Having Substrate Registration Feature (e.g., Alignment Mark) Patents (Class 438/401)
  • Patent number: 8227927
    Abstract: A chip package is disclosed. The package includes a carrier substrate and at least two semiconductor chips thereon. Each semiconductor chip includes a plurality of conductive pads. A position structure is disposed on the carrier substrate to fix locations of the semiconductor chips at the carrier substrate. A fill material layer is formed on the carrier substrate, covers the semiconductor chips and the position structure, and has a plurality of openings correspondingly exposing the conductive pads. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on the fill material layer and is connected to the conductive pads through the plurality of openings. A protective layer covers the fill material layer and the RDL. A plurality of conductive bumps is disposed on the protective layer and is electrically connected to the RDL. A fabrication method of the chip package is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Wei-Ming Chen, Shu-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 8193591
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices (61) and methods (80-89, 100) are provided with dual passivation layers (56, 59). A semiconductor layer (34) is formed on a substrate (32) and covered by a first passivation layer (PL-1) (56). PL-1 (56) and part (341) of the semiconductor layer (34) are etched to form a device mesa (35). A second passivation layer (PL-2) (59) is formed over PL-1 (56) and exposed edges (44) of the mesa (35). Vias (90, 92, 93) are etched through PL-1 (56) and PL-2 (59) to the semiconductor layer (34) where source (40), drain (42) and gate are to be formed. Conductors (41, 43, 39) are applied in the vias (90, 92, 93) for ohmic contacts for the source-drain (40, 42) and a Schottky contact (39) for the gate. Interconnections (45, 47) over the edges (44) of the mesa (35) couple other circuit elements. PL-1 (56) avoids adverse surface states (52) near the gate and PL-2 (59) insulates edges (44) of the mesa (35) from overlying interconnections (45, 47) to avoid leakage currents (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Green, Haldane S. Henry
  • Patent number: 8193647
    Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes a semiconductor device, a sealant, a first dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer, and a second dielectric layer. The semiconductor device includes a contact pad, an active surface, and side surfaces, where the contact pad is disposed adjacent to the active surface. The semiconductor device is formed with a first alignment mark that is disposed adjacent to the active surface. The sealant envelopes the side surfaces of the semiconductor device and exposes the contact pad. The first dielectric layer is disposed adjacent to the sealant and the active surface, and defines a first aperture that exposes the contact pad. The electrically conductive layer is disposed adjacent to the first dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the contact pad through the first aperture. The second dielectric layer is disposed adjacent to the electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuehan Hsieh, Hung-Jen Yang, Min-Lung Huang
  • Patent number: 8193649
    Abstract: A substrate for a display panel includes an alignment accuracy measurement mark which is used for measuring alignment accuracy between patterns on the substrate without decreasing an aperture ratio of a pixel. The substrate for a display panel includes the alignment accuracy measurement mark in an isolated configuration which is used for measuring alignment accuracy between a pattern of a gate signal line and an auxiliary capacitance line and a pattern of a source signal line and a drain line, where the alignment accuracy measurement mark has a shape such that at least one straight line portion is included, is formed in a layer where the pattern of the source signal line and the drain line is formed, and is positioned on the gate signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoki Noda, Masanori Takeuchi, Kenji Enda
  • Publication number: 20120132984
    Abstract: A contact plug 40 electrically connected to an impurity diffusion region between sidewalls of an adjacent pair of memory cells 1 is provided to pass through an interlayer dielectric film 18. A side wall of a contact hole 41 is covered with a sealing film 42 denser than the interlayer dielectric film 18. The contact plug 40 includes a barrier metal film 43 formed to cover a surface of the sealing film 42 and a bottom surface portion of the contact hole 41 and a metal plug 44 embedded in the contact hole 41 in a state surrounded by the barrier metal film 43.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiko Mifuji, Yuichi Nakao, Toshikazu Mizukoshi, Bungo Tanaka, Taku Shibaguchi, Gentaro Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20120129315
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor package includes the steps of: providing an alignment board having a plurality of openings and a plurality of alignment marks corresponding to the openings, respectively; disposing a plurality of chips on the alignment board at positions corresponding to the openings according to the alignment marks; pressing the alignment board with a carrier board having a soft layer disposed on one surface thereof so as to embed the chips in the soft layer of the carrier board; and removing the alignment board. As such, the positions of the chips are accurately positioned according to the alignment marks on the alignment board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SILICONWARE PRECISION INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeh-Chang Hu, Chung-Tang Lin, Hui-Min Huang, Yih-Jenn Jiang, Shih-Kuang Chiu
  • Patent number: 8183701
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of material layers formed on the semiconductor substrate, each of the material layers including a circuit pattern therein; and a plurality of diffraction-based periodic marks formed in the plurality of material layers and stacked in a same region. One of the diffraction-based periodic marks is different from at least one other of the diffraction-based periodic marks in pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Yuan Shih, Sophia Wang, Heng-Hsin Liu, Heng-Jen Lee
  • Patent number: 8183129
    Abstract: Mark and method for integrated circuit fabrication with polarized light lithography. A preferred embodiment comprises a first plurality of elements comprised of a first component type, wherein the first component type has a first polarization, and a second plurality of elements comprised of a second component type, wherein the second component type has a second polarization, wherein the first polarization and the second polarization are orthogonal, wherein adjacent elements are of different component types. The alignment marks can be used in an intensity based or a diffraction based alignment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Sajan Marokkey, Chandrasekhar Sarma, Alois Gutmann
  • Patent number: 8183123
    Abstract: A method of forming a mark in an IC fabricating process is described. Two parts of the mark each including a plurality of linear patterns are respectively defined by two exposure steps that either belong to two lithography processes respectively or constitute a double-exposure process including X-dipole and Y-dipole exposure steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8183122
    Abstract: Exact alignment of a recrystallized region, which is to be formed in an amorphous or polycrystalline film, is facilitated. An alignment mark is formed, which is usable in a step of forming an electronic device, such as a thin-film transistor, in the recrystallized region. In addition, in a step of obtaining a large-grain-sized crystal-phase semiconductor from a semiconductor film, a mark structure that is usable as an alignment mark in a subsequent step is formed on the semiconductor film in the same exposure step. Thus, the invention includes a light intensity modulation structure that modulates light and forms a light intensity distribution for crystallization, and a mark forming structure that modulates light and forms a light intensity distribution including a pattern with a predetermined shape, and also forms a mark indicative of a predetermined position on a crystallized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogawa, Noritaka Akita, Yukio Taniguchi, Masato Hiramatsu, Masayuki Jyumonji, Masakiyo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8178422
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side, the device substrate having a first refractive index, forming an embedded target over the front side of the device substrate, forming a reflective layer over the embedded target, forming a media layer over the back side of the device substrate, the media layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and projecting radiation through the media layer and the device substrate from the back side so that the embedded target is detected for a semiconductor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Hsu, Shih-Chi Fu, Feng-Jia Shiu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120112370
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a template includes a pattern part which is provided on a substrate and corresponds to a pattern of a semiconductor device, the pattern of the semiconductor device being to be transferred to a wafer, and an alignment mark part which is provided on the substrate, used for positioning of the substrate with respect to the wafer. The alignment mark part has a refractive index that is higher than a refractive index of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Yoshihito KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8168545
    Abstract: Wafer-based solar cells are efficiently produced by extruding a dopant bearing material (dopant ink) onto one or more predetermined surface areas of a semiconductor wafer, and then thermally treating the wafer to cause diffusion of dopant from the dopant ink into the wafer to form corresponding doped regions. A multi-plenum extrusion head is used to simultaneously extrude interdigitated dopant ink structures having two different dopant types (e.g., n-type dopant ink and p-type dopant ink) in a self-registered arrangement on the wafer surface. The extrusion head is fabricated by laminating multiple sheets of micro-machined silicon that define one or more ink flow passages. A non-doping or lightly doped ink is co-extruded with heavy doped ink to serve as a spacer or barrier, and optionally forms a cap that entirely covers the heavy doped ink. A hybrid thermal treatment utilizes a gaseous dopant to simultaneously dope exposed portions of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Solarworld Innovations GmbH
    Inventors: David K. Fork, Eric J. Shrader
  • Patent number: 8153499
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, the method including: providing a base wafer including a semiconductor substrate, metal layers and first alignment marks; transferring a monocrystalline layer on top of the metal layers, wherein the monocrystalline layer includes second alignment marks; and performing a lithography using at least one of the first alignment marks and at least one of the second alignment marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: MonolithIC 3D Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Deepak C. Sekar, Brian Cronquist, Israel Beinglass, Jan Lodewijk de Jong
  • Patent number: 8148233
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device includes a plurality of groups of stripe-shaped gate trenches extending in a silicon region over a substrate, and a plurality of stripe-shaped sinker trenches each extending between two adjacent groups of the plurality of groups of stripe-shaped gate trenches. The plurality of stripe-shaped sinker trenches extend from a top surface of the silicon region through the silicon region and terminate within the substrate. The plurality of stripe-shaped sinker trenches are lined with an insulator along the sinker trench sidewalls so that a conductive material filling each sinker trench makes electrical contact with the substrate along the bottom of the sinker trench and makes electrical contact with an interconnect layer along the top of the sinker trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Grebs, Gary M. Dolny
  • Patent number: 8148228
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises implanting a first dopant type in a well region of a substrate to form implanted sub-regions that are separated by non-implanted areas of the well region. The method also comprises forming an oxide layer over the well region, such that an oxide-converted first thickness of the implanted sub-regions is greater than an oxide-converted second thickness of the non-implanted areas. The method further comprises removing the oxide layer to form a topography feature on the well region. The topography feature comprises a surface pattern of higher and lower portions. The higher portions correspond to locations of the non-implanted areas and the lower portions correspond to the implanted sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sameer Pendharkar, Binghua Hu, Xinfen Celia Chen
  • Patent number: 8148232
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for alignment are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate having a device region and an alignment region; forming a first material layer over the substrate; forming a device feature and a dummy feature in the first material layer, wherein the device feature is formed in the device region and the dummy feature is formed in the alignment region; forming a second material layer over the first material layer; and forming an alignment feature in the second material layer, the alignment feature being disposed over the dummy feature in the alignment region. The device feature has a first dimension and the dummy feature has a second dimension, the second dimension being less than a resolution of an alignment mark detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Wei Chen, Chi-Chuang Lee, Chung-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 8143075
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacture method has the steps of: (a) forming a semiconductor device structure in a chip and alignment marks, respectively in a semiconductor wafer; (b) forming a workpiece layer above the semiconductor wafer; (c) exposing the alignment marks; (d) coating an electron beam resist film on the workpiece layer; (e) scanning the alignment marks with an electron beam to obtain plural position information on the alignment marks and obtaining differences between the plural position information; (f) removing abnormal values of position information in accordance with the difference between the plural position information; and (g) performing an electron beam exposure in accordance with plural position information of the alignment marks with the abnormal value being removed. An alignment mark detection precision can be improved in electron beam exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8138058
    Abstract: To provide a laser irradiation apparatus which performs alignment of an irradiated object and emits a laser beam precisely, a laser irradiation method, and a manufacturing method of a TFT with high reliability with the use of a method for precisely targeting a desired irradiation position of the laser beam. A substrate with marker is mounted on a stage formed using a material which transmits infrared light; a marker, which is provided in the substrate with marker mounted on the stage, is detected using a camera capable of sensing infrared light, and a position of the stage is controlled; a laser beam is emitted from a laser oscillator; the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator is processed into a linear shape by an optical system, and the substrate with marker mounted on the stage is irradiated with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Takatsugu Omata
  • Patent number: 8138089
    Abstract: A method, structure, system of aligning a substrate to a photomask. The method comprising: directing light through a clear region of the photomask in a photolithography tool, through a lens of the tool and onto a set of at least three diffraction minor arrays on the substrate, each diffraction minor array of the set of at least three diffraction minor arrays comprising a single row of minors, all mirrors in any particular diffraction minor array spaced apart a same distance, minors in different diffraction minor arrays spaced apart different distances; measuring an intensity of light diffracted from the set of at least three diffraction mirror arrays onto an array of photo detectors; and adjusting a temperature of the photomask or photomask and lens based on the measured intensity of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Axel A. Granados, Benjamin A. Fox, Nathaniel J. Gibbs, Andrew B. Maki, Trevor J. Timpane
  • Patent number: 8138088
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a structure by an imprint process includes a first imprint step of forming a first resin material layer by applying a first resin material onto a substrate and then transferring an imprint pattern of a mold onto the first resin material layer, a second imprint step of forming a second resin material layer by applying a second resin material onto the first resin material layer formed in the first imprint step and onto an area of the substrate adjacent to the first resin material layer and then transferring the imprint pattern of the mold onto the second resin material layer, and a step of forming a pattern by etching the first and second resin material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsunori Terasaki, Shingo Okushima, Junichi Seki
  • Publication number: 20120061732
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information recording/reproducing device including a semiconductor substrate, a first interconnect layer on the semiconductor substrate, a first memory cell array layer on the first interconnect layer, and a second interconnect layer on the first memory cell array layer. The first memory cell array layer comprises an insulating layer having an alignment mark, and a stacked layer structure on the insulating layer and including a storage layer and an electrode layer. All of the layers in the stacked layer structure comprises a material with a permeability of visible light of 1% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Takahiro HIRAI, Tsukasa NAKAI, Kohichi KUBO, Chikayoshi KAMATA, Takayuki TSUKAMOTO, Shinya AOKI
  • Publication number: 20120058620
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises performing an exposing and developing process using an exposure mask including shading patterns and assistant patterns arranged in parallel to the shading patterns to prevent a scum phenomenon generated when a main pattern is formed in a cell region over a semiconductor substrate, thereby improving characteristics, reliability and yield of the semiconductor device. As a result, the method enables high-integration of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Joo Kyoung SONG, Hyoung Soon Yune
  • Publication number: 20120056315
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, and an alignment mark including a conductive through-substrate via (TSV) penetrating through the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin Chang, Fang Wen Tsai, Jing-Cheng Lin, Wen-Chih Chiou, Shin-Puu Jeng
  • Patent number: 8129201
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus that stacks chip assemblies each having a plurality of chips disposed continuously with circuit patterns and electrodes, includes: a plurality of stages each allowed to move arbitrarily, on which the chip assemblies are placed; a storage unit that stores an estimated extent of change in a position of an electrode at each chip, expected to occur as heat is applied to the chip assemblies placed on the plurality of stages during a stacking process; and a control unit that sets positions of the plurality of stages to be assumed relative to each other during the stacking process based upon the estimated extent of change in the position of the electrode at each chip provided from the storage unit and position information indicating positions of individual chips formed at the chip assemblies and controls at least one of the plurality of stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8124495
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for its manufacture. In one example, the method includes forming an isolation structure having a first refraction index over a sensor embedded in a substrate. A first layer having a second refraction index that is different from the first refraction index is formed over the isolation structure. The first layer is removed from at least a portion of the isolation structure. A second layer having a third refraction index is formed over the isolation structure after the first layer is removed. The third refraction index is substantially similar to the first refraction index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Dun-Nian Yaung, Shou-Gwo Wuu, Ho-Ching Chien, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Jeng-Shyan Lin
  • Publication number: 20120045852
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide apparatus and methods of screen printing a pattern on a substrate. In one embodiment, a patterned layer is printed onto a surface of a substrate along with a plurality of alignment marks. The locations of the alignment marks are measured with respect to a feature of the substrate to determine the actual location of the patterned layer. The actual location is compared with the expected location to determine the positional error of the patterned layer placement on the substrate. This information is used to adjust the placement of a patterned layer onto subsequently processed substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrea Baccini, Marco Galiazzo
  • Patent number: 8119493
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A first groove is formed in a semiconductor substrate. An insulating film is formed in the first groove. An interlayer insulating film is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A removing process is performed to remove a part of the interlayer insulating film and a part of the insulating film to form an alignment mark in the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Yohei Ota
  • Patent number: 8119992
    Abstract: Provided is a system for overlay measurement in semiconductor manufacturing that includes a generator for exposing an overlay target to radiation and a detector for detecting reflected beams of the overlay target. The reflected beams are for overlay measurement and include at least two different beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Tzu Lu, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Hua-Shu Wu, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Kuei Shun Chen
  • Publication number: 20120038021
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for alignment are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate having a device region and an alignment region; forming a first material layer over the substrate; forming a device feature and a dummy feature in the first material layer, wherein the device feature is formed in the device region and the dummy feature is formed in the alignment region; forming a second material layer over the first material layer; and forming an alignment feature in the second material layer, the alignment feature being disposed over the dummy feature in the alignment region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Wei Chen, Chi-Chuang Lee, Chung-Hsien Lin
  • Publication number: 20120032356
    Abstract: The invention relates to production of alignment marks on a semiconductor wafer with the use of a light-opaque layer (17), wherein, before the light-opaque layer (17) is applied, by means of the etching of cavities, free-standing pillar groups are produced in the cavities and then the light-opaque layer (17) is applied. The pillars are produced with a height of above 1 ?m, which, moreover, is greater than a thickness of the light-opaque layer (17) to be applied in the cavities as layer portions (17x; 17y). The cavities are formed with a width such that they are filled only partly with the layer portions (17x; 17y) when the light-opaque layer (17) is applied. The high, freely positioned alignment marks produced by the method as pillar series (16x; 16y), having a plurality of individual pillars (16a; 16a?) in a cavity (12a, 12y), of a scribing trench on the semiconductor wafer are likewise described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: X-FAB SEMICONDUCTOR FOUNDRIES AG
    Inventors: Steffen Reymann, Gerhard Fiehne, Uwe Eckoldt
  • Patent number: 8110462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry. Multiple techniques are presented to adjust one or more ends of one or more fingers of an ESD protection device so that the ends of the fingers have a reduced initial trigger or breakdown voltage as compared to other portions of the fingers, and in particular to central portions of the fingers. In this manner, most, if not all, of the adjusted ends of the fingers are likely to trigger or fire before any of the respective fingers completely enters a snapback region and begins to conduct ESD current. Consequently, the ESD current is more likely to be distributed among all or substantially all of the plurality of fingers rather than be concentrated within one or merely a few fingers. As a result, potential harm to the ESD protection device (e.g., from current crowding) is mitigated and the effectiveness of the device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert Michael Steinhoff
  • Publication number: 20120028436
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, the method including: providing a base wafer including a semiconductor substrate, metal layers and first alignment marks; transferring a monocrystalline layer on top of the metal layers, wherein the monocrystalline layer includes second alignment marks; and performing a lithography using at least one of the first alignment marks and at least one of the second alignment marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MonolithIC 3D Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Deepak C. Sekar, Brian Cronquist, Israel Beinglass, Jan Lodewijk de Jong
  • Publication number: 20120025344
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method for producing traceable integrated circuits includes forming on a wafer of semiconductor material functional regions for implementing specific functionalities of corresponding integrated circuits, forming at least one seal ring around each functional region of the corresponding integrated circuit, and forming on each integrated circuit at least one marker indicative of information of the integrated circuit. Forming on each integrated circuit at least one marker may include forming the at least one marker on at least a portion of the respective seal ring that is visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto PAGANI
  • Patent number: 8107079
    Abstract: A target system for determining positioning error between lithographically produced integrated circuit fields on at least one lithographic level. The target system includes a first target pattern on a lithographic field containing an integrated circuit pattern, with the first target pattern comprising a plurality of sub-patterns symmetric about a first target pattern center and at a same first distance from the first target pattern center. The target system also includes a second target pattern on a different lithographic field, with the second target pattern comprising a plurality of sub-patterns symmetric about a second target pattern center and at a same second distance from the second target pattern center. The second target pattern center is intended to be at the same location as the first target pattern center. The centers of the first and second target patterns may be determined and compared to determine positioning error between the lithographic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Nanometrics Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher P. Ausschnitt, Lewis A. Binns, Jaime D. Morillo, Nigel P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120001337
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate having a first area and a second area; a through substrate via (TSV) in the substrate penetrating the first area of the substrate; an isolation layer over the second area of the substrate, the isolation layer having a recess; and a conductive material in the recess of the isolation layer, the isolation layer being disposed between the conductive material and the substrate in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Yu Tsai, Shih-Hui Wang, Chien-Ming Chiu, Chia-Ho Chen, Fang Wen Tsai, Weng-Jin Wu, Jing-Cheng Lin, Wen-Chih Chiou, Shin-Puu Jeng, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8088539
    Abstract: In an exposure aligning method, a first shift amount indicating a shift amount of a lower layer pattern of an exposure target substrate from an origin point position is determined and a second shift amount indicating a shift amount of the lower layer pattern in at lease one past lot which has been processed before said exposure target substrate is processed, from the origin point position is determined. A third shift amount indicating a difference between the first shift amount and the second shift amount is calculated and a first correction value is determined based on the third shift amount. An exposure position of an exposure target pattern is adjusted based on the first correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichirou Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20110309532
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, formed on which are a first layer and a second layer, and an alignment-control mask. The alignment-control mask includes a first direction reference element, formed in a first region of the first layer and extending in a first alignment direction, and first position reference elements, formed in a first region of the second layer that corresponds to the first region of the first layer accommodating the first direction reference element. The first position reference elements are arranged in succession in the first alignment direction and in respective staggered positions with respect to a second alignment direction perpendicular to the first alignment direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Emanuele Brenna
  • Patent number: 8080462
    Abstract: A method for forming a mark structure on a substrate comprising a plurality of lines. The lines extend parallel to each other in a first direction and are arranged with a pitch between each pair of lines that is directed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pitch between each pair of selected lines differs from the pitch between each other pair of selected lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Patrick Warnaar
  • Publication number: 20110304006
    Abstract: A method of protecting alignment marks from damage in a planarization process includes providing a substrate including a surface, forming trenches in the substrate from the surface, forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate, forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, forming a patterned second dielectric layer by removing second dielectric over the trenches, resulting in openings defined by the trenches and the patterned second dielectric layer, forming a third dielectric layer on the patterned second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer filling the openings, and planarizing the third dielectric layer by using the patterned second dielectric layer as a stop layer, resulting in residual third dielectric in the openings that includes a first portion in the substrate and a second portion above the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Chiao-Wen Yeh, Chih-Hao Huang
  • Publication number: 20110306176
    Abstract: An IC alignment mark in a contact metal layer for use under an opaque layer, and a process for forming the alignment mark, are disclosed. The alignment mark includes contact metal fields, each several microns wide, with an array of PMD pillars in the interior, formed during contact etch, contact metal deposition and selective contact metal removal processes. The pillars are arrayed such that all exposed surfaces of the contact metal are planar. One configuration is a rectangular array in which every other row is laterally offset by one-half of the column spacing. Horizontal dimensions of the pillars are selected to maximize the contact metal fill factor, while providing sufficient adhesion to the underlying substrate during processing. The contact metal is at least 15 nanometers lower than the PMD layer surrounding the alignment mark, as a result of the contact metal removal process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott R. Summerfelt, Stephen A. Meisner, John B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8076170
    Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a sensor layer implementing a plurality of photosensitive elements of a pixel array, an oxide layer adjacent a backside surface of the sensor layer, and at least one dielectric layer adjacent a frontside surface of the sensor layer. The sensor layer further comprises a plurality of backside trenches formed in the backside surface of the sensor layer and arranged to provide isolation between respective pairs of the photosensitive elements. The backside trenches have corresponding backside field isolation implant regions formed in the sensor layer, and the resulting structure provides reductions in carrier recombination and crosstalk between adjacent photosensitive elements. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick T. Brady
  • Patent number: 8076214
    Abstract: A display substrate includes a signal line, a thin-film transistor (“TFT”), a key pattern, a light-blocking pattern, a color filter, a pixel electrode and an alignment key. The signal line and the key pattern are formed on a substrate. The TFT is electrically connected to the signal line. The light-blocking pattern is formed on the substrate and covers the signal line, the TFT and the key pattern. The color filter is formed in a unit pixel area of the substrate. The pixel electrode is formed on the color filter and is electrically connected to the TFT. The alignment key is formed on the light-blocking pattern, and a position of the alignment key on the substrate corresponds to a position of the key pattern on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-Young Chang, Byoung-Joo Kim, Sang-Hun Lee, Gwan-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8072000
    Abstract: A structure of power semiconductor device having dummy cells around edge of active area is disclosed. The UIS test result of said improved structure shows that failed site after UIS test randomly located in active area which means avalanche capability of the semiconductor power device is enhanced by implementation of the dummy cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Force Mos Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Yuan Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110294278
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which prevents damage to alignment marks used for alignment between a superjunction structure and process layers at subsequent steps. In the related art, recesses are made in a semiconductor substrate before the formation of the superjunction structure and used as alignment marks and in order to prevent damage to the alignment marks, the alignment marks are covered by an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film during the subsequent process of forming the superjunction structure, but the inventors have found that damage may penetrate the cover film, reach the semiconductor substrate and destroy the marks. In the method according to the invention, alignment marks for alignment between the superjunction structure and process layers at subsequent steps are formed after the formation of the superjunction structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Satoshi EGUCHI, Hitoshi Seshimo, Naoko Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110286690
    Abstract: A package for an electronic chip including an optical component protects the chip and the component, while allowing for an optical connection of the component with another optical device. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by forming a well in a protective material deposited over the chip to expose the optical component, and by providing alignment features in the protective material to align and connect the optical component with another optical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Shrenik Deliwala, Dipak Sengupta
  • Patent number: 8063468
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a moisture resistant ring provided in the semiconductor chip and having a chamfered flat part in a position corresponding to a corner of the semiconductor chip, and a first monitor pattern formed inside the moisture resistant ring. At least a part of the first monitor pattern is disposed inside an n-sided polygonal area (n is a natural number which is 4 or higher than 4) situated within the moisture resistant ring, and outside a quadrangular area situated inside the n-sided polygonal area. The n-sided polygonal area has a vertex at least at each of a first end and a second end of the chamfered flat part, and the quadrangular area has a vertex at least at a middle point of the chamfered flat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Kazushi Fujita, Ryota Nanjo
  • Patent number: 8058136
    Abstract: A self-alignment method for a recess channel dynamic random access memory includes providing a substrate with a target layer, a barrier layer and a lining layer, wherein the target layer has shallow trench isolation structures; patternizing the lining layer, barrier layer and target layer to form recess trench channels; depositing a dielectric layer onto the recess trench channel; forming an ion doped region in the target layer; removing a portion of the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the recess trench channel; forming a filler layer covered onto the recess trench channel; removing a portion of the filler layer to expose a portion of the recess trench channel; forming a passivation layer onto the recess trench channel; removing the passivation layer on the lining layer; and removing the lining layer to form a plurality of structural monomers disposed at the recess trench channel and protruded from the target layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsun Chen, Tzung Han Lee, Chung-Lin Huang
  • Patent number: 8058137
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, the method including: providing a base wafer including a semiconductor substrate, metal layers and first alignment marks; transferring a monocrystalline layer on top of the metal layers, wherein the monocrystalline layer includes second alignment marks; and performing a lithography using at least one of the first alignment marks in a first direction and at least one of the second alignment marks in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Monolithic 3D Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Deepak C. Sekar, Brian Cronquist, Israel Beinglass, Jan Lodewijk de Jong
  • Patent number: 8058737
    Abstract: An electronic element wafer module is provided, in which a transparent support substrate is disposed facing a plurality of electronic elements formed on a wafer and a plurality of wafer-shaped optical elements are disposed on the transparent support substrate, where a groove is formed along a dicing line between the adjacent electronic elements, penetrating from the optical elements through the transparent support substrate, with a depth reaching a surface of the wafer or with a depth short of the surface of the wafer; and a light shielding material is applied on side surfaces and a bottom surface of the groove or is filled in the groove, and the light shielding material is applied or formed on a peripheral portion of a surface of the optical element, except for on a light opening in a center of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Hasegawa, Aiji Suetake