Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Utsuno

Yukihiro Utsuno 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: 20120083109
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bit line that is provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicide layer that has side faces and a bottom face surrounded by the bit line and is provided within the bit line, an ONO film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and sidewalls that are in contact with the side faces of a trapping layer in the ONO film over the portions of the bit line located on both sides of the silicide layer, the sidewalls being formed with silicon oxide films including phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yukihiro UTSUNO, Namjin HEO
  • Patent number: 8143664
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bit line that is provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicide layer that has side faces and a bottom face surrounded by the bit line and is provided within the bit line, an ONO film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and sidewalls that are in contact with the side faces of a trapping layer in the ONO film over the portions of the bit line located on both sides of the silicide layer, the sidewalls being formed with silicon oxide films including phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Yukihiro Utsuno, Namjin Heo
  • Patent number: 8004901
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells that are provided in a matrix and that have a charge storage layer made of an insulating film that is provided on a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of word lines that are provided on the charge storage layer. A plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a single line among the plurality of memory cells arranged in the matrix are coupled to the same word line. The semiconductor device further includes an application section that when reading data from a selected memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells, applies a voltage to a selected word line to be coupled to the selected memory cell among the plurality of word lines. The application section applies a voltage that has a polarity that is opposite to the voltage applied to the selected word line to non-selected word lines arranged on both adjacent sides of the selected word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Fumiaki Toyama, Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20110171819
    Abstract: A silicon nitride film, which is a second hard mask, is dry etched to be removed completely. The silicon nitride film, which is formed on a sidewall of a silicon nitride film used as a first hard mask, has a relatively low etching rate. Therefore, if the silicon nitride film is continued etching until the corresponding portion thereof is removed, polysilicon is etched in a direction of depth in trench shape. Then, floating gates in adjacent cells are separated and a step portion of the polysilicon is formed. Consequently, a remaining portion of the silicon nitride film used as the first hard mask is removed, an ONO film is laminated on a whole surface of the poly silicon having the step portion on an edge that has been etched, and then, a polysilicon for a control gate is laminated on the ONO film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Yukihiro UTSUNO
  • Publication number: 20110156127
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a bit line in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of word lines which intersect with the bit line at predetermined intervals on the semiconductor substrate; eliminating a portion of the plurality of word lines; forming an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; and forming a metal plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and is coupled to the bit line in a region where the portion of the plurality of word lines was eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Naofumi TAKAHATA, Masahiko HIGASHI, Yukihiro UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 7910974
    Abstract: A silicon nitride film, which is a second hard mask, is dry etched to be removed completely. The silicon nitride film, which is formed on a sidewall of a silicon nitride film used as a first hard mask, has a relatively low etching rate. Therefore, if the silicon nitride film is continued etching until the corresponding portion thereof is removed, polysilicon is etched in a direction of depth in trench shape. Then, floating gates in adjacent cells are separated and a step portion of the polysilicon is formed. Consequently, a remaining portion of the silicon nitride film used as the first hard mask is removed, an ONO film is laminated on a whole surface of the poly silicon having the step portion on an edge that has been etched, and then, a polysilicon for a control gate is laminated on the ONO film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventor: Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Patent number: 7820547
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a bit line in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of word lines which intersect with the bit line at predetermined intervals on the semiconductor substrate; eliminating a portion of the plurality of word lines; forming an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; and forming a metal plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and is coupled to the bit line in a region where the portion of the plurality of word lines was eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Naofumi Takahata, Masahiko Higashi, Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20100052038
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes two trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer as an insulator formed on each side surface of the trenches, and separated on a bottom surface thereof, and a bit line formed below the bottom surface of the trenches in the semiconductor substrate. A channel region is formed in the semiconductor substrate from a side surface of one of the two trenches to that of the other trench via an upper surface of a protruding portion between those two trenches. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20100002517
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells that are provided in a matrix and that have a charge storage layer made of an insulating film that is provided on a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of word lines that are provided on the charge storage layer. A plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a single line among the plurality of memory cells arranged in the matrix are coupled to the same word line. The semiconductor device further includes an application section that when reading data from a selected memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells, applies a voltage to a selected word line to be coupled to the selected memory cell among the plurality of word lines. The application section applies a voltage that has a polarity that is opposite to the voltage applied to the selected word line to non-selected word lines arranged on both adjacent sides of the selected word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Fumiaki TOYAMA, Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20090184427
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a bit line in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of word lines which intersect with the bit line at predetermined intervals on the semiconductor substrate; eliminating a portion of the plurality of word lines; forming an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; and forming a metal plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and is coupled to the bit line in a region where the portion of the plurality of word lines was eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Naofumi TAKAHATA, Masahiko HIGASHI, Yukihiro UTSUNO
  • Publication number: 20080265309
    Abstract: After an ONO film in which a silicon nitride film (22) formed by a plasma nitriding method using a plasma processor having a radial line slot antenna is sandwiched by silicon oxide films (21), (23), a bit line diffusion layer (17) is formed in a memory cell array region (11) by an ion implantation as a resist pattern (16) taken as a mask, then lattice defects are given to the silicon nitride film (22) by a further ion implantation. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor memory device can be realized, in which a high quality nitride film is formed in a low temperature condition, in addition, the nitride film can be used as a charge trap film having a charge capture function sufficiently adaptable for a miniaturization and a high integration which are recent demands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: SPANSION LLC
    Inventors: Masahiko Higashi, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Hiroyuki Nansei, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Publication number: 20080224275
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes bit lines provided in a semiconductor substrate; an ONO film that is provided along the surface of the semiconductor substrate and is made of a tunnel oxide film, a trap layer, and a top oxide film; and an oxide film that is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the middle between the bit lines and contacts the side face of the ONO film, in which the film thickness of the oxide film is larger than the sum of the thicknesses of the tunnel oxide film and the top oxide film, and smaller than the thickness of the ONO film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: SPANSION LLC
    Inventors: Yukio Hayakawa, Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Patent number: 7410857
    Abstract: After an ONO film in which a silicon nitride film (22) formed by a plasma nitriding method using a plasma processor having a radial line slot antenna is sandwiched by silicon oxide films (21), (23), a bit line diffusion layer (17) is formed in a memory cell array region (11) by an ion implantation as a resist pattern (16) taken as a mask, then lattice defects are given to the silicon nitride film (22) by a further ion implantation. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor memory device can be realized, in which a high quality nitride film is formed in a low temperature condition, in addition, the nitride film can be used as a charge trap film having a charge capture function sufficiently adaptable for a miniaturization and a high integration which are recent demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Spansion LLC.
    Inventors: Masahiko Higashi, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Hiroyuki Nansei, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Publication number: 20080185628
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a semiconductor substrate having a groove, a bit line, a pocket implantation region, a bottom insulating membrane, and a charge accumulation region. The bit line is formed on a side of the groove in the semiconductor substrate and acts as a source and a drain. The pocket implantation region is formed to touch (or contact) the bit line, has a similar conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate, and has a dopant concentration higher than that of the semiconductor substrate. The bottom insulating membrane is formed on and touches (or contacts) a side surface of the groove. The charge accumulation layer is formed on and touches (or contacts) a side surface of the bottom insulating membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Yukihiro Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20070262374
    Abstract: After an ONO film in which a silicon nitride film (22) formed by a plasma nitriding method using a plasma processor having a radial line slot antenna is sandwiched by silicon oxide films (21), (23), a bit line diffusion layer (17) is formed in a memory cell array region (11) by an ion implantation as a resist pattern (16) taken as a mask, then lattice defects are given to the silicon nitride film (22) by a further ion implantation. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor memory device can be realized, in which a high quality nitride film is formed in a low temperature condition, in addition, the nitride film can be used as a charge trap film having a charge capture function sufficiently adaptable for a miniaturization and a high integration which are recent demands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: SPANSION LLC
    Inventors: Masahiko Higashi, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Hiroyuki Nansei, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Publication number: 20070210373
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bit line that is provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicide layer that has side faces and a bottom face surrounded by the bit line and is provided within the bit line, an ONO film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and sidewalls that are in contact with the side faces of a trapping layer in the ONO film over the portions of the bit line located on both sides of the silicide layer, the sidewalls being formed with silicon oxide films including phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Yukihiro Utsuno, Namjin Heo
  • Patent number: 7253046
    Abstract: After an ONO film in which a silicon nitride film (22) formed by a plasma nitriding method using a plasma processor having a radial line slot antenna is sandwiched by silicon oxide films (21), (23), a bit line diffusion layer (17) is formed in a memory cell array region (11) by an ion implantation as a resist pattern (16) taken as a mask, then lattice defects are given to the silicon nitride film (22) by a further ion implantation. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor memory device can be realized, in which a high quality nitride film is formed in a low temperature condition, in addition, the nitride film can be used as a charge trap film having a charge capture function sufficiently adaptable for a miniaturization and a high integration which are recent demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Spansion LLC.
    Inventors: Masahiko Higashi, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Hiroyuki Nansei, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Publication number: 20060228899
    Abstract: After a lower silicon oxide film is formed on a silicon region, a silicon film is formed on the lower silicon oxide film by, for example, a thermal CVD method. Subsequently, the silicon film is completely nitrided by a plasma nitriding method to be replaced by a silicon nitride film. Subsequently, a surface layer of the silicon nitride film is oxidized by a plasma oxidizing method to be replaced by an upper silicon oxide film. An ONO film as a multilayered insulating film composed of the lower silicon oxide film, the silicon nitride film, and the upper silicon oxide film is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: FUJITSU AMD SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nansei, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Masahiko Higashi, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Patent number: 7098147
    Abstract: After a lower silicon oxide film is formed on a silicon region, a silicon film is formed on the lower silicon oxide film by, for example, a thermal CVD method. Subsequently, the silicon film is completely nitrided by a plasma nitriding method to be replaced by a silicon nitride film. Subsequently, a surface layer of the silicon nitride film is oxidized by a plasma oxidizing method to be replaced by an upper silicon oxide film. An ONO film as a multilayered insulating film composed of the lower silicon oxide film, the silicon nitride film, and the upper silicon oxide film is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Amd Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nansei, Manabu Nakamura, Kentaro Sera, Masahiko Higashi, Yukihiro Utsuno, Hideo Takagi, Tatsuya Kajita
  • Publication number: 20060091445
    Abstract: A silicon nitride film, which is a second hard mask, is dry etched to be removed completely. The silicon nitride film, which is formed on a sidewall of a silicon nitride film used as a first hard mask, has a relatively low etching rate. Therefore, if the silicon nitride film is continued etching until the corresponding portion thereof is removed, polysilicon is etched in a direction of depth in trench shape. Then, floating gates in adjacent cells are separated and a step portion of the polysilicon is formed. Consequently, a remaining portion of the silicon nitride film used as the first hard mask is removed, an ONO film is laminated on a whole surface of the poly silicon having the step portion on an edge that has been etched, and then, a polysilicon for a control gate is laminated on the ONO film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventor: Yukihiro Utsuno