Patents by Inventor Toshifumi Minami

Toshifumi Minami 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: 20180108418
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Masanobu SHIRAKAWA, Takuya FUTATSUYAMA, Kenichi ABE, Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Atsuhiro SATO, Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Yasuyuki BABA, Toshifumi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 9893078
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a conducting layer and an insulating layer that are disposed above a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pillars that extend in a direction which crosses a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plate that is disposed between the plurality of pillars and extends in the same direction as the pillars. A surface of the plate, which faces the pillars, has convex portions and non-convex portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Minami, Atsuhiro Sato, Keisuke Yonehama, Yasuyuki Baba, Hiroshi Shinohara, Hideyuki Kamata, Teppei Higashitsuji
  • Patent number: 9847301
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an element region, a guard ring provided on an outer periphery of the element region and including a first interconnect and a first plug which electrically couples the first-interconnect and a first well region, a second interconnect provided above the first interconnect via a first insulating layer and non-electrically coupling to the first interconnect, and a first circuit coupled to the second interconnect. The first circuit detects one of a crack and a peeling of the guard ring in accordance with a break in the second interconnect or a short circuit between the second interconnect and the first interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Minami, Hiroyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9799403
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Takuya Futatsuyama, Kenichi Abe, Hiroshi Nakamura, Keisuke Yonehama, Atsuhiro Sato, Hiroshi Shinohara, Yasuyuki Baba, Toshifumi Minami
  • Patent number: 9768189
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor pillar above the semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer comprising a first section and a second section, the first section being in contact with the semiconductor substrate and a bottom of the first semiconductor pillar, and the second section covering a side of the first semiconductor pillar; conductive layers and second insulating layers stacked one by one above the semiconductor substrate and covering the second section of the first insulating layer; a first plug on the first semiconductor pillar; and an interconnect on the first plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinohara, Atsuhiro Sato, Keisuke Yonehama, Yasuyuki Baba, Toshifumi Minami, Hiroyuki Maeda, Shinji Saito, Hideyuki Kamata
  • Publication number: 20170263639
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a substrate including an insulating region and a semiconductor region, an insulating film disposed on upper surfaces of the semiconductor region and the insulating region, a first conductive film disposed on an upper surface of the insulating film, and including a terrace region, and a first contact plug disposed on an upper surface of the terrace region of the first conductive film. The insulating region includes an upper surface positioned directly under the first contact plug. A lower surface of the insulating film is in contact with the upper surfaces of the semiconductor region and the insulating region, in the region directly under the terrace region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinji SAITO, Toshifumi MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20170256504
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an element region, a guard ring provided on an outer periphery of the element region and including a first interconnect and a first plug which electrically couples the first-interconnect and a first well region, a second interconnect provided above the first interconnect via a first insulating layer and non-electrically coupling to the first interconnect, and a first circuit coupled to the second interconnect. The first circuit detects one of a crack and a peeling of the guard ring in accordance with a break in the second interconnect or a short circuit between the second interconnect and the first interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshifumi MINAMI, Hiroyuki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20160358659
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Masanobu SHIRAKAWA, Takuya FUTATSUYAMA, Kenichi ABE, Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Atsuhiro SATO, Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Yasuyuki BABA, Toshifumi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 9437300
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell transistors, first and second word lines electrically connected to the first and second memory cell transistors, respectively, first and second transfer transistors. The first and second transistors are electrically connected to the first and second word lines, respectively. The sizes of the first transistor and the second transistor are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kamata, Toshifumi Minami, Teppei Higashitsuji, Atsuhiro Sato, Keisuke Yonehama, Yasuyuki Baba, Hiroshi Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20160218109
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor pillar above the semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer comprising a first section and a second section, the first section being in contact with the semiconductor substrate and a bottom of the first semiconductor pillar, and the second section covering a side of the first semiconductor pillar; conductive layers and second insulating layers stacked one by one above the semiconductor substrate and covering the second section of the first insulating layer; a first plug on the first semiconductor pillar; and an interconnect on the first plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Atsuhiro Sato, Keisuke Yonehama, Yasuyuki Baba, Toshifumi Minami, Hiroyuki Maeda, Shinji Saito, Hideyuki Kamata
  • Patent number: 9361988
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Takuya Futatsuyama, Kenichi Abe, Hiroshi Nakamura, Keisuke Yonehama, Atsuhiro Sato, Hiroshi Shinohara, Yasuyuki Baba, Toshifumi Minami
  • Patent number: 9337145
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor pillar above the semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer comprising a first section and a second section, the first section being in contact with the semiconductor substrate and a bottom of the first semiconductor pillar, and the second section covering a side of the first semiconductor pillar; conductive layers and second insulating layers stacked one by one above the semiconductor substrate and covering the second section of the first insulating layer; a first plug on the first semiconductor pillar; and an interconnect on the first plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinohara, Atsuhiro Sato, Keisuke Yonehama, Yasuyuki Baba, Toshifumi Minami, Hiroyuki Maeda, Shinji Saito, Hideyuki Kamata
  • Publication number: 20160071870
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a conducting layer and an insulating layer that are disposed above a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pillars that extend in a direction which crosses a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plate that is disposed between the plurality of pillars and extends in the same direction as the pillars. A surface of the plate, which faces the pillars, has convex portions and non-convex portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Toshifumi MINAMI, Atsuhiro SATO, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Yasuyuki BABA, Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Hideyuki KAMATA, Teppei HIGASHITSUJI
  • Publication number: 20160071793
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor pillar above the semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer comprising a first section and a second section, the first section being in contact with the semiconductor substrate and a bottom of the first semiconductor pillar, and the second section covering a side of the first semiconductor pillar; conductive layers and second insulating layers stacked one by one above the semiconductor substrate and covering the second section of the first insulating layer; a first plug on the first semiconductor pillar; and an interconnect on the first plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Atsuhiro SATO, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Yasuyuki BABA, Toshifumi MINAMI, Hiroyuki MAEDA, Shinji SAITO, Hideyuki KAMATA
  • Publication number: 20150262685
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Masanobu SHIRAKAWA, Takuya FUTATSUYAMA, Kenichi ABE, Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Atsuhiro SATO, Hiroshi SHINOHARA, Yasuyuki BABA, Toshifumi MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20150262669
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell transistors, first and second word lines electrically connected to the first and second memory cell transistors, respectively, first and second transfer transistors. The first and second transistors are electrically connected to the first and second word lines, respectively. The sizes of the first transistor and the second transistor are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Hideyuki KAMATA, Toshifumi MINAMI, Teppei HIGASHITSUJI, Atsuhiro SATO, Keisuke YONEHAMA, Yasuyuki BABA, Hiroshi SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20150062843
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a cell portion and a peripheral portion, including: a substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate, a first conductive layer disposed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer disposed on the second insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Teppei HIGASHITSUJI, Toshifumi MINAMI, Hideyuki KAMATA, Atsuhiro SATO, Keisuke YONEHAMA
  • Patent number: 8241999
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a circuit element region formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a protective pattern formed so as to surround the circuit element region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takafumi Ikeda, Takahito Nakazawa, Hideaki Maekawa, Yuuichi Tatsumi, Toshifumi Minami
  • Publication number: 20110228606
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a first block, a second block, a storage circuit, a controller. A first block comprises a first select gate and a first word line. A second block comprises a second select gate and a second word line. A storage circuit configures to store first data concerning a voltage to be applied to the first select gate, and second data concerning a voltage to be applied to the second select gate. A controller configures to control the voltages to be applied to the first select gate and the second select gate. The controller applies, in a write operation, a first voltage to the first select gate based on the first data, and a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second select gate based on the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroki MUROTANI, Toshifumi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 8013381
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; first to third high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistors formed on a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first device isolation insulating film that is formed in the semiconductor substrate and isolates the first high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor and the second high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor from each other; a second device isolation insulating film that is formed in the semiconductor substrate and isolates the first high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor and the third high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor from each other; a first impurity diffusion layer of the first conductivity type that is formed below the first device isolation insulating film; and a second impurity diffusion layer of the first conductivity type that is formed below the second device isolation insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norio Magome, Toshifumi Minami, Tomoaki Hatano, Norihisa Arai