Comprising Charge Trapping Insulator (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.21)
  • Publication number: 20120045891
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns in substrates by utilizing block copolymer assemblies as patterning materials. A block copolymer assembly may be formed over a substrate, with the assembly having first and second subunits arranged in a pattern of two or more domains. Metal may be selectively coupled to the first subunits relative to the second subunits to form a pattern of metal-containing regions and non-metal-containing regions. At least some of the block copolymer may be removed to form a patterned mask corresponding to the metal-containing regions. A pattern defined by the patterned mask may be transferred into the substrate with one or more etches. In some embodiments, the patterning may be utilized to form integrated circuitry, such as, for example, gatelines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Scott Sills
  • Patent number: 8120089
    Abstract: Provided are nonvolatile memory devices with a three-dimensional structure and methods of fabricating the same. The nonvolatile memory device includes conductive patterns three-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor substrate, semiconductor patterns that extend from the semiconductor substrate and intersect one-side walls of the conductive patterns, charge storage layers interposed between the semiconductor patterns and one-side walls of the conductive patterns, and seed layer patterns interposed between the charge storage layers and one-side walls of the conductive patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Hoo Kim, Daehyuk Kang, Youngok Kim, Sang Won Bae, Boun Yoon, Kuntack Lee
  • Patent number: 8119511
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a control gate on top of the second dielectric (interpoly or blocking dielectric), at least a bottom layer of the control gate in contact with the second dielectric being constructed in a material having a predefined high work-function and showing a tendency to reduce its work-function when in contact with a group of certain high-k materials after full device fabrication. At least a top layer of the second dielectric, separating the bottom layer of the control gate from the rest of the second dielectric, is constructed in a predetermined high-k material, chosen outside the group for avoiding a reduction in the work-function of the material of the bottom layer of the control gate. In the manufacturing method, the top layer is created in the second dielectric before applying the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Bogdan Govoreanu, HongYu Yu, Hag-Ju Cho
  • Patent number: 8119508
    Abstract: In a metal gate replacement process, a stack of at least two polysilicon layers or other materials may be formed. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the stack. The stack may then be planarized. Next, the upper layer of the stack may be selectively removed. Then, the exposed portions of the sidewall spacers may be selectively removed. Finally, the lower portion of the stack may be removed to form a T-shaped trench which may be filled with the metal replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Kavalieros, Justin K. Brask, Mark L. Doczy, Matthew V. Metz, Suman Datta, Uday Shah, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 8120063
    Abstract: Modulation-doped multi-gate devices are generally described. In one example, an apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, one or more buffer films coupled to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a first barrier film coupled to the one or more buffer films, a multi-gate fin coupled to the first barrier film, the multi-gate fin comprising a source region, a drain region, and a channel region of a multi-gate device wherein the channel region is disposed between the source region and the drain region, a spacer film coupled to the multi-gate fin, and a doped film coupled to the spacer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mantu K. Hudait, Ravi Pillarisetty, Marko Radosavljevic, Gilbert Dewey, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Patent number: 8114732
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a non-volatile memory structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate dielectric layer overlying a surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon gate structure is formed overlying the gate dielectric layer. The method subjects the polysilicon gate structure to an oxidizing environment to cause formation of a first silicon oxide layer overlying the polysilicon gate structure and formation of an undercut region underneath the polysilicon gate structure. An aluminum oxide material is formed overlying the polysilicon gate structure filling the undercut region. In a specific embodiment, the aluminum oxide material has a nanocrystalline silicon material sandwiched between a first aluminum oxide layer and a second aluminum oxide layer. The aluminum oxide material is subjected to a selective etching process while maintaining the aluminum oxide material in an insert region in a portion of the undercut region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Mieno Fumitake
  • Publication number: 20120018792
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment, includes: forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a charge trapping film on the first insulating film, the forming of the charge trapping film including; forming a first nitride layer on the first insulating film at a heat treatment temperature of 550° C. or higher, forming a first oxynitride layer on the first nitride layer by oxidizing a surface of the first nitride layer, and forming a second nitride layer on the first oxynitride layer; forming a second insulating film on the charge trapping film; and forming a control gate on the second insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsushita, Ryuji Ohba, Yuichiro Mitani
  • Publication number: 20120001253
    Abstract: Memory devices, methods for fabricating, and methods for adjusting flatband voltages are disclosed. In one such memory device, a pair of source/drain regions are formed in a semiconductor. A dielectric material is formed on the semiconductor between the pair of source/drain regions. A control gate is formed on the dielectric material. A charged species is introduced into the dielectric material. The charged species, e.g., mobile ions, has an energy barrier in a range of greater than about 0.5 eV to about 3.0 eV. A flatband voltage of the memory device can be adjusted by moving the charged species to different levels within the dielectric material, thus programming different states into the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Roy Meade
  • Patent number: 8089121
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor layer as a channel, a conductive layer which is formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer with a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer interposed therebetween and functions as a control gate electrode; and a plurality of first charge storage layers formed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The plurality of first charge storage layers are formed in isolation from one another along a surface of the first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is formed so as to protrude towards the semiconductor layer at a position where each of the first charge storage layers is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kensuke Takano, Yoshio Ozawa, Katsuyuki Sekine, Masaru Kito
  • Publication number: 20110312155
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating layer, charge storage layers, element isolation insulating films, and a second insulating layer formed on the charge storage layers and the element isolation insulating films and including a stacked structure of a first silicon nitride film, first silicon oxide film, intermediate insulating film and second silicon oxide film. The first silicon nitride film has a nitrogen concentration of not less than 21×1015 atoms/cm2. Each element isolation insulating film includes a high-temperature oxide film formed along lower side surfaces of the charge storage layers between the charge storage layers and a coating type insulating film. The first silicon nitride film is formed on an upper surface of the high-temperature oxide film in upper surfaces of the element isolation insulating films and not on the upper surface of the coating type insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hirofumi IIKAWA, Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8076201
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory device according to an embodiment includes forming a second oxide layer pattern having a mask pattern buried therein on a first nitride layer pattern and a first oxide layer stack on a semiconductor substrate; forming first polysilicon patterns at sidewalls of the buried mask pattern; removing portions of the first oxide layer, the first nitride layer pattern, and the second oxide layer pattern to form a third oxide layer pattern, a second nitride layer pattern, and a fourth oxide layer pattern at lower portions of the first polysilicon patterns and the mask pattern; forming a fifth oxide layer pattern surrounding each of the first polysilicon patterns; forming second polysilicon patterns on sidewalls of the fifth oxide layer pattern; and removing the mask pattern and parts of the third oxide layer pattern and the second nitride layer pattern between the first polysilicon patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Don Jeong
  • Patent number: 8072024
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with a substrate. A plurality of dielectric films and electrode films are alternately stacked on the substrate and have a through hole penetrating in the stacking direction. A semiconductor pillar is formed inside the through hole. A charge storage layer is provided at least between the semiconductor pillar and the electrode film. At least part of a side surface of a portion of the through hole located in the electrode film is sloped relative to the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masao Ishikawa, Katsunori Yahashi
  • Publication number: 20110287621
    Abstract: To improve a charge retention characteristic of a nonvolatile memory transistor. A first insulating film, a charge trapping film, and a second insulating film are formed between a semiconductor substrate and a conductive film. The charge trapping film is formed of a silicon nitride film including an upper region having a low concentration of hydrogen and a lower region having a high concentration of hydrogen. Such a silicon nitride film is formed in such a manner that a silicon nitride film including 15 atomic % or more hydrogen is formed by a chemical vapor deposition method and an upper portion of the silicon nitride film is nitrided. The nitridation treatment is performed by nitriding the silicon nitride film by nitrogen radicals produced in plasma of a nitrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosei NODA
  • Publication number: 20110281379
    Abstract: Methods of forming conductive patterns include forming a conductive layer including a metal element on a substrate. The conductive layer is partially etched to generate a residue including an oxide of the metal element and to form a plurality of separately formed conductive layer patterns. A cleaning gas is inflowed onto the substrate including the conductive layer pattern. The metal compound is evaporated to remove the metal element contained in the residue and to form an insulating interface layer on the conductive layer pattern and a surface portion of the substrate through a reaction of a portion of the cleaning gas and oxygen. The residue may be removed from the conductive layer pattern to suppress generation of a leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun-Kyu YANG, Young-Geun PARK, Ki-Hyun HWANG, Han-Mei CHOI, Dong-Chul YOO
  • Publication number: 20110275211
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of etching nanodots, to methods of removing nanodots from substrates, and to methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices. In one embodiment, a method of etching nanodots that include a late transition metal includes exposing such nanodots to a gas comprising a phosphorus and halogen-containing compound and an oxidizing agent. After the exposing, the nanodots which are remaining and were exposed are etched (either partially or completely) with an aqueous solution comprising HF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Eugene P. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20110272753
    Abstract: In a power feeding region of a memory cell (MC) in which a sidewall-shaped memory gate electrode (MG) of a memory nMIS (Qnm) is provided by self alignment on a side surface of a selection gate electrode (CG) of a selection nMIS (Qnc) via an insulating film, a plug (PM) which supplies a voltage to the memory gate electrode (MG) is embedded in a contact hole (CM) formed in an interlayer insulating film (9) formed on the memory gate electrode (MG) and is electrically connected to the memory gate electrode (MG). Since a cap insulating film (CAP) is formed on an upper surface of the selection gate electrode (CG), the electrical conduction between the plug (PM) and the selection gate electrode (CG) can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Kota Funayama, Hiraku Chakihara, Yasushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 8053302
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the non-volatile memory device are provided. At least one first semiconductor layer and at least one second semiconductor layer are disposed. At least one control gate electrode is disposed between the at least one first semiconductor layer and the at least one second semiconductor layer. At least one first layer selection line is capacitively coupled to the at least one first semiconductor layer. At least one second layer selection line is capacitively coupled to the at least one second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-soo Seol, Yoon-dong Park
  • Publication number: 20110267897
    Abstract: A method for forming and operating an integrated circuit, including providing a substrate; forming a bottom electrode over the substrate, wherein the bottom electrode is in or over a lowest metallization layer over the substrate; forming a blocking layer over the substrate; forming a charge-trapping layer over the blocking layer; forming an insulation layer over the charge-trapping layer; forming a control gate over the insulation layer; forming a tunneling layer over the control gate; and forming a top electrode over the tunneling layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih Wei Wang
  • Publication number: 20110266611
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and conductive layers for gate electrodes alternately stacked over a substrate, a channel trench passing through the interlayer dielectric layers and the conductive layers and exposing the substrate, a charge blocking layer and a charge trap or charge storage layer formed on sidewalls of the trench, a coupling prevention layer formed at the surface of the charge trap or charge storage layer, and a tunnel insulation layer formed over the coupling prevention layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Beom-Yong KIM, Ki-Hong LEE
  • Publication number: 20110255335
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to flash memory, and more particularly to a charge trap memory and a process flow to form same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Alessandro Grossi
  • Publication number: 20110250745
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns in substrates by utilizing block copolymer assemblies as patterning materials. A block copolymer assembly may be formed over a substrate, with the assembly having first and second subunits arranged in a pattern of two or more domains. Metal may be selectively coupled to the first subunits relative to the second subunits to form a pattern of metal-containing regions and non-metal-containing regions. At least some of the block copolymer may be removed to form a patterned mask corresponding to the metal-containing regions. A pattern defined by the patterned mask may be transferred into the substrate with one or more etches. In some embodiments, the patterning may be utilized to form integrated circuitry, such as, for example, gatelines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Scott Sills
  • Patent number: 8036031
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region defined in a semiconductor substrate, and gate electrodes crossing over the active region. Source/drain regions are defined in the active region on two sides of the gate electrode. At least one of the source/drain regions is a field effect source/drain region generated by a fringe field of the gate. The other source/drain region is a PN-junction source/drain region having different impurity fields and different conductivity than the substrate. At least one of the source/drain regions is a field effect source/drain region. Accordingly, a short channel effect is reduced or eliminated in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Tae Park, Jung-Dal Choi, Uk-Jin Roh
  • Patent number: 8035141
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element is disclosed. The bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element can be integrated into any CMOS process flow. The bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element includes an implant damaged free first layer of a first epitaxy semiconductor material having a lattice constant that is different from a lattice constant of a semiconductor substrate and imparts a tensile strain in a device channel of an nFET gate stack. Typically, and when the semiconductor is composed of silicon, the first layer of the bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element is composed of Si:C. The bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element further includes a second layer of a second epitaxy semiconductor material that has a lower resistance to dopant diffusion than the first epitaxy semiconductor material. Typically, and when the semiconductor is composed of silicon, the second layer of the bi-layer nFET embedded stressor element is composed of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin K. Chan, Abhishek Dube, Jinghong Li, Viorel Ontalus, Zhengmao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20110244674
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of spaced features includes forming sacrificial hardmask material over underlying material. The sacrificial hardmask material has at least two layers of different composition. Portions of the sacrificial hardmask material are removed to form a mask over the underlying material. Individual features of the mask have at least two layers of different composition, with one of the layers of each of the individual features having a tensile intrinsic stress of at least 400.0 MPa. The individual features have a total tensile intrinsic stress greater than 0.0 MPa. The mask is used while etching into the underlying material to form a plurality of spaced features comprising the underlying material. Other implementations are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Farrell Good, Baosuo Zhou, Xiaolong Fang, Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege
  • Patent number: 8030165
    Abstract: A method for forming flash memory devices is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, which comprises a silicon material and has a periphery region and a cell region. The method further includes forming an isolation structure between the cell region and the periphery region. Additionally, the method includes forming an ONO layer overlying the cell region and the periphery region. Furthermore, the method includes removing the ONO layer overlying the periphery region to expose silicon material in the periphery region. The method also includes forming a gate dielectric layer overlying the periphery region, while protecting the ONO layer in the cell region. In addition, the method includes forming a polysilicon layer overlying the cell region and the periphery region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: John Chen
  • Publication number: 20110233648
    Abstract: Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The three-dimensional semiconductor devices include an electrode structure with sequentially-stacked electrodes disposed on a substrate, semiconductor patterns penetrating the electrode structure, and memory elements including a first pattern and a second pattern interposed between the semiconductor patterns and the electrode structure, the first pattern vertically extending to cross the electrodes and the second pattern horizontally extending to cross the semiconductor patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Seol, Chanjin Park, Kihyun Hwang, Hanmei Choi, Dongchul Yoo, Sunghoi Hur, Wansik Hwang, Toshiro Nakanishi, Kwangmin Park, Juyul Lee
  • Publication number: 20110237060
    Abstract: Methods of forming a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve providing a charge storage layer on a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer on the charge storage layer, and a first poly layer on the nitride layer, and converting at least a portion of the nitride layer to a top oxide. By converting at least a portion of a nitride layer to a top oxide layer, the quality of the resultant top oxide layer can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SPANSION LLC
    Inventors: Chungho Lee, Kuo-Tung Chang, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Huaqiang Wu, Fred Cheung
  • Publication number: 20110233655
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor memory device, a source region and a drain region are disposed away from each other in the semiconductor layer. A tunnel insulating film is formed between the source region and the drain region on the semiconductor layer. A charge accumulating film includes an oxide cluster and is formed on the tunnel insulating film. A block insulating film is formed on the charge accumulating film. A gate electrode is formed on the block insulating film. The oxide cluster includes either Zr or Hf, and further contains at least one element selected from Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and Hg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tatsuo SHIMIZU, Atsuhiro KINOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20110227142
    Abstract: Memories, systems, and methods for forming memory cells are disclosed. One such memory cell includes a charge storage node that includes nanodots over a tunnel dielectric and a protective film over the nanodots. In another memory cell, the charge storage node includes nanodots that include a ruthenium alloy. Memory cells can include an inter-gate dielectric over the protective film or ruthenium alloy nanodots and a control gate over the inter-gate dielectric. The protective film and ruthenium alloy can be configured to protect at least some of the nanodots from vaporizing during formation of the inter-gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: D.V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Matthew N. Rocklein, Rhett Brewer
  • Publication number: 20110220989
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may include a tunnel dielectric material, a charge-retaining region over the tunnel dielectric material, crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material over the charge-retaining region, and a control gate material over the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material. Additionally, the memory cells may include an amorphous region between the charge-retaining region and the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material, and/or may include an amorphous region between the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material and the control gate material. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells which contain an amorphous region between a charge-retaining region and a crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material, and/or which contain an amorphous region between a crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material and a control gate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Noel Rocklein, Kyu S. Min
  • Publication number: 20110220985
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device may include a charge storage structure and a gate. The charge storage structure is formed on a substrate. The gate is formed on the charge storage structure. The gate includes a lower portion formed of silicon and an upper portion formed of metal silicide. The upper portion of the gate has a width greater than that of the lower portion of the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Jung-Min Son, Woon-Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: 8017485
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided, the methods include forming a first dielectric layer, a data storage layer, and a second dielectric layer, which are sequentially stacked, on a semiconductor substrate. A mask having a first opening exposing a first region of the second dielectric layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. A gate electrode filling at least a portion of the first opening is formed. A second opening exposing a second region of the second dielectric layer is formed by etching the mask such that the second region is spaced apart from the first region. A second dielectric pattern and a data storage pattern are formed by sequentially etching the exposed second region of the second dielectric layer and the data storage layer. The second dielectric pattern is formed to have a greater width than a lower surface of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-Hyun Cho, Tae-Hyuk Ahn, Sang-Sup Jeong, Jin-Hyuk Yoo
  • Publication number: 20110212612
    Abstract: A memory device including a dielectric thin film having a plurality of dielectric layers and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The memory device includes: a bottom electrode; at least one dielectric thin film disposed on the bottom electrode and having a plurality of dielectric layers with different charge trap densities from each other; and an top electrode disposed on the dielectric thin film. Therefore, a memory device, which can be readily manufactured by a simple process and can be highly integrated using its simple structure, can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sung-Yool CHOI, Min Ki RYU, Ansoon KIM, Chil Seong AH, Han Young YU
  • Publication number: 20110204433
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device is disclosed. The nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate including a surface layer; an element isolation insulating film isolating the surface layer of the semiconductor device into a plurality of active regions; a first gate insulating film formed above the active regions; a charge storing layer formed above the first gate insulating film and including a silicon layer containing an upper layer selectively doped with carbon; a second gate insulating film formed above the charge storing layer; and a control gate electrode formed above the second gate insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Junya FUJITA, Masayuki TANAKA, Shunsuke DOI
  • Patent number: 8003469
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor device includes a memory cell in a first area of a substrate, a low voltage transistor in a second area of the substrate, and a high voltage transistor in a third area of the substrate. The memory cell includes a tunnel insulation layer formed on the substrate, a charge trapping layer pattern formed on the tunnel insulation layer in the first area of the substrate, a blocking layer pattern formed on the charge trapping layer pattern and a control gate formed on the blocking layer pattern. The control gate has a width substantially smaller than a width of the blocking layer pattern and the width of the control gate is substantially smaller than a width of the charge trapping layer pattern. In addition, an offset is formed between the control gate and the blocking layer pattern such that a spacer is not formed on a sidewall of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hak-Sun Lee, Kyoung-Sub Shin
  • Patent number: 8003468
    Abstract: Devices and methods for isolating adjacent charge accumulation layers in a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a bit line formed in a semiconductor substrate, a charge accumulation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a word line formed on the charge accumulation layer across the bit line, and a channel region formed in the semiconductor substrate below the word line and between the bit line and its adjacent bit line. For the semiconductor device, the charge accumulation layer is formed above the channel region in a widthwise direction of the word line, and a width of the word line is set to be narrower than a distance between an end of the channel region and a central part of the channel region in a lengthwise direction of the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Fumihiko Inoue, Haruki Souma, Yukio Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20110198683
    Abstract: Patterns of a nonvolatile memory device include a semiconductor substrate that defines active regions extending in a longitudinal direction, an isolation structure formed between the active regions, a tunnel insulating layer formed on the active regions, a charge trap layer formed on the tunnel insulating layer, a first dielectric layer formed on the charge trap layer and the isolation structure, wherein the first dielectric layers is extended along a lateral direction, a control gate layer formed on the first dielectric layer, wherein the control gate layer is extended along the lateral direction, and a second dielectric layer formed on a sidewall of the control gate layer along the lateral direction and coupled to the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Yun Kyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 7999295
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for stacked, non-volatile memory devices provides a plurality of bitline layers and wordline layers with charge trapping structures. The bitline layers have a plurality of bitlines formed on an insulating layer, such as silicon on insulator technologies. The wordline layers are patterned with respective pluralities of wordlines and charge trapping structures orthogonal to the bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7998804
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device including a nano dot and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The nonvolatile memory device may include a lower electrode, an oxide layer on the lower electrode, a nano dot in the oxide layer and an upper electrode on the oxide layer. In example embodiments, the current paths inside the oxide layer may be unified, thereby stabilizing the reset current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Jin Park, Myoung-Jae Lee, Young-Kwan Cha, Sun-Ae Seo, Kyung-Sang Cho, Kwang-Soo Seol
  • Publication number: 20110189846
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device including a tunnel oxide layer, a preliminary charge storing layer and a dielectric layer on a semiconductor layer is disclosed. A first polysilicon layer is formed on the dielectric layer. A barrier layer and a second polysilicon layer are formed on the first polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer, the barrier layer, the first polysilicon layer, the dielectric layer, the preliminary charge storing layer and the tunnel oxide layer are patterned to form a tunnel layer pattern, a charge storing layer pattern, a dielectric layer pattern, a first control gate pattern, a barrier layer pattern and a second polysilicon pattern. A nickel layer is formed on the second polysilicon layer. Heat treatment is performed with respect to the second polysilicon pattern and the nickel layer to form a second control gate pattern including NiSi on the barrier layer pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Jeong Gil Lee, Chang-Won Lee, Sang-Woo Lee, Sun-Woo Lee, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Jae-Hwa Park, Eun-Ji Jung
  • Publication number: 20110180866
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stacked body, an insulating film, a non-doped semiconductor film, a semiconductor pillar, a charge storage film, a contact, and a spacer insulating film. The stacked body is provided on the substrate. The stacked body includes a plurality of doped semiconductor films stacked. The insulating film is provided between the doped semiconductor films in a first region. The non-doped semiconductor film is provided between the doped semiconductor films in a second region. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body in the first region. The charge storage film is provided between the doped semiconductor film and the semiconductor pillar. The contact pierces the stacked body in the stacking direction in the second region. The spacer insulating film is provided around the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toru MATSUDA, Kazuyuki Higashi
  • Publication number: 20110183510
    Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor including an ONO film (18) formed on a semiconductor substrate (10), a word line (24) formed on the ONO film (18), a bit line (20) formed in the semiconductor substrate (10), and a conductive layer (32) that is in contact with the bit line (20), runs in a length direction of the bit line (20), and includes a polysilicon layer or a metal layer. In accordance with the present invention, a semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor are provided wherein degradation of the writing and erasing characteristics and degradation of the transistor characteristics such as a junction leakage are suppressed, and the bit line resistance is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Kenichi FUJII, Masahiko HIGASHI
  • Patent number: 7985649
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes: forming a select gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer; forming a select gate layer over the select gate dielectric layer; and forming a sidewall of the select gate layer by removing at least a portion of the select gate layer. The method further includes growing a sacrificial layer on at least a portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and under at least a portion of the select gate layer and removing the sacrificial layer to expose a surface of the at least portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and a surface of the semiconductor layer under the select gate layer. The method further includes forming a control gate dielectric layer, a charge storage layer, and a control gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Winstead, Cheong M. Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang, Konstantin V. Loiko, Spencer E. Williams
  • Patent number: 7981786
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device having a charge trapping layer includes forming a tunneling layer, a charge trapping layer, a blocking layer and a control gate electrode layer over a substrate, forming a mask layer pattern on the control gate electrode layer, performing an etching process using the mask layer pattern as an etching mask to remove an exposed portion of the control gate electrode layer, wherein the etching process is performed as excessive etching to remove the charge trapping layer by a specified thickness, forming an insulating layer for blocking charges from moving on the control gate electrode layer and the mask layer pattern, performing anisotropic etching on the insulating layer to form an insulating layer pattern on a sidewall of the control gate electrode layer and a partial upper sidewall of the blocking layer, and performing an etching process on the blocking layer exposed by the anisotropic etching, wherein the etching process is performed as excessive etching to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Moon Sig Joo, Seung Ho Pyi, Ki Seon Park, Heung Jae Cho, Yong Top Kim
  • Patent number: 7981745
    Abstract: Methods of forming a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve providing a charge storage layer on a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer on the charge storage layer, and a first poly layer on the nitride layer, and converting at least a portion of the nitride layer to a top oxide. By converting at least a portion of a nitride layer to a top oxide layer, the quality of the resultant top oxide layer can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Chungho Lee, Kuo-Tung Chang, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Huaqiang Wu, Fred Cheung
  • Patent number: 7977226
    Abstract: A flash memory device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The flash memory device includes an ONO layer on a substrate, polysilicon gates on the ONO layer, a gate oxide layer on the substrate, the ONO layer and the polysilicon gates, and a low temperature oxide layer and polysilicon sidewall spacers on outer side surfaces of the polysilicon gates, except in a region between nearest adjacent polysilicon gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Jun Yun
  • Publication number: 20110165770
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell region which is formed on a semiconductor substrate to store predetermined information, and a peripheral circuit region which is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The memory cell region includes a gate electrode; and a charge storage layer, the charge storage layer being formed to be a notch or wedge shape having an edge extending into both sides of a bottom end of the gate electrode. The peripheral circuit region includes no charge storage layer therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Toru Mori
  • Publication number: 20110165749
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes: forming a select gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer; forming a select gate layer over the select gate dielectric layer; and forming a sidewall of the select gate layer by removing at least a portion of the select gate layer. The method further includes growing a sacrificial layer on at least a portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and under at least a portion of the select gate layer and removing the sacrificial layer to expose a surface of the at least portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and a surface of the semiconductor layer under the select gate layer. The method further includes forming a control gate dielectric layer, a charge storage layer, and a control gate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Brian A. Winstead, Cheong M. Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang, Konstantin V. Loiko, Spencer E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110165769
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device with a blocking layer controlling the transfer of electric charges in a charge storage layer includes the blocking layer having a first blocking layer in contact with the charge storage layer and a second blocking layer over the first blocking layer, wherein the first blocking layer has a greater energy band gap than the second blocking layer and the second blocking layer has a greater permittivity than the first blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Heung-Jae CHO, Moon-Sig Joo, Yong-Soo Kim, Won-Joon Choi
  • Publication number: 20110159680
    Abstract: In a method of forming an aluminum oxide layer, an aluminum source gas and a dilution gas can be supplied into a chamber through a common gas supply nozzle so that the aluminum source gas may be adsorbed on a substrate in the chamber. A first purge gas can be supplied into the chamber to purge the physically adsorbed aluminum source gas from the substrate. An oxygen source gas may be supplied into the chamber to form an aluminum oxide layer on the substrate. A second purge gas may be supplied into the chamber to purge a reaction residue and the physically adsorbed remaining gas from the substrate. The operations can be performed repeatedly to form an aluminum oxide layer having a desired thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Dong-Chul YOO, Byong-Ju KIM, Han-Mei CHOI, Ki-Hyun HWANG