Patents by Inventor Kiyoshi Kato

Kiyoshi Kato 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: 20220085073
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first element layer including a first memory cell, a second element layer including a second memory cell, and a silicon substrate including a driver circuit. The first element layer is provided between the silicon substrate and the second element layer. The first memory cell includes a first transistor and a first capacitor. The second memory cell includes a second transistor and a second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor and one of a source and a drain of the second transistor are each electrically connected to a wiring for electrical connection to the driver circuit. The wiring is in contact with a first semiconductor layer included in the first transistor and a second semiconductor layer included in the second transistor and is provided in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a surface of the silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Yuto YAKUBO, Yuki OKAMOTO, Seiya SAITO, Kiyoshi KATO, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20220085019
    Abstract: A memory device having an error detection function and being capable of storing a large amount of data per unit area is provided. A driver circuit of the memory device is formed using a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell of the memory device is formed using a thin film transistor. A plurality of layers each of which includes a memory cell using the thin film transistor can be stacked over the semiconductor substrate, so that the amount of data that can be stored per unit area can be increased. Part of a peripheral circuit including the memory device can be formed using a thin film transistor, and thus, an error detection circuit is formed using the thin film transistor and stacked over the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hitoshi KUNITAKE, Tatsuya ONUKI, Tomoaki ATSUMI, Kiyoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20220077199
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor display device having an interlayer insulating film which can obtain planarity of a surface while controlling film formation time, can control treatment time of heating treatment with an object of removing moisture, and can prevent moisture in the interlayer insulating film from being discharged to a film or an electrode adjacent to the interlayer insulating film. An inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover a TFT. Next, an organic resin film containing photosensitive acrylic resin is applied to the organic is insulting film, and the organic resin film is partially exposed to light to be opened. Thereafter, an inorganic insulting film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover the opened organic resin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Satoshi MURAKAMI, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Kiyoshi KATO, Mitsuaki OSAME
  • Publication number: 20220068967
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. The semiconductor device includes a stack, and the stack includes a first insulator, a first conductor over the first insulator, and a second insulator over the first conductor. The stack includes a first opening provided in the first insulator, the first conductor, and the second insulator and an oxide on the inner side of the first opening. Furthermore, in the first opening, a third insulator is positioned on the outer side of the oxide, a second conductor is positioned on the inner side of the oxide, and a fourth insulator is positioned between the oxide and the second conductor. The third insulator includes a gate insulating layer positioned at a side surface of the first opening, a tunnel insulating layer positioned on the outer side of the oxide, and a charge accumulation layer positioned between the gate insulating layer and the tunnel insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Tatsuya ONUKI, Takanori MATSUZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20220059531
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a semiconductor having a novel structure. In the semiconductor device, a plurality of memory elements are connected in series and each of the plurality of memory elements includes first to third transistors thus forming a memory circuit. A source or a drain of a first transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer is in electrical contact with a gate of one of a second and a third transistor. The extremely low off current of a first transistor containing the oxide semiconductor layer allows storing, for long periods of time, electrical charges in the gate electrode of one of the second and the third transistor, whereby a substantially permanent memory effect can be obtained. The second and the third transistors which do not contain an oxide semiconductor layer allow high-speed operations when using the memory circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Jun KOYAMA, Kiyoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20220037323
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. A semiconductor device includes a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first conductor; a first insulator over the first conductor; a first oxide over the first insulator and including a first region, a second region, and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region; a second insulator over the first oxide; a second conductor over the second insulator; a third insulator positioned in contact with a side surface of the first region; and a second oxide positioned on the side surface of the first region, with the third insulator therebetween. The first region includes a region overlapping the first conductor. The third region includes a region overlapped by the second conductor. The first region and the second region have a lower resistance than the third region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Hajime KIMURA, Takayuki IKEDA, Kiyoshi KATO, Yuta ENDO, Junpei SUGAO
  • Patent number: 11233055
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limit on the number of write operations. The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell including a first transistor and a second transistor, a second memory cell including a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and a driver circuit. The first transistor and the second transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The third transistor and the fourth transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The second memory cell is provided over the first memory cell. The first transistor includes a first semiconductor material. The second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor include a second semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20210384228
    Abstract: A novel semiconductor device formed with single-polarity circuits using OS transistors is provided. Thus, connection between different layers in a memory circuit is unnecessary. This can reduce the number of connection portions and improve the flexibility of circuit layout and the reliability of the OS transistors. In particular, many memory cells are provided; thus, the memory cells are formed with single-polarity circuits, whereby the number of connection portions can be significantly reduced. Further, by providing a driver circuit in the same layer as the cell array, many wirings for connecting the driver circuit and the cell array can be prevented from being provided between layers, and the number of connection portions can be further reduced. An interposer provided with a plurality of integrated circuits can function as one electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Tomoaki ATSUMI
  • Patent number: 11195561
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a high on-state current and high operating speed is provided. The semiconductor device includes a transistor and a first circuit. The transistor includes a first gate and a second gate, and the first gate and the second gate include a region where they overlap each other with a semiconductor layer therebetween. The first circuit includes a temperature sensor and a voltage control circuit. The temperature sensor has a function of obtaining temperature information and outputting the temperature information to the voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit has a function of converting the temperature information into a control voltage. The first circuit applies the control voltage to the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Kiyoshi Kato, Tatsuya Onuki, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20210376848
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a sensor, an amplifier circuit to which a sensor signal of the sensor is input, a sample-and-hold circuit that retains a voltage corresponding to an output signal of an amplifier input to the sample-and-hold circuit, an analog-to-digital converter circuit to which an output signal of the sample-and-hold circuit corresponding to the voltage is input, and an interface circuit. The interface circuit has a function of switching and controlling a first control period in which the sensor signal is input to the amplifier circuit and an output signal of the amplifier circuit is retained in the sample-and-hold circuit and a second control period in which a digital signal obtained by output of the voltage retained in the sample-and-hold circuit to the analog-to-digital converter circuit is output to the interface circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Yuto YAKUBO, Kiyoshi KATO, Seiya SAITO
  • Publication number: 20210367078
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which an electrification phenomenon that leads to characteristic fluctuations, element deterioration, abnormality in shape, or dielectric breakdown is inhibited is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first region and a second region over the same plane. The first region includes a transistor. The second region includes a dummy transistor. The transistor includes a first wiring layer, a semiconductor layer including an oxide and provided above the first wiring layer, a second wiring layer provided above the semiconductor layer, and a third wiring layer provided above the second wiring layer. The dummy transistor has the same area as one or more selected from the first wiring layer, the second wiring layer, the semiconductor layer, and the third wiring layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Tomoaki ATSUMI, Shuhei NAGATSUKA, Hitoshi KUNITAKE, Yoko TSUKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210366926
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulator including a first opening, a first conductor that is over the first insulator and includes a second opening, a second insulator that is over the first insulator and includes a third opening, and an oxide penetrating the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening. The oxide includes a first region at least in the first opening, a second region at least in the second opening, and a third region at least in the third opening. The resistances of the first region and the third region are lower than the resistance of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Hajime KIMURA, Takanori MATSUZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Satoru OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210343329
    Abstract: A memory device in which bit line parasitic capacitance is reduced is provided. The memory device includes a sense amplifier electrically connected to a bit line and a memory cell array stacked over the sense amplifier. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells. The plurality of memory cells are each electrically connected to a bit line. A portion for leading the bit lines is not provided in the memory cell array. Thus, the bit line can be shortened and the bit line parasitic capacitance is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Takanori MATSUZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 11158638
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of retaining data for a long period is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell. The first memory cell includes a first transistor. The second memory cell includes a second transistor. The threshold voltage of the second transistor is higher than the threshold voltage of the first transistor. The first transistor includes a first metal oxide. The second transistor includes a second metal oxide. Each of the first metal oxide and the second metal oxide includes a channel formation region. Each of the first metal oxide and the second metal oxide includes In, an element M (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn), and Zn. The atomic ratio of the element M to In in the second metal oxide is greater than that in the first metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11158371
    Abstract: A novel memory device is provided. The memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, and each of the memory cells includes a transistor and a capacitor. The transistor includes a first gate and a second gate, which include a region where they overlap with each other with a semiconductor layer therebetween. The memory device has a function of operating in a “writing mode”, a “reading mode”, a “refresh mode”, and an “NV mode”. In the “refresh mode”, data retained in the memory cell is read, and then the read data is written to the memory cell again for first time. In the “NV mode”, data retained in the memory cell is read, the read data is written to the memory cell again for second time, and then a potential at which the transistor is turned off is supplied to the second gate. The “NV mode” operation enables data to be stored for a long time even when power supply to the memory cell is stopped. The memory cell can store multilevel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Onuki, Takanori Matsuzaki, Kiyoshi Kato, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20210327915
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that is suitable for miniaturization and higher density is provided. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor over a semiconductor substrate, a second transistor including an oxide semiconductor over the first transistor, and a capacitor over the second transistor. The capacitor includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and an insulator. The second conductor covers a side surface of the first conductor with an insulator provided therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kiyoshi KATO, Masayukl SAKAKURA
  • Patent number: 11152366
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. A semiconductor device includes a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first conductor; a first insulator over the first conductor; a first oxide over the first insulator and including a first region, a second region, and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region; a second insulator over the first oxide; a second conductor over the second insulator; a third insulator positioned in contact with a side surface of the first region; and a second oxide positioned on the side surface of the first region, with the third insulator therebetween. The first region includes a region overlapping the first conductor. The third region includes a region overlapped by the second conductor. The first region and the second region have a lower resistance than the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hajime Kimura, Takayuki Ikeda, Kiyoshi Kato, Yuta Endo, Junpei Sugao
  • Publication number: 20210312970
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor one of a source and a drain of which is electrically connected to a first wiring for reading data; a second transistor one of a source and a drain of which is electrically connected to a gate of the first transistor and the other of the source and the drain of which is electrically connected to a second wiring for writing the data; and a third transistor one of a source and a drain of which is electrically connected to the gate of the first transistor and the other of the source and the drain of which is electrically connected to a capacitor for retaining electric charge corresponding to the data, and the third transistor includes a metal oxide in a channel formation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210287732
    Abstract: A semiconductor device whose operating speed is increased is provided. The semiconductor device includes a write word line, a read word line, a write bit line, a read bit line, a first wiring, and a memory cell. The memory cell includes three transistors of a single conductivity type and a capacitor. Gates of the three transistors are electrically connected to the write word line, a first terminal of the capacitor, and the read word line, respectively. A second terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the read bit line. A source and a drain of one transistor are electrically connected to the write bit line and the gate of another transistor, respectively. Two of the three transistors are electrically connected in series between the read bit line and the first wiring. A channel formation region of each of the three transistors includes, for example, a metal oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Tomoaki ATSUMI, Kiyoshi KATO, Shuhei MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20210280221
    Abstract: To provide a novel semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Takanori MATSUZAKI, Kiyoshi KATO, Shunpei YAMAZAKI