With Additional Contacted Control Electrode Patents (Class 257/316)
  • Patent number: 9876114
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiments. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; and a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate; wherein the gate stack includes a high k dielectric material layer, and various metal layers disposed on the high-k dielectric material layer, wherein the gate stack has a convex top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shiu-Ko JangJian, Chih-Nan Wu, Chun Che Lin, Ting-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 9865506
    Abstract: A stack type memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The stack type memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of active layers stacked on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate structure overlapping the plurality of active layers. The gate structure includes a side gate region overlapping sides of the plurality of active layers and a top gate region overlapping a top of an uppermost active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 9859291
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory having memory cells is provided. A stacked gate structure has gate dielectric layer, assist gate, insulation layer, and erase gate disposed in order. The floating gate is disposed on a first sidewall of the stacked gate structure, the floating gate has a corner portion at the top portion, and erase gate covers the corner portion. The tunneling dielectric layer is disposed under the floating gate. The erase gate dielectric layer is disposed between the erase gate and the floating gate. The assist gate dielectric layer is disposed between the assist gate and the floating gate. The source region and the drain region are respectively disposed at two sides of the stacked structure and the floating gate. The control gate is disposed on the source region and the floating gate. The inter-gate dielectric layer is disposed between the control gate and the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: IoTMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Tzung-Wen Cheng, Yu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 9859421
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) structure. The method includes forming a plurality of vertical fins over a substrate, forming a dummy gate between the plurality of vertical fins, removing the dummy gate with a subway etch to define a gate cavity, and forming a high-k metal gate (HKMG) stack within the gate cavity. The method further includes forming the first and second source/drain regions before the HKMG stack. The method further includes defining the HKMG stack by a replacement metal gate (RMG) process, the RMG process defined in part by the subway etch. The subway etch enables removal of the dummy gate from a side portion of the VFET structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9853034
    Abstract: An integrated circuit contains a logic MOS transistor and a memory MOS transistor of a same polarity. The logic MOS transistor has a logic channel stop layer. The memory MOS transistor has a memory channel stop layer. An average dopant density of the memory channel stop layer is higher than an average dopant density of the logic channel stop layer. The integrated circuit is formed by forming a global mask which exposes both the logic and memory MOS transistors. A global channel stop dose of dopants is implanted in the logic and memory MOS transistors. A memory mask is formed which exposes the memory MOS transistor and covers the logic MOS transistor. A memory channel stop dose of dopants of the same polarity is implanted into the memory MOS transistors. The memory channel stop dose of dopants are blocked from the logic MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Mahalingam Nandakumar
  • Patent number: 9853087
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an MRAM device includes sequentially forming a first insulating interlayer and an etch-stop layer on a substrate. A lower electrode is formed through the etch-stop layer and the first insulating interlayer. An MTJ structure layer and an upper electrode are sequentially formed on the lower electrode and the etch-stop layer. The MTJ structure layer is patterned by a physical etching process using the upper electrode as an etching mask to form an MTJ structure at least partially contacting the lower electrode. The first insulating interlayer is protected by the etch-stop layer so not to be etched by the physical etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Seok Suh, Jae-Chul Shim, Kil-Ho Lee, Yong-Seok Chung, Gwan-Hyeob Koh, Yoon-Jong Song
  • Patent number: 9852916
    Abstract: A first portion of a multiple cycle spacer is formed on a sidewall of a patterned feature over a substrate. A spacer layer is deposited on the first portion using a first plasma process. The spacer layer is etched to form a second portion of the multiple cycle spacer on the first portion using a second plasma process. A cycle comprising depositing and etching of the spacer layer is continuously repeated until the multiple cycle spacer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Chentsau (Chris) Ying, Srinivas D. Nemani, Ellie Y. Yieh
  • Patent number: 9847343
    Abstract: A charge trapping nonvolatile memory device includes a source region and a drain region disposed in an upper portion of a substrate and spaced apart from each other by a first trapping region, a channel region, and a second trapping region. A gate stack structure is disposed over the channel region. A first stack including a tunnel insulation layer, a first charge trap layer, and a first blocking insulation layer are disposed over the first trapping region. A second stack including a tunnel insulation layer, a second charge trap layer, and a second blocking insulation layer are disposed over the second trapping region. An interlayer insulation layer is disposed over the substrate and covers the gate stack structure. A first contact plug and a second contact plug penetrate the interlayer insulation layer and respectively contact the source region and the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Young Joon Kwon
  • Patent number: 9831318
    Abstract: The reliability of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory is improved. The memory cell of the nonvolatile memory is of a split gate type, and has first and second n type semiconductor regions in a semiconductor substrate, a control electrode formed over the substrate between the semiconductor regions via a first insulation film, and a memory gate electrode formed over the substrate between the semiconductor regions via a second insulation film having a charge accumulation part. The SSI method is used for write to the memory cell. During the read operation of the memory cell, the first and second semiconductor regions function as source and drain regions, respectively. The first width of the first sidewall spacer formed adjacent to the side surface of the memory gate electrode is larger than the second width of the second sidewall spacer formed adjacent to the side surface of the control gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tokita, Tamotsu Ogata
  • Patent number: 9825045
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate including a device isolation layer defining an active region, a floating gate and a selection gate arranged side by side at intervals of a first gap over the substrate, a coupling plate formed in the device isolation layer and overlapped with the floating gate, and a contact plug suitable for electrically coupling the coupling plate and the selection gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Kun Park, Jung-Hoon Kim, Nam-Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9825050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device whose performance is improved is disclosed. In the semiconductor device, an offset spacer formed in a memory cell is formed by a laminated film of a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, and the silicon oxide film is particularly formed to directly contact the sidewall of a memory gate electrode and the side end portion of a charge storage film; on the other hand, an offset spacer formed in a MISFET is formed by a silicon nitride film. Particularly in the MISFET, the silicon nitride film directly contacts both the sidewall of a gate electrode and the side end portion of a high dielectric constant film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Ogata
  • Patent number: 9818798
    Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) non-volatile memory arrays having a vertically-oriented thin film transistor (TFT) select device and method of fabricating are described. The vertically-oriented TFT may be used as a vertical bit line selection device to couple a global bit line to a vertical bit line. A select device pillar includes a body and upper and lower source/drain regions. At least one gate is separated horizontally from the select device pillar by a gate dielectric. Each gate is formed over the gate dielectric and a base that extends horizontally at least partially between adjacent pillars. The base is formed with notches filled with the gate dielectric. The select device is fabricated using a conformally deposited base dielectric material and conformal hard mask layer that is formed with a larger bottom thickness than horizontal thickness. The base thickness is defined by the deposition thickness, rather than an uncontrolled etch back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Naoki Takeguchi, Hiroaki Iuchi
  • Patent number: 9818484
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Long T Hinh, Bo Jin
  • Patent number: 9818865
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device, including: a first pipe gate; a second pipe gate on the first pipe gate; a stacked structure on the second pipe gate; a first channel layer including a first pipe channel layer positioned within the first pipe gate and first cell channel layers connected to the first pipe channel layer; a second channel layer including a second pipe channel layer positioned within the second pipe gate, and second cell channel layers connected to the second pipe channel layer; and a slit insulating layer passing through the stacked structure and positioned between the adjacent second cell channel layers, wherein the second pipe channel layer has a body portion and a protrusion portion extending below the body portion at a position below the slit insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9812544
    Abstract: To manufacture a transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled without using a backgate electrode, a circuit for controlling the threshold voltage, and an impurity introduction method. To manufacture a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption using the transistor. A gate electrode including a tungsten oxide film whose composition is controlled is used. The composition or the like is adjusted by a film formation method of the tungsten oxide film, whereby the work function can be controlled. By using the tungsten oxide film whose work function is controlled as part of the gate electrode, the threshold of the transistor can be controlled. Using the transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled, a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Endo, Toshinari Sasaki, Kosei Noda, Hitomi Sato, Yuhei Sato
  • Patent number: 9799777
    Abstract: A floating gate memory cell is provided on a surface of a base semiconductor substrate utilizing a vertical FET processing flow. The floating gate memory cell contains a bottom source/drain region located beneath one end of an epitaxial semiconductor channel material and a top source/drain region located above a second end of the epitaxial semiconductor channel material. A floating gate structure including an inner dielectric material portion, a floating gate portion, an outer dielectric material portion, and a control gate portion is present on each side of the epitaxial semiconductor channel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Pouya Hashemi, Tak H. Ning, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9799761
    Abstract: A 3D IC based system, the system including: a first layer including first memory cells including first transistors, where the first transistors include first transistor channels; a second layer overlying the first layer, the second layer including second memory cells including second transistors, where the second transistors include second transistor channels, where the second layer includes vertically oriented doped regions, where the second layer includes at least one through second layer via having a diameter of less than 400 nm, and where at least one of the first transistor channels and at least one of the second transistor channels are directly coupled to at least one of the vertically oriented doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC 3D INC.
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Yuniarto Widjaja
  • Patent number: 9792984
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for operation of non-volatile memory devices. In one aspect, a correlated electron switch (CES) device may be placed in any one of multiple memory states in a write operation. Limiting current between terminals of the non-volatile memory device during read operations may enable use of higher voltages for higher realized gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ARM Ltd.
    Inventors: Azeez Jennudin Bhavnagarwala, Piyush Agarwal, Akshay Kumar
  • Patent number: 9793283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a 3D memory with vertical NAND strings, and method for fabricating the same. Each vertical NAND string has a source side select transistor having a body in contact with a single crystal silicon substrate. The NAND string channel is formed from silicon germanium (SiGe), which provides for greater electron mobility than silicon. The body of the source side select transistor comprises epitaxial crystalline silicon germanium (SiGe) in contact with the single crystal silicon substrate. By epitaxial crystalline SiGe it is meant that the crystalline SiGe has the same crystalline orientation as the single crystal silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Liang Pang, Jayavel Pachamuthu, Yingda Dong
  • Patent number: 9793279
    Abstract: A memory device including a silicon semiconductor substrate, spaced apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate with a channel region there between, and a conductive floating gate disposed over a first portion of the channel region and a first portion of the source region. An erase gate includes a first portion that is laterally adjacent to the floating gate and over the source region, and a second portion that extends up and over the floating gate. A conductive word line gate is disposed over a second portion of the channel region. The word line gate is disposed laterally adjacent to the floating gate and includes no portion disposed over the floating gate. The thickness of insulation separating the word line gate from the second portion of the channel region is less than that of insulation separating the floating gate from the erase gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeng-Wei Yang, Man-Tang Wu, Chun-Ming Chen, Mandana Tadayoni, Chien-Sheng Su, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 9780195
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes a substrate, a stacked structure, a channel layer, and a second dielectric layer. The stacked structure includes a first dielectric layer and a plurality of memory cells. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The memory cells are stacked on the first dielectric layer. Each of the memory cells includes two first conductive layers and a charge storage structure. The charge storage structure is disposed between the two first conductive layers. The charge storage structures in the vertically adjacent memory cells are separated from each other. The channel layer is disposed on a sidewall of the stacked structure and connected to the substrate. The second dielectric layer is disposed between the channel layer and the first conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Powerchip Tehnology Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Lung Chu, Chun-Hung Chen, Ta-Chien Chiu
  • Patent number: 9780208
    Abstract: An intermediate semiconductor structure in fabrication includes a silicon semiconductor substrate, a hard mask of silicon nitride (SiN) over the substrate and a sacrificial layer of polysilicon or amorphous silicon over the hard mask. The sacrificial layer is patterned into sidewall spacers, each of the sidewall spacers having vertically tapered inner and outer sidewalls providing a rough triangular shape. The rough triangular sidewall spacers are used as a temporary hard mask to pattern the SiN hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Chanro Park, Min Gyu Sung, Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9780105
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment, includes a stacked body including a plurality of electrode films stacked separated from each other along a first direction, a plurality of columnar structures extending in the first direction, piercing the stacked body, and including a semiconductor layer, a charge storage film provided between one of the columnar structures and the electrode films, and an insulating film dividing one of the electrode films disposed in an upper portion of the stacked body and not dividing other one of the electrode films disposed in a lower portion of the stacked body. A shortest distance between the columnar structures disposed on one side of the insulating film being shorter than a shortest distance between the columnar structures disposed with the insulating film interposed between the columnar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9773804
    Abstract: Provided herein is a semiconductor device including N stacked groups (where N is a natural number greater than or equal to two) sequentially stacked over a substrate, each stacked group including interlayer insulating films and conductive patterns alternately stacked, and N concave portions each having stepped sidewalls formed in the interlayer insulating films and the conductive patterns of the stacked groups, the N concave portions each having stepped sidewalls being aligned in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 9773795
    Abstract: Disclosed are non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory device includes device isolation patterns defining active portions in a substrate and gate structures disposed on the substrate. The active portions are spaced apart from each other in a first direction and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structures are spaced apart from each other in the second direction and extend in the first direction. Each of the device isolation patterns includes a first air gap, and each of a top surface and a bottom surface of the first air gap has a wave-shape in a cross-sectional view taken along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hwang Sim, Jinhyun Shin, HoJun Seong
  • Patent number: 9773797
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes electrodes, an interlayer insulating film, at least one semiconductor layer, conductive layers, first and second insulating films. The electrodes are arranged in a first direction. The interlayer insulating film is provided between the electrodes. The semiconductor layer extends in the first direction in the electrodes and the interlayer insulating film. The conductive layers are provided between each of the electrodes and the semiconductor layer, and separated from each other in the first direction. The first insulating film is provided between the conductive layers and the semiconductor layer. The second insulating film is provided between each of the electrodes and the conductive layers, and extends between each of the electrodes and the interlayer insulating film adjacent to the each of the electrodes. A width of the conductive layers in the first direction is narrower than that of the second insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9768173
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures having a source contact and a drain contact that exhibit reduced contact resistance and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present application, the reduced contact resistance is provided by forming a layer of a dipole metal or metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) oxide between an epitaxial semiconductor material (providing the source region and the drain region of the device) and an overlying metal semiconductor alloy. In yet other embodiment, the reduced contact resistance is provided by increasing the area of the source region and drain region by patterning the epitaxial semiconductor material that constitutes at least an upper portion of the source region and drain region of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Injo Ok, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Charan Veera Venkata Satya Surisetty
  • Patent number: 9768192
    Abstract: An etch-stop annular spacer can be formed around a protruding portion of a sacrificial pillar structure that fills a lower memory opening through a first insulating cap layer and through an underlying first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first spacer layers. The etch-stop layer comprises a material that is different from the material of the sacrificial pillar structure. After formation of a second insulating cap layer, a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second spacer layers can be formed over the sacrificial pillar structure. An upper memory opening is formed though the second alternating stack by an anisotropic etch that employs the etch-stop annular spacer as an etch stop. A memory opening is formed by removing the sacrificial pillar structure underneath the upper memory opening selective to the etch-stop annular spacer. A memory stack structure without a convex protrusion can be formed in the memory opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9761450
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a hard mask structure is provided. According to the method, a hard mask layer is disposed over a substrate. The hard mask layer includes a lower hard mask layer disposed over the substrate and an upper hard mask layer disposed over the lower hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is patterned and the upper hard mask layer is removed by selectively etching the upper hard mask layer until reaching the lower hard mask layer to form a top portion of the hard mask structure having a first dimension. A spacer material is disposed on a sidewall of the top portion of the hard mask structure. The lower hard mask layer is removed by selectively etching the lower mask layer until reaching the substrate to form a bottom portion of the hard mask structure having a second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 9748254
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device that has a shorter distance between the bit lines and easily achieves higher storage capacity and density. The semiconductor device includes: first bit lines and an insulating layer that is provided between the first bit lines and in a groove. First faces of the first bit lines are aligned on a first line and second faces of the first bit lines are aligned on a second line. A first face of the insulating layer is disposed at a third line that is a first distance from the first line in a first direction and a second face of the insulating layer is disposed at a fourth line that is a second distance from the second line in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Yukio Hayakawa, Hiroyuki Nansei
  • Patent number: 9748264
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, conductive layers, insulating layers, a memory structure including first memory structure clusters and second memory structure clusters, isolation trenches, and common source trenches. The conductive layers and the insulating layers are interlaced and stacked on the substrate. Each first memory structure cluster include first memory structures and each first memory structure cluster include second memory structures. The first and second memory structures penetrate the conductive layers and the insulating layers. Each isolation trench is formed between a first memory structure cluster and a second memory structure cluster. The isolation trenches span horizontally on the substrate in a discontinuous manner separated by gaps. Common source trenches are formed on the substrate that run substantially parallel with the isolation trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Wei Jiang, Teng Hao Yeh
  • Patent number: 9748272
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul A. Nygaard, Stuart B. Molin, Michael A. Stuber
  • Patent number: 9741730
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the first separation film separates the control electrode, the first insulating layer, the charge storage layer, the intermediate insulating layer, the floating electrode layer, and the second insulating layer in a first direction. The second separation film separates a first stacked unit in a second direction. The first stacked unit includes the charge storage layer, the intermediate insulating layer, the floating electrode layer, the second insulating layer, and the semiconductor layer. The second direction intersects the first direction. The second separation film contains silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakoshi, Kazuhito Furumoto
  • Patent number: 9741869
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface, an element separation film formed over the main surface, and a fin protruding from the element separation film and extending in the first direction in plan view. The semiconductor device further includes a control gate electrode extending in the second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction along the surface of the fin through a gate insulating film and overlaps with a first main surface of the element separation film, and a memory gate electrode extending in the second direction along the surface of the fin through an insulating film and overlaps with a second main surface of the element separation film, in which the second main surface is lower than the first main surface relative to the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuyoshi Mihara
  • Patent number: 9741727
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory with a U-shaped channel comprises: a U-shaped channel region arranged in a semiconductor substrate, a source region, a drain region, a first layer of insulation film arranged on the U-shaped channel region, a floating gate provided with a notch, a second layer of insulation film, a control gate, a p-n junction diode arranged between the floating gate and the drain region, and a gate controlled diode formed by the control gate, the second layer of insulation film, and the p-n junction diode and using the control gate as a gate. Under the precondition of not increasing the manufacturing cost and difficulty of the semiconductor memory with a U-shaped channel and not affecting the performance of the semiconductor memory with a U-shaped channel, the dimension of a semiconductor storage device is further reduced and the chip density is increased by arranging the notch in the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Su Zhou Oriental Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Lei Liu, Pengfei Wang, Yi Gong
  • Patent number: 9734913
    Abstract: A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory device, which includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells and a control circuit. Each of the memory cells includes a channel layer, a charge trap layer on the channel layer, and a control electrode on the charge trap layer, the charge trap layer being shared by the memory cells. The charge trap layer includes program regions respectively disposed below the control electrodes of the memory cells, and charge spread blocking regions, each of which is disposed between two adjacent ones of the program regions and between two adjacent ones of the control electrodes. The control circuit controls the memory cell array so that a potential barrier is generated in the charge spread blocking regions by charging the charge spread blocking regions with charges having the same polarity as that of program charges stored in the program regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: SK HYNIX INC., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jong Ho Lee, Ho Jung Kang, Nag Yong Choi, Byeong Il Han, Kyoung Jin Park, Sung Yong Chung
  • Patent number: 9735169
    Abstract: A fin includes a first region and a second region arranged on a positive side in an X-axis direction with respect to the first region. A control gate electrode covers an upper surface of the first region, and a side surface of the first region on the positive side in a Y-axis direction. A memory gate electrode covers an upper surface of the second region, and a side surface of the second region on the positive side in the Y-axis direction. The upper surface of the second region is lower than the upper surface of the first region. The side surface of the second region is arranged on the negative side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the side surface of the first region in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuyoshi Mihara
  • Patent number: 9735287
    Abstract: Memory devices, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of accessing the same are provided. In one embodiment, the memory device may include a substrate, a back gate formed on the substrate, and a transistor. The transistor may include fins formed on opposite sides of the back gate on the substrate and a gate stack formed on the substrate and intersecting the fins. The memory device may further include a back gate dielectric layer formed on side and bottom surfaces of the back gate. The back gate dielectric layer may have a thickness reduced portion at a region facing the fins on one side of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventor: Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 9735346
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory may include a substrate including a first region and a second region; buried gates formed in the first region and the second region, the buried gates in the second region having a different density distribution from the buried gates in the first region; first and second junction regions formed in the first and second regions, respectively, and having a same depth as each other; and a variable resistance element formed over the substrate and electrically connected to the buried gates in the first region. According to the implementations, the characteristics of the variable resistance element can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyung-Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 9728545
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embedded flash memory device is provided. Memory and logic shallow trench isolation (STI) regions respectively extend into memory and logic regions of a substrate. The memory and logic STI regions have upper surfaces approximately coplanar with an upper surface of a pad layer overlying the substrate. A capping layer is formed overlying the logic region. A first etch is performed into the pad layer to expose memory gaps between the memory STI regions. A floating gate layer is formed filling the memory gaps. A second, dry etch is performed into the floating gate layer to etch the floating gate layer back to below upper surfaces of the capping layer and the memory STI regions. A third etch is performed into the memory STI regions to recess the memory STI regions. A fourth etch is performed into the floating gate layer to form floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9721965
    Abstract: Provided is a non-volatile memory device having a vertical channel cell. The non-volatile memory device includes a substrate having a well. A first vertical channel and a second vertical channel are in contact with the well, and protrude from the well. A pipe channel connecting the first and second vertical channels is disposed. A cut-off gate electrode stacked over the well, and surrounding side surfaces of the first and second vertical channels is disposed. A pipe gate electrode stacked over the cut-off gate electrode, and having the pipe channel is disposed. A plurality of memory-cell gate electrodes stacked over the pipe gate electrode, and surrounding the side surfaces of the first and second vertical channels is disposed. A select gate electrode stacked over the plurality of memory-cell gate electrodes, and surrounding the side surfaces of the first and second vertical channels is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jang-Gn Yun
  • Patent number: 9721662
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system includes a plurality of NAND strings (or other arrangements) that form a monolithic three dimensional memory structure, bit lines, word lines, and one or more control circuits. Multiple NAND strings of the plurality of NAND strings have different select gates connected to different select lines. The multiple NAND strings are connected to a common bit line. The multiple NAND strings are connected to a common word line via their respective different select gates. The one or more control circuits concurrently program multiple memory cells on the multiple NAND strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Nian Niles Yang, Chris Avila
  • Patent number: 9715935
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory apparatus and a data erasing method thereof are provided to suppress deterioration in reliability due to data rewriting. An erasing method of a flash memory is provided, which includes the following steps. A control gate is maintained at 0V, a high-voltage erase pulse is applied to a P well, such that electrons is emitted from a floating gate to the P well. Then, the control gate is again maintained, and a weak erase pulse with a voltage lower than the erase pulse is applied to the P well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Riichiro Shirota
  • Patent number: 9716097
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a flash memory device. The flash memory device includes first and second individual source/drain (S/D) regions spaced apart within a semiconductor substrate. A common S/D region is arranged laterally between the first and second individual S/D regions, and is separated from the first individual S/D region by a first channel region and is separated from the second individual S/D region by a second channel region. An erase gate is arranged over the common S/D. A floating gate is disposed over the first channel region and is arranged to a first side of the erase gate. A control gate is disposed over the floating gate. A wordline is disposed over the first channel region and is spaced apart from the erase gate by the floating gate and the control gate. An upper surface of the wordline is a concave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yung-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 9716203
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming metal nanoparticle(s) onto an inner surface of one or more open volume defects within a substrate by providing the substrate containing the one or more open volume defects, depositing an immiscible metal on a surface of the substrate, and forming the metal nanoparticle(s) by diffusing the immiscible metal from the surface onto the inner surface of each open volume defect using a heat treatment. The method can be used to produce a substrate having at least one open volume defect with a metal nanoparticle formed onto an inner surface of the open volume defect, a solar cell, an optical switch, a radiation detector, or other similar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael S. Martin, Lin Shao
  • Patent number: 9711190
    Abstract: A stabilizing circuit is provided that is connected to a biased voltage. The stabilizing circuit is configured to inhibit a change in voltage of the biased voltage caused by a first change in voltage of one or more nodes that are connected to the biased voltage through a first parasitic capacitance. In some embodiments, the stabilizing circuit induces a voltage on the biased voltage through a second parasitic capacitance that changes from a first voltage level to a second voltage level during the first change in voltage such that a total change in parasitic voltage that is induced at the biased voltage during the first change in voltage is close to 0 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 9711513
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a nonvolatile memory cell including a source region, a channel region and a drain region that are provided in a semiconductor material. The channel region includes a first portion adjacent the source region and a second portion between the first portion of the channel region and the drain region. An electrically insulating floating gate is provided over the first portion of the channel region. The nonvolatile memory cell further includes a select gate and a control gate. The first portion of the select gate is provided over the second portion of the channel region. The second portion of the select gate is provided over a portion of the floating gate that is adjacent to the first portion of the select gate. The control gate is provided over the floating gate and adjacent to the second portion of the select gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Alban Zaka, Sven Beyer, Tom Herrmann, El Mehdi Bazizi
  • Patent number: 9711517
    Abstract: The semiconductor device may include a first sub-pipe gate having a pipe hole formed therein; a second sub-pipe gate disposed on the first sub-pipe gate and passed-through by vertical holes being coupled to the pipe hole, wherein a material of the second sub-pipe gate has a lower oxidation rate than that of a material of the first sub-pipe gate; a first oxidized layer formed within a portion of the first sub-pipe gate to conform to a contour of the pipe hole; and a second oxidized layer formed within a portion of the second sub-pipe gate to conform to a contour of the vertical holes and the contour of the pipe hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Keon Soo Shim, Seul Ki Oh, Eun Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 9704577
    Abstract: A two transistor SONOS flash memory is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus, includes a control gate transistor having source and drain diffusions deposited in an N-well, a charge-trapping region formed on the N-well that overlaps the source and drain diffusions, and a control gate formed on the charge-trapping region. A channel region of the N-well between the source and drain diffusions is less than 90 nm in length. The apparatus also includes a select gate transistor having a select source diffusion deposited in the N-well. A drain side of the select gate transistor shares the source diffusion. A channel region of the N-well between the select source diffusion and the source diffusion also is less than 90 nm in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NEO Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Fu-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 9704996
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor film and a gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a conductive film, an insulating film over the gate electrode and the conductive film, and a gate wiring over the insulating film. The gate wiring extends across the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Rumo Satake