Patents by Inventor Kayoko Shibata

Kayoko Shibata 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: 20140073127
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second bumps on a semiconductor substrate, forming first and second penetration electrodes penetrating the semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductive structure making a first electrical path between the first bump and the first penetration electrode, and forming a second conductive structure making a second electrical path between the second bump and the second penetration electrode, the second conductive structure being smaller in resistance value than the first conductive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Itaya, Kayoko SHIBATA, Shoji AZUMA, Akira IDE
  • Patent number: 8604621
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second penetration electrodes each penetrating the semiconductor substrate, a multi-level wiring structure formed on the semiconductor substrate, the multi-level wiring structure including a lower-level wiring, an upper-level wiring and an interlayer insulating film between the lower-level wiring and the upper-level wiring, a first wiring pad formed as the lower-level wiring and electrically connected to the first penetration electrode, a second wiring pad formed as the upper-level wiring, a plurality of first through electrodes each formed in the interlayer insulating film to form an electrical connection between the first and second wiring pads, a third wiring pad formed as the lower-level wiring and electrically connected to the second penetration electrode, a fourth wiring pad formed as the upper-level wiring, and a plurality of second through electrodes each formed in the interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Itaya, Kayoko Shibata, Shoji Azuma, Akira Ide
  • Patent number: 8584061
    Abstract: To include a first semiconductor chip including driver circuits, a second semiconductor chip including receiver circuits, and through silicon vias provided in the second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes an output switching circuit that exclusively connects an output terminal of an i-th driver circuit (where i is an integer among 1 to n) to one through silicon via among an i-th through silicon via to an (i+m)-th through silicon via. The second semiconductor chip includes an input switching circuit that exclusively connects an input terminal of an i-th receiver circuit (where i is an integer among 1 to n) to one through silicon via among the i-th through silicon via to the (i+m)-th through silicon via. With this configuration, because a difference in wiring lengths does not occur between signal paths before and after replacement of through silicon vias, the signal quality can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayoko Shibata, Hitoshi Miwa, Yoshihiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130234342
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip including a plurality of driver circuits and an output switching circuit coupled to the plurality of driver circuits. The device also includes a second semiconductor chip and a plurality of through silicon vias provided on at least one of the first and second semiconductor chips. The output switching circuit is coupled between the plurality of driver circuits and the plurality of the through silicon vias, and outputs each of signals from the plurality of driver circuits to corresponding one of the plurality of through silicon vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayoko Shibata, Hitoshi Miwa, Yoshihiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 8513121
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a plurality of core chips and an interface chip, whose specification can be easily changed, while suppressing the degradation of its reliability. The device has an interposer chip. First internal electrodes connected to core chips are formed on the first surface of the interposer chip. Second internal electrodes connected to an interface chip and third internal electrodes connected to external electrodes are formed on the second surface of the interposer chip. The interface chip can be mounted on the second surface of the interposer chip whenever desired. Therefore, the memory device can have any specification desirable to a customer, only if an appropriate interface chip is mounted on the interposer chip, as is demanded by the customer. Thus, the core chips do not need to be stocked in great quantities in the form of bare chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Ishino, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 8498831
    Abstract: To include one or a plurality of internal signal lines that electrically connects an interface chip to a core chip. The interface chip includes a first circuit that outputs a current to an internal wiring and the core chip includes a second circuit that outputs a current to the first internal signal line. The interface chip includes a determination circuit that has a first input terminal connected to the internal wiring through which the current outputted by the first circuit flows and a second input terminal connected to an end of the first internal signal line in the interface chip, and outputs a voltage according to a potential difference between a voltage of the first input terminal and a voltage of the second input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Ide, Hideyuki Yoko, Kayoko Shibata, Kenichi Tanamachi, Takanori Eguchi, Yasuyuki Shigezane, Naoki Ogawa, Kazuo Hidaka
  • Patent number: 8441135
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a driver circuit, a second semiconductor chip that includes a receiver circuit and an external terminal, and a plurality of through silicon vias that connect the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip further includes an output switching circuit that selectively connects the driver circuit to any one of the through silicon vias, the second semiconductor chip further includes an input switching circuit that selectively connects the receiver circuit to any one of the through silicon vias and the external terminal, the input switching circuit includes tri-state inverters each inserted between the receiver circuit and an associated one of the through silicon vias and the external terminal, and the input switching circuit activates any one of the tri-state inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yoko, Kayoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20130011967
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a plurality of core chips and an interface chip, whose specification can be easily changed, while suppressing the degradation of its reliability. The device has an interposer chip. First internal electrodes connected to core chips are formed on the first surface of the interposer chip. Second internal electrodes connected to an interface chip and third internal electrodes connected to external electrodes are formed on the second surface of the interposer chip. The interface chip can be mounted on the second surface of the interposer chip whenever desired. Therefore, the memory device can have any specification desirable to a customer, only if an appropriate interface chip is mounted on the interposer chip, as is demanded by the customer. Thus, the core chips do not need to be stocked in great quantities in the form of bare chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Masakazu Ishino, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 8350389
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of core chips and an interface chip that controls the core chips. Each of the core chips and the interface chip includes plural through silicon vias that penetrate a semiconductor substrate and plural pads respectively connected to the through silicon vias. The through silicon vias include a through silicon via of a power source system to which a power source potential or a ground potential is supplied, and a through silicon via of a signal system to which various signals are supplied. Among the pads, at least an size of a pad connected to the through silicon via of the power source system is larger than a size of a pad connected to the through silicon via of the signal system. Therefore, a larger parasitic capacitance can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Itaya, Kayoko Shibata, Shoji Azuma, Akira Ide
  • Publication number: 20120305917
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a driver circuit, a second semiconductor chip that includes a receiver circuit and an external terminal, and a plurality of through silicon vias that connect the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip further includes an output switching circuit that selectively connects the driver circuit to any one of the through silicon vias, the second semiconductor chip further includes an input switching circuit that selectively connects the receiver circuit to any one of the through silicon vias and the external terminal, the input switching circuit includes tri-state inverters each inserted between the receiver circuit and an associated one of the through silicon vias and the external terminal, and the input switching circuit activates any one of the tri-state inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki YOKO, Kayoko SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 8298940
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a plurality of core chips and an interface chip, whose specification can be easily changed, while suppressing the degradation of its reliability. The device has an interposer chip. First internal electrodes connected to core chips are formed on the first surface of the interposer chip. Second internal electrodes connected to an interface chip and third internal electrodes connected to external electrodes are formed on the second surface of the interposer chip. The interface chip can be mounted on the second surface of the interposer chip whenever desired. Therefore, the memory device can have any specification desirable to a customer, only if an appropriate interface chip is mounted on the interposer chip, as is demanded by the customer. Thus, the core chips do not need to be stocked in great quantities in the form of bare chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Ishino, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20120122251
    Abstract: A stacked type semiconductor memory device of having a structure in which a plurality of semiconductor chips is stacked and a desired semiconductor chip can be selected by assigning a plurality of chip identification numbers different from each other are individually assigned to the plurality of semiconductor chips comprising: a plurality of operation circuits which is connected in cascade in a stacking order of the plurality of semiconductor chips and outputs the plurality of identification numbers different from each other by performing a predetermined operation; and a plurality of comparison circuits which detects whether or not each the identification number and a chip selection address commonly connected to each the semiconductor chip are equal to each other by comparing them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Elpida Memory Inc.
    Inventors: Junji YAMADA, Hiroaki IKEDA, Kayoko SHIBATA, Yoshihiko INOUE, Hitoshi MIWA, Tatsuya IJIMA
  • Patent number: 8076766
    Abstract: A stacked semiconductor memory device includes an interface chip and a plurality of core chips, in which the interface chip and the plurality of core chips are stacked. The core chips are mutually connected by a plurality of data through electrodes. The core chips each include a plurality of memory arrays. In response to an access request, the plurality of memory arrays corresponding to a predetermined data through electrode are activated, and the plurality of activated memory arrays and the predetermined data through electrode are sequentially connected. Thereby, even though it requires approximately ten-odd ns for transferring the first data, similarly to the conventional case, it is possible to transfer the subsequent data at high speed determined by the reaction rate (1 to 2 ns) of the through electrode. As a result, it becomes possible to increase a bandwidth while suppressing the number of through electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 8076764
    Abstract: A stacked type semiconductor memory device of having a structure in which a plurality of semiconductor chips is stacked and a desired semiconductor chip can be selected by assigning a plurality of chip identification numbers different from each other are individually assigned to the plurality of semiconductor chips comprising: a plurality of operation circuits which is connected in cascade in a stacking order of the plurality of semiconductor chips and outputs the plurality of identification numbers different from each other by performing a predetermined operation; and a plurality of comparison circuits which detects whether or not each the identification number and a chip selection address commonly connected to each the semiconductor chip are equal to each other by comparing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory Inc.
    Inventors: Junji Yamada, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata, Yoshihiko Inoue, Hitoshi Miwa, Tatsuya Ijima
  • Patent number: 8040745
    Abstract: A stacked memory comprises one or more memory core chips and a fuse chip. Each of the memory core chips has a memory cell array including spare memory cells for replacing defective memory cells. The fuse chip has a fuse unit including a plurality of fuse elements whose electrical cut state corresponding to a replacement with the spare memory cells can be set. Also the fuse chip has a redundancy cell control circuit for controlling a redundancy cell operation of the defective memory cells based on state information of the fuse unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kayoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20110201154
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of semiconductor chips and a plurality of through-line groups is disclosed. Each of the through-line groups consists of a unique number of through-lines. The numbers associated with the through-line groups are mutually coprime to each other. When one of the through-lines is selected for the each through-line group, one of the semiconductor chip is designated by a combination of the selected through-lines of the plurality of the through-line groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kayoko SHIBATA, Hiroaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7965095
    Abstract: A stacked semiconductor device is disclosed which is capable of conducting a test to determine whether or not there is continuity between an external terminal and a corresponding internal terminal in each chip, on an internal terminal-in each chip basis. The semiconductor device includes continuity test dedicated terminals for each chip, and continuity test elements each connected between an internal terminal in each chip and a continuity test dedicated terminal associated with the chip. A voltage is applied between an external terminal associated with an internal terminal whose connection status is to be checked and a continuity test dedicated terminal associated with a chip which includes the internal terminal such that a continuity test element associated with the internal terminal is rendered conductive. Thereafter, the value of current that flows through the continuity test element is measured to determine the connection status of the internal terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kayoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 7952201
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of semiconductor chips and a plurality of through-line groups is disclosed. Each of the through-line groups consists of a unique number of through-lines. The numbers associated with the through-line groups are mutually coprime to each other. When one of the through-lines is selected for the each through-line group, one of the semiconductor chip is designated by a combination of the selected through-lines of the plurality of the through-line groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayoko Shibata, Hiroaki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110104852
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a plurality of core chips and an interface chip, whose specification can be easily changed, while suppressing the degradation of its reliability. The device has an interposer chip. First internal electrodes connected to core chips are formed on the first surface of the interposer chip. Second internal electrodes connected to an interface chip and third internal electrodes connected to external electrodes are formed on the second surface of the interposer chip. The interface chip can be mounted on the second surface of the interposer chip whenever desired. Therefore, the memory device can have any specification desirable to a customer, only if an appropriate interface chip is mounted on the interposer chip, as is demanded by the customer. Thus, the core chips do not need to be stocked in great quantities in the form of bare chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Masakazu ISHINO, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kayoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20110093224
    Abstract: To include one or a plurality of internal signal lines that electrically connects an interface chip to a core chip. The interface chip includes a first circuit that outputs a current to an internal wiring and the core chip includes a second circuit that outputs a current to the first internal signal line. The interface chip includes a determination circuit that has a first input terminal connected to the internal wiring through which the current outputted by the first circuit flows and a second input terminal connected to an end of the first internal signal line in the interface chip, and outputs a voltage according to a potential difference between a voltage of the first input terminal and a voltage of the second input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Ide, Hideyuki Yoko, Kayoko Shibata, Kenichi Tanamachi, Takanori Eguchi, Yasuyuki Shigezane, Naoki Ogawa, Kazuo Hidaka