Channel Structure Lying Under Slanted Or Vertical Surface Or Being Formed Along Surface Of Groove (e.g., Trench Gate Dmosfet) (epo) Patents (Class 257/E29.26)
  • Patent number: 7572704
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal pattern in a semiconductor device includes forming an etch stop layer over a semi-finished substrate including a metal layer, forming a hard mask over the etch stop layer, etching the hard mask to form a hard mask pattern exposing the etch stop layer, and etching the etch stop layer and the metal layer using the hard mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Rok Oh, Jae-Seon Yu
  • Patent number: 7566933
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trench-gate semiconductor device including: a trench gate structure; a source layer having a first conductivity type, facing a gate electrode via a gate insulating film, and having a top plane; a base layer having a second conductivity type, being adjacent to the source layer, and facing the gate electrode via the gate insulating film; a semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type, being adjacent to the base layer, and facing the gate electrode via the gate insulating film without contacting the source layer; and a contact layer having the second conductivity type, contacting the source layer and base layer, having a top plane continuing with the top plane of the source layer, and having two or more peaks in an impurity concentration value profile in a depth direction from the top plane thereof, the peaks being positioned shallower than a formed depth of the source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Yusuke Kawaguchi, Syotaro Ono
  • Patent number: 7547945
    Abstract: The invention includes a transistor device having a semiconductor substrate with an upper surface. A pair of source/drain regions are formed within the semiconductor substrate and a channel region is formed within the semiconductor substrate and extends generally perpendicularly relative to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. A gate is formed within the semiconductor substrate between the pair of the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Gordon Haller, Kris K. Brown, Tuman Earl Allen, III
  • Patent number: 7517759
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an MOS device is described. A substrate doped a first type dopant is provided as a drain. A first type epitaxial layer is formed on the substrate and is patterned with a trench to form several islands. A gate dielectric layer is then formed on the surface of the trench, and a gate is formed in the trench covering the gate dielectric layer. A second type dopant is doped into the islands with the doping concentration decreasing gradually from the bottom to the top of the islands. Afterwards, a source is formed at the top of the islands. Accordingly, the doping concentration in the islands decreases gradually from the drain to the source with the highest doping concentration near the drain. Therefore, the width of the depletion region can be reduced, and the length of the device channel can be reduced for lowering channel resistance and gate capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Episil Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bing-Yue Tsui
  • Patent number: 7518184
    Abstract: Self-aligned recessed gate structures and method of formation are disclosed. Field oxide areas for isolation are first formed in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of columns are defined in an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate subsequent to which a thin sacrificial oxide layer is formed over exposed regions of the semiconductor substrate but not over the field oxide areas. A dielectric material is then provided on sidewalls of each column and over portions of the sacrificial oxide layer and of the field oxide areas. A first etch is conducted to form a first set of trenches within the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of recesses within the field oxide areas. A second etch is conducted to remove dielectric residue remaining on the sidewalls of the columns and to form a second set of trenches. Polysilicon is then deposited within the second set of trenches and within the recesses to form recessed conductive gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7511336
    Abstract: A vertical trench transistor has a first electrode, a second electrode and also a semiconductor body arranged between the first and second electrodes, there being formed in the semiconductor body a plurality of transistor cells comprising source region, body region, drift region and gate electrode and also contact holes for making contact with the source and body regions, contact being made with the source and body regions by means of the first electrode, and at least the bottom of each contact hole adjoining at least one drift region, so that Schottky contacts between the first electrode and corresponding drift regions are formed at the bottoms of the contact holes. The dimensions and configurations of the body regions or of the body contact regions optionally arranged between body regions and contact holes are chosen in such a way as to avoid excessive increases in electric fields at the edges of the contact hole bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Wolfgang Werner, Joachim Krumery
  • Patent number: 7508048
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having multi-gate insulation layers and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby are provided. The method includes forming a pad insulation layer and an initial high voltage gate insulation layer on a first region and a second region of a semiconductor substrate respectively. The initial high voltage gate insulation layer is formed to be thicker than the pad insulation layer. A first isolation layer that penetrates the pad insulation layer and is buried in the semiconductor substrate is formed to define a first active region in the first region, and a second isolation layer that penetrates the initial high voltage gate insulation layer and is buried in the semiconductor substrate is formed to define a second active region in the second region. The pad insulation layer is then removed to expose the first active region. A low voltage gate insulation layer is formed on the exposed first active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Woong Kang, Hong-Soo Kim, Jung-Dal Choi, Kyu-Charn Park, Seong-Soon Cho, Yong-Sik Yim, Sung-Nam Chang
  • Patent number: 7501684
    Abstract: The invention includes a transistor device having a semiconductor substrate with an upper surface. A pair of source/drain regions are formed within the semiconductor substrate and a channel region is formed within the semiconductor substrate and extends generally perpendicularly relative to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. A gate is formed within the semiconductor substrate between the pair of the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Gordon Haller, Kris K. Brown, Tuman Earl Allen, III
  • Publication number: 20090057713
    Abstract: A semiconductor body includes a drift zone of a first conduction type. A body zone of a second conduction type complementary to the first conduction type is located near the surface in the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes a near-surface field stop zone of the second complementary conduction type and doped more lightly than the body zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Franz Hirler
  • Publication number: 20090057757
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trench gate semiconductor device including: a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type; a first diffusion region having a second conductivity type having a planar structure on the semiconductor layer; a second diffusion region having the first conductivity type positioned selectively on the first diffusion region; a gate electrode provided via a gate insulation film in each first trench facing the second diffusion region and penetrating through the first diffusion region to reach the semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor region of the second conductivity type provided at a position, in the semiconductor layer, apart in a lateral direction from the first diffusion region; a second semiconductor region of the second conductivity type provided at a position, in the first diffusion region, between the adjacent first trenches; and a main electrode in contact with the semiconductor layer and the second diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hokomoto, Takuma Hara
  • Patent number: 7494865
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of metal oxide semiconductor transistor is provided. A substrate is provided. A source/drain extension region is formed in the substrate. A pad material layer with low dielectric constant is formed on the substrate. A trench is formed in the substrate and the pad material layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the substrate in the trench. A stacked gate structure is formed in the trench, wherein the top surface of a conductive layer of the stacked gate structure is higher than the surface of the pad material layer. A spacer material layer is formed conformably on the substrate. Portions of the spacer material layer and the pad material layer are removed so as to form a pair of first spacers and a pair of pad blocks. A source/drain is formed on the substrate beside the stacked gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Chen, Jih-Wen Chou, Frank Chen
  • Publication number: 20090026536
    Abstract: A trench gate semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, which are capable of securing a sufficient margin for a photo process while achieving an enhancement in gate-source leakage characteristics, are disclosed. Embodiments relate to a method for fabricating a trench gate semiconductor device including forming a trench in an upper surface of an epitaxial layer formed over a semiconductor substrate. N type impurity ions may be implanted into a bottom surface of the trench, to form a diffusion layer. To form a well, P-type impurity ions may be implanted into a region beneath the diffusion layer. To form an oxide film buffer, the trench may be filled with an oxide. To form a gate trench, the resulting structure obtained after the filling of the oxide may be etched from the oxide film buffer to the epitaxial layer, in a region where a gate will be formed. NPN junctions may be formed beneath the oxide film buffer at opposite sides of the gate poly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Kwang-Young Ko
  • Publication number: 20090014786
    Abstract: Provided are a field effect transistor, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor may have a structure in which a double gate field effect transistor and a recess channel array transistor are formed in a single transistor in order to improve a short channel effect which occurs as field effect transistors become more highly integrated, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor can exhibit stable device characteristics even when more highly integrated in such a manner that both the length and width of a channel increase and particularly the channel can be significantly long, and can be manufactured simply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Ji-Young Lee, Jun Seo
  • Patent number: 7476932
    Abstract: A U-shape Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (UMOS) device comprises a P-base layer, an N+ source region disposed in the P-base layer where the source region has a first surface coplanar with a first surface of the P-base layer, a dielectric layer extending through the P-base layer and forming a U-shape trench having side walls and floor enclosing a trench interior region, a conducting gate material filling the trench interior region, a first accumulation channel layer disposed along a first side wall of the U-shape trench and in contact with the source region and a first side wall of the U-shape trench, a P-junction gate disposed adjacent to the dielectric layer floor and in proximity to the first accumulation channel layer, and an N-drift region where the P-junction gate is disposed between the dielectric layer and the N-drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Hsueh-Rong Chang
  • Patent number: 7462550
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a trench semiconductor device is formed to have an oxide of a first thickness along the sidewalls of the trench, and to have a greater thickness along at least a portion of a bottom of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gordon M. Grivna
  • Patent number: 7459744
    Abstract: A programmable storage device includes a first diffusion region underlying a portion of a first trench defined in a semiconductor substrate and a second diffusion region occupying an upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the first trench. The device includes a charge storage stack lining sidewalls and a portion of a floor of the first trench. The charge storage stack includes a layer of discontinuous storage elements (DSEs). Electrically conductive spacers formed on opposing sidewalls of the first trench adjacent to respective charge storage stacks serve as control gates for the device. The DSEs may be silicon, polysilicon, metal, silicon nitride, or metal nitride nanocrystals or nanoclusters. The storage stack includes a top dielectric of CVD silicon oxide overlying the nanocrystals overlying a bottom dielectric of thermally formed silicon dioxide. The device includes first and second injection regions in the layer of DSEs proximal to the first and second diffusion regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheong M. Hong, Chi-Nan Li
  • Patent number: 7456470
    Abstract: A top drain MOSgated device has its drain on the top of semiconductor die and its source on the bottom of the die substrate. Parallel spaced trenches extend from the die top surface through a drift region, a channel region and terminate on the substrate region. The bottoms of each trench receive a silicide conductor to short the substrate source to channel regions. The silicide conductors are then insulated at their top surfaces and gate electrodes are placed in the same trenches as those receiving the channel/source short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: David Paul Jones
  • Patent number: 7449354
    Abstract: A trench-gated field effect transistor (FET) is formed as follows. Using one mask, a plurality of active gate trenches and at least one gate runner trench are defined and simultaneously formed in a silicon region such that (i) the at least one gate runner trench has a width greater than a width of each of the plurality of active gate trenches, and (ii) the plurality of active gate trenches are contiguous with the at least one gate runner trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Douglas Marchant, Thomas E. Grebs, Rodney S. Ridley, Nathan Lawrence Kraft
  • Patent number: 7439579
    Abstract: A trench transistor is described. In one aspect, the trench transistor has a cell array having a plurality of cell array trenches and a plurality of mesa zones arranged between the cell array trenches, and a semiconductor functional element formed in one of the mesa zones. A current flow guiding structure is provided in the mesa zone in which the semiconductor functional element is formed, said structure being formed at least partly below the semiconductor functional element and being configured such that vertically oriented current flows out of the semiconductor functional element or into the semiconductor functional element are made more difficult and horizontally oriented current flows through the semiconductor functional element are promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Markus Zundel
  • Patent number: 7429769
    Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor device employs a self-aligned etching of a semiconductor substrate to form a recessed channel region in conjunction with a pair of raised source/drain regions. The method also provides for forming and thermally annealing the pair of source/drain regions prior to forming a pair of lightly doped extension regions within the field effect transistor device. In accord with the foregoing features, the field effect transistor device is fabricated with enhanced performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Carlos H. Diaz, Yi-Ming Sheu, Syun-Ming Jang, Hun-Jan Tao, Fu-Liang Yang
  • Patent number: 7417266
    Abstract: A field effect transistor, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a junction field effect transistor (JFET) embedded as a body diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: QSpeed Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Daniel Chang, Ho-Yuan Yu
  • Patent number: 7397083
    Abstract: A trench type power MOSgated device has a plurality of spaced trenches lined with oxide and filled with conductive polysilicon. The tops of the polysilicon fillers are below the top silicon surface and are capped with a deposited oxide the top of which is flush with the top of the silicon. Source regions of short lateral extent extend into the trench walls to a depth below the top of the polysilicon. A trench termination is formed having an insulation oxide liner covered by a polysilicon layer, covered in turn by a deposited oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Adam I Amali, Naresh Thapar
  • Publication number: 20080121989
    Abstract: An improved trench MOS-gated device comprises a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate on which is disposed a doped upper layer. The upper layer includes at an upper surface a plurality of heavily doped body regions having a first polarity and overlying a drain region. The upper layer further includes at its upper surface a plurality of heavily doped source regions having a second polarity opposite that of the body regions. A gate trench extends from the upper surface of the upper layer to the drain region and separates one source region from another. The trench has a floor and sidewalls comprising a layer of dielectric material and contains a conductive gate material filled to a selected level and an isolation layer of dielectric material that overlies the gate material and substantially fills the trench. The upper surface of the overlying layer of dielectric material in the trench is thus substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the upper layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. Kocon, Jun Zeng
  • Publication number: 20080116510
    Abstract: An improved trench MOS-gated device comprises a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate on which is disposed a doped upper layer. The upper layer includes at an upper surface a plurality of heavily doped body regions having a first polarity and overlying a drain region. The upper layer further includes at its upper surface a plurality of heavily doped source regions having a second polarity opposite that of the body regions. A gate trench extends from the upper surface of the upper layer to the drain region and separates one source region from another. The trench has a floor and sidewalls comprising a layer of dielectric material and contains a conductive gate material filled to a selected level and an isolation layer of dielectric material that overlies the gate material and substantially fills the trench. The upper surface of the overlying layer of dielectric material in the trench is thus substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the upper layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. Kocon, Jun Zeng
  • Patent number: 7368783
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a lightly-doped semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type formed on the first major surface of the substrate, a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type formed on an island-shaped region on the lightly-doped semiconductor layer, a first electrode surrounding the first semiconductor region and buried at a deeper position than the first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region formed on the second major surface of the substrate, a buried field relaxation layer formed in the lightly-doped semiconductor layer between a bottom surface of the first electrode and the second semiconductor region, including a first field relaxation layer of the first conductivity type and second field relaxation layers of the second conductivity type formed at two ends of the first field relaxation layer, second and third electrodes formed on the first and second semiconductor regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Mizukami, Takashi Shinohe
  • Patent number: 7365413
    Abstract: Electrical interconnects with a slotting pattern are provided in the present invention. In addition, the masks for making such interconnects and semiconductor devices incorporating such interconnects are also provided in the present invention. The slotting pattern may be designed to minimize dishing effects of the interconnects as a result of planarization. Further, the slotting pattern may be designed to minimize resistance in the interconnects. For instance, the slotting pattern may include slots that are staggered, evenly aligned, or a combination of both staggered and evenly aligned. In addition, the slots may be spaced apart such that electrical paths are shorter across the interconnects. By incorporating such interconnects in semiconductor devices, better performing semiconductor devices can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Yaron Kretchmer, Fredrik Haghverdian
  • Patent number: 7358566
    Abstract: A first main electrode is provided on one surface thereof. On the other surface thereof, a second semiconductor layer of the first conduction type and a third semiconductor layer of the second conduction type are arranged alternately along the surface. A fourth semiconductor layer of the second conduction type and a fifth semiconductor layer of the first conduction type are stacked on the surfaces of the second and third semiconductor layers. The semiconductor device further comprises a control electrode formed in a trench with an insulator interposed therebetween. The trench passes through the fourth and fifth semiconductor layers and reaches the second semiconductor layer. A sixth semiconductor layer of the first conduction type is diffused from the bottom of the trench. A second main electrode is connected to the fourth and fifth semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akio Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20080079065
    Abstract: A U-shape Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (UMOS) device comprises a P-base layer, an N+ source region disposed in the P-base layer where the source region has a first surface coplanar with a first surface of the P-base layer, a dielectric layer extending through the P-base layer and forming a U-shape trench having side walls and floor enclosing a trench interior region, a conducting gate material filling the trench interior region, a first accumulation channel layer disposed along a first side wall of the U-shape trench and in contact with the source region and a first side wall of the U-shape trench, a P-junction gate disposed adjacent to the dielectric layer floor and in proximity to the first accumulation channel layer, and an N-drift region where the P-junction gate is disposed between the dielectric layer and the N-drift region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Hsueh-Rong Chang
  • Patent number: 7345339
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a body region, a drift region having a first part and a second part, and a trench gate electrode. The body region is disposed on the drift region. The first and second parts extend in an extending direction so that the second part is adjacent to the first part. The trench gate electrode penetrates the body region and reaches the drift region so that the trench gate electrode faces the body region and the drift region through an insulation layer. The trench gate electrode extends in a direction crossing with the extending direction of the first and second parts. The first part includes a portion near the trench gate electrode, which has an impurity concentration equal to or lower than that of the body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamaguchi, Mikimasa Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 7332773
    Abstract: EEPROM memory devices and arrays are described that facilitate the use of vertical floating gate memory cells and select gates in NOR or NAND high density memory architectures. Memory embodiments of the present invention utilize vertical select gates and floating gate memory cells to form NOR and NAND architecture memory cell strings, segments, and arrays. These memory cell architectures allow for improved high density memory devices or arrays with integral select gates that can take advantage of the feature sizes semiconductor fabrication processes are generally capable of and allow for appropriate device sizing for operational considerations. The memory cell architectures also allow for mitigation of disturb and overerasure issues by placing the floating gate memory cells behind select gates that isolate the memory cells from their associated bit lines and/or source lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20080023753
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device isolation structure, a recess channel structure, and a gate electrode. The device isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. The recess channel structure is disposed in the semiconductor substrate under the active region. The gate electrode includes a holding layer disposed in a gate region to fill the recess channel structure. The holding layer prevents a seam and a shift of the seam occurring in the recess channel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Gyu Choi, Seung Chul Oh
  • Publication number: 20070296031
    Abstract: The present invention provides a trench gate Tr having a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode in the inside of a groove. The first gate electrode is provided in a groove lower part defining a channel of the Tr with a gate oxide film interposed between the first gate electrode and the substrate. The second gate electrode is provided in a groove upper part facing a Tr impurity diffusion layer, with a gate oxide film and a groove side wall film interposed between the second gate electrode and the groove upper part. The provision of the composite film consisting of the gate oxide film and the groove side wall between gate electrode and the substrate in the groove upper part enables reduction of the parasitic capacitance of the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7298006
    Abstract: A floating gate is formed on a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating film. Diffused layers are formed as sources or drain regions on opposite sides of the floating gate in the semiconductor substrate. First and second control gates are formed opposite to both of the diffused layers on the opposite sides of the floating gate via an inter-gate insulating film to drive the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumitaka Arai, Yasuhiko Matsunaga, Makoto Sakuma, Riichiro Shirota, Akira Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7294550
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an MOS device is described. A substrate doped a first type dopant is provided as a drain. A first type epitaxial layer is formed on the substrate and is patterned with a trench to form several islands. A gate dielectric layer is than formed on the surface of the trench, and a gate is formed in the trench covering the gate dielectric layer. A second type dopant is doped into the islands with the doping concentration decreasing gradually from the bottom to the top of the islands. Afterwards, a source is formed at the top of the islands. Accordingly, the doping concentration in the islands decreases gradually from the drain to the source with the highest doping concentration near the drain. Therefore, the width of the depletion region can be reduced, and the length of the device channel can be reduced for lowering channel resistance and gate capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Episil Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bing-Yue Tsui
  • Patent number: 7291884
    Abstract: A trench MIS device is formed in a P-epitaxial layer that overlies an N-epitaxial layer and an N+ substrate. In one embodiment, the device includes a thick oxide layer at the bottom of the trench and an N-type drain-drift region that extends from the bottom of the trench to the N-epitaxial layer. The thick insulating layer reduces the capacitance between the gate and the drain and therefore improves the ability of the device to operate at high frequencies. Preferably, the drain-drift region is formed at least in part by fabricating spacers on the sidewalls of the trench and implanting an N-type dopant between the sidewall spacers and through the bottom of the trench. The thick bottom oxide layer is formed on the bottom of the trench while the sidewall spacers are still in place. The drain-drift region can be doped more heavily than the conventional “drift region” that is formed in an N-epitaxial layer. Thus, the device has a low on-resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Siliconix incorporated
    Inventors: Mohamed N. Darwish, Kyle W. Terrill, Jainhai Qi
  • Patent number: 7282762
    Abstract: NROM EEPROM memory devices and arrays are described that facilitate the use of vertical NROM memory cells and select gates in NOR or NAND high density memory architectures. Memory embodiments of the present invention utilize vertical select gates and NROM memory cells to form NOR and NAND NROM architecture memory cell strings, segments, and arrays. These NROM memory cell architectures allow for improved high density memory devices or arrays with integral select gates that can take advantage of the feature sizes semiconductor fabrication processes are generally capable of and yet do not suffer from charge separation issues in typical multi-bit NROM cells. The memory cell architectures also allow for mitigation of disturb and overerasure issues by placing the NROM memory cells behind select gates that isolate the memory cells from their associated bit/data lines and/or source lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7256081
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a stressed channel region, where the stresses film causing the stress in the stress channel region can extend partly or wholly under the gate structure of the semiconductor device. In some embodiments, a ring of stress film surround the channel region, and may apply stress from all sides of the channel. Consequently, the stress film better surrounds the channel region of the semiconductor device and can apply more stress in the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Haining S. Yang, Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7226820
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming a gate electrode (120) overlying a gate dielectric (110) overlying a semiconductor substrate (102). First spacers (124) are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode (120). First s/d trenches (130) are formed in the substrate (102) using the gate electrode (120) and first spacers (124) as a mask. The first s/d trenches (130) are filled with a first s/d structure (132). Second spacers (140) are formed on the gate electrode (120) sidewalls adjacent the first spacers (124). Second s/d trenches (150) are formed in the substrate (102) using the gate electrode (120) and the second spacers (140) as a mask. The second s/d trenches (150) are filled with a second s/d structure (152). Filling the first and second s/d trenches (130, 150) preferably includes growing the s/d structures using an epitaxial process. The s/d structures (132, 152) may be stress inducing structures such as silicon germanium for PMOS transistors and silicon carbon for NMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Da Zhang, Jing Liu, Bich-Yen Nguyen, Voon-Yew Thean, Ted R. White
  • Patent number: 7221020
    Abstract: Self-aligned recessed gate structures and method of formation are disclosed. Field oxide area for isolation are first formed in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of columns are defined in an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate subsequent to which a thin sacrificial oxide layer is formed over exposed regions of the semiconductor substrate but not over the field oxide areas. A dielectric material is then provided on sidewalls of each column and over portions of the sacrificial oxide layer and of the field oxide areas. A first etch is conducted to form a first set of trenches within the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of recesses within the field oxide areas. A second etch is conducted to remove dielectric residue remaining on the sidewalls of the columns and to form a second set of trenches. Polysilicon is then deposited within the second set of trenches and within the recesses to form recessed conductive gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7208801
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device whose gate structure of a transistor other than a memory cell transistor has a same stacked gate structure as the memory cell transistor, the gate structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive film provided on the first insulation film, a second insulation film, provided on the first conductive film, having an opening, a spacer provided on the second insulation film to define the opening, and a second conductive film provided on the spacer and electrically connected to the first conductive film via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Matsuno, Tadashi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7205608
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a substrate having a trench that includes a wall and a bottom. The electronic device can also include a first set of discontinuous storage elements that overlie a primary surface of the substrate and a second set of discontinuous storage elements that lie within the trench. The electronic device can also include a first gate electrode, wherein substantially none of the discontinuous storage elements lies along the wall of the trench at an elevation between and upper surface of the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate. The electronic device can also include a second gate electrode overlying the first gate electrode and the primary surface. In another embodiment, a conductive line can be electrically connected to one or more rows or columns of memory cells, and another conductive line can be more rows or more columns of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gowrishankar L. Chindalore, Cheong M. Hong, Craig T. Swift
  • Patent number: 7205605
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor layer (110) having a trench (326). The trench has first and second sides. A portion (713) of the semiconductor layer has a conductivity type and a charge density. The semiconductor component also includes a control electrode (540, 1240) in the trench. The semiconductor component further includes a channel region (120) in the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the trench. The semiconductor component still further includes a region (755) in the semiconductor layer. The region has a conductivity type different from that of the portion of the semiconductor layer. The region also has a charge density balancing the charge density of the portion of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Peyman Hadizad, Jina Shumate, Ali Salih
  • Patent number: 7205606
    Abstract: Self-aligned recessed gate structures and method of formation are disclosed. Field oxide areas for isolation are first formed in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of columns are defined in an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate subsequent to which a thin sacrificial oxide layer is formed over exposed regions of the semiconductor substrate but not over the field oxide areas. A dielectric material is then provided on sidewalls of each column and over portions of the sacrificial oxide layer and of the field oxide areas. A first etch is conducted to form a first set of trenches within the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of recesses within the field oxide areas. A second etch is conducted to remove dielectric residue remaining on the sidewalls of the columns and to form a second set of trenches. Polysilicon is then deposited within the second set of trenches and within the recesses to form recessed conductive gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7173307
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a first conductivity type semiconductor body, a source region in contact with the semiconductor body, whose bandgap is different from that of the semiconductor body, and which formed heterojunction with the semiconductor body, a gate insulating film in contact with a portion of junction between the source region and the semiconductor body, a gate electrode in contact with the gate insulating film, a source electrode, a low resistance region in contact with the source electrode and the source region, and connected ohmically with the source electrode, and a drain electrode connected ohmically with the semiconductor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hayashi, Hideaki Tanaka, Masakatsu Hoshi, Saichirou Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7157771
    Abstract: EEPROM memory devices and arrays are described that facilitate the use of vertical floating gate memory cells and select gates in NOR or NAND high density memory architectures. Memory embodiments of the present invention utilize vertical select gates and floating gate memory cells to form NOR and NAND architecture memory cell strings, segments, and arrays. These memory cell architectures allow for improved high density memory devices or arrays with integral select gates that can take advantage of the feature sizes semiconductor fabrication processes are generally capable of and allow for appropriate device sizing for operational considerations. The memory cell architectures also allow for mitigation of disturb and overerasure issues by placing the floating gate memory cells behind select gates that isolate the memory cells from their associated bit lines and/or source lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7132321
    Abstract: Semiconductor substrates suitable for making thin vertical current conducting devices are made by providing a relatively thick semiconducting substrate with at least one conductivity type having a thickness of from about 100 ?m to 700 ?m. At least one active device region is optionally first formed on a first side. Then the semiconducting substrate is thinned in at least one selected region on the other side below at least partially where the active device will be on the first side so as to have the selected region thinned to a thickness ranging from about 10 ?m to 400 ?m to form at least one deep trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Karl D. Hobart
  • Patent number: 7122858
    Abstract: A floating gate is formed on a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating film. Diffused layers are formed as sources or drain regions on opposite sides of the floating gate in the semiconductor substrate. First and second control gates are formed opposite to both of the diffused layers on the opposite sides of the floating gate via an inter-gate insulating film to drive the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumitaka Arai, Yasuhiko Matsunaga, Makoto Sakuma, Riichiro Shirota, Akira Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7084456
    Abstract: In a trench-gated MOSFET including an epitaxial layer over a substrate of like conductivity and trenches containing thick bottom oxide, sidewall gate oxide, and conductive gates, body regions of the complementary conductivity are shallower than the gates, and clamp regions are deeper and more heavily doped than the body regions but shallower than the trenches. Zener junctions clamp a drain-source voltage lower than the FPI breakdown of body junctions near the trenches, but the zener junctions, being shallower than the trenches, avoid undue degradation of the maximum drain-source voltage. The epitaxial layer may have a dopant concentration that increases step-wise or continuously with depth. Chained implants of the body and clamp regions permits accurate control of dopant concentrations and of junction depth and position. Alternative fabrication processes permit implantation of the body and clamp regions before gate bus formation or through the gate bus after gate bus formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc., Advanced Analogic Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Michael E. Cornell, Wai Tien Chan