Patents Assigned to ATOMERA INCORPORATED
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Publication number: 20250124971Abstract: A bit line is pre-charged to ground. First and second nodes of a latch are coupled to ground and a reference voltage, respectively. A DRAM bitcell is activated, thereby coupling a DRAM cell capacitor to the bit line, and developing a read voltage on the bit line. The bit line is isolated from the latch when the DRAM bitcell is activated. The first node is decoupled from ground, and the bit line is then coupled to the first node, thereby developing the read voltage on the first node. Then, the second node is de-coupled from the reference voltage, and the bit line is isolated from the first node. The latch is activated, amplifying the voltage difference between the first and second nodes, resulting in a read data voltage on the first node. The bit line is recoupled to the first node, applying the read data voltage to the bit line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2024Publication date: April 17, 2025Applicant: Atomera IncorporatedInventor: Richard S. Roy
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Patent number: 12267996Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device may include an array of DRAM cells, with each DRAM cell configured to store a high logic voltage and a low logic voltage. The DRAM device may further include a precharge circuit configured to selectively provide a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to a first line and a second line, respectively, and a sense amplifier comprising a cross-coupled transistor sensing circuit coupled between the first line and second line. The sense amplifier may include at least one transistor including a superlattice channel. The DRAM device may further include a refresh circuit configured to selectively couple a third reference voltage to a corresponding DRAM cell via the first line and based upon a voltage difference between the first line and the second line, with the third reference voltage being greater than the high logic voltage of the DRAM cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Atomera IncorporatedInventors: Richard Stephen Roy, Robert J. Mears
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Patent number: 12230694Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart gate stacks on a substrate with adjacent gate stacks defining a respective trench therebetween. Each gate stack may include alternating layers of first and second semiconductor materials, with the layers of the second semiconductor material defining nanostructures. The method may further include forming respective source/drain regions within the trenches, respective insulating regions adjacent lateral ends of the layers of the first semiconductor material, and respective conductive contact liners in the trenches.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2024Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventor: Donghun Kang
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Patent number: 12199148Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer, and a superlattice adjacent the semiconductor layer and including stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one oxygen monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one oxygen monolayer of a given group of layers may include an atomic percentage of 18O greater than 10 percent.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Marek Hytha, Nyles Wynn Cody, Keith Doran Weeks
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Patent number: 12199180Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and spaced apart first and second doped regions in the substrate. The first doped region may be larger than the second doped region to define an asymmetric channel therebetween. The semiconductor device may further include a superlattice extending between the first and second doped regions to constrain dopant therein. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. A gate may overly the asymmetric channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Richard Burton, Yung-Hsuan Yang
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Method for making a semiconductor superlattices with different non-semiconductor thermal stabilities
Patent number: 12191160Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second superlattices adjacent a semiconductor layer. Each of the first and second superlattices may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The second superlattice may have a greater thermal stability with respect to non-semiconductor atoms therein than the first superlattice. The method may further include heating the first and second superlattices to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the first superlattice to migrate toward the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of the second superlattice.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears -
Patent number: 12142662Abstract: A method for making semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart gate stacks on a substrate defining respective trenches therebetween. Each gate stack may include alternating layers of first and second semiconductor materials, with the layers of the second semiconductor material defining nanostructures. The method may further include forming respective source/drain regions within the trenches, forming respective insulating regions adjacent lateral ends of the layers of the first semiconductor material, and forming respective dopant blocking superlattices adjacent lateral ends of the nanostructures and offset outwardly from adjacent surfaces of the insulating regions. Each dopant blocking superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2024Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventor: Donghun Kang
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Patent number: 12142641Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, the method may include forming at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 12142669Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart gate stacks on a substrate defining respective trenches therebetween. Each gate stack may include alternating layers of first and second semiconductor materials, with the layers of the second semiconductor material defining nanostructures. The method may further include forming respective source/drain regions within the trenches, forming respective insulating regions adjacent lateral ends of the layers of the first semiconductor material, and forming respective dopant blocking superlattices adjacent lateral ends of the nanostructures and flush with adjacent surfaces of the insulating regions. Each dopant blocking superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2024Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventor: Donghun Kang
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Patent number: 12119380Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice adjacent a semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 12046470Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28, and forming a superlattice above the first single crystal silicon layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions. The method may further include forming a second single crystal silicon layer above the superlattice having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2023Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 12020926Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, and an RF ground plane layer on the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The RF semiconductor device may further include a body above the RF ground plane layer, spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and a gate overlying the channel region.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
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Patent number: 12014923Abstract: A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a body above the RF ground plane layer, forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and forming a gate overlying the channel region.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
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Publication number: 20240164082Abstract: A memory system including a first chip having a processor, and a second chip having a DRAM sector that includes: a plurality of DRAM arrays; an output circuit configured to store a plurality of data values read from the DRAM arrays; a first set of through silicon vias (TSVs) connecting the processor to the DRAM sector, wherein the first processor transmits a plurality of weight data values to the DRAM sector on the first set of TSVs; a plurality of comparator arrays coupled to receive the plurality of weight data values and the plurality of data values read from the DRAM arrays, and in response, generate a plurality of comparison output values; and a second set of TSVs connecting the processor to the DRAM sector, wherein the plurality of comparison output values are transmitted from DRAM sector to the processor on the second set of TSVs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2023Publication date: May 16, 2024Applicant: Atomera IncorporatedInventor: Richard Stephen Roy
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Patent number: 11978771Abstract: A semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11935940Abstract: A method for making a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may include forming a first superlattice on a substrate defining a collector region therein. The first superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a base on the first superlattice, and forming a second superlattice on the base comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may also include forming an emitter on the second superlattice.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventor: Richard Burton
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Patent number: 11923431Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may include a substrate defining a collector region therein. A first superlattice may be on the substrate including a plurality of stacked groups of first layers, with each group of first layers including a first plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a first base semiconductor portion, and at least one first non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent first base semiconductor portions. Furthermore, a base may be on the first superlattice, and a second superlattice may be on the base including a second plurality of stacked groups of second layers, with each group of second layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a second base semiconductor portion, and at least one second non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent second base semiconductor portions. An emitter may be on the second superlattice.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventor: Richard Burton
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Patent number: 11923418Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28; a second single crystal silicon layer having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28; and a superlattice between the first and second single crystal silicon layers. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11869968Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and spaced apart first and second doped regions in the substrate. The first doped region may be larger than the second doped region to define an asymmetric channel therebetween. The semiconductor device may further include a superlattice extending between the first and second doped regions to constrain dopant therein. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. A gate may overly the asymmetric channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Richard Burton, Yung-Hsuan Yang
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Patent number: 11848356Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice adjacent a semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATEDInventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi