Patents Assigned to Hynix Semiconductor
  • Patent number: 8677053
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a selecting unit configured to select one of a read data or a program signal indicating a program period, an output unit configured to output an output signal of the selecting unit to the outside of a chip, and an output pin connected to the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Ji-Hyae Bae, Kyoung-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8675402
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell is able to reduce the size per the unit area by employing a dual gate structure where the chalcogenide compound is used for a channel. The nonvolatile memory cell includes a phase-change layer, a first and a second gate that are in contact with sides of the phase-change layer to face each other across the phase-in change layer and control a current flowing through the phase-change layer by each gate being arranged to induce the phase transition of the phase-change layer independently of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hae-Chan Park, Gap-Sok Do, Jang-Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 8670279
    Abstract: A method for programming a non-volatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells includes verifying whether the memory cells are programmed or not by applying a program verification bias voltage, which is calculated and stored during an initialization operation preformed before the programming of the memory cells, after a program voltage is applied to word lines of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Mi-Sun Yoon
  • Patent number: 8665655
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device is disclosed, which performs a sensing operation using a current. The non-volatile memory device includes a cell array including one or more unit cells, configured to read or write data, a current-voltage converter configured to convert a sensing current corresponding to data stored in the unit cell into a sensing voltage, and perform a precharge operation of the sensing voltage upon receiving the sensing current in response to a current driving signal at an activation time point of a word line of the cell array, and a sense-amp configured to compare the sensing voltage with a predetermined reference voltage, and amplify the compared result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Joo Lee, Sung Yeon Lee
  • Patent number: 8665664
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a timing between an internal clock and a command in a gear down mode of a memory device includes detecting a sync pulse at rising and falling edges of the internal clock, and adjusting between the internal clock of the memory device and the command according to the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Jinyeong Moon, Sang-Sic Yoon
  • Patent number: 8659930
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell including a resistance variable device and a switching unit for controlling a current flowing through the resistance variable device; a read reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage according to a skew occurring in the switching unit; and a sense amplifier configured to sense a voltage corresponding to the current that flows through the resistance variable device based on the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hyuck-Sang Yim, Kwang-Seok Kim, Taek-Sang Song, Chul-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 8659111
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is manufactured by etching a semiconductor substrate including an active region, forming a bit line contact hole from which the active region is protruded, forming a first spacer exposing a top of the active region at each of an inner wall and a bottom of the bit line contact hole, forming a bit line contact plug and a bit line over the exposed active region, and forming a second spacer over the semiconductor substrate including not only the bit line contact plug but also the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Young Kim, Mi Hyune You
  • Patent number: 8658491
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The disclosed semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a device isolation structure for delimiting an active region, the active region being recessed and grooves being defined in channel forming areas of the active region; gates formed in and over the grooves; gate spacers formed on both sidewalls of the gates over portions of the recessed active region which are positioned on both sides of the gates; an LDD region formed in the active region under the gate spacers; junction areas formed in the active region on both sides of the gates including the gate spacers; and landing plugs formed on the junction areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Gyu Seog Cho
  • Patent number: 8659960
    Abstract: A memory device includes a data line sense amplifier configured to receive a sense amplifying power source voltage and a sense amplifying ground voltage through a sense amplifying power source line and a sense amplifying ground line, respectively, and sense-amplify data loaded on a pair of data lines, and a pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge and equalize the sense amplifying power source line and the sense amplifying ground line with a sense amplifying pre-charge voltage, generate the sense amplifying pre-charge voltage by voltage dividing the sense amplifying power source voltage and the sense amplifying ground voltage through a voltage dividing path including the sense amplifying power source line and the sense amplifying ground line, and apply the sense amplifying power source voltage to the sense amplifying power source line and the sense amplifying ground voltage to the sense amplifying ground line in response to a sense amplifying pre-charge control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8659943
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes bit and source lines alternately arranged parallel to each other and even strings and odd strings alternately arranged between the bit lines and the source lines and each including drain selection transistors, memory transistors, and a source selection transistor. The drain selection transistors include a first drain selection transistor with the same structure as the memory transistors and a second drain selection transistor with the same structure as the source selection transistor. The nonvolatile memory device further includes an even drain selection line connected to the first drain selection transistors of the even strings and the second drain selection transistors of the odd strings and an odd drain selection line connected to the second drain selection transistors of the even strings and the first drain selection transistors of the odd strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Nam-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8659962
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a data storage unit configured to receive input data, outputs the input data with a difference in voltage level between logic levels, and output comparison data whose logic level is distinguished from the input data; a test operation unit configured to determine a logic level of test data periodically in response to a data reference voltage whose voltage level is determined in response to a level test code during a test operation period defined by a test entry command and a test exit command, and generate a test result signal by comparing a logic level of the comparison data with the logic level of the test data; and a test operation sensing signal generation unit configured to generate a test operation sensing signal that is activated in response to the test entry command and inactivated in response to the test result signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong-Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8659063
    Abstract: A pin capacitor of a semiconductor device includes a first isolation layer formed in a substrate and defining a dummy active area, a plurality of gates formed over the first isolation layer, a spacer formed at both sidewalls of each of the gates, and a plug formed over the dummy active area and in contact with the spacer. The substrate and the plug are coupled to a ground unit, and the gate is coupled to a pad unit. That is, the pin capacitor includes a first capacitor including the gate, the isolation layer, and the substrate and a second capacitor including the gate, the spacer, and the plug, which are coupled in parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8653575
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming buried bit lines separated from each other by a trench in a substrate, forming a plurality of first pillar holes that expose a top surface of the substrate, forming first active pillars buried in the first pillar holes, forming a gate conductive layer over entire surface of a resultant structure including the first active pillars, forming a gate electrode by etching the gate conducting layer to cover the first active pillars, forming a plurality of second pillar holes that expose the first active pillars by partially etching the gate electrode, and forming second active pillars buried in the second pillar holes and connected to the first active pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Kyun Jung
  • Patent number: 8654579
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells stacked along a channel protruded from a substrate, a first select transistor connected to one end of the plurality of memory cells, a first interlayer dielectric layer for being coupled between a source line and the first select transistor, and a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed between the first select transistor and the one end of the plurality of memory cells, and configured to include a first recess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Beom Yong Kim, Kwon Hong, Kee Jeung Lee, Ki Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 8653866
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a control voltage generating block configured to generate a control voltage corresponding to a phase difference between a reference clock signal and an internal clock signal, a control voltage restoring block configured to store the control voltage as a restoring voltage when entering into a low power mode and to supply the restoring voltage to a control voltage node when exiting from the low power mode, and an internal clock signal generating block configured to generate the internal clock signal corresponding to a voltage level of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kwan-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 8654588
    Abstract: An operating method of a semiconductor memory device includes erasing all memory cells of a selected cell block, performing a soft program operation on the erased memory cells by supplying a soft program pulse to word lines of the selected cell block, performing a first verify operation using a first voltage level lower than a target voltage level of the soft program operation, performing a second verify operation using the target voltage level, setting voltages of bit lines, and repeating the soft program operation, the first verify operation, the second verify operation, and an operation of setting the voltages of bit lines while raising the soft program pulse gradually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Aritome
  • Patent number: 8654597
    Abstract: A fail address storage circuit includes a fail address storage unit configured to store a fail address and a discrimination information storage unit configured to store information indicating whether a value stored in the fail address storage unit is a row address or column address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Yong-Ho Kong
  • Patent number: 8653611
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate insulation layer formed over a substrate and having a high dielectric constant, a gate electrode formed over the gate insulation layer and a work function control layer formed between the substrate and the gate insulation layer and inducing a work function shift of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Hyuck Ji, Tae-Yoon Kim, Seung-Mi Lee, Woo-Young Park
  • Patent number: 8654590
    Abstract: A programming method of a nonvolatile memory device includes inputting even data and odd data to be programmed into even memory cells coupled to even bit lines and odd memory cells coupled to odd bit lines, respectively, setting a sense signal as a first sense signal or a second sense signal having a lower voltage level than the first sense signal, based on odd data of odd memory cells adjacent to each of the even memory cells to be programmed, programming the even data into the even memory cells by supplying a program voltage, performing a program verify operation on each of the even memory cells in response to the set sense signal, and programming the odd data into the odd memory cells by supplying a program voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seiichi Aritome, Soon Ok Seo
  • Patent number: 8654599
    Abstract: A bit line precharge circuit includes a precharge signal generation unit configured to generate first and second precharge signals that are enabled at different timing points by receiving a bit line equalizing signal; a first precharge unit configured to connect a pair of bit lines to each other in response to the first precharge signal and supply a bit line precharge voltage to the pair of bit lines; and a second precharge unit configured to supply the bit line precharge voltage to the bit line in response to the second precharge signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hyung Sik Won