With Irregularities On Electrode To Facilitate Charging Or Discharging Of Floating Electrode Patents (Class 257/317)
  • Patent number: 7582928
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, which is intended to prevent data destruction by movements of electric charges between floating gates and thereby improve the reliability, includes element isolation/insulation films buried into a silicon substrate to isolate stripe-shaped element-forming regions. Formed on the substrate area floating gate via a first gate insulating film and further a control gate via a second gate insulating film. Source and drain diffusion layers are formed in self-alignment with control gates. The second gate insulating film on the floating gate is divided and separated together with the floating gate by slits above the element isolation/insulation films into discrete portions of individual memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Iguchi, Yoshiaki Himeno, Hiroaki Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 7582929
    Abstract: An electronic device can include discontinuous storage elements that lie within a trench. In one embodiment, the electronic device can include a substrate having a trench that includes a wall and a bottom. The electronic device can also include a portion of discontinuous storage elements that lie within the trench. The electronic device can also include a first gate electrode, wherein at least one discontinuous storage element lies along the wall of the trench at an elevation between and upper surface of the first gate electrode and a primary surface of the substrate. The electronic device can also include a second gate electrode overlying the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate. In another embodiment, a conductive line can be electrically connected to one or more rows or columns of memory cells, and another conductive line can be more rows or more columns of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Ko-Min Chang, Gowrishankar L. Chindalore, Cheong M. Hong, Craig T. Swift
  • Publication number: 20090212344
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flash memory device in which the distribution of threshold voltage is significantly reduced and the durability is improved even though a floating gate has a micro- or nano-size length. It comprises a tunneling insulation film formed on a semiconductor substrate; a multilayer floating gate structure comprising a first thin storage electrode, a second thick storage electrode, and a third thin storage electrode, defined in that order on the tunneling insulation film; an interelectrode insulation film and a control electrode formed in that order on the floating gate structure; and a source/drain provided in the semiconductor substrate below the opposite sidewalls of the floating gate structure. The novel flash memory device can be readily fabricated at a high yield through a process compatible with a conventional one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: KYUNGPOOK National University Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Jong-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7579238
    Abstract: In making a multi-bit memory cell, a first insulating layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A layer of gate material is formed over the second insulating layer and patterned to leave a gate portion. The second insulating layer is etched to undercut the gate portion and leave a portion of the second insulating layer between the first insulating layer and the gate portion. Nanocrystals are formed on the first insulating layer. A first portion of the nanocrystals is under the gate portion on a first side of the portion of the second insulating layer and a second portion of the nanocrystals is under the gate portion on a second side of the portion of the second insulating layer. The first and second portions of the nanocrystals are for storing logic states of first and second bits, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh A. Rao, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 7573093
    Abstract: A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Vidyadhara Bellippady, William C. Plants, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7573092
    Abstract: Disclosure is semiconductor device of a selective gate region, comprising a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer formed on the first insulating layer, an element isolating region comprising an element isolating insulating film formed to extend through the first electrode layer and the first insulating film to reach an inner region of the semiconductor layer, the element isolating region isolating a element region and being self-aligned with the first electrode layer, a second insulating film formed on the first electrode layer and the element isolating region, an open portion exposing a surface of the first electrode layer being formed in the second insulating film, and a second electrode layer formed on the second insulating film and the exposed surface of the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer being electronically connected to the first electrode layer via the open portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michiharu Matsui, Seiichi Mori, Riichiro Shirota, Yuji Takeuchi, Takeshi Kamigaichi
  • Patent number: 7560764
    Abstract: A new SONOS memory device is provided, in which a conventional planar surface of multi-dielectric layers (ONO layers) is instead formed with a curved surface such as a cylindrical shape, and included is a method for fabricating the same. A radius of curvature of the upper surface of a blocking oxide can be designed to be larger than that of the lower surface of a tunneling oxide, which restrains electrons from passing through the blocking oxide by back-tunneling on erasing. As a result, a SONOS memory device shows an improvement in erasing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignees: Seoul National University Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Gook Park, Jung-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7557405
    Abstract: An improved nonvolatile memory cell made by a method for fabricating a three dimensional monolithic memory with increased density. The memory cell includes at least a part of a first conductor, a semiconductor element, and at least a part of a second conductor. The method includes forming conductors preferably comprising tungsten, then filling and planarizing; above the conductors forming semiconductor elements, preferably comprising two diode portions, optionally forming an antifuse above or below both of the diode portions, and then filling and planarizing; and continuing to form conductors and semiconductor elements in multiple stories of memories. The arrangement of processing steps and the choice of materials decreases aspect ratio of each memory cell, improving the reliability of gap fill and preventing etch undercut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: S. Brad Herner, Maitreyee Mahajani
  • Patent number: 7554840
    Abstract: A memory device is disclosed. A floating gate is disposed overlying a substrate. A tunneling dielectric layer is interposed between the floating gate and the substrate. An inter poly dielectric layer is disposed overlying the floating gate and the substrate. A word line is disposed overlying the floating gate, extending in a row direction. A bit line is disposed in the substrate, extending in a column direction, wherein the bit line is partially overlapped by the floating gate and the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kou-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 7538380
    Abstract: Disclosure is semiconductor device of a selective gate region, comprising a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer formed on the first insulating layer, an element isolating region comprising an element isolating insulating film formed to extend through the first electrode layer and the first insulating film to reach an inner region of the semiconductor layer, the element isolating region isolating a element region and being self-aligned with the first electrode layer, a second insulating film formed on the first electrode layer and the element isolating region, an open portion exposing a surface of the first electrode layer being formed in the second insulating film, and a second electrode layer formed on the second insulating film and the exposed surface of the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer being electronically connected to the first electrode layer via the open portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michiharu Matsui, Seiichi Mori, Riichiro Shirota, Yuji Takeuchi, Takeshi Kamigaichi
  • Patent number: 7538379
    Abstract: A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Vidyadhara Bellippady, William C. Plants, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7538382
    Abstract: A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Vidyadhara Bellippady, William C. Plants, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7528438
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. An assist gate structure is formed on a substrate such that the width at the bottom of the assist gate structure is greater than the width at the top of the assist gate structure. A floating gate is formed on one side of the assist gate structure and disposed between a word line and the substrate. The width at the bottom of the floating gate is smaller than the width at the top of the floating gate. The word line, the floating gate and the assist gate structure together form a memory unit. A tunneling dielectric layer is formed between the floating gate and the substrate. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed between the word line, the floating gate and the assist gate structure. Source/drain regions are formed in the substrate on the respective sides of the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ko-Hsing Chang, Chiu-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 7514739
    Abstract: A stack-type nonvolatile semiconductor device comprises a memory device formed on a substrate including a semiconductor body elongated in one direction, having a cross section perpendicular to a main surface, having a predetermined curvature, a channel region on the semiconductor body along the circumference, a tunneling insulating layer on the channel region, a floating gate on the tunneling insulating layer, insulated from the channel region, a high dielectric constant material layer on the floating gate, a metallic control gate on the high dielectric constant material layer, insulated from the floating gate, and source and drain regions adjacent to the metallic control gate on the semiconductor body, an inter-insulating layer on the memory device, and a conductive layer on the inter-insulating layer, and a memory device formed on the conductive layer including, a semiconductor body elongated in one direction having a cross section perpendicular to a main surface, having a predetermined curvature, a channel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-Sam Park, Seung-Beom Yoon, Jeong-Uk Han, Sung-Taeg Kang, Seung-Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 7508026
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device has a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate between isolation regions, a first gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, an intergate insulating film formed on the first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode formed on the intergate insulating film. The first gate electrode has a first part positioned between isolation insulating films, a second part positioned on the first part and having a partial portion positioned on the isolation region, and a third part positioned on the second part. A width of the third part is set narrower than that of the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naohisa Iino, Fumitaka Arai
  • Patent number: 7501681
    Abstract: A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Vidyadhara Bellippady, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7494860
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory using floating gates to store charge, individual floating gates are L-shaped. Orientations of L-shaped floating gates may alternate in the bit line direction and may also alternate in the word line direction. L-shaped floating gates are formed by etching conductive portions using etch masks of different patterns to obtain floating gates of different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Nima Mokhlesi
  • Patent number: 7489006
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of isolation regions formed in the semiconductor substrate; an element-forming region formed between adjacent isolation regions; a first gate insulating film provided on the element-forming region; a floating gate electrode which is provided on the first gate insulating film and in which a width of a lower hem facing the element-forming region is narrower than a width of the element-forming region in a section taken in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the isolation regions extend; a second gate insulating film provided on the floating gate electrode; and a control gate electrode provided on the second gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Atsuhiro Kinoshita, Akira Takashima, Daisuke Hagishima
  • Patent number: 7485513
    Abstract: One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a one-device non-volatile memory cell. The memory cell includes a body region, a first diffusion region and a second diffusion region formed in the body region. A channel region is formed in the body region between the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region. The memory cell includes a gate insulator stack formed above the channel region, and a gate to connect to a word line. The gate insulator stack includes a floating plate to selectively hold a charge. The floating plate is connected to the second diffusion region. The memory cell includes a diode that connects the body region to the second diffusion region such that the floating plate is charged when the diode is reversed biased. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7485526
    Abstract: Floating-gate memory cells having a floating gate with a conductive portion and a dielectric portion facilitate increased levels of charge trapping sites within the floating gate. The conductive portion includes a continuous component providing bulk conductivity to the floating gate. The dielectric portion is discontinuous within the conductive portion and may include islands of dielectric material and/or one or more contiguous layers of dielectric material having discontinuities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Mouli, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7482619
    Abstract: Provided are a charge trap memory device including a substrate and a gate structure including a charge trapping layer formed of a composite of nanoparticles, and a method of manufacturing the charge trap memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-soo Seol, Shin-ae Jun, Eun-joo Jang, Jung-eun Lim, Kyung-sang Cho, Byung-ki Kim, Jae-ho Lee, Jae-young Choi
  • Patent number: 7473960
    Abstract: A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Vidyadhara Bellippady, William C. Plants, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7473957
    Abstract: A floating non-volatile memory has a substrate and source and drain regions disposed in a surface region of the substrate and spaced apart from each other with a channel forming semiconductor region disposed therebetween. A gate insulating film is disposed on the channel forming semiconductor region. A single crystal control region is disposed in the surface region of the substrate and is electrically separated from the channel forming semiconductor region. A control gate insulating film is disposed on the single crystal control region. A floating gate is disposed on the control gate insulating film and is capacitively coupled with the single crystal control region. A chemical-vapor-deposited shield insulating film is formed in a gas atmosphere charge-balanced on the floating gate. A shield conductive film is disposed on the chemical-vapor-deposited shield insulating film and capacitively coupled with the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Hayashi, Shoji Nakanishi, Sumitaka Goto
  • Patent number: 7470947
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes memory cell transistors comprising a tunnel insulating film, a floating gate electrode, a first insulating film, a control gate electrode, and a first metal salicide film; low-voltage transistors comprising a first p-type source region and a first p-type drain region, a first gate insulating film, and a first gate electrode of an n conductivity type having the same dose of a first p-type impurity as with the first p-type source region; and high-voltage transistors comprising a second p-type source region and a second p-type drain region, a second gate insulating film thicker than the first gate insulating film, and a second gate electrode of an n conductivity type having the same dose of a second p-type impurity as with the second p-type source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 7453117
    Abstract: To achieve a high-speed and reliable read operation. A unit cell is constituted by a select gate 3 provided in a first region and on a substrate 1 with an insulating film 2 interposed inbetween, a floating gate 6a provided in a second region adjacent to the first region with an insulating film 5 interposed inbetween, a diffusion region 7a provided in a third region adjacent to the second region and on the surface of the substrate, and a control gate 11 provided on the top of the floating gate 6a with an insulating film 8 interposed inbetween. Each data bit is stored using corresponding first unit cell and second unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Naoaki Sudo, Kohji Kanamori
  • Patent number: 7449745
    Abstract: Disclosure is semiconductor device of a selective gate region, comprising a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer formed on the first insulating layer, an element isolating region comprising an element isolating insulating film formed to extend through the first electrode layer and the first insulating film to reach an inner region of the semiconductor layer, the element isolating region isolating a element region and being self-aligned with the first electrode layer, a second insulating film formed on the first electrode layer and the element isolating region, an open portion exposing a surface of the first electrode layer being formed in the second insulating film, and a second electrode layer formed on the second insulating film and the exposed surface of the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer being electronically connected to the first electrode layer via the open portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michiharu Matsui, Seiichi Mori, Riichiro Shirota, Yuji Takeuchi, Takeshi Kamigaichi
  • Patent number: 7449742
    Abstract: The present memory device includes first and second electrodes, a passive layer between the first and second electrodes; and an active layer between the first and second electrodes, the active layer being of dendrimeric material which provides passages through the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Igor Sokolik, Juri Krieger, Xiaobo Shi, Richard Kingsborough, William Leonard
  • Patent number: 7446369
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device may include an intergate dielectric layer of a high-K dielectric material interposed between a floating gate and a control gate. With this intergate high-K dielectric in place, the memory device may be erased using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: Spansion, LLC, Advnaced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Whitney Orimoto, Joong Jeon, Hidehiko Shiraiwa, Simon S. Chan, Harpreet K. Sachar
  • Patent number: 7446371
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory device and a method for forming such a device, at least one edge of the charge trapping layer is recessed. In this manner, the threshold voltage of the device during a programming operation and the threshold voltage of the device during an erase operation are maintained at an appropriate and consistent level. As a result, device characteristics are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-su Kim
  • Patent number: 7442988
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same. The device is disposed on a substrate, including a fin constructed with first and second sidewalls, a first gate line formed in the pattern of spacer on the first sidewall of the fin, and a second gate line formed in the pattern of spacer on the second sidewall of the fin. First and second impurity regions are disposed in the fin. The first and second impurity regions are isolated from each other and define a channel region in the fin between the first and second gate lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Woo Oh, Ki-Whan Song
  • Patent number: 7443725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a set of floating gates which are isolated from each other by means of slits, as well as semiconductor devices using the floating gate. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an array of semiconductor devices on a substrate (10), each device having a floating gate (36), comprising: first forming isolation zones (14) in the substrate (10), thereafter forming a floating gate separator (32) on the isolation zones (14) at locations where separations between adjacent floating gates (36) are to be formed, after forming the floating gate separator (32), forming the floating gates (36) on the substrate (10) between parts of the floating gate separator (32), and thereafter removing the floating gate separator (32) so as to obtain slits in between neighboring floating gates (36). This method has an advantage over prior art in that less residues of floating gate material, or less floating gate material shorts between adjacent floating gates occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Robertus Theodorus Fransiscus Van Schaijk, Michiel Slotboom
  • Patent number: 7439572
    Abstract: A stacked gate nonvolatile memory floating gate device has a control gate. Programming of the cell in the array is accomplished by hot channel electron injecton from the drain to the floating gate. Erasure occurs by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons from the floating gate to the control gate. Finally, to increase the density, each cell can be made in a trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bomy Chen, Hieu Van Tran, Dana Lee, Jack Edward Frayer
  • Patent number: 7429766
    Abstract: In a split gate type nonvolatile memory device, a supplementary layer pattern is disposed on a source region of a semiconductor substrate. Since the source region is vertically extended by virtue of the presence of the supplementary layer pattern, it is therefore possible to increase an area of a region where a floating gate overlaps the source region and the supplementary layer pattern. Accordingly, the capacitance of a capacitor formed between the source and the floating gate increases so that it is possible for the nonvolatile memory device to perform program/erase operations at a low voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Seog Jeon, Seung-Beom Yoon, Jeong-Uk Han, Yong-Tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20080230827
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided with respect to a gate stack for a nonvolatile structure. According to one aspect, a gate stack is provided. One embodiment of the gate stack includes a tunnel medium, a high K charge blocking and charge storing medium, and an injector medium. The high K charge blocking and charge storing medium is disposed on the tunnel medium. The injector medium is operably disposed with respect to the tunnel medium and the high K charge blocking and charge storing medium to provide charge transport by enhanced tunneling. According to one embodiment, the injector medium is disposed on the high K charge blocking and charge storing medium. According to one embodiment, the tunnel medium is disposed on the injector medium. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20080224201
    Abstract: Flash memory devices and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises doping at least one active region of a substrate, and forming an etching mask layer on the active region. The etching mask layer defines an opening exposing a portion of the active region. The disclosed method further comprises forming an etching groove in the active region. The etching groove separates a source region and a drain region. The disclosed method also comprises growing an epitaxial layer within the etching groove; forming a gate insulating layer on the epitaxial layer; depositing a first polysilicon layer on inner sidewalls of the opening and on the gate insulating layer; forming a dielectric layer on the first polysilicon layer; and depositing a second polysilicon layer on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: KWAN JU KOH
  • Patent number: 7420253
    Abstract: A transistor structure comprises a semiconductor element extending between a source zone and a drain zone, as well as three portions of gates disposed on different sides of the semiconductor element. Such a structure is especially compact and may be used as two or three transistors having independent respective functions. In particular, the structure may be used as a combination of a transistor with a logic or analog function, with one or two random access memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Coronel, Romain Wacquez
  • Patent number: 7416944
    Abstract: In a flash EEPROM device, and method for fabricating the same, no bit line contact is made, thereby minimizing a design rule between a contact and a gate. Thus, cell size may be reduced. The flash EEPROM device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active area defined in a bit line direction and a word line direction, a plurality of floating gates formed in the word line direction, an interlayer polysilicon oxide film formed on a floating gate, a control gate formed on the interlayer polysilicon oxide film, source and drain electrodes disposed between adjacent floating gates in the word line direction, a buried N+ region formed in the semiconductor substrate under the source and drain electrodes, and a metal silicide film formed on an upper surface of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7414280
    Abstract: A memory structure that combines multiple embedded flash memory. The flash memory can be used, e.g., as air replacement cells or back up memory, or additional memory cells. In one aspect, the flash memory cells are stacked on top of the flash memory cells and the flash memory cells share a gate layer. In another aspect, pairs of stacked flash memory cells are stacked on top of each other with each pair isolated by an isolation oxide. In another aspect, pairs of stacked flash memory cells are stacked on top of each other in an un-isolated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-I Wu
  • Patent number: 7414297
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming rugged electrically conductive surfaces. In one method, a layer is formed across a substrate and subsequently at least partially dissociated to form gaps extending to the substrate. An electrically conductive surface is formed to extend across the at least partially dissociated layer and within the gaps. The electrically conductive surface has a rugged topography imparted by the at least partially dissociated layer and the gaps. The topographically rugged surface can be incorporated into capacitor constructions. The capacitor constructions can be incorporated into DRAM cells, and such DRAM cells can be incorporated into electrical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marsela Pontoh, Cem Basceri, Thomas M. Graettinger
  • Patent number: 7414282
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes forming a sub-gate without an additional mask. A low word-line resistance is formed by a metal silicide layer on a main gate of the memory device. In operation, application of a voltage to the sub-gate forms a transient state inversion layer that serves as a bit-line, so that no implantation is required to form the bit-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiahua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7411243
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body formed on a substrate to be elongated in one direction and having a cross section perpendicular to a main surface of the substrate and elongated direction, the cross section having a predetermined curvature, a channel region partially formed along the circumference of the semiconductor body, a tunneling insulating layer disposed on the channel region, a floating gate disposed on the tunneling insulating layer and electrically insulated from the channel region, an intergate insulating layer disposed on the floating gate, a control gate disposed on the intergate insulating layer and electrically insulated from the floating gate, and source and drain regions which are aligned with both sides of the control gate and formed within the semiconductor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Sam Park, Seung-Beom Yoon, Jeong-Uk Han, Sung-Taeg Kang, Seung-Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 7391076
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a non-volatile memory cell provided on the semiconductor substrate, the non-volatile memory cell comprising a tunnel insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate electrode provided on the tunnel insulating film, the width of the floating gate electrode changing in the height direction of the non-volatile memory cell in channel width or length direction there, and being thinnest between a region above the bottom surface of the floating gate electrode and a region below the upper surface thereof, a control gate electrode above the floating gate electrode, and an interelectrode insulating film provided between the control gate electrode and the floating gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7391072
    Abstract: Structures and methods for programmable array type logic and/or memory with p-channel devices and asymmetrical low tunnel barrier intergate insulators are provided. The programmable array type logic and/or memory devices include p-channel non-volatile memory which has a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region separated by a p-type channel region in an n-type substrate. A floating gate opposing the p-type channel region and is separated therefrom by a gate oxide. A control gate opposes the floating gate. The control gate is separated from the floating gate by an asymmetrical low tunnel barrier intergate insulator. The asymmetrical low tunnel barrier intergate insulator includes a metal oxide insulator selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, Ta2O5, TiO2, ZrO2, Nb2O5, SrBi2Ta2O3, SrTiO3, PbTiO3, and PbZrO3. The floating gate includes a polysilicon floating gate having a metal layer formed thereon in contact with the low tunnel barrier intergate insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Jerome M. Eldridge, Kie Y. Ahn
  • Patent number: 7391078
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. A substrate having a plurality of trenches and a plurality of select gates is provided. The trenches are arranged in parallel and extend in a first direction. Each of the select gates is disposed on the substrate between two adjacent trenches respectively. A plurality of select gate dielectric layers are disposed between the select gates and the substrate. A plurality of composite layers are disposed over the surface of the trenches and each composite layer has a charge trapping layer. A plurality of word lines are arranged in parallel in a second direction, wherein each of the word lines fills the trenches between adjacent select gates and is disposed over the composite layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Zhe Wong, Ching-Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 7385244
    Abstract: A method for forming an improved etching hardmask oxide layer in a polysilicon etching process including providing a planarized semiconductor wafer process surface including adjacent first exposed polysilicon portions and exposed oxide portions; selectively etching through a thickness portion of the exposed oxide portions; thermally growing an oxide hardmask layer over the exposed polysilicon portions to form oxide hardmask portions; exposing second exposed polysilicon portions adjacent at least one oxide hardmask portion; and, etching through a thickness portion of the second exposed polysilicon portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Shing Chang, Yeur-Luen Tu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Patent number: 7382015
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, which is intended to prevent data destruction by movements of electric charges between floating gates and thereby improve the reliability, includes element isolation/insulation films buried into a silicon substrate to isolate stripe-shaped element-forming regions. Formed on the substrate are a floating gate via a first gate insulating film and further a control gate via a second gate insulating film. Source and drain diffusion layers are formed in self-alignment with control gates. The second gate insulating film on the floating gate is divided and separated together with the floating gate by slits above the element isolation/insulation films into discrete portions of individual memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Iguchi, Yoshiaki Himeno, Hiroaki Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 7379321
    Abstract: Memory cell structures make use of the extraordinary Hall effect (EHE) for increased data storage capacity. A memory cell has a ferromagnetic structure which includes at least a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a spacer layer in between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers. The first and the second ferromagnetic layers exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and have magnetic moments which are set in accordance with one of a plurality of magnetic orientation sets of the ferromagnetic structure, and the ferromagnetic structure exhibits one of a plurality of predetermined extraordinary Hall resistances RH in accordance with the magnetic orientation set. The extraordinary Hall resistance is exhibited between first and second ends of the ferromagnetic structure across a path which intersects a bias current path between third and fourth ends of the ferromagnetic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Dafine Ravelosona, Bruce David Terris
  • Patent number: 7368781
    Abstract: A method for forming a contactless flash memory cell array is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of active regions is formed on a substrate. An insulating layer is then deposited over the active regions, and a portion of the insulating layer is removed to form a one-dimensional slot and to provide access to the active regions. A bit line is then formed in the slot in contact with the active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Everett B. Lee
  • Patent number: 7365387
    Abstract: An EPROM cell in a printhead control circuit for an inkjet printer, having exactly one polysilicon layer and a conductive layer disposed above the polysilicon layer, includes a control transistor and an EPROM transistor. The control and EPROM transistors each have floating gates comprising a portion of the polysilicon layer, and an electrical interconnection, comprising a portion of the conductive layer, interconnects the floating gate of the control transistor and the floating gate of the EPROM transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Trudy Benjamin
  • Patent number: RE40486
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-aligned non-volatile memory cell including a small sidewall spacer electrically coupled and being located next to a main floating gate region. Both the small sidewall spacer and the main floating gate region are formed on a substrate and both form the floating gate of the non-volatile memory cell. Both are isolated electrically from the substrate by an oxide layer which is thinner between the small sidewall spacer and the substrate; and is thicker between the main floating gate region and the substrate. The small sidewall spacer can be made small; therefore, the thin oxide layer area can also be made small to create a small pathway for electrons to tunnel into the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Bohumil Lojek, Alan L. Renninger