11502095
    Abstract: A 3D device, the device including: at least a first level including logic circuits; at least a second level including an array of memory cells; at least a third level including special circuits; and at least a fourth level including special connectivity structures, where the special connectivity structures include one of the following: a. waveguides, or b. differential signaling, or c. radio frequency transmission lines, or d. Surface Waves Interconnect (SWI) lines, and where the third level includes Radio Frequency (“RF”) circuits to drive the special connectivity structures, where the second level overlays the first level, where the third level overlays the second level, and where the fourth level overlays the third level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC 3D INC.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Jin-Woo Han, Brian Cronquist, Eli Lusky
  • Patent number: 11300551
    Abstract: A device includes an upper metallic layer, a lower layer, and a nano sensor array positioned between the upper and lower layers to detect a presence of a gas, a chemical, or a biological object, wherein each sensor's electrical characteristic changes when encountering the gas, chemical or biological object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 10825950
    Abstract: A new process that enables void-free direct-bonded MBE-passivated large-format image sensors is disclosed. This process can be used to produce thin large-area image sensors for UV and soft x-ray imaging. Such devices may be valuable in future astronomy missions or in the radiology field. Importantly, by controlling the hydrogen concentration in the silicon oxide layers of the image sensor and the support wafer, voids in the bonding interface can be significantly reduced or eliminated. This process can be applied to any wafer that includes active circuitry and requires a second wafer, such as a support wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James Gregory, Christopher Leitz, Kevin Ryu, Donna-Ruth Yost, Vladimir Bolkhovsky, Renee Lambert
  • Patent number: 10672645
    Abstract: A method of preparing a single crystal semiconductor handle wafer in the manufacture of a silicon-on-insulator device is provided. The method comprises forming a multilayer of passivated semiconductors layers on a dielectric layer of a high resistivity single crystal semiconductor handle wafer. The method additionally comprises forming a semiconductor oxide layer on the multilayer of passivated semiconductor layers. The multilayer of passivated semiconductor layers comprise materials suitable for use as charge trapping layers between a high resistivity substrate and a buried oxide layer in a semiconductor on insulator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Igor Peidous, Illaria Katia Marianna Pellicano
  • Patent number: 10438855
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device including forming a first blanket layer on a substrate; forming a second blanket layer on the first blanket layer; patterning a first fin of a first transistor region and a second fin of a second transistor region in the first blanket layer and the second blanket layer; depositing a mask on the second transistor region; removing the first fin to form a trench; growing a first semiconductor layer in the trench where the first fin was removed; and growing a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Jie Yang
  • Patent number: 9847388
    Abstract: A method of forming a punch through stop region in a fin structure is disclosed. The method may include forming a doped glass layer on a fin structure and forming a masking layer on the doped glass layer. The method may further include removing a portion of the masking layer from an active portion of the fin structure, and removing an exposed portion the doped glass layer that is present on the active portion of the fin structure. A remaining portion of the doped glass layer is present on the isolation portion of the fin structure. Dopant from the doped glass layer may then be diffused into the isolation portion of the fin structure to form the punch through stop region between the active portion of the fin structure and a supporting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Sanjay C. Mehta, Xin Miao, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9818607
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for forming thin film transistors having a polycrystalline silicon active layer formed by metal-induced crystallization (MIC) of amorphous silicon in an oxidizing atmosphere. In an aspect, a transistor device, is provided that includes a source region and a drain region formed on a substrate, and an active channel region formed on the substrate and electrically connecting the source region and the drain region. The active channel region is formed with a polycrystalline silicon layer having resulted from annealing an amorphous silicon layer formed on the substrate and having a metal layer formed thereon, wherein the annealing of the amorphous silicon layer was at least partially performed in an oxidizing ambience, thereby resulting in crystallization of the amorphous silicon layer to form the polycrystalline silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hoi Sing Kwok, Man Wong, Rongsheng Chen, Meng Zhang, Wei Zhou
  • Patent number: 9705000
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming transistor devices having reduced parasitic contact resistance relative to conventional devices. In some example embodiments, the techniques can be used to implement the contacts of MOS transistors of a CMOS device, where an intermediate III-V semiconductor material layer is provided between the p-type and n-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals to significantly reduce contact resistance. The intermediate III-V semiconductor material layer may have a small bandgap (e.g., lower than 0.5 eV) and/or otherwise be doped to provide the desired conductivity. The techniques can be used on numerous transistor architectures (e.g., planar, finned, and nanowire transistors), including strained and unstrained channel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glenn A. Glass, Anand S. Murthy, Tahir Ghani
  • Patent number: 9496341
    Abstract: A method includes forming a multilayered stack on a surface of a supporting layer. The multilayered stack is composed of alternating layers of compressively strained Silicon Germanium (Si1-xGex) and tensily strained Carbon-doped Silicon (Si:C). The method further includes etching the multilayered stack to form at least one Fin precursor structure and annealing the Fin precursor structure to remove Carbon from the strained Si:C layers to form Carbon-depleted layers and to diffuse Germanium from the Si1-xGex layers into the Carbon-depleted layers producing a Si1-xGex Fin. A structure that is disclosed includes a Semiconductor on Insulator (SOI) layer disposed on a layer of buried oxide and a multilayered stack on a surface of the SOI layer. The multilayered stack is composed of alternating layers of compressively strained Si1-xGex and tensily strained Si:C. The structure further includes a hardmask layer disposed on a top surface of the multilayered stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Judson Holt, Shogo Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9040424
    Abstract: A single crystal silicon etching method includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate having at least one trench therein. The single crystal silicon substrate is exposed to an anisotropic etchant that undercuts the single crystal silicon. By controlling the length of the etch, single crystal silicon islands or smooth vertical walls in the single crystal silicon may be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, David H. Wells, Patrick Flynn, Whonchee Lee
  • Patent number: 8999774
    Abstract: A process fabricates a fin field-effect-transistor by implanting a dopant into an exposed portion of a semiconductor substrate within a cavity. The cavity is formed in a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate. The cavity exposes the portion of the semiconductor substrate within the cavity. A semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown within the cavity atop the dopant implanted exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. A height of the cavity defines a height of the epitaxially grown semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Shom Ponoth, Theodorus E. Standaert, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8999805
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first type region including a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a second type region including a second conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a channel region extending between the first type region and the second type region. The semiconductor device includes a gate region surrounding the channel region. The gate region includes a gate electrode. A gate electrode length of the gate electrode is less than about 10 nm. A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ta-Pen Guo, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 8993382
    Abstract: A process fabricates a fin field-effect-transistor by forming a dummy fin structure on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer surrounds the dummy fin structure. The dummy fin structure is removed to form a cavity within the dielectric layer. The cavity exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate thereby forming an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate within the cavity. A dopant is implanted into the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate within the cavity thereby creating a dopant implanted exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate within the cavity. A semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown within the cavity atop the dopant implanted exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Shom Ponoth, Theodorus E. Standaert, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8987922
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a bond pad above the substrate, a guard ring above the substrate, and an alignment mark above the substrate, between the bond pad and the guard ring. The device may include a passivation layer on the substrate, a polymer layer, a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) layer in contact with the bond pad, and a connector on the PPI layer, wherein the connector is between the bond pad and the guard ring, and the alignment mark is between the connector and the guard ring. The alignment mark may be at the PPI layer. There may be multiple alignment marks at different layers. There may be multiple alignment marks for the device around the corners or at the edges of an area surrounded by the guard ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yuan Yu, Hsien-Wei Chen, Wen-Hsiung Lu, Hung-Jen Lin
  • Patent number: 8975128
    Abstract: Some structures and methods to reduce power consumption in devices can be implemented largely by reusing existing bulk CMOS process flows and manufacturing technology, allowing the semiconductor industry as well as the broader electronics industry to avoid a costly and risky switch to alternative technologies. Some of the structures and methods relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced sVT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. Additional structures, configurations, and methods presented herein can be used alone or in conjunction with the DDC to yield additional and different benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: SuVolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Thompson, Damodar R. Thummalapally
  • Patent number: 8962352
    Abstract: A method for calculating a warpage of a bonded SOI wafer includes: assuming that the epitaxial growth SOI wafer is a silicon single crystal wafer having the same dopant concentration as dopant concentration of the bond wafer; calculating a warpage A that occurs at the time of performing the epitaxial growth relative to the assumed silicon single crystal wafer; calculating a warpage B caused due to a thickness of the BOX layer of the epitaxial growth SOI wafer; determining a measured value of a warpage of the base wafer before bonding as a warpage C; and calculating a sum of the warpages (A+B+C) as the warpage of the bonded SOI wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Yokokawa, Hiroji Aga, Yasushi Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8956949
    Abstract: Disclosed are a structure for electrical signal isolation between adjacent devices situated in a top semiconductor layer of the structure and an associated method for the structure's fabrication. The structure includes a trench extending through the top semiconductor layer and into a base oxide layer below the top semiconductor layer. A handle wafer is situated below the base oxide layer and a void is disposed in the handle wafer below the trench. A bottom opening of the trench connects the main body of the trench with the void forming a continuous cavity including the main body, the bottom opening of the trench, and the void such that the void improves electrical signal isolation between the adjacent devices situated in the top semiconductor layer. Unetched portions of the handle wafer are then available to provide mechanical support to the top semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Hurwitz, Robert L. Zwingman
  • Patent number: 8952512
    Abstract: A wafer-level package structure of a light emitting diode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided in the present invention. The wafer-level package structure of a light emitting diode includes a die, a first insulating layer, at least two wires, bumps, an annular second insulating layer on the wires and the insulating layer, the annular second insulating layer surrounding an area between the bumps and there being spaces arranged between the second insulating layer and the bumps; a light reflecting cup on the second insulating layer; at least two discrete lead areas and leads in the lead areas. The technical solution of the invention reduces the area required for the substrate; and the electrodes can be extracted in the subsequent structure of the package without gold wiring to thereby further reduce the volume of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: China Wafer Level CSP Ltd.
    Inventors: Junjie Li, Wenbin Wang, Qiuhong Zou, Guoqing Yu, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8946053
    Abstract: A method for reducing irregularities at a surface of a layer transferred from a source substrate to a glass-based support substrate, by generating a weakening zone in the source substrate; contacting the source substrate and the glass-based support substrate; and splitting the source substrate at the weakening zone; wherein the glass-based substrate has a thickness of between 300 ?m and 600 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Daniel Delprat, Carine Duret, Nadia Ben-Mohamed, Fabrice Lallement
  • Patent number: 8940639
    Abstract: A MEMS device with movable MEMS structure and electrodes is produced by fabricating electrodes and shielding the electrodes with diamond buttons during subsequent fabrication steps, such as the etching of sacrificial oxide using vapor HF. In some embodiments, the diamond buttons are removed after the movable MEMS structure is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Liu, Kuang L. Yang
  • Patent number: 8941222
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes at least one semiconductor die having an active surface, an interposer element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a package body, and a lower redistribution layer. The interposer element has at least one conductive via extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. The package body encapsulates portions of the semiconductor die and portions of the interposer element. The lower redistribution layer electrically connects the interposer element to the active surface of the semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Hunt
  • Patent number: 8932907
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has an interposer frame mounted over a carrier. A semiconductor die has an active surface and bumps formed over the active surface. The semiconductor die can be mounted within a die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Stacked semiconductor die can also be mounted within the die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Bond wires or bumps are formed between the semiconductor die and interposer frame. An encapsulant is deposited over the interposer frame and semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and bumps of the first semiconductor die. An electronic component, such as a discrete passive device, semiconductor die, or stacked semiconductor die, is mounted over the semiconductor die and interposer frame. The electronic component has an I/O count less than an I/O count of the semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC, Ltd.
    Inventors: NamJu Cho, HeeJo Chi, HanGil Shin
  • Patent number: 8927349
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer including a crystalline region over an insulating surface, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer, and a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer in a region overlapping with the crystalline region. The crystalline region includes a crystal whose c-axis is aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8900916
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics, and a manufacturing method thereof. In the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor where a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region is an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment which reduces impurities such as moisture to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor layer and oxidize the oxide semiconductor layer (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed. Not only impurities such as moisture in the oxide semiconductor layer but also those existing in a gate insulating layer are reduced, and impurities such as moisture existing in interfaces between the oxide semiconductor layer and films provided over and under and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Miyuki Hosoba, Kosei Noda, Hiroki Ohara, Toshinari Sasaki, Junichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 8884377
    Abstract: In one embodiment, first and second pattern structures respectively include first and second conductive line patterns and first and second hard masks sequentially stacked, and at least portions thereof extends in a first direction. The insulation layer patterns contact end portions of the first and second pattern structures. The first pattern structure and a first insulation layer pattern of the insulation layer patterns form a first closed curve shape in plan view, and the second pattern structure and a second insulation layer pattern of the insulation layer patterns form a second closed curve shape in plan view. The insulating interlayer covers upper portions of the first and second pattern structures and the insulation layer patterns, a first air gap between the first and second pattern structures, and a second air gap between the insulation layer patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sok-Won Lee, Joon-Hee Lee, Jung-Dal Choi, Seong-Min Jo
  • Patent number: 8877570
    Abstract: An array substrate having a wiring of a pad region formed without an insulating film or without an insulating film and an organic film to reduce abnormal operations due to an increase in resistance caused by a contact margin at a high temperature, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The array substrate includes: an insulating substrate including a pad region and a thin film transistor (TFT) formation region; a first electrode layer formed in the pad region of the substrate; and a second electrode formed on the first electrode layer in an overlapping manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JongWoo Kim, ChangHo Oh, WonHyung Yoo, SangYoon Paik, JunKi Kang, JongHoon Kim
  • 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: 8853101
    Abstract: Methods for creating chemical guide patterns by DSA lithography for fabricating an integrated circuit are provided. In one example, an integrated circuit includes forming a bifunctional brush layer of a polymeric material overlying an anti-reflective coating on a semiconductor substrate. The polymeric material has a neutral polymeric block portion and a pinning polymeric block portion that are coupled together. The bifunctional brush layer includes a neutral layer that is formed of the neutral polymeric block portion and a pinning layer that is formed of the pinning polymeric block portion. A portion of the neutral layer or the pinning layer is selectively removed to define a chemical guide pattern. A block copolymer layer is deposited overlying the chemical guide pattern. The block copolymer layer is phase separated to define a nanopattern that is registered to the chemical guide pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Farrell, Gerard M. Schmid, xU Ji
  • Patent number: 8853054
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing multilayer semiconductor structures, such as silicon-on-insulator wafers, having reduced warp and bow. Reduced warp multilayer semiconductor structures are prepared by forming a dielectric structure on the exterior surfaces of a bonded pair of a semiconductor device substrate and a semiconductor handle substrate having an intervening dielectric layer therein. Forming a dielectric layer on the exterior surfaces of the bonded pair offsets stresses that may occur within the bulk of the semiconductor handle substrate due to thermal mismatch between the semiconductor material and the intervening dielectric layer as the structure cools from process temperatures to room temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SunEdison Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Guoqiang Zhang, Jeffrey L. Libbert
  • Patent number: 8847367
    Abstract: Provided are a hole-injecting material for an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) exhibiting high luminous efficiency at a low voltage and having greatly improved driving stability, and an organic EL device using the material. The hole-injecting material for an organic EL device is selected from benzenehexacarboxylic acid anhydrides, benzenehexacarboxylic acid imides, or N-substituted benzenehexacarboxylic acid imides. Further, the organic EL device has at least one light-emitting layer and at least one hole-injecting layer between an anode and a cathode arranged opposite to each other, and includes the above-mentioned hole-injecting material for an organic EL device in the hole-injecting layer. The organic EL device may contain a hole-transporting material having an ionization potential (IP) of 6.0 eV or less in the hole-injecting layer or a layer adjacent to the hole-injecting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fukumatsu, Ikumi Ichihashi, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Atsushi Oda
  • Patent number: 8815694
    Abstract: Embodiments include semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrates having SOI layers strained by oxidation of the base substrate layer and methods of forming the same. The method may include forming a strained channel region in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate including a buried insulator (BOX) layer above a base substrate layer and a SOI layer above the BOX layer by first etching the SOI layer and the BOX layer to form a first isolation recess region and a second isolation recess region. A portion of the SOI layer between the first isolation recess region and the second isolation recess region defines a channel region in the SOI layer. A portion of the base substrate layer below the first isolation recess region and below the second isolation recess region may then be oxidized to form a first oxide region and a second oxide region, respectively, that apply compressive strain to the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Ali Khakifirooz, Pranita Kerber
  • Patent number: 8809981
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: irradiating a growth substrate with laser light to focus the laser light into a prescribed position inside a crystal for a semiconductor device or inside the growth substrate, the crystal for the semiconductor device being formed on a first major surface of the growth substrate; moving the laser light in a direction parallel to the first major surface; and peeling off a thin layer including the crystal for the semiconductor device from the growth substrate, a wavelength of the laser light being longer than an absorption end wavelength of the crystal for the semiconductor device or the growth substrate, the laser light being irradiated inside a crystal for the semiconductor device or inside the growth substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masanobu Ando, Toru Gotoda, Toru Kita
  • Patent number: 8810030
    Abstract: A MEMS device (20) with stress isolation includes elements (28, 30, 32) formed in a first structural layer (24) and elements (68, 70) formed in a second structural layer (26), with the layer (26) being spaced apart from the first structural layer (24). Fabrication methodology (80) entails forming (92, 94, 104) junctions (72, 74) between the layers (24, 26). The junctions (72, 74) connect corresponding elements (30, 32) of the first layer (24) with elements (68, 70) of the second layer (26). The fabrication methodology (80) further entails releasing the structural layers (24, 26) from an underlying substrate (22) so that all of the elements (30, 32, 68, 70) are suspended above the substrate (22) of the MEMS device (20), wherein attachment of the elements (30, 32, 68, 70) with the substrate (22) occurs only at a central area (46) of the substrate (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A. Geisberger
  • Patent number: 8796769
    Abstract: A method including introducing a species into a substrate including semiconductor material; and translating linearly focused electromagnetic radiation across a surface of the substrate, the electromagnetic radiation being sufficient to thermally influence the species. An apparatus including an electromagnetic radiation source; a stage having dimensions suitable for accommodating a semiconductor substrate within a chamber; an optical element disposed between the electromagnetic radiation source and the stage to focus radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source into a line having a length determined by the diameter of a substrate to be placed on the stage; and a controller coupled to the electromagnetic radiation source including machine readable program instructions that allow the controller to control the depth into which a substrate is exposed to the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Matierials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Jennings, Amir Al-Bayati
  • Patent number: 8796149
    Abstract: Fabrication methods, device structures, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. An emitter is formed in a device region defined in a substrate. An intrinsic base is formed on the emitter. A collector is formed that is separated from the emitter by the intrinsic base. The collector includes a semiconductor material having an electronic bandgap greater than an electronic bandgap of a semiconductor material of the device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, David L. Harame, Qizhi Liu
  • Patent number: 8786027
    Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, replacement gate approaches may be applied in combination with a process strategy for implementing a strain-inducing semiconductor material, wherein superior proximity of the strain-inducing semiconductor material and/or superior robustness of the replacement gate approach may be achieved by forming the initial gate electrode structures with superior uniformity and providing at least one cavity for implementing the strained channel regions in a very advanced manufacturing stage, i.e., after completing the basic transistor configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Griebenow, Jan Hoentschel, Thilo Scheiper, Sven Beyer
  • Patent number: 8785330
    Abstract: A method for producing a structure including an active part with a first and a second suspended zone. The method includes machining the front face of a first substrate to define the lateral contours of at least one first suspended zone according to a first thickness less than that of the first substrate forming a stop layer of etching of the first suspended zone under the suspended zone, forming on the front face of the first substrate a sacrificial layer, machining from the rear face of the first substrate up to releasing the sacrificial layer to form at least one second suspended zone to reach the stop layer of the first suspended zone, and releasing the first and second suspended zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Philippe Robert, Sophie Giroud
  • Patent number: 8779435
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of optical semiconductor devices (namely, semiconductor lasers) which are formed from epitaxially grown layers and arranged across the surface of the semiconductor wafer. The InGaAs epitaxial layer of the semiconductor wafer has an opening (or groove) which continuously extends along and between the plurality of optical semiconductor devices, and which exposes the layer underlying the InGaAs epitaxial layer to at least the layer overlying the InGaAs epitaxial layer. The semiconductor wafer may be scribed along this opening to form a vertically extending crack therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Negishi
  • Patent number: 8779479
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, which includes a channel formation region provided in a substrate including a semiconductor material, impurity regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first gate electrode, and a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, and a second transistor, which includes an oxide semiconductor layer over the substrate including the semiconductor material, a second source electrode and a second drain electrode, a second gate insulating layer, and a second gate electrode. The second source electrode and the second drain electrode include an oxide region formed by oxidizing a side surface thereof, and at least one of the first gate electrode, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the second gate electrode, the second source electrode, and the second drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8765555
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell includes a first electrode having a cylindrical portion. A dielectric material having a cylindrical portion is longitudinally over the cylindrical portion of the first electrode. Heater material is radially inward of and electrically coupled to the cylindrical portion of the first electrode. Phase change material is over the heater material and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the phase change material. Other embodiments are disclosed, including methods of forming memory cells which include first and second electrodes having phase change material and heater material in electrical series there-between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Damon E. Van Gerpen
  • Patent number: 8765571
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for manufacturing a base substrate that is used in manufacturing a semi-conductor on insulator type substrate. The base substrate may be manufactured by providing a silicon substrate having an electrical resistivity above 500 Ohm·cm; cleaning the silicon substrate so as to remove native oxide and dopants from a surface thereof; forming, on the silicon substrate, a layer of dielectric material; and forming, on the layer of dielectric material, a layer of poly-crystalline silicon. These actions are implemented successively in an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Oleg Kononchuk, Frederic Allibert
  • Patent number: 8759944
    Abstract: Memory cell structures, including PSOIs, NANDs, NORs, FinFETs, etc., and methods of fabrication have been described that include a method of epitaxial silicon growth. The method includes providing a silicon layer on a substrate. A dielectric layer is provided on the silicon layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the silicon layer, the trench having trench walls in the <100> direction. The method includes epitaxially growing silicon between trench walls formed in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, Du Li
  • Patent number: 8735985
    Abstract: A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Clarence T. Tegreene, Tatsushi Toyokuni, Richard N. Zare