With Floating Gate Electrode Patents (Class 257/315)
  • Patent number: 9831180
    Abstract: According to the embodiment, the semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a stacked body; and a plurality of columnar portions. The stacked body is provided on the substrate. The stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers stacked with an insulator interposed. The stacked body includes a stacked portion and a staircase portion. The plurality of electrode layers includes a first portion and a second portion. The columnar portions are provided in the stacked portion of the stacked body. The columnar portions extend in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The columnar portions include a semiconductor body extending in the stacking direction and a charge storage film. The second portion includes a third portion. A thickness of the third portion along the stacking direction is thinner than a thickness of the first portion along the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Shingu, Kenta Yamada, Masaaki Higuchi, Daigo Ichinose
  • Patent number: 9831354
    Abstract: Split-gate flash memory and forming method thereof are provided. The method includes: forming a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a floating gate layer on the first dielectric layer; forming a mask layer on the floating gate layer; etching the mask layer until first groove exposing the floating gate layer is formed; forming a protective sidewall on sidewall of the first groove; forming a gate dielectric layer on bottom and the sidewall of the first groove; forming two control gates on the gate dielectric layer, the remained first groove serving as second groove; etching the gate dielectric layer and the floating gate layer at bottom of the second groove until third groove exposing the first dielectric layer is formed; forming a source in the semiconductor substrate under the third groove; and forming a second dielectric layer in the third groove. Reliability and durability of the memory are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Binghan Li
  • Patent number: 9831263
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate divided into a first area and a second area, the semiconductor substrate including a first dopant of a first type, a first well formed to a first depth in the first area of the semiconductor substrate, the first well including a second dopant of a second type, wherein the second type is different from the first type, a second well including a third dopant of the first type, the second well being surrounded by the first well, and a pipe gate formed on the first area of the semiconductor substrate, the pipe gate being electrically connected to the second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Wan Cheul Shin
  • Patent number: 9831288
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit (1), comprising: a field-effect transistor (2), comprising: first and second conduction electrodes (201, 202); a channel zone (203) arranged between the first and second conduction electrodes; a gate stack (220) arranged vertically in line with the channel zone, and comprising a gate electrode (222); an RRAM-type memory point (31) formed under the channel zone, or formed in the gate stack under the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Laurent Grenouillet, Sotirios Athanasiou, Philippe Galy
  • Patent number: 9825052
    Abstract: Provided is a memory device including a plurality of bit line layers and a plurality of supporting structures. Each bit line layer extends in a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction and has a plurality of bit lines extending along the first direction. Each bit line has a plurality of wide parts and a plurality of narrow parts arranged alternately. The supporting structures are disposed between the wide parts of the corresponding bit lines of adjacent bit line layers. Besides, each narrow part of each bit line substantially has an ellipse-like shape in cross section, and each narrow part has a rounding ratio (RR) of greater than about 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yao-An Chung, Shih-Ping Hong
  • Patent number: 9818753
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first sub-conductive layer, a first insulating film. One portion of the first conductive layer overlaps at least one portion of the first sub-conductive layer in the first direction. One other portion of the first conductive layer overlaps at least one portion of the second conductive layer in the first direction. One portion of the first insulating film overlaps at least one portion of the second conductive layer in the second direction. The One portion of the first insulating film overlaps one portion of the first sub-conductive layer in the second direction. The second conductive layer overlap one other portion of the first insulating film in a direction intersecting the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Akutsu
  • Patent number: 9818759
    Abstract: A three dimensional NAND memory device includes word line driver devices located on or over a substrate, an alternating stack of word lines and insulating layers located over the word line driver devices, a plurality of memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, each memory stack structure including a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel, and through-memory-level via structures which electrically couple the word lines in a first memory block to the word line driver devices. The through-memory-level via structures extend through a through-memory-level via region located between a staircase region of the first memory block and a staircase region of another memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Jin Liu, Johann Alsmeier, Jixin Yu, Yoko Furihata, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9818693
    Abstract: A three dimensional NAND memory device includes word line driver devices located on or over a substrate, an alternating stack of word lines and insulating layers located over the word line driver devices, a plurality of memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, each memory stack structure including a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel, and through-memory-level via structures which electrically couple the word lines in a first memory block to the word line driver devices. The through-memory-level via structures extend through a through-memory-level via region located between a staircase region of the first memory block and a staircase region of another memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Fumiaki Toyama, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Yoko Furihata, James Kai, Yuki Mizutani, Jixin Yu, Jin Liu, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 9812545
    Abstract: An electronic device for data storage and a method of producing an electronic device for data storage includes a memory storage element arranged to represent two or more memory states of the electronic device; wherein the memory storage element includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: A. L. Roy Vellaisamy, Ye Zhou, Su-Ting Han
  • Patent number: 9806089
    Abstract: Metal floating gate electrodes can be formed for a three-dimensional memory device by forming a memory opening having lateral recesses at levels of spacer material layers between insulating layers, depositing a continuous metal layer, and inducing diffusion and agglomeration of the metal into the lateral recesses to form discrete metal portions employing an anneal process. The metallic material can migrate and form the discrete metal portions due to surface tension, which operates to minimize the surface area of the metallic material. Optionally, two or more continuous metal layers can be employed to form discrete metal portions including at least two metals. Optionally, a selective metal deposition process can be performed to deposit additional metal portions including a different metallic material on the discrete metal portions. The metal floating gate electrodes can be formed without employing an etch process. A tunneling dielectric layer and a semiconductor channel can be subsequently formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Sharangpani, Somesh Peri, Raghuveer S. Makala, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9806093
    Abstract: A three dimensional NAND memory device includes word line driver devices located on or over a substrate, an alternating stack of word lines and insulating layers located over the word line driver devices, a plurality of memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, each memory stack structure including a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel, and through-memory-level via structures which electrically couple the word lines in a first memory block to the word line driver devices. The through-memory-level via structures extend through a through-memory-level via region located between a staircase region of the first memory block and a staircase region of another memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Fumiaki Toyama, Yuki Mizutani, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9805805
    Abstract: A buried source semiconductor layer and p-doped semiconductor material portions are formed over a first portion of a substrate. The buried source semiconductor layer is an n-doped semiconductor material, and the p-doped semiconductor material portions are embedded within the buried source semiconductor layer. An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over the substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the alternating stack. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are replaced with, electrically conductive layers. The buried source semiconductor layer may be formed prior to, or after, formation of the alternating stack. The buried source semiconductor layer underlies the alternating stack and overlies the first portion of the substrate, and contacts at least one surface of the vertical semiconductor channels. The p-doped semiconductor material portions contact at least one surface of a respective subset of the vertical semiconductor channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Johann Alsmeier, James Kai
  • Patent number: 9806092
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes first to fourth conductive layers, a first intermediate insulating layer, a second intermediate insulating layer, an inter-layer insulating layer, a first semiconductor body, a first memory layer, a second semiconductor body, a second memory layer, and a first interconnect. The second conductive layer is separated from the first conductive layer in a first direction. The third conductive layer is arranged with the first conductive layer in a second direction crossing the first direction. The fourth conductive layer is separated from the third conductive layer in the first direction and arranged with the second conductive layer in the second direction. The first intermediate insulating layer is provided between the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer. The second intermediate insulating layer is provided between the second conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Minemura
  • Patent number: 9799670
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of electrically conductive layers and insulating layers located over a substrate, an array of memory stack structures, each memory stack structure extending through the alternating stack and including a memory film and a semiconductor channel laterally surrounded by the memory film, and an array of dielectric pillars located between the alternating stack and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nishikawa, Jin Liu, Chun Ge, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9799776
    Abstract: A semi-floating gate transistor is implemented as a vertical FET built on a silicon substrate, wherein the source, drain, and channel are vertically aligned, on top of one another. Current flow between the source and the drain is influenced by a control gate and a semi-floating gate. Front side contacts can be made to each one of the source, drain, and control gate terminals of the vertical semi-floating gate transistor. The vertical semi-floating gate FET further includes a vertical tunneling FET and a vertical diode. Fabrication of the vertical semi-floating gate FET is compatible with conventional CMOS manufacturing processes, including a replacement metal gate process. Low-power operation allows the vertical semi-floating gate FET to provide a high current density compared with conventional planar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Qing Liu, John H. Zhang
  • Patent number: 9793281
    Abstract: A method of forming split gate non-volatile memory cells on the same chip as logic and high voltage devices having HKMG logic gates. The method includes forming the source and drain regions, floating gates, control gates, and the poly layer for the erase gates and word line gates in the memory area of the chip. A protective insulation layer is formed over the memory area, and an HKMG layer and poly layer are formed on the chip, removed from the memory area, and patterned in the logic areas of the chip to form the logic gates having varying amounts of underlying insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Sheng Su, Jeng-Wei Yang, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9786785
    Abstract: Semiconductor device, method for fabricating the same and electronic devices including the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device comprises an interlayer insulating layer formed on a substrate and including a trench, a gate electrode formed in the trench, a first gate spacer formed on a side wall of the gate electrode to have an L shape, a second gate spacer formed on the first gate spacer to have an L shape and having a dielectric constant lower than that of silicon nitride, and a third spacer formed on the second gate spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kook-Tae Kim, Young-Tak Kim, Ho-Sung Son, Seok-Jun Won, Ji-Hye Yi, Chul-Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 9767897
    Abstract: A memory cell including a memory element comprising an electrolytic insulator in contact with a conductive metal oxide (CMO) is disclosed. The CMO includes a crystalline structure and can comprise a pyrochlore oxide, a conductive binary oxide, a multiple B-site perovskite, and a Ruddlesden-Popper structure. The CMO includes mobile ions that can be transported to/from the electrolytic insulator in response to an electric field of appropriate magnitude and direction generated by a write voltage applied across the electrolytic insulator and CMO. The memory cell can include a non-ohmic device (NOD) that is electrically in series with the memory element. The memory cell can be positioned between a cross-point of conductive array lines in a two-terminal cross-point memory array in a single layer of memory or multiple vertically stacked layers of memory that are fabricated over a substrate that includes active circuitry for data operations on the array layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Unity Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Schloss, Julie Casperson Brewer, Wayne Kinney, Rene Meyer
  • Patent number: 9761597
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes an electrically data rewritable or erasable memory cell. The memory cell includes a tunnel insulating film provided on a semiconductor substrate; a floating gate provided on the tunnel insulating film; a first insulating film provided on the floating gate; an interlayer film containing a metal provided on the first insulating film; a second insulating film provided on the interlayer film; a high dielectric constant insulating film provided on the second insulating film; and a gate electrode provided on the high dielectric constant insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryota Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9754936
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate provided with active patterns, gate electrodes extending across the active patterns, source/drain regions provided in upper portions of the active patterns between the gate electrodes, respectively, and first contacts and second contacts provided between the gate electrodes and electrically connected to the source/drain regions, respectively. The first and second contacts are disposed in such a way that a contact center line thereof is spaced apart from a corresponding gate center line by first and second distances. The first distance differs from the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suehye Park, Yoonhae Kim, Deokhan Bae, Jaeran Jang, Hwichan Jun
  • Patent number: 9754963
    Abstract: A first tier structure including a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. First support pillar structures are formed through the first tier structure. A second tier structure including a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second sacrificial material layers is formed over the first tier structure. Memory stack structures and second support pillar structures are formed through the second tier structure. The first and second sacrificial material layers are replaced with first and second electrically conductive layers while the first support pillar structures, the second support pillar structures, and the memory stack structures provide structural support to the first and second insulating layers. By limiting the spatial extent of the first support pillar structures within the first tier structure, electrical short to backside contact via structures can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawamura, Kota Funayama
  • Patent number: 9754959
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided as follows. A tunnel insulation layer is disposed on a substrate. The tunnel insulation layer includes a first silicon oxide layer, a second silicon oxide layer, and a silicon layer interposed between the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer. The silicon layer has a thickness smaller than a thickness of each of the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer. A gate pattern is disposed on the tunnel insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ju-Mi Yun, Young-Jin Noh, Kwang-Min Park, Jae-Young Ahn, Guk-Hyon Yon, Dong-Chul Yoo, Joong-Yun Ra, Young-Seon Son, Jeon-Il Lee, Hun-Hyeong Lim
  • Patent number: 9748330
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a bulk semiconductor substrate that includes a first conductivity type floating buried doped region bounded above by a second conductivity type doped region and bounded below by another second conductivity semiconductor region. Dielectric isolation regions extend through the second conductivity doped region and the first conductivity floating buried doped region into the semiconductor region. Functional devices are disposed within the second conductivity type doped region. The first conductivity type floating buried doped region is configured as a self-biased region that laterally extends between adjacent dielectric isolation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Johan Camiel Julia Janssens
  • Patent number: 9748347
    Abstract: An enhancement-mode GaN transistor with reduced gate leakage current between a gate contact and a 2DEG region and a method for manufacturing the same. The enhancement-mode GaN transistor including a GaN layer, a barrier layer disposed on the GaN layer with a 2DEG region formed at an interface between the GaN layer and the barrier layer, and source contact and drain contacts disposed on the barrier layer. The GaN transistor further includes a p-type gate material formed above the barrier layer and between the source and drain contacts and a gate metal disposed on the p-type gate material, with wherein the p-type gate material including comprises a pair of self- aligned ledges that extend toward the source contact and drain contact, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Jianjun Cao, Alexander Lidow, Alana Nakata
  • Patent number: 9747992
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system includes one or more control circuits configured to read memory cells. The reading of the programmed memory cells includes applying one or more voltages to perform boosting of a channel region associated with unselected memory cells, allowing the boosting of the channel region for a portion of time while applying the one or more voltages, preventing/interrupting the boosting of the channel region while applying the one or more voltages for a duration of time based on position of a memory cell selected for verification, applying a compare signal to the memory cell selected for reading, and performing a sensing operation for the memory cell selected for reading in response to the compare signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Hong-Yan Chen, Yingda Dong
  • Patent number: 9735245
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) for an embedded flash memory device. The IC includes a flash memory cell having a memory cell gate. A silicide contact pad is arranged in a recess of the memory cell gate. A top surface of the silicide contact pad is recessed relative to a top surface of the memory cell gate. Dielectric side-wall spacers extend along sidewalls of the recess from the top surface of the memory cell gate to the top surface of the silicide contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 9735163
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a memory cell is provided. The memory cell comprises a transistor, a memory element and a capacitor. One of first and second electrodes of the memory element and one of first and second electrodes of the capacitor are formed by a same metal film. The metal film functioning as the one of first and second electrodes of the memory element and the one of first and second electrodes of the capacitor is overlapped with a film functioning as the other of first and second electrodes of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Abe, Yasuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9726978
    Abstract: A cleaning composition for removing plasma etching residue and/or ashing residue formed above a semiconductor substrate is provided that includes (component a) water, (component b) a hydroxylamine and/or a salt thereof, (component c) a basic organic compound, and (component d) an organic acid and has a pH of 7 to 9. There are also provided a cleaning process and a process for producing semiconductor device employing the cleaning composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Takahashi, Kazutaka Takahashi, Atsushi Mizutani, Hiroyuki Seki, Hideo Fushimi, Tomoo Kato
  • Patent number: 9728722
    Abstract: Socket structures that are configured to use area efficiently, and methods for providing socket regions that use area efficiently, are provided. The staircase type contact area or socket region includes dielectric layers between adjacent planar electrodes that partially cover a portion of a planar electrode that does directly underlie an adjacent planar electrode. The portion of a dielectric layer between adjacent planar electrodes can be sloped, such that it extends from an edge of an overlying planar electrode to a point between the edge of an underlying planar electrode and a point corresponding to an edge of the overlying planar electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Sumino
  • Patent number: 9721654
    Abstract: A memory device according to one embodiment includes a first interconnection, a second interconnection, a charge storage portion provided between the first interconnection and the second interconnection, a tunnel film provided between the first interconnection and the charge storage portion, and a block film. the charge storage portion is capable of accumulating an electron. The tunnel film includes a fine particulate layer that including conductive fine particulates satisfying the Coulomb blockade condition, a first tunnel insulating layer provided between the first interconnection and the fine particulate layer, and a second tunnel insulating layer provided between the fine particulate layer and the charge storage portion. The block film is provided between the charge storage portion and the second interconnection. The block film has an energy structure in which no concave portion with an energy barrier lower than energy barriers on both sides thereof is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Ryuji Ohba
  • Patent number: 9711524
    Abstract: A stack of material layers includes first material layers, second material layers located between a respective pair of an overlying first material layer and an underlying first material layer, and at least one temporary material layer located between a respective pair of an overlying first material layer and an underlying first material layer. After formation of a memory opening and a memory stack structure, at least one first backside recess is formed by removing the at least one temporary material layer and adjoining portions of a memory film. A physically exposed portion of a semiconductor channel is doped with electrical dopants to form a doped semiconductor channel portion. Second backside cavities are formed by removal of the second material layers. The backside cavities are then filled with a dielectric liner and electrically conductive layers, such as select and control gate electrodes of a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Go Shoji, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9698260
    Abstract: High voltage devices and methods for forming a high voltage device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having top and bottom surfaces. The substrate is defined with a device region and a recessed region disposed within the device region. The recessed region includes a recessed surface disposed lower than the top surface of the substrate. A transistor is formed over the substrate. Forming the transistor includes forming a gate at least over the recessed surface and forming a source region adjacent to a first side of the gate below the recessed surface. Forming the transistor also includes forming a drain region displaced away from a second side of the gate. First and second device wells are formed in the substrate within the device region. The first device well encompasses the drain region and the second device well encompasses the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Guowei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9698201
    Abstract: A high density non-volatile memory device is provided that uses one or more volatile elements. In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory device can include a resistive two-terminal selector that can be in a low resistive state or a high resistive state depending on the voltage being applied. A deep trench MOS (“metal-oxide-semiconductor”) transistor having a floating gate with small area relative to conventional devices can be provided, in addition to a capacitor or transistor acting as a capacitor. A first terminal of the capacitor can be connected to a voltage source, and the second terminal of the capacitor can be connected to the selector device. The small area floating gate of the deep trench transistor can be connected to the other side of the selector device, and a second transistor can be connected in series with the deep trench transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CROSSBAR, INC.
    Inventors: Hagop Nazarian, Sung Hyun Jo, Harry Yue Gee
  • Patent number: 9698155
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of second layers alternately and vertically stacked on a substrate. Each of the plurality of second layers includes a horizontal electrode horizontally separated by a second insulating layer. A contact plug penetrates the plurality of first insulating layers and the second insulating layer of the plurality of second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunil Shim, Wonseok Cho, Woonkyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9698150
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a first insulating film, a stacked body, and a first pillar. At least a portion of an upper layer portion of the substrate is conductive. The first insulating film is provided in a portion of the substrate. The stacked body includes conductive films and insulating films stacked alternately in a first direction. The conductive films and the insulating films are provided on the substrate and on the first insulating film. The first pillar pierces the stacked body in the first direction. The first pillar includes a first lower end portion and a first extension portion. The first lower end portion is disposed inside the first insulating film. The first extension portion is disposed inside the stacked body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Maegawa, Hiroshi Nakaki
  • Patent number: 9691718
    Abstract: A physical unclonable function (PUF) semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate extending along a first direction to define a length and a second direction opposite the first direction to define a thickness. At least one pair of semiconductor structures is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor structures include a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first gate dielectric layer having a first shape that defines a first threshold voltage. The second semiconductor structure includes a second gate dielectric layer having a second dielectric shape that is reversely arranged with respect to the first shape and that defines a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wai-Kin Li, Chengwen Pei, Ping-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 9685235
    Abstract: A 3D non-volatile memory device may include a dummy string selection line, string selection lines, wordlines, bitlines, a ground selection line, and memory layers. Each of the memory layers comprising channel lines respectively coupled to the bitlines via first ends and coupled to a common source line of the memory layer via second ends. The dummy string selection line, the string selection lines, the wordlines, and the ground selection line intersect with the channel lines, and each of the channel lines defines a memory string. Initializing the 3D non-volatile memory device may include programming string selection transistors coupled with the string selection lines to have one or more threshold values, and programming a dummy string selection transistor coupled with the dummy string selection line to have a predetermined threshold value, such that the dummy string selection transistor together with the string selection transistors function as string selection transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: SK HYNIX INC., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Byung Gook Park, Dae Woong Kwon, Do Bin Kim, Sang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9679968
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate, the substrate having a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature formed thereon. The semiconductor device further includes a first nanowire on the first source/drain feature and a second nanowire on the second source/drain feature, the first nanowire extending vertically from an upper surface of the first source/drain feature and the second nanowire extending vertically from an upper surface of the second source/drain feature. The semiconductor device further includes a third nanowire extending from an upper end of the first nanowire to an upper end of the second nanowire, wherein the first nanowire, the second nanowire and the third nanowire form a channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Aryan Afzalian, Blandine Duriez, Mark van Dal
  • Patent number: 9673194
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first gate structure on a first side of an active area and a second gate structure on a second side of the active area, where the first gate structure and the second gate structure share the active area. A method of forming the semiconductor arraignment includes forming a deep implant of the active area before forming the first gate structure, and then forming a shallow implant of the active area. Forming the deep implant prior to forming the first gate structure alleviates the need for an etching process that degrades the first gate structure. The first gate structure thus has a desired configuration and is able to be formed closer to other gate structures to enhance device density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Ming Chyi Liu
  • Patent number: 9666720
    Abstract: It is an object to manufacture a semiconductor device in which a transistor including an oxide semiconductor has normally-off characteristics, small fluctuation in electric characteristics, and high reliability. First, first heat treatment is performed on a substrate, a base insulating layer is formed over the substrate, an oxide semiconductor layer is formed over the base insulating layer, and the step of performing the first heat treatment to the step of forming the oxide semiconductor layer are performed without exposure to the air. Next, after the oxide semiconductor layer is formed, second heat treatment is performed. An insulating layer from which oxygen is released by heating is used as the base insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinari Sasaki, Hitomi Sato, Kosei Noda, Yuta Endo, Mizuho Ikarashi, Keitaro Imai, Atsuo Isobe, Yutaka Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9659953
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for embedding a non-volatile memory (NVM) in a HKMG (high-? metal gate) integrated circuit which includes a high voltage (HV) HKMG transistor. NVM devices (e.g., flash memory) are operated at high voltages for its read and write operations and hence a HV device is necessary for integrated circuits involving non-volatile embedded memory and HKMG logic circuits. Forming a HV HKMG circuit along with the HKMG periphery circuit reduces the need for additional boundaries between the HV transistor and rest of the periphery circuit. This method further helps reduce divot issue and reduce cell size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu
  • Patent number: 9659654
    Abstract: A method to prevent loss of data of transistor-based memory unit including bulk, source and drain formed on bulk and first tunnel oxide, floating gate, second tunnel oxide and control gate stacked up on channel between source and drain is disclosed to include steps of: erasing the floating gate, using weak electric field inject small amount of electrons into floating gate, enabling small amount of electrons to remain in floating gate to keep channel between source and drain electrically conducted, enabling small amount of electrons in floating gate to repel against electrons in first tunnel oxide and second tunnel oxide so as avoid electron accumulation in first tunnel oxide and second tunnel oxide and allow normal data access floating gate, and using electric field of normal write to inject electrons in floating gate so as to prevent channel conduction between source and drain and allow writing data into floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: EGALAX_EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Guang-Huei Lin
  • Patent number: 9653470
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a non-volatile memory on a semiconductor substrate, comprising: a first memory cell comprising a floating-gate transistor and a select transistor having an embedded vertical control gate, a second memory cell comprising a floating-gate transistor and a select transistor having the same control gate as the select transistor of the first memory cell, a first bit line coupled to the floating-gate transistor of the first memory cell, and a second bit line coupled to the floating-gate transistor of the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Francesco La Rosa, Stephan Niel, Arnaud Regnier
  • Patent number: 9646870
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes implanting neutral dopants in a first region of a substrate to form a first etching stop feature, the first etching stop feature having a depth D1. The method further includes implanting neutral dopants in a second region of the substrate to form a second etching stop feature, wherein the second etching stop feature has a depth D2, and D1 is different from D2. The method further includes etching the substrate to form a first trench and a second trench, wherein the first trench and the second trench expose the first etching stop feature and the second etching stop feature, respectively. The method further includes filling the first trench and the second trench with a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Chang-Sheng Tsao
  • Patent number: 9634010
    Abstract: A method for forming field effect transistors comprises forming a first dummy gate stack over a first fin, forming a second dummy gate stack over a second fin, depositing a first layer of spacer material on the first dummy gate stack, the first fin, the second dummy gate stack, and the second fin, patterning a first masking layer on the first dummy gate stack and the first fin, etching to remove portions of the first layer of spacer material and form a spacer adjacent to the second dummy gate stack, removing the first masking layer, epitaxially growing a silicon material on the second fin, depositing a layer of oxide material on the first layer of spacer material, the first epitaxial material and the second dummy gate stack, and depositing a second layer of spacer material on the layer of oxide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Rama Kambhampati, Junli Wang, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9634014
    Abstract: A programmable cell includes a split gate structure. The split gate structure includes a thin gate dielectric region and a thick gate dielectric region disposed below a gate conductor. A thickness of the thick oxide region is more than a thickness of the thin oxide region. The programmable cell can be fabricated using angle doping to dope an area associated with the thin dielectric region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Qintao Zhang, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 9627385
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a tunable tensile strain and an embodiment method of tuning tensile strain in an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes forming a source/drain region on opposing sides of a gate region in a fin, forming spacers over the fin, the spacers adjacent to the source/drain regions, depositing a dielectric between the spacers; and performing an annealing process to contract the dielectric, the dielectric contraction deforming the spacers, the spacer deformation enlarging the gate region in the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Zhi-Chang Lin, Guan-Lin Chen, Ting-Hung Hsu, Jiun-Jia Huang
  • Patent number: 9627066
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell for storing a single bit is disclosed. The non-volatile memory cell includes an access transistor including a gate, a first body, a first source/drain node, and a second source/drain node. The non-volatile memory cell also includes a first floating gate storage transistor that has a third source/drain node, a second body, a fourth source/drain node, and a first floating gate including a first storage node. The third source/drain node is coupled to the second source/drain node. The non-volatile memory cell further includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a second floating gate storage transistor. The first capacitor has a first plate coupled to the first storage node and an opposite second plate. The second floating gate storage transistor includes a fifth source/drain node, a third body, a sixth source/drain node, a second floating gate including a second storage node. The fifth source/drain node is coupled to the fourth source/drain node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Pasotti, Fabio de Santis, Roberto Bregoli, Dario Livornesi
  • Patent number: 9627504
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer, source and drain electrodes over the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and a first field plate electrode. The second semiconductor layer includes a first semiconductor portion and a second semiconductor portion thinner than the first semiconductor portion. The source and drain electrodes are electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer. The gate electrode is provided over the second semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The first field plate electrode is provided over the second semiconductor layer and includes a portion that extends from a location over the gate electrode toward the drain electrode and has an end portion that is positioned over the second semiconductor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kohei Oasa, Akira Yoshioka, Yasuhiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 9627513
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lateral double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor transistor and a method for manufacturing the same. In the method, a high-voltage gate dielectric is formed at a surface of a semiconductor layer. A thin gate dielectric is formed above the substrate and has at least a portion adjacent to the high-voltage gate dielectric. A gate conductor is formed above the thin gate dielectric and the high-voltage gate dielectric. A first mask is used for patterning the gate conductor to define a first sidewall of the gate conductor above the thin gate dielectric. A second mask is used for patterning the gate conductor to define a second sidewall of the gate conductor at least partially above the high-voltage gate dielectric. Source and drain regions are formed to have a first doping type. The method further comprises doping through the first mask to form a body region of a second doping type. The second doping type is opposite to the first doping type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.
    Inventors: Budong You, Meng Wang, Zheng Lyu