Gate Arrays Patents (Class 257/202)
  • Patent number: 7683403
    Abstract: A design method for an integrated circuit adds spare cells in a System-on-Chip to allow for Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to be performed at a later stage in the design. This method can be used to provide a second version of the chip having minimal alterations performed in a short cycle time. The spare cells can be divided into combinational and sequential cells. There is an optimum spread of combinational cells in the design for post placement repairs of the chip with just metal layer changes. The method takes into account the drive strength of the spare cells as the main factor in their placement on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Anshuman Tripathi
  • Patent number: 7683440
    Abstract: A drain (7) includes a lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a) aligned with a control gate (5), and a heavily-doped deep impurity region (7b) aligned with a sidewall film (8) and doped with impurities at a concentration higher than that of the lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a). The lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a) leads to improvement of the short-channel effect and programming efficiency. A drain contact hole forming portion (70) is provided to the heavily-doped impurity region (7b) to reduce the contact resistance at the drain (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Spansion LLC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideki Komori, Hisayuki Shimada, Yu Sun, Hiroyuki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7683401
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of contact metals, and a gate electrode. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and a dummy active region, and a plurality of contact metals are formed in the active region. A gate electrode is located between the contact metals in the active region. A first distance between the active region and the dummy active region, and a second distance between an edge of the contact metal and an edge of the active region are set such that a channel characteristic of the active region is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myung Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 7683404
    Abstract: A stacked memory includes at least two semiconductor layers each including a memory cell array. A transistor is formed in a peripheral circuit region of an uppermost semiconductor layer of the at least two semiconductor layers. The transistor is used to operate the memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Jang, Won-Seok Cho, Jae-Hoon Jang, Soon-Moon Jung, Hoo-Sung Cho, Jong-Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 7683387
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided a thin film transistor substrate divided into a display area displaying the image and a non-display besides the display area, the thin film transistor substrate comprising: a common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and a grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test formed at the edge of the non-display area in parallel; an insulating layer covering the common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and the grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test; and an electrode layer formed on the insulating layer corresponded to the common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and the grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test. Thus, the present invention provides a thin film transistor substrate and a fabricating method thereof for minimizing defects due to static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 7679107
    Abstract: The present invention provides an involatile memory device that is capable of data writing and erasing at a time other than during manufacturing, and a semiconductor device having the memory device. Also, the present invention provides a compact-sized and inexpensive involatile memory device and a semiconductor device having the memory device. A memory device of the present invention includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer of which at least one has a light transmitting property, and an organic compound layer that is in contact with the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer. The organic compound layer includes conductive particles that are dispersed within the layer, and the organic compound included in the organic compound layer has a site that can photoisomerize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7679106
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit having a substantially rectangular standard cell divided by first borderlines opposed to other standard cells longitudinally adjacent to the standard cell and second borderlines opposed to other standard cells laterally adjacent to the standard cell, the standard cell has: a p-type MOS transistor having first diffused regions and a first gate electrode; an n-type MOS transistor having second diffused regions and a second gate electrode with STI disposed for device isolation between the n-type MOS transistor and the p-type MOS transistor substantially in parallel with the first borderlines; dummy p-type MOS transistors having third gate electrodes disposed on the second borderlines so as to be adjacent to the first diffused regions of the p-type MOS transistor, the third gate electrodes being connected to power supply wiring so as to turn off the dummy p-type MOS transistors; and dummy n-type MOS transistors having fourth gate electrodes disposed on the second borderlines so
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mototsugu Hamada
  • Patent number: 7679125
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing a first wafer and providing a second wafer having a first side and a second side, the second wafer including a semiconductor substrate, a storage layer, and a layer of gate material. The storage layer may be located between the semiconductor structure and the layer of the gate material and the storage layer may be located closer to the first side of the second wafer than the semiconductor structure. The method further includes boding the first side of the second wafer to the first wafer. The method further includes removing a first portion of the semiconductor structure to leave a layer of the semiconductor structure after the bonding. The method further includes forming a transistor having a channel region, wherein at least a portion of the channel region is formed from the layer of the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig T. Swift, Gowrishankar L. Chindalore, Thuy B. Dao, Michael A. Sadd
  • Publication number: 20100032635
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising an array of memory cells and a corresponding production method are described. Each memory cell comprises a resistively switching memory element and a vertical selection diode coupled to a selection line in a selection line trench for selecting one cell from the plurality of memory cells. A selection line is coupled to the vertical selection diode at one vertical sidewall of the selection line trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: QIMONDA AG
    Inventors: Ulrike Gruening-von Schwerin, Peter Baars, Klaus Muemmler, Stefan Tegen, Thomas Happ
  • Publication number: 20100019215
    Abstract: Memory devices are described along with methods for manufacturing. A memory device as described herein includes a plurality of word lines extending in a first direction, and a plurality of bit lines overlying the plurality of word lines and extending in a second direction. A plurality of memory cells are at cross-point locations. Each memory cell comprises a diode having first and second sides aligned with sides of a corresponding word line. Each memory cell also includes a bottom electrode self-centered on the diode, the bottom electrode having a top surface with a surface area less than that of the top surface of the diode. Each of the memory cells includes a strip of memory material on the top surface of the bottom electrode, the strip of memory material underlying and in electrical communication with a corresponding bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicants: Macronix International Co., Ltd., Qimonda North America Corp., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiang-Lan Lung, Chung Hon Lam, Thomas D. Happ, Matthew J. Breitwisch, Alejandro Gabriel Schrott, Min Yang
  • Patent number: 7651905
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the reduction of gate leakage in deep sub-micron metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, especially useful for those used in a cross coupled static random access memory (SRAM) cell, is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the active element of the SRAM cell is used to reduce the voltage on the gate of its transistor without impacting the switching speed of the circuit. Because the load on the output of the inverter is fixed, a reduction in the gate current is optimized to minimize the impact on the switching waveform of the memory cell. An active element formed by two materials with different Fermi potentials is used as a rectifying junction or diode. The rectifying junction also has a large parallel leakage path, which allows a finite current flow when a signal of opposite polarity is applied across this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Semi Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Ashok Kumar Kapoor
  • Publication number: 20100013048
    Abstract: A means for selectively electrically connecting an electrical interconnect line, such as a bit line of a memory cell, with an associated contact stud and electrically isolating the interconnect line from other partially underlying contact studs for other electrical features, such as capacitor bottom electrodes. The interconnect line can be formed partially-connected to all contact studs, thereby allowing the electrical features to be formed in closer proximity to one another for higher levels of integration, and in subsequent steps of fabrication, the contact studs associated with memory cell features other than the interconnect line can be isolated from the interconnect line by the removal of a silicide cap, or the selective etching of a portion of these contact studs, and the formation of an insulating sidewall between the non-selected contact stud and the interconnect line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: John M. Drynan
  • Patent number: 7649216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to radiation hardening by design (RHBD), which employs layout and circuit techniques to mitigate the damaging effects of ionizing radiation. Reverse body biasing (RBB) of N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors may be used to counteract the effects of trapped positive charges in isolation oxides due to ionizing radiation. In a traditional MOS integrated circuit, input/output (I/O) circuitry may be powered using an I/O power supply voltage, and core circuitry may be powered using a core power supply voltage, which is between the I/O power supply voltage and ground. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, the core circuitry is powered using a voltage difference between the core power supply voltage and the I/O power supply voltage. The bodies of NMOS transistors in the core circuitry are coupled to ground; therefore, a voltage difference between the core power supply voltage and ground provides RBB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents for and on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Clark, Karl C. Mohr, Keith E. Holbert
  • Publication number: 20100006896
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has: a substrate; a basic logic cell placed on the substrate and configured to function as a part of a logic circuit; and a dummy cell placed on the substrate and not configured to function as a part of a logic circuit. The basic logic cell includes a diffusion layer formed in the substrate, and a distance from the diffusion layer to a boundary between the basic logic cell and another cell adjacent to the basic logic cell is equal to a first distance. The dummy cell includes a dummy diffusion layer that is a diffusion layer formed in the substrate, and a distance from the dummy diffusion layer to a boundary between the dummy cell and another cell adjacent to the dummy cell is equal to the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Uemura
  • Patent number: 7642572
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a memory cell array and a method of forming an integrated circuit is disclosed. One embodiment provides bitlines running along a first direction, wordlines running along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, active areas and bitline contacts. The bitline contacts are arranged in columns extending in the second direction and in rows extending in the first direction. A distance between neighboring bitlines is DL, and a distance between neighboring bitline contacts is DC, DC being measured parallel to the first direction. The following relation holds: 1/2.25?DL/DC?1/1.75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Martin Popp, Till Schloesser, Ulrike Gruening-von Schwerin, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20090321789
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming at least one device layer over a substrate, forming a plurality of spaced apart first features over the device layer, where each three adjacent first features form an equilateral triangle, forming sidewall spacers on the first features, filling a space between the sidewall spacers with a plurality of filler features, selectively removing the sidewall spacers, and etching the at least one device layer using at least the plurality of filler features as a mask. A device contains a plurality of bottom electrodes located over a substrate, a plurality of spaced apart pillars over the plurality of bottom electrodes, and a plurality of upper electrodes contacting the plurality of pillars. Each three adjacent pillars form an equilateral triangle, and each pillar comprises a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Chun-Ming Wang, Yung-Tin Chen, Roy E. Scheuerlein
  • Patent number: 7638416
    Abstract: Strands of active electronic devices (AEDs), such as FETs, are made by first completely or partially forming a plurality of the AEDs on a precursor substrate. Then, one or more elongate conductors (e.g., wires) are secured to ones of the AEDs so as to electrically connected the AEDs together. After securing the conductor(s) to corresponding respective ones of the AEDs, the connected ones of the AEDs and their respective conductor(s) is/are liberated as one or more composite members from the precursor substrate by removing material from the substrate. Each of the composite substrates is further processed as needed to complete an AED strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Versatilis LLC
    Inventor: Ajaykumar R. Jain
  • Publication number: 20090316463
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device, including a channel area; a gate line extending along the channel area so that the channel area can be set into a conductive state by activating the gate line; a plurality of terminals including an electrical connection to the channel area, so that the plurality of terminals is connectable to a predetermined voltage by activating the gate line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Sommer
  • Patent number: 7633098
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to field-effect-transistor (FET) multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures and methods for fabricating them. One of these FET multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures enables decoding of an array of tightly pitched conductive structures. Another enables efficient decoding of various types of conductive-structure arrays, tightly pitched or otherwise. Also, processes for forming FET multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures are disclosed that use alignment-independent processing steps. One of these processes uses one, low-accuracy imprinting step and further alignment-independent processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Yang, Pavel Komilovich
  • Patent number: 7630227
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to process a semiconductor substrate by fabricating a first layer on the substrate using semiconductor fabrication techniques; fabricating a second layer above the first layer having one or more NANO-bonding areas; self-assembling one or more NANO-elements; and bonding the NANO-elements to the NANO-bonding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Publication number: 20090289281
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of bit lines repeatedly arranged with a same line width and pitch in a memory device region; a plurality of shunt lines arranged in a same layer as that of the plurality of bit lines, in parallel therewith, and with the same line width and pitch as those of the plurality of bit lines in the memory device region; and an upper-layer contact plug arranged from an upper-layer side so as to be connected to the plurality of shunt lines by extending over two or more shunt lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Makoto WADA, Akihiro KAJITA, Kazuyuki HIGASHI
  • Patent number: 7615206
    Abstract: Methods for the production of shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structures, wherein a nanoscale-to-microscale template is provided having an original chemical composition and an original shape, and the nanoscale-to-microscale template subjected to a chemical reaction, so as to partially or completely convert the nanoscale-to-microscale template into the shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure having a chemical composition different than the original chemical composition and having substantially the same shape as the original shape, being a scaled version of the original shape. The shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure formed comprises an element (such as silicon), a metallic alloy (such as a silicon alloy), or a non-oxide compound (such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Henry Sandhage, Zhihao Bao
  • Publication number: 20090261312
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including an array of low resistive vertical diodes and method. One embodiment provides an array of diodes at least partially formed in a substrate for selecting one of a plurality of memory cells. A diode is coupled to a word line. The word line includes a straight-lined portion and protrusions. The diode includes an active area located between two adjacent protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Qimonda AG
    Inventor: Ulrike Gruening-von Schwerin
  • Patent number: 7605436
    Abstract: A method contains the steps of (a) heating a silicon substrate in a reaction chamber; and (b) supplying film-forming gas containing source gas, nitridizing gas, and nitridation enhancing gas to a surface of the heated silicon substrate, to deposit on the silicon substrate an Hf1-xAlxO:N film (0.1<x<0.3) having a higher specific dielectric constant than that of silicon oxide, and incorporating N, by thermal CVD. The method can form an oxide film of Hf1-xAlxO (0<x<0.3) having desired characteristics, as a gate insulation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaomi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090250726
    Abstract: A one time programmable memory cell having an anti-fuse device with a low threshold voltage independent of core circuit process manufacturing technology is presented. A two transistor memory cell having a pass transistor and an anti-fuse device, or a single transistor memory cell having a dual thickness gate oxide, are formed in a high voltage well that is formed for high voltage transistors. The threshold voltage of the anti-fuse device differs from the threshold voltages of any transistor in the core circuits of the memory device, but has a gate oxide thickness that is the same as a transistor in the core circuits. The pass transistor has a threshold voltage that differs from the threshold voltages of any transistor in the core circuits, and has a gate oxide thickness that differs from any transistor in the core circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Sidense Corp.
    Inventor: Wlodek KURJANOWICZ
  • Patent number: 7598570
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present invention is provided with an SOI substrate, an active region, a first insulating film (complete separation insulating film), a second insulating film (partial separation insulating film), and a contact portion. Here, the active region is formed within the surface of the SOI layer. In addition, the first insulating film is formed on one side of the active region from the surface of SOI layer to the buried insulating film. In addition, the second insulating film is formed on the other side of the active region from the surface of SOI layer to a predetermined depth that does not reach the buried insulating film. In addition, the contact portion is provided toward the side where the first insulating film exists, off the center of the active region in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hirano, Takashi Ipposhi
  • Publication number: 20090236636
    Abstract: A closed cell array structure capable of decreasing area of non-well junction regions includes a plurality of closed cell units, arranged in a plane, each shaped as a polygon, and a plurality of gate windows, each formed in a corner of a closed cell unit in a gate layer without doped source ion material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Hsiu-Wen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7592710
    Abstract: A bond pad structure of an integrated circuit is provided. The bond pad structure includes a conductive bond pad, a first dielectric layer underlying the bond pad, and an Mtop plate located in the first dielectric layer and underlying the bond pad. The Mtop plate is a solid conductive plate and is electrically coupled to the bond pad. The bond pad structure further includes a first passivation layer over the first dielectric layer wherein the first passivation layer has at least a portion under a middle portion of the bond pad. At least part of an active circuit is located under the bond pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Chiu Hsia, Chih-Hsiang Yao, Tai-Chun Huang, Chih-Tang Peng
  • Publication number: 20090230434
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate; a memory block formed on the semiconductor substrate and including plural stacked cell array layers of cell arrays each comprising a plurality of first lines, a plurality of second lines crossing the plurality of first lines, and memory cells connected at intersections of the first and second lines between both lines; and a plurality of contacts extending in the stack direction of the cell array layers and connecting the first lines in the cell arrays with diffusion regions formed on the semiconductor substrate. A certain one of the cell array layers is smaller in the number of the first lines divided and the number of contacts connected than the cell array layers in a lower layer located closer to the semiconductor substrate than the certain one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tsuneo Inaba, Hideo Mukai
  • Patent number: 7589367
    Abstract: A line layout structure and method in a semiconductor memory device having a hierarchical structure are provided. In a semiconductor memory device having a global word line and a local word line, and a global bit line and a local bit line, and individually disposing all of the global word line, the local word line, the global bit line and the local bit line at conductive layers among at least three layers; at least two of the global word line, the local word line, the global bit line and the local bit line are together disposed in parallel on one conductive layer. Signal lines constituting a semiconductor memory device are disposed in a hierarchical structure, whereby a semiconductor memory device advantageously having high integration, high speed and high performance may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Rok Oh, Sang-Beom Kang, Du-Eung Kim
  • Publication number: 20090225581
    Abstract: A memory device may include a cathode, an anode, a link connected to the anode, and a first connection element that connects the link to the cathode. The link and the anode may be located in a position lower than that of the cathode or the link and the anode may be located in a position higher than that of the cathode. Also, the cathode, the anode, the link, and the first connection element may be formed on the same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Deok-kee Kim, Ha-young You, Young-chang Joo, Jung-hun Sung, Soo-jung Hwang, Sung-yup Jung
  • Patent number: 7586132
    Abstract: In one embodiment, relatively thin but wide metal bus strips overlying a high power FET are formed to conduct current to the source and drain narrow metal strips. A passivation layer is formed over the surface of the FET, and the passivation layer is etched to expose almost the entire top surface of the bus strips. A copper seed layer is then formed over the surface of the wafer, and a mask is formed to expose only the seed layer over the bus strips. The seed layer over the bus strips is then copper or gold electroplated to deposit a very thick metal layer, which effectively merges with the underlaying metal layer, to reduce on-resistance. The plating metal does not need to be passivated due to its thickness and wide line/space. Other techniques may also be used for depositing a thick metal over the exposed bus strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Alter, Richard Dolan
  • Patent number: 7586131
    Abstract: A transistor array includes conductor lines, function lines, and transistors. Each of the conductor lines includes a core and a conductor layer that covers the core. Each of the function lines includes a core, at least the surface of which is electrically conductive, an insulating layer that covers the core, and a semiconductor layer that covers the insulating layer. Each of the function lines contacts with, and crosses, the conductor lines. Each of the transistors includes a first ohmic contact region, which is defined by a region where one of the conductor lines crosses one of the function lines and which makes an ohmic contact with the semiconductor layer, a second ohmic contact region, which also makes an ohmic contact with the semiconductor layer, and a channel region, which is defined in the semiconductor layer between the first and second ohmic contact regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohiko Nishiki, Kazuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090219742
    Abstract: A Three-Dimensional Structure (3DS) Memory allows for physical separation of the memory circuits and the control logic circuit onto different layers such that each layer may be separately optimized. One control logic circuit suffices for several memory circuits, reducing cost. Fabrication of 3DS memory involves thinning of the memory circuit to less than 50 ?m in thickness and bonding the circuit to a circuit stack while still in wafer substrate form. Fine-grain high density inter-layer vertical bus connections are used. The 3DS memory manufacturing method enables several performance and physical size efficiencies, and is implemented with established semiconductor processing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Publication number: 20090218600
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit and an integrated circuit are described. In one embodiment, the method for manufacturing the integrated circuit includes determining a layout for numerous memory elements based on memory-specific parameters, and determining a layout for a front-end-of-line (FEOL) component of the integrated circuit based on electrical parameters. Once these two layouts are determined, the layouts are combined to produce a layout for a memory cell on the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Human Park, Ulrich Klostermann
  • Patent number: 7582548
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first gate line, a second gate line, a first contact electrode, first dummy gates, a second gate pad, and a second contact electrode. The first gate line is formed on a semiconductor substrate and the second gate line of a spacer shape is formed on the sidewalls of the first gate line with a thin insulating layer interposed therebetween. The first contact electrode is vertically connected with the first gate line. The first dummy gates are formed in array spaced a predetermined interval from the first gate line on the semiconductor substrate. The second gate pad of a spacer shape is formed on the sidewalls of the first dummy gates with a thin insulating layer interposed therebetween. The second gate pad is connected to the second gate line and is also gap-filled between the first dummy gates. The second contact electrode is vertically connected with the second gate pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Bum Lee
  • Patent number: 7582921
    Abstract: In a masking pattern (a) for patterning word and data lines, length is changed between adjacent word lines so as to be shifted from each other at their tips, and furthermore, the tip of each word line is cut obliquely. It is thus possible to prevent the resist pattern from separation and contact of adjacent patterns. Consequently, it is also possible to prevent break failures of patterned lines and short failures between those patterned lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Sekiguchi, Toshihiko Tanaka, Toshiaki Yamanaka, Takeshi Sakata, Katsutaka Kimura
  • Publication number: 20090212328
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first gate line, a second gate line, a first contact electrode, first dummy gates, a second gate pad, and a second contact electrode. The first gate line is formed on a semiconductor substrate and the second gate line of a spacer shape is formed on the sidewalls of the first gate line with a thin insulating layer interposed therebetween. The first contact electrode is vertically connected with the first gate line. The first dummy gates are formed in array spaced a predetermined interval from the first gate line on the semiconductor substrate. The second gate pad of a spacer shape is formed on the sidewalls of the first dummy gates with a thin insulating layer interposed therebetween. The second gate pad is connected to the second gate line and is also gap-filled between the first dummy gates. The second contact electrode is vertically connected with the second gate pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Sang Bum Lee
  • Publication number: 20090212327
    Abstract: A standard cell library includes a first power rail, a second power rail, a third power rail, a first standard cell, and second standard cells. The first power rail extends in a first direction. The second power rail extends in the first direction, and is spaced apart from the first power rail by a predetermined spacing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third power rail extends in the first direction between the first power rail and the second power rail. The first standard cell has at least one cell having a first cell height, and is arranged between the first power rail and the second power rail. The second standard cells have at least two cells, each having a second cell height, that are in contact with each other in the second direction, and are in contact with the first standard cell in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Ha-Young Kim, Sang-Jin Cheong
  • Publication number: 20090207649
    Abstract: A vertical transistor having a wrap-around-gate and a method of fabricating such a transistor. The wrap-around-gate (WAG) vertical transistors are fabricated by a process in which source, drain and channel regions of the transistor are automatically defined and aligned by the fabrication process, without photolithographic patterning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Robert J. Burke, Anand Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7573087
    Abstract: A means for selectively electrically connecting an electrical interconnect line, such as a bit line of a memory cell, with an associated contact stud and electrically isolating the interconnect line from other partially underlying contact studs for other electrical features, such as capacitor bottom electrodes. The interconnect line can be formed partially-connected to all contact studs, thereby allowing the electrical features to be formed in closer proximity to one another for higher levels of integration, and in subsequent steps of fabrication, the contact studs associated with memory cell features other than the interconnect line can be isolated from the interconnect line by the removal of a silicide cap, or the selective etching of a portion of these contact studs, and the formation of an insulating sidewall between the non-selected contact stud and the interconnect line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Drynan
  • Publication number: 20090189193
    Abstract: A method of selectively forming a spacer on a first class of transistors and devices formed by such methods. The method can include depositing a conformal first deposition layer on a substrate with different classes of transistors situated thereon, depositing a blocking layer to at least one class of transistors, dry etching the first deposition layer, removing the blocking layer, depositing a conformal second deposition layer on the substrate, dry etching the second deposition layer and wet etching the remaining first deposition layer. Devices may include transistors of a first class with larger spacers compared to spacers of transistors of a second class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: GIUSEPPE CURELLO, Ian R. Post, Chia-Hong Jan, Mark Bohr
  • Patent number: 7566902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting device that can independently display images of both front and back sides, in a light emitting device that can display in the both sides and also provides a light-emitting device in which the aperture ratio of both or either of front and back displays increases. A light-emitting device has a structure in which a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element that are adjacent to each other are arranged in matrix; wherein the first light-emitting element can emit light to a first side of a substrate and the second light-emitting element can emit light to a second side that is opposite to the first side of the substrate. And light-emission of the first light-emitting element to the second side is shielded and light-emission of the second light-emitting element to the first side is shielded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harue Nakashima, Satoshi Seo, Yukie Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7553708
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display having an applied horizontal electric field comprising: a gate line; a common line substantially parallel to the gate line; a data line arranged to cross the gate line and the common line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor formed at each crossing of the gate line and the data line; a common electrode formed in the pixel area and connected to the common line; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, wherein the horizontal electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode in the pixel area; a gate pad formed with at least one conductive layer included in the gate line; a data pad formed with at least one conductive layer included in the data line; a common pad formed with at least one conductive layer included in the common line; a passivation film to expose at least one of the gate pad, the data pad and the common pad; and a driving integrated circuit mounted on a substrate to connect directly to one of the gate pad and the data p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Chul Ahn, Byoung Ho Lim
  • Publication number: 20090159931
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a semiconductor device having bit lines and bit bar lines. The bit lines and the bit bar lines are arranged in alternate succession across a substrate. At least two of proximate bit lines, bit line bars, power lines, and ground lines of the semiconductor device are formed on different layers, in order to reduce defects due to particles between lines, and increase yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Jin Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7550790
    Abstract: A D/A conversion circuit with a small area is provided. In the D/A conversion circuit, according to a digital signal transmitted from address lines of an address decoder, one of four gradation voltage lines is selected. A circuit including two N-channel TFTs is connected in series to a circuit including two P-channel TFT, and a circuit including the circuits connected in series to each other is connected in parallel to each of the gradation voltage lines. Further, an arrangement of the circuit including the two N-channel TFTs and the circuit including the two P-channel TFTs is reversed for every gradation voltage line. By this, the crossings of wiring lines in the D/A conversion circuit becomes small and the area can be made small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Mitsuaki Osame, Yukio Tanaka, Munehiro Azami, Naoko Yano, Shou Nagao
  • Publication number: 20090146188
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of integrated memory cells. Each cell includes a first inverter having a first driver transistor and a first load transistor which are formed on a semiconductor substrate in order to form a first storage node, a second inverter having a second driver transistor and a second load transistor which are formed on the semiconductor substrate in order to form a second storage node, a first transfer transistor connected between the first storage node and a bit line to serve as a transistor connecting the memory cell to the bit line, and a second transfer transistor connected between the second storage node and a complementary-bit line to serve as a transistor connecting the memory cell to the complementary-bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090140298
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a layout structure of a dual port SRAM and a method for forming a SRAM. According to embodiments, a structure where a plurality lines and vias are electrically connected may include first lines that may be electrically connected to a cell region of a memory cell, and a first via, a second line, a second via, a third line, a third via, and a fourth line on and/or over an upper side of the first line,. According to embodiments, the fourth lines arranged on the upper side of the cell region may be formed in a substantially straight form parallel with each other. According to embodiments, the fourth lines may be formed and positioned to prevent bit lines positioned in a cell region of the dual port SRAM from becoming electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Jung-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 7538368
    Abstract: In a standard cell, at least one of transistors on either side of a transistor having gate length different from that of the other transistors are set to be always in the OFF state. This prevents influence to the operation of the standard cell even with variation in final gate dimension, suppressing variation in characteristics of the standard cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Yano
  • Publication number: 20090114951
    Abstract: A memory device can be implemented including word lines connected to an array of memory transistors. Each memory transistor is also connected to bit lines and a select transistor. The select transistors each have their sources connected to a conductive source line, by a shunt and the gate of each select transistor is connected to a select line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bohumil Lojek