Patents by Inventor Pierre C. Fazan

Pierre C. Fazan 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: 11081486
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating and (ii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells have a common first region and/or a common second region. Each common first region and/or second regions of transistors of adjacent memory cells includes a barrier disposed therein and/or therebetween, wherein each barrier provides a discontinuity in the common regions and/or includes one or more electrical characteristics that are different from one or more corresponding electrical characteristics of the common regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: OVONYX MEMORY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20190279985
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating and (ii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells have a common first region and/or a common second region. Each common first region and/or second regions of transistors of adjacent memory cells includes a barrier disposed therein and/or therebetween, wherein each barrier provides a discontinuity in the common regions and/or includes one or more electrical characteristics that are different from one or more corresponding electrical characteristics of the common regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: OVONYX MEMORY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Pierre C. FAZAN
  • Patent number: 10304837
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating and (ii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells have a common first region and/or a common second region. Each common first region and/or second regions of transistors of adjacent memory cells includes a barrier disposed therein and/or therebetween, wherein each barrier provides a discontinuity in the common regions and/or includes one or more electrical characteristics that are different from one or more corresponding electrical characteristics of the common regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OVONYX MEMORY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 9276000
    Abstract: Embodiments of a manufacturing process flow for producing standalone memory devices that can achieve bit cell sizes on the order of 4F2 or 5F2, and that can be applied to common source/drain, separate source/drain, or common source only or common drain only transistor arrays. Active area and word line patterns are formed as perpendicularly-arranged straight lines on a Silicon-on-Insulator substrate. The intersections of the active area and spaces between word lines define contact areas for the connection of vias and metal line layers. Insulative spacers are used to provide an etch mask pattern that allows the selective etching of contact areas as a series of linear trenches, thus facilitating straight line lithography techniques. Embodiments of the manufacturing process remove first layer metal (metal-1) islands and form elongated vias, in a succession of processing steps to build dense memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 9093311
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation, a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation, and a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation of the array and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation of the array and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Van Buskirk, Christian Caillat, Viktor I. Koldiaev, Jungtae Kwon, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20140291763
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation, a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation, and a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation of the array and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation of the array and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. VAN BUSKIRK, Christian CAILLAT, Viktor I. KOLDIAEV, Jungtae KWON, Pierre C. FAZAN
  • Patent number: 8748959
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Van Buskirk, Christian Caillat, Viktor I Koldiaev, Jungtae Kwon, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20140017868
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating and (ii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells have a common first region and/or a common second region. Each common first region and/or second regions of transistors of adjacent memory cells includes a barrier disposed therein and/or therebetween, wherein each barrier provides a discontinuity in the common regions and/or includes one or more electrical characteristics that are different from one or more corresponding electrical characteristics of the common regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre C. FAZAN
  • Publication number: 20130341695
    Abstract: Embodiments of a manufacturing process flow for producing standalone memory devices that can achieve bit cell sizes on the order of 4F2 or 5F2, and that can be applied to common source/drain, separate source/drain, or common source only or common drain only transistor arrays. Active area and word line patterns are formed as perpendicularly-arranged straight lines on a Silicon-on-Insulator substrate. The intersections of the active area and spaces between word lines define contact areas for the connection of vias and metal line layers. Insulative spacers are used to provide an etch mask pattern that allows the selective etching of contact areas as a series of linear trenches, thus facilitating straight line lithography techniques. Embodiments of the manufacturing process remove first layer metal (metal-1) islands and form elongated vias, in a succession of processing steps to build dense memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Pierre C. FAZAN
  • Publication number: 20120044752
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed which facilitate improved high-density memory circuitry, most preferably dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuitry. A semiconductor memory device includes i) a total of no more than 68,000,000 functional and operably addressable memory cells arranged in multiple memory arrays formed on a semiconductor die; and ii) circuitry formed on the semiconductor die permitting data to be written to and read from one or more of the memory cells. At least one of the memory arrays contains at least 100-square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 128 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells. More preferably, at least 100 square microns of continuous die surface area have at least 170 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20110024762
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 7825414
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20100259964
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation of the array and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation of the array and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Innovative Silicon ISi SA
    Inventors: Michael A. Van Buskirk, Christian Caillat, Viktor I. Koldiaev, Jungtae Kwon, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20100149855
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed which facilitate improved high-density memory circuitry, most preferably dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuitry. A semiconductor memory device includes i) a total of no more than 68,000,000 functional and operably addressable memory cells arranged in multiple memory arrays formed on a semiconductor die; and ii) circuitry formed on the semiconductor die permitting data to be written to and read from one or more of the memory cells, at least one of the memory arrays containing at least 100-square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 128 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells, more preferably, at least 100 square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 170 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 7705383
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed which facilitate improved high-density memory circuitry, most preferably dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuitry. A semiconductor memory device includes i) a total of no more than 68,000,000 functional and operably addressable memory cells arranged in multiple memory arrays formed on a semiconductor die; and ii) circuitry formed on the semiconductor die permitting data to be written to and read from one or more of the memory cells, at least one of the memory arrays containing at least 100-square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 128 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells, more preferably, at least 100 square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 170 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20090302322
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 7566907
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20090047776
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Patent number: 7452760
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan
  • Publication number: 20080237601
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Shubneesh Batra, Pierre C. Fazan