Patents by Inventor Akio Nishida

Akio Nishida has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10355100
    Abstract: A first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor are formed on a substrate. A silicon nitride liner is formed over the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor. An upper portion of the silicon nitride liner is converted into a thermal silicon oxide liner. A lower portion of the silicon nitride liner remains as a silicon nitride material portion. A first portion of the thermal silicon oxide liner is removed from above the second field effect transistor, and a second portion of the thermal silicon oxide liner remains above the first field effect transistor. Selective presence of the silicon oxide liner provides differential stress within the channels of the first and second field effect transistors, which can be employed to optimize performance of different types of field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yu Ueda, Tomoyuki Obu, Kazutaka Yoshizawa, Yasuyuki Aoki, Eisuke Takii, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 10283566
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, an array of memory structures, conductive structures located between a substrate and the alternating stack, conductive via structures, including an upper portion that overlies and contacts a top surface of a respective one of the electrically conductive layers, and a lower portion that underlies and is adjoined to the upper portion, contacts a top surface of a respective one of the conductive structures, and is electrically insulated from the rest of the electrically conductive layers. Inner, outer and intermediate dielectric spacers laterally surround a respective one of the conductive via structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jongsun Sel, Tuan Pham, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Yoshihiro Ikeda, Daewung Kang, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 10283493
    Abstract: A first die includes a three-dimensional memory device and first copper pads. A second die includes a peripheral logic circuitry containing CMOS devices located on the semiconductor substrate and second copper pads. A bonded assembly is formed by bonding the first copper pads with the second copper pads through copper interdiffusion to provide multiple bonded pairs of a respective first copper pad and a respective second copper pad at an interface between the first die and the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 10224373
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, resistive memory elements located in the alternating stack in first and second array regions and contact via structures located in a contact region between the first and the second array regions. The contact via structures have different depths and contact different electrically conductive layers. Support pillars are located in the contact region and extending through the alternating stack. At least one conduction channel area is located between the contact via structures in the contact region. The conduction channel area contains no support pillars, and all electrically conductive layers in the conduction channel area are continuous from the first array region to the second array region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jongsun Sel, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Vincent Shih, Akio Nishida, Tuan Pham
  • Publication number: 20190034125
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes forming a bit line above the substrate, the bit line disposed in a first direction, after forming the bit line, forming a word line above a substrate, the word line disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, forming a nonvolatile memory material including a semiconductor material layer and a conductive oxide material layer between the word line and the bit line, and forming a memory cell including the nonvolatile memory material at an intersection of the bit line and the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jongsun Sel, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Toshihiro Iizuka, Akio Nishida, Tuan Pham
  • Publication number: 20190006418
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, resistive memory elements located in the alternating stack in first and second array regions and contact via structures located in a contact region between the first and the second array regions. The contact via structures have different depths and contact different electrically conductive layers. Support pillars are located in the contact region and extending through the alternating stack. At least one conduction channel area is located between the contact via structures in the contact region. The conduction channel area contains no support pillars, and all electrically conductive layers in the conduction channel area are continuous from the first array region to the second array region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jongsun SEL, Mitsuteru MUSHIGA, Vincent SHIH, Akio NISHIDA, Tuan PHAM
  • Publication number: 20180350879
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, an array of memory structures, conductive structures located between a substrate and the alternating stack, conductive via structures, including an upper portion that overlies and contacts a top surface of a respective one of the electrically conductive layers, and a lower portion that underlies and is adjoined to the upper portion, contacts a top surface of a respective one of the conductive structures, and is electrically insulated from the rest of the electrically conductive layers. Inner, outer and intermediate dielectric spacers laterally surround a respective one of the conductive via structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Jongsun Sel, Tuan Pham, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Yoshihiro Ikeda, Daewung Kang, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 9673304
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes forming a dielectric material above a substrate, forming a hole in the dielectric material, the hole disposed in a first direction, forming a word line layer above the substrate via the hole, the word line layer disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, forming a nonvolatile memory material on a sidewall of the hole, forming a local bit line in the hole, and forming a memory cell including the nonvolatile memory material at an intersection of the local bit line and the word line layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michiaki Sano, Akira Nakada, Tetsuya Yamada, Manabu Hayashi, Takashi Matsubara, Sung Tae Lee, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 9530485
    Abstract: The gate tunnel leakage current is increased in the up-to-date process, so that it is necessary to reduce the gate tunnel leakage current in the LSI which is driven by a battery for use in a cellular phone and which needs to be in a standby mode at a low leakage current. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the ground source electrode lines of logic and memory circuits are kept at a ground potential in an active mode, and are kept at a voltage higher than the ground potential in an unselected standby mode. The gate tunnel leakage current can be reduced without destroying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Koichiro Ishibashi, Yoshikazu Saitoh, Akio Nishida, Masaru Nakamichi, Naoki Kitai
  • Patent number: 9443910
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) non-volatile memory array having a silicide bit line and method of fabricating is disclosed. The fabrication technique may comprise forming a metal silicide for at least a portion of the bit line. The device has reversible resistivity material between the word lines and the bit lines. The reversible resistivity material may be a metal oxide. The metal that is used to form the silicide may serve as an oxygen scavenger to draw oxygen away from the silicon, thus preventing formation of silicon oxide between the reversible resistivity material and the bit line. The metal silicide may also help prevent formation of a depletion layer in silicon in the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kan Fujiwara, Takuya Futase, Toshihiro Iizuka, Shin Kikuchi, Yoichiro Tanaka, Akio Nishida, Christopher J Petti
  • Publication number: 20160204116
    Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in a memory cell region, a control gate electrode formed of a first conductive film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulation film and a second conductive film are formed in such a manner as to cover the control gate electrode, and the second conductive film is etched back. As a result, the second conductive film is left over the sidewall of the control gate electrode via the insulation film, thereby to form a memory gate electrode. Then, in a peripheral circuit region, a p type well is formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A third conductive film is formed over the p type well. Then, a gate electrode formed of the third conductive film is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiraku Chakihara, Kyoko Umeda, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 9356110
    Abstract: To control a grain growth on laminated polysilicon films, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: forming a first polysilicon film (21) on a substrate (10); forming an interlayer oxide layer (22) on a surface of the first polysilicon film (21); forming a second polysilicon film (23) in contact with the interlayer oxide layer (22) above the first polysilicon film (21); and performing annealing at a temperature higher than a film formation temperature of the first and second polysilicon films in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen, after formation of the second polysilicon film (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Inoue, Yoshiki Maruyama, Akio Nishida, Yorinobu Kunimune, Kota Funayama
  • Patent number: 9349743
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. A semiconductor device is provided forming a control gate electrode for memory cell on a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film; forming a memory gate electrode for memory cell, which is adjacent to the control gate electrode, on the semiconductor substrate via a second insulating film having a charge storage portion; forming n? type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; forming sidewall spacers on the side wall of the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode; forming n+ type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; and removing an upper portion of the second insulating film present between the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. A removal length of the second insulating film is larger than the depth of the n+ type semiconductor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuto Nakanishi, Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Akio Nishida
  • Patent number: 9324726
    Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in a memory cell region, a control gate electrode formed of a first conductive film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulation film and a second conductive film are formed in such a manner as to cover the control gate electrode, and the second conductive film is etched back. As a result, the second conductive film is left over the sidewall of the control gate electrode via the insulation film, thereby to form a memory gate electrode. Then, in a peripheral circuit region, a p type well is formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A third conductive film is formed over the p type well. Then, a gate electrode formed of the third conductive film is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiraku Chakihara, Kyoko Umeda, Akio Nishida
  • Publication number: 20160064226
    Abstract: Improvements are achieved in the properties of a semiconductor device including a MISFET and a nonvolatile memory. Over a gate electrode included in the MISFET and a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode each included in a memory cell, a stress application film is formed of a silicon nitride film. Then, by removing the silicon nitride film from over the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode, an opening is formed over the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Then, in a state where the opening is formed in the silicon nitride film, heat treatment is performed to apply a stress to the MISFET. By thus removing the stress application film (silicon nitride film) from over the memory cell, it is possible to avoid the degradation of the properties of the memory cell due to H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiraku Chakihara, Akio Nishida
  • Publication number: 20160043098
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. A semiconductor device is provided forming a control gate electrode for memory cell on a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film; forming a memory gate electrode for memory cell, which is adjacent to the control gate electrode, on the semiconductor substrate via a second insulating film having a charge storage portion; forming n? type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; forming sidewall spacers on the side wall of the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode; forming n+ type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; and removing an upper portion of the second insulating film present between the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. A removal length of the second insulating film is larger than the depth of the n+ type semiconductor regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuto Nakanishi, Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Akio Nishida
  • Publication number: 20160035734
    Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in a memory cell region, a control gate electrode formed of a first conductive film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulation film and a second conductive film are formed in such a manner as to cover the control gate electrode, and the second conductive film is etched back. As a result, the second conductive film is left over the sidewall of the control gate electrode via the insulation film, thereby to form a memory gate electrode. Then, in a peripheral circuit region, a p type well is formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A third conductive film is formed over the p type well. Then, a gate electrode formed of the third conductive film is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiraku Chakihara, Kyoko Umeda, Akio Nishida
  • Publication number: 20150357026
    Abstract: The gate tunnel leakage current is increased in the up-to-date process, so that it is necessary to reduce the gate tunnel leakage current in the LSI which is driven by a battery for use in a cellular phone and which needs to be in a standby mode at a low leakage current. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the ground source electrode lines of logic and memory circuits are kept at a ground potential in an active mode, and are kept at a voltage higher than the ground potential in an unselected standby mode. The gate tunnel leakage current can be reduced without destroying data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi OSADA, Koichiro ISHIBASHI, Yoshikazu SAITOH, Akio NISHIDA, Masaru NAKAMICHI, Naoki KITAI
  • Patent number: 9111636
    Abstract: The gate tunnel leakage current is increased in the up-to-date process, so that it is necessary to reduce the gate tunnel leakage current in the LSI which is driven by a battery for use in a cellular phone and which needs to be in a standby mode at a low leakage current. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the ground source electrode lines of logic and memory circuits are kept at a ground potential in an active mode, and are kept at a voltage higher than the ground potential in an unselected standby mode. The gate tunnel leakage current can be reduced without destroying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Koichiro Ishibashi, Yoshikazu Saitoh, Akio Nishida, Masaru Nakamichi, Naoki Kitai
  • Publication number: 20150155031
    Abstract: The gate tunnel leakage current is increased in the up-to-date process, so that it is necessary to reduce the gate tunnel leakage current in the LSI which is driven by a battery for use in a cellular phone and which needs to be in a standby mode at a low leakage current. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the ground source electrode lines of logic and memory circuits are kept at a ground potential in an active mode, and are kept at a voltage higher than the ground potential in an unselected standby mode. The gate tunnel leakage current can be reduced without destroying data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi OSADA, Koichiro ISHIBASHI, Yoshikazu SAITOH, Akio NISHIDA, Masaru NAKAMICHI, Naoki KITAI