Patents Examined by Jerome Leboeuf
  • Patent number: 11856876
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same are provided in which memory cells are manufactured with a double sided word line structure. In embodiments a first word line is located on a first side of the memory cells and a second word line is located on a second side of the memory cells opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ying Lee, Shao-Ming Yu, Cheng-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 11853552
    Abstract: The hybrid memory device may include volatile and non-volatile memory cells on a single substrate, or die. The non-volatile memory cells may have ferroelectric capacitors and the volatile memory cells may have paraelectric or linear dielectric capacitors for their respective logic storage components. In some examples, the volatile memory cells may be used as a cache for the non-volatile memory cells. Or the non-volatile memory cells may be used as a back-up for the volatile memory cells. By placing both types of cells on a single die, rather than separate dies, various performance metrics may be improved, including those related to power consumption and operation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ryan, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Robert Quinn
  • Patent number: 11856789
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory includes a first electrode, a second electrode opposite to the first electrode, a ferroelectric composite layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a first insulating layer disposed on one side of the ferroelectric composite layer. The ferroelectric composite layer includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer and an antiferroelectric layer. The first electrode layer is opposite to the second electrode layer, and the ferroelectric layer and the antiferroelectric layer are disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yu-De Lin, Po-Chun Yeh, Pei-Jer Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11856794
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell provided on a substrate, a second memory cell provided on the substrate and spaced apart from the first memory cell, a passivation layer extending along a side surface of the first memory cell and a side surface of the second memory cell, and a gap fill layer covering the passivation layer. Each of the first memory cell and the second memory cell includes a selection pattern having ovonic threshold switching characteristics, and a storage pattern provided on the selection pattern. The passivation layer includes a lower portion filling a space between the selection pattern of the first memory cell and the selection pattern of the second memory cell, and an upper portion extending along a side surface of the storage pattern of each of the first memory cell and the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Sung Choi, Jong Uk Kim, Kwang Min Park, Zhe Wu, Ja Bin Lee, Jae Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 11849655
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory structure over a substrate, wherein the memory structure includes a first word line; a first bit line over the first word line; a second bit line over the first bit line; a memory material over sidewalls of the first bit line and the second bit line; a first control word line along a first side of the memory material, wherein the first control word line is electrically connected to the first word line; a second control word line along a second side of the memory material that is opposite the first side; and a second word line over the second bit line, the first control word line, and the second control word line, wherein the second word line is electrically connected to the second control word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tung Ying Lee, Shao-Ming Yu, Kai-Tai Chang
  • Patent number: 11847557
    Abstract: Numerous embodiments are disclosed for compensating for differences in the slope of the current-voltage characteristic curve among reference transistors, reference memory cells, and flash memory cells during a read operation in an analog neural memory in a deep learning artificial neural network. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving an input voltage, multiplying the input voltage by a coefficient to generate an output voltage, applying the output voltage to a gate of a selected memory cell, performing a sense operating using the selected memory cell and a reference device to determine a value stored in the selected memory cell, wherein a slope of a current-voltage characteristic curve of the reference device and a slope of the current-voltage characteristic curve of the selected memory cell are approximately equal during the sense operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Vipin Tiwari, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 11840756
    Abstract: An interconnect and a method of making an interconnect between one or more features on a substrate comprises: sputtering a noble metal-copper eutectic thin film under controlled power on an oxide grown or deposited on a substrate; and forming an amorphous alloy structure from the noble metal-copper eutectic thin film in the shape of the interconnect and the interconnect comprising no grain or grain boundaries without temperature sensitive resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
    Inventors: Santanu Das, Sundeep Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 11830534
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory system may include at least two types of DRAM, which differ in at least one characteristic. For example, one DRAM type may be a high density DRAM, while another DRAM type may have lower density but may also have lower latency and higher bandwidth than the first DRAM type. DRAM of the first type may be on one or more first integrated circuits and DRAM of the second type may be on one or more second integrated circuits. In an embodiment, the first and second integrated circuits may be coupled together in a stack. The second integrated circuit may include a physical layer circuit to couple to other circuitry (e.g., an integrated circuit having a memory controller, such as a system on a chip (SOC)), and the physical layer circuit may be shared by the DRAM in the first integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sukalpa Biswas, Farid Nemati
  • Patent number: 11825754
    Abstract: A memory cell may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a self-selecting storage element between the first electrode and the second electrode. A conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode may extend in a direction away from a plane defined by a substrate. The self-selecting storage element may include a bulk region and a sidewall region. The bulk region may include a chalcogenide material having a first composition, and the sidewall region may include the chalcogenide material having a second composition that is different than the first composition. The bulk region and sidewall region may extend between the first electrode and the second electrode and in the direction away from the plane defined by the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Fratin, Enrico Varesi, Paolo Fantini
  • Patent number: 11825663
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device is provided, the device comprising a ferroelectric memory capacitor arranged over a first active region contact of a first transistor and a gate contact of a second transistor, whereby the ferroelectric memory capacitor at least partially overlaps a gate of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Müller, Thomas Melde, Stefan Dünkel, Ralf Richter
  • Patent number: 11817156
    Abstract: Multi-gate NOR flash thin-film transistor (TFT) string arrays (“multi-gate NOR string arrays”) are organized as stacks of horizontal active strips running parallel to the surface of a silicon substrate, with the TFTs in each stack being controlled by vertical local word-lines provided along one or both sidewalls of the stack of active strips. Each active strip includes at least a channel layer formed between two shared source or drain layers. Data storage in the TFTs of an active strip is provided by charge-storage elements provided between the active strip and the control gates provided by the adjacent local word-lines. Each active strip may provide TFTs that belong to one or two NOR strings, depending on whether one or both sides of the active strip are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 11818899
    Abstract: A chalcogen compound layer exhibiting ovonic threshold switching characteristics, a switching device, a semiconductor device, and/or a semiconductor apparatus including the same are provided. The switching device and/or the semiconductor device may include two or more chalcogen compound layers having different energy band gaps. Alternatively, the switching device and/or semiconductor device may include a chalcogen compound layer having a concentration gradient of an element of boron (B), aluminum (Al), scandium (Sc), manganese (Mn), strontium (Sr), and/or indium (In) in a thickness direction thereof. The switching device and/or a semiconductor device may exhibit stable switching characteristics while having a low off-current value (leakage current value).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wooyoung Yang, Bonwon Koo, Chungman Kim, Kwangmin Park, Hajun Sung, Dongho Ahn, Changseung Lee, Minwoo Choi
  • Patent number: 11810631
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device can perform operations including determining a value of a data state metric of a memory page; responsive to the data state metric satisfying a first threshold criterion, determining a value of a voltage distribution metric associated with the page; and responsive to the voltage distribution metric value satisfying a second threshold criterion, performing a media management operation with respect to a block associated with the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Michael Sheperek, Christopher M. Smitchger
  • Patent number: 11805714
    Abstract: Methods and structures for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes a reduced programming current phase change memory (PCM) are provided. The method includes forming a bottom electrode. The method further includes forming a PCM and forming a conductive bridge filament in a dielectric to serve as a heater for the PCM. The method also includes forming a top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nanbo Gong, Takashi Ando, Guy M. Cohen
  • Patent number: 11805662
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first electrode, a selector layer and a plurality of first work function layers. The first work function layers are disposed between the first electrode and the selector layer, and a work function of the first work function layer increases as the first work function layer becomes closer to the selector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Jung-Piao Chiu, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Yu-Sheng Chen, Xinyu Bao
  • Patent number: 11797834
    Abstract: Numerous embodiments are disclosed for compensating for differences in the slope of the current-voltage characteristic curve among reference transistors, reference memory cells, and flash memory cells during a read operation in an analog neural memory in a deep learning artificial neural network. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a first voltage, multiplying the first voltage by a coefficient to generate a second voltage, applying the first voltage to a gate of one of a reference transistor and a selected memory cell, applying the second voltage to a gate of the other of a reference transistor and a selected memory cell, and using the reference transistor in a sense operation to determine a value stored in the selected memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Vipin Tiwari, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 11800721
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory structure including a first conductive line, a second conductive line, and a memory cell is provided. The second conductive line is disposed on the first conductive line. The memory cell is disposed between the first and second conductive lines. The memory cell includes a switch device and a ferroelectric capacitor structure. The switch device is disposed between the first and second conductive lines. The ferroelectric capacitor structure is disposed between the first conductive line and the switch device. The ferroelectric capacitor structure includes ferroelectric capacitors electrically connected. Each of the ferroelectric capacitors includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a ferroelectric material layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first conductive layer. The ferroelectric material layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Shou-Zen Chang, Ming-Han Liao, Min-Cheng Chen, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11785858
    Abstract: An exemplary method that forms spacer stacks with metallic compound layers is disclosed. The method includes forming magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures on an interconnect layer and depositing a first spacer layer over the MTJ structures and the interconnect layer. The method also includes disposing a second spacer layer—which includes a metallic compound—over the first spacer material, the MTJ structures, and the interconnect layer so that the second spacer layer is thinner than the first spacer layer. The method further includes depositing a third spacer layer over the second spacer layer and between the MTJ structures. The third spacer is thicker than the second spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joung-Wei Liou, Chin Kun Lan
  • Patent number: 11756628
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first conductor extending in a first direction, bit lines, sense amplifiers, and a second conductor extending in the first direction. A plurality of first memory cells being connected to the first conductor. The bit lines respectively connected to the first memory cells. The first sense amplifiers are respectively connected to a plurality of first bit lines included in the bit lines, each of the first sense amplifiers including a first sense node, and a first transistor connected between the first sense node and a corresponding one of the first bit lines. The second conductor function as gate electrodes of the first transistors included in the first sense amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Yanagidaira
  • Patent number: 11757356
    Abstract: A system includes a charge pump system having a plurality of enable signal input terminals and an output terminal, the charge pump system configured to provide an output voltage at the output terminal; and a detection circuit connected to the enable terminals and the output terminal of the charge pump system, the detection circuit configured to compare the charge pump system output voltage to a plurality of predefined input detection voltage levels, and to selectively output a plurality of enable signals to the charge pump system enable signal input terminals in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Chou, Tien-Yen Wang