Patents by Inventor Teruo OKINA

Teruo OKINA 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: 20240090217
    Abstract: A memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, a semiconductor material layer located over the alternating stack, a dielectric spacer layer located over the semiconductor material layer, a memory opening vertically extending through the alternating stack, through the semiconductor material layer, and at least partly through the dielectric spacer layer, a memory opening fill structure located in the memory opening and including a dielectric core, a vertical semiconductor channel having a hollow portion which surrounds the dielectric core and a pillar portion which does not surround the dielectric core, and a memory film, and a source layer located over the dielectric spacer layer and contacting the pillar portion. In one embodiment, a tubular spacer laterally surrounds the pillar portion, is laterally spaced from the pillar portion by a cylindrical portion of the memory film, and contacts a cylindrical sidewall of the semiconductor material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Kyohei NABESAKA, Teruo OKINA
  • Publication number: 20240040786
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers that is located on a front side of at least one semiconductor material layer. memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and including a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective vertical stack of memory elements, a dielectric material portion laterally offset from the alternating stack, a connection via structure vertically extending through the dielectric material portion, a metallic plate in contact with a proximal end surface of the connection via structure, and a backside contact pad in electrical contact with the metallic plate and spaced from the connection via structure by the metallic plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Yusuke YOSHIDA, Teruo OKINA, Takanori HANADA, Shigeyuki YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11889684
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over at least one source layer, and groups of memory opening fill structures vertically extending through the alternating stack. Each memory opening fill structure can include a vertical stack of memory elements and a vertical semiconductor channel. A plurality of source-side select gate electrodes can be laterally spaced apart by source-select-level dielectric isolation structures. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one source layer may include a plurality of source layers. A group of memory opening fill structures can be selected by selecting a source layer and/or by selecting a source-level electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masanori Tsutsumi, Shinsuke Yada, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Akio Nishida, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Teruo Okina
  • Publication number: 20240015959
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers that is located on a front side of at least one semiconductor material layer; memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack; memory opening fill structures; a dielectric material portion contacting sidewalls of the insulating layers of the alternating stack. In one embodiment, a connection via structure can vertically extend through the dielectric material portion, and a metal plate can contact the connection via structure. Alternately or additionally, an integrated via and pad structure may be provided, which includes a conductive via portion vertically extending through the dielectric material portion and a conductive pad portion located on an end of the conductive via portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoshida, Teruo Okina, Kenichi Okabe
  • Publication number: 20230284443
    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, a semiconductor material layer located on a distal surface of the alternating stack, a dielectric spacer layer located on a distal surface of the semiconductor material layer, memory opening fill structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, through the semiconductor material layer, and at least partly through the dielectric spacer layer, and a source layer located on a distal surface of the dielectric spacer layer and contacting pillar portions of the vertical semiconductor channels that are embedded within the dielectric spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Teruo OKINA, Shinsuke YADA, Ryo YOSHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11631690
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a first three-dimensional memory plane including first alternating stacks of first insulating layers and first word lines, and first bit lines electrically connected first vertical semiconductor channels, and a second three-dimensional memory plane including second alternating stacks of second insulating layers and second word lines and second bit lines electrically connected to second vertical channels. An inter-array backside trench laterally extend between the first three-dimensional memory plane and the second three-dimensional memory plane, and filled with an inter-array backside insulating material portion that provides electrical isolation between the three-dimensional memory planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Teruo Okina
  • Patent number: 11508711
    Abstract: A memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, and each of the memory stack structures includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film, drain regions located at a first end of a respective one of the vertical semiconductor channels, and a source layer having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is located at a second end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels, and a semiconductor wafer is not located over the second surface of the source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Takeki Ninomiya, Teruo Okina
  • Patent number: 11450624
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices can be formed over a semiconductor substrate, and interconnect-level dielectric material layers embedding metal interconnect structures can be formed thereupon. In one embodiment, a pad-connection-via-level dielectric material layer, a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer, and a pad-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Bonding pads surrounded by dielectric diffusion barrier portions can be formed in the pad-level dielectric material layer. In another embodiment, a layer stack of a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer and a pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Integrated pad and via cavities can be formed through the pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer, and can be filled with bonding pads containing dielectric diffusion barrier portions and integrated pad and via structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Noriaki Oda, Teruo Okina
  • Patent number: 11444039
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices can be formed over a semiconductor substrate, and interconnect-level dielectric material layers embedding metal interconnect structures can be formed thereupon. In one embodiment, a pad-connection-via-level dielectric material layer, a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer, and a pad-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Bonding pads surrounded by dielectric diffusion barrier portions can be formed in the pad-level dielectric material layer. In another embodiment, a layer stack of a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer and a pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Integrated pad and via cavities can be formed through the pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer, and can be filled with bonding pads containing dielectric diffusion barrier portions and integrated pad and via structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Noriaki Oda, Teruo Okina
  • Patent number: 11393836
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over at least one source layer, and groups of memory opening fill structures vertically extending through the alternating stack. Each memory opening fill structure can include a vertical stack of memory elements and a vertical semiconductor channel. A plurality of source-side select gate electrodes can be laterally spaced apart by source-select-level dielectric isolation structures. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one source layer may include a plurality of source layers. A group of memory opening fill structures can be selected by selecting a source layer and/or by selecting a source-level electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masanori Tsutsumi, Shinsuke Yada, Mitsuteru Mushiga, Akio Nishida, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Teruo Okina
  • Publication number: 20220189984
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a first three-dimensional memory plane including first alternating stacks of first insulating layers and first word lines, and first bit lines electrically connected first vertical semiconductor channels, and a second three-dimensional memory plane including second alternating stacks of second insulating layers and second word lines and second bit lines electrically connected to second vertical channels. An inter-array backside trench laterally extend between the first three-dimensional memory plane and the second three-dimensional memory plane, and filled with an inter-array backside insulating material portion that provides electrical isolation between the three-dimensional memory planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Teruo OKINA
  • Publication number: 20220157841
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over at least one source layer, and groups of memory opening fill structures vertically extending through the alternating stack. Each memory opening fill structure can include a vertical stack of memory elements and a vertical semiconductor channel. A plurality of source-side select gate electrodes can be laterally spaced apart by source-select-level dielectric isolation structures. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one source layer may include a plurality of source layers. A group of memory opening fill structures can be selected by selecting a source layer and/or by selecting a source-level electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Masanori TSUTSUMI, Shinsuke YADA, Mitsuteru MUSHIGA, Akio NISHIDA, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Teruo OKINA
  • Publication number: 20220157842
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over at least one source layer, and groups of memory opening fill structures vertically extending through the alternating stack. Each memory opening fill structure can include a vertical stack of memory elements and a vertical semiconductor channel. A plurality of source-side select gate electrodes can be laterally spaced apart by source-select-level dielectric isolation structures. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one source layer may include a plurality of source layers. A group of memory opening fill structures can be selected by selecting a source layer and/or by selecting a source-level electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Masanori TSUTSUMI, Shinsuke YADA, Mitsuteru MUSHIGA, Akio NISHIDA, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Teruo OKINA
  • Patent number: 11322466
    Abstract: A first semiconductor die includes first semiconductor devices located over a first substrate, first interconnect-level dielectric layers embedding first metal interconnect structures and located over the first semiconductor devices, a first pad-level dielectric layer embedding first bonding pads and located over the first interconnect-level dielectric layers, and first edge seal structures laterally surrounding the first semiconductor devices. Each of the first edge seal structures vertically extends from the first substrate to a distal surface of the first pad-level dielectric layer, and includes a respective first pad-level ring structure that continuously extends around the first semiconductor devices. At least one row of first dummy metal pads is embedded in the first pad-level dielectric layer between a respective pair of first edge seal structures. Second pad-level ring structures embedded in a second semiconductor die can be bonded to the rows of first dummy metal pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Teruo Okina
  • Patent number: 11201107
    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. A pass-through via structure vertically extends through a dielectric material portion that is adjacent to the alternating stack. 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 backside bonding pad or bonding wire is formed to be electrically connected to the pass-through via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Teruo Okina, Akio Nishida, James Kai
  • Patent number: 11195781
    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. A pass-through via structure vertically extends through a dielectric material portion that is adjacent to the alternating stack. 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 backside bonding pad or bonding wire is formed to be electrically connected to the pass-through via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Teruo Okina, Akio Nishida, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20210375791
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices can be formed over a semiconductor substrate, and interconnect-level dielectric material layers embedding metal interconnect structures can be formed thereupon. In one embodiment, a pad-connection-via-level dielectric material layer, a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer, and a pad-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Bonding pads surrounded by dielectric diffusion barrier portions can be formed in the pad-level dielectric material layer. In another embodiment, a layer stack of a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer and a pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Integrated pad and via cavities can be formed through the pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer, and can be filled with bonding pads containing dielectric diffusion barrier portions and integrated pad and via structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Noriaki ODA, Teruo OKINA
  • Publication number: 20210375790
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices can be formed over a semiconductor substrate, and interconnect-level dielectric material layers embedding metal interconnect structures can be formed thereupon. In one embodiment, a pad-connection-via-level dielectric material layer, a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer, and a pad-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Bonding pads surrounded by dielectric diffusion barrier portions can be formed in the pad-level dielectric material layer. In another embodiment, a layer stack of a proximal dielectric diffusion barrier layer and a pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer can be formed. Integrated pad and via cavities can be formed through the pad-and-via-level dielectric material layer, and can be filled with bonding pads containing dielectric diffusion barrier portions and integrated pad and via structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Noriaki ODA, Teruo OKINA
  • Publication number: 20210366855
    Abstract: A first semiconductor die includes first semiconductor devices located over a first substrate, first interconnect-level dielectric layers embedding first metal interconnect structures and located over the first semiconductor devices, a first pad-level dielectric layer embedding first bonding pads and located over the first interconnect-level dielectric layers, and first edge seal structures laterally surrounding the first semiconductor devices. Each of the first edge seal structures vertically extends from the first substrate to a distal surface of the first pad-level dielectric layer, and includes a respective first pad-level ring structure that continuously extends around the first semiconductor devices. At least one row of first dummy metal pads is embedded in the first pad-level dielectric layer between a respective pair of first edge seal structures. Second pad-level ring structures embedded in a second semiconductor die can be bonded to the rows of first dummy metal pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Teruo OKINA
  • Patent number: 11094704
    Abstract: A method of forming a device structure includes forming a memory-level structure including a three-dimensional memory device over a front side surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming memory-side dielectric material layers over the memory-level structure, bonding a handle substrate to the memory-side dielectric material layers, thinning the semiconductor substrate while the handle substrate is attached to the memory-side dielectric material layers, forming a driver circuit including field effect transistors on a backside semiconductor surface of the semiconductor substrate after thinning the semiconductor substrate, and removing the handle substrate from the memory-side dielectric material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Johann Alsmeier, Teruo Okina