Patents by Inventor Kenji Aoyama

Kenji Aoyama 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: 8981455
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate with a semiconductor layer and memory cells on the semiconductor layer. Each memory cell includes a laminated body on the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film on the laminated body, and a control gate on the gate insulating film. The laminated body includes a tunnel insulating film and a floating gate subsequently laminated in a direction vertical to a front surface of the substrate for N (a natural number equal to or above 2) times. A dimension of a top face of any floating gate in a second or subsequent layer is smaller than a dimension of a bottom surface of the floating gate in the lowermost layer in at least one of a first direction parallel to the front surface of the substrate and a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20150069495
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a first stacked body having a gate insulating film, a first charge storage layer, a first insulating film, a second charge storage layer, and a second insulating film, a second element isolation region, a bottom and at least part of a side portion of the second element isolation region being in contact with the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral portion; and a second stacked body, a third insulating film, a first layer, a fourth insulating film, a second layer, and the second insulating film are stacked in this order from the semiconductor substrate side between the semiconductor substrate and the control gate electrode in the second stacked body in the peripheral portion, a side portion of the second stacked body being covered with the second insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji AOYAMA, Tatsuya OKAMOTO, Hiroki YAMASHITA, Masanari HATTORI
  • Patent number: 8895952
    Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device is formed by laminating a plurality of memory cell arrays, the memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and memory cells. The memory cell includes a current rectifying device and a variable resistance device, the variable resistance device includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a resistance change layer including a conductive nano material formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, one of the variable resistance devices provided adjacent to each other in the laminating direction has titanium oxide (TiOx) between the resistance change layer and the lower electrode serving as a cathode, the other of the variable resistance devices provided adjacent to each other in the laminating direction has titanium oxide (TiOx) between the resistance change layer and the upper electrode serving as a cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shigeki Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Kenji Aoyama, Shigeto Oshino, Kei Watanabe, Shinichi Nakao, Satoshi Ishikawa, Takeshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8866119
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a selection element layer, a nanomaterial aggregate layer, and a fine particle. The nanomaterial aggregate layer is stacked on the selection element layer. The nanomaterial aggregate layer has a plurality of micro conductive bodies aggregated with an interposed gap. The fine particle has at least a surface made of silicon oxynitride. The fine particle is dispersed between the micro conductive bodies in one portion of the nanomaterial aggregate layer piercing the nanomaterial aggregate layer in a thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20140225179
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory cell includes a gate insulating layer on the active area, a floating gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, the floating gate electrode having a lower portion with a first width and a higher portion with a second width narrower than the first width, an intermediate insulating layer covering an end of the higher portion of the floating gate electrode, a charge storage layer being adjacent to the intermediate layer, an inter-electrode insulating layer covering the floating gate electrode and the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the inter-electrode insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8765565
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a selection element layer and a nanomaterial aggregate layer. The selection element layer includes silicon. The nanomaterial aggregate layer is stacked on the selection element layer. The nanomaterial aggregate layer includes a plurality of micro conductive bodies and fine particles dispersed in a plurality of gaps between the micro conductive bodies. At least a surface of the fine particle is made of an insulating material other than silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Satoshi Ishikawa, Shigeto Oshino
  • Publication number: 20140147942
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nanomaterial assembly layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The nanomaterial assembly layer is formed of an assembly of a plurality of micro conductors via gaps between the micro conductors. The first electrode layer is provided on the nanomaterial assembly layer. The second electrode layer is provided on the first electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji AOYAMA, Kazuhiko YAMAMOTO, Satoshi ISHIKAWA, Shigeto OSHINO
  • Publication number: 20140048864
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate with a semiconductor layer and memory cells on the semiconductor layer. Each memory cell includes a laminated body on the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film on the laminated body, and a control gate on the gate insulating film. The laminated body includes a tunnel insulating film and a floating gate subsequently laminated in a direction vertical to a front surface of the substrate for N (a natural number equal to or above 2) times. A dimension of a top face of any floating gate in a second or subsequent layer is smaller than a dimension of a bottom surface of the floating gate in the lowermost layer in at least one of a first direction parallel to the front surface of the substrate and a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140042517
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate and a plurality of memory cells. The substrate includes a semiconductor layer on a surface thereof. Each the memory cell includes a laminated body with a tunnel insulating film and a floating gate on the tunnel insulating film, a gate insulating film on the laminated body, and a control gate on the gate insulating film. The laminated body is sequentially laminated on the semiconductor layer in a direction vertical to the surface of the substrate for N (a natural number equal to or above 2) times. A dimension of the floating gate in the lowermost layer is at least partially smaller than a dimension of the floating gate in each of second and subsequent layers in at least one of a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate and a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8629528
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines formed on a semiconductor substrate at predetermined intervals, selecting transistors arranged on at least one side of the plurality of word lines, an interlayer insulating film formed to cover upper surfaces of the word lines and the selecting transistors, a first air gap located between each pair of adjacent ones of the word lines and covered by the interlayer insulating film, a second air gap located at a first side wall portion of a word line adjacent to the selecting transistors covered by the interlayer insulating film, the first side wall portion facing the selecting transistors, and a third air gap located at a second side wall portion of each of the selecting transistors and covered by the interlayer insulating film. The first, second, and third air gaps are filled with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kyoko Ando, Satoshi Nagashima, Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20130295743
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a selection element layer and a nanomaterial aggregate layer. The selection element layer includes silicon. The nanomaterial aggregate layer is stacked on the selection element layer. The nanomaterial aggregate layer includes a plurality of micro conductive bodies and fine particles dispersed in a plurality of gaps between the micro conductive bodies. At least a surface of the fine particle is made of an insulating material other than silicon oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kenji AOYAMA, Kazuhiko YAMAMOTO, Satoshi ISHIKAWA, Shigeto OSHINO
  • Patent number: 8551852
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a word line interconnect layer having a plurality of word lines extending in a word line direction and a bit line interconnect layer having a plurality of bit lines extending in a bit line direction alternately stacked on a silicon substrate. A variable resistance film is disposed between the word line and the bit line. A first pin diode extending in the word line direction is provided between the word line and the variable resistance film, and a second pin diode extending in the bit line direction is provided between the bit line and the variable resistance film. A region of an upper surface of the pin diode other than an immediately underlying region of the variable resistance film is located lower than the immediately underlying region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20130234224
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device comprises a memory cell transistor including a first insulating film, a first floating gate, a second insulating film, a second floating gate, a third insulating film and a control gate which are sequentially formed on a substrate, and a select transistor including a fourth insulating film, a first electrode layer, a fifth insulating film, a second electrode layer, a sixth insulating film and a third electrode layer which are sequentially formed on the substrate. Openings are provided in at least parts of the fifth insulating film and the sixth insulating film. The first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer are electrically connected via the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8507888
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a selection element layer and a nanomaterial aggregate layer. The selection element layer includes silicon. The nanomaterial aggregate layer is stacked on the selection element layer. The nanomaterial aggregate layer includes a plurality of micro conductive bodies and fine particles dispersed in a plurality of gaps between the micro conductive bodies. At least a surface of the fine particle is made of an insulating material other than silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Satoshi Ishikawa, Shigeto Oshino
  • Patent number: 8416603
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first conductive member and a second conductive member. The first conductive member extends in a first direction. The second conductive member extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. A portion of the first conductive member connected to the second conductive member protrudes toward the second conductive member. A resistivity of the first conductive member in the first direction is lower than a resistivity of the first conductive member in a third direction of the protrusion of the first conductive member. A resistance value of the first conductive member in the third direction changes. A resistivity of the second conductive member in the second direction is lower than a resistivity of the second conductive member in the third direction. A resistance value of the second conductive member in the third direction changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130020629
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines formed on a semiconductor substrate at predetermined intervals, selecting transistors arranged on at least one side of the plurality of word lines, an interlayer insulating film formed to cover upper surfaces of the word lines and the selecting transistors, a first air gap located between each pair of adjacent ones of the word lines and covered by the interlayer insulating film, a second air gap located at a first side wall portion of a word line adjacent to the selecting transistors covered by the interlayer insulating film, the first side wall portion facing the selecting transistors, and a third air gap located at a second side wall portion of each of the selecting transistors and covered by the interlayer insulating film. The first, second, and third air gaps are filled with air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kyoko ANDO, Satoshi NAGASHIMA, Kenji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120217464
    Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device is formed by laminating a plurality of memory cell arrays, the memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and memory cells. The memory cell includes a current rectifying device and a variable resistance device, the variable resistance device includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a resistance change layer including a conductive nano material formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, one of the variable resistance devices provided adjacent to each other in the laminating direction has titanium oxide (TiOx) between the resistance change layer and the lower electrode serving as a cathode, the other of the variable resistance devices provided adjacent to each other in the laminating direction has titanium oxide (TiOx) between the resistance change layer and the upper electrode serving as a cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shigeki Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Kenji Aoyama, Shigeto Oshino, Kei Watanabe, Shinichi Nakao, Satoshi Ishikawa, Takeshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8253188
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulator, a laminated insulator including a second insulator having fixed charges more than those of the first insulator, a single-layer insulator, memory cells between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, each memory cells separated from an adjacent memory cell by a cavity portion and including a tunnel insulator, a charge accumulation layer, an insulator, and a control gate electrode, a first selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, a second selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, between one memory cell and the first selection gate transistor, and in contact with the laminated insulator on a first side face on a memory cell side thereof, and a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, and in contact with the single-layer insulator on a side face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamigaichi, Satoshi Nagashima, Kenji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8253199
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of word lines formed on the semiconductor substrate at predetermined intervals, a selecting transistor arranged on each of two sides of each of the plurality of word lines in which a spacing between the selecting transistor and an adjacent one of the word lines is not less than three times a width of each of the word lines, an interlayer insulating film formed to cover upper surfaces of the word lines and selecting transistors, a first cavity portion which is located between each pair of adjacent ones of the word lines and whose upper portion is covered with the interlayer insulating film, a second cavity portion which is formed at a side wall portion of the word line adjacent to each selecting transistor which faces the selecting transistor and whose upper portion is covered with the interlayer insulating film, and a third cavity portion which is formed at a side wall portion of each of the selecting transistors and whose upper portion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kyoko Ando, Satoshi Nagashima, Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120205609
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a lower electrode layer, a nanomaterial assembly layer, a protective layer and an upper electrode layer. The nanomaterial assembly layer is provided on the lower electrode layer and includes a plurality of fine conductors assembled via a gap. The protective layer is provided on the nanomaterial assembly layer, is conductive, is in contact with the fine conductors, and includes an opening. The upper electrode layer is provided on the protective layer and is in contact with the protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shigeto OSHINO, Kenji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Shinichi Nakao, Kei Watanabe, Satoshi Ishikawa