Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device and a method for manufacturing the same. The ferroelectric memory device comprises a lower interlayer insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. The ferroelectric memory device further comprises at least two adjacent ferroelectric capacitors disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer, an interlayer insulation layer formed over the ferroelectric capacitors, leaving a top surface of the ferroelectric capacitors exposed, a patterned via etch-stop layer formed on the interlayer insulation layer, leaving the top surface of the capacitors exposed, an upper interlayer insulating layer formed on the patterned via etch-stop layer, and a plate line commonly connected to the at least two adjacent ferroelectric capacitors. Thus, integration of the ferroelectric memory device can be substantially increased.

Abstract: A phase-change memory device includes a phase-change memory cell having a volume of material which is programmable between amorphous and crystalline states. A write current source selectively applies a first write current pulse to program the phase-change memory cell into the amorphous state and a second write current pulse to program the phase-change memory cell into the crystalline state. The phase-change memory device further includes a restore circuit which selectively applies the first current pulse to the phase-change memory cell to restore at least an amorphous state of the phase-change memory cell.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a microelectronic substrate and a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors on the substrate, arranged as a plurality of rows and columns in respective row and column directions. A plurality of parallel plate lines overlie the ferroelectric capacitors and extend along the row direction, wherein a plate line contacts ferroelectric capacitors in at least two adjacent rows. The plurality of plate lines may include a plurality of local plate lines, and the ferroelectric memory device may further include an insulating layer disposed on the local plate lines and a plurality of main plate lines disposed on the insulating layer and contacting the local plate lines through openings in the insulating layer. In some embodiments, ferroelectric capacitors in adjacent rows share a common upper electrode, and respective ones of the local plate lines are disposed on respective ones of the common upper electrodes.

Abstract: Ferroelectric memory devices include a ferroelectric memory cell. The ferroelectric memory cell has at least one bit line and a plate line. A control circuit drives the at least one bit line with write data substantially concurrently with activation of the plate line during a write operation. The memory devices may also include a sense amplifier coupled to the ferroelectric memory cell and the control circuit may be further configured to deactivate the plate line substantially concurrently with activation of the sense amplifier during a read operation.

Abstract: A conductive portion connects a lower conductive layer formed on a semiconductor substrate provided in a first interlayer insulating layer to an upper conductive layer formed on the lower conductive layer, and provided in a second interlayer insulating layer. This portion is divided into at least one plug and a pad. At least one plug is formed in a first interlayer insulating layer and the lower part of a second interlayer insulating layer. The second interlayer insulating layer is divided into a plurality of interlayer insulating layers so that upper and lower widths of the divided plugs formed in the divided portion of the second interlayer insulating layer are not greatly different from each other. The pad formed on the upper portion of the second interlayer insulating layer has an upper width such that the upper conductive layer connected to the pad is not undesirably connected to an adjacent upper conductive layer via the pad.

Abstract: Integrated circuit ferroelectric memory devices are provided that include an integrated circuit transistor. The memory device further includes a ferroelectric capacitor on the integrated circuit transistor. The ferroelectric capacitor includes a first electrode adjacent the transistor, a second electrode remote from the transistor and a ferroelectric film therebetween. The memory device further includes a plate line directly on the ferroelectric capacitor. Methods are also provided that include forming a ferroelectric capacitor on the integrated circuit transistor and forming a plate line directly on the ferroelectric capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof include a semiconductor substrate, an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a first contact stud formed in the ILD layer, having a width of an entrance portion adjacent to the surface of the ILD layer larger than the width of a contacting portion adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, and a second contact stud spaced apart from the first contact stud and formed in the ILD layer. The semiconductor device further includes a landing pad formed on the ILD layer to contact the surface of the second contact stud, having a width larger than that of the second contact stud. The second contact stud has a width of a contacting portion that is the same as that of an entrance portion. Also, at least one spacer comprising an etch stopper material is formed on the sidewalls of the landing pad and the etch stopper is formed on the landing pad.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a microelectronic substrate and a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors on the substrate, arranged as a plurality of rows and columns in respective row and column directions. A plurality of parallel plate lines overlie the ferroelectric capacitors and extend along the row direction, wherein a plate line contacts ferroelectric capacitors in at least two adjacent rows. The plurality of plate lines may include a plurality of local plate lines, and the ferroelectric memory device may further include an insulating layer disposed on the local plate lines and a plurality of main plate lines disposed on the insulating layer and contacting the local plate lines through openings in the insulating layer. In some embodiments, ferroelectric capacitors in adjacent rows share a common upper electrode, and respective ones of the local plate lines are disposed on respective ones of the common upper electrodes.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and semiconductor devices manufactured thereby, are provided. A field region is formed that defines active regions in a semiconductor substrate. Spaced apart gates are formed on the active regions in the semiconductor substrate. The gates have sidewalls that extend away from the semiconductor substrate. First spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gates. Second spacers are formed on the first spacers and opposite to the gates. Ion impurities are implanted into the active regions in the semiconductor substrate, adjacent to the gates, using the first and second spacers as an ion implantation mask. A portion of the second spacers is removed to widen the gaps between the gates. A dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate in the gaps between the gates.

Abstract: Ferroelectric memory devices include a ferroelectric memory cell. The ferroelectric memory cell has at least one bit line and a plate line. A control circuit drives the at least one bit line with write data substantially concurrently with activation of the plate line during a write operation. The memory devices may also include a sense amplifier coupled to the ferroelectric memory cell and the control circuit may be further configured to deactivate the plate line substantially concurrently with activation of the sense amplifier during a read operation.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a microelectronic substrate and a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors on the substrate, arranged as a plurality of rows and columns in respective row and column directions. A plurality of parallel plate lines overlie the ferroelectric capacitors and extend along the row direction, wherein a plate line contacts ferroelectric capacitors in at least two adjacent rows. The plurality of plate lines may include a plurality of local plate lines, and the ferroelectric memory device may further include an insulating layer disposed on the local plate lines and a plurality of main plate lines disposed on the insulating layer and contacting the local plate lines through openings in the insulating layer. In some embodiments, ferroelectric capacitors in adjacent rows share a common upper electrode, and respective ones of the local plate lines are disposed on respective ones of the common upper electrodes.

Abstract: Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, ferroelectric memory devices are provided which comprise a transistor that is provided on an active region in a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor that has a bottom electrode, a capacitor-ferroelectric layer and a top electrode. These devices may further include at least one planarizing layer that is adjacent to the side surfaces of the bottom electrode such that the top surface of the planarizing layer(s) and the top surface of the bottom electrode form a planar surface. The capacitor-ferroelectric may be formed on this planar surface. The device may also include a plug that electrically connects the bottom electrode to a source-drain region of the transistor. The ferroelectric memory devices according to embodiments of the present invention may reduce ferroelectric degradation of the capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof include a semiconductor substrate, an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a first contact stud formed in the ILD layer, having a line width of an entrance portion adjacent to the surface of the ILD layer larger than the line width of a contacting portion adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, and a second contact stud spaced apart from the first contact stud and formed in the ILD layer. The semiconductor device further includes a landing pad formed on the ILD layer to contact the surface of the second contact stud, having a line width larger than that of the second contact stud. The second contact stud has a line width of a contacting portion that is the same as that of an entrance portion. Also, at least one spacer comprising an etch stopper material is formed on the sidewalls of the landing pad and the etch stopper is formed on the landing pad.

Abstract: Integrated circuit ferroelectric memory devices are provided that include an integrated circuit transistor. The memory device further includes a ferroelectric capacitor on the integrated circuit transistor. The ferroelectric capacitor includes a first electrode adjacent the transistor, a second electrode remote from the transistor and a ferroelectric film therebetween. The memory device further includes a plate line directly on the ferroelectric capacitor. Methods are also provided that include forming a ferroelectric capacitor on the integrated circuit transistor and forming a plate line directly on the ferroelectric capacitor.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor of a semiconductor device, and a capacitor made in accordance with the method, wherein the method includes forming a plate electrode polysilicon layer on a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and a core/peripheral circuit region. The plate electrode polysilicon layer in the cell array region is patterned to form an opening, wherein the inner wall of the opening is used as a plate electrode. After forming a dielectric layer in the opening, a storage node is formed as a spacer on the dielectric layer on the inner wall of the opening. The plate electrode polysilicon layer in the core/peripheral circuit region remains to provide the same height between the cell array region where the cell capacitor is formed and the core/peripheral circuit region.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device along with a method of forming the same are provided. A first interlayer insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A buried contact structure is formed on the first interlayer insulating layer. The buried contact structure is electrically connected to the substrate through a first contact hole extending through the first interlayer insulating layer. A blocking layer covers or encapsulates the buried contact structure and the first interlayer insulating layer. A second interlayer insulating layer is formed on the blocking layer. A ferroelectric capacitor formed on the second interlayer insulating layer and is electrically connected to the buried contact structure through a second contact hole that penetrates the second interlayer insulating layer and the blocking layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a channel region between isolation regions of an integrated circuit substrate are disclosed. In particular, a mask can be formed on an isolation region that extends onto a portion of the substrate adjacent to the isolation region to provide a shielded portion of the substrate adjacent to the isolation region and an exposed portion of the substrate spaced apart from the isolation region having the shielded portion therebetween. A channel region can be formed in the exposed portion of the substrate. Related integrated circuits are also discussed.

Abstract: A method for arranging a power supply line in a semiconductor device including a plurality of memory cell array blocks and a semiconductor device are provided in order to supply stable operating voltages, such as a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, to a sense amplifier allocated to each of the plurality of memory cell array blocks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of gate structures including gate electrodes and insulating layers covering the gate electrodes are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Impurity ions at a low dose for forming a source/drain region are implanted into the semiconductor substrate, using the gate structures as a mask. First insulating spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate structures and second insulating spacers are formed on the first insulating spacers. Thereafter, impurity ions at a high dose are implanted into the semiconductor substrate, using the first and second insulating spacers as a mask. Then, the second insulating spacers are removed. Therefore, contact resistance and characteristics of the transistors can be improved by adjusting an effective channel length and contact areas.

Abstract: An etch-stop layer is selectively provided between layers of a multiple-layered circuit in a selective manner so as to allow for outgassing of impurities during subsequent fabrication processes. The etch-stop layer is formed over an underlying stud so as to serve as an alignment target during formation of an overlying stud formed in an upper layer. In this manner multiple-layered circuits, for example memory devices, can be fabricated in relatively dense configurations.