Patents by Inventor Ki-Hyun Hwang

Ki-Hyun Hwang 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: 20150145021
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices include at least four cylindrical-shaped channel regions, which extend vertically from portions of a substrate located at respective vertices of at least one rhomboid when viewed in a vertical direction relative to a surface of the substrate. A charge storage layer (e.g., ONO layer) is provided on an outer sidewall of each of the cylindrical-shaped channel regions. In addition, to achieve a high degree of integration, a plurality of vertically-stacked gate electrodes are provided, which extend adjacent each of the cylindrical-shaped channel regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Byong-Hyun Jang, Dong-Chul Yoo, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Phil-Ouk Nam, Jae-Young Ahn
  • Publication number: 20150137210
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vertical memory device includes forming alternating and repeating insulating interlayers and sacrificial layers on a substrate, the sacrificial layers including polysilicon or amorphous silicon, forming channel holes through the insulating interlayers and the sacrificial layers, forming channels in the channel holes, etching portions of the insulating interlayers and the sacrificial layers between adjacent channels to form openings, removing the sacrificial layers to form gaps between the insulating interlayers, and forming gate lines in the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Phil-Ouk NAM, Jun-Kyu YANG, Jin-Gyun KIM, Jae-Young AHN, Hun Hyeong LIM, Ki-Hyun HWANG
  • Publication number: 20150129954
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes insulation layers and gate electrodes alternately stacked on a substrate, a vertical channel vertically passing through the insulation layers and the gate electrodes, and a threshold voltage controlling insulation layer, a tunnel insulation layer and a charge storage layer disposed between the vertical channel and the gate electrodes, wherein the threshold voltage controlling insulation layer is disposed between the charge storage layer and the vertical channel and including a material configured to suppress an inversion layer from being formed in the vertical channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Bi O. Kim, Jin-Tae Noh, Su-Jin Shin, Jae-Young Ahn, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20150115348
    Abstract: A vertical-type nonvolatile memory device includes a first vertical channel structure, and first and second stacked structure. The first vertical channel structure extends vertically on a substrate. The first stacked structure includes gate electrodes and first interlayer insulating layers. The gate layers and the first interlayer insulating layers are alternately and vertically stacked on each other. The first stacked structure is disposed on a first sidewall of the first vertical channel structure. The second stacked structure includes first sacrificial layers and second interlayer insulating layers. The first sacrificial layers and the second interlayer insulating layers are alternately and vertically stacked on each other. The second stacked structure is disposed on a second sidewall of the first vertical channel structure. The first sacrificial layers is formed of a polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Phil-ouk Nam, Jun-kyu Yang, Hun-hyeong Lim, Ki-hyun Hwang, Jae-young Ahn, Dong-chul Yoo
  • Patent number: 9012974
    Abstract: A vertical memory device includes a channel, a ground selection line (GSL), word lines, a string selection line (SSL), and a contact. The channel includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion extends in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of a substrate, and the horizontal portion is connected to the vertical portion and parallel to the top surface of the substrate. The GSL, the word lines and the SSL are formed on a sidewall of the vertical portion of the channel sequentially in the first direction, and are spaced apart from each other. The contact is on the substrate and electrically connected to the horizontal portion of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Doo Chae, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Han-Mei Choi, Dong-Chul Yoo
  • Publication number: 20150104916
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device is provided. The method includes alternately stacking a first insulation film, a first sacrificial film, alternating second insulation films and second sacrificial films, a third sacrificial film and a third insulation film on a substrate. A channel hole is formed to expose a portion of the substrate while passing through the first insulation film, the first sacrificial film, the second insulation films, the second sacrificial films, the third sacrificial film and the third insulation film. The method further includes forming a semiconductor pattern on the portion of the substrate exposed in the channel hole by epitaxial growth. Forming the semiconductor pattern includes forming a lower epitaxial film, doping an impurity into the lower epitaxial film, and forming an upper epitaxial film on the lower epitaxial film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Joon-Suk Lee, Woong LEE, Hun-Hyeong LIM, Ki-Hyun HWANG
  • Patent number: 8994091
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure includes a semiconductor layer, a sidewall insulation layer extending in a vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and having one or more protrusion regions, first control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of portions of the sidewall insulation layer where the one or more protrusion regions are not formed and second control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of the one or more protrusion regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Jin-Gyun Kim, Koong-Hyun Nam, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Hun-Hyeong Lim, Dong-Kyum Kim
  • Patent number: 8987805
    Abstract: A vertical type semiconductor device can include a vertical pillar structure that includes a channel pattern with an outer wall. Horizontal insulating structures can be vertically spaced apart from one another along the vertical pillar structure to define first vertical gaps therebetween at first locations away from the outer wall and to define second vertical gaps therebetween at the outer wall, where the second vertical gaps are wider than the first vertical gaps. Horizontal wordline structures can be conformally located in the first and second vertical gaps between the vertically spaced apart horizontal insulating structures, so that the horizontal wordline structures can be vertically thinner across the first vertical gaps than across the second vertical gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phil-Ouk Nam, Jun-Kyu Yang, Byong-Hyun Jang, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Jae-Young Ahn
  • Publication number: 20150056797
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a channel region extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to a substrate and having a nitrogen concentration distribution, a plurality of gate electrodes arranged on a side wall of the channel region and separated from each other in a vertical direction, and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the channel region and the gate electrodes. The nitrogen concentration distribution has a first concentration near an interface between the channel region and the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Bi-o Kim, Jin-tae Noh, Chang-woo Sun, Jae-young Ahn, Seung-hyun Lim, Ki-hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 8927366
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, wherein the method includes: alternately stacking interlayer sacrificial layers and interlayer insulating layers on a substrate; forming a plurality of first openings that pass through the interlayer sacrificial layers and the interlayer insulating layers to expose a first portion of the substrate; forming a semiconductor region on a side wall and a lower surface of each of the first openings; forming an embedded insulating layer in each of the first openings; forming a first conductive layer on the embedded insulating layer inside each of the first openings; forming a second opening exposing a second portion of the substrate and forming an impurity region on the second portion; forming a metal layer to cover the first conductive layer and the impurity region; and forming the metal layer into a metal silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-hae Lee, Ki-hyun Hwang, Jin-gyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8923057
    Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device comprises active patterns arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate, electrodes arranged three-dimensionally between the active patterns, and memory regions arranged three-dimensionally at intersecting points defined by the active patterns and the electrodes. Each of the active patterns is used as a common current path for an electrical connection to two different memory regions that are formed at the same height from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Hoon Son, Myoung Bum Lee, Ki Hyun Hwang, Seung Jae Baik
  • Patent number: 8901643
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a channel region extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to a substrate and having a nitrogen concentration distribution, a plurality of gate electrodes arranged on a side wall of the channel region and separated from each other in a vertical direction, and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the channel region and the gate electrodes. The nitrogen concentration distribution has a first concentration near an interface between the channel region and the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bi-o Kim, Jin-tae Noh, Chang-woo Sun, Jae-young Ahn, Seung-hyun Lim, Ki-hyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140332875
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vertical memory device is disclosed. In the method, a plurality of insulation layers and a plurality of first sacrificial layers are alternately stacked on a substrate. A plurality of holes is formed through the plurality of insulation layers and first sacrificial layers. A plasma treatment process is performed to oxidize the first sacrificial layers exposed by the holes. A plurality of second sacrificial layer patterns project from sidewalls of the holes. A blocking layer pattern, a charge storage layer pattern and a tunnel insulation layer pattern are formed on the sidewall of the holes that cover the second sacrificial layer patterns. A plurality of channels is formed to fill the holes. The first sacrificial layers and the second sacrificial layer patterns are removed to form a plurality of gaps exposing a sidewall of the blocking layer pattern. A plurality of gate electrodes is formed to fill the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jung-Hwan Kim, Jun-Kyu Yang, Hun-Hyeong Lim, Jae-ho Choi, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140322832
    Abstract: According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a preliminary stack structure, the preliminary stack structure defining a through hole; forming a protection layer and a dielectric layer in the through hole; forming a channel pattern, a gapfill pattern, and a contact pattern in the through hole; forming an offset oxide on the preliminary stack structure; measuring thickness data of the offset oxide; and scanning the offset oxide using a reactive gas cluster ion beam. The scanning the offset oxide includes setting a scan speed based on the measured thickness data of the offset oxide, and forming a gas cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Tae-Gon KIM, Jong-Hoon KANG, Jae-Young AHN, Jun-Kyu YANG, Han-Mei CHOI, Ki-Hyun HWANG
  • Patent number: 8822287
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices include forming an integrated structure and a first stopping layer pattern in a first region. A first insulating interlayer and a second stopping layer are formed. A second preliminary insulating interlayer is formed by partially etching the second stopping layer and the first insulating interlayer in the first region. A first polishing is performed to remove a protruding portion. A second polishing is performed to expose the first and second stopping layer patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyo-Jung Kim, Ki-hyun Hwang, Kyung-Hyun Kim, Han-Mei Choi, Dong-Chul Yoo, Chan-Jin Park, Jong-Heun Lim, Myung-Jung Pyo, Byoung-Moon Yoon, Chang-Sup Mun
  • Publication number: 20140239375
    Abstract: A vertical memory device includes a channel array, a charge storage layer structure, multiple gate electrodes and a dummy pattern array. The channel array includes multiple channels, each of which is formed on a first region of a substrate and is formed to extend in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. The charge storage layer structure includes a tunnel insulation layer pattern, a charge storage layer pattern and a blocking layer pattern, which are sequentially formed on a sidewall of each channel in the second direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate. The gate electrodes arranged on a sidewall of the charge storage layer structure and spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The dummy pattern array includes multiple dummy patterns, each of which is formed on a second region adjacent the first region of the substrate and is formed to extend in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Jin-Gyun KIM, Jae-Young AHN, Ki-Hyun HWANG
  • Patent number: 8748249
    Abstract: A vertical structure non-volatile memory device in which a gate dielectric layer is prevented from protruding toward a substrate; a resistance of a ground selection line (GSL) electrode is reduced so that the non-volatile memory device is highly integrated and has improved reliability, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes: sequentially forming a polysilicon layer and an insulating layer on a silicon substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer and a channel layer through the polysilicon layer and the insulating layer, the gate dielectric layer and the channel layer extending in a direction perpendicular to the silicon substrate; forming an opening for exposing the silicon substrate, through the insulating layer and the polysilicon layer; removing the polysilicon layer exposed through the opening, by using a halogen-containing reaction gas at a predetermined temperature; and filling a metallic layer in the space formed by removing the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-kyu Yang, Ki-hyun Hwang, Phil-ouk Nam, Jae-young Ahn, Han-mei Choi, Dong-chul Yoo
  • Patent number: 8735247
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first structure for a common source line on a semiconductor substrate, the first structure extending along a first direction, forming a mold structure by alternately stacking a plurality of sacrificial layers and a plurality of insulating layers on the semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of openings in the mold structure exposing a portion of the first structure, and forming a first memory cell string at a first side of the first structure and a second memory cell string at a second, opposite side of the first structure. The plurality of openings include a first through-hole and a second through-hole, each through-hole passing through the plurality of sacrificial layers and plurality of insulating layers, and the first through-hole and the second through-hole overlap each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Chul Yoo, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Han-Mei Choi, Jin-Gyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20140084357
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor includes a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and a plurality of gate electrodes alternately stacked in a first direction on a substrate. The plurality of interlayer insulating layers and the plurality of gate electrodes constitute a side surface extended in the first direction. A gate dielectric layer is disposed on the side surface. A channel pattern is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes a protective pattern, a charge trap layer, and a tunneling layer. The protective pattern includes a portion disposed on a corresponding gate electrode of the plurality of gate electrodes. The charge trap layer is disposed on the protective pattern. The tunneling layer is disposed between the charge trap layer and the channel pattern. The protective pattern is denser than the charge trap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Ji-Hoon Choi, Dong-Kyum Kim, Jin-Gyun Kim, Su-Jin Shin, Sang-Hoon Lee, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140054676
    Abstract: A vertical type semiconductor device can include a vertical pillar structure that includes a channel pattern with an outer wall. Horizontal insulating structures can be vertically spaced apart from one another along the vertical pillar structure to define first vertical gaps therebetween at first locations away from the outer wall and to define second vertical gaps therebetween at the outer wall, where the second vertical gaps are wider than the first vertical gaps. Horizontal wordline structures can be conformally located in the first and second vertical gaps between the vertically spaced apart horizontal insulating structures, so that the horizontal wordline structures can be vertically thinner across the first vertical gaps than across the second vertical gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Phil-Ouk Nam, Jun-Kyu Yang, Byong-Hyun Jang, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Jae-Young Ahn