Patents by Inventor Masaaki Higashitani

Masaaki Higashitani 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: 11476272
    Abstract: Memory stack structures extending through an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers is formed over a substrate. Each memory stack structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. A sacrificial polycrystalline metal layer may be formed on each memory film, and a carbon precursor may be decomposed on a physically exposed surface of the sacrificial polycrystalline metal layer to generate adsorbed carbon atoms. A subset of the adsorbed carbon atoms diffuses through grain boundaries in the polycrystalline e metal layer to an interface with the memory film. The carbon atoms at the interface may be coalesced into at least one graphene layer by an anneal process. The at least one graphene layer functions as a vertical semiconductor channel, which provides a higher mobility than silicon. A metallic drain region may be formed at an upper end of each vertical semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20220310655
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, a memory opening vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a memory opening fill structure located within the memory opening. The memory opening fill structure includes a gate dielectric and a ferroelectric semiconductor channel layer that is laterally spaced from the electrically conductive layers by the gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Peter RABKIN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Publication number: 20220310656
    Abstract: A memory device includes a ferroelectric semiconductor channel, a source region contacting a first portion of the ferroelectric semiconductor channel, a drain region located above the source region and contacting a second portion of the ferroelectric semiconductor channel located above the first portion, a word line, and a gate dielectric located between the word line and the ferroelectric semiconductor channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Peter RABKIN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Patent number: 11444016
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory structure and a plurality of I/O pads in communication with the non-volatile memory structure. The I/O pads include a power I/O pad, a ground I/O pad and data/control I/O pads. The non-volatile storage apparatus further comprises one or more capacitors connected to the power I/O pad and the ground I/O pad. The one or more capacitors are positioned in one or more metal interconnect layers below the signal lines and/or above device capacitors on the top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologes LLC
    Inventors: Luisa Lin, Mohan Dunga, Venkatesh P. Ramachandra, Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11430745
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming first semiconductor devices over a first substrate, forming a first dielectric material layer over the first semiconductor devices, forming vertical recesses in the first dielectric material layer, such that each of the vertical recesses vertically extends from a topmost surface of the first dielectric material layer toward the first substrate, forming silicon nitride material portions in each of the vertical recesses; and locally irradiating a second subset of the silicon nitride material portions with a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Chen Wu, Peter Rabkin, Yangyin Chen, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11424215
    Abstract: A nucleation suppression layer including a self-assembly material can be formed on a surface of a bonding dielectric layer without depositing the self-assembly material on physically exposed surfaces of first metal bonding pads of a first semiconductor die. Metallic liners including a second metal can be formed on the physically exposed surfaces of the metal bonding pads without depositing the second metal on the nucleation suppression layer. The first semiconductor die is bonded to a second semiconductor die by inducing metal-to-metal bonding between mating pairs of the first metal bonding pads and second metal bonding pads of the second semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Lin Hou, Peter Rabkin, Yangyin Chen, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20220246562
    Abstract: A bonded assembly includes a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die includes first metallic bonding pads embedded in first dielectric material layers, the second semiconductor die includes second metallic bonding pads embedded in second dielectric material layers, the first metallic bonding pads are bonded to a respective one of the second metallic bonding pads; and each of the first metallic bonding pads includes a corrosion barrier layer containing an alloy of a primary bonding metal and at least one corrosion-suppressing element that is different from the primary bonding metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Lin HOU, Peter RABKIN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Patent number: 11387142
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor device, bit lines electrically connected to the semiconductor device, air gaps located between the bit lines, a capping-level material layer, a via-level dielectric material layer located between the bit lines and the capping-level material layer, and conductive via structures extending through the via-level dielectric material layer and contacting a top surface of a respective one of the bit lines. The capping-level material layer contains cavity-containing openings exposing the air gaps. The capping-level material layer contains protruding portions that extend into peripheral regions of the cavity-containing openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Koichi Matsuno, Masaaki Higashitani, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20220208748
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a memory die bonded to a logic die. The memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers; memory openings extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and comprising a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film, a source layer contacting the vertical semiconductor channels, a backside isolation dielectric layer contacting a backside surface of the source layer, and a source power supply mesh including a planar portion of a source-side electrically conductive layer that is located on a backside of the backside isolation dielectric layer and electrically connected to the source layer by conductive material portions that extend through the backside isolation dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Peter RABKIN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI, Kwang-ho KIM
  • Patent number: 11362079
    Abstract: A method of forming a bonded assembly includes providing a first semiconductor die containing a first substrate, first semiconductor devices, first dielectric material layers overlying the first semiconductor devices, and first metal interconnect structures, providing a second semiconductor die containing a second substrate, second semiconductor devices, second dielectric material layers overlying the second semiconductor devices, and second metal interconnect structures, depositing a manganese layer on a top surface of the first dielectric material layers, disposing the second semiconductor die on the manganese layer such that a surface of the second dielectric material layers contacts the manganese layer, and performing a bonding anneal to bond the first semiconductor die to the second semiconductor die and to convert the manganese layer into a manganese-containing oxide layer, such that the manganese-containing oxide layer is bonded to the first dielectric material layers and the second dielectric material
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Chen Wu, Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11355486
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a carrier substrate. Memory stack structures vertically extend through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. The memory die can be bonded to a logic die containing peripheral circuitry for supporting operations of memory cells within the memory die. A distal end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels is physically exposed by removing the carrier substrate. A source layer is formed directly on the distal end each of the vertical semiconductor channels. A source power supply network can be formed on the backside of the source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yuki Mizutani, Masaaki Higashitani, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20220173071
    Abstract: A first bonding unit is provided, which includes a first substrate, a first passivation dielectric layer, and first bonding pads. A second bonding unit is provided, which includes a second substrate, a second passivation dielectric layer, and second bonding pads including bonding pillar structures. Solder material portions are formed on physically exposed surfaces of the first bonding pads. The second bonding unit is attached to the first bonding unit by bonding the at least one of the bonding pillar structures to a respective solder material portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Lin HOU, Peter RABKIN, Yangyin CHEN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Patent number: 11348649
    Abstract: Methods for reducing read disturb using NAND strings with poly-silicon channels and p-type doped source lines are described. During a boosted read operation for a selected memory cell transistor in a NAND string, a back-gate bias or bit line voltage may be applied to a bit line connected to the NAND string and a source line voltage greater than the bit line voltage may be applied to a source line connected to the NAND string; with these bias conditions, electrons may be injected from the bit line and annihilated in the source line during the read operation. To avoid leakage currents through NAND strings in non-selected memory blocks, the threshold voltages of source-side select gate transistors of the NAND strings may be set to a negative threshold voltage that has an absolute voltage value greater than the source line voltage applied during the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Sakakibara, Hiroki Yabe, Ken Oowada, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11348901
    Abstract: A first bonding unit is provided, which includes a first substrate, a first passivation dielectric layer, and first bonding pads. A second bonding unit is provided, which includes a second substrate, a second passivation dielectric layer, and second bonding pads including bonding pillar structures. Solder material portions are formed on physically exposed surfaces of the first bonding pads. The second bonding unit is attached to the first bonding unit by bonding the at least one of the bonding pillar structures to a respective solder material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Lin Hou, Peter Rabkin, Yangyin Chen, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11335790
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure contains a semiconductor channel extending between a source region and a drain region, at least one gate electrode, a ferroelectric material portion located between the semiconductor channel and the at least one gate electrode, a front-side gate dielectric located between the ferroelectric material portion and the semiconductor channel, and a backside gate dielectric located between the ferroelectric material portion and the at least one gate electrode. The front-side gate dielectric and the backside gate dielectric have a dielectric constant greater than 7.9 and a band gap greater than a band gap of the ferroelectric material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20220149002
    Abstract: A nucleation suppression layer including a self-assembly material can be formed on a surface of a bonding dielectric layer without depositing the self-assembly material on physically exposed surfaces of first metal bonding pads of a first semiconductor die. Metallic liners including a second metal can be formed on the physically exposed surfaces of the metal bonding pads without depositing the second metal on the nucleation suppression layer. The first semiconductor die is bonded to a second semiconductor die by inducing metal-to-metal bonding between mating pairs of the first metal bonding pads and second metal bonding pads of the second semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Lin HOU, Peter RABKIN, Yangyin CHEN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Publication number: 20220093555
    Abstract: A method of forming a bonded assembly includes providing a first semiconductor die containing and first metallic bonding structures and a first dielectric capping layer containing openings and contacting distal horizontal surfaces of the first metallic bonding structures, providing a second semiconductor die containing second metallic bonding structures, disposing the second semiconductor die in contact with the first semiconductor die, and annealing the second semiconductor die in contact with the first semiconductor die such that a metallic material of at least one of the first metallic bonding structures and the second metallic bonding structures expands to fill the openings in the first dielectric capping layer to bond at least a first subset of the first metallic bonding structures to at least a first subset of the second metallic bonding structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Lin HOU, Peter RABKIN, Yangyin CHEN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI, Rahul SHARANGPANI
  • Patent number: 11276705
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor die containing a recesses, and a second semiconductor die which is embedded in the recess in the first semiconductor die and is bonded to the first semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Chen Wu, Peter Rabkin, Yangyin Chen, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 11270963
    Abstract: A semiconductor die includes a first pad-level dielectric layer embedding first bonding pads and located over a first substrate. Each of the first bonding pads is located within a respective pad cavity in the first pad-level dielectric layer. Each of the first bonding pads includes a first metallic liner containing a first metallic liner material and contacting a sidewall of the respective pad cavity, a first metallic fill material portion embedded in the first metallic liner, and a metallic electromigration barrier layer contacting the first metallic fill material portion and adjoined to the first metallic liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Chen Wu, Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20220068966
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes at least one set of vertical field effect transistors embedded within dielectric material layers overlying a substrate. Each vertical field effect transistor includes a bottom electrode, a metal oxide semiconductor vertical transistor channel, a cylindrical gate dielectric, and a top electrode. A three-dimensional NAND memory array can be provided over the first field effect transistors, and can be electrically connected to the vertical field effect transistors via metal interconnect structures. Alternatively, a three-dimensional NAND memory array can be formed on another substrate, which can be bonded to the substrate via metal-to-metal bonding. The vertical field effect transistors can be employed as switches for bit lines, word lines, or other components of the three-dimensional NAND memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Peter RABKIN, Masaaki HIGASHITANI