Abstract: A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, a semiconductor substrate having a device isolation groove defining first to fourth device formation portions. The second device formation portion is separated from the first device formation portion. The third device formation portion extends from the first device formation portion. The third device formation portion is separated from the second device formation portion. The fourth device formation portion extends from the second device formation portion. The fourth device formation portion is separated from the first and third device formation portions. The third and fourth device formation portions are positioned between the first and second device formation portions.

Abstract: To provide a write amplifier that is connected to bit lines, a read amplifier that is connected to the bit lines via a first switch, and a relief memory element that includes a write port that is connected to the bit lines via a second switch, and a read port that is connected to the read amplifier via a third switch. When there is a request to access a defective memory cell, during a write operation, the second switch is turned on and write data is supplied from the write amplifier to the relief memory element via the bit lines, and during a read operation, the first switch is turned off and the third switch is turned on, and then read data read from the relief memory element is supplied to the read amplifier without being routed via the bit lines.

Abstract: A polyimide film is effectively formed on a complicated surface. The polyimide film is formed by reacting, on the surface, diamine monomer and tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride monomer both of which are dissolved within carbon dioxide in a supercritical states, together with a polyamic acid resulting from a reaction between the diamine monomer and the tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride reached to the surface.

Abstract: A system including a controller and a memory device interconnected to the controller; the controller includes a set of first terminals that is connected to the memory device through a set of first signal lines, and a control circuit configured to generate and output onto the set of first terminals edge specifying information that takes a selected one of first and second states, the edge specifying information being supplied to the memory device to cause the memory device to activate a data strobe signal at a first timing when the selected one of the edge specifying information is the first state and at a second timing, that is different from the first timing, when the edge specifying information is the second state. The control circuit is further configured to generate and output onto the set of first terminals a read command, the read command being supplied to the memory device.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an autofocus scan processor configured to generate a detection signal indicating a defocused portion of a resist film over a semiconductor substrate, an exposure scan processor configured to perform an exposure process for the resist film, and a controller configured to feed back the detection signal from the autofocus scan processor to the exposure scan processor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first wiring board, a second semiconductor chip, and a second seal. The first wiring board includes a first substrate, a first semiconductor chip, and a first seal. The first semiconductor chip is disposed on the first substrate. The first seal is disposed on the first substrate. The first seal surrounds the first semiconductor chip. The first seal has the same thickness as the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip is stacked over the first semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip is between the second semiconductor chip and the first substrate. The second semiconductor chip is greater in size in plan view than the first semiconductor chip. The second seal seals at least a first gap between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each memory cell being configured such that a variable resistance element and a selection transistor are connected in series. A set operation for a memory cell (an operation of converting the resistance of the variable resistance element to a low resistance) is performed by applying a set voltage pulse for a longer time than that for a reset operation (an operation of converting the resistance of the variable resistance element to a high resistance) while limiting, using the selection transistor, an electric current flowing in the set operation to a certain low electric current, and by simultaneously applying the set voltage pulse to the plurality of memory cells.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a vertical MOS transistor, includes forming a trench for shallow trench isolation in a semiconductor substrate, and burying an element isolation insulating film in the trench, forming an insulating film to be a mask for forming a semiconductor pillar, in a region subjected to shallow trench isolation, etching the semiconductor substrate in the region subjected to the shallow trench isolation with the insulating film as a mask, and forming a semiconductor pillar for the vertical MOS transistor, implanting an impurity onto the semiconductor substrate, and forming a lower diffusion layer in the portion shallower than the depth of the shallow trench isolation, and forming a gate insulating film on the semiconductor substrate and the side surface of the semiconductor pillar for the vertical MOS transistor.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method includes: sequentially forming a first sacrificial film, a first support film, a second sacrificial film, and a second support film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a hole to pass through these films; forming a crown-shaped electrode covering an inner surface of the hole and connected to the second support film and the first support film; forming a first opening in the second support film into a first pattern designed such that the connection between the crown-shaped electrode and the second support film is at least partially maintained; removing at least a part of the second sacrificial film through the first opening; forming a second opening in the first support film with use of the first opening; and removing the first sacrificial film through the second opening. This method is able to prevent misalignment of openings between the support films.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a second semiconductor chip is stacked on a first semiconductor chip having a plurality of bonding pads in its central region, with a bonding layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of wires respectively connected to the plurality of bonding pads of the first semiconductor chip are led out to the outside over a peripheral edge of the first semiconductor chip by passing through a space between the first and second semiconductor chips. A retaining member for retaining at least a subset of the plurality of wires is provided in a region on the first semiconductor chip including a middle point between the bonding pads and the peripheral edge of the first semiconductor chip by using a material different from the bonding layer so that the subset of the wires is positioned generally at a center of the spacing between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a plurality of delay circuits each including an input node, an output node, a first power node and a second power node, and a control circuit. The delay circuits are coupled in series with the input node of a leading delay circuit receiving a first clock signal and the output node of a last delay circuit producing a second clock signal. The control circuit coupled to receive the first and second clock signals to control an operating voltage supplied between the first and second power lines. The first power nodes of the delay circuits are connected in common to the first power line, and the second power nodes the delay circuits are connected in common to the second power line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a DLL circuit, which comprises: a delay unit generating a second clock signal by delaying a first clock signal; a phase comparator circuit comparing the first clock signal and a signal generated by further delaying the second clock signal; a counter circuit outputting a count value that determines a delay amount of the delay unit to the delay unit, and up/down operating in response to the result of the phase comparison by the phase comparator circuit; and an initial delay amount control circuit detecting a cycle of the first clock signal at the time of initial setting operation, and outputting an initial value of the count value depending upon the detected cycle to the counter circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first chips, a second chip that controls the first chips, and internal wiring that connects the first chips and the second chip. The first chips each include: an optical fuse; a first latch circuit that retains information on the optical fuse; a second latch circuit that retains information on an electrical fuse, the information being supplied from the second chip through the internal wiring; and a select circuit that selects the information retained in either one of the first and second latch circuits. A redundancy determination signal is generated from the information selected. The information on the electrical fuse is transferred from the second chip to the first chips through the internal wiring.

Abstract: A system, includes a controller including a plurality of first external terminals configured to supply a command, a clock signal and an address, and communicate a data, and communicate a strobe signal related to the data, and a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of second external terminals corresponding to the plurality of first external terminals, one of the plurality of first external terminals and one of the plurality of second external terminals transferring an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal before the semiconductor memory device communicates the data,

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device including: plural capacitors each including a cylindrical lower electrode having an internal wall and an external wall, and an upper electrode that covers the external wall of the lower electrode via a capacitance dielectric film; and a supporting film having a buried portion buried in an internal region surrounded by the internal wall of the lower electrode, and a supporting portion a part of which is positioned within the internal region and remaining parts of which are positioned at outside of the internal region. The supporting portion sandwiches an upper end of the lower electrode at both ends of the upper end by covering the internal wall and the external wall of the upper end of the lower electrode.

Abstract: A device, comprising: first and second signal lines; first and second transistors of first conductivity type coupled in series between first and second signal lines and coupled to each other at first node; third and fourth transistors of second conductivity type coupled in series between first and second lines and coupled to each other at second node; power supply node coupled in common to first and second nodes; fifth transistor of first conductivity type coupled between first and second signal lines; and sixth transistor of second conductivity type coupled between first and second signal lines, wherein each of first, second and fifth transistors is configured to receive first control signal at gate electrode thereof, each of the third and fourth transistors is configured to receive second control signal at gate electrode thereof, and sixth transistor is configured to receive third control signal at gate electrode thereof.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of restoring circuits each provided for an associated one of local bit lines, remaining one or ones of the restoring circuits other than the restoring circuit provided for the selected one of the local bit lines being configured to receive, through remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, data that is or are read out from a memory cell or cells connected to the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, and restore, through the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, the data into the memory cell or cells connected to the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that responds to mat selection information, which is used to select one of memory mats, and selects at least one defective address from a plurality of defective addresses which are stored, for example, in a fuse circuit. When the access address information is coincident with a selected defective address, a redundant memory cell is accessed for reading or writing data in place of a normal memory cell. In a refresh operation, on the other hand, a column addressing, including the above replacement of a normal memory cell with a redundant memory cell, is deactivated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a sense amplifier that includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode formed over a first channel region and connected to a first bit line, a first diffusion region connected to a second bit line with a first side edge defining the first channel region, and a second diffusion region connected to a power line and includes a second side edge defining the first channel region. The second transistor includes a second gate electrode formed over a second channel region and connected to the second bit line, a third diffusion region connected to the first bit line and includes a third side edge defining the second channel region, and a fourth diffusion region connected to the power line with a fourth side edge defining the second channel region. Directions of the bit lines and diffusion side edges are prescribed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a regulator including an operational amplifier configured of a current mirror and generating the second voltage V2 from a first voltage V1; and a control circuit that generates the current control signal OVDR, makes a current that is flowed by the current mirror increase by a first transition of the current control signal OVDR, and makes the current that is flowed by the current mirror decrease by a second transition of the current control signal OVDR. The control circuit includes a slew-rate processing unit that makes a second slew rate of the current control signal OVDR related to the second transition be smaller than a first slew rate of the current control signal OVDR related to the first transition.