Capacitor Element In Single Crystal Semiconductor (e.g., Dram) Patents (Class 257/68)
  • Patent number: 11177437
    Abstract: An intermediate semiconductor device structure includes a first area including a memory stack area and a second area including an alignment mark area. The intermediate structure includes a metal interconnect arranged on a substrate in the first area and a first electrode layer arranged on the metal interconnect in the first area, and in the second area. The intermediate structure includes an alignment assisting marker arranged in the second area. The intermediate structure includes a dielectric layer and a second electrode layer arranged on the alignment assisting marker in the second area and on the metal interconnect in the first area. The intermediate structure includes a hard mask layer arranged on the second electrode area. The hard mask layer provides a raised area of topography over the alignment assisting marker. The intermediate structure includes a resist arranged on the hard mask layer in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hao Tang, Michael Rizzolo, Injo Ok, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 10573592
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having a first wiring level with a plurality of first shield lines and first signal lines. The first shield lines and first signal lines have first segments extending along a first direction and second segments extending along the first direction and laterally offset from the first segments. The assembly includes a second wiring level below the first wiring level and having a plurality of second shield lines and second signal lines. The second shield lines and second signal lines have third segments extending along the first direction and fourth segments extending along the first direction and laterally offset from the third segments. The fourth segments of the second shield lines extend to under the first segments of the first shield lines and are electrically coupled to the first segments of the first shield lines through vertical interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 10096483
    Abstract: A method for patterning a layer increases the density of features formed over an initial patterning layer using a series of self-aligned spacers. A layer to be etched is provided, then an initial sacrificial patterning layer, for example formed using optical lithography, is formed over the layer to be etched. Depending on the embodiment, the patterning layer may be trimmed, then a series of spacer layers formed and etched. The number of spacer layers and their target dimensions depends on the desired increase in feature density. An in-process semiconductor device and electronic system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Baosuo Zhou, Mirzafer K. Abatchev, Ardavan Niroomand, Paul A. Morgan, Shuang Meng, Joseph Neil Greeley, Brian J. Coppa
  • Patent number: 9853049
    Abstract: A memory device includes a gate structure including a plurality of gate electrode layers stacked on an upper surface of a substrate, a plurality of channel areas passing through the gate structure and extending in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate, a source area disposed on the substrate to extend in a first direction and including impurities, and a common source line extending in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate to be connected to the source area, and including a plurality of layers containing different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim, Jae Hoon Jang, Byoung Keun Son
  • Patent number: 9741787
    Abstract: High voltage integrated circuit capacitors are disclosed. In an example arrangement. A capacitor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a bottom plate having a conductive layer overlying the semiconductor substrate; a capacitor dielectric layer deposited overlying at least a portion of the bottom plate and having a first thickness greater than about 6 um in a first region; a sloped transition region in the capacitor dielectric at an edge of the first region, the sloped transition region having an upper surface with a slope of greater than 5 degrees from a horizontal plane and extending from the first region to a second region of the capacitor dielectric layer having a second thickness lower than the first thickness; and a top plate conductor formed overlying at least a portion of the capacitor dielectric layer in the first region. Methods and additional apparatus arrangements are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan West, Thomas D. Bonifield, Byron Lovell Williams
  • Patent number: 9679771
    Abstract: Design and fabrication methods to reduce the effect of edge-placement errors in the cut-hole patterning process are invented using selective etching and dual-material self-aligned multiple patterning processes. The invented methods consist of a series of processing steps to decompose the original cut-hole mask into multiple separate masks, pattern the cut holes on the resist to expose certain targeted lines, and selectively etch the exposed targeted lines (formed by dual-material self-aligned multiple patterning processes) without attacking the non-target lines. This invention provides production-worthy methods for the semiconductor industry to continue IC scaling down to sub-10 nm half pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
    Inventor: Yijian Chen
  • Patent number: 9466618
    Abstract: It is an object to form a buffer circuit, an inverter circuit, or the like using only n-channel TFTs including an oxide semiconductor layer. A buffer circuit, an inverter circuit, or the like is formed by combination of a first transistor in which a source electrode and a drain electrode each overlap with a gate electrode and a second transistor in which a source electrode overlaps with a gate electrode and a drain electrode does not overlap with the gate electrode. Since the second transistor has such a structure, the capacitance Cp can be small, and VA? can be large even in the case where the potential difference VDD?VSS is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Miyake
  • Patent number: 9385131
    Abstract: A conductive strap structure in lateral contact with a top semiconductor layer is formed on an inner electrode of a deep trench capacitor. A cavity overlying the conductive strap structure is filled a dielectric material to form a dielectric capacitor cap having a top surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of an upper pad layer. A semiconductor mandrel in lateral contact with the dielectric capacitor cap is formed. The combination of the dielectric capacitor cap and the semiconductor mandrel is employed as a protruding structure around which a fin-defining spacer is formed. The semiconductor mandrel is removed, and the fin-defining spacer is employed as an etch mask in an etch process that etches a lower pad layer and the top semiconductor layer to form a semiconductor fin that laterally wraps around the conductive strap structure. An access finFET is formed employing two parallel portions of the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Felix Beaudoin, Stephen M. Lucarini, Xinhui Wang, Xinlin Wang
  • Patent number: 9257432
    Abstract: A highly integrated gain cell-type semiconductor memory is provided. A first insulator, a read bit line, a second insulator, a third insulator, a first semiconductor film, first conductive layers, and the like are formed. A projecting insulator is formed thereover. Then, second semiconductor films and a second gate insulating film are formed to cover the projecting insulator. After that, a conductive film is formed and subjected to anisotropic etching, so that write word lines are formed on side surfaces of the projecting insulator. A third contact plug for connection to a write bit line is formed over a top of the projecting insulator. With such a structure, the area of the memory cell can be 4F2 at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 9245893
    Abstract: Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having an active region surrounded by insulating material. A groove crosses the active region to divide the active region into first and second portions. A conductive wordline material is within the groove. First and second diffusion regions are within the first portion of the active region, and vertically arranged to sandwich a part of the first portion therebetween. Third and fourth diffusion regions are within the second portion of the active region, and are vertically arranged to sandwich a part of the second portion therebetween. First and second conductive regions are in electrical contact with the first and second diffusion regions, respectively. Third and fourth conductive regions are in an electrical contact with the third and fourth diffusion regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsunari Sukekawa
  • Patent number: 9147686
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A first interlayer insulating film is formed over a cell transistor and a peripheral transistor. A cell contact hole is formed in the first interlayer insulating film, the cell contact hole reaching the cell transistor. A lower contact plug is formed at a bottom of the cell contact hole. A peripheral contact hole is formed in the first interlayer insulating film, the peripheral contact hole reaching the peripheral transistor. A first peripheral contact plug is simultaneously formed in the peripheral contact hole and an upper contact plug in the cell contact hole, the upper contact plug being disposed on the lower contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sako, Eiji Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 9087839
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor structures with metal lines and methods of manufacture which reduce or eliminate extrusion formation. The method includes forming a metal wiring comprising a layered structure of metal materials with an upper constraining layer. The method further includes forming a film on the metal wiring which prevents metal extrusion during an annealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Matthew D. Moon, Anthony C. Speranza, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 9053966
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device that includes a plurality of multiple gate FinFETs (MuGFETs) is disclosed. Fins of different crystal orientations for PMOS and NMOS MuGFETs are formed through amorphization and crystal regrowth on a direct silicon bonded (DSB) hybrid orientation technology (HOT) substrate. PMOS MuGFET fins are formed with channels defined by fin sidewall surfaces having (110) crystal orientations. NMOS MuGFET fins are formed with channels defined by fin sidewall surfaces having (100) crystal orienations in a Manhattan layout with the sidewall channels of the different PMOS and NMOS MuGFETs aligned at 0° or 90° rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Weize W. Xiong, Cloves R. Cleavelin, Angelo Pinto, Rick L. Wise
  • Patent number: 9048133
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In the semiconductor device, an upper part of a storage node contact plug is increased in size, and an area of overlap between a storage node formed in a subsequent process and a storage node contact plug is increased, such that resistance of the storage node contact plug is increased and device characteristics are improved. The semiconductor device includes at least one bit line formed over a semiconductor substrate, a first storage node contact plug formed between the bit lines and coupled to an upper part of the semiconductor substrate, and a second storage node contact plug formed over the first storage node contact plug, wherein a width of a lower part of the second storage node contact plug is larger than a width of an upper part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dae Sik Park
  • Patent number: 9029232
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory elements that are based on resistive switching memory element layers are provided. A nonvolatile memory element may have a resistive switching metal oxide layer. The resistive switching metal oxide layer may have one or more layers of oxide. A resistive switching metal oxide may be doped with a dopant that increases its melting temperature and enhances its thermal stability. Layers may be formed to enhance the thermal stability of the nonvolatile memory element. An electrode for a nonvolatile memory element may contain a conductive layer and a buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra G Malhotra, Sean Barstow, Tony P. Chiang, Wayne R French, Pragati Kumar, Prashant B Phatak, Sunil Shanker, Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 9029862
    Abstract: A trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and is filled with a node dielectric layer and at least one conductive material fill portion that functions as an inner electrode. The at least one conductive material fill portion includes a doped polycrystalline semiconductor fill portion. A gate stack for an access transistor is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate spacer is formed around the gate stack. A source/drain trench is formed between an outer sidewall of the gate spacer and a sidewall of the doped polycrystalline semiconductor fill portion. An epitaxial source region and a polycrystalline semiconductor material portion are simultaneously formed by a selective epitaxy process such that the epitaxial source region and the polycrystalline semiconductor material portion contact each other without a gap therebetween. The polycrystalline semiconductor material portion provides a robust low resistance conductive path between the source region and the inner electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karen A. Nummy, Chengwen Pei, Werner A. Rausch, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 8981422
    Abstract: To prevent contact plugs formed to sandwich an abutting portion between gate electrodes, from being short-circuited via a void formed inside an insulating film of the abutting portion. Over sidewalls SW facing each other in the abutting portion between gate electrodes G2 and G5, a liner insulating film 6 and an interlayer insulating film 7 are formed. Between the sidewalls SW, the liner insulating film 6 formed on each of the side walls of the sidewalls SW are brought in contact with each other to close a space between the sidewalls SW to prevent a void from being generated inside the interlayer insulating film 7 and the liner insulating film 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8975633
    Abstract: A metal oxide bilayer second electrode for a MIM DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the layer of the electrode that is in contact with the dielectric layer (i.e. bottom layer) has a desired composition and crystal structure. An example is crystalline MoO2 if the dielectric layer is TiO2 in the rutile phase. The other component of the bilayer (i.e. top layer) is a sub-oxide of the same material as the bottom layer. The top layer serves to protect the bottom layer from oxidation during subsequent PMA or other DRAM fabrication steps by reacting with any oxygen species before they can reach the bottom layer of the bilayer second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanhong Chen, Wim Y. Deweerd, Hiroyuki Ode
  • Patent number: 8916436
    Abstract: A method for producing an integrated device including an MIM capacitor. The method includes the steps of providing a functional substrate including functional circuits of the integrated device, forming a first conductive layer including a first plate of the capacitor on the functional substrate; the first plate has a first melting temperature. The method further includes depositing a layer of insulating material including a dielectric layer of the capacitor on a portion of the first conductive layer corresponding to the first plate; the layer of insulating material is deposited at a process temperature being lower than the first melting temperature. The method further includes forming a second conductive layer including a second plate of the capacitor on a portion of the layer of insulating material corresponding to the dielectric layer. In the solution according to an embodiment of the invention, the first melting temperature is higher than 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Dundulachi, Antonio Molfese
  • Patent number: 8895390
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to memory devices and methods for manufacturing such memory devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming a memory device with a textured electrode is provided and includes forming a silicon oxide layer on a lower electrode disposed on a substrate, forming metallic particles on the silicon oxide layer, wherein the metallic particles are separately disposed from each other on the silicon oxide layer. The method further includes etching between the metallic particles while removing a portion of the silicon oxide layer and forming troughs within the lower electrode, removing the metallic particles and remaining silicon oxide layer by a wet etch process while revealing peaks separated by the troughs disposed on the lower electrode, forming a metal oxide film stack within the troughs and over the peaks of the lower electrode, and forming an upper electrode over the metal oxide film stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventor: Dipankar Pramanik
  • Patent number: 8872220
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device that includes a plurality of multiple gate FinFETs (MuGFETs) is disclosed. Fins of different crystal orientations for PMOS and NMOS MuGFETs are formed through amorphization and crystal regrowth on a direct silicon bonded (DSB) hybrid orientation technology (HOT) substrate. PMOS MuGFET fins are formed with channels defined by fin sidewall surfaces having (110) crystal orientations. NMOS MuGFET fins are formed with channels defined by fin sidewall surfaces having (100) crystal orientations in a Manhattan layout with the sidewall channels of the different PMOS and NMOS MuGFETs aligned at 0° or 90° rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Weize W. Xiong, Cloves R. Cleavelin, Angelo Pinto, Rick L. Wise
  • Patent number: 8796087
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate; a bottom electrode on the substrate; a first dielectric layer on the bottom electrode, the first dielectric layer including a first metal oxide including at least one of Hf, Al, Zr, La, Ba, Sr, Ti, and Pb; a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer including a second metal oxide including at least one of Hf, Al, Zr, La, Ba, Sr, Ti, and Pb, wherein the first metal oxide and the second metal oxide are different materials; a third dielectric layer on the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer including a metal carbon oxynitride; and an upper electrode on the third dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weon-Hong Kim, Min-Woo Song, Jung-Min Park
  • Patent number: 8765567
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory elements that are based on resistive switching memory element layers are provided. A nonvolatile memory element may have a resistive switching metal oxide layer. The resistive switching metal oxide layer may have one or more layers of oxide. A resistive switching metal oxide may be doped with a dopant that increases its melting temperature and enhances its thermal stability. Layers may be formed to enhance the thermal stability of the nonvolatile memory element. An electrode for a nonvolatile memory element may contain a conductive layer and a buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra G Malhotra, Sean Barstow, Tony P. Chiang, Pragati Kumar, Prashant B Phatak, Sunil Shanker, Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 8742420
    Abstract: A gate driving circuit includes a plurality of stages outputting gate signals to a plurality of gate lines. Each of the stages includes a circuit transistor, a capacitor part, a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode. The circuit transistor outputs the gate signal to an output electrode in response to a control signal inputted to a control electrode. The capacitor part is disposed adjacent to the circuit transistor, and includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode, a third electrode disposed over the second electrode and a fourth electrode disposed over the third electrode. The first connecting electrode electrically connects the control electrode to the first and third electrodes. The second connecting electrode electrically connects the output electrode to the second and fourth electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Sun Kim, Yeong-Keun Kwon, Chong-Chul Chai
  • Publication number: 20140118653
    Abstract: There has been a problem that power consumption is increased if a potential of a signal line changes every time a video signal is applied to a driving transistor from the signal line, since the parasitic capacitance of the signal line stores and releases electric charges. In a configuration of a display portion provided with a gate signal line for selecting an input of a video signal to a pixel and a source signal line for inputting a video signal to the pixel, a switch is connected in series with the source signal line, the switch being controlled to be in on state when the pixel is not selected by the gate signal line, and in off state when the pixel is selected by the gate signal line. Accordingly, the parasitic capacitance of the source signal line which stores and releases electric charges affects only pixels between an output side of a source driver up to and including the pixel selected to be written with a video signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 8698219
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a non-volatile memory cell including a write transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor and has small leakage current in an off state (off-state current) between a source and a drain, a read transistor including a semiconductor material different from that of the write transistor, and a capacitor. Data is written or to the memory cell by applying a potential to a node where one of a source electrode and drain electrode of the write transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the read transistor are electrically connected to one another so that the predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. The memory window width is changed by 2% or less, before and after 1×109 times of writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Sekine, Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8680517
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display device includes: a semiconductor layer on a substrate and including source and drain regions; a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode and a first storage electrode on the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer on the gate electrode and the first storage electrode; source and drain electrodes connected with the source and drain regions, respectively; a second storage electrode on the second insulating layer at a location corresponding to the first storage electrode; a third insulating layer on the source and drain electrodes and the second storage electrode; a first metal layer on the third insulating layer and connecting the drain electrode to an anode; and a second metal layer on the third insulating layer at a location corresponding to the second storage electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aram Shin, Juhn-Suk Yoo, Soo-Jeong Park
  • Patent number: 8674421
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a first conductor formed over a semiconductor substrate; a first insulator formed over the first conductor; a second insulator formed over the first insulator, the second insulator having an etching characteristic different from an etching characteristic of the first insulator; a second conductor formed on the second insulator, the second conductor being in contact with the second insulator; a third insulator formed over the second conductor, the third insulator having an etching characteristic different from the etching characteristic of the second insulator; a first contact hole formed through the third insulator and the second conductor, the first contact hole reaching the second insulator; a third conductor formed in the first contact hole, wherein a side wall of the third conductor is electrically connected to a side wall of the second conductor; a second contact hole formed through the third insulator and the first insulator, the second contact hole reaching the first c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Taiji Ema, Tohru Anezaki
  • Patent number: 8637376
    Abstract: To reduce dent defects formed in interlayer CMP process on a capacitor array after forming an interlayer insulating film on the capacitor array thicker than the height of a capacitor, the interlayer insulating film on the capacitor array is subjected to a step height reduction etching to form an opening with etching depth Hd, while remaining a first region that is a distance Lr in a horizontal direction from a rising point of a projected portion of the interlayer insulating film periphery to the capacitor array onto a part of the capacitor array, wherein an aspect ratio (Hd/Lr) of the Hd to the Lr is equal to or less than 0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Shigeru Sugioka, Nobuyuki Sako, Ryoichi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8624313
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a non-volatile semiconductor memory element formed over the semiconductor substrate, including a variable resistance element including a laminate comprising a first electrode, a variable resistance layer, and a second electrode, and a volatile semiconductor memory element formed over the semiconductor substrate, including a capacitance element including a laminate comprising a third electrode, a dielectric layer including a same material as the variable resistance layer, and a fourth electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kajigaya
  • Patent number: 8624255
    Abstract: An array substrate includes an active layer including a channel region, a gate electrode positioned corresponding to the channel region, and a gate insulating film between the active layer and the gate electrode. The gate electrode includes a transparent conductive film and an opaque conductive film, and the transparent conductive film is between the channel region and the opaque conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Bong Won, Jin-Goo Jung, Seung-Gyu Tae
  • Patent number: 8627258
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for adjusting geometry of a capacitor includes fabricating a first composite capacitor residing in a first standard cell with a first set of process parameters. The method further includes using a second standard cell having substantially same dimensions as the first standard cell. The method further includes using a capacitance value from the first composite capacitor to adjust a geometry of a second composite capacitor residing in the second standard cell, wherein the second composite capacitor is fabricated with a second set of process parameters. The geometry of the second composite capacitor can be adjusted to cause the second composite capacitor to have a capacitance value substantially equal to the capacitance value from the first composite capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Huang, Ming-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8627259
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for adjusting geometry of a capacitor includes fabricating a first composite capacitor residing in a first standard cell with a first set of process parameters. The method further includes using a second standard cell having substantially same dimensions as the first standard cell. The method further includes using a capacitance value from the first composite capacitor to adjust a geometry of a second composite capacitor residing in the second standard cell, wherein the second composite capacitor is fabricated with a second set of process parameters. The geometry of the second composite capacitor can be adjusted to cause the second composite capacitor to have a capacitance value substantially equal to the capacitance value from the first composite capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Huang, Ming-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8609457
    Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device with DRAM bit lines made from the same material as the gate electrodes in non-memory regions of the device, and methods of making the same. One illustrative method disclosed herein comprises forming a semiconductor device including a memory array and a logic region. The method further comprises forming a buried word line in the memory array and, after forming the buried word line, performing a first common process operation to form at least a portion of a conductive gate electrode in the logic region and to form at least a portion of a conductive bit line in the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Baars, Till Schloesser, Frank Jakubowski
  • Patent number: 8604530
    Abstract: Some structures and methods to reduce power consumption in devices can be implemented largely by reusing existing bulk CMOS process flows and manufacturing technology, allowing the semiconductor industry as well as the broader electronics industry to avoid a costly and risky switch to alternative technologies. Some of the structures and methods relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced VT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. Additional structures, configurations, and methods presented herein can be used alone or in conjunction with the DDC to yield additional and different benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: SuVolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Thompson, Damodar R. Thummalapally
  • Patent number: 8592282
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory elements that are based on resistive switching memory element layers are provided. A nonvolatile memory element may have a resistive switching metal oxide layer. The resistive switching metal oxide layer may have one or more layers of oxide. A resistive switching metal oxide may be doped with a dopant that increases its melting temperature and enhances its thermal stability. Layers may be formed to enhance the thermal stability of the nonvolatile memory element. An electrode for a nonvolatile memory element may contain a conductive layer and a buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra G. Malhotra, Sean Barstow, Tony P. Chiang, Pragati Kumar, Prashant B. Phatak, Sunil Shanker, Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 8592907
    Abstract: It is an object to achieve high performance of a semiconductor integrated circuit depending on not only a microfabrication technique but also another way and to achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A semiconductor device is provided in which a crystal orientation or a crystal axis of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a first conductivity type is different from that of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a second conductivity type. A crystal orientation or a crystal axis is such that mobility of carriers traveling in a channel length direction is increased in each MISFET. With such a structure, mobility of carriers flowing in a channel of a MISFET is increased, and a semiconductor integrated circuit can be operated at higher speed. Further, low voltage driving becomes possible, and low power consumption can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 8587047
    Abstract: A capacitor structure for a pumping circuit includes a substrate, a U-shaped bottom electrode in the substrate, a T-shaped top electrode in the substrate and a dielectric layer disposed between the U-shaped bottom and T-shaped top electrode. The contact area of the capacitor structure between the U-shaped bottom and T-shaped top electrode is extended by means of the cubic engagement of the U-shaped bottom electrode and the T-shaped top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Ting, Shing-Hwa Renn, Yu-Teh Chiang, Chung-Ren Li, Tieh-Chiang Wu
  • Patent number: 8564038
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a second conductive layer is provided on a second insulating film and connected to a first conductive layer via an opening portion in the second insulating film. A first contact is connected to the second conductive layer. A third conductive layer is provided on the second insulating film and connected to the first conductive layer via an opening portion in the second insulating film. A second contact is connected to the third conductive layer. A fourth conductive layer is provided on the second insulating film and connected to the first conductive layer via an opening portion in the second insulating film. A third contact is connected to the fourth conductive layer. The floating gate layer and the first conductive layer are made of the same material, and the control gate layer, the second, third and fourth conductive layers are made of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masato Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8557657
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first doped portion to a first depth and a second doped portion below the first depth. A deep trench capacitor is formed in the substrate and extends below the first depth. The deep trench capacitor has a buried plate that includes a dopant type forming an electrically conductive connection with second doped portion of the substrate and being electrically insulated from the first doped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Wilfried E. Haensch, Effendi Leobandung, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 8552430
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor array substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transistor includes a capacitor including a lower electrode disposed on the same layer as an active layer and an upper electrode disposed on the same layer as a gate electrode. The transistor may also include a first insulating layer disposed between the active layer and the gate electrode and between the lower and upper electrodes, the first insulating layer not being disposed on a perimeter of the lower electrode. The transistor may further include a second insulating layer between the first insulating layer and the source and drain electrodes, the second insulating layer not being disposed on perimeters of the upper and lower electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hyun Park, Chun-Gi You, Sun Park, Yul-Kyu Lee, Sang-Ho Moon
  • Patent number: 8507915
    Abstract: A trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and is filled with a node dielectric layer and at least one conductive material fill portion that functions as an inner electrode. The at least one conductive material fill portion includes a doped polycrystalline semiconductor fill portion. A gate stack for an access transistor is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate spacer is formed around the gate stack. A source/drain trench is formed between an outer sidewall of the gate spacer and a sidewall of the doped polycrystalline semiconductor fill portion. An epitaxial source region and a polycrystalline semiconductor material portion are simultaneously formed by a selective epitaxy process such that the epitaxial source region and the polycrystalline semiconductor material portion contact each other without a gap therebetween. The polycrystalline semiconductor material portion provides a robust low resistance conductive path between the source region and the inner electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karen A. Nummy, Chengwen Pei, Werner A. Rausch, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 8502291
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells including a memory component having a first conductive material, a second conductive material, and an oxide material between the first conductive material and the second conductive material. A resistance of the memory component is configurable via a current conducted from the first conductive material through the oxide material to the second conductive material. Other embodiments include a diode comprising metal and a dielectric material and a memory component connected in series with the diode. The memory component includes a magnetoresistive material and has a resistance that is changeable via a current conducted through the diode and the magnetoresistive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8492814
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A pillar is formed which stands on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating film is formed which covers a side surface of the pillar. An upper portion of the first insulating film is removed to expose a side surface of an upper portion of the pillar. A contact plug is formed, which contacts the side surface of the upper portion of the pillar and a top surface of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujimoto, Shinpei Iijima
  • Patent number: 8487303
    Abstract: In a matrix including a plurality of memory cells, each in which a drain of a writing transistor is connected to a gate of a reading transistor and the drain is connected to one electrode of a capacitor, a gate of the writing transistor is connected to a writing word line, a source of the writing transistor and a source of the reading transistor is connected to a bit line, and a drain of the reading transistor is connected to a reading word line. A conductivity type of the writing transistor is different from a conductivity type of the reading transistor. In order to increase the integration degree, a bias line may be substituted with a reading word line in another row, or memory cells are connected in series so as to have a NAND structure, and a reading word line and a writing word line may be shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 8470667
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming a first capacitor using a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, forming a second capacitor being a pillar type corresponding to a cell capacitor formed in a cell region, and forming a third capacitor over the first and the second capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc
    Inventor: Dong Chul Koo
  • Patent number: 8455875
    Abstract: A node dielectric and a conductive trench fill region filling a deep trench are recessed to a depth that is substantially coplanar with a top surface of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer. A shallow trench isolation portion is formed on one side of an upper portion of the deep trench, while the other side of the upper portion of the deep trench provides an exposed surface of a semiconductor material of the conductive fill region. A selective epitaxy process is performed to deposit a raised source region and a raised strap region. The raised source region is formed directly on a planar source region within the SOI layer, and the raised strap region is formed directly on the conductive fill region. The raised strap region contacts the raised source region to provide an electrically conductive path between the planar source region and the conductive fill region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Joseph Ervin, Ali Khakifirooz, Chengwen Pei, Ravi M. Todi, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 8445911
    Abstract: An active device array substrate including a substrate, scan lines, data lines, active devices, a first dielectric layer, a common line, a second dielectric layer, a patterned conductive layer, a third dielectric layer, and pixel electrodes is provided. At least a part of the active devices are electrically connected to the scan lines and the data lines. The first dielectric layer covers the scan lines, the data lines and the active devices. The common line is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer covers the common line and the first dielectric layer. The patterned conductive layer is disposed on the second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer covers the patterned conductive layer and the second dielectric layer. The pixel electrodes are disposed on the third dielectric layer and electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer and the active devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Jung Yang, Ke-Chih Chang, Kuo-Yu Huang, Yu-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8431933
    Abstract: A memory layout structure is disclosed, in which, a lengthwise direction of each active area and each row of active areas form an included angle not equal to zero and not equal to 90 degrees, bit lines and word lines cross over each other above the active areas, the bit lines are each disposed above a row of active areas, bit line contact plugs or node contact plugs may be each disposed entirely on an source/drain region, or partially on the source/drain region and partially extend downward along a sidewall (edge wall) of the substrate of the active area to carry out a sidewall contact. Self-aligned node contact plugs are each disposed between two adjacent bit lines and between two adjacent word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzung-Han Lee, Chung-Lin Huang, Hsien-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 8426867
    Abstract: A plurality of thin film capacitor parts are provided in respective regions each surrounded by a plurality of gate metal lines (12) and a plurality of data signal lines (11) intersecting perpendicularly to each other on a glass substrate (1), and each of the thin film capacitor parts has a lower electrode (3), a gate insulating film, and an upper electrode (5), which are provided in this order. Adjacent upper electrodes (5) are electrically connected to each other via a corresponding first wire (8), which is positioned above the adjacent upper electrodes (5) and intersects with one of the data signal lines (11). This makes it possible to provide a thin film capacitor, which includes the lower electrodes (3) each having the same thickness in a center portion and an edge portion, and the upper electrodes (5) that are connected to each other by using a corresponding connecting wire with low possibility of disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Moriwaki