With Source And Drain On Same Level And Without Cell Select Transistor (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.682)
  • Patent number: 11362185
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device is provided. The method includes depositing a floating gate electrode film over a semiconductor substrate; patterning the floating gate electrode film into at least one floating gate electrode having at least one opening therein; depositing a control gate electrode film over the semiconductor substrate to overfill the at least one opening of the floating gate electrode; and patterning the control gate electrode film into at least one control gate electrode over the floating gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chu Lin, Chi-Chung Jen, Yen-Di Wang, Jia-Yang Ko, Men-Hsi Tsai
  • Patent number: 11289171
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory structures for performing compute-in-memory inferencing for neural networks are presented. A memory array is formed according to a crosspoint architecture with a memory cell at each crosspoint junction. The multi-levels memory cells (MLCs) are formed of multiple of ultra-thin dielectric layers separated by metallic layers, where programming of the memory cell is done by selectively breaking down one or more of the dielectric layers by selecting the write voltage level. In an alternate set of embodiments, the memory cells are formed as anti-fuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Nicolas Albert Tran, Michael Grobis
  • Patent number: 11211391
    Abstract: A memory device includes a peripheral circuit region including a first substrate and circuit elements on the first substrate, the circuit elements including a row decoder; a cell array region including wordlines, stacked on a second substrate on the peripheral circuit region, and channel structures extending in a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the second substrate and penetrating through the wordlines; and a cell contact region including cell contacts connected to the wordlines and on both sides of the cell array region in a first direction parallel to the upper surface of the second substrate, the cell contacts including a first cell contact region and a second cell contact region, the first and second cell contact regions having different lengths to each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyunghwa Yun, Pansuk Kwak, Chanho Kim, Dongku Kang
  • Patent number: 11024621
    Abstract: A method includes placing first and second oxide diffusion (OD) layout patterns in a layout design corresponding to first, second, third, and fourth memory cells of a memory circuit. The first OD layout pattern extends along a first direction and has a first source portion shared between the first and second memory cells, and the second OD layout pattern extends along the first direction and has a second source portion shared between the third and fourth memory cells. The method includes placing a first conductive layout pattern in the layout diagram, the first conductive layout pattern corresponding to a first conductive structure under a lowest via plug layer of the memory circuit, extending along a second direction, and overlapping the first source portion and the second source portion. The method is wholly or partially performed by using a hardware processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jacklyn Chang, Kuoyuan (Peter) Hsu
  • Patent number: 11018233
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flash memory cell that includes a substrate and a floating gate structure over the substrate. The floating gate structure includes a first portion having a first top surface and a first thickness. The floating gate structure also includes a second portion having a second top surface and a second thickness that is different from the first thickness. The floating gate structure further includes a sidewall surface connecting the first and second top surfaces, and an angle between the first top surface and the sidewall surface of the floating gate structure is an obtuse angle. The flash memory cell also includes a control gate structure over the first and second portions of the floating gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsien Chu, Chiang-Ming Chuang, Cheng-Huan Chung
  • Patent number: 10990542
    Abstract: The flash memory system according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized by programming a selected page in a quantization signal generating operation, providing a reference read voltage to a selected word line connected to the selected page, A flash memory for generating a flash memory; And a memory controller for receiving a quantized signal from the flash memory and generating a response using the quantized signal, wherein the memory controller receives an challenge from a host and the flash memory performs the quantized signal generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyunsu Ju, Gyosub Lee
  • Patent number: 10868027
    Abstract: A method is provided in which a monitor cell is made that is substantially identical to the flash memory cells of an embedded memory array. The monitor cell is formed simultaneously with the cells of the memory array, and so in certain critical aspects, is exactly comparable. An aperture is formed that extends through the control gate and intervening dielectric to the floating gate of the monitor cell. To prevent silicide contamination during a subsequent CMP process, a silicide protection layer (SPL), such as a resist protective oxide, is formed over exposed portions of the control gate prior to formation of a silicide contact formed on the floating gate. The SPL is formed simultaneously with existing manufacturing processes to avoid additional process steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Wei Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10868058
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method is performed by forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate having a first photodetector region and forming a gate material over the gate dielectric layer. A dielectric protection layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer and a first sidewall spacer is formed along a side of the gate material. The dielectric protection layer extends from a first location directly over the first photodetector region to a second location between the first sidewall spacer and the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Chou, Wen-I Hsu, Tsun-Kai Tsao, Chih-Yu Lai, Jiech-Fun Lu, Yeur-Luen Tu
  • Patent number: 10783313
    Abstract: A method of preparing an integrated circuit device design including analyzing a preliminary device layout to identify a vertical abutment between a first cell and a second cell, the locations of, and spacing between, internal metal cuts within the first and second cells, indexing the second cell relative to the first cell by N CPP to define one or more intermediate device layouts to define a modified device layout with improved internal metal cut spacing in order to suppress BGE and LE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Kuang-Ching Chang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jung-Chan Yang
  • Patent number: 10777564
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device that includes a floating gate element, a control coupling element, an erase coupling element and a select gate element is provided. The floating gate element includes a floating gate layer. The control coupling element receives a control voltage and couples the control voltage to the floating gate layer such that the floating gate element performs read or write operation according to the control voltage, a word select voltage and a bit select voltage. The erase coupling element receives an erase voltage and couples the erase voltage to the floating gate layer such that the floating gate element performs erase operation according to the erase voltage. The select gate element is electrically coupled to the floating gate element and generates the word select voltage according to a word line driving voltage and a source line driving voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Copee Technology Company
    Inventor: Yuan-Hsuan Lin
  • Patent number: 10636487
    Abstract: Techniques for fast programming and read operations for memory cells. A first set of bit lines is connected to a first set of NAND strings and is interleaved with a second set of bit lines connected to a second set of NAND strings. The first set of NAND strings can be programmed by driving a voltage on the first set of bit lines while floating a voltage on the second set of bit lines, to reduce an inter-bit line capacitance and provide a relatively high access speed and a relatively low storage density (e.g., bits per memory cell). The second set of NAND strings can be programmed by concurrently driving a voltage on the first and second sets of bit lines, to provide a relatively low access speed and a relatively high storage density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Yang, Huai-Yuan Tseng, Deepanshu Dutta
  • Patent number: 10546639
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes multifunctional memory cells. A number of embodiments include a gate element, a charge transport element, a first charge storage element configured to store a first charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the first charge storage element includes a nitride material, and a second charge storage element configured to store a second charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the second charge storage element includes a gallium nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 10490544
    Abstract: A memory circuit layout design includes first, second, third, and fourth memory cell regions abutting one another and corresponding to respective first, second, third, and fourth memory cells of the memory circuit. A first oxide diffusion (OD) layout pattern corresponds to a first active structure for forming the first and second memory cells, extends along a first direction, and has a shared source portion overlapping the first and second memory cell regions. A second OD layout pattern corresponds to a second active structure for forming the third and fourth memory cells, extends along the first direction, and has a shared source portion overlapping the third and fourth memory cell regions. A first conductive layout pattern corresponds to a first conductive structure under a lowest via plug layer of the memory circuit, extends along a second direction, and overlaps the shared source portions of the first and second OD layout patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jacklyn Chang, Kuoyuan (Peter) Hsu
  • Patent number: 10438958
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device including following steps is provided. A substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region is provided. A first stack structure is formed on the first region. A second stack structure is formed on the second region. A third stack structure is formed on the third region. A first mask layer is formed on the substrate to cover the third stack structure. A first ion implantation process is performed, so that a second floating gate and a second control gate in the second stack structure are changed to a first conductive type. A second mask layer formed on the substrate to cover the first and second stack structures. A second ion implantation process is performed, so that a third floating gate and a third control gate in the third stack structure are changed as a second conductive type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ta Yang, Lu-Ping Chiang
  • Patent number: 10411138
    Abstract: A flash memory structure, a memory array and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed. In the flash memory structure, an erase gate structure is formed between two floating gates, and a word line structure is formed on an outer side of each of the two floating gates, with an oxide layer formed between the word line structure and the substrate. The flash memory structure can be fabricated with a simple process. The memory array employing the flash memory structure is capable of erase operations by means of a voltage applied on erase gate lines and of read operations by means of a voltage applied on word lines. This enables read operations at a lower voltage with less power consumed by the memory array. In addition, the memory array is more efficient and more durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Binghan Li
  • Patent number: 10381359
    Abstract: A method of forming split gate non-volatile memory cells on the same chip as logic and high voltage devices having HKMG logic gates. The method includes forming the source and drain regions, floating gates, control gates, and the poly layer for the erase gates and word line gates in the memory area of the chip. A protective insulation layer is formed over the memory area, and an HKMG layer and poly layer are formed on the chip, removed from the memory area, and patterned in the logic areas of the chip to form the logic gates having varying amounts of underlying insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Sheng Su, Jeng-Wei Yang, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 10347773
    Abstract: Device and method of forming a non-volatile memory (NVM) device are disclosed. The NVM device includes NVM cells disposed on a substrate in a device region. The NVM cell includes a floating gate (FG) with first and second FG sidewalls disposed on the substrate and an intergate dielectric layer disposed over the FG and substrate. Re-entrants are disposed at corners of the intergate dielectric which are filled by dielectric re-entrant spacers. An access gate (AG) with first and second AG sidewalls is disposed on the substrate adjacent to the FG such that the second AG sidewall is adjacent to a first FG sidewall and separated by the intergate dielectric layer and the re-entrant spacers prevent AG from filling the re-entrants. A first source/drain (S/D) region is disposed in the substrate adjacent to the first AG sidewall and a second S/D region is disposed in the substrate adjacent to the second FG sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Si, Zeng Wang, Jeoung Mo Koo, Raj Verma Purakh
  • Patent number: 10340267
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory element level comprising memory elements, and a control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level and comprising control logic devices. At least one of the control logic devices of the control logic level of one or more of the decks comprises at least one device exhibiting transistors laterally displaced from one another. A memory device, a thin film transistor control logic assembly, an electronic system, and a method of operating a semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Patent number: 10332964
    Abstract: A single poly electrical erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) includes a source, a drain, a dielectric layer and an electrode layer. The source and the drain are located in a substrate, wherein the source and the drain have a first conductive type. The dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate and between the source and the drain, wherein the dielectric layer includes a first dielectric layer having two tunnel dielectric parts separating from each other, and thicknesses of the two tunnel dielectric parts are thinner than thicknesses of the other parts of the first dielectric layer. The electrode layer is disposed on the dielectric layer, wherein the electrode layer includes a first electrode disposed on the first dielectric layer, thereby the first electrode being a floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Haw Lee, Tzu-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 10325916
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide memory devices and methods for forming the same. In an exemplary method, a provided substrate has one or more memory cells, a memory cell of which includes a control gate layer. The control gate layer has a first portion and a second portion on the first portion. A silicide layer is formed in the control gate layer and covers at least a sidewall of the second portion. A portion of the silicide layer is removed to reduce a size of the silicide layer in a direction parallel to the substrate. A fourth dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and on the memory cell, and has a top surface higher than a top surface of the memory cell. An opening is formed in the fourth dielectric layer and exposes a portion of the substrate between adjacent memory cells. A conductive structure is formed in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng Fen Chiu, Fansheng Kung
  • Patent number: 10312247
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell formed on a semiconductor substrate having an upper surface with an upwardly extending fin with opposing first and second side surfaces. First and second electrodes are in electrical contact with first and second portions of the fin. A channel region of the fin includes portions of the first and second side surfaces that extend between the first and second portions of the fin. A floating gate extends along the first side surface of a first portion of the channel region, where no portion of the floating gate extends along the second side surface. A word line gate extends along the first and second side surfaces of a second portion of the channel region. A control gate is disposed over the floating gate. An erase gate has a first portion disposed laterally adjacent to the floating gate and a second portion disposed vertically over the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Serguei Jourba, Catherine Decobert, Feng Zhou, Jinho Kim, Xian Liu, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 10276582
    Abstract: A split gate non-volatile memory (NVM) cell formed on a crystalline-on-insulator (COI) substrate, such as a fully or partially depleted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is disclosed. The split gate memory cell includes a split gate disposed on a surface substrate of the SOI substrate between source/drain (S/D) regions. The split gate includes a storage gate with a control gate (CG) over a floating gate (FG), and a select gate (SG). A back gate is provided on the bulk substrate below a buried oxide (BOX). The back gate may be doped with the same polarity type dopants as the S/D regions. The back gate is coupled to the CG to increase CG coupling ratio, improving programming performance. Alternatively, the back gate may be doped with the opposite polarity type dopants as the S/D regions. The back gate is coupled to a negative bias during program and erase operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuan Sun, Shyue Seng Tan, Eng Huat Toh
  • Patent number: 10276584
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure for a split gate flash memory cell device with a hard mask having an asymmetric profile is provided. In some embodiments, a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A control gate and a memory gate, of the semiconductor structure, are spaced over the semiconductor substrate between the first and second source/drain regions. A charge trapping dielectric structure of the semiconductor structure is arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the memory gate and the control gate, and arranged under the memory gate. A hard mask of the semiconductor structure is arranged over the control gate and includes an asymmetric profile. The asymmetric profile tapers in height away from the memory gate. A method for manufacturing a pair of split gate flash memory cell devices with hard masks having an asymmetric profile is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Chiang Min, Tsung-Hsueh Yang, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10269919
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first device, and a second device. Each of the first and second devices includes a gate extending in a first direction, source/drain regions respectively formed on opposite first and second sides of the gate, dielectric spacers formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the gate on the first side and the second side, and conductive spacers serving contacts to the source/drain regions and formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the respective gate spacers. A second direction from the source/drain region on the first side to the source/drain region on the second side crosses the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huicai Zhong, Qingqing Liang, Haizhou Yin
  • Patent number: 10217794
    Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a capacitor, where the capacitor includes a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate. The first capacitor plate includes a first memory cell, and the second capacitor plate includes a second memory cell. The capacitor is utilized as a functional capacitor in the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Juan Boon Tan, Mahesh Bhatkar, Bhushan Bharat, Wanbing Yi
  • Patent number: 10176870
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes multifunctional memory cells. A number of embodiments include a gate element, a charge transport element, a first charge storage element configured to store a first charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the first charge storage element includes a nitride material, and a second charge storage element configured to store a second charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the second charge storage element includes a gallium nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 10170489
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of high-voltage insulated-gate field-effect transistors arranged in a matrix form on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate and each having a gate electrode, a gate electrode contact formed on the gate electrode, and a wiring layer which is formed on the gate electrode contacts adjacent in a gate-width direction to electrically connect the gate electrodes arranged in the gate-width direction. And the device includes shielding gates provided on portions of an element isolation region which lie between the transistors adjacent in the gate-width direction and gate-length direction and used to apply reference potential or potential of a polarity different from that of potential applied to the gate of the transistor to turn on the current path of the transistor to the element isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Kikuko Sugimae, Takeshi Kamigaichi
  • Patent number: 10096696
    Abstract: An embodiment of a transistor has a semiconductor fin, a dielectric over the semiconductor fin, a control gate over the dielectric, and source/drains in the semiconductor fin and having upper surfaces below an uppermost surface of the semiconductor fin. Another embodiment of a transistor has first and second semiconductor fins, a first source/drain region in the first semiconductor fin and extending downward from an uppermost surface of the first semiconductor fin, a second source/drain region in the second semiconductor fin and extending downward from an uppermost surface of the second semiconductor fin, a dielectric between the first and second semiconductor fins and adjacent to sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins, and a control gate over the dielectric and between the first and second semiconductor fins and extending to a level below upper surfaces of the first and second source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 10020066
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for characterizing a solid state memory. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include programming a first cell of a solid state memory device to a first voltage, programming a second cell of the solid state memory device to a second voltage different than the first voltage, detecting a voltage shift in the first cell when the second cell is being programmed; characterizing the first voltage of the first cell offset by the voltage shift as an interim voltage of the first cell, and repeatedly reading the interim voltage of the first cell using a first set of incrementally adjusted voltage values until an output of the first cell changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Yu Cai, Yunxiang Wu, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Patent number: 10014366
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a plurality of series-connected silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS transistors, including a plurality of parallel source/drain regions, a plurality of channel regions located between the plurality of source/drain regions, and a polysilicon gate structure located over the plurality of channel regions. The polysilicon gate structure includes a plurality of polysilicon gate fingers, wherein each polysilicon gate finger extends over a corresponding one of the channel regions. The polysilicon gate structure also includes a polysilicon base region that connects first ends of the polysilicon gate fingers. The polysilicon gate structure also includes triangular polysilicon extension regions coupled to the polysilicon gate fingers. The triangular extension regions can be located at the first ends of the polysilicon gate fingers (abutting the polysilicon base region), or at second (opposing ends) of the polysilicon gate fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventor: Roda Kanawati
  • Patent number: 9997256
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes an input/output (I/O) drive controller, a data I/O unit and a data transmitter. The input/output (I/O) drive controller generates drive control signals and an input control signal for driving first and second global I/O lines in a first test mode or a second test mode. The data I/O unit drives the first global I/O line in response to an input data when a write operation is executed in the first test mode. The data transmitter transfers the data on the first global I/O line onto first and second local I/O lines to store the data on the first global I/O line in a memory cell array portion when the write operation is executed in the first test mode. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Kwon Lee
  • Patent number: 9972493
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device that includes forming a first insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a conductive material layer on the first insulation layer, forming an insulation block on the conductive material layer, forming an insulation spacer along a side surface of the insulation block and on the conductive material layer, etching the conductive material layer to form a block of the conductive material disposed directly under the insulation block and the insulation spacer, removing the insulation spacer, forming a second insulation layer having a first portion wrapping around an exposed upper edge of the block of the conductive material and a second portion disposed on a first portion of the first insulation layer over the substrate, and forming a conductive block insulated from the block of the conductive material by the second insulation layer and from the substrate by the first and second insulation layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Sheng Su, Jeng-Wei Yang, Man-Tang Wu, Chun-Ming Chen, Hieu Van Tran, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 9917165
    Abstract: A split-gate flash memory cell for improved erase speed is provided. An erase gate and a floating gate are laterally spaced over a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate has a height increasing towards the erase gate, a concave sidewall surface neighboring the erase gate, and a tip defined an interface of the concave sidewall surface and an upper surface of the floating gate. A control gate and a sidewall spacer are arranged over the upper surface of the floating gate. The control gate is laterally offset from the tip of the floating gate, and the sidewall spacer is laterally arranged between the control gate and the tip. A method for manufacturing the split-gate flash memory cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9887201
    Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting lines formed in a semiconductor substrate. Among others, features include forming the gate lines with polysilicon layers of one conductivity type and the intersecting lines with dopants of the opposite conductivity type in the substrate; forming the intersecting lines with differing dopant concentrations near the substrate surface and deeper in the substrate; and forming the widths of the gate lines and intersecting lines with the minimum feature size that can be patterned by a particular semiconductor technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Kilopass Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Shengwen Luan
  • Patent number: 9866970
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microphone includes preparing a substrate and forming an oxide layer pattern on the substrate and an oxide layer on a rear side of the substrate. The vibration membrane is formed over the substrate by injecting conductive ions into the substrate. A sacrificial layer and a fixed electrode are sequentially formed on the substrate and the vibration membrane by removing the oxide layer pattern. A first photoresist layer pattern is formed on the fixed electrode, and an air inlet is formed by patterning the fixed electrode. A second photoresist layer pattern is formed on a rear side of the oxide layer, and a penetration hole, through which a portion of the vibration membrane is exposed, is formed by etching the oxide layer and the rear side of the substrate. An air layer is formed between the fixed electrode and the vibration membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ilseon Yoo
  • Patent number: 9865609
    Abstract: A one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell with floating gate shielding is provided. A pair of transistors is arranged on a semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled in series, where the transistors comprise a floating gate. An interconnect structure overlies the pair of transistors. A shield is arranged in the interconnect structure, directly over the floating gate. The shield is configured to block ions in the interconnect structure from moving to the floating gate. A method for manufacturing an OTP memory cell with floating gate shielding is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Lin Chen, Shyh-Wei Cheng, Che-Jung Chu
  • Patent number: 9859170
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate having a memory region is provided. A plurality of fin structures are provided and each fin structure stretching along a first direction. A plurality of gate structures are formed, and each gate structure stretches along a second direction. Next, a dielectric layer is formed on the gate structures. A first patterned mask layer is formed, wherein the first patterned mask layer has a plurality of first trenches stretching along the second direction. A second patterned mask layer on the first patterned mask layer, wherein the second patterned mask layer comprises a plurality of first patterns stretching along the first direction. Subsequently, the dielectric layer is patterned by using the first patterned mask layer and the second patterned mask layer as a mask to form a plurality of contact vias. The contact holes are filled with a conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ching-Wen Hung, Wei-Cyuan Lo, Ming-Jui Chen, Chia-Lin Lu, Jia-Rong Wu, Yi-Hui Lee, Ying-Cheng Liu, Yi-Kuan Wu, Chih-Sen Huang, Yi-Wei Chen, Tan-Ya Yin, Chia-Wei Huang, Shu-Ru Wang, Yung-Feng Cheng
  • Patent number: 9858998
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor storage device including N word lines, M bit lines, multiple memory cells, and a read circuit. N is an integer of four or greater. M is an integer of two or greater. The M bit lines intersect with the word lines. The multiple memory cells are placed at positions where the word lines and the bit lines intersect. The memory cell stores binary data. The read circuit is connected to the M bit lines. The read circuit is able to detect levels of a multi-ary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9812536
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate to a method to an integrated chip having a source/drain self-aligned contact to a transistor or other semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has a pair of gate structures including a gate electrode arranged over a substrate and an insulating material arranged over the gate electrode. A source/drain region is arranged within the substrate between the pair of gate structures. An etch stop layer is arranged along sidewalls of the pair of gate structures and over the source/drain region, and a dielectric layer is over the insulating material. A source/drain contact is arranged over the insulating material and the etch stop layer and is separated from the sidewalls of the pair of gate structures by the etch stop layer. The source/drain contact is electrically coupled to the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Feng Fu, Yu-Chan Yen, Chia-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 9793393
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active gate trench in the substrate; a source polysilicon pickup trench in the substrate; a polysilicon electrode disposed in the source polysilicon pickup trench; and a body region in the substrate. The top surface of the polysilicon electrode is below the bottom of the body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: John Chen, Il Kwan Lee, Hong Chang, Wenjun Li, Anup Bhalla, Hamza Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 9786719
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to forming a base contact layout in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Antonino Rigano, Fabio Pellizzer, Gianfranco Capetti
  • Patent number: 9735166
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having good characteristics without variation and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A part of a conductive layer for a floating gate is removed by using a spacer insulating film, a first insulating film, and a second insulating film as a mask. A floating gate having a tip portion is formed from the conductive layer for the floating gate, and a part of an insulating layer for a gate insulating film is exposed from the floating gate. The tip portion of the floating gate is further exposed by selectively removing the second insulating film among the second insulating film, the insulating layer for the gate insulating film, and the spacer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Mukai
  • Patent number: 9691883
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure of a split gate flash memory cell is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a source region and a drain region. Further, the semiconductor structure includes a floating gate, a word line, and an erase gate spaced over the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions with the floating gate arranged between the word line and the erase gate. The semiconductor structure further includes a first dielectric sidewall region disposed between the word line and the floating gate, as well as a second dielectric sidewall region disposed between the erase and floating gates. A thickness of the first dielectric sidewall region is greater than a thickness of the second dielectric sidewall region. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure and an integrated circuit including the semiconductor structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yuan-Tai Tseng, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9679979
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are presented. An exemplary semiconductor structure comprises a common source region having a sawtooth profile, and a flat erase gate disposed above the common source region. Methods of making semiconductor structures are also presented. An exemplary method comprises forming a plurality of trenches in a substrate thereby forming a plurality of active regions; forming a common source region in the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the active regions. The exemplary method further comprises, after forming the common source region, forming a dielectric feature on the substrate thereby filling the trenches and forming a plurality of shallow trench isolation features, and forming an erase gate on the dielectric feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Wei Cheng Wu, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 9673204
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first isolation structure partially embedded in the substrate. The first isolation structure has a first upper surface with a first recess. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second isolation structure partially embedded in the substrate. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes a first gate over the substrate and between the first isolation structure and the second isolation structure. The first gate extends onto the first upper surface to cover the first recess. The semiconductor device structure includes a second gate over the first gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Tsung-Hsueh Yang, Chung-Chiang Min, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9660105
    Abstract: A flash memory device in a dual fin single floating gate configuration is provided. Semiconductor fins are formed on a stack of a back gate conductor layer and a back gate dielectric layer. Pairs of semiconductor fins are formed in an array environment such that shallow trench isolation structures can be formed along the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins within the array. After formation of tunneling dielectrics on the sidewalls of the semiconductor fins, a floating gate electrode is formed between each pair of proximally located semiconductor fins by deposition of a conformal conductive material layer and an isotropic etch. A control gate dielectric and a control gate electrode are formed by deposition and patterning of a dielectric layer and a conductive material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ramachandra Divakaruni, Arvind Kumar, Carl J. Radens
  • Patent number: 9658278
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first layer, a second layer configured to overlap with the first layer at a plurality of positions, a plurality of first layer contacts configured to be selectively activated to test the first layer for a first layer leakage current, and a plurality of second layer contacts configured to be selectively activated to test the second layer for a second layer leakage current. The first layer contacts are arranged on the first layer on a first side and a second side of the plurality of positions at which the second layer overlaps with the first layer. The second layer contacts are arranged on the second layer on a third side and a fourth side of the plurality of positions at which the second layer overlaps with the first layer. A determined first layer leakage current or second layer leakage current is indicative of the presence of a crystal defect in the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hao Liao, Chu Fu Chen, Po-Ju Chiu, Jun Yean Chiou, Chao-Jen Cheng
  • Patent number: 9660058
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin for a FinFET device includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a patterned silicon germanium layer on the semiconductor substrate, epitaxially growing a silicon layer on a top surface and sidewalls of the patterned silicon germanium layer, forming a sacrificial layer covering the patterned silicon germanium layer, and removing the sacrificial layer and a portion of the silicon layer disposed on the top surface of the patterned silicon germanium layer until a top surface of the sacrificial layer is co-planar with the top surface of the patterned silicon germanium layer. The method further includes removing the patterned silicon germanium layer and removing the sacrificial layer to form the fin. The epitaxially formed fin does not have the issues of line width roughness and edge roughness to improve the performance of the FinFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Qiuhua Han
  • Patent number: 9653304
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate member on a semiconductor substrate through a gate insulating film, forming a spacer on the first gate member, flattening a surface of the spacer, forming a first gate by partially etching the first gate member using the spacer as a mask, forming a second gate member so as to cover the first gate and the spacer having the flattened surface, forming a first insulating film on a surface of the second gate member, and forming a second gate by causing the second gate member to retreat while removing the first insulating film by etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Chiba
  • Patent number: 9647143
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory unit and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The non-volatile memory unit includes a substrate with a source region and a drain region. A first dielectric layer forms on the substrate. An erase gate, a floating gate and couple control gate are forms on the first dielectric layer. The coupled dielectric layer are formed among and above the erase gate, the floating gate and the selective gate, and formed on the couple gate of the coupled dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: XINNOVA TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Der-Tsyr Fan, Chih-Ming Chen, Jung-Chang Lu