Patents by Inventor Yoshinobu Asami

Yoshinobu Asami 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: 20200203345
    Abstract: A first transistor, a second transistor, a capacitor, and first to third conductors are included. The first transistor includes a first gate, a source, and a drain. The second transistor includes a second gate, a third gate over the second gate, first and second low-resistance regions, and an oxide sandwiched between the second gate and the third gate. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulator sandwiched therebetween. The first low-resistance region overlaps with the first gate. The first conductor is electrically connected to the first gate and is connected to a bottom surface of the first low-resistance region. The capacitor overlaps with the first low-resistance region. The second conductor is electrically connected to the drain. The third conductor overlaps with the second conductor and is connected to the second conductor and a side surface of the second low-resistance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori MATSUZAKI, Yoshinobu ASAMI, Daisuke MATSUBAYASHI, Tatsuya ONUKI
  • Patent number: 10693012
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with low parasitic capacitance is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first oxide insulator, an oxide semiconductor, a second oxide insulator, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode layer, source and drain electrode layers and an insulating layer. The oxide semiconductor includes first to fifth regions. The first region overlaps with the source electrode layer. The second region overlaps with the drain electrode layer. The third region overlaps with the gate electrode layer. The fourth region is between the first region and the third region. The fifth region is between the second region and the third region. The fourth region and the fifth region each contain an element N (N is hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon). A top surface of the insulating layer is positioned at a lower level than top surfaces of the source and drain electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Publication number: 20200161309
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a large storage capacity per unit area can be provided. A memory cell including a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor includes a stack including a first conductor, a first insulator over the first conductor, a second conductor over the first insulator, a second insulator over the second conductor, and a third conductor over the second insulator; a first oxide arranged in a ring-like shape on a side surface of an opening portion of the second conductor; a fourth conductor arranged in a ring-like shape in contact with an inner wall of the first oxide; a cylindrical third insulator arranged to penetrate the stack, the first oxide, and the fourth conductor; and a second oxide arranged in contact with an inner wall of the third insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Yoshinobu ASAMI
  • Publication number: 20200144308
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a large storage capacity per unit area is provided. The semiconductor device including a memory string, where the memory string includes a memory cell and a transistor; the memory cell includes a first conductor having a first opening, a first insulator provided inside the first opening, a second insulator provided inside the first insulator, a third insulator provided inside the second insulator, and a first oxide provided inside the third insulator; the transistor includes a second conductor having a second opening, the first insulator provided inside the second opening, the first oxide provided inside the first insulator, a fifth insulator provided inside the first oxide, and a third conductor provided inside the fifth insulator; the second conductor includes a region overlapping with the first oxide with the first insulator therebetween; and the third conductor includes a region overlapping with the first oxide with the fifth insulator therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto YAKUBO, Yoshinobu ASAMI
  • Patent number: 10490116
    Abstract: A novel semiconductor device or a highly reliable semiconductor device is provided. The on/off state of a transistor which functions as a switch for writing data is controlled using the potential of a potential hold portion. The potential of the potential hold portion is controlled using a plurality of capacitors, whereby both a positive potential and a negative potential can be held in the potential hold portion. Accordingly, deterioration of the transistor which functions as the switch for writing data can be prevented and the characteristics of the transistor can be maintained. Therefore, the highly reliable semiconductor device can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Publication number: 20190237584
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first oxide insulating layer over a first insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide insulating layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer, a second oxide insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer over the second oxide insulating layer, a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer, and a third insulating layer over the second insulating layer, the second oxide insulating layer, the gate insulating layer, and the gate electrode layer. A side surface portion of the second insulating layer is in contact with the second oxide insulating layer. The gate electrode layer includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a width larger than that of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshinobu ASAMI, Yutaka OKAZAKI, Satoru OKAMOTO, Shinya SASAGAWA
  • Patent number: 10199508
    Abstract: A miniaturized transistor, a transistor with low parasitic capacitance, a transistor with high frequency characteristics, or a semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulator, an oxide semiconductor over the first insulator, a first conductor and a second conductor that are in contact with the oxide semiconductor, a second insulator that is over the first and second conductors and has an opening reaching the oxide semiconductor, a third insulator over the oxide semiconductor and the second insulator, and a fourth conductor over the third insulator. The first conductor includes a first region and a second region. The second conductor includes a third region and a fourth region. The second region faces the third region with the first conductor and the first insulator interposed therebetween. The second region is thinner than the first region. The third region is thinner than the fourth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshinobu Asami, Yutaka Okazaki, Motomu Kurata, Katsuaki Tochibayashi, Shinya Sasagawa, Kensuke Yoshizumi, Hideomi Suzawa
  • Patent number: 10186614
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which parasitic capacitance is reduced is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a first insulating layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer, a third insulating layer over the second insulating layer, a third oxide semiconductor layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer over the third oxide semiconductor, and a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer. The second insulating layer is an oxygen barrier layer and includes a region in contact with side surfaces of the first oxide semiconductor layer, the second oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Patent number: 10096718
    Abstract: Reducing the power consumption of a transistor and stably controlling its threshold value. Providing a transistor comprising a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer over the first conductive layer, a semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer, a third insulating layer over the first conductive layer and the semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer over the second insulating layer, and a gate electrode over the third insulating layer. The first conductive layer is in an electrically floating state. The first conductive layer has a region overlapping with the semiconductor layer with the first insulating layer provided therebetween, a region overlapping with the second conductive layer with the second insulating layer provided therebetween, and a region overlapping with the gate electrode with the third insulating layer provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Publication number: 20180248043
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first oxide insulating layer over a first insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide insulating layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer, a second oxide insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer over the second oxide insulating layer, a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer, and a third insulating layer over the second insulating layer, the second oxide insulating layer, the gate insulating layer, and the gate electrode layer. A side surface portion of the second insulating layer is in contact with the second oxide insulating layer. The gate electrode layer includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a width larger than that of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Asami, Yutaka Okazaki, Satoru Okamoto, Shinya Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 9954112
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first oxide insulating layer over a first insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide insulating layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer, a second oxide insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer over the second oxide insulating layer, a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer, and a third insulating layer over the second insulating layer, the second oxide insulating layer, the gate insulating layer, and the gate electrode layer. A side surface portion of the second insulating layer is in contact with the second oxide insulating layer. The gate electrode layer includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a width larger than that of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Asami, Yutaka Okazaki, Satoru Okamoto, Shinya Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 9954113
    Abstract: A transistor with favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device having a high degree of integration is provided. Side surfaces of an oxide semiconductor layer in which a channel is formed are covered with an oxide semiconductor layer, whereby impurity diffusion from the side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor into the inside can be prevented. A gate electrode is formed by a damascene process, whereby transistors can be miniaturized and formed at a high density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Shimomura, Satoru Okamoto, Yutaka Okazaki, Yoshinobu Asami, Hiroaki Honda, Takuya Tsurume
  • Patent number: 9905700
    Abstract: A highly integrated semiconductor device that holds data and includes a first semiconductor layer, a first gate insulating film over the first semiconductor layer, a first gate electrode over the first gate insulating film, a second semiconductor layer over the first gate electrode, a conductive layer over the second semiconductor layer, a second gate insulating film covering the second semiconductor layer and the conductive layer, and a second gate electrode covering at least part of a side surface of the second semiconductor layer with the second gate insulating film interposed therebetween. An end portion of the second semiconductor layer is substantially aligned with an end portion of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Patent number: 9887010
    Abstract: Provided is a highly integrated semiconductor device which can hold data and includes a NAND cell array. Each of the plurality of memory cells of the NAND cell array includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is electrically connected to one electrode connected to a channel region of the first transistor. The second terminal is electrically connected to the other electrode connected to the channel region of the first transistor. The third terminal is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the second transistor. The fourth terminal is electrically connected to one electrode connected to a channel region of the second transistor. A gate electrode of the first transistor is in contact with the other electrode connected to the channel region of the second transistor. A string of the plurality of memory cells is formed by connecting the first terminals and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Publication number: 20180026140
    Abstract: A miniaturized transistor, a transistor with low parasitic capacitance, a transistor with high frequency characteristics, or a semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulator, an oxide semiconductor over the first insulator, a first conductor and a second conductor that are in contact with the oxide semiconductor, a second insulator that is over the first and second conductors and has an opening reaching the oxide semiconductor, a third insulator over the oxide semiconductor and the second insulator, and a fourth conductor over the third insulator. The first conductor includes a first region and a second region. The second conductor includes a third region and a fourth region. The second region faces the third region with the first conductor and the first insulator interposed therebetween. The second region is thinner than the first region. The third region is thinner than the fourth region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Yoshinobu ASAMI, Yutaka OKAZAKI, Motomu KURATA, Katsuaki TOCHIBAYASHI, Shinya SASAGAWA, Kensuke YOSHIZUMI, Hideomi SUZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180019343
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which parasitic capacitance is reduced is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a first insulating layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer, a third insulating layer over the second insulating layer, a third oxide semiconductor layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer over the third oxide semiconductor, and a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer. The second insulating layer is an oxygen barrier layer and includes a region in contact with side surfaces of the first oxide semiconductor layer, the second oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Publication number: 20180012538
    Abstract: A novel semiconductor device or a highly reliable semiconductor device is provided. The on/off state of a transistor which functions as a switch for writing data is controlled using the potential of a potential hold portion. The potential of the potential hold portion is controlled using a plurality of capacitors, whereby both a positive potential and a negative potential can be held in the potential hold portion. Accordingly, deterioration of the transistor which functions as the switch for writing data can be prevented and the characteristics of the transistor can be maintained. Therefore, the highly reliable semiconductor device can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshinobu ASAMI
  • Publication number: 20170365720
    Abstract: Reducing the power consumption of a transistor and stably controlling its threshold value. Providing a transistor comprising a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer over the first conductive layer, a semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer, a third insulating layer over the first conductive layer and the semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer over the second insulating layer, and a gate electrode over the third insulating layer. The first conductive layer is in an electrically floating state. The first conductive layer has a region overlapping with the semiconductor layer with the first insulating layer provided therebetween, a region overlapping with the second conductive layer with the second insulating layer provided therebetween, and a region overlapping with the gate electrode with the third insulating layer provided therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Yoshinobu ASAMI
  • Patent number: 9786669
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that can transmit and receive data without contact is popular partly as some railway passes, electronic money cards, and the like; however, it has been a prime task to provide an inexpensive semiconductor device for further popularization. In view of the above current conditions, a semiconductor device of the present invention includes a memory with a simple structure for providing an inexpensive semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. A memory element included in the memory includes a layer containing an organic compound, and a source electrode or a drain electrode of a TFT provided in the memory element portion is used as a conductive layer which forms a bit line of the memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Asami, Tamae Takano, Masayuki Sakakura, Ryoji Nomura, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9768318
    Abstract: A miniaturized transistor, a transistor with low parasitic capacitance, a transistor with high frequency characteristics, or a semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulator, an oxide semiconductor over the first insulator, a first conductor and a second conductor that are in contact with the oxide semiconductor, a second insulator that is over the first and second conductors and has an opening reaching the oxide semiconductor, a third insulator over the oxide semiconductor and the second insulator, and a fourth conductor over the third insulator. The first conductor includes a first region and a second region. The second conductor includes a third region and a fourth region. The second region faces the third region with the first conductor and the first insulator interposed therebetween. The second region is thinner than the first region. The third region is thinner than the fourth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshinobu Asami, Yutaka Okazaki, Motomu Kurata, Katsuaki Tochibayashi, Shinya Sasagawa, Kensuke Yoshizumi, Hideomi Suzawa