Patents by Inventor Injo Ok

Injo Ok 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).

  • Patent number: 11476418
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a heater surrounded by a second dielectric layer, a projection liner on top of the second dielectric layer, and a phase change material layer above the projection liner. A top surface of the projection liner may be substantially flush with a top surface of the heater. The projection liner may separate the phase change material layer from the second dielectric layer. The projection liner may provide a parallel conduction path in the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase of the phase change material layer. The semiconductor structure may include a bottom electrode below and in electrical contact with the heater and a top electrode above and in electrical contact with the phase change material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Ruqiang Bao, Andrew Herbert Simon, Kevin W. Brew, Nicole Saulnier, Iqbal Rashid Saraf, Prasad Bhosale
  • Publication number: 20220310911
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include a phase change element located above a heater. The heater may include a conductive element surrounding a dielectric element. The dielectric element may include an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek, Soon-Cheon Seo, Youngseok Kim, Timothy Mathew Philip
  • Patent number: 11456415
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a heater surrounded by a dielectric layer, a projection liner on top of the heater, a phase change material layer above the projection liner, and a top electrode contact surrounding a top portion of the phase change material layer, The projection liner may cover a top surface of the heater. The projection liner may separate the phase change material layer from the second dielectric layer and the heater. The projection liner may provide a parallel conduction path in the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase of the phase change material layer. The top electrode contact may be separated from the phase change material layer by a metal liner. The semiconductor structure may include a bottom electrode below and in electrical contact with the heater and a top electrode above and in electrical contact with the phase change material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Ruqiang Bao, Andrew Herbert Simon, Kevin W. Brew, Nicole Saulnier, Iqbal Rashid Saraf, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Sanjay C. Mehta
  • Patent number: 11456417
    Abstract: A mushroom type phase change memory (PCM) cell includes a projection liner located between a PCM volume and a bottom electrode. The projection liner has been retained from a layer previously utilized as an etch stop layer during the fabrication of PCM cell and/or the fabrication of the higher level IC device. The projection liner may extend beyond the PCM sidewall(s) or side boundary. This section of the projection liner may be located or buried under a dielectric or an encapsulation spacer and may increase thickness uniformity of the projection liner below the PCM volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Brew, Injo Ok, Iqbal Rashid Saraf, Nicole Saulnier, Matthew Joseph BrightSky, Robert L. Bruce
  • Patent number: 11430514
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a plurality of word lines; a plurality of bit lines intersecting the plurality of word lines at a plurality of grid points; and a plurality of resistive random-access memory cells located at the plurality of grid points. Each of the resistive random-access memory cells includes a top metal coupled to one of: a corresponding one of the word lines and a corresponding one of the bit lines; a bottom metal coupled to another one of: the corresponding one of the word lines and the corresponding one of the bit lines; a dielectric sandwiched between the top metal and the bottom metal; and a high-resistance semiconductive spacer electrically connecting the top metal and the bottom metal in parallel with the dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Youngseok Kim, Soon-Cheon Seo, Choonghyun Lee, Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20220238803
    Abstract: A memory structure comprises a ReRAM module embedded in a substrate. An insulative layer is formed on the substrate. A first electrode is located on the insulative layer. The first electrode is proximately connected to a first end of the ReRAM module and comprises a first surface area. A second electrode is located on the insulative layer. The second electrode is proximately connected to a second end of the ReRAM module. The second electrode comprises a second surface area, a plasma-interacting component, and a resistive component. The resistive component is located between the plasma-interacting component and the ReRAM module. A ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area creates a voltage between the first electrode and second electrode when the first surface area and second surfaces area are exposed to an application of plasma. The voltage forms a conductive filament in the ReRAM module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Youngseok Kim, Soon-Cheon Seo, Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20220223205
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a plurality of word lines; a plurality of bit lines intersecting the plurality of word lines at a plurality of grid points; and a plurality of resistive random-access memory cells located at the plurality of grid points. Each of the resistive random-access memory cells includes a top metal coupled to one of: a corresponding one of the word lines and a corresponding one of the bit lines; a bottom metal coupled to another one of: the corresponding one of the word lines and the corresponding one of the bit lines; a dielectric sandwiched between the top metal and the bottom metal; and a high-resistance semiconductive spacer electrically connecting the top metal and the bottom metal in parallel with the dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Youngseok Kim, Soon-Cheon Seo, Choonghyun Lee, Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20220209105
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) cell comprises a first electrode comprised of a first electrically conductive material, a second electrode comprised of a second electrically conductive material, a first phase change layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and being comprised of a first phase change material, and a second phase change layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and being comprised of a second phase change material. The first phase change material has a first resistivity, the second phase change material has a second resistivity, and wherein the first resistivity is at least two times the second resistivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin W. Brew, Injo Ok, Jin Ping Han, Timothy Mathew Philip, Matthew Joseph BrightSky, Nicole Saulnier
  • Publication number: 20220189550
    Abstract: An embodiment in the application may include an analog memory structure, and methods of writing to such a structure, including a volatile memory element in series with a non-volatile memory element. The analog memory structure may change resistance upon application of a voltage. This may enable accelerated writing of the analog memory structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin W. Brew, Wei Wang, Injo Ok, Lan Yu, Youngseok Kim
  • Publication number: 20220181547
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a heater surrounded by a second dielectric layer. a projection liner on top of the second dielectric layer, and a phase change material layer above the projection liner. A top surface of the projection liner may be substantially flush with a top surface of the heater. The projection liner may separate the phase change material layer from the second dielectric layer. The projection liner may provide a parallel conduction path in the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase of the phase change material layer. The semiconductor structure may include a bottom electrode below and in electrical contact with the heater and a top electrode above and in electrical contact with the phase change material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Injo OK, RUQIANG BAO, Andrew Herbert SIMON, Kevin W. BREW, Nicole SAULNIER, Iqbal Rashid SARAF, Prasad BHOSALE
  • Publication number: 20220181546
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a heater surrounded by a dielectric layer, a projection liner on top of the heater, a phase change material layer above the projection liner, and a top electrode contact surrounding a top portion of the phase change material layer, The projection liner may cover a top surface of the heater. The projection liner may separate the phase change material layer from the second dielectric layer and the heater. The projection liner may provide a parallel conduction path in the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase of the phase change material layer. The top electrode contact may be separated from the phase change material layer by a metal liner. The semiconductor structure may include a bottom electrode below and in electrical contact with the heater and a top electrode above and in electrical contact with the phase change material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Injo Ok, RUQIANG BAO, Andrew Herbert Simon, Kevin W. Brew, Nicole Saulnier, Iqbal Rashid Saraf, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Sanjay C. Mehta
  • Publication number: 20220165949
    Abstract: A mushroom type phase change memory (PCM) cell includes a projection liner located between a PCM volume and a bottom electrode. The projection liner has been retained from a layer previously utilized as an etch stop layer during the fabrication of PCM cell and/or the fabrication of the higher level IC device. The projection liner may extend beyond the PCM sidewall(s) or side boundary. This section of the projection liner may be located or buried under a dielectric or an encapsulation spacer and may increase thickness uniformity of the projection liner below the PCM volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin W. Brew, Injo Ok, Iqbal Rashid Saraf, Nicole Saulnier, Matthew Joseph BrightSky, ROBERT L. BRUCE
  • Publication number: 20220165947
    Abstract: A vertical resistive memory array is presented. The array includes a pillar electrode and a switching liner around the side perimeter of the pillar electrode. The array includes two or more vertically stacked single cell (SC) electrodes connected to a first side of the switching liner. The juxtaposition of the switching liner, the pillar electrode, and each SC electrode forms respective resistance switching cells (e.g., OxRRAM cell). A vertical group or bank of these cells may be connected in parallel and each share the same pillar electrode. The cells in the vertical cell bank may written to or read from as a group to limit the effects of inconsistent CF formation of any one or more individual cells within the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Youngseok Kim, Choonghyun Lee, Timothy Mathew Philip, Soon-Cheon Seo, Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20220149275
    Abstract: Arrays of PCM devices and techniques for fabrication thereof having an integrated resistor formed during heater patterning for uniform voltage drop amongst the PCM devices are provided. In one aspect, a PCM device includes: at least one PCM cell including a phase change material disposed on a heater; and at least one resistor in series with the at least one PCM cell, wherein the at least one resistor includes a same combination of materials as the heater. A memory array and a method of forming a PCM device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Soon-Cheon Seo, Alexander Reznicek, Youngseok Kim
  • Patent number: 11328954
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method forming a via and a trench. By utilizing a first etching process, a first metal layer of a multi-layered device to form a via, wherein the multi-layered device comprises the first metal layer and a second metal layer, wherein the first metal layer is formed directly on top of the second metal layer, wherein the second metal layer acts as an etch stop for the first etching process, wherein the first etching process does not affect the second metal layer. By utilizing a second etching process, the second metal layer of the multi-layered device to form a trench, wherein first metal layer is not affected by the second etching process, wherein the first etching process and the second etching process are two different etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yann Mignot, Chanro Park, Chih-Chao Yang, Injo Ok, Hsueh-Chung Chen
  • Publication number: 20220102627
    Abstract: A method is presented for reducing a reset current for a phase change memory (PCM). The method includes forming a bottom electrode, constructing a PCM cell structure including a plurality of phase change memory layers and a plurality of heat transfer layers, wherein the plurality of phase change memory layers are assembled in an alternating configuration with respect to the plurality of heat transfer layers, and forming a top electrode over the PCM cell structure. The plurality of phase change memory layers are arranged perpendicular to the top and bottom electrodes. Additionally, airgaps are defined adjacent the PCM cell structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Kevin W. Brew, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11282947
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor may include a base epitaxially grown on a collector, an emitter epitaxially grown on the base, the emitter and the base being patterned into a fin, and a silicon oxide layer formed on sidewalls of the fin, the silicon oxide layer separating the base from a spacer. The heterojunction bipolar transistor may include the spacer formed on top of the silicon oxide layer and an interlayer dielectric formed on top of the spacer. The heterojunction bipolar transistor may also include a silicon germanium oxide layer formed on sidewalls of the base. The base may be made of silicon germanium. The emitter and the collector may be made of silicon. The base may be doped with a p-type dopant. The emitter and the collector may be doped with a n-type dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek, Choonghyun Lee, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 11271151
    Abstract: A method is presented for reducing a reset current for a phase change memory (PCM). The method includes forming a bottom electrode, constructing a PCM cell structure including a plurality of phase change memory layers and a plurality of heat transfer layers, wherein the plurality of phase change memory layers are assembled in an alternating configuration with respect to the plurality of heat transfer layers, and forming a top electrode over the PCM cell structure. The plurality of phase change memory layers are arranged perpendicular to the top and bottom electrodes. Additionally, airgaps are defined adjacent the PCM cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Kevin W. Brew, Wei Wang
  • Publication number: 20220069109
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor may include a base epitaxially grown on a collector, an emitter epitaxially grown on the base, the emitter and the base being patterned into a fin, and a silicon oxide layer formed on sidewalls of the fin, the silicon oxide layer separating the base from a spacer. The heterojunction bipolar transistor may include the spacer formed on top of the silicon oxide layer and an interlayer dielectric formed on top of the spacer. The heterojunction bipolar transistor may also include a silicon germanium oxide layer formed on sidewalls of the base. The base may be made of silicon germanium. The emitter and the collector may be made of silicon. The base may be doped with a p-type dopant. The emitter and the collector may be doped with a n-type dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Alexander Reznicek, Choonghyun Lee, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 11264569
    Abstract: A phase change material memory device is provided. The phase change material memory device includes one or more electrical contacts in a substrate, and a dielectric cover layer on the electrical contacts and substrate. The phase change material memory device further includes a lower conductive shell in a trench above one of the one or more electrical contacts, and an upper conductive shell on the lower conductive shell in the trench. The phase change material memory device further includes a conductive plug filling the upper conductive shell. The phase change material memory device further includes a liner layer on the dielectric cover layer and conductive plug, and a phase change material block on the liner layer on the dielectric cover layer and in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Kevin W. Brew, Timothy M. Philip, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Sanjay C. Mehta, Nicole Saulnier, Steven M. Mcdermott