Patents by Inventor Kazumasa Yanagisawa

Kazumasa Yanagisawa 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: 8130571
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed In an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has the maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. When the maximum variation width of the threshold voltage for memorizing information is larger, since stress to a memory cell owing to a rewrite operation of memory information becomes larger, it is inferior In a point of guaranteeing the number of times of rewrite operation; however, since a read current becomes larger, a read speed of memory information can be expedited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Shinagawa, Takeshi Kataoka, Eiichi Ishikawa, Toshihiro Tanaka, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kazufumi Suzukawa
  • Publication number: 20120025892
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with a first circuit block BLK1, a second circuit block DRV1 and a conversion circuit MIO1 for connecting the first circuit block to the second circuit block. The first circuit block includes a first mode for applying a supply voltage and a second mode for shutting off the supply voltage. The conversion circuit is provided with a function for maintaining the potential of an input node of the second circuit block at an operation potential, thereby suppressing a penetrating current flow when the first circuit block is in the second mode. The conversion circuit (MIO1 to MIO4) are commonly used for connecting circuit blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Yusuke KANNO, Kazumasa YANAGISAWA, Yoshihiko YASU, Nobuhiro OODAIRA
  • Patent number: 8093723
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device having plural layers of buried wirings, it is intended to prevent the occurrence of a discontinuity caused by stress migration at an interface between a plug connected at a bottom thereof to a buried wiring and the buried wiring. For example, in the case where the width of a first Cu wiring is not smaller than about 0.9 ?m and is smaller than about 1.44 ?m, and the width of a second Cu wiring and the diameter of a plug are about 0.18 ?m, there are arranged two or more plugs which connect the first wirings and the second Cu wirings electrically with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takako Funakoshi, Eiichi Murakami, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kan Takeuchi, Hideo Aoki, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Kazuyuki Tsunokuni, Kousuke Okuyama
  • Patent number: 8084869
    Abstract: A technique permitting the reduction in size of a semiconductor device is provided. In a BGA type semiconductor device with a semiconductor chip flip-chip-bonded onto a wiring substrate, bump electrodes of the semiconductor chip are coupled to lands formed at an upper surface of the wiring substrate. The lands at the upper surface of the wiring substrate are coupled electrically to solder balls formed on a lower surface of the wiring substrate. Therefore, the lands include first type lands with lead-out lines coupled thereto and second type lands with lead-out lines not coupled thereto but with vias formed just thereunder. The lands are arrayed in six or more rows at equal pitches in an advancing direction of the rows. However, a row-to-row pitch is not made an equal pitch. In land rows which are likely to cause a short-circuit, the pitch between adjacent rows is made large, while in land rows which are difficult to cause a short-circuit, the pitch between adjacent rows is made small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Miwa, Michiaki Sugiyama, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8063691
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with a first circuit block BLK1, a second circuit block DRV1 and a conversion circuit MIO1 for connecting the first circuit block to the second circuit block. The first circuit block includes a first mode for applying a supply voltage and a second mode for shutting off the supply voltage. The conversion circuit is provided with a function for maintaining the potential of an input node of the second circuit block at an operation potential, thereby suppressing a penetrating current flow when the first circuit block is in the second mode. The conversion circuit (MIO1 to MIO4) are commonly used for connecting circuit blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizuno, Yusuke Kanno, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Yoshihiko Yasu, Nobuhiro Oodaira
  • Publication number: 20110246860
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed In an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has the maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. When the maximum variation width of the threshold voltage for memorizing information is larger, since stress to a memory cell owing to a rewrite operation of memory information becomes larger, it is inferior In a point of guaranteeing the number of times of rewrite operation; however, since a read current becomes larger, a read speed of memory information can be expedited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Yutaka SHINAGAWA, Takeshi Kataoka, Eiichi Ishikawa, Toshihiro Tanaka, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kazufumi Suzukawa
  • Patent number: 8031511
    Abstract: At the time of, for example, a set operation (SET) for making a phase-change element in a crystalline state, a pulse of a voltage Vreset required for melting the element is applied to the phase-change element, and subsequently a pulse of a voltage Vset that is lower than Vreset and is required for crystallizing the element is applied thereto. And, the magnitude of this voltage Vset is then changed depending on the ambient temperature so that the magnitude of the voltage Vset is small as the temperature becomes high (TH). In this manner, a margin of a write operation between the set operation and a reset operation (RESET) for making the element to be in amorphous state is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Naoki Kitai, Takayuki Kawahara, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20110204486
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device having plural layers of buried wirings, it is intended to prevent the occurrence of a discontinuity caused by stress migration at an interface between a plug connected at a bottom thereof to a buried wiring and the buried wiring. For example, in the case where the width of a first Cu wiring is not smaller than about 0.9 ?m and is smaller than about 1.44 ?m, and the width of a second Cu wiring and the diameter of a plug are about 0.18 ?m, there are arranged two or more plugs which connect the first wirings and the second Cu wirings electrically with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Takako FUNAKOSHI, Eiichi MURAKAMI, Kazumasa YANAGISAWA, Kan TAKEUCHI, Hideo AOKI, Hizuru YAMAGUCHI, Takayuki OSHIMA, Kazuyuki TSUNOKUNI, Kousuke OKUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7977238
    Abstract: A manufacturing technique is disclosed for producing a semiconductor integrated circuit device having plural layers of buried wirings, and such that there is prevented the occurrence of a discontinuity caused by stress migration at an interface between a plug connected at a bottom thereof to a buried wiring and the buried wiring. For example, in the case where the width of a first Cu wiring is not smaller than about 0.9 ?m and is smaller than about 1.44 ?m, and the width of a second Cu wiring and the diameter of a plug are about 0.18 ?m, there are arranged two or more plugs which connect the first wirings and the second Cu wirings electrically with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takako Funakoshi, Eiichi Murakami, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kan Takeuchi, Hideo Aoki, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Kazuyuki Tsunokuni, Kousuke Okuyama
  • Patent number: 7978545
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed in an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has the maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. When the maximum variation width of the threshold voltage for memorizing information is larger, since stress to a memory cell owing to a rewrite operation of memory information becomes larger, it is inferior in a point of guaranteeing the number of times of rewrite operation; however, since a read current becomes larger, a read speed of memory information can be expedited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Shinagawa, Takeshi Kataoka, Eiichi Ishikawa, Toshihiro Tanaka, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kazufumi Suzukawa
  • Publication number: 20110133827
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with a first circuit block BLK1, a second circuit block DRV1 and a conversion circuit MIO1 for connecting the first circuit block to the second circuit block. The first circuit block includes a first mode for applying a supply voltage and a second mode for shutting off the supply voltage. The conversion circuit is provided with a function for maintaining the potential of an input node of the second circuit block at an operation potential, thereby suppressing a penetrating current flow when the first circuit block is in the second mode. The conversion circuit (MIO1 to MIO4) are commonly used for connecting circuit blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Yusuke KANNO, Kazumasa YANAGISAWA, Yoshihiko YASU, Nobuhiro OODAIRA
  • Publication number: 20110128780
    Abstract: At the time of, for example, a set operation (SET) for making a phase-change element in a crystalline state, a pulse of a voltage Vreset required for melting the element is applied to the phase-change element, and subsequently a pulse of a voltage Vset that is lower than Vreset and is required for crystallizing the element is applied thereto. And, the magnitude of this voltage Vset is then changed depending on the ambient temperature so that the magnitude of the voltage Vset is small as the temperature becomes high (TH). In this manner, a margin of a write operation between the set operation and a reset operation (RESET) for making the element to be in amorphous state is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Kenichi OSADA, Naoki Kitai, Takayuki Kawahara, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20110068826
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device enhanced in design efficiency while achieving multi-functionalization and power saving is to be provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has first through third circuit blocks, and is placed in a first power supply state in which the operation of internal circuits in the first circuit block is guaranteed in accordance with an instruction from the third circuit block or a second power supply state in which the operation of the internal circuits is not guaranteed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yuri AZUMA, Yoshihiko Yasu, Yasuto Igarashi, Takashi Kuraishi, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7907435
    Abstract: At the time of, for example, a set operation (SET) for making a phase-change element in a crystalline state, a pulse of a voltage Vreset required for melting the element is applied to the phase-change element, and subsequently a pulse of a voltage Vset that is lower than Vreset and is required for crystallizing the element is applied thereto. And, the magnitude of this voltage Vset is then changed depending on the ambient temperature so that the magnitude of the voltage Vset is small as the temperature becomes high (TH). In this manner, a margin of a write operation between the set operation and a reset operation (RESET) for making the element to be in amorphous state is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Osada, Naoki Kitai, Takayuki Kawahara, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20110012206
    Abstract: When threshold voltages of constituent transistors are reduced in order to operate an SRAM circuit at a low voltage, there is a problem in that a leakage current of the transistors is increased and, as a result, electric power consumption when the SRAM circuit is not operated while storing data is increased. Therefore, there is provided a technique for reducing the leakage current of MOS transistors in SRAM memory cells MC by controlling a potential of a source line ssl of the driver MOS transistors in the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanao Yamaoka, Kenichi Osada, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7855593
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device enhanced in design efficiency while achieving multi-functionalization and power saving is to be provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has first through third circuit blocks, and is placed in a first power supply state in which the operation of internal circuits in the first circuit block is guaranteed in accordance with an instruction from the third circuit block or a second power supply state in which the operation of the internal circuits is not guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Azuma, Yoshihiko Yasu, Yasuto Igarashi, Takashi Kuraishi, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7821824
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed in an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has the maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. When the maximum variation width of the threshold voltage for memorizing information is larger, since stress to a memory cell owing to a rewrite operation of memory information becomes larger, it is inferior in a point of guaranteeing the number of times of rewrite operation; however, since a read current becomes larger, a read speed of memory information can be expedited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Shinagawa, Takeshi Kataoka, Eiichi Ishikawa, Toshihiro Tanaka, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kazufumi Suzukawa
  • Patent number: 7821814
    Abstract: When threshold voltages of constituent transistors are reduced in order to operate an SRAM circuit at a low voltage, there is a problem in that a leakage current of the transistors is increased and, as a result, electric power consumption when the SRAM circuit is not operated while storing data is increased. Therefore, there is provided a technique for reducing the leakage current of MOS transistors in SRAM memory cells MC by controlling a potential of a source line ssl of the driver MOS transistors in the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Renensas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Yamaoka, Kenichi Osada, Kazumasa Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20100220531
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed in an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has the maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. When the maximum variation width of the threshold voltage for memorizing information is larger, since stress to a memory cell owing to a rewrite operation of memory information becomes larger, it is inferior in a point of guaranteeing the number of times of rewrite operation; however, since a read current becomes larger, a read speed of memory information can be expedited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: YUTAKA SHINAGAWA, Takeshi Kataoka, Eiichi Ishikawa, Toshihiro Tanaka, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kazufumi Suzukawa
  • Patent number: 7786585
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device having plural layers of buried wirings, it is intended to prevent the occurrence of a discontinuity caused by stress migration at an interface between a plug connected at a bottom thereof to a buried wiring and the buried wiring. For example, in the case where the width of a first Cu wiring is not smaller than about 0.9 ?m and is smaller than about 1.44 ?m, and the width of a second Cu wiring and the diameter of a plug are about 0.18 ?m, there are arranged two or more plugs which connect the first wirings and the second Cu wirings electrically with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Takako Funakoshi, Eiichi Murakami, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Kan Takeuchi, Hideo Aoki, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Kazuyuki Tsunokuni, Kousuke Okuyama