Abstract: A semiconductor memory array includes a first nonvolatile memory cell having a first charge storage layer and a first gate electrode and a second nonvolatile memory cell, adjacent to the first memory cell in a first direction, having a second charge storage layer and a second gate electrode. The first and second electrodes extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first electrode has a first contact section extending toward the second electrode in the first direction, and the second electrode has a second contact section extending toward the first electrode in the first direction. The first and second contact positions are shifted in the second direction, respectively, and the first electrode and the first contact section are electrically separated from the second electrode and the second contact section.

Abstract: A sub-decoder element provided corresponding to each word line is constructed by the same conductive type MOS transistors. The sub-decoder elements are arranged in a plurality of columns such that the layout of active regions for forming the sub-decoder elements is inverted in a Y direction and displaced by one sub-decoder element in an X direction. The arrangement of the sub-decoder elements is adjusted such that high voltage is not applied to both of gate electrodes adjacent in the Y direction. A well voltage of a well region for forming the sub-decoder element group is set to a voltage level such that a source to substrate of the transistor of the sub-decoder element is set into a deep reversed-bias state. In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, the leakage by a parasitic MOS in a sub-decoder circuit or word line driving circuit to which a positive or negative high voltage is supplied, can be suppressed.

Abstract: In connection with a memory card of a block molding type there is provided a method able to prevent the occurrence of a chip crack in transfer molding. The method includes a first step wherein a substrate having plural chips constituting plural memory cards and mounted on a surface of the substrate and further having connecting terminals in recesses formed on a substrate surface opposite to the chips-mounted surface is sandwiched between a first die (upper die) installed on the chips-mounted surface side and a second die (lower die) installed on the surface side where the connecting terminal are formed. The method further includes a second step of injecting sealing resin between the first die and the substrate to seal at a time the plural chips mounted on the substrate. Projecting portions (terminal supporting elements) projecting from the surrounding portion are formed in regions of the second die which regions are positioned just under the connecting terminals.

Abstract: Formation of an WNx film 24 constituting a barrier layer of a gate electrode 7A having a polymetal structure is effected in an atmosphere containing a high concentration nitrogen gas, whereby release of N (nitrogen) from the WNx film 24 is suppressed in the heat treatment step after the formation of the gate electrode 7A.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device in which a read sense circuit stable for the fluctuation in manufacturing process and environmental conditions can be realized and the read access time can be shortened is provided. A sense circuit for reading a memory cell characterized in that a flowing current is varied depending on stored data and a voltage applied through a word line includes: an inverter; a first capacitor provided so as to be electrically connected between an input of the inverter and a bit line to which the memory cell is connected; a first transistor which short-circuits an input and an output of the inverter; a second capacitor for supplying charge to the first capacitor; and second transistors, wherein an input potential of the inverter is increased or decreased according to the current of the memory cell and is then amplified to be latched as a logic value.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic memory includes a size-variable Read Only Memory (ROM) region and a size-variable Random Access Memory (RAM) coupled to different ports for parallel access to the ports, respectively. A memory system allowing fast and efficient data transfer can be achieved.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of reducing the leakage current of a drive circuit for driving a circuit that must retain a potential (or information) when in its standby state. A semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention includes a drive circuit for driving a circuit block. This drive circuit is made up of a double gate transistor with gates having different gate oxide film thicknesses. When the circuit block is in its standby state, the gate of the double gate transistor having a thinner gate oxide film is turned off and that having a thicker gate oxide film is turned on. This arrangement allows a reduction in the leakage currents of both the circuit block and the drive circuit while allowing the drive circuit to deliver or cut off power to the circuit block.

Abstract: A terminal resistor is provided at the end of a bus formed on a wiring substrate. An insulator having a large dielectric loss angle is provided in the vicinity of the terminal resistor to absorb high frequency electromagnetic waves in the vicinity. This arrangement permits successful transmission of digital signals in the GHz region using a conventional terminal resistor.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes a solid state imaging element, an optical lens held by a frame, and a flexible printed circuit board having first and second surfaces. The solid state imaging element is mounted on the first surface of the flexible printed circuit board and the frame is mounted on the second surface.

Abstract: A technique with which die bonding can be carried out without forming a void in a bond area is provided. A vacuum supply line that connects to a vacuum chuck hole formed in the bottom face of a vacuuming collet and supplies the vacuuming collet with reduced pressure for vacuum chucking a chip is constructed of two systems. That is, the vacuum supply line is so structured that a first pipe and a second pipe connect to the vacuuming collet. The first pipe supplies the vacuuming collet with a vacuum that provides suction force when a chip is unstuck from a dicing tape and transported to a mounting position on a wiring substrate. The second pipe supplies the vacuuming collet with a vacuum that provides suction force when a chip is mounted over a wiring substrate. The intensity of the vacuum (suction force) supplied to the vacuuming collet is controlled by opening or closing valves respectively installed in the pipes.

Abstract: Defect detection is performed with two settings, that is, setting of a focus position where a signal intensity obtained from a dot pattern is maximum and setting of a focus position where a signal intensity obtained from a hole pattern is maximum. In addition, defect detection is performed at a predetermined focus position previously set and for the detected defect, the focus position is changed at that position to find a focus position where the signal intensity is maximum. If the focus position is away from a signal light-receiving system, the defect is determined as dot-shaped. If the focus position is close to the signal light-receiving system, the defect is determined as hole-shaped. If the focus position is intermediate of them, the defect is determined as an elongated-shaped.

Abstract: With this flash memory, because a plurality of memory blocks are formed on a surface of a single P-type well, a layout area can be made small. Further, when erasing data for a memory block to be erased, a voltage of the P-type well is applied to all word lines of a memory block to be not erased. Consequently, the voltage of the P-type well and the voltage of all word lines of the memory block to be not erased change at the same time. With this, it is possible to prevent a threshold voltage for the memory block to be not erased from changing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor chip includes voltage regulators for stepping down an externally-supplied power voltage to produce an internal power voltage, and internal circuits which operate based on the internal power voltage. The voltage regulators are laid in the area of the buffers and protective elements for the input/output signals and power voltages so that the overhead area due to the on-chip provision of the voltage regulators is minimized. The internal power voltage is distributed to the internal circuits through a looped main power line, with an electrode pad for connecting an external capacitor for stabilizing the internal power voltage being provided on it, so that the internal power voltage is stabilized and the power consumption of the integrated circuit is minimized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device which comprises a plurality of memory cells which stores data therein based on threshold voltages thereof, a plurality of bit lines on which read signals based on the stored data of the memory cells appear respectively, a plurality of sense amplifiers which are respectively disposed corresponding to the bit lines and which respectively detect the read signals having appeared on the bit lines and output first and second signals respectively having logical levels different from one another from first and second nodes, based on the detected read signals, and a determination unit which determines, based on the first and second signals received from the first and second nodes of the sense amplifiers, whether the threshold voltages of the memory cells are normal.

Abstract: In a high frequency power amplifier circuit that supplies a bias to an amplifying FET by a current mirror method, scattering of a threshold voltage Vth due to the scattering of the channel impurity concentration of the FET, and a shift of a bias point caused by the scattering of the threshold voltage Vth and a channel length modulation coefficient ? due to a short channel effect are corrected automatically. The scattering of a high frequency power amplifying characteristic can be reduced as a result.

Abstract: Signal lines which provide electric connections from an internal circuit formed on a main surface of a semiconductor chip and including, for example, MIS transistor to protective elements constituted by, for example, diodes are drawn out from outlet ports formed on wiring lines disposed between the protective elements, and a signal line region occupied by the signal lines is provided over the protective elements and under electrode pads. A wiring region on the main surface of the semiconductor chip can be enlarged without increasing the chip area.

Abstract: For simplifying the dual-damascene formation steps of a multilevel Cu interconnect, a formation step of an antireflective film below a photoresist film is omitted. Described specifically, an interlayer insulating film is dry etched with a photoresist film formed thereover as a mask, and interconnect trenches are formed by terminating etching at the surface of a stopper film formed in the interlayer insulating film. The stopper film is made of an SiCN film having a low optical reflectance, thereby causing it to serve as an antireflective film when the photoresist film is exposed.

Abstract: The serial communication device capable of reducing the load on the CPU is provided for a system using the serial communications such as the car navigation system. The attention is focused on the control method of the serial communication, in which a DMA controller is used for the data reception in the serial communication, and a number larger than the number of data received at a time is set in advance as the number of transfers of the receive DMA controller, and further, the function to generate the timeout interrupt when data is not received for a certain period is added to the serial interface, so that the serial communication can be controlled and performed without applying the load on the CPU.

Abstract: Synchronization methods and systems for communications over a multi-band system are presented. A synchronization technique for communications over a multi-band system includes receiving a packet of preamble symbols respectively transmitted over a sequence of frequency sub-bands according to one of a plurality of frequency hopping patterns, wherein the plurality of frequency hopping patterns are partitioned into a plurality of disjoint groups, each group having a different associated periodicity; computing, in parallel, respective autocorrelation values of the packet received in a selected frequency sub-band at a plurality of symbol delays; and selecting one of the plurality of groups of frequency hopping patterns based on the autocorrelation values at the plurality of symbol delays.

Abstract: In an insulated-gate type semiconductor device in which a gate-purpose conductive layer is embedded into a trench which is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a source-purpose conductive layer is provided on a major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a portion of a gate pillar which is constituted by both the gate-purpose conductive layer and a cap insulating film for capping an upper surface of the gate-purpose conductive layer is projected from the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a side wall spacer is provided on a side wall of the projected portion of the gate pillar; and the source-purpose conductive layer is connected to a contact region of the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, which is defined by the side wall spacer.