Patents by Inventor Kimihiro Satoh

Kimihiro Satoh 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: 20060198200
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Publication number: 20060187709
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 7046556
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 7006378
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device is achieved. The device comprises a string of MONOS cells connected drain to source. Each MONOS cell comprises a wordline gate overlying a channel region in a substrate. First and second control gates each overlying a channel region in the substrate. The wordline gate channel region is laterally between first and second control gate channel regions. An ONO layer is vertically between the control gates and the substrate. The nitride layer of the ONO layer forms a charge storage site for each control gate. First and second doped regions, forming a source and a drain, are in the substrate. The wordline gate channel region and the control gate channel regions are between the first doped region and the second doped region. First and second transistors connect the topmost MONOS cell to a first bit line and the bottom most MONOS cell to a second bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoya Saito, Tomoko Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Seiki Ogura
  • Patent number: 6998658
    Abstract: A method for making a twin MONOS memory array is described where two nitride storage sites lay under the memory cell word gate. The fabrication techniques incorporate self alignment techniques to produce a small cell in which N+ diffusion the nitride storage sites are defined by sidewalls. The memory cell is used in an NAND array where the memory operations are controlled by voltages on the word lines and column selectors. Each storage site within the memory cell is separately programmed and read by application of voltages to the selected cell through the selected word line whereas the unselected word lines are used to pass drain and source voltages to the selected cell from upper and lower column voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Publication number: 20050248984
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device array organization for wide program operations is achieved. The device comprises a memory cell array region in which a plurality of C columns and R rows of memory cells comprise one UNIT, arranged in a “diffusion bit” array organization which is comprised of R rows of word lines running in a first direction, and C columns of diffusion sub bit lines running in a second direction, and C columns of sub control gate lines running in the same second direction and a sense amplifier/page buffer area shared by several UNIT's through a bit decode circuit, wherein the diffusion sub bit lines in each of the UNIT's are connected to main bit lines which are in turn connected to the sense amplifier/page buffer area, wherein the bit decode circuit selects one diffusion sub bit line column of memory cells in every E columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Ki-Tae Park, Nori Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Publication number: 20050164451
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Publication number: 20050145928
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 6900098
    Abstract: The invention proposes am improved twin MONOS memory device and its fabrication. The ONO layer is self-aligned to the control gate horizontally. The vertical insulator between the control gate and the word gate does not include a nitride layer. This prevents the problem of electron trapping. The device can be fabricated to pull the electrons out through either the top or the bottom oxide layer of the ONO insulator. The device also incorporates a raised memory bit diffusion between the control gates to reduce bit resistance. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 6838344
    Abstract: The invention proposes to simplify fabrication of the twin MONOS memory array. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention by adding only three additional mask levels. Conventional floating gate devices need ten or more extra masks. In the present invention, the unique twin MONOS process steps can be inserted into the standard CMOS process flow without any parameter modifications. The present invention also achieves increased endurance by means of reducing the widths of the sidewall control gate and underlying nitride storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito, Seiki Ogura
  • Patent number: 6825084
    Abstract: A method for making a twin MONOS memory array is described where two nitride storage sites lay under the memory cell word gate. The fabrication techniques incorporate self alignment techniques to produce a small cell in which N+ diffusion the nitride storage sites are defined by sidewalls. The memory cell is used in an NAND array where the memory operations are controlled by voltages on the word lines and column selectors. Each storage site within the memory cell is separately programmed and read by application of voltages to the selected cell through the selected word line whereas the unselected word lines are used to pass drain and source voltages to the selected cell from upper and lower column voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Publication number: 20040219751
    Abstract: The invention proposes to simplify fabrication of the twin MONOS memory array. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention by adding only three additional mask levels. Conventional floating gate devices need ten or more extra masks. In the present invention, the unique twin MONOS process steps can be inserted into the standard CMOS process flow without any parameter modifications. The present invention also achieves increased endurance by means of reducing the widths of the sidewall control gate and underlying nitride storage region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: HALO LSI, INC.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito, Seiki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20040166630
    Abstract: In this invention, by offering specific array-end structures and their fabrication method, the three resistive layers of diffusion bit line, control gate and word gate polysilicons, where control gate polysilicon can run on top of the diffusion bit line, are most effectively stitched with only three layers of metal lines keeping minimum metal pitches. The stitching method can also incorporate a bit diffusion select transistor and/or a control gate line select transistor. The purpose of the select transistors may be to reduce the overall capacitance of the bit line or control gate line, or to limit the disturb conditions that a grouped sub-array of cells may be subjected to during program and/or erase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: HALO LSI, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Patent number: 6759290
    Abstract: In this invention, by offering specific array-end structures and their fabrication method, the three resistive layers of diffusion bit line, control gate and word gate polysilicons, where control gate polysilicon can run on top of the diffusion bit line, are most effectively stitched with only three layers of metal lines keeping minimum metal pitches. The stitching method can also incorporate a bit diffusion select transistor and/or a control gate line select transistor. The purpose of the select transistors may be to reduce the overall capacitance of the bit line or control gate line, or to limit the disturb conditions that a grouped sub-array of cells may be subjected to during program and/or erase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Seiki Ogura, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Patent number: 6756271
    Abstract: The invention proposes to simplify fabrication of the twin MONOS memory array. The twin MONOS memory array can be embedded into a standard CMOS circuit by the process of the present invention by adding only three additional mask levels. Conventional floating gate devices need ten or more extra masks. In the present invention, the unique twin MONOS process steps can be inserted into the standard CMOS process flow without any parameter modifications. The present invention also achieves increased endurance by means of reducing the widths of the sidewall control gate and underlying nitride storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Tomoya Saito, Seiki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20040092066
    Abstract: A method for making a twin MONOS memory array is described where two nitride storage sites lay under the memory cell word gate. The fabrication techniques incorporate self alignment techniques to produce a small cell in which N+ diffusion the nitride storage sites are defined by sidewalls. The memory cell is used in an NAND array where the memory operations are controlled by voltages on the word lines and column selectors. Each storage site within the memory cell is separately programmed and read by application of voltages to the selected cell through the selected word line whereas the unselected word lines are used to pass drain and source voltages to the selected cell from upper and lower column voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: HALO LSI, INC.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Publication number: 20040087087
    Abstract: A method for making a twin MONOS memory array is described where two nitride storage sites lay under the memory cell word gate. The fabrication techniques incorporate self alignment techniques to produce a small cell in which N+ diffusion the nitride storage sites are defined by sidewalls. The memory cell is used in an NAND array where the memory operations are controlled by voltages on the word lines and column selectors. Each storage site within the memory cell is separately programmed and read by application of voltages to the selected cell through the selected word line whereas the unselected word lines are used to pass drain and source voltages to the selected cell from upper and lower column voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: HALO LSI, INC.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Patent number: 6670240
    Abstract: A method for making a twin MONOS memory array is described where two nitride storage sites lay under the memory cell word gate. The fabrication techniques incorporate self alignment techniques to produce a small cell in which N+ diffusion the nitride storage sites are defined by sidewalls. The memory cell is used in an NAND array where the memory operations are controlled by voltages on the word lines and column selectors. Each storage site within the memory cell is separately programmed and read by application of voltages to the selected cell through the selected word line whereas the unselected word lines are used to pass drain and source voltages to the selected cell from upper and lower column voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Halo LSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Ogura, Tomoko Ogura, Tomoya Saito, Kimihiro Satoh
  • Publication number: 20030143792
    Abstract: Presented in this invention is a fabricating method and its array organization for a high-density twin MONOS memory device integrating a twin MONOS memory cell array and CMOS logic device circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: HALO LSI, INC.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Seiki Ogura, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 6531350
    Abstract: Presented in this invention is a fabricating method and its array organization for a high-density twin MONOS memory device integrating a twin MONOS memory cell array and CMOS logic device circuit. The invention consists of two fabrication methods, i) Simultaneous definition of memory gate and logic gate, thus improving the process integration scheme for easier and more reliable fabrication. ii) Bit line crosses word gate and control gate. The invention focuses on lowering parasitic sheet resistances to enable high speed while maintaining low manufacturing cost. The twin MONOS cell stores memory in two nitride memory cell elements underlying two shared control gates on both sidewalls of a select gate. The method is applicable to a device with a flat channel and/or a device having a step channel. Two embodiments of the present invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Halo, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Satoh, Seiki Ogura, Tomoya Saito