Patents Examined by Allison Bernstein
  • Patent number: 11930644
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a storage circuit that implements the storage structure of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) based on a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) fabrication platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Er-Xuan Ping, Xiaoguang Wang, Baolei Wu, Yulei Wu
  • Patent number: 11927478
    Abstract: In a light detection device, the light detection unit includes an APD, a plurality of temperature compensation diodes, and a terminal electrically connecting the APD and the plurality of temperature compensation diodes in parallel with each other. The plurality of temperature compensation diodes is configured to provide temperature compensation for the gain of the APD. The light detection unit has a light detection region and temperature detection regions. The APD is provided in the light detection region. The temperature detection regions are located around the light detection region. The plurality of temperature compensation diodes are provided in the temperature detection regions. The light detection region is interposed between the temperature detection region and the temperature detection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Hironori Sonobe
  • Patent number: 11925026
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel structures and methods for 3D NVM built with vertical transistors above a logic layer. A first embodiment has a conductive film under the transistors and serving as a common node in a memory block. The conductive film may be from a semiconductor layer used to build the transistors. Metal lines are disposed above the transistors for connection through 3D vias to underlying circuitry. Contact plugs may be formed between transistors and metal lines. The conductive film may be coupled to underlying circuitry through contacts on the conductive film or through interconnect vias underneath the film. A second embodiment has conductive lines disposed under the transistors. Either of conductive lines and metal lines may serve as source lines and the other as bit lines for the memory. For low parasitic resistances, the conductive lines may be shorted to bypass metal lines residing in underlying logic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Sang-Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 11925027
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a memory array including first and second bit lines and a sense amplifier circuit. The sense amplifier circuit includes a first sense amplifier array containing first active sense amplifier transistors that each have an active region having a first width, where the first active sense amplifier transistors are electrically connected to the first bit lines, and a second sense amplifier array including second active sense amplifier transistors that each have the active region having the first width, where the second active sense amplifier transistors are electrically connected to the second bit lines, and dummy active regions which are electrically inactive located between columns of the second active sense amplifier transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Takuma Takimoto, Masayuki Hiroi, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Masatoshi Okumura
  • Patent number: 11917836
    Abstract: The invention provides a RRAM structure, which includes a substrate, a high voltage transistor, and a RRAM cell. The high voltage transistor includes a drift region, a gate structure, a source region, a drain region, and an isolation structure. The drift region is located in the substrate. The gate structure is located on the substrate and on a portion of the drift region. The source region and the drain region are located in the substrate on two sides of the gate structure. The drain region is located in the drift region. The isolation structure is located in the drift region and between the gate structure and the drain region. The RRAM cell includes a first electrode, a resistive switching layer, and a second electrode sequentially located on the drain region. The RRAM cell is electrically connected to the high voltage transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Zong-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 11917930
    Abstract: A resistance change device of an embodiment includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a stack disposed between these electrodes, and including a first layer containing a resistance change material and a second layer in contact with the first layer. The resistance change material contains at least one of a first element such as Ge and a second element such as Sb, and at least one third element selected from Te, Se, S, and O. The second layer contains a crystal material containing at least one selected from a group consisting of a first material having a composition represented by (Ti,Zr,Hf)CoSb, (Zr,Hf)NiSn, or Fe(Nb,Zr,Hf)(Sb,Sn), a second material having a composition represented by Fe(V,Hf,W)(Al,Si), and a third material having a composition represented by Mg(Si,Ge,Sn).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Kosaka, Hiroki Tokuhira
  • Patent number: 11910714
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material contains a matrix composed of a semiconductor and nanoparticles disposed in the matrix, and the nanoparticles have a lattice constant distribution ?d/d of 0.0055 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Adachi, Makoto Kiyama, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Ryo Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 11908799
    Abstract: A layout structure of a capacitance cell using a complementary FET (CFET) is provided. A capacitance part includes a first three-dimensional transistor of a first conductivity type and a second three-dimensional transistor of a second conductivity type formed above the first transistor in the depth direction. The source and drain of the first transistor are both connected to VDD or VSS, and the source and drain of the second transistor are both connected to VDD or VSS. The gates of the first and second transistors are both connected to the gate of a transistor included in a fixed-value output part, and are supplied with VDD or VSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Komuro, Junji Iwahori
  • Patent number: 11910615
    Abstract: A memory device including a word line, a source line, a bit line, a memory layer, a channel material layer is described. The word line extends in a first direction, and liner layers disposed on a sidewall of the word line. The memory layer is disposed on the sidewall of the word line between the liner layers and extends along sidewalls of the liner layers in the first direction. The liner layers are spaced apart by the memory layer, and the liner layers are sandwiched between the memory layer and the word line. The channel material layer is disposed on a sidewall of the memory layer. A dielectric layer is disposed on a sidewall of the channel material layer. The source line and the bit line are disposed at opposite sides of the dielectric layer and disposed on the sidewall of the channel material layer. The source line and the bit line extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A material of the liner layers has a dielectric constant lower than that of a material of the memory layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia, Feng-Cheng Yang, Bo-Feng Young, Nuo Xu, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 11894428
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide semiconductor device that includes a Schottky barrier diode in a field-effect transistor and includes a first trench provided through first and second semiconductor regions in a thickness direction and reaches inside a semiconductor layer, a second trench provided through the second semiconductor region in the thickness direction and reaches inside the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode embedded in the first trench via a gate insulating film, a Schottky barrier diode electrode embedded in the second trench, a first low-resistance layer having contact with a trench side wall of the first trench, and a second low-resistance layer having contact with a trench side wall of the second trench. The second low-resistance layer has an impurity concentration that is higher than the impurity concentration in the semiconductor layer and lower than the impurity concentration in the first low-resistance layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hatta, Rina Tanaka, Katsutoshi Sugawara, Yutaka Fukui
  • Patent number: 11869965
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor device including: a first level including a first single crystal layer and first transistors, and at least one first metal layer-which includes interconnects between the first transistors forming control circuits-which overlays the first single crystal layer; a second metal layer overlaying first metal layer; a second level including second transistors, first memory cells (each including at least one second transistor) and overlaying second metal layer; a third level including third transistors (at least one includes a polysilicon channel), second memory cells (each including at least one third transistor and cell is partially disposed atop control circuits) and overlaying the second level; control circuits control data written to second memory cells; third metal layer disposed above third level; fourth metal layer includes a global power distribution grid, has a thickness at least twice the second metal layer, and is disposed above third metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Monolithic 3D Inc.
    Inventor: Zvi Or-Bach
  • Patent number: 11864475
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a memory device with laterally formed memory cells are described. A material stack that includes a conductive layer between multiple dielectric layers may be formed, where the conductive layer and dielectric layers may form a channel in a sidewall of the material stack. The channel may be filled with one or more materials, where a first side of an outermost material of the one or more materials may be exposed. An opening may be formed in the material stack that exposes a second side of at least one material of the one or more materials. The opening may be used to replace a portion of the at least one material with a chalcogenide material where the electrode materials may be formed before replacing the portion of the at least one material with the chalcogenide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Graettinger, Lorenzo Fratin, Patrick M. Flynn, Enrico Varesi, Paolo Fantini
  • Patent number: 11864389
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate; a plurality of first conductive layers and first insulating layers stacked in alternation; a first semiconductor layer opposed to first conductive layers and first insulating layers; a second semiconductor layer; a second insulating layer that covers outer peripheral surface of the first semiconductor layer; and a third insulating layer disposed at a position different from first conductive layers, first insulating layers, and the second insulating layer, the third insulating layer having one end in contact with the second semiconductor, the third insulating layer having another end farther from the second semiconductor layer than the second insulating layer. A metal oxide film is disposed on a surface on the third insulating layer side of the second insulating layer. A metal oxide film is absent on a surface on the third insulating layer side of the plurality of first insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fukushima, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11854632
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure includes a substrate having thereon a transistor forming region and a capacitor forming region. A transistor is disposed on the substrate within the transistor forming region. A capacitor is disposed within the capacitor forming region and electrically coupled to the transistor. A first inter-layer dielectric layer covers the transistor forming region and the capacitor forming region. The first inter-layer dielectric layer surrounds a metal gate of the transistor and a bottom plate of the capacitor. A cap layer is disposed on the first inter-layer dielectric layer. The cap layer has a first thickness within the transistor forming region and a second thickness within the capacitor forming region. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The cap layer within the capacitor forming region acts as a capacitor dielectric layer of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Kuo-Hsing Lee, Chien-Liang Wu, Wen-Kai Lin, Te-Wei Yeh, Sheng-Yuan Hsueh, Chi-Horn Pai
  • Patent number: 11856873
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory may include first and second conductive elements spaced apart from each other on a variable resistance layer. The variable resistance layer may include first to third oxide layers sequentially arranged in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second conductive elements are arranged. A dielectric constant of the second oxide layer may be greater than dielectric constants of the first and third oxide layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichiro Mizusaki, Doyoon Kim, Seyun Kim, Yumin Kim, Jinhong Kim, Youngjin Cho
  • Patent number: 11856759
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer having a main surface; a first conductive type well region formed on a surface portion of the main surface of the semiconductor layer; a second conductive type source region formed on a surface portion of the well region; a second conductive type drain region formed on the surface portion of the well region at an interval from the source region; a planar gate structure formed on the main surface of the semiconductor layer so as to face a first conductive type channel region disposed between the source region and the drain region; and a memory structure disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the planar gate structure, and including an insulating film formed on the channel region and a charge storage film facing the channel region with the insulating film interposed between the charge storage film and the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yushi Sekiguchi, Yasunobu Hayashi, Tadayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11856761
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first nanostructures vertically separated from one another, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the first nanostructures, and second nanostructures vertically separated from one another. The semiconductor device also includes a second gate structure wrapping around the second nanostructures, a first drain/source structure coupled to a first end of the first nanostructures, a second drain/source structure coupled to both of a second end of the first nanostructures and a first end of the second nanostructures, and a third drain/source structure coupled to a second end of the second nanostructures. The first drain/source structure has a first doping type, the second and third drain/source structures have a second doping type, and the first doping type is opposite to the second doping type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Sheng Chang, Chia-En Huang, Chun Chung Su, Wen-Hsing Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11856760
    Abstract: A one-time programmable (OTP) bit cell includes a substrate including a front side and a back side, an active area on the front side, a first read transistor including a first gate and a first portion of the active area intersected by the first gate, a program transistor including a second gate and a second portion of the active area intersected by the second gate, a first electrical connection to the first gate, a second electrical connection to the second gate, and a third electrical connection to the active area. At least one of the first, second, or third electrical connections includes a metal line positioned on the back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Ying Chen, Yao-Jen Yang
  • Patent number: 11849575
    Abstract: Embodiments of 3D memory devices having a concentric staircase structure and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a memory array structure and a concentric staircase structure in an intermediate of the memory array structure. The concentric staircase structure includes a plurality of concentric zones in a radial direction in a plan view. Each of the plurality of concentric zones includes a plurality of stairs in a tangential direction in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Cuicui Kong, Zhong Zhang, Wenxi Zhou
  • Patent number: 11849578
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, a plurality of periodic two-dimensional arrays of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, a plurality of periodic two-dimensional arrays of memory opening fill structures, and bit lines. The bit lines laterally extend along a second horizontal direction. Each periodic two-dimensional array of memory openings includes a plurality of columns of memory openings in which neighboring columns of memory openings are laterally spaced apart along a first horizontal direction with an intercolumnar pitch. Memory openings within each column of memory openings are laterally spaced apart along the second horizontal direction with a nearest-neighbor pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Tatsuya Inoue