Including Additional Field Effect Transistor (e.g., Sense Or Access Transistor, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/258)
  • Patent number: 8999785
    Abstract: Flash-to-ROM conversion is performed by converting single transistor flash memory cells to single transistor ROM cells. An S-Flash memory cell is converted to a programmed ROM cell by introducing a threshold voltage implant into the channel region of the S-Flash memory cell. Alternately, an S-Flash memory cell is converted to a programmed ROM cell by introducing a threshold voltage implant into a substrate region in alignment with an edge of the gate electrode of the S-Flash memory cell. The width of the mask through which this threshold voltage implant is performed can be varied, such that the threshold voltage implant region can have different dopant concentrations, thereby allowing multiple bits to be represented by the programmed ROM cell. In another embodiment, a Y-flash memory cell is converted to a programmed ROM cell by adjusting the length of a floating gate extension region of the Y-Flash memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Itzhak Edrei, Yakov Roizin
  • Patent number: 8993398
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses directed to high density holes and metallization are described herein. A method may include providing a dielectric layer including a plurality of holes, forming a fill material over a top surface of the dielectric layer and in the plurality of holes, and reflowing the fill material to substantially remove any voids in the plurality of holes. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Pantas Sutardja, Runzi Chang
  • Patent number: 8980710
    Abstract: An impurity layer is formed in a first region of a semiconductor substrate, a silicon layer is grown on the semiconductor substrate, a tunnel gate insulating film is formed on a first silicon layer of a second region, a first conductor layer is formed on the tunnel gate insulating film, a first silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film are formed on a second silicon layer, in a reduced pressure state, oxygen and hydrogen are independently introduced into an oxidation furnace to expose the silicon nitride film to active species of the oxygen and active species of the hydrogen to thereby oxidize the silicon nitride film to form a second silicon oxide film, a gate insulating film is formed on the silicon layer of the first region, a second conductor layer is formed on the second silicon oxide film and on the gate insulating film, the second conductor layer and the first conductor layer of the second region are patterned to form a stack gate of a nonvolatile memory transistor, and the second conductor layer a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Taiji Ema, Mitsuaki Hori, Kazushi Fujita, Makoto Yasuda, Katsuaki Ookoshi
  • Patent number: 8969153
    Abstract: A method of making a NAND string includes forming a tunnel dielectric over a semiconductor channel, forming a charge storage layer over the tunnel dielectric, forming a blocking dielectric over the charge storage layer, and forming a control gate layer over the blocking dielectric. The method also includes patterning the control gate layer to form a plurality of control gates separated by trenches, and reacting a first material with exposed sidewalls of the plurality of control gates to form self aligned metal-first material compound sidewall spacers on the exposed sidewalls of the plurality of control gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donovan Lee, Vinod Purayath, James Kai, George Matamis
  • Publication number: 20150054050
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming a select gate and a charge storage layer in an NVM region. A control gate is formed by depositing a conformal layer followed by an etch back. A patterned etch results in leaving a portion of the charge storage layer over the select gate and under the control gate and to remove the charge storage layer from the logic region. A logic gate structure formed in a logic region has a metal work function surrounded by an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: ASANGA H. PERERA, Cheong Min Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang, Janes A. Yater
  • Patent number: 8963224
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including, on the same semiconductor substrate, a transistor element, a capacitor, and a resistor. The capacitor is formed on an active region, and the resistor is formed on an element isolation region, both formed of the same polysilicon film. By CMP or etch-back, the surface is ground down while planarizing the surface until a resistor has a desired thickness. Owing to a difference in height between the active region and the element isolation region, a thin resistor and a thick upper electrode of the capacitor are formed to prevent passing through of a contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Ayako Inoue, Kazuhiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 8957469
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment comprises a memory cell string in which a plurality of memory cells each having a gate are serially connected to each other. A selective transistor is connected to an end memory cell at an end of the memory cell string. A sidewall film covers a side surface of a gate of the end memory cell and a side surface of a gate of the selective transistor between the end memory cell and the selective transistor. An air gap is provided between the sidewall film of the end memory cell and the sidewall film of the selective transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryosuke Isomura, Wataru Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Nitta
  • Patent number: 8951863
    Abstract: A method of forming an NVM cell and a logic transistor uses a semiconductor substrate. In an NVM region, a polysilicon select gate of the NVM cell is formed over a first thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer, and in a logic region, a work-function-setting material is formed over a high-k dielectric and a polysilicon dummy gate is formed over the work-function-setting material. Source/drains, a sidewall spacer, and silicided regions of the logic transistor are formed after the first thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer is formed. The polysilicon dummy gate is replaced by a metal gate. The logic transistor is protected while the NVM cell is then formed including forming a charge storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hall, Frank K. Baker, Jr., Mehul D. Shroff
  • Patent number: 8951861
    Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a monolithic three dimensional memory array. An example method includes: (a) forming a first plurality of substantially parallel, substantially coplanar conductors above a substrate; (b) forming a first plurality of semiconductor elements above the first plurality of substantially parallel, substantially coplanar conductors; and (c) forming a second plurality of substantially parallel, substantially coplanar conductors above the first plurality of semiconductor elements. Each of the first plurality of semiconductor elements includes a first heavily doped layer having a first conductivity type, a second lightly doped layer on and in contact with the first heavily doped layer, and a third heavily doped layer on and in contact with the second lightly doped layer. The third heavily doped layer has a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Scott Brad Herner, Maitreyee Mahajani
  • Patent number: 8952446
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stacked body, a channel body, a memory film, first and second insulating separation films, a first and a second inter-layer insulating films, a selection gate, a conductive layer, and resistance elements. The substrate includes a memory cell array region and a peripheral region. The stacked body includes electrode films and insulating films. The channel body extends in a stacking direction. The memory film includes a charge storage film. The first insulating separation films divide the stacked body. The first and the second inter-layer insulating films are on the stacked body and on the conductive layer, respectively. The selection gate is on the first inter-layer insulating film. The conductive layer is on the peripheral region. The resistance elements are on the second inter-layer insulating film. The second insulating separation films divide the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8951862
    Abstract: The technology relates to a damascene word line for a three dimensional array of nonvolatile memory cells. Conductive lines such as silicon are formed over stacked nonvolatile memory structures. Word line trenches separate neighboring ones of the silicon lines. The silicon lines separated by the word line trenches are oxidized, making insulating surfaces in the word line trenches. Word lines are made in the word line trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Chen, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Patent number: 8951832
    Abstract: Variable-resistance memory material cells are contacted by vertical bottom spacer electrodes. Variable-resistance material memory spacer cells are contacted along the edge by electrodes. Processes include the formation of the bottom spacer electrodes as well as the variable-resistance material memory spacer cells. Devices include the variable-resistance memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Liu
  • Publication number: 20150037950
    Abstract: A NAND device has at least a 3×3 array of vertical NAND strings in which the control gate electrodes are continuous in the array and do not have an air gap or a dielectric filled trench in the array. The NAND device is formed by first forming a lower select gate level having separated lower select gates, then forming plural memory device levels containing a plurality of NAND string portions, and then forming an upper select gate level over the memory device levels having separated upper select gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Johann Alsmeier, Raghuveer S. Makala, Xiying Costa, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 8946003
    Abstract: A semiconductor transistor is formed as follows. A gate electrode is formed over but is insulated from a semiconductor body region. A first layer of insulating material is formed over the gate electrode and the semiconductor body region. A second layer of insulating material different from the first layer of insulating material is formed over the first layer of insulating material. Only the second layer of insulating material is etched to form spacers along the side-walls of the gate electrode. Impurities are implanted through the first layer of insulating material to form a source region and a drain region in the body region. A substantial portion of those portions of the first layer of insulting material extending over the source and drain regions is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Hsingya Arthur Wang, Kai-Cheng Chou
  • Patent number: 8946022
    Abstract: Nanostructure-based charge storage regions are included in non-volatile memory devices and integrated with the fabrication of select gates and peripheral circuitry. One or more nanostructure coatings are applied over a substrate at a memory array area and a peripheral circuitry area. Various processes for removing the nanostructure coating from undesired areas of the substrate, such as target areas for select gates and peripheral transistors, are provided. One or more nanostructure coatings are formed using self-assembly based processes to selectively form nanostructures over active areas of the substrate in one example. Self-assembly permits the formation of discrete lines of nanostructures that are electrically isolated from one another without requiring patterning or etching of the nanostructure coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Robert Purayath, James K Kai, Masaaki Higashitani, Takashi Orimoto, George Matamis, Henry Chien
  • Patent number: 8940604
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit comprising a nonvolatile memory on a semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit comprises a doped isolation layer implanted in the depth of the substrate, isolated conductive trenches reaching the isolation layer and forming gates of selection transistors of memory cells, isolation trenches perpendicular to the conductive trenches and reaching the isolation layer, and conductive lines parallel to the conductive trenches, extending on the substrate and forming control gates of charge accumulation transistors of memory cells. The isolation trenches and the isolated conductive trenches delimit a plurality of mini wells in the substrate, the mini wells electrically isolated from each other, each having a floating electrical potential and comprising two memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Francesco La Rosa
  • Publication number: 20150021609
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including an apparatus that includes a number of tiers of a first semiconductor material, each tier including at least one access line of at least one memory cell and at least one source, channel and/or drain of at least one peripheral transistor, such as one used in an access line decoder circuit or a data line multiplexing circuit. The apparatus can also include a number of pillars of a second semiconductor material extending through the tiers of the first semiconductor material, each pillar including either a source, channel and/or drain of at least one of the memory cells, or a gate of at least one of the peripheral transistors. Methods of forming such apparatus are also described, along with other embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 8932948
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory chip is formed by depositing two N-type polysilicon layers. The upper N-type polysilicon layer is then replaced with P-type polysilicon and barrier layer in the array area only, while maintaining the upper N-type polysilicon layer in the periphery. In this way, floating gates are substantially P-type while gates of peripheral transistors are N-type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jongsun Sel, Tuan Pham, Ming Tian
  • Patent number: 8921136
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of forming a self-aligned contact and related apparatus. In some embodiments, the method forms a plurality of gate lines interspersed between a plurality of dielectric lines, wherein the gate lines and the dielectric lines extend in a first direction over an active area. One or more of the plurality of gate lines are into a plurality of gate line sections aligned in the first direction. One or more of the plurality of dielectric lines are cut into a plurality of dielectric lines sections aligned in the first direction. A dummy isolation material is deposited between adjacent dielectric sections in the first direction and between adjacent gate line sections in the first direction. One or more self-aligned metal contacts are then formed by replacing a part of one or more of the plurality of dielectric lines over the active area with a contact metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Neng-Kuo Chen, Shao-Ming Yu, Gin-Chen Huang, Chia-Jung Hsu, Sey-Ping Sun, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Publication number: 20140377921
    Abstract: An impurity layer is formed in a first region of a semiconductor substrate, a silicon layer is grown on the semiconductor substrate, a tunnel gate insulating film is formed on a first silicon layer of a second region, a first conductor layer is formed on the tunnel gate insulating film, a first silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film are formed on a second silicon layer, in a reduced pressure state, oxygen and hydrogen are independently introduced into an oxidation furnace to expose the silicon nitride film to active species of the oxygen and active species of the hydrogen to thereby oxidize the silicon nitride film to form a second silicon oxide film, a gate insulating film is formed on the silicon layer of the first region, a second conductor layer is formed on the second silicon oxide film and on the gate insulating film, the second conductor layer and the first conductor layer of the second region are patterned to form a stack gate of a nonvolatile memory transistor, and the second conductor layer a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Taiji Ema, Mitsuaki Hori, Kazushi Fujita, Makoto Yasuda, Katsuaki Ookoshi
  • Patent number: 8916470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing sidewall spacers on a memory device. The method comprises forming sidewall spacers on a memory device having a memory array region and at least one peripheral circuit region by forming a first sidewall spacer adjacent to a word line in the memory array region and a second sidewall spacer adjacent to a transistor in the peripheral circuit region. The first sidewall spacer has a first thickness and the second sidewall spacer has a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Durga Panda, Jaydip Guha, Robert Kerr
  • Patent number: 8906764
    Abstract: A method of forming an NVM cell and a logic transistor uses a semiconductor substrate. A metal select gate of the NVM cell is formed over an NVM work function setting metal, the NVM work function setting metal is on a high-k dielectric, and a metal logic gate of a logic transistor is similarly formed over work function setting and high-k dielectric materials. The logic transistor is formed while portions of the metal select gate of the NVM cell are formed. The logic transistor is protected while the NVM cell is then formed including forming a charge storage region using nanocrystals and a metal control gate over a portion of the metal select gate and a portion of the charge storage region over the substrate. The charge storage region is etched to be aligned to the metal control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehul D. Shroff, Mark D. Hall
  • Patent number: 8906770
    Abstract: Gate cross diffusion in a semiconductor structure is substantially reduced or eliminated by forming multiple n-type gate regions with different dopant concentrations and multiple p-type gate regions with different dopant concentrations so that the n-type gate region with the lowest dopant concentration touches the p-type gate region with the lowest dopant concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Manoj Mehrotra
  • Patent number: 8901632
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming a select gate over a substrate in an NVM region and a first protection layer over a logic region. A control gate and a storage layer are formed over the substrate in the NVM region. The control gate has a top surface below a top surface of the select gate. The charge storage layer is under the control gate, along adjacent sidewalls of the select gate and control gate, and is partially over the top surface of the select gate. A second protection layer is formed over the NVM portion and the logic portion. The first and second protection layers are removed from the logic region. A portion of the second protection layer is left over the control gate and the select gate. A gate structure, formed over the logic region, has a high k dielectric and a metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Asanga H. Perera, Cheong Min Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang, Byoung W. Min, Jane A. Yater
  • Patent number: 8900945
    Abstract: A front-end method of fabricating nickel plated caps over copper bond pads used in a memory device. The method provides protection of the bond pads from an oxidizing atmosphere without exposing sensitive structures in the memory device to the copper during fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Moore, Joseph F. Brooks
  • Patent number: 8895387
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes forming first and second gate patterns each including a structure stacked in order of a first insulating layer, a floating gate layer, a charge trap layer, a second insulating layer and a dummy layer on a semiconductor layer, implanting impurities in the semiconductor layer by an ion implantation using the first and second gate patterns as a mask, forming a third insulating layer on the semiconductor layer, the third insulating layer covering side surfaces of the first and second gate patterns, and forming first and second concave portions, the first concave portion formed by removing the dummy layer of the first gate pattern, the second concave portion formed by removing the dummy layer, the second insulating layer, the charge trap layer and the floating gate layer of the second gate pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Motoyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8890214
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing sidewall spacers on a memory device. The method comprises forming sidewall spacers on a memory device having a memory array region and at least one peripheral circuit region by forming a first sidewall spacer adjacent to a word line in the memory array region and a second sidewall spacer adjacent to a transistor in the peripheral circuit region. The first sidewall spacer has a first thickness and the second sidewall spacer has a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nan Ya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Panda Durga, Jaydip Guha, Robert Kerr
  • Patent number: 8883624
    Abstract: Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a gate stack of a NVM transistor in a NVM region of a substrate including the NVM region and a plurality of MOS regions; and depositing a high-k dielectric material over the gate stack of the NVM transistor and the plurality of MOS regions to concurrently form a blocking dielectric comprising the high-k dielectric material in the gate stack of the NVM transistor and high-k gate dielectrics in the plurality of MOS regions. In one embodiment, a first metal layer is deposited over the high-k dielectric material and patterned to concurrently form a metal gate over the gate stack of the NVM transistor, and a metal gate of a field effect transistor in one of the MOS regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar
  • Patent number: 8884354
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation insulating film buried in the semiconductor substrate so as to isolate adjacent element; a memory cell having a first insulating film and a charge accumulation film; a second insulating film formed on the charge accumulation films of the memory cells and the element isolation insulating film; and a control electrode film formed on the second insulating film. An upper surface of the element isolation insulating film is lower than an upper surface of the charge accumulation film, the second insulating film is provided with a cell upper portion on the charge accumulation film and an inter-cell portion on the element isolation insulating film, and a dielectric constant of the cell upper portion is lower than a dielectric constant of the inter-cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8877584
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an interconnection member includes forming on a substrate a wettability changing layer containing a material in which critical surface tension is changed by giving energy; forming a depression part in the wettability changing layer by a laser ablation method using a laser of an ultraviolet region; and coating the depression part with an electrically conductive ink to form an electrically conductive part. At the same time when a pattern of the depression part is formed in the wettability changing layer, a pattern of a high surface energy area is formed as a result of the critical surface tension being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koei Suzuki, Haruo Nakamura, Atsushi Onodera, Takanori Tano, Hiroshi Miura
  • Patent number: 8877585
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure using a substrate having a non-volatile memory (NVM) portion, a first high voltage portion, a second high voltage portion and a logic portion, includes forming a first conductive layer over an oxide layer on a major surface of the substrate in the NVM portion, the first and second high voltage portions, and logic portion. A memory cell is fabricated in the NVM portion while the first conductive layer remains in the first and second high voltage portions and the logic portion. The first conductive layer is patterned to form transistor gates in the first and second high voltage portions. A protective mask is formed over the NVM portion and the first and second high voltage portions. A transistor gate is formed in the logic portion while the protective mask remains in the NVM portion and the first and second high voltage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Asanga H. Perera, Cheong Min Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang
  • Patent number: 8865546
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a flash memory cell provided with a floating gate, an intermediate insulating film, and a control gate, forming first and second impurity diffusion regions, thermally oxidizing surfaces of a silicon substrate and the floating gate, etching a tunnel insulating film in a partial region through a window of a resist pattern; forming a metal silicide layer on the first impurity diffusion region in the partial region, forming an interlayer insulating film covering the flash memory cell, and forming, in a first hole of the interlayer insulating film, a conductive plug connected to the metal silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 8859349
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating charge storage transistors are described, along with apparatus and systems that include them. In one such method, a pillar of epitaxial silicon is formed. At least first and second charge storage nodes (e.g., floating gates) are formed around the pillar of epitaxial silicon at different levels. A control gate is formed around each of the charge storage nodes. Additional embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8853792
    Abstract: Embodiments of transistors comprise a gate stack overlying a semiconductor material. The gate stack comprises a deposited oxide layer overlying the semiconductor material, an oxygen-diffusion barrier layer overlying the deposited oxide layer, a high-k dielectric layer overlying the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer, and a conductive material (e.g., an oxygen-gettering conductive material) overlying the high-k dielectric layer. When the conductive material is an oxygen-gettering conductive material, the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of oxygen from the deposited oxide layer to the oxygen-gettering conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Murshed M. Chowdhury, James K. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 8836014
    Abstract: An electronic memory cell includes a first selection transistor gate surmounting a first part of the channel and a lateral spacer disposed against a lateral flank of the selection transistor gate, a part of the lateral spacer forming a memory transistor gate surmounting a second part of the channel. The memory transistor gate includes a stack of the ONO type and a conductive zone including a lateral face inclined at an angle ? strictly between 0 and 90° with respect to the plane of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventor: Christelle Charpin-Nicolle
  • Patent number: 8829597
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of channel connection layers formed over a substrate; a first gate electrode layer filling a space between the plurality channel connection layers; a gate dielectric layer interposed between each of the channel connection layers and the first gate electrode layer; a stacked structure formed over the plurality channel connection layers and the first gate electrode layer, the stacked structure including a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and a plurality second gate electrode layers, which are alternately stacked; a pair of channel layers, formed through the stacked structure and connected to each channel connection layer of the plurality of channel connection layers; and a memory layer interposed between each of the channel layers and each of the second gate electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Su-Chang Kwak
  • Patent number: 8829593
    Abstract: A first select transistor is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Memory cell transistors are stacked on the first select transistor and connected in series. A second select transistor is formed on the memory cell transistors. The memory cell transistors include a tapered semiconductor pillar which increases in diameter from the first select transistor toward the second select transistor, a tunnel dielectric film formed on the side surface of the semiconductor pillar, a charge storage layer which is formed on the side surface of the tunnel dielectric film and which increases in charge trap density from the first select transistor side toward the second select transistor side, a block dielectric film formed on the side surface of the charge storage layer, and conductor films which are formed on the side surface of the block dielectric film and which serve as gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Sekine, Kensuke Takano, Masaaki Higuchi, Tetsuya Kai, Yoshio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8822289
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods of manufacturing charge-trapping memory by patterning the high voltage gates before other gates are formed. One advantage of such an approach is that a thin poly layer may be used to form memory and low voltage gates while protecting high voltage gates from implant penetration. One approach to accomplishing this is to dispose the layer of poly, and then dispose a mask and a thick resist to pattern the high voltage gates. In this manner, the high voltage gates are formed before either the low voltage gates or the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Shenqing Fang, Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8802526
    Abstract: Methods of forming non-volatile memory cell structures are described that facilitate the use of band-gap engineered gate stacks with asymmetric tunnel barriers in reverse and normal mode floating node memory cells that allow for direct tunnel programming and erase, while maintaining high charge blocking barriers and deep carrier trapping sites for good charge retention. The low voltage direct tunneling program and erase capability reduces damage to the gate stack and the crystal lattice from high energy carriers, reducing write fatigue and enhancing device lifespan. The low voltage direct tunnel program and erase capability also enables size reduction through low voltage design and further device feature scaling. Such memory cells also allow multiple bit storage. These characteristics allow such memory cells to operate within the definition of a universal memory, capable of replacing both DRAM and ROM in a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 8803191
    Abstract: Methods and systems for lateral switched-emitter thyristors in a single-layer implementation. Lateral operation is advantageously achieved by using an embedded gate. Embedded gate plugs are used to controllably invert a portion of the P-base region, so that the electron population at the portion of the inversion layer which is closest to the anode will provide a virtual emitter, and will provide sufficient gain so that the combination of bipolar devices will go into latchup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Pakal Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Richard A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8797791
    Abstract: The gate tunnel leakage current is increased in the up-to-date process, so that it is necessary to reduce the gate tunnel leakage current in the LSI which is driven by a battery for use in a cellular phone and which needs to be in a standby mode at a low leakage current. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the ground source electrode lines of logic and memory circuits are kept at a ground potential in an active mode, and are kept at a voltage higher than the ground potential in an unselected standby mode. The gate tunnel leakage current can be reduced without destroying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Koichiro Ishibashi, Yoshikazu Saitoh, Akio Nishida, Masaru Nakamichi, Naoki Kitai
  • Publication number: 20140209988
    Abstract: A multiple time programmable nonvolatile memory device having a single polysilicon memory cell includes a select transistor and a bitcell transistor. The bitcell transistor has asymmetrically configured source, drain, and channel regions including asymmetrically configured source-body and drain-body junctions. Compared with the drain-body junction, the impurity concentration gradient of the source-body junction is more gradual, which may significantly improve program disturb immunity. The bitcell transistor gate may be connected to an electrode of a coupling capacitor, but may be otherwise floating or Ohmically isolated. The floating gate of the bitcell is protected by a dielectric layer for potentially improved data retention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Xin Lin, Hongning Yang, Zhihong Zhang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8772855
    Abstract: Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a resistor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a mold pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate to define a trench, a resistance pattern including a body region and first and second contact regions, wherein the body region covers the bottom and sidewalls of the trench, the first and second contact regions extend from the extending from the body region over upper surfaces of the mold pattern, respectively; and first and second lines contacting the first and second contact regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoonmoon Park, Keonsoo Kim, Jinhyun Shin, Jae-Hwang Sim
  • Patent number: 8765552
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage device is disclosed that includes a set of connected non-volatile storage elements formed on a well, a bit line contact positioned in the well, a source line contact positioned in the well, a bit line that is connected to the bit line contact, and a source line that is connected to the source line contact and the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 8759875
    Abstract: A memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell includes a vertical base disposed on a substrate. The vertical base includes first and second channels between top and bottom terminals. The memory cell also includes a first gate surrounding the first channel and a second gate surrounding the second channel. The first and second gates form a gate-all-around transistor of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Globalfoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping Zheng, Eng Huat Toh, Yuan Sun
  • Patent number: 8748260
    Abstract: A method for forming a nanocrystalline silicon structure for the manufacture of integrated circuit devices, e.g., memory, dynamic random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, microprocessors, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits. In a specific embodiment, the present invention includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a surface region. The method includes forming an insulating layer (e.g., silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride) overlying the surface region according to a specific embodiment. The method includes forming an amorphous silicon material of a determined thickness of less than twenty nanometers overlying the insulating layer. The method includes subjecting the amorphous silicon material to a thermal treatment process to cause formation of a plurality of nanocrystalline silicon structures derived from the thickness of amorphous silicon material less than twenty nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Mieno Fumitake
  • Publication number: 20140151781
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a transistor may include forming source and drain regions in a substrate, and forming a floating gate having electrically conductive nanoparticles able to accumulate electrical charge. The process may include deoxidizing part of the floating gate located on the source side, and oxidizing the space resulting from the prior deoxidation so as to form an insulating layer on the source side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: PHILIPPE BOIVIN
  • Patent number: 8741719
    Abstract: A thermally-grown oxygen-containing gate dielectric and select gate are formed in an NVM region. A high-k gate dielectric, barrier layer, and dummy gate are formed in a logic region. The barrier layer may include a work-function-setting material. A first dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the select gate and dummy gate. The first dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region and protected in the logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the select gate. The dummy gate is removed, resulting in an opening. A gate layer is formed over the charge storage layer in the NVM region and within the opening in the logic region, wherein the gate layer within the opening together with the barrier layer form a logic gate in the logic region, and the gate layer is patterned to form a control gate in the NVM region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hall, Frank K. Baker, Jr., Mehul D. Shroff
  • Patent number: 8734666
    Abstract: A method for preparing nanotubes by providing nanorods of a piezoelectric material having an asymmetric crystal structure and by further providing hydroxide ions to the nanorods to etch inner parts of the nanorods to form the nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Kumoh National Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jaeyoung Choi, Sangwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8728886
    Abstract: A first dielectric layer is formed in an NVM region and a logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the first dielectric layer and is patterned to form a dummy gate in the logic region and a charge storage structure in the NVM region. A second dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the charge storage structure and dummy gate. The second dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region while protecting the second dielectric layer in the logic region. The dummy gate is removed, resulting in an opening. A third dielectric layer is formed over the charge storage structure and within the opening, and a gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and within the opening, wherein the gate layer forms a control gate layer in the NVM region and the gate layer within the opening forms a logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hall, Mehul D. Shroff