Patents by Inventor Nozomu Harada

Nozomu Harada 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: 20220367470
    Abstract: There are provided the steps of forming an N+ layer 21a and a Si pillar 26 on a substrate 20, the N+ layer 21a being connected to a source line SL, the Si pillar 26 standing in a vertical direction and being composed of a P+ layer 22a in a center portion thereof and a P layer 25a surrounding the P+ layer 22a; forming an N+ layer 3b and HfO2 layers 28a and 28b of gate insulating layers on the P+ layer 22a, the N+ layer 3b being connected to a bit line BL, the HfO2 layers 28a and 28b surrounding the Si pillar 26; and forming a TiN layer 30a of a gate conductor layer and a TiN layer 30b of a gate conductor layer, the TiN layer 30a surrounding the HfO2 layer 28a and being connected to a plate line PL, the TiN layer 30b surrounding the HfO2 layer 28b and being connected to a word line WL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220366986
    Abstract: A memory device includes pages, each being composed of a plurality of memory cells arrayed on a substrate in row form, and controls voltages to be applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer of each of the memory cells included in the pages to perform a page write operation of holding a hole group generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or a gate induced drain leakage current in a channel semiconductor layer, and controls voltages to be applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the third gate conductor layer, the fourth gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer to perform a page erase operation of removing the hole group out of the channel semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220359520
    Abstract: Si pillars 22a to 22d stand on an N+ layer 21 connected to a source line SL. Lower portions of the Si pillars 22a to 22d are surrounded by a HfO2 layer 25a, which is surrounded by TiN layers 26a and 26b that are respectively connected to plate lines PL1 and PL2 and are isolated from each other. Upper portions of the Si pillars 22a to 22d are surrounded by a HfO2 layer 25b, which is surrounded by TiN layers 28a and 28b that are respectively connected to word lines WL1 and WL2 and are isolated from each other. A thickness Lg1 of the TiN layer 26a on a line X-X? is smaller than twice a thickness Lg2 of the TiN layer 26a on a line Y-Y? and is larger than or equal to the thickness Lg2. The thickness Lg1 of the TiN layer 28a on the line X-X? is smaller than twice the thickness Lg2 of the TiN layer 28a on the line Y-Y?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220359521
    Abstract: A memory apparatus includes pages each including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a column on a substrate. A voltage applied to each of a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each memory cell included in each page is controlled to perform a page write operation for retaining holes, which have been formed through an impact ionization phenomenon or using a gate induced drain leakage current, in a channel semiconductor layer, or a voltage applied to each of the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, a third gate conductor layer, a fourth gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer is controlled to perform a page erase operation for removing the holes from the channel semiconductor layer. The first impurity layer in the memory cell connects to a source line. The second impurity layer connects to a bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220344336
    Abstract: A memory device according to the present invention includes memory cells, each of the memory cells includes a semiconductor base material that is formed on a substrate and that stands on the substrate in a vertical direction, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each of the memory cells are controlled to perform a write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, and the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform an erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220336003
    Abstract: In a dynamic flash memory cell including: a HfO2 layer and a TiN layer surrounding a lower portion of a Si pillar standing on a P-layer substrate; a HfO2 layer surrounding an upper portion of the Si pillar; a TiN layer; and N+ layers connected to a bottom portion and a top portion of the Si pillar, and an SGT transistor including: a SiO2 layer surrounding a lower portion of a Si pillar standing on the same P-layer substrate; a HfO2 layer surrounding an upper portion of the Si pillar; a TiN layer; and N+ layers sandwiching the HfO2 layer in a perpendicular direction and connected to a top portion and a middle portion of the Si pillar, bottom positions of the Si pillar and the Si pillar are at the same position A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220336463
    Abstract: A memory device according to the present invention includes memory cells, each of the memory cells includes a semiconductor base material that stands on a substrate in a vertical direction or that extends in a horizontal direction along the substrate, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each of the memory cells are controlled to perform a write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, and the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform an erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220336002
    Abstract: On a substrate, dynamic flash memory cell transistors and, on their outside, driving-signal processing circuit transistors are disposed. A source line wiring layer, a bit line wiring layer, a plate line wiring layer, and a word line wiring layer extend in the horizontal direction relative to the substrate and connect, from the outside of a dynamic flash memory region, in the perpendicular direction, to lead-out wiring layers on an insulating layer. The transistors in driving-signal processing circuit regions connect, via multilayered wiring layers, to upper wiring layers on the insulating layer. A high-thermal-conductivity layer is disposed over the entirety of the dynamic flash memory region and in a portion above the bit line wiring layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220328089
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of pages arranged in columns, each page is constituted by a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows on a substrate, the memory cells included in the page are memory cells of a plurality of semiconductor base materials that stand on the substrate in a vertical direction or that extend in a horizontal direction along the substrate, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each memory cell are controlled to perform a page write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform a page erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer, a
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220328488
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells each including a semiconductor base material that stands on a substrate in a vertical direction or that extends in a horizontal direction along the substrate, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each of the memory cells are controlled to perform a memory write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform a memory erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer, the first impurity layer is connected to a source line, the second impurity layer is connected to a bit line, one of the first gate conductor layer o
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220328088
    Abstract: A memory device includes pages arranged in columns and each constituted by a plurality of memory cells on a substrate, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each memory cell included in each of the pages are controlled to perform a page write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform a page erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer, the first impurity layer of the memory cell is connected to a source line, the second impurity layer thereof is connected to a bit line, one of the first gate conductor layer or the second gate conductor layer is connected t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Nozomu Harada
  • Publication number: 20220320098
    Abstract: An N+ layer connects to the bottom portion of a Si pillar standing on a substrate 1 and an N+ layer connects to the top portion of the Si pillar. Of the N+ layer and the N+ layer, one serves as the source and the other serves as the drain. A region of the Si pillar between the N+ layer and the N+ layer serves as a channel region. A first gate insulating layer surrounds the lower portion of the Si pillar and a second gate insulating layer surrounds the upper portion of the Si pillar. The first gate insulating layer and the second gate insulating layer are respectively disposed in contact with or near the N+ layers serving as the source and the drain. A first gate conductor layer and a second gate conductor layer surround the first gate insulating layer. The first gate conductor layer and the second gate conductor layer are formed so as to surround the first gate insulating layer and to be isolated from each other. A third gate conductor layer surrounds the second gate insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220319566
    Abstract: A memory device includes a page made of a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows on a substrate. A page write operation is performed, during which, in each of the memory cells included in the page, a first voltage V1 is applied to a first drive control line PL, a second voltage V2 is applied to a word line WL, a third voltage V3 is applied to a source line SL, a fourth voltage V4 is applied to a bit line BL, a group of holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon is retained in an inside of the channel semiconductor layer. A page erase operation is performed, during which the voltages to be applied to the first drive control line PL, the word line WL, the source line SL, and the bit line BL are controlled to discharge the group of holes from the inside of the channel semiconductor layer, and the voltage of the channel semiconductor layer is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220320097
    Abstract: In a dynamic flash memory cell including a HfO2 layer and a TiN layer surrounding a lower portion of a Si pillar standing on a P-layer substrate, a HfO2 layer and a TiN layer surrounding an upper portion of the Si pillar, and N+ layers connecting to a bottom portion and a top portion of the Si pillar, and a Fin transistor including a SiO2 layer surrounding a lower portion of a Si pillar standing also on the P-layer substrate, a HfO2 layer and a TiN layer surrounding an upper portion of the Si pillar, and N+ layers connecting to both side surfaces of the upper portion of the Si pillar, the bottom portion positions of the Si pillar and the Si pillar are both at Position A, and the bottom portions of an SGT transistor unit constituted by, in the upper portion of the Si pillar, the HfO2 layer and the TiN layer and a Fin transistor unit constituted by, in the upper portion of the Si pillar, the HfO2 layer and the TiN layer are both at Position B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220310608
    Abstract: There are an N+ layer 3a connected to a source line SL and an N+ layer 3b connected to a bit line BL at both ends of a Si pillar 2 standing on a substrate 1 in a perpendicular direction, a P+ layer 8 connected to the N+ layer 3b, a first gate insulating layer 4a surrounding the Si pillar 2, a first gate conductor layer 5a surrounding the first gate insulating layer 4a and connected to a plate line PL, and a second gate conductor layer 5b surrounding a gate HfO2 layer 4b surrounding the Si pillar 2 and connected to a word line WL. The voltages applied to the source line SL, the plate line PL, the word line WL, and the bit line BL are controlled to perform a data hold operation of holding a group of holes generated by an impact ion phenomenon or a gate-induced drain leakage current inside a channel region 7 of the Si pillar 2 and a data erase operation of removing the group of holes from the channel region 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Nozomu HARADA, Koji SAKUI
  • Publication number: 20220254790
    Abstract: A bottom portion of a Ta pillar serving as a contact portion is connected to an N+ layer and a P+ layer, and a gate HfO2 layer is connected to side surfaces of Si pillars and a Ta pillar serving as a contact portion and an upper surface of a SiO2 layer between the Si pillars and the Ta pillar serving as the contact portion. Gate TiN layers are provided on a side surface of the gate HfO2 layer surrounding the Si pillars. Midpoints of the Si pillars and the Ta pillar serving as the contact portion are on one first line in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Fujio MASUOKA, Nozomu HARADA
  • Patent number: 11380780
    Abstract: A SiO2 layer 5 is formed in the bottom portion of a Si pillar 3 and on an i-layer substrate 2. Subsequently, a gate HfO2 layer 11b is formed so as to surround the side surface of the Si pillar 3, and a gate TiN layer 12b is formed so as to surround the HfO2 layer 11b. Subsequently, P+ layers 18 and 32 containing an acceptor impurity at a high concentration and serving as a source and a drain are simultaneously or separately formed by a selective epitaxial crystal growth method on the exposed side surface of the bottom portion of and on the top portion of the Si pillar 3. Thus, an SGT is formed on the i-layer substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Nozomu Harada, Yoshiaki Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20220208254
    Abstract: A semiconductor base material stands on a substrate in a vertical direction or extends in a horizontal direction. Between first and second impurity layers disposed at the ends of the semiconductor base material, first and second gate insulating layers and first and second gate conductor layers are disposed around the semiconductor base material. A memory write operation is performed where voltages are applied to the first and second impurity layers and the first and second gate conductor layers to cause an impact ionization phenomenon to occur in a channel region, and among generated groups of electrons and positive holes, the group of electrons are discharged from the channel region and some of the group of positive holes are retained in the channel region. A memory erase operation is performed where the retained group of positive holes are discharged via any of or both of the first and second impurity layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Koji SAKUI, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220199837
    Abstract: An SGT circuit includes a first conductor layer which contains a semiconductor atom, which is in contact with an N+ region and a P+ region of a Si pillar, or a TiN layer, and whose outer circumference is located outside an outer circumference of a SiO2 layer in plan view, and a second conductor layer which contains a metal atom, which is connected to an outer periphery of the first conductor layer, and which extends in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Fujio MASUOKA, Nozomu HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220139928
    Abstract: P+ layers 32b and 32e that cover the entire top portions of Si pillars 6b and 6e and surround the Si pillars 6b and 6e with an equal width in plan view are formed in a self-aligned manner with the Si pillars 6b and 6e. W layers 33b and 33e are formed on the P+ layers 32b and 32e. A band-shaped contact hole C3 that is partly in contact with regions of the W layers 33b and 33e and that extends in the Y direction is formed. A power supply wiring metal layer Vdd is formed such that the band-shaped contact hole C3 is filled with the power supply wiring metal layer Vdd. In plan view, regions of the W layers 33b and 33e partly protrude outward from the band-shaped contact hole C3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Nozomu HARADA