Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Davenport

Thomas E. Davenport 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: 9240440
    Abstract: A method of minimizing imprint in a ferroelectric capacitor uses a gradually attenuated AC field to electrically depolarize the ferroelectric capacitor before being packaged. The AC field is linearly attenuated, and generated using a series of voltage pulses, down to a minimum allowed voltage. A final pulse is a positive voltage to minimize hydrogen degradation during packaging. Thermal depoling can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Robert Sommervold, Thomas E. Davenport, Donald J. Verhaeghe
  • Patent number: 9006808
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a ferrocapacitor having a sidewall. An etch stopping film is disposed along the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor, with a hydrogen barrier film disposed between the etch stopping film and the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport
  • Publication number: 20150069481
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a ferrocapacitor having a sidewall. An etch stopping film is disposed along the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor, with a hydrogen barrier film disposed between the etch stopping film and the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport
  • Patent number: 8916434
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating a ferroelectric capacitor or ferroelectric memory cell includes forming encapsulation materials adjacent to a ferroelectric capacitor. forming a ferroelectric oxide (FEO) layer over the encapsulated ferroelectric capacitor, and forming an FEO encapsulation layer over the ferroelectric oxide to provide additional protection from hydrogen induced degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport
  • Patent number: 8842460
    Abstract: A method for improving data retention in a 2T/2C ferroelectric memory includes baking a ferroelectric memory configured to operate as an array of 1T/1C memory cells for a period of time, and then configuring the ferroelectric memory to function as an array of 2T/2C memory cells, wherein the baking pre-imprints the ferroelectric capacitors in the ferroelectric memory and stabilizes a 2T/2C opposite state margin and enhances data retention. A corresponding memory circuit for configuring an array of memory cells for either 1T/1C operation or 2T/2C operation includes a plurality of sense amplifiers, a configurable reference circuit coupled to a logic circuit, a memory array, and a column decoder, wherein components are coupled together through a bit line and a complementary bit line, and wherein the logic circuit can configure the reference circuit for 1T/1C operation or 2T/2C operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Robert Sommervold, Thomas E. Davenport, Donald J. Verhaeghe
  • Publication number: 20140146591
    Abstract: A method for improving data retention in a 2T/2C ferroelectric memory includes baking a ferroelectric memory configured to operate as an array of 1T/1C memory cells for a period of time, and then configuring the ferroelectric memory to function as an array of 2T/2C memory cells, wherein the baking pre-imprints the ferroelectric capacitors in the ferroelectric memory and stabilizes a 2T/2C opposite state margin and enhances data retention. A corresponding memory circuit for configuring an array of memory cells for either 1T/1C operation or 2T/2C operation includes a plurality of sense amplifiers, a configurable reference circuit coupled to a logic circuit, a memory array, and a column decoder, wherein components are coupled together through a bit line and a complementary bit line, and wherein the logic circuit can configure the reference circuit for 1T/1C operation or 2T/2C operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: RAMTRON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Robert Sommervold, Thomas E. Davenport, Donald J. Verhaeghe
  • Publication number: 20130300003
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating a ferroelectric capacitor or ferroelectric memory cell includes forming encapsulation materials adjacent to a ferroelectric capacitor. forming a ferroelectric oxide (FEO) layer over the encapsulated ferroelectric capacitor, and forming an FEO encapsulation layer over the ferroelectric oxide to provide additional protection from hydrogen induced degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Ramtron International Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport
  • Patent number: 8552515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating a damascene self-aligned F-RAM device structure on a planar surface using a reduced number of masks and etching steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport, John Cronin
  • Patent number: 8518791
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating the same in the form of a damascene self-aligned F-RAM device comprising a PZT capacitor built on the sidewalls of an oxide trench, while allowing for the simultaneous formation of two ferroelectric sidewall capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport, John Cronin
  • Patent number: 8518792
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating a damascene self-aligned F-RAM that allows for the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor with separated PZT layers aligned with a preexisting, three dimensional (3-D) transistor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport, John Cronin
  • Publication number: 20130037897
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating a damascene self-aligned F-RAM device structure on a planar surface using a reduced number of masks and etching steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: RAMTRON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport, John Cronin
  • Publication number: 20130037872
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating a damascene self-aligned F-RAM that allows for the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor with separated PZT layers aligned with a preexisting, three dimensional (3-D) transistor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Ramtron International Corporation
    Inventors: Shan SUN, Thomas E. DAVENPORT, John CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20130037912
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating the same in the form of a damascene self-aligned F-RAM device comprising a PZT capacitor built on the sidewalls of an oxide trench, while allowing for the simultaneous formation of two ferroelectric sidewall capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Ramtron International Corporation
    Inventors: Shan Sun, Thomas E. Davenport, John Cronin
  • Patent number: 5519566
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method is directed to forming a ferroelectric film, and in particular a ferroelectric film of the bismuth layer structure type, that has a significant component of reversible polarization perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes. The manufacturing method is conducted at low temperatures on commercially suitable electrodes and is compatible with conventional CMOS fabrication techniques. A ferroelectric strontium-bismuth-tantalate ("SBT") film is formed using two sputtering targets. A first sputtering target is comprised primarily of bismuth oxide (Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3) and a second sputtering target is comprised primarily of SBT. An initial layer of bismuth oxide is formed on the bottom electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor stack. The initial layer of bismuth oxide is directly followed by a sputtered layer of SBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Ramtron International Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Perino, Thomas E. Davenport
  • Patent number: 5426075
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method is directed to forming a ferroelectric film, and in particular a ferroelectric film of the bismuth layer structure type, that has a significant component of reversible polarization perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes. The manufacturing method is conducted at low temperatures on commercially suitable electrodes and is compatible with conventional CMOS fabrication techniques. A ferroelectric strontium-bismuth-tantalate ("SBT") film is formed using two sputtering targets. A first sputtering target is comprised primarily of bismuth oxide (Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3) and a second sputtering target is comprised primarily of SBT. An initial layer of bismuth oxide is formed on the bottom electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor stack. The initial layer of bismuth oxide is directly followed by a sputtered layer of SBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Ramtron International Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Perino, Thomas E. Davenport