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)
  • Publication number: 20120267623
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film is disclosed. In the semiconductor device, the oxide semiconductor film is provided along a trench formed in an insulating layer. The trench includes a lower end corner portion and an upper end corner portion having a curved shape with a curvature radius of longer than or equal to 20 nm and shorter than or equal to 60 nm, and the oxide semiconductor film is provided in contact with a bottom surface, the lower end corner portion, the upper end corner portion, and an inner wall surface of the trench. The oxide semiconductor film includes a crystal having a c-axis substantially perpendicular to a surface at least over the upper end corner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuo ISOBE, Toshinari SASAKI, Shinya SASAGAWA, Akihiro ISHIZUKA
  • Patent number: 8293648
    Abstract: In order to prevent the contamination of wafers made of a transition metal in a semiconductor mass production process, the mass production method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device of the invention comprises the steps of depositing an Ru film on individual wafers passing through a wafer process, removing the Ru film from outer edge portions of a device side and a back side of individual wafers, on which said Ru film has been deposited, by means of an aqueous solution containing orthoperiodic acid and nitric acid, and subjecting said individual wafers, from which said Ru film has been removed, to a lithographic step, an inspection step or a thermal treating step that is in common use relation with a plurality of wafers belonging to lower layer steps (an initial element formation step and a wiring step prior to the formation of a gate insulating film).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Futase, Tomonori Saeki, Mieko Kashi
  • Publication number: 20120261822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming an out-of-plane electrode includes providing an oxide layer above an upper surface of a device layer, providing a first cap layer portion above an upper surface of the oxide layer, etching a first electrode perimeter defining trench extending through the first cap layer portion and stopping at the oxide layer, depositing a first material portion within the first electrode perimeter defining trench, depositing a second cap layer portion above the first material portion, vapor releasing a portion of the oxide layer, depositing a third cap layer portion above the second cap layer portion, etching a second electrode perimeter defining trench extending through the second cap layer portion and the third cap layer portion, and depositing a second material portion within the second electrode perimeter defining trench, such that a spacer including the first material portion and the second material portion define out-of-plane electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew B. Graham, Gary Yama, Gary O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20120261660
    Abstract: An oxide thin film transistor (TFT) and its fabrication method are disclosed. In a TFT of a bottom gate structure using amorphous zinc oxide (ZnO)-based semiconductor as an active layer, source and drain electrodes are formed, on which the active layer made of oxide semiconductor is formed to thus prevent degeneration of the oxide semiconductor in etching the source and drain electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Hyun-Sik Seo, Jong-Uk Bae, Dae-Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120258595
    Abstract: A masking layer is formed on a dielectric region of an electronic device so that, during subsequent formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions the masking layer inhibits formation of capping layer material on the dielectric region. The capping layer can be formed selectively on the electrically conductive regions or non-selectively; in either case, capping layer material formed over the dielectric region can subsequently be removed, thus ensuring that capping layer material is formed only on the electrically conductive regions. Silane-based materials, such as silane-based SAMs, can be used to form the masking layer. The capping layer can be formed of an electrically conductive, a semiconductor material, or an electrically insulative material, and can be formed using any appropriate process, including conventional deposition processes such as electroless deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Lazovsky, Sandra G. Malhotra, Thomas R. Boussie
  • Publication number: 20120248546
    Abstract: Methods of forming and using a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments include forming a diode between a metal fuse gate and a PMOS device, wherein the diode is disposed between a contact of the metal fuse gate and a contact of the PMOS device, and wherein the diode couples the contact of the metal fuse gate to the contact of the PMOS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Xianghong Tong, Zhanping Chen, Walid M. Hafez, Zhiyong Ma, Sarvesh H. Kulkarni, Kevin X. Zhang, Matthew B. Pedersen, Kevin D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120252160
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate electrode is formed and then an aluminum oxide film, a silicon oxide film, and the oxide semiconductor film are successively formed in an in-line apparatus without being exposed to the air and are subjected to heating and oxygen adding treatment in the in-line apparatus. Then, the transistor is covered with another aluminum oxide film and is subjected to heat treatment, so that the oxide semiconductor film from which impurities including hydrogen atoms are removed and including a region containing oxygen at an amount exceeding that in the stoichiometric composition ratio. The transistor including the oxide semiconductor film is a transistor having high reliability in which the amount of change in threshold voltage of the transistor by the bias-temperature stress (BT test) can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120248450
    Abstract: The present invention provides an active matrix substrate that is capable of reliably connecting a plurality of conductive layers that are arranged with an insulating layer therebetween. The active matrix substrate of the present invention has a first conductive layer (CS) and a second conductive layer (30), and an insulating layer (22) formed to cover the first conductive layer (CS) is provided. The first conductive layer (CS) has an end portion (CS1) formed to protrude within an opening portion (H1) formed in the insulating layer (22), and the second conductive layer (30) is provided to cover at least a part of the edge of the opening portion (H1) and to be connected directly to the end portion (CS1) of the first conductive layer (CS) within the opening portion (H1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Yaneda, Hiromitsu Katsui, Wataru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8278132
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor and a fabricating method thereof capable of approaching higher quantum efficiency and reducing cost. The method comprises: providing a substrate; forming a pixel region on a top surface of the substrate; forming an interlayer insulating layer and at least a metal line on the pixel region; forming an isolation carrier layer having a hole array therein on the interlayer insulating layer; grinding a lower surface of the substrate to reduce the thickness of the substrate; placing a plurality of conductors into the hole array to form a plurality of bumps on the isolation carrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Min Liu, Fang-Ming Huang, Ping-Hung Yin, Kuo-Chan Huang, Chung-Wei Chang
  • Publication number: 20120241736
    Abstract: In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has a stacked-layer structure of the hydrogen capture film and the hydrogen permeable film. At this time, the hydrogen permeable film is formed on a side which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and the hydrogen capture film is formed on a side which is in contact with a gate electrode. After that, hydrogen released from the oxide semiconductor film is transferred to the hydrogen capture film through the hydrogen permeable film by the heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki IMOTO, Tetsunori MARUYAMA, Yuta ENDO
  • Publication number: 20120244660
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics. It is another object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device at lower cost with high productivity. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor where a semiconductor layer having a channel formation region, a source region, and a drain region are formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed so as to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor layer and reduce impurities such as moisture. Moreover, the oxide semiconductor layer subjected to the heat treatment is slowly cooled under an oxygen atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinari SASAKI, Junichiro SAKATA, Hiroki OHARA, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120241737
    Abstract: In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which includes a film for capturing hydrogen from the oxide semiconductor film (a hydrogen capture film) and a film for diffusing hydrogen (a hydrogen permeable film), hydrogen is transferred from the oxide semiconductor film to the hydrogen capture film through the hydrogen permeable film by heat treatment. Specifically, a base film or a protective film of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has a stacked-layer structure of the hydrogen capture film and the hydrogen permeable film. At this time, the hydrogen permeable film is formed on a side which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. After that, hydrogen released from the oxide semiconductor film is transferred to the hydrogen capture film through the hydrogen permeable film by the heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki IMOTO, Tetsunori MARUYAMA, Yuta ENDO
  • Publication number: 20120235137
    Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device is manufactured by giving stable electric characteristics to a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used. In a transistor using an oxide semiconductor film for an active layer, a microvoid is provided in a source region and a drain region adjacent to a channel region. By providing a microvoid in the source region and the drain region formed in an oxide semiconductor film, hydrogen contained in the channel region of an oxide semiconductor film can be captured in the microvoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi KOEZUKA, Yuichi SATO, Shinji OHNO
  • Patent number: 8268723
    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: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20120231602
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a memory cell comprises forming a plurality of doped semiconductor layers on a carrier substrate. The method further comprises forming a plurality of digit lines separated by an insulating material. The digit lines are arrayed over the doped semiconductor layers. The method further comprises etching a plurality of trenches into the doped semiconductor layers. The method further comprises depositing an insulating material into the plurality of trenches to form a plurality of electrically isolated transistor pillars. The method further comprises bonding at least a portion of the structure formed on the carrier substrate to a host substrate. The method further comprises separating the carrier substrate from the host substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20120228783
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixed wire bonding and staggered bonding pad placement. A first plurality of bonding pads is arranged on a semiconductor device. A second plurality of bonding pads is also arranged on the semiconductor device. The bonding pads of the second plurality of bonding pads are arranged in a staggered pattern, such that the first and second pluralities of bonding pads form one of a plurality of double rows of bonding pads on the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Ng Kok SIANG, Wong Wai LOON
  • Publication number: 20120228606
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film having a first region and a pair of second regions facing each other with the first region provided therebetween, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, and a first electrode overlapping with the first region, over the gate insulating film. The first region is a non-single-crystal oxide semiconductor region including a c-axis-aligned crystal portion. The pair of second regions is an oxide semiconductor region containing dopant and including a plurality of crystal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi KOEZUKA, Shinji OHNO, Yuichi SATO, Masahiro TAKAHASHI, Hideyuki KISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120228605
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film including a pair of first regions, a pair of second regions, and a third region; a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode provided between the pair of electrodes with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The pair of first regions overlap with the pair of electrodes, the third region overlaps with the gate electrode, and the pair of second regions are formed between the pair of first regions and the third region. The pair of second regions and the third region each contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or arsenic. The pair of second regions have a higher element concentration than the third region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosei NODA
  • Publication number: 20120223368
    Abstract: An integrated circuit created from a cell library of compact cells. The cell library includes cells having a metal trace routed along the boundary of the cells for carrying a power supply voltage. The cells also include another metal trace routed along the interior of the cells for carrying another power supply voltage. A cell pin carrying an input signal or output signal of the cell is located outside of the region between the two power rails. By routing the power supply voltages and cell pins of the cell in this manner, the integrated circuit created from the cell is extremely compact while still complying with various design rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: SYNOPSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Deepak D. Sherlekar, Vahe Hovsepyan
  • Patent number: 8258010
    Abstract: A plurality of semiconductor die is mounted to a carrier separated by a peripheral region. An insulating material is deposited in the peripheral region. A first opening is formed in the insulating material of the peripheral region to a first depth. A second opening is formed in the insulating material of the peripheral region centered over the first opening to a second depth less than the first depth. The first and second openings constitute a composite through organic via (TOV) having a first width in a vertical region of the first opening and a second width in a vertical region of the second opening. The second width is different than the first width. A conductive material is deposited in the composite TOV to form a conductive TOV. An organic solderability preservative (OSP) coating is formed over a contact surface of the conductive TOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: STATS ChipPAC, Ltd.
    Inventors: Reza A. Pagaila, Byung Tai Do, Shuangwu Huang
  • Publication number: 20120218783
    Abstract: There is embodied a high-reliability high-voltage resistance compound semiconductor device capable of improving the speed of device operation, being high in avalanche resistance, being resistant to surges, eliminating the need to connect any external diodes when applied to, for example, an inverter circuit, and achieving stable operation even if holes are produced, in addition to alleviating the concentration of electric fields on a gate electrode and thereby realizing a further improvement in voltage resistance. A gate electrode is formed so as to fill an electrode recess formed in a structure of stacked compound semiconductors with an electrode material through a gate insulation film, and a field plate recess formed in the structure of stacked compound semiconductors is filled with a p-type semiconductor, thereby forming a field plate the p-type semiconductor layer of which has contact with the structure of stacked compound semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tadahiro IMADA
  • Publication number: 20120217640
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of semiconductor die with contact pads for electrical interconnect. An insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor wafer. A bump structure is formed over the contact pads. The bump structure has a buffer layer formed over the insulating layer and contact pad. A portion of the buffer layer is removed to expose the contact pad and an outer portion of the insulating layer. A UBM layer is formed over the buffer layer and contact pad. The UBM layer follows a contour of the buffer layer and contact pad. A ring-shaped conductive pillar is formed over the UBM layer using a patterned photoresist layer filled with electrically conductive material. A conductive barrier layer is formed over the ring-shaped conductive pillar. A bump is formed over the conductive barrier layer. The buffer layer reduces thermal and mechanical stress on the bump and contact pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: STATS CHIPPAC, LTD.
    Inventors: JoonYoung Choi, YoungJoon Kim, SungWon Cho
  • Publication number: 20120217628
    Abstract: The mechanisms for forming metal bumps to connect to a cooling device (or a heat sink) described herein enable substrates with devices to dissipate heat generated more efficiently. In addition, the metal bumps allow customization of bump designs to meet the needs of different chips. Further, the usage of metal bumps between the semiconductor chip and cooling device enables advanced cooling by passing a cooling fluid between the bumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: You-Hua CHOU, Yi-Jen LAI, Chun-Jen CHEN, Perre KAO
  • Publication number: 20120217643
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of semiconductor die with contact pads. An organic material is deposited in a peripheral region around the semiconductor die. A portion of the organic material is removed to form a plurality of vias. A conductive material is deposited in the vias to form conductive TOV. The conductive TOV can be recessed with respect to a surface of the semiconductor die. Bond wires are formed between the contact pads and conductive TOV. The bond wires can be bridged in multiple sections across the semiconductor die between the conductive TOV and contact pads. An insulating layer is formed over the bond wires and semiconductor die. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through the conductive TOV or organic material between the conductive TOV to separate the semiconductor die. A plurality of semiconductor die can be stacked and electrically connected through the bond wires and conductive TOV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: STATS CHIPPAC, LTD.
    Inventors: Reza A. Pagaila, Byung Tai Do, Dioscoro A. Merilo
  • Publication number: 20120205816
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface, a conductive column part passing through the substrate from the front surface to the back surface, a cavity formed by removing a part of the back surface around an end portion of the conductive column part such that the end portion of the conductive column part protrudes from the cavity, a first insulation layer formed in the cavity such that a portion of the end portion of the conductive column part is exposed, and a back electrode electrically connected to the exposed end portion of the conductive column part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Young SON, Tac Keun OH
  • Patent number: 8242010
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect forming method. The electrical interconnect includes 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: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Leslie Buchwalter, Bruce K. Furman, Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 8242006
    Abstract: A smooth electrode is provided. The smooth electrode includes at least one metal layer having thickness greater than about 1 micron; wherein an average surface roughness of the smooth electrode is less than about 10 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanton Earl Weaver, Stacey Joy Kennerly, Marco Francesco Aimi
  • Patent number: 8242011
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to fabrication of to a metal pillar. An exemplary method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a contact pad; forming a passivation layer extending over the substrate having an opening over the contact pad; forming a metal pillar over the contact pad and a portion of the passivation layer; forming a solder layer over the metal pillar; and causing sidewalls of the metal pillar to react with an organic compound to form a self-assembled monolayer or self-assembled multi-layers of the organic compound on the sidewalls of the metal pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zheng-Yi Lim, Yi-Wen Wu, Wen-Hsiung Lu, Chih-Wei Lin, Tzong-Huann Yang, Hsiu-Jen Lin, Ming-Da Cheng, Chung-Shi Liu
  • Patent number: 8242496
    Abstract: An object is to increase an aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referred to as a pixel portion) over one substrate. The driver circuit portion includes a channel-etched thin film transistor for a driver circuit, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed using metal and a channel layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor, and a driver circuit wiring formed using metal. The display portion includes a channel protection thin film transistor for a pixel, in which a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor, and a display portion wiring formed using an oxide conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichiro Sakata, Hiroyuki Miyake, Hideaki Kuwabara, Ikuko Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8241948
    Abstract: The manufacturing method of the present invention includes steps of selectively forming a photocatalyst material or a material including an amino group by discharging a composition including the photocatalyst material or the material including an amino group; immersing the photocatalyst material or the material including an amino group in a solution including a plating catalyst material so as to adsorb or deposit the plating catalyst material onto the photocatalyst material or the material including an amino group; and immersing the plating catalyst material in a plating solution including a metal material so as to form a metal film on a surface of the photocatalyst material or the material including an amino group adsorbing or depositing the plating catalyst material, thereby manufacturing a semiconductor device. The pH of the solution including the plating catalyst material is adjusted in a range of 3 to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gen Fujii
  • Publication number: 20120199966
    Abstract: An elongated bump structure for semiconductor devices is provided. An uppermost protective layer has an opening formed therethrough. A pillar is formed within the opening and extending over at least a portion of the uppermost protective layer. The portion extending over the uppermost protective layer exhibits a generally elongated shape. In an embodiment, the position of the opening relative to the portion of the bump structure extending over the uppermost protective layer is such that a ratio of a distance from an edge of the opening to an edge of the bump is greater than or equal to about 0.2. In another embodiment, the position of the opening is offset relative to center of the bump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tin-Hao Kuo, Yu-Feng Chen, Chen-Shien Chen, Chen-Hua Yu, Sheng-Yu Wu, Chita Chuang
  • Publication number: 20120199842
    Abstract: A highly integrated DRAM is provided. A bit line is formed over a first insulator, a second insulator is formed over the bit line, third insulators which are in a stripe shape and the like are formed over the second insulator, and a semiconductor region and a gate insulator are formed to cover one of the third insulators. The bit line is connected to the semiconductor region through first contact plugs. Then, a conductive film is formed and subjected to anisotropic etching to form word lines at side surfaces of the third insulators, and a second contact plug is formed to be connected to a capacitor at a top of the one of the third insulators. By synchronizing the word lines, electric charge is accumulated or released through the capacitor. With such a structure, the area of a memory cell can be 4F2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko TAKEMURA
  • Publication number: 20120202343
    Abstract: A metallic adhesion layer is formed on a last level metal plate exposed in an opening of a passivation layer. A Ni—Cu alloy in which the weight percentage of Ni is from about 50% to about 70% is deposited by sputtering onto the metallic adhesion layer to form an underbump metallic layer. Optionally, a wetting layer comprising Cu or Au may be deposited by sputtering. A C4 ball is applied to a surface of the underbump metallic layer comprising the Ni—Cu alloy or the wetting layer for C4 processing. The sputter deposition of the Ni—Cu alloy offers economic advantages relative to known methods in the art since the Ni—Cu alloy in the composition of the present invention is non-magnetic and easy to sputter, and the consumption of the inventive Ni—Cu alloy is limited during C4 processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luc Bélanger, Srinivasa S.N. Reddy, Brian R. Sundlof
  • Patent number: 8236684
    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: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelvin Chan, Khaled A. Elsheref, Alexandros T. Demos, Meiyee Shek, Lipan Li, Li-Qun Xia, Kang sub Yim
  • Publication number: 20120194217
    Abstract: One aspect provides an input/output cell. The input/output cell, in one example, includes an input/output layout boundary delineated on a substrate, wherein the input/output layout boundary defines a first side parallel and opposing a second side, a third side parallel and opposing a fourth side, wherein the first and second sides are substantially perpendicular the third and fourth sides. The input/output cell, in this example, further includes input/output transistors positioned within the input/output layout boundary over the substrate. The input/output cell, in this example, further includes first and second power conductors and first and second ground conductors located over the substrate, the first power conductor and first ground conductor extending entirely between the first and second sides and the second power conductor and second ground conductor extending entirely between the third and fourth sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Mark F. Turner, Jeff S. Brown, Paul Dorweiler
  • Publication number: 20120190192
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, said operations including: depositing a first layer having a first metal on a surface of a semiconductor structure, where depositing the first layer creates a first intermix region at an interface of the first layer and the semiconductor structure; removing a portion of the deposited first layer to expose the first intermix region; depositing a second layer having a second metal on the first intermix region, where depositing the second layer creates a second intermix region at an interface of the second layer and the first intermix region; removing a portion of the deposited second layer to expose the second intermix region; and performing at least one anneal on the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Lavoie, Tak H. Ning, Ahmet S. Ozcan, Bin Yang, Zhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120187528
    Abstract: A method forms an eFuse structure that has a pair of adjacent semiconducting fins projecting from the planar surface of a substrate (in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface). The fins have planar sidewalls (perpendicular to the planar surface of the substrate) and planar tops (parallel to the planar surface of the substrate). The tops are positioned at distal ends of the fins relative to the substrate. An insulating layer covers the tops and the sidewalls of the fins and covers an intervening substrate portion of the planar surface of the substrate located between the fins. A metal layer covers the insulating layer. A pair of conductive contacts are connected to the metal layer at locations where the metal layer is adjacent the top of the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Louis C. Hsu, William R. Tonti, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Publication number: 20120187396
    Abstract: A base insulating film is formed over a substrate. A first oxide semiconductor film is formed over the base insulating film, and then first heat treatment is performed to form a second oxide semiconductor film. Then, selective etching is performed to form a third oxide semiconductor film. An insulating film is formed over the first insulating film and the third oxide semiconductor film. A surface of the insulating film is polished to expose a surface of the third oxide semiconductor film, so that a sidewall insulating film is formed in contact with at least a side surface of the third oxide semiconductor film. Then, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed over the sidewall insulating film and the third oxide semiconductor film. A gate insulating film and a gate electrode are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Teruyuki FUJII, Sho NAGAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20120181533
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel includes: an substrate; a gate line positioned on the substrate; a data line intersecting the gate line; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode of the thin film transistor and the semiconductor of the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; and a passivation layer positioned between the pixel electrode and the thin film transistor, wherein at least one of the gate insulating layer and the passivation layer includes a silicon nitride layer, and the silicon nitride layer includes hydrogen content at less than 2×1022 cm3 or 4 atomic %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeong Suk YOO, Joo-Han KIM, Je Hun LEE, Seong-Hun KIM, Jung Kyu LEE, Chang Oh JEONG
  • Patent number: 8222726
    Abstract: A semiconductor device package and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device package includes a substrate, a first chip, a jumper chip, a plurality of first bonding wires and a plurality of second bonding wires. The substrate has a plurality of contact pads. The first chip is disposed and electrically connected to the substrate via the first bonding wires. The jumper chip is disposed on the first chip and has a plurality of metal pads. Each of the metal pads is electrically connected to two contact pads of the substrate via two second bonding wires, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Chuan Chang, Tsung-Yueh Tsai, Yi-Shao Lai, Jiunn Chen, Ming-Hsiang Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120175609
    Abstract: A first oxide insulating film is formed over a substrate. After a first oxide semiconductor film is formed over the first oxide insulating film, heat treatment is performed, so that hydrogen contained in the first oxide semiconductor film is released and part of oxygen contained in the first oxide insulating film is diffused into the first oxide semiconductor film. Thus, a second oxide semiconductor film with reduced hydrogen concentration and reduced oxygen defect is formed. Then, the second oxide semiconductor film is selectively etched to form a third oxide semiconductor film, and a second oxide insulating film is formed. The second oxide insulating film is selectively etched and a protective film covering an end portion of the third oxide semiconductor film is formed. Then, a pair of electrodes, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are formed over the third oxide semiconductor film and the protective film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20120178246
    Abstract: A method of producing a transistor includes providing a substrate including in order a first electrically conductive material layer and a second electrically conductive material layer. A resist material layer is deposited over the second electrically conductive material layer. The resist material layer is patterned to expose a portion of the second electrically conductive material layer. Some of the second electrically conductive material layer is removed to create a reentrant profile in the second electrically conductive material layer and to expose a portion of the first electrically conductive material layer. The second electrically conductive material layer is caused to overhang the first electrically conductive material layer by removing some of the first electrically conductive material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Lee W. Tutt, Shelby F. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120178256
    Abstract: A method of forming a material on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate disposed in a plasma process chamber by sequentially exposing the substrate to a tantalum precursor and a nitrogen precursor, followed by reducing a nitrogen concentration of the tantalum nitride layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma annealing process. A metal-containing layer is subsequently deposited on the tantalum nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Sean M. Seutter, Michael X. Yang, Ming Xi
  • Publication number: 20120171813
    Abstract: Electric characteristics and reliability of a thin film transistor are impaired by diffusion of an impurity element into a channel region. The present invention provides a thin film transistor in which aluminum atoms are unlikely to be diffused to an oxide semiconductor layer. A thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer including indium, gallium, and zinc includes source or drain electrode layers in which first conductive, layers including aluminum as a main component and second conductive layers including a high-melting-point metal material are stacked. An oxide semiconductor layer 113 is in contact with the second conductive layers and barrier layers including aluminum oxide as a main component, whereby diffusion of aluminum atoms to the oxide semiconductor layer is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo AKIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8211795
    Abstract: A new technique is disclosed in which a barrier/cap layer for a copper based metal line is formed by using a thermal-chemical treatment based on hydrogen with a surface modification on the basis of a silicon-containing precursor followed by an in situ plasma based deposition of silicon based dielectric barrier material. The thermal-chemical cleaning process is performed in the absence of any plasma ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Hohage, Volker Kahlert, Hartmut Ruelke, Ulrich Mayer
  • Publication number: 20120164820
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a metallic gate layer over a gate dielectric layer where the metallic gate layer has a crystallographic orientation, and re-orienting the crystallographic orientation of the metallic gate layer by subjecting the metallic gate layer to a hydrogen anneal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Luigi Colombo, James J. Chambers, Mark R. Visokay
  • Publication number: 20120154690
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Teruo Sasagawa, Brian Arbuckle
  • Publication number: 20120153496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a through silicon via (TSV) for 3D packaging to integrate a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a through silicon via (TSV) for 3D packaging of a semiconductor device that is capable of improving production efficiency, having very high electric conductivity, and minimizing electrical signal delay, without using a carrier wafer by self-aligning substrates in a low temperature state and sequentially bonding a plurality of semiconductor dies (or semiconductor chips), and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Jae-Hak Lee, Chang-Woo Lee, Joon-Yub Song, Tae-Ho Ha
  • Publication number: 20120153430
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an IC, comprising providing a substrate having a first side and a second opposite side, forming a STI opening in the first side of the substrate and forming a partial TSV opening in the first side of the substrate and extending the partial TSV opening. The extended partial TSV opening is deeper into the substrate than the STI opening. The method also comprises filling the STI opening with a first solid material and filling the extended partial TSV opening with a second solid material. Neither the STI opening, the partial TSV opening, nor the extended partial TSV opening penetrate an outer surface of the second side of the substrate. At least either: the STI opening and the partial TSV opening are formed simultaneously, or, the STI opening and the extended partial TSV opening are filled simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Bachman, Sailesh M. Merchant, John Osenbach
  • Publication number: 20120153495
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to semiconductor packaging having reduced sized plated through hole (PTH) pads by eliminating the margin of the pad-to-PTH alignment and enabling finer traces on the core of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Debendra Mallik, Mihir K. Roy