And Additional Electrical Device Patents (Class 438/200)
  • Patent number: 7629210
    Abstract: To make electric current concentration and electric field concentration hardly take place in junction parts even in case of performing miniaturization and to achieve triggering at low voltage. An ESD protection apparatus is installed between an input terminal 6 of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip and a CMOS transistor 100 and includes a trigger element 310 comprising diodes 311, 312 which are broken down by overvoltage applied to the input terminal 6 and an ESD protection element 210 including longitudinal bipolar transistors 211, 212 for discharging the accumulated electric charge of the input terminal 6 by being electrically communicated owing to the breakdown of the diodes 311, 312.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Mototsugu Okushima
  • Patent number: 7618854
    Abstract: In a high frequency LDMOS transistor, a gate structure is formed on a substrate. A drain, doped with first type impurities at a first concentration, is formed on the substrate spaced apart from the gate structure. A buffer well, doped with the first type impurities at a second concentration lower than the first concentration, surrounds side and lower portions of the drain. A lightly doped drain, doped with the first type impurities at a third concentration lower than the second concentration, is formed between the buffer well and the gate structure. A source, doped with the first type impurities at the first concentration, is formed on the substrate adjacent to the gate structure and opposite to the drain with respect to the gate structure. Accordingly, an on-resistance decreases while a breakdown voltage increases in the LDMOS transistor without increasing a capacitance between the gate structure and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun-Hak Lee
  • Patent number: 7611940
    Abstract: Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7601580
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a semiconductor substrate having a pixel array region and a logic region. A first gate electrode may be formed on the pixel array region of the semiconductor substrate. A lower electrode may be formed on a portion of the logic region of the semiconductor substrate. A first capping layer may be formed on at least a portion of the lower electrode. A dielectric layer may be formed on the first capping layer. An upper electrode may be formed on the dielectric layer. The first gate electrode and the lower electrode may include a polysilicon layer, and the first capping layer may include at least one of a metal layer and a metal silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Wan Jung
  • Patent number: 7598134
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral devices. At least some of the individual memory cells include carbonated portions that contain SiC. At least some of the peripheral devices do not include any carbonated portions. A transistor includes a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a channel including a carbonated portion of a semiconductive substrate that contains SiC between the first and second sources/drains and a gate operationally associated with opposing sides of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 7598135
    Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating CMOS image sensor. One method includes: preparing a semiconductor substrate in which a photodiode region and a transistor region are defined; sequentially forming an insulating layer and a conductive layer on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming a photoresist pattern for a gate electrode on the conductive layer; etching the conductive layer to a predetermined thickness using the photoresist pattern as a mask; performing an ion implantation process on the etched conductive layer to form a doped conductive layer; performing an oxidation process on the resultant structure including the doped conductive layer for oxidizing the doped conductive layer so as to form an oxide layer; and removing the oxide layer and the insulating layer disposed thereunder to define a gate electrode and a gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Sung Shim
  • Publication number: 20090242949
    Abstract: A carbon-containing semiconductor layer is formed on exposed surfaces of a p-doped semiconductor layer abutting sidewalls of a shallow trench. Following formation of a dielectric layer on the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, a surface pinning layer having a p-type doping is formed underneath the carbon-containing semiconductor layer. A shallow trench isolation structure and a photodiode are subsequently formed. Diffusion of defects directly beneath the shallow trench isolation structure, now contained in the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, is suppressed. Further, boron diffusion into the shallow trench isolation structure and into the photodiode is also suppressed by the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, providing reduction in dark current and enhancement of performance of the photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Rajendran Krishnasamy
  • Patent number: 7595243
    Abstract: A semiconductor technology combines a normally off n-channel channel-junction insulated-gate field-effect transistor (“IGFET”) (104) and an n-channel surface-channel IGFET (100 or 160) to reduce low-frequency 1/f noise. The channel-junction IGFET is normally fabricated to be of materially greater gate dielectric thickness than the surface-channel IGFET so as to operate across a greater voltage range than the surface-channel IGFET. A p-channel surface-channel IGFET (102 or 162), which is typically fabricated to be of approximately the same gate-dielectric thickness as the n-channel surface-channel IGFET, is preferably combined with the two n-channel IGFETs to produce a complementary-IGFET structure. A further p-channel IGFET (106, 180, 184, or 192), which is typically fabricated to be of approximately the same gate dielectric thickness as the n-channel channel-junction IGFET, is also preferably included. The further p-channel IGFET can be a surface-channel or channel-junction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Constantin Bulucea, Philipp Lindorfer
  • Patent number: 7595230
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a thin film transistor (1), the oxide film forming step is performed whereby: a process-target substrate (2) having a surface on which a gate oxide film (4) should be formed is immersed in an oxidizing solution containing a; active oxidizing species; and a gate oxide film (4) is formed through direct oxidation of polycrystalline silicon (51) on the process-target substrate (2). With this step, a silicon dioxide film (42) is formed while growing a silicon dioxide film (41) on the process-target substrate 2. Accordingly, the interface between the polycrystalline silicon (51) and the gate oxide film (4) is kept clean. The gate oxide film (4) is uniformly formed with excellent quality in insulation tolerance and other properties. Therefore, the thin film transistor (1) contains a high quality oxide film with excellent insulation tolerance and other properties which can be formed at low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Hikaru Kobayashi
    Inventors: Shigeki Imai, Kazuhiko Inoguchi, Hikaru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7588978
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for forming a semiconductor device in which a first oxide layer may be deposited over a surface of a semiconductor substrate including high-voltage (HV) and low-voltage (LV) wells, the first oxide layer having a predetermined thickness corresponding to a high-voltage (HV) area of the well. A first photoresist pattern may be formed over a surface of the first oxide layer. An etching process may be performed using the first photoresist pattern as a mask, so that the first oxide layer is selectively etched until the semiconductor substrate is partially exposed, to form a first oxide layer pattern. A second oxide layer may be deposited over a surface of the semiconductor substrate including the first oxide layer pattern using the first photoresist pattern as a mask, the second oxide layer having a predetermined thickness corresponding to a low-voltage (LV) area of the well. The first photoresist pattern may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jea-Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 7586162
    Abstract: A high value resistive device in an integrated circuit is disclosed, including a pair of substantially similar resistor segments each having an elongated semiconductor channel of e.g. silicon, lightly doped as would be appropriate for a low-threshold depletion mode FET. Disposed above the channel is an insulator layer, which is preferably much thicker than a typical gate insulator thickness. A shielding conductor is disposed generally overlaying the channel, connected to and extending from one end of the channel nearly to the other end of the channel. With the overlaying conductor connected to a first end of each segment, the plurality of segments are coupled in series, having first ends coupled together or second ends coupled together. A plurality or multiplicity of such segment pairs may be coupled in series to reduce nonlinearities at increased voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Dylan J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7582522
    Abstract: A method and device for image sensing. The method includes forming a first well and a second well in a substrate, forming a gate oxide layer on the substrate, and depositing a first gate region and a second gate region on the gate oxide layer. The first gate region is associated with the first well, and the second gate region is associated with the second well. Additionally, the method includes forming a third well in the substrate, implanting a first plurality of ions to form a first lightly doped source region and a first lightly doped drain region in the first well, implanting a second plurality of ions to form at least a second lightly doped drain region in the second well, and implanting a third plurality of ions to form a source in the second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Jianping Yang, Chunyan Xin, Jieguang Huo, Yanyong Wang
  • Patent number: 7579617
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed that is able to suppress a short channel effect and improve carrier mobility. In the method, trenches are formed in a silicon substrate corresponding to a source region and a drain region. When epitaxially growing p-type semiconductor mixed crystal layers to fill up the trenches, the surfaces of the trenches are demarcated by facets, and extended portions of the semiconductor mixed crystal layers are formed between bottom surfaces of second side wall insulating films and a surface of the silicon substrate, and extended portion are in contact with a source extension region and a drain extension region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Yosuke Shimamune, Hiroyuki Ohta, Akiyoshi Hatada, Akira Katakami, Naoyoshi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7579051
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron emitter, the method includes discharging a droplet of a function liquid containing a material for forming the conductive film onto a discharge surface of the substrate by a droplet discharge device to adhere a liquid-state object to at least part of an area in which the conductive film is to be formed, drying the liquid-state to form the conductive film, and forming an electron emission section in the conductive film by applying an current between the pair of element electrodes, wherein when accompanied by the drying to form the conductive film, the discharging forms the liquid-state object in a shape having a constricted part for forming a latent image section that has a relatively thin film thickness in a portion for forming the electron emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7569164
    Abstract: A solder paste composition used in a solder precoating method of forming solder bumps by forming a dam around electrodes on a substrate, filling a solder paste composition on the electrodes within opening parts surrounded by the dam, and heating the solder paste composition filled, so that solder is adhered to the surfaces of the electrodes. The solder paste composition contains solder powder, which is of a particle size distribution in which particles having a particle size of below 10 ?m are present 16% or more, and a sum of the particles having a particle size of below 10 ?m and particles having a particle size of 10 ?m or more and below 20 ?m is 90% or more. This enables to suppress occurrence of bump defects, and form solder bumps of a uniform height with a high yield by a solder precoating method using the dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Harima Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakurai, Yoichi Kukimoto
  • Patent number: 7569873
    Abstract: This invention describes a method of building complementary logic circuits using junction field effect transistors in silicon. This invention is ideally suited for deep submicron dimensions, preferably below 65 nm. The basis of this invention is a complementary Junction Field Effect Transistor which is operated in the enhancement mode. The speed-power performance of the JFETs becomes comparable with the CMOS devices at sub-70 nanometer dimensions. However, the maximum power supply voltage for the JFETs is still limited to below the built-in potential (a diode drop). To satisfy certain applications which require interface to an external circuit driven to higher voltage levels, this invention includes the structures and methods to build CMOS devices on the same substrate as the JFET devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: DSM Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok K. Kapoor
  • Patent number: 7566606
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a strain-inducing substrate layer having a germanium concentration of at least 10 atomic %. The semiconductor structure also includes a compressively strained layer on the strain-inducing substrate layer. The compressively strained layer has a germanium concentration at least approximately 30 percentage points greater than the germanium concentration of the strain-inducing substrate layer, and has a thickness less than its critical thickness. The semiconductor structure also includes a tensilely strained layer on the compressively strained layer. The tensilely strained layer may be formed from silicon having a thickness less than its critical thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: AmberWave Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew T. Currie, Anthony J. Lochtefeld, Christopher W. Leitz, Eugene A. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 7560330
    Abstract: A CIS and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The CIS includes a device isolation layer formed on a device isolation region of a substrate of a first conductive type, the substrate including an active region and the device isolation region, the active region including a photodiode region and a transistor region; a high-concentration diffusion region of the first conductive type formed around the device isolation layer; a gate electrode formed on the active region of the substrate with a gate insulation layer interposed therebetween; a low-concentration diffusion region of a second conductive type formed on the photodiode region and spaced a predetermined distance apart from the device isolation layer; and a high-concentration diffusion region of a second conductive type formed on the transistor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Hwang
  • Patent number: 7560172
    Abstract: A method for dynamically varying a threshold voltage of a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) includes providing a substrate pickup formed a semiconductor material type which is complimentary to the semiconductor material type of a well thereof, so as to define a diode. The diode is at least partially turned on, so as to increase the potential of a substrate of the complimentary metal oxide semiconductor and thus reduce the turn-on threshold voltage thereof. The turn-off threshold voltage is approximately unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaowen Chang, Taocheng Lu
  • Patent number: 7556998
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including forming a dummy gate electrode which is divided into first and second areas, selectively implanting N-type ions and P-type ions into the first and second areas of the dummy gate electrode respectively and then implanting impurity ions into a boundary region between the first area and second area of the dummy gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk Park, Dong Yeol Keum
  • Patent number: 7547594
    Abstract: A method of forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor device is provided. First, a semiconductor substrate is prepared. Subsequently, a gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure includes a first strip portion and a second strip portion that is not parallel to the first strip portion. The gate structure further includes a junction between the first strip portion and the second strip portion. Thereafter, a stressed cap layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and covers the gate structure. Next, a portion of the stressed cap layer is removed to expose the junction between the first strip portion and the second strip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7544557
    Abstract: A Schottky diode exhibiting low series resistance is efficiently fabricated using a substantially standard CMOS process flow by forming the Schottky diode using substantially the same structures and processes that are used to form a field effect transistor (FET) of a CMOS IC device. Polycrystalline silicon, which is used to form the gate structure of the FET, is utilized to form an isolation structure between the Schottky barrier and backside structure of the Schottky diode. Silicide (e.g., cobalt silicide (CoSi2)) structures, which are utilized to form source and drain metal-to-silicon contacts in the FET, are used to form the Schottky barrier and backside Ohmic contact of the Schottky diode. Heavily doped drain (HDD) diffusions and lightly doped drain (LDD) diffusions, which are used to form source and drain diffusions of the FET, are utilized to form a suitable contact diffusion under the backside contact silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Sharon Levin, Shye Shapira, Ira Naot, Robert J. Strain, Yossi Netzer
  • Patent number: 7541235
    Abstract: A method for providing a programmable electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is provided. The method includes providing a source diffusion in a substrate, providing a deeper body diffusion in the substrate, providing a gate at a space between the source diffusion and the body diffusion, and providing a variable structure for shorting the source diffusion and the body diffusion to each other when ESD voltage is encountered on a circuit connected thereto, wherein the variable structure comprises a plurality of contacts over the source diffusion for the source diffusion to be grounded to the body diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Husher
  • Patent number: 7534678
    Abstract: Methods of forming CMOS integrated circuit devices include forming at least first, second and third transistors in a semiconductor substrate and then covering the transistors with one or more electrically insulating layers that impart a net stress (tensile or compressive) to channel regions of the transistors. The covering step may include covering the first and second transistors with a first electrically insulating layer having a sufficiently high internal stress characteristic to impart a net tensile (or compressive) stress in a channel region of the first transistor and covering the second and third transistors with a second electrically insulating layer having a sufficiently high internal stress characteristic to impart a net compressive (or tensile) stress in a channel region of the third transistor. A step may then performed to selectively remove a first portion of the second electrically insulating layer extending opposite a gate electrode of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-woo Lee, Ja-hum Ku, Jae-eon Park
  • Patent number: 7531392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate structures that contain surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on an insulator layer. The present invention also relates to methods for fabricating such SOI substrate structures, by growing an insulator layer directly on a multi-orientation bulk semiconductor substrate that comprises surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on a semiconductor base layer, and removing the semiconductor base layer, thereby forming a multi-orientation SOI substrate structure that comprises surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Mark D. Jaffe
  • Patent number: 7531373
    Abstract: A method of forming conductive interconnects includes forming a node of a circuit component on a substrate. A conductive metal line is formed at a first metal routing level that is elevationally outward of the circuit component. Insulative material is deposited above the first metal routing level over the conductive metal line and the circuit component. In a common masking step, a first opening is etched through the insulative material to the conductive metal line and a second opening is etched through the insulative material to the node of the circuit component that is received elevationally inward of the conductive metal line. Conductive material is concurrently deposited to within the first and second openings in respective conductive connection with the conductive metal line and the node of the circuit component. A first metal line at a second metal routing level that is above the first metal routing level is formed in conductive connection with the conductive material in the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Fan
  • Patent number: 7527995
    Abstract: A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming at least two posts, such as posts formed from spin-on glass, on a substrate. In alternate embodiments, the posts may be formed after certain layers of the modulator element have been deposited on the substrate. An interferometric modulator element includes at least two spin-on glass support posts located on the substrate. In alternate embodiments, the support posts may be located over certain layers of the modulator element, rather than on the substrate. A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming a rigid cap over a support post. An interferometric modulator element includes support posts having rigid cap members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 7528032
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a polycrystalline silicon film is deposited on a gate insulating film formed over a substrate and is doped with a P-type impurity to form the first polycrystalline silicon film with a P-type conductivity. A high melting point polycide film is deposited on the P-type first polycrystalline silicon film. The P-type first polycrystalline silicon film, high melting point metallic polycide film, and insulating film are etched to form a gate electrode. A second polycrystalline silicon film different from the P-type first polycrystalline silicon film is deposited on the substrate. The second polycrystalline silicon film is etched to form a resistor composed of the second polycrystalline silicon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hasegawa, Jun Osanai
  • Publication number: 20090111225
    Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure includes a semiconductor substrate having first mesa having a first ratio of channel effective horizontal surface area to channel effective vertical surface area. The CMOS structure also includes a second mesa having a second ratio of the same surface areas that is greater than the first ratio. A first device having a first polarity uses the first mesa as a channel and benefits from the enhanced vertical crystallographic orientation. A second device having a second polarity different from the first polarity uses the second mesa as a channel and benefits from the enhanced horizontal crystallographic orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak, Jed H. Rankin
  • Publication number: 20090108364
    Abstract: A CMOS diode and method of making it are disclosed. In one embodiment, the diode comprises a silicon substrate having an N doped region and a P doped region. A first silicide region is formed on the N doped region of the silicon substrate, and a second silicide region formed on the P doped region of the silicon substrate. The first silicide region is comprised of a material having a bandgap value lower than the bandgap value of the material comprising the second silicide region. The result is a diode where the workfunction of each region of silicide more closely matches the workfunction of the doped silicon it contacts, resulting in reduced contact resistance. This provides for a diode with improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haining S. Yang, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20090098694
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit includes the steps of providing a substrate having a semiconductor surface, forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor surface and a polysilicon layer on the gate dielectric layer. The polysilicon layer is patterned while being undoped to form a plurality of polysilicon comprising gates. A first pattern is used to protect a plurality of PMOS devices and a first n-type implant is performed to dope the gates and source/drain regions for a plurality of NMOS devices. A second pattern is used to protect the PMOS devices and the sources/drains and gates for a portion of the plurality of NMOS devices and a second n-type implant is performed to dope the gates of the other NMOS devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shashank Ekbote, Borna Obradovic, Greg C. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 7517762
    Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-yoon Kim, Won-seong Lee, Young-woo Park
  • Patent number: 7514284
    Abstract: Image sensors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The image sensor includes a blocking pattern disposed on photodiodes. The blocking pattern is formed of insulation material having a metal diffusion coefficient which is lower than a silicon oxide diffusion coefficient. Therefore, dark defects of the image sensor are reduced. In addition, the image sensor includes a color-ratio control layer. The color ratio control layer controls color ratios between the sensitivities to blue, green and red. As a result, color distinction of the picture that is embodied by the image sensor can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Song, Young-Hoon Park, Sang-Hak Shin
  • Patent number: 7504297
    Abstract: A technology is provided where a high performance Schottky-barrier diode and other semiconductor elements can be formed in the same chip controlling the increase in the number of steps. After a silicon oxide film is deposited over a substrate where an n-channel type MISFET is formed and the silicon oxide film over a gate electrode and n+ type semiconductor region is selectively removed, a Co film is deposited over the substrate and a CoSi2 layer is formed over the n+ type semiconductor region and the gate electrode by applying a heat treatment to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kozo Watanabe, Shoji Yoshida, Masashi Sahara, Shinichi Tanabe, Takashi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20090057770
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of preventing malfunction of a Schottky diode to reduce a failure ratio of the semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second CMOS switching devices formed over a silicon substrate, a Schottky diode formed in a Schottky diode region, and a Schottky diode isolation film surrounding the Schottky diode region and isolating the Schottky diode from the silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Sung-Man Pang
  • Publication number: 20090061578
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor microstructure comprises: forming a standard CMOS wafer with at least one micro-electro-mechanical structure on a top surface of a silicon substrate, forming at least one sacrificial layer and one resist layer sequentially on the top surface of the CMOS wafer; forming an etching resist layer on a lower rear surface of the silicon substrate, etching the lower rear surface of the silicon base by deep reactive ion etching or wet etching to form a space corresponding to the micro-electro-mechanical structure, and etching the CMOS wafer and the sacrificial layer, respectively, to cause suspension of the micro-electro-mechanical structure. Such arrangements effectively prevent the occurrence of undercut, reduce the exposure and possibility of damage of the micro-electro-mechanical structure, and effectively save the package cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Siew-Seong Tan, Chen-Yen Liu
  • Patent number: 7498190
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a CMOS image sensor is disclosed. First, a substrate having a sensor array region and a peripheral region is provided. A contact pad is formed on the substrate of the peripheral region, and a dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate for exposing the surface of the contact pad. A cap layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the contact pad, in which the cap layer is patterned to form an optical shielding layer on the dielectric layer of the peripheral region and a passivation layer on the contact pad. Subsequently, a plurality of color filters, a planarizing layer, and a plurality of microlenses are disposed on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Hung Kao
  • Patent number: 7491598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits, as well as methods for forming such CMOS circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to CMOS circuits that contain passive elements, such as buried resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, attenuators, power dividers, and antennas, etc., which are characterized by an end contact resistance of less than 90 ohm-microns. Such a low end resistance can be achieved either by reducing the spacer widths of the passive elements to a range of from about 10 nm to about 30 nm, or by masking the passive elements during a pre-amorphization implantation step, so that the passive elements are essentially free of pre-amorphization implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Sheraw, Alyssa C. Bonnoit, K. Paul Muller, Werner Rausch
  • Patent number: 7488636
    Abstract: A broken trim die tool detection sensor. The lands of the tie bar die connect with the leads of the unit to form switches. The states of these switches indicate broken die lands or other malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald B. Azcarate, Alwin A. Rosete, Jong A. Foronda, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7485523
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a high voltage device. The method comprises steps of providing a substrate and then forming a first doped region having a first conductive type in the substrate. At least two second doped regions having a second conductive type are formed in the substrate, wherein the second doped regions are located adjacent to both sides of the first doped region respectively, and the first doped region is separated from the second doped regions with an isolation region. A gate structure is formed on the substrate between the second doped regions and a source/drain region having the second doped region is formed in the substrate adjacent to both sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Anchor Chen
  • Patent number: 7482623
    Abstract: An organic semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode formed directly on the substrate , gate insulating film formed directly on the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed directly on the gate insulating film, an organic semiconductor layer formed directly on the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a voltage control layer disposed directly between the gate insulating film and the organic semiconductor layer and directly contacting the source electrode and the drain electrode, wherein the voltage control layer gives an ambipolar characteristic to the organic semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Nishikawa, Yoshihiro Iwasa, Shin-ichiro Kobayashi, Taishi Takenobu
  • Patent number: 7479434
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on a substrate. The gate structure includes an uppermost first metal silicide layer pattern having a first thickness. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate structure. One or more impurity regions are formed in the substrate adjacent to at least one sidewall of the gate structure. A second metal silicide layer pattern, having a second thickness thinner than the first thickness, is formed on the one or more impurity regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Jo Kang, In-Sun Park, Dae-Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 7479452
    Abstract: A method of forming cell bitline contact plugs is disclosed in the present invention. After providing a semiconductor substrate with a first region and a second region, cell bitline contacts are formed at the first region. After forming bitline pattern openings at the second region, poly spacers are formed on sidewalls of the cell bitline contacts and the bitline pattern openings. A substrate contact and a gate contact are then formed within the openings at the second region. After forming a trench around each of the substrate contact and the gate contact by performing an etching process, cell-bitline contact plugs, a substrate contact plug, and a gate contact plug are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Promos Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jung-Wu Chien
  • Publication number: 20080290418
    Abstract: A method is provided of integrating the formation of nanotube devices on the same substrate or wafer as CMOS devices in a standard CMOS process. During a CMOS formation process, a region of the substrate containing CMOS devices is protected from certain nanotube fabrication processes while fabricating nanotube devices on the substrate. After fabrication of the nanotube devices, the region of the substrate containing the fabricated nanotube devices is then protected from certain CMOS fabrication processes while fabricating CMOS devices on a different region of the same substrate. Through this formation method, a nanotube device based RF/analog system-on-chip (SoC) application can be formed having the superior RF/analog properties of nanotube electronic circuitry and the superior digital properties of silicon CMOS circuitry on the same wafer or substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Amol M. Kalburge
  • Publication number: 20080293196
    Abstract: A treated conductive element is provided. A conductive element can be treated by depositing either a reactive metal or a very thin layer of material on the conductive element. The reactive metal (or very thin layer of material) would typically be sandwiched between the conductive element and an electrode. The structure additionally exhibits non-linear IV characteristics, which can be favorable in certain arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darrell Rinerson, Wayne Kinney, Edmond R. Ward, Steve Kuo-Ren Hsia, Steven W. Longcor, Christophe J. Chevallier, John Sanchez, Philip F.S. Swab
  • Patent number: 7452765
    Abstract: SEU-hardening series resistances loads are formed within the gate structures of cross-coupled inverters of a latch. For some embodiments, the gate contact for the input of each cross-coupled inverter has a sufficiently high resistance to provide the SEU-hardening series resistance. For other embodiments, a conductive trace layer coupled to the input of each cross-coupled inverter includes a high-resistivity portion that provides the SEU-hardening series resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin L. Voogel, Austin H. Lesea, Joseph J. Fabula, Carl H. Carmichael, Shahin Toutounchi, Michael J. Hart, Steven P. Young, Kevin T. Look, Jan L. de Jong
  • Patent number: 7445983
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) device that integrates a TLPM (trench lateral power MOSFET) and one or more planar semiconductor devices on a semiconductor substrate. In manufacturing the semiconductor IC device according to one embodiment, a trench etching forms a trench. A p-type body region, an n-type expanded drain region, and a thick oxide film are formed. A second trench etching deepens the trench. Gate oxide films and gate electrodes of the TLPM, an NMOSFET, and a PMOSFET are formed. P-type base regions of the TLPM and an NPN bipolar transistor are formed. An n-type source and drain region of the TLPM, and n-type diffusion regions of the NMOSFET and the NPN bipolar transistor are formed. P-type diffusion regions of the PMOSFET and the NPN bipolar transistor are formed. An interlayer oxide film, a contact electrode, and constituent metal electrodes are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Fujishima, C. Andre T. Salama
  • Patent number: 7445982
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) device that integrates a TLPM (trench lateral power MOSFET) and one or more planar semiconductor devices on a semiconductor substrate. In manufacturing the semiconductor IC device according to one embodiment, a trench etching forms a trench. A p-type body region, an n-type expanded drain region, and a thick oxide film are formed. A second trench etching deepens the trench. Gate oxide films and gate electrodes of the TLPM, an NMOSFET, and a PMOSFET are formed. P-type base regions of the TLPM and an NPN bipolar transistor are formed. An n-type source and drain region of the TLPM, and n-type diffusion regions of the NMOSFET and the NPN bipolar transistor are formed. P-type diffusion regions of the PMOSFET and the NPN bipolar transistor are formed. An interlayer oxide film, a contact electrode, and constituent metal electrodes are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Fujishima, C. Andre T. Salama
  • Patent number: 7445979
    Abstract: An structure for electrically isolating a semiconductor device is formed by implanting dopant into a semiconductor substrate that does not include an epitaxial layer. Following the implant the structure is exposed to a very limited thermal budget so that dopant does not diffuse significantly. As a result, the dimensions of the isolation structure are limited and defined, thereby allowing a higher packing density than obtainable using conventional processes which include the growth of an epitaxial layer and diffusion of the dopants. In one group of embodiments, the isolation structure includes a deep layer and a sidewall and which together form a cup-shaped structure surrounding an enclosed region in which the isolated semiconductor device may be formed. The sidewalls may be formed by a series of pulsed implants at different energies, thereby creating a stack of overlapping implanted regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc., Advanced Analogic Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Michael E. Cornell, Wai Tien Chan
  • Patent number: 7442994
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same improve light-receiving efficiency and maintain a margin in the design of a metal line. The CMOS image sensor includes a transparent substrate including an active area having a photodiode region and a transistor region and a field area for isolation of the active area, a p-type semiconductor layer on the transparent substrate, a photodiode in the p-type semiconductor layer corresponding to the photodiodes region, and a plurality of transistors in the p-type semiconductor layer corresponding to the transistor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeon Woo Ha