Patents by Inventor Franz Hofmann

Franz Hofmann 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).

  • Publication number: 20080096352
    Abstract: Gate stacks of an array of memory cells and a plurality of select transistors are formed above a carrier, the gate stacks being separated by spacers. An opening is formed between the spacers in an area that is provided for a source line. A sacrificial layer is applied to fill the opening and is subsequently patterned. Interspaces are filled with a planarizing layer of dielectric material. The residues of the sacrificial layer are removed and an electrically conductive material is applied to form a source line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Franz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7352018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabricating stacked non-volatile memory cells. Further, the invention relates to stacked non-volatile memory cells. The invention particularly relates to the field of non-volatile NAND memories having non-volatile stacked memory cells. The stacked non-volatile memory cells are formed on a semiconductor wafer, having a bulk semi-conductive substrate and an SOI semi-conductive layer and are arranged as a bulk FinFET transistor and an SOI FinFet transistor being arranged on top of the bulk FinFET transistor. Both the FinFET transistor and the SOI FinFet transistor are attached to a common charge-trapping layer. A word line with sidewalls is arranged on top of said patterned charge-trapping layer and a spacer oxide layer is arranged on the sidewalls of said word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Specht, Franz Hofmann, Johannes Luyken
  • Publication number: 20080074927
    Abstract: A memory array includes first, second, third and forth memory cell strings. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth memory cell strings includes a number of serially-coupled memory cells, including a first memory cell and a last memory cell. A first interconnect is coupled to a first bit line and to each of the first, second, third and fourth memory cell strings. The first interconnect includes first, second, third and fourth string input select gates. Each input select gate has a first terminal coupled to the first bit line, and a second terminal coupled to one of the respective first, second, third or fourth memory cell strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Michael Specht, Nicolas Nagel, Josef Willer
  • Patent number: 7344923
    Abstract: An NROM semiconductor memory device and fabrication method are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for fabricating an NROM semiconductor memory device can include providing a plurality of u-shaped MOSFETs, which are spaced apart from one another and have a multilayer dielectric. The dielectric suitable for charge trapping along rows in a first direction and alone columns in a second direction in trenches of a semiconductor substrate. Source/drain regions are provided between the u-shaped MOSFETs in interspaces between the rows which run parallel to the columns. Isolation trenches are provided in the source/drain regions between the u-shaped MOSFETs of adjacent columns as far as a particular depth in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation trenches are filled with an insulation material. Word lines are provided for connecting respective rows of u-shaped MOSFETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Erhard Landgraf, Michael Specht
  • Publication number: 20080054324
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a gate electrode is disclosed. One embodiment provides a transistor including a first source/drain electrode and a second source/drain electrode. A channel is arranged between the first and the second source/drain electrode in a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is arranged adjacent the channel layer and is electrically insulated from the channel layer. A semiconductor substrate electrode is provided on a rear side. The gate electrode encloses the channel layer at at least two opposite sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Richard Luyken, Franz Hofmann, Lothar Risch, Dirk Manger, Wolfgang Rosner, Till Schloesser, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7335939
    Abstract: An array of charge-trapping memory cells and pluralities of parallel wordlines and parallel bitlines running transversely to the wordlines are arranged on a substrate surface. Gate electrodes are located between the wordlines and bitlines and are, in their sequence along the direction of the wordlines, connected alternatingly to one of two adjacent wordlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Johannes Luyken, Michael Specht
  • Publication number: 20080035997
    Abstract: A fin field-effect transistor has a substrate and a fin structure above the substrate, as well as a drain region and a source region outside the fin structure above the substrate. The fin structure serves as a channel between the source region and the drain region. The source and drain regions are formed once a gate has been produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Johannes Kretz, Wolfgang Roesner, Thomas Schulz
  • Patent number: 7307865
    Abstract: An integrated read-only memory having select transistors, each of which has a drain connection and an electrode connection for feeding an electrical signal such as a voltage or a current. A layer is provided between the drain connections and the electrode, whose electric resistance can be changed under the effect of a configuration voltage or current. The layer may be applied in a backend process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Richard Johannes Luyken, Till Schlosser
  • Patent number: 7298004
    Abstract: The memory cell array comprises a plurality of parallel fins provided as bitlines arranged at a distance of down to about 40 nm from one another and having a lateral dimension of less than about 30 nm, subdivided into pairs of adjacent first and second fins. A charge-trapping memory layer sequence is arranged on the fins. Wordlines are arranged across the fins, and source/drain regions are located in the fins between the wordlines and at the ends of the fins. There are preferably self-aligned contact areas of the source/drain regions at the ends of the fins, each contact area being common to the fins of one of said pairs. Select transistors and select lines are provided for the first and second fins individually to enable a separate addressing of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Specht, Wolfgang Roesner, Franz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7265424
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor having a substrate, a fin structure above the substrate, as well as a drain region and a source region outside the fin structure above the substrate. The fin structure serves as a channel between the source region and the drain region. The source and drain regions are formed once the gate has been produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Johannes Kretz, Wolfgang Roesner, Thomas Schulz
  • Patent number: 7265376
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell, memory cell arrangement, and method for production of a nonvolatile memory cell is disclosed. The nonvolatile memory cell includes a vertical field-effect transistor (FET). The FET contains a nanoelement arranged as a channel region and an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer at least partially surrounds the nanoelement and acts as a charge storage layer and as a gate-insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer is arranged such that electrical charge carriers may be selectively introduced into or removed from the electrically insulating layer and the electrical conductivity characteristics of the nanoelement may be influenced by the electrical charge carriers introduced into the electrically insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Graham, Franz Hofmann, Wolfgang Hönlein, Johannes Kretz, Franz Kreupl, Erhard Landgraf, Richard Johannes Luyken, Wolfgang Rösner, Thomas Schulz, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7265413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor memory having a multiplicity of memory cells and a method for forming the memory cells. The semiconductor memory generally includes a semiconductor layer arranged on a substrate surface that includes a normally positioned step between a deeper region and a higher region. The semiconductor memory further includes doped contact regions, channel regions, a trapping layer arranged on a gate oxide layer, and at least one gate electrode. The method for forming the memory cells includes patterning a semiconductor layer to form a deeper semiconductor region and a higher semiconductor region having a step positioned between the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Erhard Landgraf, Richard Johannes Luyken, Thomas Schulz, Michael Specht
  • Publication number: 20070158756
    Abstract: The present invention provides a production method for a FinFET transistor arrangement, and a corresponding FinFET transistor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Lars Dreeskornfeld, Franz Hofmann, Johannes Luyken, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7214582
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor circuit formed therein and associated fabrication methods are provided. A multiplicity of depressions with a respective dielectric layer and a capacitor electrode are formed for realizing buried capacitors in a carrier substrate and an actual semiconductor component layer being insulated from the carrier substrate by an insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Volker Lehmann, Lothar Risoh, Wolfgang Rösner, Michael Specht
  • Publication number: 20070096198
    Abstract: The invention relates to non-volatile memory cells. Further, the invention relates to a method for fabricating non-volatile memory cells. Memory cells are formed on a semiconductor wafer having a protruding element with a top surface. A transistor is formed having a first part, a second part, and a third part. The first part includes a first junction region and a first charge trapping layer on the top surface. The second part includes a second junction region and charge trapping layer on the top surface. The third part has a gate electrode and a gate dielectric layer at least partially on sidewalls of the protruding element. The gate electrode contacts the first and second charge trapping layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Johannes Luyken, Michael Specht, Wolfgang Rosner
  • Publication number: 20070096196
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor arrangement comprises a substrate and a first fin field effect transistor on and/or in the substrate. The first fin field effect transistor includes a fin in which a channel region is formed between a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region and above which a gate region is formed. A second fin field effect transistor is provided on and/or in the substrate including a fin in which a channel region is formed between a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region and above which a gate region is formed. The second fin field effect transistor is arranged laterally alongside the first fin field effect transistor, wherein a height of the fin of the first fin field effect transistor is greater than a height of the fin of the second fin field effect transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Erhard Landgraf, Richard Luyken
  • Patent number: 7208794
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory having memory cells, each including first and second conductively-doped contact regions and a channel region arranged between the latter, formed in a web-like rib made of semiconductor material and arranged one behind the other in this sequence in the longitudinal direction of the rib. The rib has an essentially rectangular shape with an upper side of the rib and rib side faces lying opposite. A memory layer is configured for programming the memory cell, arranged on the upper side of the rib spaced apart by a first insulator layer, and projects in the normal direction of the one rib side face over one of the rib side faces so that the one rib side face and the upper side of the rib form an edge for injecting charge carriers from the channel region into the memory layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Erhard Landgraf, Richard Johannes Luyken, Wolfgang Roesner, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7195978
    Abstract: Memory cell having an auxiliary substrate, on which a first gate insulating layer is formed, a floating gate formed on the first gate insulating layer, an electrically insulating layer formed on the floating gate, a memory gate electrode formed on the electrically insulating layer, a substrate fixed to the memory gate electrode, a second gate insulating layer formed on a part of a surface of the auxiliary substrate, which surface is uncovered by partially removing the auxiliary substrate, a read gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer, and two source/drain regions located essentially in a surface region of the remaining material of the auxiliary substrate that is free of the second gate insulating layer and the read gate electrode, a channel region located between the two source/drain regions, wherein the channel region at least partly laterally overlaps the floating gate and the read gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Richard Johannes Luyken, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7180115
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transistor that is provided with a first source/drain area (S/D1), a channel area (KA) adjacent thereto, a second source/drain area (S/D 2) adjacent thereto, a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. A first capacitor electrode (SP) of the capacitor is connected to the first source/drain area (S/D1). An insulating structure entirely surrounds an insulating area of the circuit arrangement. At least the first capacitor electrode (SP) and the first source/drain area (S/D1) are arranged in the insulating area. The second source/drain area (S/D2) and the second capacitor electrode of the capacitor are arranged outside the insulating area. The insulating structure prevents the first capacitor electrode (SP) from loosing charge through leaking currents between charging and discharging of the capacitor. A tunnel barrier (T) which is arranged in the channel area (KA) is part of the insulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Wolfgang Roesner, Lothar Risch, Till Schloesser
  • Publication number: 20070023808
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory having a multitude of memory cells (21-1), the semiconductor memory having a substrate (1), at least one wordline (5-1), a first (15-1) and a second line (15-2; 16-1), wherein each of the multitude of memory cells (21-1) comprises a first doping region (6) disposed in the substrate (1), a second doping region (7) disposed in the substrate (1), a channel region (22) disposed in the substrate (1) between the first doping region (6) and the second doping region (7), a charge-trapping layer stack (2) disposed on the substrate (1), on the channel region (22), on a portion of the first doping region (6) and on a portion of the second doping region (7). Each memory cell (21-1) further comprises a conductive layer (3) disposed on the charge-trapping layer stack (2), wherein the conductive layer (3) is electrically floating. A dielectric layer (4) is disposed on a top surface of the conductive layer (3) and on sidewalls (23) of the conductive layer (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Specht, Wolfgang Roesner, Franz Hofmann