Patents by Inventor Hideaki Aochi

Hideaki Aochi 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: 8476708
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cell array portion, single-crystal semiconductor layer, and circuit portion. The memory cell array portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and includes memory cells. The semiconductor layer is formed on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the memory cell array portion. The circuit portion is formed on the semiconductor layer. The Ge concentration in the lower portion of the semiconductor layer is higher than that in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Masaru Kito, Kiyotaka Miyano, Shinji Mori, Ichiro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 8455941
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body including electrode films stacked in a first direction; a conductive pillar piercing the stacked body in the first direction; an inner insulating film, a semiconductor pillar, an intermediate insulating film, a memory layer, and an outer insulating film provided between the conductive pillar and the electrode films. The inner insulating film is provided around a side face of the conductive pillar. The semiconductor pillar is provided around a side face of the inner insulating film. The intermediate insulating film is provided around a side face of the semiconductor pillar. The memory layer is provided around a side face of the intermediate insulating film. The outer insulating film is provided around a side face of the memory layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takamitsu Ishihara, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8440528
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: forming a stacked body by alternately stacking a plurality of interlayer insulating films and a plurality of control gate electrodes; forming a through-hole extending in a stacking direction in the stacked body; etching a portion of the interlayer insulating film facing the through-hole via the through-hole to remove the portion; forming a removed portion; forming a first insulating film on inner faces of the through-hole and the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a floating gate electrode in the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a second insulating film so as to cover a portion of the floating gate electrode facing the through-hole; and burying a semiconductor pillar in the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Masaru Kidoh, Tomoko Fujiwara, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Junya Matsunami, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8436414
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a stacked body provided on the semiconductor substrate, the stacked body having electrode films and insulating films being alternately stacked; a first and second semiconductor pillars; and a first and second charge storage layers. The first and second semiconductor pillars are provided inside a through hole penetrating through the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The through hole has a cross section of an oblate circle, when cutting in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. The first and second semiconductor pillars face each other in a major axis direction of the first oblate circle. The first and second semiconductor pillars extend in the stacking direction. The first and second charge storage layers are provided between the electrode film and the first and second semiconductor pillars, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hideaki Aochi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Tomoko Fujiwara, Junya Matsunami, Ryouhei Kirisawa
  • Patent number: 8436415
    Abstract: A memory string comprises: a first semiconductor layer including a columnar portion extending in a stacking direction on a substrate; a first charge storage layer surrounding the columnar portion; and a plurality of first conductive layers stacked on the substrate so as to surround the first charge storage layer. A select transistor comprises: a second semiconductor layer in contact with an upper surface of the columnar portion and extending in the stacking direction; a second charge storage layer surrounding the second semiconductor layer; and a second conductive layer deposited above the first conductive layer to surround the second charge storage layer. The second charge storage layer is formed from a layer downward of the second conductive layer to an upper end vicinity of the second conductive layer, and is not formed in a layer upward of the upper end vicinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kidoh, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Tomoko Fujiwara, Hideaki Aochi, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Yoshimasa Mikajiri, Shigeto Oota
  • Patent number: 8437167
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a shift register memory device includes a shift register, a program/read element, and a rotating force application unit. The shift register includes a plurality of rotors arranged along one direction and provided with a uniaxial anisotropy. Each of the plurality of rotors has a characteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axis extending in the one direction. The program/read element is configured to program data to the shift register by causing the characteristic direction of one of the rotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy and configured to read the data by detecting the characteristic direction. The rotating force application unit is configured to apply a rotating force to the shift register to urge the characteristic direction to rotate. The plurality of rotors are organized into a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi
  • Publication number: 20130109157
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of memory strings each having a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings comprising: a first semiconductor layer including a columnar portion extending in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate; a plurality of first conductive layers formed to surround side surfaces of the columnar portions via insulation layers, and formed at a certain pitch in the vertical direction, the first conductive layers functioning as floating gates of the memory cells; and a plurality of second conductive layers formed to surround the first conductive layers via insulation layers, and functioning as control electrodes of the memory cells. Each of the first conductive layers has a length in the vertical direction that is shorter than a length in the vertical direction of each of the second conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Masaru KITO, Yoshiaki FUKUZUMI, Masaru KIDOH, Megumi ISHIDUKI, Yosuke KOMORI, Hiroyasu TANAKA, Ryota KATSUMATA, Hideaki AOCHI
  • Patent number: 8426976
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes: a columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a plurality of conductive layers formed at a sidewall of the columnar semiconductor layer via memory layers; and interlayer insulation layers formed above of below the conductive layers. A sidewall of the conductive layers facing the columnar semiconductor layer is formed to be inclined such that the distance thereof from a central axis of the columnar semiconductor layer becomes larger at lower position thereof than at upper position thereof. While, a sidewall of the interlayer insulation layers facing the columnar semiconductor layer is formed to be inclined such that the distance thereof from a central axis of the columnar semiconductor layer becomes smaller at lower position thereof than at upper position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Megumi Ishiduki, Hideaki Aochi, Ryota Katsumata, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Yosuke Komori, Yasuyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8426276
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes: a first columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a charge accumulation layer formed on the first columnar semiconductor layer via a first air gap and accumulating charges; a block insulation layer contacting the charge accumulation layer; and a plurality of first conductive layers contacting the block insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Yasuyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8410538
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stacked body, a memory film, and a SiGe film. The stacked body includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked above the substrate. The memory film includes a charge storage film. The memory film is provided on a sidewall of a memory hole punched through the stacked body. The SiGe film is provided inside the memory film in the memory hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Megumi Ishiduki, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Hideaki Aochi
  • Publication number: 20130075918
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a shift register memory includes a substrate, and a channel layer provided on the substrate, and having a helical shape rotating around an axis which is perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The memory further includes at least three control electrodes provided on the substrate, extending in a direction parallel to the axis, and to be used to transfer charges in the channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki FUKUZUMI, Hideaki AOCHI, Tomoko FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20130070508
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a memory array provided on a substrate, and a control circuit provided on a surface of the substrate between the substrate and the memory array, includes steps of forming, in an insulating layer covering a p-type semiconductor region and an n-type semiconductor region of the control circuit, a first contact hole communicating with the p-type semiconductor region; forming a contact plug, in contact with the p-type semiconductor region, within the first contact hole; forming, in the insulating layer, a second contact hole communicating with the n-type semiconductor region; and forming an interconnection contacting the contact plug and the n-type semiconductor region exposed within the second contact hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Takeshi Imamura, Hideaki Aochi
  • Publication number: 20130062681
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body, a semiconductor pillar, an insulating film, and a charge storage film. The stacked body includes a plurality of electrode films stacked with an inter-layer insulating film provided between the electrode films. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked body. The insulating film is provided between the semiconductor pillar and the electrode films on an outer side of the semiconductor pillar with a gap interposed. The charge storage film is provided between the insulating film and the electrode films. The semiconductor pillar includes germanium. An upper end portion of the semiconductor pillar is supported by an interconnect provided above the stacked body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Fujiki, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Tomoko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20130058163
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body, a semiconductor pillar, a charge storage layer, a tunneling layer, a dividing trench and a first heating unit. The stacked body includes a plurality of first insulating films stacked alternately with a plurality of electrode films. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked body. The charge storage layer is provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar. The tunneling layer is provided between the charge storage layer and the semiconductor pillar. The dividing trench is provided between the semiconductor pillars in one direction orthogonal to a stacking direction of the stacked body to divide the electrode films. The first heating unit is provided in an interior of the dividing trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru KITO, Tomoko FUJIWARA, Hideaki AOCHI
  • Patent number: 8378406
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a substrate; a memory multilayer body with a plurality of insulating films and electrode films alternately stacked therein, the memory multilayer body being provided on a memory array region of the substrate; a semiconductor pillar buried in the memory multilayer body and extending in stacking direction of the insulating films and the electrode films; a charge storage film provided between one of the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar; a dummy multilayer body with a plurality of the insulating films and the electrode films alternately stacked therein and a dummy hole formed therein, the dummy multilayer body being provided on a peripheral circuit region of the substrate; an insulating member buried in the dummy hole; and a contact buried in the insulating member and extending in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryota Katsumata, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8372720
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings to each of which a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells are connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes first semiconductor layers each having a pair of columnar portions extending in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate and a coupling portion formed to couple the lower ends of the pair of columnar portions; a charge storage layer formed to surround the side surfaces of the columnar portions; and first conductive layers formed to surround the side surfaces of the columnar portions and the charge storage layer. The first conductive layers function as gate electrodes of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Masaru Kito, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8374033
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory unit; and a control unit. The memory unit includes a multilayer structure including electrode films and inter-electrode insulating films alternately stacked in a first direction; a semiconductor pillar piercing the multilayer structure in the first direction; a memory layer provided between the semiconductor pillar and the electrode films; a inner insulating film provided between the memory layer and the semiconductor pillar; a outer insulating film provided between the memory layer and the electrode films; and a wiring electrically connected to the first semiconductor pillar. In erasing operation, the control unit sets the first wiring at a first potential and sets the electrode film at a second potential lower than the first potential, and then sets the first wiring at a third potential and sets the electrode film at a fourth potential higher than the third potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Ryota Katsumata, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Junya Matsunami, Tomoko Fujiwara, Hideaki Aochi, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Yoshimasa Mikajiri, Shigeto Oota
  • Publication number: 20130033932
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory unit and a control unit. The memory unit includes a charge storage film and a memory cell transistor. The transistor is provided for each of storage regions configured to store charge in the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Masaru KITO, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8363481
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to the present invention includes a substrate; a first word-line provided above the substrate surface, the first word-line having a plate shape in an area where a memory cell is formed; a second word-line provided above the first word-line surface, the second word-line having a plate shape; a plurality of metal wirings connecting the first and second word-lines with a driver circuit; and a plurality of contacts connecting the first and second word-lines with the metal wirings. The contact of the first word-line is formed in a first word-line contact area. The contact of the second word-line is formed in a second word-line contact area. The first word-line contact area is provided on a surface of the first word-line that is drawn to the second word-line contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Masaru Kito, Ryota Katsumata, Hideaki Aochi, Mitsuru Sato
  • Patent number: 8361862
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, the device including a stacked structural unit including a plurality of insulating films alternately stacked with a plurality of electrode films in a first direction and a semiconductor pillar piercing the stacked structural unit in the first direction, the method includes: forming a stacked unit including a core material film alternately stacked with a sacrificial film on a major surface of a substrate perpendicular to the first direction; making a trench in the stacked unit, the trench extending in the first direction and a second direction in a plane perpendicular to the first direction; filling a filling material into the trench; removing the sacrificial film to form a hollow structural unit, the hollow structural unit including a post unit supporting the core material film on the substrate, the post unit being made of the filling material; and forming the stacked structural unit by stacking one of the insulating films and one of the el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Junya Matsunami, Tomoko Fujiwara, Hideaki Aochi, Ryouhei Kirisawa