Patents by Inventor Sou-Chi Chang

Sou-Chi Chang 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: 11980037
    Abstract: Described herein are ferroelectric (FE) memory cells that include transistors having gate stacks separate from FE capacitors of these cells. An example memory cell may be implemented as an IC device that includes a support structure (e.g., a substrate) and a transistor provided over the support structure and including a gate stack. The IC device also includes a FE capacitor having a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, and a capacitor insulator of a FE material between the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode, where the FE capacitor is separate from the gate stack (i.e., is not integrated within the gate stack and does not have any layers that are part of the gate stack). The IC device further includes an interconnect structure, configured to electrically couple the gate stack and the first capacitor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Haratipour, Shriram Shivaraman, Sou-Chi Chang, Jack T. Kavalieros, Uygar E. Avci, Chia-Ching Lin, Seung Hoon Sung, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, Ian A. Young, Devin R. Merrill, Matthew V. Metz, I-Cheng Tung
  • Publication number: 20240113101
    Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form a semiconductor device that has a capacitor structure integrated with the source or drain region of the semiconductor device. A given semiconductor device includes one or more semiconductor regions extending in a first direction between corresponding source or drain regions. A gate structure extends in a second direction over the one or more semiconductor regions. A capacitor structure is integrated with one of the source or drain regions of the integrated circuit such that a first electrode of the capacitor contacts the source or drain region and a second electrode of the capacitor contacts a conductive contact formed over the capacitor structure. The capacitor structure may include a ferroelectric capacitor having a ferroelectric layer between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sourav Dutta, Nazila Haratipour, Vachan Kumar, Uygar E. Avci, Shriram Shivaraman, Sou-Chi Chang
  • Publication number: 20240114696
    Abstract: Multiple-ferroelectric capacitor structures in memory devices, including in integrated circuit devices, and techniques for forming the structures. Insulators separating individual outer plates in a ferroelectric capacitor array are supported between wider portions of a shared, inner plate. Wider portions of an inner plate may be formed in lateral recesses between insulating layers. Ferroelectric material may be deposited over the inner plate between insulating layers after removing sacrificial layers. An etch-stop layer may protect the inner plate when sacrificial layers are removed. An etch-stop or interface layer may remain over the inner plate adjacent insulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Neumann, Cory Weinstein, Nazila Haratipour, Brian Doyle, Sou-Chi Chang, Tristan Tronic, Shriram Shivaraman, Uygar Avci
  • Publication number: 20240112730
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for storing data with a memory cell which comprises a ferroelectric (FE) resistive junction. In an embodiment, a memory cell comprises a transistor and a FE resistive junction structure which is coupled to the transistor. The FE resistive junction structure comprises electrode structures, and a layer of a material which is between said electrode structures, wherein the material is a FE oxide or a FE semiconductor. The FE resistive junction structure selectively provides any of various levels of resistance, each to represent a respective one or more bits. A current flow through the FE resistive junction structure is characterized by thermionic emission through a Schottky barrier at an interface with one of the electrode structures. In another embodiment, the FE resistive junction structure further comprises one or more dielectric layers each between the layer of material and a different respective one of the electrode structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sou-Chi Chang, Nazila Haratipour, Saima Siddiqui, Uygar Avci, Chia-Ching Lin
  • Publication number: 20240112731
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for operating a ferroelectric (FE) circuit element as a cell of a crossbar memory array. In an embodiment, the crossbar memory array comprises a bit line, a word line, and a data storage cell which includes a circuit element that extends to each of the bit line and the word line. The data storage cell is a FE circuit element which comprises terminals, each at a different respective one of the bit line or the word line, and one or more material layers between said terminals. One such layer comprises a FE nitride or a FE oxide. The FE circuit element is operable to selectively enable, or disable, operation as a diode. In another embodiment, the memory array is coupled to circuitry which corresponds a given mode of operation of the FE circuit element to a particular data bit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sou-Chi Chang, Chia-Ching Lin, Saima Siddiqui, Sarah Atanasov, Bernal Granados Alpizar, Uygar Avci
  • Publication number: 20240114693
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer above the first metal layer, a first metal via generally perpendicular with and connected to the first metal layer, a second metal via generally perpendicular with and connected to the second metal layer, a third metal via generally perpendicular with and extending through the first metal layer and the second metal layer, a ferroelectric material between the third metal via and the first metal layer and between the third metal via and the second metal layer, and a hard mask material around a portion of the first metal via above the first metal layer and the second metal layer, around a portion of the second metal via above the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and around a portion of the ferroelectric material above the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Neumann, Brian Doyle, Nazila Haratipour, Shriram Shivaraman, Sou-Chi Chang, Uygar E. Avci, Eungnak Han, Manish Chandhok, Nafees Aminul Kabir, Gurpreet Singh
  • Publication number: 20240114694
    Abstract: Backside integrated circuit capacitor structures. In an example, a capacitor structure includes a layer of ferroelectric material between first and second electrodes. The first electrode can be connected to a transistor terminal by a backside contact that extends downward from a bottom surface of the transistor terminal to the first electrode. The transistor terminal can be, for instance, a source or drain region, and the backside contact can be self-aligned with the source or drain region. The second electrode can be connected to a backside interconnect feature. In some cases, the capacitor has a height that extends through at least one backside interconnect layer. In some cases, the capacitor is a multi-plate capacitor in which the second conductor is one of a plurality of plate line conductors arranged in a staircase structure. The capacitor structure may be, for example, part of a non-volatile memory device or the cache of a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sourav Dutta, Nazila Haratipour, Uygar E. Avci, Vachan Kumar, Christopher M. Neumann, Shriram Shivaraman, Sou-Chi Chang, Brian S. Doyle
  • Publication number: 20240114695
    Abstract: Apparatuses, memory systems, capacitor structures, and techniques related to anti-ferroelectric capacitors having a cerium oxide doped hafnium zirconium oxide based anti-ferroelectric are described. A capacitor includes layers of hafnium oxide, cerium oxide, and zirconium oxide between metal electrodes. The cerium of the cerium oxide provides a mid gap state to protect the hafnium zirconium oxide during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sou-Chi Chang, Nazila Haratipour, Christopher Neumann, Shriram Shivaraman, Brian Doyle, Sarah Atanasov, Bernal Granados Alpizar, Uygar Avci
  • Publication number: 20240112714
    Abstract: A memory device includes a group of ferroelectric capacitors with a shared plate that extends through the ferroelectric capacitors, has a greatest width between ferroelectric capacitors, and is coupled to an access transistor. The shared plate may be vertically between ferroelectric layers of the ferroelectric capacitors at the shared plate's greatest width. The memory device may include an integrated circuit die and be coupled to a power supply. Forming a group of ferroelectric capacitors includes forming an opening through an alternating stack of insulators and conductive plates, selectively forming ferroelectric material on the conductive plates rather than the insulators, and forming a shared plate in the opening over the ferroelectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Haratipour, Christopher Neumann, Brian Doyle, Sou-Chi Chang, Bernal Granados Alpizar, Sarah Atanasov, Matthew Metz, Uygar Avci, Jack Kavalieros, Shriram Shivaraman
  • Publication number: 20240114697
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a memory device. In an embodiment, the memory device comprises a first transistor, where the first transistor is an access transistor to write data. In an embodiment, the memory device further comprises a ferroelectric capacitor for storing data. In an embodiment, the memory device further comprises a second transistor, where the second transistor is a sense transistor to read the data stored on the ferroelectric capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Shriram SHIVARAMAN, Sou-Chi CHANG, Sourav DUTTA, Uygar E. AVCI
  • Publication number: 20240113123
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a plurality of logic blocks comprising transistors on a substrate, the logic blocks to implement logic functions; a plurality of input/output (I/O) blocks connecting the logic blocks with components external to the apparatus; a plurality of interconnect layers comprising wires and vias surrounded by interlayer dielectric above the substrate, the wires and vias conductively coupling the plurality of logic blocks and the plurality of I/O blocks; a plurality of programmable switches to configure connections between the plurality of logic blocks and the plurality of I/O blocks; and a ferroelectric material in a capacitor coupled to the gate or on the gate dielectric itself of one or more of the transistors. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Elijah V. Karpov, Sou-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 11901400
    Abstract: A capacitor is disclosed that includes a first metal layer and a seed layer on the first metal layer. The seed layer includes a polar phase crystalline structure. The capacitor also includes a ferroelectric layer on the seed layer and a second metal layer on the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Haratipour, Chia-Ching Lin, Sou-Chi Chang, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, Owen Loh, Mengcheng Lu, Seung Hoon Sung, Ian A. Young, Uygar Avci, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Publication number: 20240008290
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, systems, and/or techniques directed to creating back end of line 2D transistors that include a metal-ferroelectric-metal-insulator-semiconductor structure used as a memory cell. In embodiments, a combination wet etch and dry etch process may be used to form the 2D transistors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Chia-Ching LIN, Shriram SHIVARAMAN, Kevin P. O'BRIEN, Ashish Verma PENUMATCHA, Chelsey DOROW, Kirby MAXEY, Carl H. NAYLOR, Sudarat LEE, Uygar E. AVCI, Sou-Chi CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230411278
    Abstract: Metal insulator metal capacitors are described. In an example, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a first electrode that includes a bottom region and a pair of vertical regions. First metal layers are outside the vertical regions and in contact with the vertical regions. An insulator is over the first electrode. A second electrode is over the insulator. A second metal layer is on a top surface of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Chia-Ching LIN, Sou-Chi CHANG, Kaan OGUZ, Arnab SEN GUPTA, I-Cheng TUNG, Matthew V. METZ, Sudarat LEE, Scott B. CLENDENNING, Uygar E. AVCI, Aaron J. WELSH
  • Publication number: 20230411443
    Abstract: Metal insulator metal capacitors are described. In an example, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a first electrode. An insulator is over the first electrode. The insulator includes a first layer, and a second layer over the first layer. The first layer has a leakage current that is less than a leakage current of the second layer. The second layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than a dielectric constant of the first layer. A second electrode is over the insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kaan OGUZ, Chia-Ching LIN, Arnab SEN GUPTA, I-Cheng TUNG, Sou-Chi CHANG, Sudarat LEE, Matthew V. METZ, Uygar E. AVCI, Scott B. CLENDENNING, Ian A. YOUNG
  • Patent number: 11769789
    Abstract: A capacitor is disclosed. The capacitor includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer on the first metal layer, a ferroelectric layer on the second metal layer, and a third metal layer on the ferroelectric layer. The second metal layer includes a first non-reactive barrier metal and the third metal layer includes a second non-reactive barrier metal. A fourth metal layer is on the third metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Haratipour, Chia-Ching Lin, Sou-Chi Chang, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, Owen Loh, Mengcheng Lu, Seung Hoon Sung, Ian A. Young, Uygar Avci, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Patent number: 11742407
    Abstract: A integrated circuit structure comprises a fin extending from a substrate. The fin comprises source and drain regions and a channel region between the source and drain regions. A multilayer high-k gate dielectric stack comprises at least a first high-k material and a second high-k material, the first high-k material extending conformally over the fin over the channel region, and the second high-k material conformal to the first high-k material, wherein either the first high-k material or the second high-k material has a modified material property different from the other high-k material, wherein the modified material property comprises at least one of ferroelectricity, crystalline phase, texturing, ordering orientation of the crystalline phase or texturing to a specific crystalline direction or plane, strain, surface roughness, and lattice constant and combinations thereof. A gate electrode ix over and on a topmost high-k material in the multilayer high-k gate dielectric stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Hoon Sung, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, Sou-Chi Chang, Devin Merrill, I-Cheng Tung, Nazila Haratipour, Jack T. Kavalieros, Ian A. Young, Matthew V. Metz, Uygar E. Avci, Chia-Ching Lin, Owen Loh, Shriram Shivaraman, Eric Charles Mattson
  • Publication number: 20230253444
    Abstract: Described herein are capacitor devices formed using perovskite insulators. In one example, a perovskite templating material is formed over an electrode, and a perovskite insulator layer is grown over the templating material. The templating material improves the crystal structure and electrical properties in the perovskite insulator layer. One or both electrodes may be ruthenium. In another example, a perovskite insulator layer is formed between two layers of indium tin oxide (ITO), with the ITO layers forming the capacitor electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Arnab Sen Gupta, Kaan Oguz, Chia-Ching Lin, I-Cheng Tung, Sudarat Lee, Sou-Chi Chang, Matthew V. Metz, Scott B. Clendenning, Uygar E. Avci, Ian A. Young, Jason C. Retasket, Edward O. Johnson, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230200079
    Abstract: A first type of ferroelectric capacitor comprises electrodes and an insulating layer comprising ferroelectric oxides. In some embodiments, the electrodes and the insulating layer comprise perovskite ferroelectric oxides. A second type of ferroelectric capacitor comprises a ferroelectric insulating layer comprising certain monochalcogenides. Both types of ferroelectric capacitors can have a coercive voltage that is less than one volt. Such capacitors are attractive for use in low-voltage non-volatile embedded memories for next-generation semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Lin, Tanay A. Gosavi, Uygar E. Avci, Sou-Chi Chang, Hai Li, Dmitri Evgenievich Nikonov, Kaan Oguz, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, John J. Plombon, Ian Alexander Young
  • Publication number: 20230197643
    Abstract: IC die and/or IC die packages including capacitors with a pyrochlore-based insulator material. The pyrochlore-based insulator material comprises a compound of a species A and a species B, each comprising one or more rare earths or metals. In the pyrochlore-based insulator material, oxygen content is advantageously more than three times and less than four times the amount of either of species A or B with crystalline pyrochlore phases having the composition A2B2O7. Within a capacitor, the pyrochlore-based insulator may be amorphous and/or may have one or more crystalline phases. The pyrochlore-based insulator has an exceedingly high relative permittivity of 50-100, or more. The pyrochlore-based insulator material may be deposited at low temperatures compatible with interconnect metallization processes practiced in IC die manufacture as well as IC die packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Elijah Karpov, Sou-Chi Chang, Scott Clendenning, Matthew Metz