Patents Examined by Christopher A Johnson
  • Patent number: 12652803
    Abstract: A memory device, and a method of manufacturing the memory device, includes first and second vertical structures spaced apart from each other and a connection structure contacting bottoms of the first and second vertical structures. The memory device also includes a first gate layer disposed between the first and second vertical structures and a second gate layer enclosing the first and second vertical structures and the connection structure. The memory device further includes a global line disposed on the first vertical structure and a local line disposed on the second vertical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 12648140
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device may include a lower electrode structure including a plurality of lower electrodes which are vertically stacked on a substrate; a plurality of upper electrode structures disposed on the lower electrode structure, and each including a plurality of upper electrodes which are vertically stacked; and a plurality of shunt structures passing through the plurality of upper electrode structures, and each electrically coupling the plurality of upper electrodes included in the upper electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Woo Kang
  • Patent number: 12642072
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a stack structure including a plurality of first conductive patterns and a plurality of dielectric layers, which are alternately stacked, the stack structure having a stepped structure such that any one of the first conductive patterns further protrudes than the first conductive pattern positioned immediately above it; a plurality of second conductive patterns which are respectively formed over protrusions of the first conductive patterns; a plurality of contact plugs which overlap the plurality of second conductive patterns, respectively, and pass through the overlapping second conductive patterns and the stack structure; and a sealing layer pattern which is interposed between the first conductive patterns and the contact plugs and separates the first conductive patterns from the contact plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Nam-Kuk Kim, Nam-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 12641791
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include: first insulating pillars arranged in a first direction; second insulating pillars arranged alternately with the first insulating pillars and having a first width in the first direction and a second width in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first width being greater than the second width; first memory cells located between the second insulating pillars and stacked along a first sidewall of each of the first insulating pillars; and second memory cells located between the second insulating pillars and stacked along a second sidewall of each of the first insulating pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Rho Gyu Kwak, In Su Park, Jung Shik Jang, Seok Min Choi, Won Geun Choi
  • Patent number: 12635224
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure disposed over a channel region, and a source/drain region. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the channel region, a first work function adjustment layer, over the gate dielectric layer, a first shield layer over the first work function adjustment layer, a first barrier layer, and a metal gate electrode layer. The first work function adjustment layer is made up of n-type work function adjustment layer and includes aluminum. The first shield layer is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of metal, metal nitride, metal carbide, silicide, a layer containing one or more of F, Ga, In, Zr, Mn and Sn, and an aluminum containing layer having a lower aluminum concentration than the first work function adjustment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Prakash Savant, Chia-Ming Tsai, Ming-Te Chen, Tien-Wei Yu
  • Patent number: 12628716
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a conductive substrate; a plurality of semiconductor chips each having a first main electrode on a bottom surface side and a second main electrode on a top surface side, the plural semiconductor chips being arranged to form a first column and a second column connected parallel to each other on the conductive substrate; and a control wiring substrate including an insulating layer, a plurality of top-surface conductive layers provided on a top surface of the insulating layer, and a plurality of bottom-surface conductive layers each having a narrower width than the insulating layer and provided on a bottom surface of the insulating layer, the bottom-surface conductive layers being arranged on the conductive substrate between the first column and the second column of the semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Matsuzawa, Taisuke Fukuda
  • Patent number: 12622283
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include an align key on a plate layer. The align key may include a first align layer connected to a second align layer. The first align layer may have a first length in a first direction, a second length in a second direction, and an air gap in the first align layer. The second align layer may be on the first align layer and may have a third length. The first direction may be perpendicular to an upper surface of the plate layer. The second length may be smaller than the first length. The third length may be smaller than the second length in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ahreum Lee, Jimo Gu, Jiyoung Kim, Sukkang Sung
  • Patent number: 12615774
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a gate structure including a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer, the third conductive layer being disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and thicker than the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, channel structures passing through the gate structure, and an isolation structure including a first portion passing through the second conductive layer and extended into the channel structures and a second portion protruding from the first portion into the third conductive layer and disposed between the channel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jung Hyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 12615821
    Abstract: A memory array comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. A ring is around individual of the channel-material strings in at least one of a lowest of the conductive tiers or a lowest of the insulative tiers. Individual of the rings have a top that is below all of the memory cells. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Patent number: 12604471
    Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor memory device and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may include a stack structure including a plurality of conductive layers, a hole formed in the stack structure, a memory layer allowing a first part and a second part of the hole to be spaced apart from each other in the hole, and a first channel layer disposed in the first part of the hole and a second channel layer disposed in the second part of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Kun Young Lee
  • Patent number: 12604470
    Abstract: A memory device, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a stack structure and main plugs passing through the stack structure, the main plugs being spaced apart from each other in a first direction. The memory device also includes a separation pattern separating the main plugs in a second direction and a slit pattern separating the stack structure into first and second memory blocks, the slit pattern having an ellipse shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Won Geun Choi, Mi Seong Park, Jung Shik Jang
  • Patent number: 12598742
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions that have horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Channel openings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers in the memory-block regions. Channel material of channel-material strings is formed in the channel openings and the channel material is formed in the horizontally-elongated trenches. The channel material is removed from the horizontally-elongated trenches and the channel material of the channel-material strings is left in the channel openings. After removing the channel material from the horizontally-elongated trenches, intervening material is formed in the horizontally-elongated trenches laterally-between and longitudinally-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory-block regions. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 12598751
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, circuit devices on the substrate, lower interconnection lines electrically connected to the circuit devices, a peripheral region insulating layer covering the lower interconnection lines, a source structure on the peripheral region insulating layer, gate electrodes stacked and spaced apart from each other in a first direction on the source structure, channel structures penetrating through the gate electrodes and each including a channel layer, contact plugs penetrating through the gate electrodes and the source structure, extending in the first direction, and connected to a portion of the lower interconnection lines, and spacer layers between the contact plugs and the source structure and including a material different from a material of the insulating layer in the peripheral region, wherein each of the spacer layers has a first width on an upper surface and has a second width greater than the first width on a lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Donghoon Kwon, Beomjin Park, Boun Yoon
  • Patent number: 12592281
    Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and an electronic system including the same. The semiconductor device may include a stack on a substrate and extending in a first direction, the stack including electrodes vertically stacked on the substrate, string selection lines that are on the stack, extend parallel to the first direction, and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction, an upper separation pattern that is on the stack, extends in the first direction, and is between the string selection lines, lower vertical structures in the stack, and upper vertical structures in the string selection lines and electrically connected to the lower vertical structures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sooyong Lee, Kyung Jae Park, Yongjin Cho
  • Patent number: 12575106
    Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device is provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a peripheral circuit structure on the substrate, and a cell array structure on the peripheral circuit structure and including a cell array region and a cell array contact region. The cell array structure includes a stack structure including alternately stacked interlayer insulating layers and gate electrodes, a first source conductive pattern, a second source conductive pattern, and a third source conductive pattern sequentially stacked on the stack structure. The first to third source conductive patterns include different materials from each other. Vertical channel structures extending into a lower portion of the first source conductive pattern through the stack structure is included. The first to third source conductive patterns extend from the cell array region to the cell array contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moorym Choi, Jungtae Sung, Sunil Shim, Yunsun Jang
  • Patent number: 12568623
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device may include: forming a stack comprising first material layers and second material layers that are alternately stacked; forming an opening in the stack; forming a first seed layer in the opening; forming a first buffer layer by surface-treating the first seed layer; and forming a blocking layer by oxidizing the first seed layer through the first buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Gi Kim, Young Jin Noh, Jae O Park, Jin Ho Bin, Dong Chul Yoo, Yoo Il Jeon
  • Patent number: 12568619
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes; a memory cell area including a common source plate, at least one cell structure under the common source plate, and a first metal pad under the at least one cell structure, and a peripheral circuit area on which the memory cell area is mounted, including a middle area , a first edge area, and a second metal pad on the first edge area. The memory cell area further includes a first contact extending from the common source plate and connected to the first metal pad. The peripheral circuit area further includes a second contact extending from a common source line switch and connected to the second metal pad. The first metal pad contacts with the second metal pad on the second metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongha Shin, Yohan Lee
  • Patent number: 12557289
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a cell region comprising stacks of alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials. A pillar region is adjacent to the cell region and comprises storage node segments adjacent to adjoining oxide materials and adjacent to a tunnel region. The storage node segments are separated by a vertical portion of the tunnel region. A high-k dielectric material is adjacent to the conductive materials of the cell region and to the adjoining oxide materials of the pillar region. Additional electronic devices are disclosed, as are methods of forming an electronic device and related systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Richard J. Hill, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Byeung Chul Kim, Francois H. Fabreguette, Chris M. Carlson, Michael E. Koltonski, Shane J. Trapp
  • Patent number: 12557275
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first memory region, a second memory region, and an intermediate region between the memory regions. A stack extends across the memory regions and the intermediate region. The stack includes alternating conductive levels and insulative levels. Channel-material-pillars are arranged within the memory regions. Memory-block-regions extend longitudinally across the memory regions and the intermediate region. Staircase regions are within the intermediate region. Each of the staircase regions laterally overlaps two of the memory-block-regions. First panel regions extend longitudinally across at least portions of the staircase regions. Second panel regions extend longitudinally and provide lateral separation between adjacent memory-block-regions. The second panel regions are of laterally different dimensions than the first panel regions and/or are compositionally different than the first panel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Lifang Xu, Indra V. Chary
  • Patent number: 12557287
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a source line, a bit line, and a gate structure located between the source line and the bit line. The gate structure may include conductive layers and insulating layers that are alternately stacked. The semiconductor device may include a topological insulator that may extend from the bit line to the source line through the gate structure. The topological insulator may include a non-conductor region and semiconductor regions coupled to the non-conductor region and located at a sidewall of the topological insulator. The semiconductor device may also include a memory layer surrounding the topological insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Uk Lee, Hae Chang Yang