Patents by Inventor Dai Iwata

Dai Iwata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240147730
    Abstract: A lateral extent of a gate electrode of a field effect transistor along a gate electrode direction that is perpendicular to a channel direction can be the same as a width of an underlying active region. A gate electrode of an additional field effect transistor may extend over a trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds the additional field effect transistor. Different types of electrodes may be formed by patterning a lower gate material layer and by patterning an upper gate material layer with different patterns such that patterned portions of the lower gate material layer are confined within areas of active regions, while patterned portions of the upper gate material layer extends outside of the areas of the active regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Kiyokazu SHISHIDO, Kazutaka YOSHIZAWA, Dai IWATA, Hokuto KODATE
  • Publication number: 20240063278
    Abstract: A lateral extent of a gate electrode of a field effect transistor along a gate electrode direction that is perpendicular to a channel direction can be the same as a width of an underlying active region. A gate electrode of an additional field effect transistor may extend over a trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds the additional field effect transistor. Different types of electrodes may be formed by patterning a lower gate material layer and by patterning an upper gate material layer with different patterns such that patterned portions of the lower gate material layer are confined within areas of active regions, while patterned portions of the upper gate material layer extends outside of the areas of the active regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Dai IWATA, Hokuto KODATE
  • Patent number: 11837601
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode overlying an active region and contacting a sidewall of a trench isolation structure. The transistor may be a fringeless transistor in which the gate electrode does not overlie a portion of the trench isolation region. A planar dielectric spacer plate and a conductive gate cap structure may overlie the gate electrode. The conductive gate cap structure may have a z-shaped vertical cross-sectional profile to contact the gate electrode and to provide a segment overlying the planar dielectric spacer plate. Alternatively or additionally, a conductive gate connection structure may be provided to provide electrical connection between two electrodes of adjacent field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jun Akaiwa, Dai Iwata, Hiroshi Nakatsuji, Eiichi Fujikura, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11626397
    Abstract: At least one of a capacitor or a resistor structure can be formed concurrently with formation of a field effect transistor by patterning a gate dielectric layer into gate dielectric and into a first node dielectric or a first resistor isolation dielectric, and by patterning a semiconductor layer into a gate electrode and into a second electrode of a capacitor or a resistor strip. Contacts are then formed to the capacitor or resistor structure. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the gate electrode prior to patterning the capacitor or resistor contacts to reduce damage to the underlying capacitor or resistor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Hokuto Kodate, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Dai Iwata, Mitsuhiro Togo
  • Publication number: 20220367449
    Abstract: A first field effect transistor contains a first active region including a source region, a drain region and a channel region located between the source region and the drain region, a first gate dielectric overlying the active region, and a first gate electrode overlying the first gate dielectric. A second field effect transistor contains a second active region including a source region, a drain region and a channel region located between the source region and the drain region, a second gate dielectric overlying the active region, a second gate electrode overlying the second gate dielectric. A trench isolation region surrounds the first and the second active regions. The first field effect transistor includes a fringe region in which the first gate electrode extends past the active region perpendicular to the source region to drain region direction and the second field effect transistor does not include the fringe region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiro YUU, Dai IWATA, Hiroyuki OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220359501
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode overlying an active region and contacting a sidewall of a trench isolation structure. The transistor may be a fringeless transistor in which the gate electrode does not overlie a portion of the trench isolation region. A planar dielectric spacer plate and a conductive gate cap structure may overlie the gate electrode. The conductive gate cap structure may have a z-shaped vertical cross-sectional profile to contact the gate electrode and to provide a segment overlying the planar dielectric spacer plate. Alternatively or additionally, a conductive gate connection structure may be provided to provide electrical connection between two electrodes of adjacent field effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Jun Akaiwa, Dai Iwata, Hiroshi Nakatsuji, Eiichi Fujikura, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20220359690
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode overlying an active region and contacting a sidewall of a trench isolation structure. The transistor may be a fringeless transistor in which the gate electrode does not overlie a portion of the trench isolation region. A planar dielectric spacer plate and a conductive gate cap structure may overlie the gate electrode. The conductive gate cap structure may have a z-shaped vertical cross-sectional profile to contact the gate electrode and to provide a segment overlying the planar dielectric spacer plate. Alternatively or additionally, a conductive gate connection structure may be provided to provide electrical connection between two electrodes of adjacent field effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Dai IWATA, Hiroshi NAKATSUJI, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Eiichi FUJIKURA
  • Patent number: 11322597
    Abstract: At least one of a capacitor or a resistor structure can be formed concurrently with formation of a field effect transistor by patterning a gate dielectric layer into gate dielectric and into a first node dielectric or a first resistor isolation dielectric, and by patterning a semiconductor layer into a gate electrode and into a second electrode of a capacitor or a resistor strip. Contacts are then formed to the capacitor or resistor structure. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the gate electrode prior to patterning the capacitor or resistor contacts to reduce damage to the underlying capacitor or resistor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Hokuto Kodate, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Dai Iwata, Mitsuhiro Togo
  • Publication number: 20220069097
    Abstract: At least one of a capacitor or a resistor structure can be formed concurrently with formation of a field effect transistor by patterning a gate dielectric layer into gate dielectric and into a first node dielectric or a first resistor isolation dielectric, and by patterning a semiconductor layer into a gate electrode and into a second electrode of a capacitor or a resistor strip. Contacts are then formed to the capacitor or resistor structure. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the gate electrode prior to patterning the capacitor or resistor contacts to reduce damage to the underlying capacitor or resistor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hokuto KODATE, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Dai IWATA, Mitsuhiro TOGO
  • Publication number: 20220068915
    Abstract: At least one of a capacitor or a resistor structure can be formed concurrently with formation of a field effect transistor by patterning a gate dielectric layer into gate dielectric and into a first node dielectric or a first resistor isolation dielectric, and by patterning a semiconductor layer into a gate electrode and into a second electrode of a capacitor or a resistor strip. Contacts are then formed to the capacitor or resistor structure. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the gate electrode prior to patterning the capacitor or resistor contacts to reduce damage to the underlying capacitor or resistor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hokuto KODATE, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Dai IWATA, Mitsuhiro TOGO
  • Patent number: 10770459
    Abstract: A silicon oxide liner, a silicon nitride liner, and a planarization silicon oxide layer may be sequentially formed over p-type and n-type field effect transistors. A patterned dielectric material layer covers an entirety of the n-type field effect transistor and does not cover at least a fraction of each area of p-doped active regions. An anisotropic etch process is performed to form p-type active region via cavities extending to a respective top surface of the p-doped active regions and n-type active region via cavities having a respective bottom surface at, or within, one of the silicon nitride liner and the silicon oxide liner. Boron-doped epitaxial pillar structures may be formed on top surfaces of the p-type active regions employing a selective epitaxy process. The n-type active region via cavities are extended to top surfaces of the n-doped active regions. Contact via structures are formed in the via cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Dai Iwata, Yasushi Ishii, Hiroshi Nakatsuji, Kiyokazu Shishido, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10748919
    Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Dai Iwata, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Kazutaka Yoshizawa, Yasuaki Yonemochi
  • Publication number: 20190296012
    Abstract: A silicon oxide liner, a silicon nitride liner, and a planarization silicon oxide layer may be sequentially formed over p-type and n-type field effect transistors. A patterned dielectric material layer covers an entirety of the n-type field effect transistor and does not cover at least a fraction of each area of p-doped active regions. An anisotropic etch process is performed to form p-type active region via cavities extending to a respective top surface of the p-doped active regions and n-type active region via cavities having a respective bottom surface at, or within, one of the silicon nitride liner and the silicon oxide liner. Boron-doped epitaxial pillar structures may be formed on top surfaces of the p-type active regions employing a selective epitaxy process. The n-type active region via cavities are extended to top surfaces of the n-doped active regions. Contact via structures are formed in the via cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Dai Iwata, Yasushi Ishii, Hiroshi Nakatsuji, Kiyokazu Shishido, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20180277566
    Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dai Iwata, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Kazutaka Yoshizawa, Yasuaki Yonemochi
  • Patent number: 9991280
    Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakamura, Jin Liu, Kazuya Tokunaga, Marika Gunji-Yoneoka, Matthias Baenninger, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Murshed Chowdhury, Jiyin Xu, Dai Iwata, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Kazutaka Yoshizawa, Yasuaki Yonemochi
  • Publication number: 20170236835
    Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Tadashi NAKAMURA, Jin LIU, Kazuya TOKUNAGA, Marika GUNJI-YONEOKA, Matthias BAENNINGER, Hiroyuki KINOSHITA, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Jiyin XU, Dai IWATA, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Kazutaka YOSHIZAWA, Yasuaki YONEMOCHI
  • Patent number: 9613971
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory array includes a select line having a first edge region containing a first portion of floating gate material and a second edge region containing a second portion of floating gate material, and having a central region between the first edge region and the second edge region where no floating gate material is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masahiro Yaegashi, Kota Funayama, Takeshi Kawamura, Dai Iwata
  • Publication number: 20170025425
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory array includes a select line having a first edge region containing a first portion of floating gate material and a second edge region containing a second portion of floating gate material, and having a central region between the first edge region and the second edge region where no floating gate material is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro Yaegashi, Kota Funayama, Takeshi Kawamura, Dai Iwata
  • Patent number: 9443862
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory includes a select transistor having a first region formed of a stack of layers on the substrate surface, and a second region that includes an opening through an interpoly dielectric layer, floating gate layer, and tunnel dielectric layer, the opening separated from the substrate surface by a select gate dielectric on the substrate surface, the opening filled by a control gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Dai Iwata, Yusuke Yoshida, Kazutaka Yoshizawa