Altering Resistivity Of Conductor Patents (Class 438/385)
  • Publication number: 20140065791
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric layer over the substrate. A resistive link located over the substrate includes a first resistive region and a second resistive region. The first resistive region has a first resistivity and a first morphology. The second resistive region has a second resistivity and a different second morphology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Balocchi, James T. Cargo, James M. DeLucca, Barry J. Dutt, Charles Martin
  • Publication number: 20140054539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrating a resistive o y device on top of an IC substrate monolithically using IC-foundry compatible processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei LU
  • Patent number: 8652922
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a resistor on an insulator layer over a substrate and forming a trench in the resistor and into the substrate. The method also includes forming a liner on sidewalls of the trench and forming a core comprising a high thermal conductivity material in the trench and on the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Lukaitis, Jed H. Rankin, Robert R. Robison, Dustin K. Slisher, Timothy D. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8652923
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory device having an interface layer structure disposed between at least one of the electrodes and a variable resistance layer formed in the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of forming the same. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players. In one configuration of the resistive switching nonvolatile memory device, the interface layer structure comprises a passivation region, an interface coupling region, and/or a variable resistance layer interface region that are configured to adjust the nonvolatile memory device's performance, such as lowering the formed device's switching currents and reducing the device's forming voltage, and reducing the performance variation from one formed device to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Yun Wang, Tony P. Chiang, Imran Hashim
  • Patent number: 8624218
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a non-volatile memory structure and a method for fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory structure includes a first contact connected to a first transistor. A second contact is connected to a second transistor. A resistance-changing memory material pattern covers and contacts the second contact but not the first contact. A top electrode contacts both the resistance-changing memory material pattern and the first contact. An area of the resistance-changing memory material pattern is substantially larger than an area of its interface with the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Frederick T Chen
  • 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: 8618526
    Abstract: Provided are a nonvolatile memory device which can suppress non-uniformity in initial breakdown voltages among nonvolatile memory elements and prevent reduction of yield, and a manufacturing method thereof. The nonvolatile memory device includes a nonvolatile memory element (108) having a stacked-layer structure in which a resistance variable layer (106) is parallel to a main surface of a substrate (117) and is planarized, and a plug (103) electrically connected to either a first electrode (105) or a second electrode (107), and an area of an end surface of a plug (103) at which the plug (103) and the nonvolatile memory element (108) are connected together, the end surface being parallel to the main surface of the substrate (117), is greater than a cross-sectional area of a cross-section of a first transition metal oxide layer (115) which is an electrically-conductive region, the cross-section being parallel to the main surface of the substrate (117).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyuki Sorada, Takeki Ninomiya, Takumi Mikawa, Yukio Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20130337622
    Abstract: A semiconductor process is provided, including following steps. A polysilicon layer is formed on a substrate. An asymmetric dual-side heating treatment is performed to the polysilicon layer, wherein a power for a front-side heating is different from a power for a backside heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chan-Lon Yang, Ching-Nan Hwang, Chi-Heng Lin, Chun-Yao Yang, Ger-Pin Lin, Ching-I Li
  • Patent number: 8611130
    Abstract: A treated conductive element is provided. A conductive element can be treated by depositing either a reactive metal or a very thin layer of material on the conductive element. The reactive metal (or very thin layer of material) would typically be sandwiched between the conductive element and an electrode. The structure additionally exhibits non-linear IV characteristics, which can be favorable in certain arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Unity Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Rinerson, Christophe Chevallier, Steve Kuo-Ren Hsia, Wayne Kinney, Steven Longcor, John Sanchez, Jr., Philip Swab, Edmond Ward
  • Patent number: 8598681
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a device and a method for forming a precision temperature sensor switch with a Wheatstone bridge configuration of four resistors and a comparator. When the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a threshold, the switch will change states. The four resistors in the Wheatstone bridge have the same resistance, with three of the resistors having a low temperature coefficient of resistance and the fourth resistor having a high temperature coefficient of resistance. As the temperature increases, the resistance of the fourth resistor will change. The change in resistance of the fourth resistor will change a voltage across the bridge. The voltage across the bridge is coupled to the comparator and compares the voltage with the threshold temperature, such that when the threshold temperature is exceeded, the comparator switches the output off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar
  • Patent number: 8598011
    Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a plurality of resistive units, each resistive unit including: a lower electrode formed over a substrate; a resistive layer formed over the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed over the resistive layer, wherein edge parts of the lower and upper electrodes, which come in contact with the resistive layer, is formed with a rounding shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seok-Pyo Song, Yu-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8592793
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of pillars, where each of the plurality of pillars contains a non-volatile memory cell containing a steering element and a storage element and at least one of a top corner or a bottom corner of each of the plurality of pillars is rounded. A method of making non-volatile memory device includes forming a stack of device layers, and patterning the stack to form a plurality of pillars, where each of the plurality of pillars contains a non-volatile memory cell that contains a steering element and a storage element, and where at least one of top corner or bottom corner of each of the plurality of pillars is rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Xiying Chen, Huiwen Xu, Chuanbin Pan
  • Patent number: 8586443
    Abstract: A phase change memory device capable of reducing disturbances between adjacent PRAM memory cells and a fabrication method are presented. The phase change memory device includes word lines, heating electrodes, an interlayer insulating layer, and a phase change lines. The word lines are formed on a semiconductor substrate and extend in parallel with a constant space. The heating electrodes are electrically connected to the plurality of word lines. The interlayer insulating layer insulates the heating electrodes. The phase change lines extend in a direction orthogonal to the word line and are electrically connected to the heating electrodes. Curves are formed on a surface of the interlayer insulating layer between the word lines such that the effective length of the phase change layer between adjacent heating electrodes is larger than the physical distance between the adjacent heating electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jang Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 8563366
    Abstract: A resistor structure incorporated into a resistive switching memory cell or device to form memory devices with improved device performance and lifetime is provided. The resistor structure may be a two-terminal structure designed to reduce the maximum current flowing through a memory device. A method is also provided for making such memory device. The method includes depositing a resistor structure and depositing a variable resistance layer of a resistive switching memory cell of the memory device, where the resistor structure is disposed in series with the variable resistance layer to limit the switching current of the memory device. The incorporation of the resistor structure is very useful in obtaining desirable levels of device switching currents that meet the switching specification of various types of memory devices. The memory devices may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Intermolecular Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Dipankar Pramanik, Tony P. Chiang, Mankoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8558348
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device includes forming a first interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first electrode in the first interlayer insulating layer, the first electrode having a top surface of a rectangular shape extending in a first direction, and forming a variable resistance pattern on the first electrode, the variable resistance pattern having a bottom surface of a rectangular shape extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the bottom surface of the variable resistance pattern contacting the first electrode, wherein the area of contact between the lower electrode and the variable resistance pattern is substantially equal to a multiplication of a minor axis length of a top surface of the first electrode and a minor axis length of a bottom surface of the variable resistance pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyuhwan Oh, Dong-Hyun Im, Soonoh Park, Dongho Ahn, Young-Lim Park, Eun-Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 8551855
    Abstract: Memory cells, and methods of forming such memory cells, are provided that include a steering element coupled to a carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material that has an increased resistivity, and a switching current that is less than a maximum current capability of the steering element used to control current flow through the carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material. In particular embodiments, methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention form a steering element, such as a diode, having a first width, coupled to a reversible resistivity switching material, such as aC, having a second width smaller than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Huiwen Xu, Er-Xuan Ping, Xiying Costa
  • Patent number: 8551850
    Abstract: A method of forming a reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal structure is provided, the method including forming a first non-metallic conducting layer, forming a non-conducting layer above the first non-metallic conducting layer, forming a second non-metallic conducting layer above the non-conducting layer, etching the first non-metallic conducting layer, non-conducting layer and second non-metallic conducting layer to form a pillar, and disposing a carbon material layer about a sidewall of the pillar. Other aspects are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Yubao Li, Chu-Chen Fu, Jingyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8536072
    Abstract: A semiconductor process is provided, including following steps. A polysilicon layer is formed on a substrate. An asymmetric dual-side heating treatment is performed to the polysilicon layer, wherein a power for a front-side heating is different from a power for a backside heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chan-Lon Yang, Ching-Nan Hwang, Chi-Heng Lin, Chun-Yao Yang, Ger-Pin Lin, Ching-I Li
  • Patent number: 8524523
    Abstract: A switching element for a memory device includes a base layer including a plurality of line-type trenches. First insulation patterns are formed on the base layer excluding the trenches. First diode portions are formed on the bottoms of the trenches in the form of a thin film. Second insulation patterns are formed on the first diode portions and are spaced apart from each other to form holes in the trenches having the first diode portions provided therein. Square pillar-shaped second diode portions are formed in the holes over the first diode portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hae Chan Park
  • Patent number: 8519371
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a memory. The first electrode is provided on the substrate. The second electrode crosses on the first electrode. The memory portion is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of an area of a first memory portion surface of the memory portion opposed to the first electrode and an area of a second memory portion surface of the memory portion opposed to the second electrode is smaller than an area of a cross surface of the first electrode and the second electrode opposed to each other by the crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fukumizu, Naoya Hayamizu, Makiko Tange
  • Patent number: 8519377
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device group includes: (A) a first insulating layer; (B) a second insulating layer that has a first concavity and a second concavity communicating with the first concavity and having a width larger than that of the first concavity and that is disposed on the first insulating layer; (C) a plurality of electrodes that are disposed in the first insulating layer and the top surface of which is exposed from the bottom surface of the first concavity; (D) an information storage layer that is formed on the side walls and the bottom surfaces of the first concavity and the second concavity; and (E) a conductive material layer that is filled in a space surrounded with the information storage layer in the second concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Sumino, Motonari Honda
  • Patent number: 8506830
    Abstract: A pattern is formed by: forming a first imprint mask layer on a processed member; forming a first imprint pattern of the first imprint mask layer using a first template; forming a second imprint mask layer made of a material having a different etching rate from the first imprint mask layer on the first imprint pattern; forming a second imprint pattern of the second imprint mask layer using a second template different from the first template; and etching the processed member using as a mask the second imprint mask layer on which the second imprint pattern is formed and the first imprint mask layer on which the first imprint pattern is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji Furusho
  • Patent number: 8497182
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of electrodes that includes thin film plates of electrode material. Multilayer strips are arranged as bit lines over respective columns in the array of electrodes, including a layer of memory material and a layer of top electrode material. The multilayer strips have a primary body and a protrusion having a width less than that of the primary body and is self-aligned with contact surfaces on the thin film plates. Memory material in the protrusion contacts surfaces on the distal ends of thin film plates of electrodes in the corresponding column in the array. The device can be made using a damascene process in self-aligned forms over the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Patent number: 8493171
    Abstract: A trimmable resistor for use in an integrated circuit is trimmed using a heater. The heater is selectively coupled to a voltage source. The application of voltage to the heater causes the heater temperature to increase and produce heat. The heat permeates through a thermal separator to the trimmable resistor. The resistance of the trimmable resistor is permanently increased or decreased when the temperature of the resistor is increased to a value within a particular range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics (Grenoble) SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Pascale Dumont-Girard, Chengyu Niu, Fuchao Wang, Michel Arnoux
  • Patent number: 8487291
    Abstract: Programmable metallization memory cells having an active electrode, an opposing inert electrode and a variable resistive element separating the active electrode from the inert electrode. The variable resistive element includes a plurality of alternating solid electrolyte layers and electrically conductive layers. The electrically conductive layers electrically couple the active electrode to the inert electrode in a programmable metallization memory cell. Methods to form the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Nurul Amin, Insik Jin, Wei Tian, Andrew James Wirebaugh, Venugopalan Vaithyanathan, Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 8487379
    Abstract: A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a high resistivity substrate and a buried inductor formed directly in the high resistivity substrate and devoid of an insulating layer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Max G. Levy, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 8470635
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a phase change memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Soonwoo Cha, Tim Minvielle, Jong Won Lee, Jinwook Lee
  • Patent number: 8471234
    Abstract: A multilayer memristive device includes a first electrode; a second electrode; a first memristive region and a second memristive region which created by directional ion implantation of dopant ions and are interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and mobile dopants which move within the first memristive region and the second memristive region in response to an applied electrical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William M. Tong, Nathaniel J. Quitoriano, Duncan Stewart, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Patent number: 8470681
    Abstract: A resistor with improved switchable resistance includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating dielectric structure between the first and second electrodes. The insulating dielectric structure includes a confined conductive region providing a first resistance state and a second resistance state; the resistance state of the confined conductive region being switchable between the first and second resistance states by a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christophe P. Rossel, Michel Despont
  • Patent number: 8466006
    Abstract: A memory cell structure and method for forming the same. The method includes forming a pore within a dielectric layer. The pore is formed over the center of an electrically conducting bottom electrode. The method includes depositing a thermally insulating layer along at least one sidewall of the pore. The thermally insulating layer isolates heat from phase change current to the volume of the pore. In one embodiment phase change material is deposited within the pore and the volume of the thermally insulating layer. In another embodiment a pore electrode is formed within the pore and the volume of the thermally insulating layer, with the phase change material being deposited above the pore electrode. The method also includes forming an electrically conducting top electrode above the phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Breitwisch, Roger W. Cheek, Eric A. Joseph, Chung H. Lam, Bipin Rajendran, Alejandro G. Schrott, Yu Zhu
  • Patent number: 8466445
    Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus for providing a resistance variable memory element with improved data retention and switching characteristics. According to an embodiment of the invention a resistance variable memory element is provided having at least one silver-selenide layer in between glass layers, wherein at least one of the glass layers is a chalcogenide glass, preferably having a GexSe100-x composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristy A. Campbell, John T. Moore
  • Patent number: 8461565
    Abstract: An electrically actuated device comprises an active region disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode, a fixed dopant distributed within the active region, and at least one type of mobile dopant situated near an interface between the active region and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sagi Varghese Mathai, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Wei Wu, Shih-Yuan (SY) Wang
  • Patent number: 8440522
    Abstract: A method for increasing an electrical resistance of a resistor that is within a semiconductor structure. A fraction of a surface layer of the resistor is oxidized with oxygen particles. In an embodiment, the fraction of the surface layer is heated by a beam of particles, such that the semiconductor structure is within a chamber that includes the oxygen particles as gaseous oxygen-comprising molecules. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure is immersed in a chemical solution which includes the oxygen particles, wherein the oxygen particles includes oxygen-comprising liquid molecules, oxygen ions, or an oxygen-comprising gas dissolved in the chemical solution under pressurization. In an embodiment, the resistor is tested to determine whether the electrical resistance of the resistor after being oxidized with the oxygen particles is within a tolerance of a predetermined target resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Daniel C. Edelstein, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8436426
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a thin film resistor having a first resistor layer having a first temperature coefficient of resistance and a second resistor layer on the first resistor layer, the second resistor layer having a second temperature coefficient of resistance different from the first temperature coefficient of resistance. The first temperature coefficient of resistance may be positive while the second temperature coefficient of resistance is negative. The first resistor layer may have a thickness in the range of 50 and 150 angstroms and the second resistor layer may have a thickness in the range of 20 and 50 angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Calvin Leung
  • Patent number: 8409961
    Abstract: An alteration method of a titanium nitride film, comprising exposing a titanium nitride film formed on a semiconductor substrate to plasma obtained by exciting a process gas that includes noble gas or nitrogen and excludes oxygen, thereby increasing a specific resistance of the titanium nitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takuya Sugawara, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8361874
    Abstract: A polysilicon film to be a resistor element is formed on a resistor element formation region of a semiconductor substrate while a polysilicon gate and high concentration impurity regions are formed on a transistor formation region. Thereafter, an insulating film is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a photoresist film is formed to cover the transistor formation region, and a conductive impurity is ion-implanted into the polysilicon film. Next, the photoresist film is removed by ashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Akira Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8334187
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating an integrated circuit device, such as a thin film resistor, are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a resistive layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask layer over the resistive layer, wherein the hard mask layer includes a barrier layer over the resistive layer and a dielectric layer over the barrier layer; and forming an opening in the hard mask layer that exposes a portion of the resistive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Wen Chang, Der-Chyang Yeh, Chung-Yi Yu, Hsun-Chung Kuang, Hua-Chou Tseng, Chih-Ping Chao, Ming Chyi Liu, Yuan-Tai Tseng
  • Patent number: 8325507
    Abstract: A memristor includes a first electrode of a nanoscale width; a second electrode of a nanoscale width; and an active region disposed between the first and second electrodes. The active region has a both a non-conducting portion and a source of dopants portion induced by electric field. The non-conducting portion comprises an electronically semiconducting or nominally insulating material and a weak ionic conductor switching material capable of carrying a species of dopants and transporting the dopants under an electric field. The non-conducting portion is in contact with the first electrode and the source of dopants portion is in contact with the second electrode. The second electrode comprises a metal reservoir for the dopants. A crossbar array comprising a plurality of the nanoscale switching devices is also provided. A process for making at least one nanoscale switching device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jianhua Yang, Wei Yi, Michael Josef Stuke, Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8298904
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a resistor on an insulator layer over a substrate, and forming at least one dielectric layer over the resistor. The method also includes forming a substrate contact through the at least one dielectric layer, through the resistor, through the insulator layer, and into the substrate. The substrate contact comprises a high thermal conductivity material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Lukaitis, Jed H. Rankin, Robert R. Robison, Dustin K. Slisher, Timothy D. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8298905
    Abstract: A method for forming a functional element includes a first step of forming an insulating layer composed of an insulator phase of a transition metal oxide serving as a metal-to-insulator transition material, the transition metal oxide being mainly composed of vanadium dioxide, and a second step of causing part of the insulating layer to transition to a metallic phase, in which the insulator phase differs from the metallic phase in terms of electrical resistivity and/or light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 8293600
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods for manufacturing are described herein. A memory device as described herein includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a thermal isolation structure including a layer of thermal isolation material between the first and second electrode layers. The first and second electrode layers and the thermal isolation structure define a multi-layer stack having a sidewall. A sidewall conductor layer including a sidewall conductor material is on the sidewall of the multi-layer stack. The sidewall conductor material has an electrical conductivity greater than that of the thermal isolation material. A memory element including memory material is on and in contact with the second electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8278206
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device includes forming a first interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first electrode in the first interlayer insulating layer, the first electrode having a top surface of a rectangular shape extending in a first direction, and forming a variable resistance pattern on the first electrode, the variable resistance pattern having a bottom surface of a rectangular shape extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the bottom surface of the variable resistance pattern contacting the first electrode, wherein the area of contact between the lower electrode and the variable resistance pattern is substantially equal to a multiplication of a minor axis length of a top surface of the first electrode and a minor axis length of a bottom surface of the variable resistance pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyuhwan Oh, Dong-Hyun Im, Soonoh Park, Dongho Ahn, Young-Lim Park, Eun-Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 8269598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate thermistor device comprising a lead terminal 12 connected to a terminal electrode 10. A device main body 4 is a rectangular parallelepiped having mutually perpendicular first side 4a, second side 4b and third side 4c, and when a length of the first side is ?, a length of the second side is ? and a length of the third side is ?, the length of each side ?, ? and ? satisfies a relation of ???>?. The terminal electrodes 10 are respectively formed on two plane surfaces including the first side 4a and second side 4b, and the lead terminals 12 are connected to the terminal electrodes 10 respectively to sandwich the third side 4c of the device main body 4 in a length direction therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Takayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8232174
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlled formation of the resistive switching layer in a resistive switching device. The method comprises providing a substrate (2) comprising the bottom electrode (10), providing on the substrate a dielectric layer (4) comprising a recess (7) containing the metal for forming the resistive layer (11), providing on the substrate a dielectric layer (5) comprising an opening (8) exposing the metal of the recess, and forming the resistive layer in the recess and in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: NXP B.V., IMEC
    Inventors: Ludovic Goux, Dirk Wouters
  • Patent number: 8211743
    Abstract: A method of forming a non-volatile resistive oxide memory cell includes forming a first conductive electrode of the memory cell as part of a substrate. The first conductive electrode has an elevationally outermost surface and opposing laterally outermost edges at the elevationally outermost surface in one planar cross section. Multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material is formed over the first conductive electrode. Conductive material is deposited over the multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material. A second conductive electrode of the memory cell which comprises the conductive material is received over the multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, Gurtej Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8193607
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory cell structure and a method of forming it. The method includes forming a first electrode, forming an insulating material over the first electrode, forming a via in the insulating material to expose a surface of the first electrode, forming a heater material within the via using gas cluster ion beams, forming a variable resistance material within the via, and forming a second electrode such that the heater material and variable resistance material are provided between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8193066
    Abstract: In integrated circuits, resistors may be formed on the basis of a silicon/germanium material, thereby providing a reduced specific resistance which may allow reduced dimensions of the resistor elements. Furthermore, a reduced dopant concentration may be used which may allow an increased process window for adjusting resistance values while also reducing overall cycle times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Globalfoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Kurz, Roman Boschke, Christoph Schwan, John Morgan
  • Patent number: 8188570
    Abstract: A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a high resistivity substrate and a buried inductor formed directly in the high resistivity substrate and devoid of an insulating layer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Max G. Levy, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 8187914
    Abstract: Provided are methods of forming a phase change memory device. A semiconductor device having a lower electrode and an interlayer insulating layer may be prepared. The lower electrode may be surrounded by the interlayer insulating layer. Source gases, a reaction gas and a purge gas may be injected into a process chamber of a semiconductor fabrication device to form a phase change material layer on a semiconductor substrate. The source gases may be simultaneously injected into the process chamber. The phase change material layer may be in contact with the lower electrode through the interlayer insulating layer. The phase change material layer may be etched to form a phase change memory cell in the interlayer insulating layer. An upper electrode may be formed on the phase change memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Il Lee, Urazaev Vladimir, Jin-Ha Jeong, Seung-Back Shin, Sung-Lae Cho, Hyeong-Geun An, Dong-Hyun Im, Young-Lim Park, Jung-Hyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 8163569
    Abstract: Provided are a magnetic memory device and a method of forming the same. The method may include forming a pinning pattern on a substrate; forming a first interlayer insulating layer that exposes the pinning pattern on the substrate; forming a pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer and a second magnetic conductive layer on the pinning pattern; and forming a pinned pattern, a tunnel barrier pattern and a second magnetic conductive pattern by performing a patterning process on the pinned layer, the tunnel barrier layer and the second magnetic conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: KyungTae Nam, Byeungchul Kim, Seung-Yeol Lee