Memory Effect Devices (epo) Patents (Class 257/E29.17)
  • Patent number: 11515432
    Abstract: A storage transistor has a tunnel dielectric layer and a charge-trapping layer between a channel region and a gate electrode, wherein the charge-tapping layer has a conduction band offset that is less than the lowering of the tunneling barrier in the tunnel dielectric layer when a programming voltage is applied, such that electrons direct tunnel into the charge-trapping layer. The conduction band of the charge-trapping layer is has a value between ?1.0 eV and 2.3 eV. The storage transistor may further include a barrier layer between the tunnel dielectric layer and the charge-trapping layer, the barrier layer having a conduction band offset less than the conduction band offset of the charge-trapping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sayeef Salahuddin, George Samachisa, Wu-Yi Henry Chien, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 11482572
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a first wiring extending in a first direction and a second wiring extending in a second direction. The first and second wirings are spaced from each other in a third direction. The second wiring has a first recess facing the first wiring. A resistance change memory element is connected between the first and second wirings. A conductive layer is between the resistance change memory element and the second wiring and includes a first protrusion facing the second wiring. A switching portion is between the conductive layer and the second wiring and includes a second recess facing the conductive layer and a second protrusion facing the second wiring. The first protrusion is in the second recess. The second protrusion is in the first recess. The switching portion is configured to switch conductivity state according to voltage between the first wiring and the second wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9437814
    Abstract: During fabrication of a two-terminal memory device, a terminal (e.g., bottom terminal) can be formed. After formation of the terminal, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process can be applied that, depending on the composition of the terminal, can cause damage that affect operating characteristics of the finished memory device or cell. In some embodiments, such damage can be removed by one or more post-CMP processes. In some embodiments, such damage can be mitigated so as to prevent the damage from occurring at all, by, e.g., forming a sacrificial layer atop the terminal prior to performing the CMP process. Thus, the sacrificial layer can operate to protect the terminal from damage resulting from the CMP process, with the remainder of the sacrificial layer being removed prior to completing the fabrication of the two-terminal memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Yue Gee, Majid Milani, Natividad Vasquez, Jr., Steven Patrick Maxwell, Sundar Narayanan
  • Patent number: 9012307
    Abstract: A method of forming a two terminal device. The method includes forming a first dielectric material overlying a surface region of a substrate. A bottom wiring material is formed overlying the first dielectric material and a switching material is deposited overlying the bottom wiring material. The bottom wiring material and the switching material is subjected to a first patterning and etching process to form a first structure having a top surface region and a side region. The first structure includes at least a bottom wiring structure and a switching element having a first side region, and a top surface region including an exposed region of the switching element. A second dielectric material is formed overlying at least the first structure including the exposed region of the switching element. The method forms an opening region in a portion of the second dielectric layer to expose a portion of the top surface region of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Jo, Scott Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 8907430
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory transistor including a first side wall insulating film and a second side wall insulating film disposed on the outside; a high-voltage transistor including a third side wall insulating film having the same composition as that of the first side wall insulating film, and a fourth side wall insulating film having the same composition as that of the second side wall insulating film, the fourth side wall insulating film being disposed on the outside; and a low-voltage transistor including a fifth side wall insulating film having the same composition as that of the second and fourth side wall insulating films. The memory transistor, the high-voltage transistor, and the low-voltage transistor are disposed on the same substrate. A total side wall spacer width of the low-voltage transistor is smaller than that of the high-voltage transistor by a thickness corresponding to the third side wall insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Usujima, Junichi Ariyoshi, Taiji Ema
  • Patent number: 8895400
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell region and a peripheral circuit region defined therein. A buried word line is disposed in the substrate in the cell region and has a top surface lower than top surfaces of cell active regions in the cell region. A gate line is disposed on the substrate in the peripheral circuit region. A word line interconnect is disposed in the substrate in the peripheral circuit region, the word line interconnect including a first portion contacting the buried word line and having a top surface lower than a top surfaces of the cell active regions and a second portion that is overlapped by and in contact with the gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeoung-Won Seo, Yun-Gi Kim, Young-Woong Son, Bong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8809933
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate, a plurality of stacked gate structures, a plurality of doped regions, a plurality of liner layers, a plurality of conductive layers, a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of word lines is provided. The substrate has a plurality of trenches therein. The stacked gate structures are on the substrate between the trenches. The doped regions are in the substrate at sidewalls or bottoms of the trenches. The liner layers are on at least a portion of sidewalls of the stacked gate structures and on sidewalls of the trenches. The conductive layers are in the trenches and electrically connected to the doped regions. The dielectric layers are on the conductive layers and between the stacked gate structures. The word lines are on the substrate and electrically connected to the stacked gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guan-De Lee, Chien-Hung Liu, Shou-Wei Huang, Ying-Tso Chen
  • Patent number: 8791552
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array layer including a first wire, a memory cell stacked on the first wire, and a second wire formed on the memory cell. The memory cell includes a variable resistance element and a current control element The current control element includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor into which a first impurity is doped, an i-type semiconductor in contact with the first conductivity-type semiconductor, a second conductivity-type semiconductor into which a second impurity is doped, and an impact ionization acceleration unit being formed between the i-type semiconductor and one of the first conductivity-type semiconductor and the second conductivity-type semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Nishimura, Nobuaki Yasutake, Takayuki Okamura
  • Patent number: 8772856
    Abstract: Memory cells formed to include a charge storage node having conductive nanodots over a charge storage material are useful in non-volatile memory devices and electronic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8754460
    Abstract: An MRAM bit (10) includes a free magnetic region (15), a fixed magnetic region (17) comprising an antiferromagnetic material, and a tunneling barrier (16) comprising a dielectric layer positioned between the free magnetic region (15) and the fixed magnetic region (17). The MRAM bit (10) avoids a pinning layer by comprising a fixed magnetic region exhibiting a well-defined high Hflop using a combination of high Hk (uniaxial anisotropy), high Hsat (saturation field), and ideal soft magnetic properties exhibiting well-defined easy and hard axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: EverSpin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas V. Pietambaram, Bengt J. Akerman, Renu Whig, Jason A. Janesky, Nicholas D. Rizzo, Jon M. Slaughter
  • Patent number: 8723246
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to examples of the present invention comprises a memory cell and a peripheral transistor. The memory cell has a first intergate insulating film having a multilayer structure and provided on a floating gate electrode and an isolation insulating layer. The peripheral transistor has a second intergate insulating film having a multilayer structure and provided on a first gate electrode and a second isolation insulating layer. The first and second intergate insulating films have the same structure, and a lowermost insulating layer of the first intergate insulating film on the first isolation insulating layer is thinner than a lowermost insulating layer of the second intergate insulating film on the second isolation insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshitake Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 8703555
    Abstract: An SRAM device and method of forming MOS transistors of the device having reduced defects associated with selective epitaxial growth in moat tip regions is discussed. The SRAM device comprises a core region and a logic region, logic transistors within the logic region of the SRAM, and selective epitaxial regions grown on both source and drain regions; and memory cell transistors within the core region of the SRAM, and having the selective epitaxial regions grown on only one of the source and drain regions. One method of forming the MOS transistors of the SRAM cell comprises forming a gate structure over a first conductivity type substrate to define a channel therein, masking one of the source and drain regions in the core region, forming a recess in the substrate of the unmasked side of the channel, epitaxially growing SiGe in the recess, removing the mask, and forming the source and drain extension regions in source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Antonio L. Rotondaro
  • Patent number: 8698224
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tanaka, Yukiko Umemoto, Mitsuru Hiraki, Yutaka Shinagawa, Masamichi Fujito, Kazufumi Suzukawa, Hiroyuki Tanikawa, Takashi Yamaki, Yoshiaki Kamigaki, Shinichi Minami, Kozo Katayama, Nozomu Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8648409
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming a channel link layer and an isolation layer surrounding the channel link layer over a substrate, forming a stack structure having interlayer dielectric layers that are alternately stacked with gate electrode layers over the channel link layer and the isolation layer, and forming a pair of channels connected to the channel link layer through the stack structure, and a memory layer interposed between the channel and the stack structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Soo Joo, Dong-Kee Lee, Sang-Hyun Oh
  • Patent number: 8618603
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor member; a memory film provided on a surface of the semiconductor member and being capable of storing charge; and a plurality of control gate electrodes provided on the memory film, spaced from each other, and arranged along a direction parallel to the surface. Average dielectric constant of a material interposed between one of the control gate electrodes and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the control gate electrode adjacent to the one control gate electrode is lower than average dielectric constant of a material interposed between the one control gate electrode and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the one control gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshio Ozawa, Fumiki Aiso
  • Patent number: 8575586
    Abstract: A resistive memory device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The resistive memory device includes a lower electrode formed over a substrate, a resistive layer disposed over the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed over the resistive layer, and an oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern provided in an interface between the resistive layer and the upper electrode. The above-described resistive memory device and a method for manufacturing the same may prevent the out diffusion of oxygen in the interface of the upper electrode to avoid set-stuck phenomenon occurring upon the operation of the resistive memory device, thereby improving the endurance of the resistive memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8530939
    Abstract: Some embodiments include cross-point memory structures. The structures may include a line of first electrode material extending along a first horizontal direction, a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, a memory element material within the multi-sided container, and a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. The methods may include forming a memory cell stack over a first electrode material, and then patterning the first electrode material and the memory cell stack into a first set of spaced lines extending along a first horizontal direction. Spaced lines of second electrode material may be formed over the first set of spaced lines, and may extend along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8519488
    Abstract: A hafnium oxide layer, between a III-V semiconductor layer and a metal oxide layer is used to prevent interaction between the III-V semiconductor layer and the metal oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Edward Yi Chang, Yueh-Chin Lin
  • Publication number: 20130214340
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first stacked structure, and a first conductive layer. The first stacked structure is formed on the substrate and includes a conductive structure and an insulating structure, and the conductive structure is disposed adjacent to the insulating structure. The first conductive layer is formed on the substrate and surrounds two side walls and a part of the top portion of the first stacked structure for exposing a portion of the first stacked structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Chen, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Patent number: 8497538
    Abstract: An MRAM bit (10) includes a free magnetic region (15), a fixed magnetic region (17) comprising an antiferromagnetic material, and a tunneling barrier (16) comprising a dielectric layer positioned between the free magnetic region (15) and the fixed magnetic region (17). The MRAM bit (10) avoids a pinning layer by comprising a fixed magnetic region exhibiting a well-defined high Hflop using a combination of high Hk (uniaxial anisotropy), high Hsat (saturation field), and ideal soft magnetic properties exhibiting well-defined easy and hard axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas V. Pietambaram, Bengt J. Akerman, Renu W. Dave, Jason A. Janesky, Nicholas D. Rizzo, Jon M. Slaughter
  • Patent number: 8476708
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cell array portion, single-crystal semiconductor layer, and circuit portion. The memory cell array portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and includes memory cells. The semiconductor layer is formed on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the memory cell array portion. The circuit portion is formed on the semiconductor layer. The Ge concentration in the lower portion of the semiconductor layer is higher than that in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Masaru Kito, Kiyotaka Miyano, Shinji Mori, Ichiro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 8426904
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tanaka, Yukiko Umemoto, Mitsuru Hiraki, Yutaka Shinagawa, Masamichi Fujito, Kazufumi Suzukawa, Hiroyuki Tanikawa, Takashi Yamaki, Yoshiaki Kamigaki, Shinichi Minami, Kozo Katayama, Nozomu Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8384138
    Abstract: An SRAM device and method of forming MOS transistors of the device having reduced defects associated with selective epitaxial growth in moat tip regions is discussed. The SRAM device comprises a core region and a logic region, logic transistors within the logic region of the SRAM, and selective epitaxial regions grown on both source and drain regions; and memory cell transistors within the core region of the SRAM, and having the selective epitaxial regions grown on only one of the source and drain regions. One method of forming the MOS transistors of the SRAM cell comprises forming a gate structure over a first conductivity type substrate to define a channel therein, masking one of the source and drain regions in the core region, forming a recess in the substrate of the unmasked side of the channel, epitaxially growing SiGe in the recess, removing the mask, and forming the source and drain extension regions in source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Antonio Luis Pacheco Rotondaro
  • Patent number: 8354708
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a methods of forming and operating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include active pillars extending from a semiconductor substrate and disposed two dimensionally disposed on the semiconductor substrate, upper interconnections connecting the active pillars along one direction, lower interconnections crossing the upper interconnections and disposed between the active pillars, word lines crossing the upper interconnections and disposed between the active pillars, and data storage patterns disposed between the word lines and the active pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Seoul National University Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Wook-Hyun Kwon, Byung-Gook Park, Yun-Heub Song, Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8350247
    Abstract: A resistive random access memory (RRAM) having a solid solution layer and a method of manufacturing the RRAM are provided. The RRAM includes a lower electrode, a solid solution layer on the lower electrode, a resistive layer on the solid solution layer, and an upper electrode on the resistive layer. The method of manufacturing the RRAM includes forming a lower electrode, forming a solid solution layer on the lower electrode, forming a resistive layer on the solid layer and forming an upper electrode on the resistive layer, wherein the RRAM is formed of a transition metal solid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung-jae Lee, Young-soo Park, Ran-ju Jung, Sun-ae Seo, Dong-chul Kim, Seung-eon Ahn
  • Patent number: 8344351
    Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a plurality of memory cells comprising a substrate having a contact surface with an array of conductive contacts to be connected with access circuitry and a nitride layer formed at the contact surface. A plurality of vias are formed through the nitride layer to the contact surface and correspond to each conductive contact, the vias including a conformal conductive seed layer lining each via along exposed portions of the nitride layer and the contact surface and having oxidized edges. A dielectric layer is recessed within the conformal conductive seed layer and exposes a center region of each via. A phase change material is recessed within the center region of each via. A conductive material that remains conductive upon oxidation is formed over the phase change material. A top electrode is formed on each memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Breitwisch, Eric A. Joseph, Alejandro G. Schrott, Xiaoyan Shao
  • Publication number: 20120280299
    Abstract: Provided are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The device may include an electrode structure extending in a first direction and including electrodes and insulating patterns which are alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate, and vertical active patterns penetrating the electrode structure. At least an uppermost electrode of the electrodes is divided into a plurality of physically isolated segments arranged in the first direction. The segments of the uppermost electrode are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jang-Gn Yun, Kwang Soo Seol, Youngwoo Park
  • Patent number: 8299450
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a lower electrode, a phase-change material layer formed on the lower electrode so as to be electrically connected to the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the phase-change material layer so as to be electrically connected to the phase-change material layer. The phase-change material layer includes a phase-change material including a composition represented by the formula (I)A(IIXIIIYIVZ)(1-A), where I is at least one of As and Se, II is at least one of Ge, Si and Sn, III is at least one of Sb and Bi, and IV is at least one of Te and Se, and where 0.001?A?0.3, 0.001?X?0.3, 0.001?Y?0.8, 0.1?Z?0.8, and X+Y+Z=1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-ho Ahn, Hideki Horii, Soon-oh Park, Young-hyun Kim, Heo-ju Shin, Jin-ho Oh
  • Patent number: 8294196
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is described having memory cells with a gate dielectric. The gate dielectric is a multilayer charge trapping dielectric between a control gate and a channel region of a transistor to trap positively charged holes. The multilayer charge trapping dielectric comprises at least one layer of high-K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn
  • Patent number: 8294134
    Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a switching device and a storage node connected to the switching device. The storage node includes a bottom stack, a phase change layer disposed on the bottom stack and a top stack disposed on the phase change layer. The phase change layer includes a unit for increasing a path of current flowing through the phase change layer and reducing a volume of a phase change memory region. The area of a surface of the unit disposed opposite to the bottom stack is greater than or equal to the area of a surface of the bottom stack in contact with the phase change layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk-soon Choi, Ji-hyun Hur, Yoon-ho Kang, Hyo-sug Lee, Jai-kwang Shin, Jae-joon Oh
  • Patent number: 8222094
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cell of a non-volatile electrically erasable and programmable memory including a dual-gate MOS transistor. The method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate covered with an insulating layer including a thinned down portion and having a first surface common with the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and incorporating nitrogen at the level of the second surface, whereby the maximum nitrogen concentration is closer to the second surface than to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 8222630
    Abstract: An organic memory device having a memory active region formed by an embossing structure. This invention provides an organic memory device including a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, an organic memory layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the organic memory layer and an embossing structure provided at the organic memory layer to form a memory active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Jae Joo, Kwang Hee Lee, Sang Kyun Lee, Tae Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 8207557
    Abstract: Some embodiments include cross-point memory structures. The structures may include a line of first electrode material extending along a first horizontal direction, a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, a memory element material within the multi-sided container, and a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. The methods may include forming a memory cell stack over a first electrode material, and then patterning the first electrode material and the memory cell stack into a first set of spaced lines extending along a first horizontal direction. Spaced lines of second electrode material may be formed over the first set of spaced lines, and may extend along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20120155165
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a memory comprising a strained double-heterostructure having an inner semiconductor layer which is sandwiched between two outer semiconductor layers, wherein the lattice constant of the inner semiconductor layer differs from the lattice constants of the outer semiconductor layers, the resulting lattice strain in the double-heterostructure inducing the formation of at least one quantum dot inside the inner semiconductor layer, said at least one quantum dot being capable of storing charge carriers therein, and wherein, due to the lattice strain, the at least one quantum dot has an emission barrier of 1.15 eV or higher, and provides an energy state density of at least three energy states per 1000 nm3, all said at least three energy states being located in an energy band of 50 meV or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Dieter BIMBERG, Martin Geller, Andreas Marent, Tobias Nowozin
  • Patent number: 8198129
    Abstract: A method of depositing an antimony-comprising phase change material onto a substrate includes providing a reducing agent and vaporized Sb(OR)3 to a substrate, where R is alkyl, and forming there-from antimony-comprising phase change material on the substrate. The phase change material has no greater than 10 atomic percent oxygen, and includes another metal in addition to antimony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20120126309
    Abstract: A feature is formed in the NVM isolation region during the patterning and etching of an NVM device and a logic device such that the feature is of substantially equal height to the logic device and is well-defined so that it does not cause defect signals. A first conductive layer is formed over a substrate. The first conductive layer is patterned to expose at least a portion of the substrate in an NVM region and at least a portion of an isolation region. An NVM dielectric stack is formed over the first conductive layer, the exposed substrate, and the exposed isolation region, and a second conductive layer is formed over the NVM dielectric stack. The first and second conductive layers and the NVM dielectric stack are patterned to form a first gate and a second gate of an NVM cell in the NVM region and a feature over the isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: JANE A. YATER, Sung-Taeg Kang, Mehul D. Shroff
  • Patent number: 8183622
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes bit lines (12) that are provided in a semiconductor substrate (10) an ONO film (14) that is provided on the semiconductor substrate; word lines that are provided on the ONO film (14) and extend in a width direction of the bit lines (12); and a dummy layer (44) that extends in the width direction of the bit lines (12) and is provided in a bit-line contact region (40) having contact holes formed to connect the bit lines (12) with wiring layers (34). In accordance with the present invention, the proximity effect at the time of word line formation can be restrained, and the variation in the widths of the word lines can be made smaller, or current leakage between the bit lines and the semiconductor substrate can be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventor: Masatomi Okanishi
  • Publication number: 20120112256
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the devices are provided. An example device may include a substrate and a gate structure on the substrate. The gate structure includes a control gate having at least three distinct gate regions. First and second control gate regions are configured as a first field type, such as a high-gate or low-gate type. A third control gate region configured as a second field type (different from the first field type) is at least partially disposed between the first and second control gate regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Globalfoundries Singapore Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyue Seng Tan, Ying Keung Leung, Elgin Quek
  • Publication number: 20120091521
    Abstract: Memory arrays and their formation are disclosed. One such memory array has a string of series-coupled memory cells with a substantially vertical portion. A distance between adjacent memory cells at one end of the substantially vertical portion is greater than a distance between adjacent memory cells at an opposing end of the substantially vertical portion. For other embodiments, thicknesses of respective control gates of the memory cells and/or thicknesses of the dielectrics between successively adjacent control gates may increase as the distances of the respective control gates/dielectrics from the opposing end of the substantially vertical portion increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Akira Goda
  • Publication number: 20120081968
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device that has an isolated area formed from one conductivity and formed in part by a buried layer of a second conductivity that is implanted in a substrate. The walls of the isolated area are formed by implants that are formed from the second conductivity and extend down to the buried layer. The isolated region has implanted source lines and is further subdivided by overlay strips of the second conductivity that extend substantially down to the buried layer. Each isolation region can contain one or more blocks of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Frankie F. Roohparvar
  • Patent number: 8134200
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention includes a memory cell including, a charge storage layer on a gate insulating film, a multilayer insulator on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the multilayer insulator, the gate insulating film including a first tunnel film, a first high-dielectric-constant film on the first tunnel film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first tunnel film, and a second tunnel film on the first high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first tunnel film, the multilayer insulator including a first insulating film, a second high-dielectric-constant film on the first insulating film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first insulating film, and a second insulating film on the second high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshitake Yaegashi
  • Publication number: 20120056259
    Abstract: A memory cell including a substrate, a stacked gate structure and a first isolation structure is provided. The substrate has a first doped region, a second doped and a channel region located between the first doped region and the second doped region. The stacked gate structure is disposed on the channel and at least includes a charge trapping layer and a gate from bottom to top. The first isolation structure is disposed in the substrate and is connected to the first doped region and extends downwards from the first doped region for a predetermined length, and a bottom of the first isolation structure is lower than a bottom of the first doped region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Chou Chen, Yao-Wen Chang, I-Chen Yang
  • Patent number: 8125021
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a first oxide layer, a second oxide layer and a buffer layer formed on a lower electrode. An upper electrode is formed on the buffer layer. In one example, the lower electrode is composed of at least one of Pt, Ru, Ir, IrOx and an alloy thereof, the second oxide layer is a transition metal oxide, the buffer layer is composed of a p-type oxide and the upper electrode is composed of a material selected from Ni, Co, Cr, W, Cu or an alloy thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choong-Rae Cho, Eun-Hong Lee, El Mostafa Bourim, Chang-Wook Moon
  • Patent number: 8124956
    Abstract: A phase change material including a high adhesion phase change material formed on a dielectric material and a low adhesion phase change material formed on the high adhesion phase change material. The high adhesion phase change material includes a greater amount of at least one of nitrogen and oxygen than the low adhesion phase change material. The phase change material is produced by forming a first chalcogenide compound material including an amount of at least one of nitrogen and oxygen on the dielectric material and forming a second chalcogenide compound including a lower percentage of at least one of nitrogen and oxygen on the first chalcogenide compound material. A phase change random access memory device, and a semiconductor structure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Hampton
  • Publication number: 20120043621
    Abstract: A method for forming a vertically stacked memory device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region and forming a first dielectric material overlying the surface region. A first plurality of memory cells are formed overlying the first dielectric material. Each of the first plurality of memory cells includes at least a first top metal wiring structure spatially extending in a first direction, a first bottom wiring structure spatially extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first top metal wiring structure, and a first switching element sandwiched in an intersection region between the first top metal wiring structure and the first bottom metal wiring structure. In a specific embodiment, the method forms a thickness of second dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory. A second plurality of memory cells are formed overlying the second dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Brad HERNER
  • Patent number: 8115247
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a floating gate formed above a semiconductor substrate; an erasing gate formed above the floating gate; a control gate formed above a channel region of a surface layer of the semiconductor substrate at a position corresponding to one lateral side of the floating gate and the erasing gate; a first diffusion layer formed on the semiconductor substrate at a position corresponding to another lateral side of the floating gate and the erasing gate; a plug formed above the first diffusion layer, the plug coupled to the first diffusion layer; and a second diffusion layer formed on the semiconductor substrate at a position adjacent to the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 8106394
    Abstract: A multi-layer storage node, resistive random access memory device and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The resistive random access memory device includes a switching structure and a storage node connected to the switching structure. The storage node includes a lower electrode, a first layer, a second layer, and an upper electrode that may be sequentially stacked. The first layer may be formed on the lower electrode and includes at least one of oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and combinations thereof. The second layer may be formed on the first layer and includes at least one of copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and combinations thereof. The second layer may be formed of a material having an oxidizing power less than that of the first layer. The upper electrode may be formed on the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-hyun Lee, Sang-jun Choi, Hyung-jin Bae
  • Patent number: 8093680
    Abstract: The present memory device includes first and second electrodes, first and second insulating layers between the electrodes, the first insulating layer being in contact with the first electrode, the second insulating layer being in contact with the second electrode, and a metal layer between the first and second insulating layers. Further included may be a first oxide layer between and in contact with the first insulating layer and the metal layer, and a second oxide layer between and in contact with the second insulating layer and the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Manuj Rathor, Suzette K. Pangrle, Steven Avanzino, Zhida Lan
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8053817
    Abstract: A vertical transistor and a method for forming the same. The vertical transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having pillar type active patterns formed on a surface thereof; first junction regions formed in the surface of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the active patterns; screening layers formed on sidewalls of the first junction regions; second junction regions formed on upper surfaces of the active patterns; and gates formed on sidewalls of the active patterns including the second junction regions to overlap with at least portions of the first junction regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Seon Yong Cha