Manufacture Of Electrodes On Semiconductor Bodies Using Processes Or Apparatus Other Than Epitaxial Growth, E.g., Coating, Diffusion, Or Alloying, Or Radiation Treatment (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.476)
  • Patent number: 8597992
    Abstract: A transistor is manufactured by a method including: forming a first wiring layer; forming a first insulating film to cover the first wiring layer; forming a semiconductor layer over the first insulating film; forming a conductive film over the semiconductor layer; and performing at least two steps of etching on the conductive film to form second wiring layers which are apart from each other, wherein the two steps of etching include at least a first etching process performed under the condition that the etching rate for the conductive film is higher than the etching rate for the semiconductor layer, and a second etching process performed under the condition that the etching rates for the conductive film and the semiconductor layer are higher than those of the first etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sasagawa, Masashi Tsubuku, Hitoshi Nakayama, Daigo Shimada
  • Patent number: 8592297
    Abstract: A wafer including a substrate, a dielectric layer over the substrate, and a conductive layer over the dielectric layer is disclosed. The substrate has a main portion. A periphery of the dielectric layer and the periphery of the main portion of the substrate are separated by a first distance. A periphery of the conductive layer and the periphery of the main portion of the substrate are separated by a second distance. The second distance ranges from about a value that is 0.5% of a diameter of the substrate less than the first distance to about a value that is 0.5% of the diameter greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ti Yeh, Wu-Chang Lin, Chung-Yi Huang, Ya Wen Wu, Hui-Mei Jao, Ting-Chun Wang, Chia-Hung Chung
  • Patent number: 8586474
    Abstract: A method for forming a via, comprising (a) providing a structure comprising a mask (210) disposed on a semiconductor substrate (203), wherein the structure has an opening (215) defined therein which extends through the mask and into the substrate, and wherein the mask comprises a first electrically conductive layer; (b) depositing a second electrically conductive layer (219) such that the second conductive layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer having a first portion which extends over the surfaces of the opening and a second portion which extends over a portion of the mask adjacent to the opening; (c) removing the second portion of the second conductive layer; and (d) depositing a first metal (221) over the first portion of the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ritwik Chatterjee, Eddie Acosta, Sam S. Garcia, Varughese Mathew
  • Patent number: 8581412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate. On at least one face of that substrate, integrated circuits are formed. At least one electromagnetic waveguide is also included, that waveguide including two metal plates that are placed on either side of at least one part of the thickness of the substrate and are located facing each other. Two longitudinal walls are placed facing each other and are formed by metal vias made in holes passing through the substrate in its thickness direction. The metal vias electrically connect the two metal plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Romain Pilard, Daniel Gloria, Frederic Gianesello, Cedric Durand
  • Publication number: 20130277827
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die mounted to a substrate with a plurality of composite interconnects formed between interconnect sites on the substrate and bump pads on the die. The interconnect sites are part of traces formed on the substrate. The interconnect site has a width between 1.0 and 1.2 times a width of the trace. The composite interconnect is tapered. The composite interconnects have a fusible portion connected to the interconnect site and non-fusible portion connected to the bump pad. The non-fusible portion can be gold, copper, nickel, lead solder, or lead-tin alloy. The fusible portion can be tin, lead-free alloy, tin-silver alloy, tin-silver-copper alloy, tin-silver-indium alloy, eutectic solder, or other tin alloys with silver, copper, or lead. An underfill material is deposited between the semiconductor die and substrate. A finish such as Cu—OSP can be formed over the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: STATS CHIPPAC, LTD.
    Inventor: Rajendra D. Pendse
  • Patent number: 8563431
    Abstract: In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique for reducing the number of lithography processes using a photoresist and simplifying the process is provided, and the throughput is improved. An etching mask for forming a pattern of a layer to be processed such as a conductive layer or a semiconductor layer is manufactured without using a lithography technique that uses a photoresist. The etching mask is formed of a stacked layer structure of a light absorption layer and an insulating layer utilizing laser ablation by laser beam irradiation through a photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Eiji Higa
  • Patent number: 8558350
    Abstract: A metal-oxide-metal capacitor comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a plurality of first fingers and a plurality of second fingers. Each first finger and its corresponding second finger are in parallel and separated by a low k dielectric material. A guard ring is employed to enclose the metal-oxide-metal capacitor so as to prevent moisture from penetrating into the low k dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiun-Jie Huang, Ling-Sung Wang, Chi-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 8552564
    Abstract: A semiconductor device substrate includes a front section and back section that are laminated cores disposed on a front- and back surfaces of a first core. The first core has a cylindrical plated through hole that has been metal plated and filled with air-core material. The front- and back sections have laser-drilled tapered vias that are filled with conductive material and that are coupled to the plated through hole. The back section includes an integral inductor coil that communicates to the front section. The first core and the laminated-cores form a hybrid-core semiconductor device substrate with an integral inductor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mihir K. Roy, Islam Salama, Yonggang Li
  • Patent number: 8551880
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is described. A substrate is provided having a patterned dielectric layer disposed thereon. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer. The surfaces of the trench are treated with an ammonia-based plasma process. A metal layer is then formed in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bencherki Mebarki, Amit Khandelwal, Linh H. Thanh
  • Patent number: 8551824
    Abstract: In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide insulating layer is formed so as to be in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer. Then, oxygen is introduced (added) to the oxide semiconductor layer through the oxide insulating layer, and heat treatment is performed. Through these steps of oxygen introduction and heat treatment, impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, a hydroxyl group, or hydride are intentionally removed from the oxide semiconductor layer, so that the oxide semiconductor layer is highly purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichi Koezuka
  • Patent number: 8552536
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, processes, and apparatus implementing and using techniques for fabricating flexible integrated circuit (IC) device layers. In one implementation, a sacrificial layer is deposited on a substrate. The sacrificial layer can include amorphous silicon or molybdenum, by way of example. One or more electronic components are formed on the sacrificial layer. A polymer coating is provided on the one or more electronic components to define a coated device layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to release the coated device layer from the substrate. The sacrificial layer can be removed using a xenon difluoride gas or by etching, for example. Coated device layers made in accordance with this process can be stacked. The substrate can be formed of glass, silicon, a plastic, a ceramic, a compound semiconductor, and/or a metal, depending on the desired implementation. The electronic component(s) can include a passive component such as a resistor, an inductor, or a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruo Sasagawa, Brian Arbuckle
  • Patent number: 8546935
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor packages having grooves within a semiconductor die backside; and includes semiconductor packages utilizing carbon nanostructures (such as, for example, carbon nanotubes) as thermally conductive interface materials. The invention also includes methods of cooling a semiconductor die in which coolant is forced through grooves in a backside of the die, and includes methods of making semiconductor packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Mouli, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8530346
    Abstract: An electronic device can include an interconnect level including a bonding pad region. An insulating layer can overlie the interconnect level and include an opening over the bonding pad region. In one embodiment, a conductive stud can lie within the opening and can be substantially encapsulated. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a barrier layer lying along a side and a bottom of the opening and a conductive stud lying within the opening. The conductive stud can substantially fill the opening. A majority of the conductive stud can lie within the opening. In still another embodiment, a process for forming an electronic device can include forming a conductive stud within the opening wherein from a top view, the conductive stud lies substantially completely within the opening. The process can also include forming a second barrier layer overlying the conductive stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakshmi N. Ramanathan, Tien Yu T. Lee, Jinbang Tang
  • Patent number: 8519485
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device. The method provides a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. A first dielectric layer is formed overlying the surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A bottom wiring structure is formed overlying the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric material is formed overlying the top wiring structure. A bottom metal barrier material is formed to provide a metal-to-metal contact with the bottom wiring structure. The method forms a pillar structure by patterning and etching a material stack including the bottom metal barrier material, a contact material, a switching material, a conductive material, and a top barrier material. The pillar structure maintains a metal-to-metal contact with the bottom wiring structure regardless of the alignment of the pillar structure with the bottom wiring structure during etching. A top wiring structure is formed overlying the pillar structure at an angle to the bottom wiring structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 8518755
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device, a semiconductor device with low power consumption, a semiconductor device with high productivity, and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. Impurities left remaining in an oxide semiconductor layer are removed without generating oxygen deficiency, and the oxide semiconductor layer is purified to have an extremely high purity. Specifically, after oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor layer to remove the impurities. In order to add oxygen, it is preferable to use a method in which oxygen having high energy is added by an ion implantation method, an ion doping method, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hiroki Ohara
  • Publication number: 20130189838
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus has a chamber, a microwave generator for generating a microwave, a waveguide for introducing the microwave into the chamber, a stage for mounting a semiconductor substrate, and a cover for covering an outer circumference portion of the stage exposed from the semiconductor substrate. In the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, the stage is made of a material to be heated by the microwave, and the cover is made of a material through which the microwave penetrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Makoto HONDA, Tomonori AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8492758
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics and a display device including the semiconductor device as a switching element. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a needle crystal group provided on at least one surface side of the oxide semiconductor layer grows in a c-axis direction perpendicular to the surface and includes an a-b plane parallel to the surface, and a portion except for the needle crystal group is an amorphous region or a region in which amorphousness and microcrystals are mixed. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Masayuki Sakakura, Ryosuke Watanabe, Junichiro Sakata, Kengo Akimoto, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takuya Hirohashi, Hideyuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 8487447
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure which includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips in a three dimensional configuration. There is a first semiconductor chip in contact with a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a through silicon via (TSV) extending through the first semiconductor chip; an electrically conducting pad at a surface of the first semiconductor chip, the TSV terminating in contact at a first side of the electrically conducting pad; a passivation layer covering the electrically conducting pad, the passivation layer having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of electrically conducting structures formed in the plurality of openings and in contact with a second side of the electrically conducting pad, the contact of the plurality of electrically conducting structures with the electrically conducting pad being offset with respect to the contact of the TSV with the electrically conducting pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mario J. Interrante, Gary LaFontant, Michael J. Shapiro, Thomas A. Wassick, Bucknell C. Webb
  • Patent number: 8481422
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a substrate is provided. A porous dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments, the dielectric may be capped by a dense dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are patterned, and a dense dielectric layer deposited conformally over the substrate. The dense conformal dielectric layer seals the pores of the porous dielectric layer against contact with species that may infiltrate the pores. The portion of the dense conformal pore-sealing dielectric layer covering the field region and bottom portions of the pattern openings is removed by directional selective etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelvin Chan, Khaled A. Elsheref, Alexandros T. Demos, Mei-Yee Shek, Lipan Li, Li-Qun Xia, Kang Sub Yim
  • Patent number: 8476773
    Abstract: An electrical structure including a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure, a first solder structure, and a second solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. The second solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the second electrically conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Leslie Buchwalter, Bruce K. Furman, Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20130154060
    Abstract: A wafer including a substrate, a dielectric layer over the substrate, and a conductive layer over the dielectric layer is disclosed. The substrate has a main portion. A periphery of the dielectric layer and the periphery of the main portion of the substrate are separated by a first distance. A periphery of the conductive layer and the periphery of the main portion of the substrate are separated by a second distance. The second distance ranges from about a value that is 0.5% of a diameter of the substrate less than the first distance to about a value that is 0.5% of the diameter greater than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tung-Ti YEH, Wu-Chang LIN, Chung-Yi HUANG, Ya Wen WU, Hui-Mei JAO, Ting-Chun WANG, Chia-Hung CHUNG
  • Patent number: 8460966
    Abstract: A thin film transistor, which has a first passivation layer and a second passivation layer to maintain high reliability while preventing hydrogen from being induced to a semiconductor layer, and a method for fabricating the thin film transistor are provided. The method includes providing a substrate including an insulation substrate, forming a gate electrode on the substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on the substrate and the gate electrode, forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulation layer, forming source/drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer to expose a portion of a top portion of the semiconductor layer, forming a first passivation layer to cover exposed top portions of the gate insulation layer, the semiconductor layer and the source/drain electrodes, and forming a second passivation layer on the first passivation layer, wherein the forming of the second passivation layer comprises performing deposition at a higher temperature than the forming of the first passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Snu R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Sung Hwan Choi, Min Koo Han
  • Patent number: 8455969
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit formed on an active surface, a pad electrode formed on the active surface by being connected to the first electronic circuit and/or the second electronic circuit, a first opening formed to some point along a depth of the semiconductor substrate toward the pad electrode from a surface opposite to the active surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second opening formed so as to reach the pad electrode from a bottom surface of the first opening, an insulating layer formed by covering sidewall surfaces of the first opening and the second opening, a conductive layer formed by covering at least an inner wall surface of the insulating layer and a bottom surface of the second opening, a third opening formed to some point along the depth of the semiconductor substrate from the surface opposite to the active surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a heat insulator imbedded in the third openi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nabe, Masaki Hatano, Hiroshi Asami, Akihiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8455976
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an active region including a core circuit forming region and a buffer forming region, and a fuse element forming region arranged on a corner of the active region and to be able to be electrically fused. It is possible to arrange the fuse element without forming the fuse in the core circuit forming region by arranging the fuse element forming region at the corner of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8446005
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor; a second transistor; an interlayer insulating film covering the transistors; a rectangular-shaped first bus formed on the interlayer insulating film and connected to first source/drain regions; a rectangular-shaped second bus formed on the interlayer insulating film with spacing from the first bus and connected to third source/drain regions; an inter-bus interconnect formed between the first and second buses for connecting these buses; a first contact pad provided on the first bus, to which a wire is connected; and a second contact pad provided on the second bus, to which a wire is connected. The inter-bus interconnect is in contact with part of the side of the first bus facing the second bus and part of the side of the second bus facing the first bus. The first and second contact pads are respectively in contact with part of the first and second buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoharu Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8446007
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a work piece selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor chip and a package substrate. The work piece includes a plurality of under bump metallurgies (UBMs) distributed on a major surface of the work piece; and a plurality of metal bumps, with each of the plurality of metal bumps directly over, and electrically connected to, one of the plurality of UBMs. The plurality of UBMs and the plurality of metal bumps are allocated with an overlay offset, with at least some of the plurality of UBMs being misaligned with the respective overlying ones of the plurality of metal bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Chung-Shi Liu, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8445301
    Abstract: Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a display device including the same. The TFT substrate includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor pattern formed on the gate insulating layer, a source electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor pattern, a drain electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor pattern to face the source electrode, and a pixel electrode formed on the gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kap-Soo Yoon, Woo-Geun Lee, Bong-Kyun Kim, Sung-Hoon Yang, Ki-Won Kim, Hyun-Jung Lee
  • Patent number: 8440560
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a tungsten (W) line includes forming a silicon-containing layer, forming a diffusion barrier layer over the silicon-containing layer, forming a tungsten layer over the diffusion barrier layer, and performing a thermal treatment process on the tungsten layer to increase a grain size of the tungsten layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Min-Gyu Sung, Heung-Jae Cho, Kwan-Yong Lim
  • Publication number: 20130099233
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device is manufactured with a high yield to achieve high productivity. In the manufacture of a semiconductor device including a transistor in which a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating film, and an oxide semiconductor film are sequentially stacked and a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer are formed through an etching step and then a step for removing impurities which are generated by the etching step and exist on a surface of the oxide semiconductor film and in the vicinity thereof is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO.
  • Patent number: 8426868
    Abstract: An object is to improve field effect mobility of a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor. Another object is to suppress increase in off current even in a thin film transistor with improved field effect mobility. In a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor layer, by forming a semiconductor layer having higher electrical conductivity and a smaller thickness than the oxide semiconductor layer between the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating layer, field effect mobility of the thin film transistor can be improved, and increase in off current can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Akimoto, Toshinari Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8409914
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a resistive memory device includes forming a lower electrode including a metal nitride layer over a substrate, forming a metal oxide layer used as a variable resistance material by oxidizing a part of the metal nitride layer, and forming an upper electrode on the metal oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 8405191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for forming through-wafer interconnects in semiconductor substrates and the resulting structures. In one embodiment, a method for forming a through-wafer interconnect includes providing a substrate having a pad on a surface thereof, depositing a passivation layer over the pad and the surface of the substrate, and forming an aperture through the passivation layer and the pad using a substantially continuous process. An insulative layer is deposited in the aperture followed by a conductive layer and a conductive fill. In another embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor device is formed including a first interconnect structure that extends through a conductive pad and is electrically coupled with the conductive pad while a second interconnect structure is formed through another conductive pad while being electrically isolated therefrom. Semiconductor devices and assemblies produced with the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20130056726
    Abstract: A flat panel display device with an oxide thin film transistor and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. The fabricating method of the flat panel display device includes: preparing a substrate defined into a pixel region and a pad contact region; forming a gate electrode and a link line; forming a pixel electrode within the pixel region; forming an oxide layer on the substrate provided with the pixel electrode; forming a passivation layer on the substrate and performing a formation process of contact holes to expose the link line; and forming a second transparent conductive material film on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Ji Eun Chae, Jung Eun Ahn, Tae Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 8389310
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an oxide thin film transistor includes the steps of forming an oxide semiconductor active layer by a deposition process. In the deposition process, a total flow rate of a gas is more than 100 standard cubic centimeters per minute and an electric power is in a range from 1.5 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts. The oxide thin film transistor manufactured by the above methods has advantages of low leakage currents, high electron mobility, and excellent temperature stability. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a display device. The display quality of the display device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Ted-Hong Shinn, Henry Wang, Fang-An Shu, Yao-Chou Tsai
  • Publication number: 20130048977
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electric characteristics and has high reliability. To provide a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film formed over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film formed over the gate insulating film, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed over the oxide semiconductor film, and a protective film. The protective film includes a metal oxide film, and the metal oxide film has a film density of higher than or equal to 3.2 g/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro WATANABE, Mitsuo MASHIYAMA, Takuya HANDA, Kenichi OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20130043546
    Abstract: System and method for reducing contact resistance and improving barrier properties is provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer and contacts extending through the dielectric layer to connect to conductive regions. A contact barrier layer is formed between the conductive regions and the contacts by electroless plating the conductive regions after openings have been formed through the dielectric layer for the contact. The contact barrier layer is then treated to fill the grain boundary of the contact barrier layer, thereby improving the contact resistance. In another embodiment, the contact barrier layer is formed on the conductive regions by electroless plating prior to the formation of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, L
  • Patent number: 8378343
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided in which a pixel portion and a driver circuit each including a thin film transistor are provided over one substrate; the thin film transistor in the pixel portion includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer having an end region with a small thickness, an oxide insulating layer in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor layer, source and drain electrode layers, and a pixel electrode layer; the thin film transistor in the pixel portion has a light-transmitting property; and source and drain electrode layers of the thin film transistor in the driver circuit portion are formed using a conductive material having lower resistance than a material of the source and drain electrode layer in the pixel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichiro Sakata, Hiroyuki Miyake, Hideaki Kuwabara, Mari Terashima
  • Patent number: 8367546
    Abstract: Novel low-resistivity tungsten film stack schemes and methods for depositing them are provided. The film stacks include a mixed tungsten/tungsten-containing compound (e.g., WC) layer as a base for deposition of tungsten nucleation and/or bulk layers. According to various embodiments, these tungsten rich layers may be used as barrier and/or adhesion layers in tungsten contact metallization and bitlines. Deposition of the tungsten-rich layers involves exposing the substrate to a halogen-free organometallic tungsten precursor. The mixed tungsten/tungsten carbide layer is a thin, low resistivity film with excellent adhesion and a good base for subsequent tungsten plug or line formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Raashina Humayun, Kaihan Ashtiani, Karl B. Levy
  • Publication number: 20130029470
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A dummy insulating film is formed over a semiconductor substrate by using a source material that is free of carbon as an essential component. A hole that penetrates the dummy insulating film is formed. A conductive film is formed, which covers at least a side wall of the hole of the dummy insulating film. The dummy insulating film is removed to expose an outer surface of the conductive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Nana HATAYA, Nobuyuki SAKO, Hiroki YAMAWAKI, Shun FUJIMOTO, Jiro MIYAHARA
  • Patent number: 8354754
    Abstract: A layer assemblage for a semiconductor chip having a chip body for producing a soldering connection for the chip. The assemblage is provided on a side of a chip body formed from a semiconducting material, wherein the layer assemblage is formed from a plurality of sequential metal layers which follow one above another and are produced by means of a physical coating method, and wherein a solderable soldering layer is provided between a noble metal layer situated at a surface of the layer assemblage and the chip body. In order to avoid an undesired penetration of a solder through the layer assemblage the soldering layer has at least one internal interface formed by an interruption of the coating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Sven Berberich
  • Patent number: 8354338
    Abstract: A circuit board structure with an embedded semiconductor chip and a fabrication method thereof are provided, including the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer having an active surface with a plurality of electrode pads, a connection metal layer formed on the electrode pads: forming a protective layer on the connection metal layer and the semiconductor wafer, performing a cutting process to form a plurality of semiconductor dies, providing a carrier board having at least one cavity for receiving the semiconductor chip; and forming sequentially on the protective layer covering the semiconductor chip and the carrier board a dielectric layer and a circuit layer electrically connected to the connection metal layer of the semiconductor chip. The present invention is a simple, in process and low in process cost, due to the connection metal layer covered by the protective layer formed on the semiconductor chip protected from oxidation and contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Unimicron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chu-Chin Hu, Shang-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20130005080
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods in which microwave radiation is used to activate dopant and/or increase crystallinity of semiconductor material during formation of a semiconductor construction. In some embodiments, the microwave radiation has a frequency of about 5.8 gigahertz, and a temperature of the semiconductor construction does not exceed about 500° C. during the exposure to the microwave radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 8338954
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes an aluminum electrode film formed on a semiconductor chip; and a nickel plated layer formed on the aluminum electrode film, wherein a concentration of sodium and potassium present in the nickel plated layer and at an interface between the nickel plated layer and the aluminum electrode film is 3.20×1014 atoms/cm2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Fujiwara, Takayasu Horasawa, Kenichi Kazama
  • Publication number: 20120319100
    Abstract: A miniaturized semiconductor device in which an increase in power consumption is suppressed and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. A highly reliable semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. An oxide semiconductor film is irradiated with ions accelerated by an electric field in order to reduce the average surface roughness of a surface of the oxide semiconductor film. Consequently, an increase in the leakage current and power consumption of a transistor can be suppressed. Moreover, by performing heat treatment so that the oxide semiconductor film includes a crystal having a c-axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the oxide semiconductor film, a change in electric characteristics of the oxide semiconductor film due to irradiation with visible light or ultraviolet light can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoko YOSHIOKA, Junichi KOEZUKA, Shinji OHNO, Yuichi SATO, Shinya SASAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20120319271
    Abstract: A bump structure comprises a first polymer block, a second polymer block, a first groove, an under bump metallurgy layer and a connection metal layer, wherein the first polymer block and the second polymer block are individual blocks. The first polymer block and the second polymer block are located at two sides of the first groove, the first polymer block comprises a first connection slot, and the second polymer block comprises a second connection slot communicated with the first connection slot and the first groove. The under bump metallurgy layer covers the first polymer block and the second polymer block to form a second groove, a third connection slot and a fourth connection slot communicated with each other. The connection metal layer covers the under bump metallurgy layer to form a third groove, a fifth connection slot and a sixth connection slot communicated with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Cheng-Hung Shih, Shyh-Jen Guo, Wen-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 8318609
    Abstract: A carrier for effectuating semiconductor processing on a non-planar substrate is disclosed. The carrier is configured for holding at least one non-planar substrate throughout a semiconductor processing step and concurrently rotating non-planar substrates as they travel down a translational path of a processing chamber. As the non-planar substrates simultaneously rotate and translate down a processing chamber, the rotation exposes the whole or any desired portion of the surface area of the non-planar substrates to the deposition process, allowing for uniform deposition as desired. Alternatively, any predetermined pattern is able to be exposed on the surface of the non-planar substrates. Such a carrier effectuates manufacture of non-planar semiconductor devices, including, but not limited to, non-planar light emitting diodes, non-planar photovoltaic cells, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Solyndra LLC
    Inventors: Dan Marohl, Timothy J. Franklin, Ratson Morad
  • Publication number: 20120295397
    Abstract: Stable electrical characteristics and high reliability are provided to a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor. In a process of manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, an amorphous oxide semiconductor film is formed, and oxygen is added to the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, so that an amorphous oxide semiconductor film containing excess oxygen is formed. Then, an aluminum oxide film is formed over the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, and heat treatment is performed thereon to crystallize at least part of the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, so that a crystalline oxide semiconductor film is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi KOEZUKA, Yuhei SATO, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120286259
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a display substrate including a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor pattern, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an etch stop pattern. The gate electrode may be disposed on a base substrate. The oxide semiconductor pattern may be disposed over the gate electrode. The source electrode may be disposed on the oxide semiconductor pattern. The drain electrode may be disposed on the oxide semiconductor pattern and spaced apart from the source electrode. The etch stop pattern may be disposed over the gate electrode, the etch stop pattern may be overlapping a space between the source electrode and the drain electrode and may include a metal oxide. The reliability of the display substrate may, therefore, be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Woo PARK, Dong-Hoon LEE, Sung-Haeng CHO, Woo-Geun LEE, Kap-Soo YOON
  • Patent number: 8299628
    Abstract: There is provided a method of mounting conductive balls on pads on a substrate. The method includes: (a) placing the substrate having the pads coated with an adhesive over a container for containing the conductive balls therein and whose top surface is open such that the pads faces the top surface of the container; and (b) throwing up the conductive balls in the container by moving the container up and down at a given stroke, thereby allowing the conductive balls to adhere to the adhesive coated on the pads. Step (b) is repeatedly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Sakaguchi, Kiyoaki Iida, Kazuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8298912
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure, and more particularly to a semiconductor structure having reduced metal line resistance and a method of manufacturing the same in back end of line (BEOL) processes. The method includes forming a first trench extending to a lower metal layer Mx+1 and forming a second trench remote from the first trench. The method further includes filling the first trench and the second trench with conductive material. The conductive material in the second trench forms a vertical wiring line extending orthogonally and in electrical contact with an upper wiring layer and electrically isolated from lower metal layers including the lower metal layer Mx+1. The vertical wiring line decreases a resistance of a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wai-Kin Li, Yi-Hsiung Lin, Gerald Matusiewicz