Patents Examined by Christopher A Johnson
  • Patent number: 11251190
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material-string structures of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel-material-string structures individually comprise an upper portion above and joined with a lower portion. Individual of the channel-material-string structures comprise at least one external jog surface in a vertical cross-section where the upper and lower portions join. Other embodiments, including method are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Patent number: 11251117
    Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnect structure includes a first metallization level including a first metal line having a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending a length in a first direction. A second metal line is adjacent to the first metal line and a dielectric is between the first metal line and the second metal line. A second metallization level is above the first metallization level where the second metallization level includes a third metal line extending a length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The third metal line extends over the first metal line and the second metal line but not beyond the first sidewall. A conductive via is between the first metal line and the third metal line where the conductive via does not extend beyond the first sidewall or beyond the second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Manish Chandhok, Leonard Guler, Paul Nyhus, Gobind Bisht, Jonathan Laib, David Shykind, Gurpreet Singh, Eungnak Han, Noriyuki Sato, Charles Wallace, Jinnie Aloysius
  • Patent number: 11244953
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word lines that are made of molybdenum layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through each layer in the alternating stack. Each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. Each memory film includes a vertical stack of discrete tubular dielectric metal oxide spacers in contact with a respective one of the molybdenum layers, a continuous silicon oxide blocking dielectric layer contacting an inner sidewall of each of the tubular dielectric metal oxide spacers, a vertical stack of charge storage material portions, and a tunneling dielectric layer contacting each of the charge storage material portions and the vertical semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Senaka Kanakamedala, Raghuveer S. Makala, Yao-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 11244957
    Abstract: Embodiments of structure and methods for forming a staircase structure of a memory device are disclosed. In an example, a memory device includes a memory array structure and a staircase structure. The staircase structure includes a plurality of stairs each has a first number of divisions at different depths along a first direction. The plurality of stairs extend along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the first number of divisions of a respective stair includes a conductor portion on the top surface of the respective division and a second number of non-conductor portions under the conductor portion. The conductor portion and the non-conductor portions are insulated from one another by one or more dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuting Zhou
  • Patent number: 11244902
    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: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Nam-Kuk Kim, Nam-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 11233004
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell array region and a pad region, a stack structure including gate electrodes and mold insulating layers alternately stacked on the substrate and having a staircase shape in the pad region, first separation regions penetrating the stack structure in the pad region, extending in a first direction, and including first and second dummy insulating layers, the first dummy insulating layers covering side walls of the first separation regions and including horizontal portions covering portions of the gate electrodes, and the second dummy insulating layers disposed between the first dummy insulating layers, extending portions extending towards the mold insulating layers from the first dummy insulating layers in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, second separation regions dividing the stack structure and extending in the first direction, and cell contact plugs penetrating the horizontal portions and connected to the gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Geunwon Lim
  • Patent number: 11231534
    Abstract: To provide a sensor capable of enhancing reliability and image quality. There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a functional element, a spectroscopic element, a semiconductor substrate, and a photoelectric conversion element formed in the semiconductor substrate, in which the spectroscopic element is disposed between the functional element and the photoelectric conversion element, and the functional element corrects incident light to light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 11233064
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes interlayer insulating layers, a gate pattern and a vertical memory structure. The interlayer insulating layers are stacked on the substrate to be spaced apart from each other. The gate pattern includes an overlapping portion disposed vertically between the interlayer insulating layers, and an extension portion extending from the overlapping portion in a horizontal direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate. The vertical memory structure includes a channel semiconductor layer and a dielectric structure, the channel semiconductor layer extends in a direction perpendicular to the substrate upper surface to have side surfaces that face side surfaces of the interlayer insulating layers and a side surface of the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Hyun Kim, Seung Wan Hong
  • Patent number: 11233065
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a mold structure having a stack of word lines on a substrate and first and second string selection lines on the word lines, a first cutting structure through the mold structure, a second cutting structure through the mold structure, the second cutting structure being spaced apart from the first cutting structure, a channel structure penetrating the mold structure to be connected to the substrate, the channel structure being between the first and second cutting structures, a first cutting line cutting through the first string selection line but not through the second string selection line, the first cutting line being between the first and second cutting structures, and a second cutting line cutting through the second string selection line but not through the first string selection line, the second cutting line being between the second cutting structure and the channel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Je Suk Moon, Seo-Goo Kang, Young Hwan Son, Kohji Kanamori, Jee Hoon Han
  • Patent number: 11227920
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. The semiconductor device includes a memory transistor. The memory transistor includes a conductor including an opening, a first insulator provided in contact with an inner side of the opening, a second insulator provided in contact with an inner side of the first insulator, a third insulator provided in contact with an inner side of the second insulator, a first oxide provided in contact with an inner side of the third insulator, and a second oxide provided in contact with an inner side of the first oxide. An energy gap of the second oxide is narrower than an energy gap of the first oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11227870
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a third insulating pattern and a first insulating pattern on a substrate, the third insulating pattern and the first insulating pattern being spaced apart from each other in a first direction that is perpendicular to the substrate such that a bottom surface of the third insulating pattern and a top surface of the first insulating pattern face each other, a gate electrode between the bottom surface of the third insulating pattern and the top surface of the first insulating pattern, and including a first side extending between the bottom surface of the third insulating pattern and the top surface of the first insulating pattern, and a second insulating pattern that protrudes from the first side of the gate electrode by a second width in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Heon Kang, Tae Hun Kim, Jae Ryong Sim, Kwang Young Jung, Gi Yong Chung, Jee Hoon Han, Doo Hee Hwang
  • Patent number: 11227980
    Abstract: A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixels on the substrate, and each of the pixels including first to third sub-pixels each including at least one light emitting diode configured to emit light; and a color conversion layer including first to third color conversion patterns respectively corresponding to the first to third sub-pixels, each of the first to third color conversion patterns configured to transmit the light or convert the light into light of a different color. The light emitting diode of each of the first to third sub-pixels is coupled to a first electrode and a second electrode. At least one of the first to third color conversion patterns includes a perovskite compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Park, Sung Woon Kim, Min Ki Nam, Kyoung Won Park, Dong Han Song
  • Patent number: 11217538
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: an integrated circuit die; an encapsulant at least partially encapsulating the integrated circuit die; a conductive via extending through the encapsulant; a redistribution structure on the encapsulant, the redistribution structure including: a metallization pattern electrically coupled to the conductive via and the integrated circuit die; a dielectric layer on the metallization pattern, the dielectric layer having a first thickness of 10 ?m to 30 ?m; and a first under-bump metallurgy (UBM) having a first via portion extending through the dielectric layer and a first bump portion on the dielectric layer, the first UBM being physically and electrically coupled to the metallization pattern, the first via portion having a first width, a ratio of the first thickness to the first width being from 1.33 to 1.66.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Shi Liu, Jiun Yi Wu, Chien-Hsun Lee
  • Patent number: 11217630
    Abstract: Technologies relating to implementing memristor crossbar arrays using non-filamentary RRAM cells are disclosed. In some implementations, an apparatus comprises: a first row wire; a first column wire; a non-filamentary RRAM; and an access control device. The non-filamentary RRAM and the access control device are serially connected; the non-filamentary RRAM and the access control device connect the first row wire with the first column wire. The non-filamentary RRAM and the access control device may form a cross-point device. The cross-point device may be less than 40×40 nm2. A set current of the non-filamentary RRAM may be no more than 10 ?A; and a reset current of the non-filamentary RRAM is no more than 10 ?A. The access control device may comprise a transistor or a selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TetraMem Inc.
    Inventors: Minxian Zhang, Ning Ge
  • Patent number: 11217701
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film which includes oxidized material containing silicon and covers the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and overlap with at least the gate electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. In the oxide semiconductor film, a first region which is provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and have a thickness less than or equal to 5 nm has a silicon concentration lower than or equal to 1.0 at. %, and a region in the oxide semiconductor film other than the first region has lower silicon concentration than the first region. At least the first region includes a crystal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Honda, Masashi Tsubuku, Yusuke Nonaka, Takashi Shimazu, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11201086
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fin, forming a first device isolating layer on a side of the fin, forming a second device isolating layer extending through the first device isolating layer, forming first and second gates traversing the fin and forming a third device isolating layer between the first and second gates. The first device isolating layer may include a first material and a lowermost surface at a first depth. The second device isolating layer may include a second material and a lowermost surface at a second depth greater than the first depth. The third device isolating layer may extend into the fin, may include a lowermost surface at a third depth less than the first depth and a third material different from the first and the second materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Sung-Min Kim, Sunhom Steve Paak, Heon-Jong Shin, Dong-Ho Cha
  • Patent number: 11201111
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, where the electrically conductive layers comprise word lines located between a source select gate electrode and a drain select gate electrode, a memory opening vertically extending through each layer of the alternating stack to a top surface of the substrate, a memory film and vertical semiconductor channel having a doping of a first conductivity type located in the memory opening, and an active region having a doping of a second conductivity type that is an opposite of the first conductivity type and adjoined to an end portion of the vertical semiconductor channel to provide a p-n junction. The end portion of the vertical semiconductor channel has a first thickness, and a middle portion of the vertical semiconductor channel has a second thickness which is less than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Dengtao Zhao, Zhiping Zhang, Peng Zhang, Deepanshu Dutta
  • Patent number: 11195856
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate in which a first region and a second region are defined, a first stack structure with first gate electrodes displaced and stacked sequentially on the first substrate, a second stack structure with second gate electrodes displaced and stacked sequentially on the first stack structure, a junction layer disposed between the first stack structure and the second stack structure, a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on a side surface of the first stack structure, a second interlayer insulating layer covering the second stack structure, a first channel hole that penetrates through structure(s) and/or layer(s) and a second channel hole that penetrates through structure(s) and/or layer(s). A height of the second portion of the first channel hole in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is less than a height of the second portion of the second channel hole in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon Hwan Son, Ji Sung Cheon
  • Patent number: 11189661
    Abstract: A first fin field effect transistor (FinFET) has an internal source/drain (S/D) with a facetted face that is connected to a dielectric side of a first RRAM. A second FinFET and RRAM structure are also disclosed. In some embodiments, an electrode contact side of each RRAM is connected in common to form a 2T2R device. The locations of one or more electrode points on the diamond-shaped, facetted surface of the bottom electrode accurately position electric fields through the dielectric to accurately and repeatably locate where the filaments/current paths are formed (or reset) through the RRAM dielectric. Material selection and accurate thickness of the RRAM dielectric determine the voltage at which the filaments/current paths are formed (or reset).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Reznicek, Takashi Ando, Pouya Hashemi, Choonghyun Lee, Jingyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11189629
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include conductive structures. Channel material extends vertically through the stack. The conductive structures have proximal regions near the channel material, and have distal regions further from the channel material than the proximal regions. The insulative levels have first regions vertically between the proximal regions of neighboring conductive structures, and have second regions vertically between the distal regions of the neighboring conductive structures. Voids are within the insulative levels and extend across portions of the first and second regions. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Richard J. Hill