Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device and a camera system capable of recording a still image without using a recording medium. Each pixel P of an image sensor is provided with a photodiode, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor, as well as a memory element that has functions of a select transistor. The memory element has a structure integrating a drain side select transistor, a source side select transistor, and a memory transistor. By applying a program voltage to a memory gate electrode as a gate voltage, the memory transistor stores charge of an amount corresponding to an amount of light received by the photodiode in a charge storage layer.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device that achieves downsizing as compared to conventional cases is disclosed. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device has a configuration in which a memory cell is disposed between a programming bit line and a reading bit line. The reading bit line provided between adjacent memory cells is shared by the adjacent memory cells. This configuration of the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, in which the reading bit line is shared by the adjacent memory cells, leads to reduction of the number of reading bit lines as compared to that in a conventional configuration, and further leads to reduction of the area of a control circuit and a sense amplifier circuit connected with the reading bit line, thereby achieving downsizing as compared to conventional cases accordingly.

Abstract: A multiply-accumulate operation apparatus is capable of sufficiently restraining a sneak current when employing a precharge method where the magnitude of an electric current flowing through an output line is detected. In a synapse operation section, memory cells storing respective synaptic connection weights are arranged in rows and columns. Output lines are connected to memory cells in the corresponding column, and input lines are connected to memory cells in the corresponding row. Each output line is precharged, and then its electric potential is decreased during the corresponding memory cells flow cell currents corresponding to their synaptic connection weights. A memory element of each memory cell includes a memory transistor, a drain side transistor, and a source side transistor connected in series, and is connected between the corresponding input and output line. The memory transistor stores a synaptic connection weight according to the amount of charge in a charge storage layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device, voltage application from a memory gate electrode of the memory capacitor to a word line can be blocked by a rectifier element depending on values of voltages applied to the memory gate electrode and the word line without using a conventional control circuit. The configuration eliminates the need to provide a switch transistor and a switch control circuit for turning on and off the switch transistor as in conventional cases, and accordingly achieves downsizing. In the semiconductor memory device, for example, each bit line contact is shared by four anti-fuse memories adjacent to each other and each word line contact is shared by four anti-fuse memories adjacent to each other, thereby achieving downsizing of the entire device as compared to a case in which the bit line contact and the word line contact are individually provided to each anti-fuse memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device and a camera system capable of recording a still image without using a recording medium. Each pixel P of an image sensor is provided with a photodiode, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor, as well as a memory element that has functions of a select transistor. The memory element has a structure integrating a drain side select transistor, a source side select transistor, and a memory transistor. By applying a program voltage to a memory gate electrode as a gate voltage, the memory transistor stores charge of an amount corresponding to an amount of light received by the photodiode in a charge storage layer.

Abstract: When a memory cell (MC) is downsized by reducing the distance between a drain region (12a) and a source region (12b) on the surface of a fin (S2) with a high impurity concentration inside the fin (S2), the shape of the fin (S2) can be set such that a potential difference between a memory gate electrode (MG) and the fin (S2) is reduced to suppress the occurrence of disturbance. Accordingly, the memory cell (MC) achieves downsizing and suppression of the occurrence of disturbance.

Abstract: A multiply-accumulate operation apparatus is capable of sufficiently restraining a sneak current when employing a precharge method where the magnitude of an electric current flowing through an output line is detected. In a synapse operation section, memory cells storing respective synaptic connection weights are arranged in rows and columns. Output lines are connected to memory cells in the corresponding column, and input lines are connected to memory cells in the corresponding row. Each output line is precharged, and then its electric potential is decreased during the corresponding memory cells flow cell currents corresponding to their synaptic connection weights. A memory element of each memory cell includes a memory transistor, a drain side transistor, and a source side transistor connected in series, and is connected between the corresponding input and output line. The memory transistor stores a synaptic connection weight according to the amount of charge in a charge storage layer.

Abstract: In the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, a mobile charge collector layer, a mobile charge collecting contact, a mobile charge collecting first wiring layer, an in-between contact between the mobile charge collector layers, and a mobile charge collecting second wiring layer are disposed adjacent to a floating gate. Thereby, without increasing areas of active regions in the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, the number of mobile charges collected near the floating gate is reduced. The non-volatile semiconductor memory device allows high-speed operation of a memory cell while reducing fluctuations in a threshold voltage of the memory cell caused by collection of the mobile charges, which are attracted from an insulation layer, near the floating gate.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a memory gate structure, a first select gate structure, and a second select gate structure. In the memory gate structure, a lower memory gate insulating film, a charge storage layer, an upper memory gate insulating film, and a metal memory gate electrode are stacked in this order. The first select gate structure includes a metal first select gate electrode along a first sidewall spacer provided on a sidewall of the memory gate structure. The second select gate structure includes a metal second select gate electrode along a second sidewall spacer provided on another sidewall of the memory gate structure. Thus, the metal memory gate electrode, the metal first select gate electrode, and the metal second select gate electrode can be formed of a same metallic material as a metal logic gate electrode, permitting the memory cell to be formed together with the metal logic gate electrode.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device that achieves downsizing as compared to conventional cases is disclosed. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device has a configuration in which a memory cell is disposed between a programming bit line and a reading bit line. The reading bit line provided between adjacent memory cells is shared by the adjacent memory cells. This configuration of the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, in which the reading bit line is shared by the adjacent memory cells, leads to reduction of the number of reading bit lines as compared to that in a conventional configuration, and further leads to reduction of the area of a control circuit and a sense amplifier circuit connected with the reading bit line, thereby achieving downsizing as compared to conventional cases accordingly.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a memory gate structure, a first select gate structure, and a second select gate structure. In the memory gate structure, a lower memory gate insulating film, a charge storage layer, an upper memory gate insulating film, and a metal memory gate electrode are stacked in this order. The first select gate structure includes a metal first select gate electrode along a first sidewall spacer provided on a sidewall of the memory gate structure. The second select gate structure includes a metal second select gate electrode along a second sidewall spacer provided on another sidewall of the memory gate structure. Thus, the metal memory gate electrode, the metal first select gate electrode, and the metal second select gate electrode can be formed of a same metallic material as a metal logic gate electrode, permitting the memory cell to be formed together with the metal logic gate electrode.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a memory gate structure, a first select gate structure, and a second select gate structure. In the memory gate structure, a lower memory gate insulating film, a charge storage layer, an upper memory gate insulating film, and a metal memory gate electrode are stacked in this order. The first select gate structure includes a metal first select gate electrode along a first sidewall spacer provided on a sidewall of the memory gate structure. The second select gate structure includes a metal second select gate electrode along a second sidewall spacer provided on another sidewall of the memory gate structure. Thus, the metal memory gate electrode, the metal first select gate electrode, and the metal second select gate electrode can be formed of a same metallic material as a metal logic gate electrode, permitting the memory cell to be formed together with the metal logic gate electrode.

Abstract: When a memory cell (MC) is downsized by reducing the distance between a drain region (12a) and a source region (12b) on the surface of a fin (S2) with a high impurity concentration inside the fin (S2), the shape of the fin (S2) can be set such that a potential difference between a memory gate electrode (MG) and the fin (S2) is reduced to suppress the occurrence of disturbance. Accordingly, the memory cell (MC) achieves downsizing and suppression of the occurrence of disturbance.

Abstract: A memory cell and a non-volatile semiconductor memory device are disclosed. Nitride sidewall layers are respectively disposed in a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer, to separate a memory gate electrode and a first select gate electrode from each other and the memory gate electrode and a second select gate electrode from each other. Hence, a breakdown voltage is improved around the memory gate electrode as compared with a conventional case in which the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer are simply made of insulating oxide films. The nitride sidewall layers are disposed farther from a memory well than a charge storage layer. Hence, charge is unlikely to be injected into the nitride sidewall layers at charge injection from the memory well into the charge storage layer, thereby preventing an operation failure due to charge storage in a region other than the charge storage layer.

Abstract: When a memory cell (MC) is downsized by reducing the distance between a drain region (12a) and a source region (12b) on the surface of a fin (S2) with a high impurity concentration inside the fin (S2), the shape of the fin (S2) can be set such that a potential difference between a memory gate electrode (MG) and the fin (S2) is reduced to suppress the occurrence of disturbance. Accordingly, the memory cell (MC) achieves downsizing and suppression of the occurrence of disturbance.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes first and second select gate electrodes that are sidewall-shaped along sidewalls of a memory gate structure. With this configuration, the memory gate structure is not disposed on the first select gate electrode and the second select gate electrode. Accordingly, the memory gate structure the first select gate structure, and the second select gate structure can have equal heights, thereby achieving reduction in size as compared to a conventional case. In addition, a silicide layer on the first select gate electrode and a silicide layer on the second select gate electrode can be separated farther from a memory gate electrode by the thickness of a cap film. Accordingly, the silicide layers on the first select gate electrode and the second select gate electrode are unlikely to contact with the memory gate electrode, thereby preventing a short-circuit defect of the memory gate electrode.

Abstract: In an anti-fuse memory includes a rectifier element of a semiconductor junction structure in which a voltage applied from a memory gate electrode to a word line is applied as a reverse bias in accordance with voltage values of the memory gate electrode and the word line, and does not use a conventional control circuit. Hence, the rectifier element blocks application of a voltage from the memory gate electrode to the word line. Therefore a conventional switch transistor that selectively applies a voltage to a memory capacitor and a conventional switch control circuit allowing the switch transistor to turn on or off are not necessary. Miniaturization of the anti-fuse memory and a semiconductor memory device are achieved correspondingly.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes first and second select gate electrodes that are sidewall-shaped along sidewalls of a memory gate structure. With this configuration, the memory gate structure is not disposed on the first select gate electrode and the second select gate electrode. Accordingly, the memory gate structure the first select gate structure, and the second select gate structure can have equal heights, thereby achieving reduction in size as compared to a conventional case. In addition, a silicide layer on the first select gate electrode and a silicide layer on the second select gate electrode can be separated farther from a memory gate electrode by the thickness of a cap film. Accordingly, the silicide layers on the first select gate electrode and the second select gate electrode are unlikely to contact with the memory gate electrode, thereby preventing a short-circuit defect of the memory gate electrode.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which, while voltage from a first control line is applied, as a memory gate voltage, to a sub control line through a switching transistor, another switching transistor can block voltage application to a corresponding sub control line. Thus, while a plurality of memory cells are arranged in one direction along the first control line, the number of memory cells to which a memory gate voltage is applied can reduced by the switching transistor, which reduces the occurrence of disturbance, accordingly. The sub control line to which the memory gate voltage is applied from the first control line is used as the gates of memory transistors, and thus the sub control line and the gates are disposed in a single wiring layer, thereby achieving downsizing as compared to a case in which the sub control line and the gates are disposed in separate wiring layers.

Abstract: When a memory cell (MC) is downsized by reducing the distance between a drain region (12a) and a source region (12b) on the surface of a fin (S2) with a high impurity concentration inside the fin (S2), the shape of the fin (S2) can be set such that a potential difference between a memory gate electrode (MG) and the fin (S2) is reduced to suppress the occurrence of disturbance. Accordingly, the memory cell (MC) achieves downsizing and suppression of the occurrence of disturbance.