The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 18, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2004
Omar Zia, Austin, TX (US);
Hsiao-hui Chen, Pflugerville, TX (US);
Lawrence Cary Gunn, Iii, Encinitas, CA (US);
Omar Zia, Austin, TX (US);
Hsiao-Hui Chen, Pflugerville, TX (US);
Lawrence Cary Gunn, III, Encinitas, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A semiconductor device is formed as part of an integrated circuit. The semiconductor device, which is formed in an active semiconductor layer, is surrounded by a guardian that provides a diffusion barrier against contaminants and also provides assistance in avoiding dishing above the semiconductor device during chemical mechanical polishing. The dielectric that is above the semiconductor device and inside the guardian is etched to form an opening that receives one of an optical fiber, an electromagnetic signal source, or an electromagnetic signal load. The remaining dielectric is in layers that are of substantially uniform thickness. The guardian is built up in layers that are part of a normal integrated circuit process. These include contact layers, via layers, and interconnect layers.