Capacitor For Signal Storage In Combination With Non-volatile Storage Means Patents (Class 257/298)
  • Patent number: 8896045
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a layer of phase change material extending from a first contact with the first electrode to a second contact with the second electrode, and a sidewall spacer contacting the second electrode and a sidewall of the layer of phase change material adjacent to the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jan Boris Philipp, Thomas Happ
  • Patent number: 8896046
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be retained even when power is not supplied, and which does not have a limitation on the number of writing. The semiconductor device includes both a memory circuit including a transistor including an oxide semiconductor (in a broader sense, a transistor whose off-state current is sufficiently small), and a peripheral circuit such as a driver circuit including a transistor including a material other than an oxide semiconductor (that is, a transistor capable of operating at sufficiently high speed). Further, the peripheral circuit is provided in a lower portion and the memory circuit is provided in an upper portion, so that the area and size of the semiconductor device can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8890223
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes isolation capacitors which include a silicon dioxide dielectric layer and a polymer dielectric layer over the layer of silicon dioxide. The silicon dioxide dielectric layer and the polymer dielectric layer extend across the integrated circuit. Top plates of the isolation capacitors have bond pads for wire bonds or bump bonds. Bottom plates of the isolation capacitors are connected to components of the integrated circuit. Other bond pads are connected to components in the integrated circuit through vias through the silicon dioxide dielectric layer and the polymer dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Dyer Bonifield, Byron Williams, Shrinivasan Jaganathan
  • Patent number: 8890225
    Abstract: The NVM device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region. The NVM device includes a data-storing structure formed in the first region and designed operable to retain charges. The NVM device includes a capacitor formed in the second region and coupled with the data-storing structure for data operations. The data-storing structure includes a first doped well of a first-type in the semiconductor substrate. The data-storing structure includes a first gate dielectric feature on the first doped well. The data-storing structure includes a first gate electrode disposed on the first gate dielectric feature and configured to be floating. The capacitor includes a second doped well of the first-type. The capacitor includes a second gate dielectric feature on the second doped well. The capacitor also includes a second gate electrode disposed on the second gate dielectric feature and connected to the first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chuan Liao, Chien-Kao Yang, Ying-Kit Tsui, Shih-Hsien Chen, Liang-Tai Kuo, Chun-Yao Ko
  • Patent number: 8860111
    Abstract: An array of phase change memory cells is manufactured by forming a separation layer over an array of contacts, forming a patterning layer on the separation layer and forming an array of mask openings in the patterning layer using lithographic process. Etch masks are formed within the mask openings by a process that compensates for variation in the size of the mask openings that result from the lithographic process. The etch masks are used to etch through the separation layer to define an array of electrode openings exposing the underlying contacts. Electrode material is deposited within the electrode openings; and memory elements are formed over the bottom electrodes. Finally, bit lines are formed over the memory elements to complete the memory cells. In the resulting memory array, the critical dimension of the top surface of bottom electrode varies less than the width of the memory elements in the mask openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Macronix International Co., Ltd., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiang-Lan Lung, Chung Hon Lam, Matthew J. Breitwisch
  • Patent number: 8853761
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) bitcell with one or more active regions capacitively coupled to the floating gate but that are separated from both the source and the drain. The inclusion of capacitors separated from the source and drain allows for improved control over the voltage of the floating gate. This in turn allows CHEI (or IHEI) to be performed with much higher efficiency than in existing bitcells, thereby the need for a charge pump to provide current to the bitcell, ultimately decreasing the total size of the bitcell. The bitcells may be constructed in pairs, further reducing the space requirements of the each bitcell, thereby mitigating the space requirements of the separate capacitor/s. The bitcell may also be operated by CHEI (or IHEI) and separately by BTBT depending upon the voltages applied at the source, drain, and capacitor/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Publication number: 20140284674
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a first selector gate, and a second selector gate. The first capacitor has first and second ends, the first end is electrically connected to an input end of a clock signal. The second capacitor as a spare has third and fourth ends and is electrically connected to the input end. The first selector gate is electrically connected between the second end of the first capacitor and a first node of the voltage generating circuit. The second selector gate is connected between the fourth end of the second capacitor and the first node of the voltage generating circuit. The first and second selector gates are switched based on an output voltage of the voltage generating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Hitoshi IWAI
  • Publication number: 20140269060
    Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate doped with a first conductivity-determining impurity. The semiconductor substrate has formed therein a first well doped with a second conductivity-determining impurity that is different from the first conductivity-determining impurity, a second well, formed within the first well, and doped with the first conductivity-determining impurity, and a third well spaced apart from the first and second wells and doped with the first conductivity-determining impurity. The integrated circuit further includes a floating gate structure formed over the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ricardo P. Mikalo, Stefan Flachowsky
  • Patent number: 8835315
    Abstract: A capacitor dielectric can be between the storage node and the electrode layer. A supporting pattern can be connected to the storage node, where the supporting pattern can include at least one first pattern and at least one second pattern layered on one another, where the first pattern can include a material having an etch selectivity with respect to the second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyungmun Byun, Hyongsoo Kim, Eunkee Hong, Mansug Kang
  • Patent number: 8829582
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes MOS transistors, capacitor elements, a voltage generating circuit, a contact plug, and a memory cell. The MOS transistor and the capacitor element are formed on a first one of the element regions and a second one of the element regions, respectively. In the voltage generating circuit, current paths of the MOS transistors are series-connected and the capacitor elements are connected to the source or drain of the MOS transistors. The contact plug is formed on the source or the drain to connect the MOS transistors or one of the MOS transistors and one of the capacitor elements. A distance between the gate and the contact plug both for a first one of the MOS transistors located in the final stage in the series connection is larger than that for a second one of the MOS transistors located in the initial stage in the series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Noguchi, Kenji Gomikawa
  • Patent number: 8816419
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having a high switching speed. A semiconductor device is provided with an n-type epitaxial layer having a plurality of trenches arranged at prescribed intervals; an embedded electrode formed on an inner surface of the trench through a silicon oxide film to embed each trench; and a metal layer, which is capacitively coupled with the embedded electrode by being arranged above the embedded electrode through a silicon oxide film. In the semiconductor device, a region between the adjacent trenches operates as a channel (current path). A current flowing in the channel is interrupted by covering the region with a depletion layer formed at the periphery of the trenches, and the current is permitted to flow through the channel by eliminating the depletion layer at the periphery of the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Takaishi
  • Patent number: 8809929
    Abstract: Memory devices comprise a lower layer that extends across a cell array region and across a peripheral region and that includes a flat outer surface from the cell array region to the peripheral region. A signal transfer conductor layer extends in the cell array region beneath the flat outer surface of the lower layer and extends in the peripheral region above the flat outer surface of the lower layer. An insulating layer is provided on the lower layer, including a flat outer surface from the cell array region to the peripheral region. A flat stopper layer is provided on the flat outer surface of the insulating layer and extending across the cell array region and the peripheral region. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wonmo Park, Hyunchul Kim, Hyodong Ban, Hyunju Lee
  • Publication number: 20140209988
    Abstract: A multiple time programmable nonvolatile memory device having a single polysilicon memory cell includes a select transistor and a bitcell transistor. The bitcell transistor has asymmetrically configured source, drain, and channel regions including asymmetrically configured source-body and drain-body junctions. Compared with the drain-body junction, the impurity concentration gradient of the source-body junction is more gradual, which may significantly improve program disturb immunity. The bitcell transistor gate may be connected to an electrode of a coupling capacitor, but may be otherwise floating or Ohmically isolated. The floating gate of the bitcell is protected by a dielectric layer for potentially improved data retention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Xin Lin, Hongning Yang, Zhihong Zhang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8792284
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device which conducts multilevel writing operation and a driving method thereof, a signal line for controlling on/off of a writing transistor for conducting a writing operation on a memory cell using a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is disposed along a bit line, and a multilevel writing operation is conducted with use of, also in a writing operation, a voltage which is applied to a capacitor at a reading operation. Because an oxide semiconductor material that is a wide gap semiconductor capable of sufficiently reducing off-state current of a transistor is used, data can be held for a long period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohnuki
  • Patent number: 8776274
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package for sensing fluid properties includes: a substrate made of semiconductor material; a fluid property measurement circuit formed on the substrate; and a sensor circuit coupled to the fluid property measurement circuit within a same integrated circuit package. The sensor circuit is configured to generate a field that interacts with the fluid. The fluid property measurement circuit is configured to determine a change in a property of the sensor circuit as results from the field interacting with the fluid and is further configured to determine a property of the fluid based on the change in the property of the sensor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Partice M. Parris, Md M. Hoque
  • Patent number: 8759896
    Abstract: There is provided a non-volatile semiconductor memory having a charge accumulation layer of a configuration where a metal oxide with a dielectric constant sufficiently higher than a silicon nitride, e.g., a Ti oxide, a Zr oxide, or a Hf oxide, is used as a base material and an appropriate amount of a high-valence substance whose valence is increased two levels or more (a VI-valence) is added to produce a trap level that enables entrance and exit of electrons with respect to the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Shimizu, Koichi Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20140167127
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a transistor having a gate disposed over a workpiece. The transistor includes a source region and a drain region disposed in the workpiece proximate the gate. The memory device includes an erase gate having a tip portion that extends towards the workpiece. The erase gate is coupled to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Hsiao-Chin Tuan, Felix Ying-Kit Tsui, Hau-Yan Lu
  • Patent number: 8742541
    Abstract: A capacitor can include a substrate having a first surface, a second surface remote from the first surface, and a through opening extending between the first and second surfaces, first and second metal elements, and a capacitor dielectric layer separating and insulating the first and second metal elements from one another at least within the through opening. The first metal element can be exposed at the first surface and can extend into the through opening. The second metal element can be exposed at the second surface and can extend into the through opening. The first and second metal elements can be electrically connectable to first and second electric potentials. The capacitor dielectric layer can have an undulating shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilyas Mohammed, Belgacem Haba, Cyprian Uzoh, Piyush Savalia, Vage Oganesian
  • Patent number: 8742482
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a bit line being arranged on top surfaces of first and second contact plugs via a first insulation layer and extending in a direction connecting a first impurity diffusion layer and a second impurity diffusion layer; a bit line contact plug being formed through the first insulation layer and electrically connecting the bit line to the first contact plug; a first cell capacitor having a first lower electrode beside one of side surfaces of the bit line; a first insulation film insulating the bit line and the first lower electrode from each other; and a first contact conductor electrically connecting a bottom end of the first lower electrode to a side surface of the second contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8742420
    Abstract: A gate driving circuit includes a plurality of stages outputting gate signals to a plurality of gate lines. Each of the stages includes a circuit transistor, a capacitor part, a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode. The circuit transistor outputs the gate signal to an output electrode in response to a control signal inputted to a control electrode. The capacitor part is disposed adjacent to the circuit transistor, and includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode, a third electrode disposed over the second electrode and a fourth electrode disposed over the third electrode. The first connecting electrode electrically connects the control electrode to the first and third electrodes. The second connecting electrode electrically connects the output electrode to the second and fourth electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Sun Kim, Yeong-Keun Kwon, Chong-Chul Chai
  • Publication number: 20140145253
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) bitcell with one or more active regions capacitively coupled to the floating gate but that are separated from both the source and the drain. The inclusion of capacitors separated from the source and drain allows for improved control over the voltage of the floating gate. This in turn allows CHEI (or IHEI) to be performed with much higher efficiency than in existing bitcells, thereby the need for a charge pump to provide current to the bitcell, ultimately decreasing the total size of the bitcell. The bitcells may be constructed in pairs, further reducing the space requirements of the each bitcell, thereby mitigating the space requirements of the separate capacitor/s. The bitcell may also be operated by CHEI (or IHEI) and separately by BTBT depending upon the voltages applied at the source, drain, and capacitor/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Patent number: 8729618
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a first layer on an impurity diffusion region in a semiconductor substrate by a selective epitaxial growth method, forming a second layer on the first layer by the selective epitaxial growth method, forming a contact hole penetrating an interlayer insulating film in a thickness direction thereof and reaching the second layer, and filling a conductive material into the contact hole to form a contact plug including the first and second layers and the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Keiji Kuroki
  • Patent number: 8728919
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of memory strings each having a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings comprising: a first semiconductor layer including a columnar portion extending in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate; a plurality of first conductive layers formed to surround side surfaces of the columnar portions via insulation layers, and formed at a certain pitch in the vertical direction, the first conductive layers functioning as floating gates of the memory cells; and a plurality of second conductive layers formed to surround the first conductive layers via insulation layers, and functioning as control electrodes of the memory cells. Each of the first conductive layers has a length in the vertical direction that is shorter than a length in the vertical direction of each of the second conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kidoh, Megumi Ishiduki, Yosuke Komori, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryota Katsumata, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8729632
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor unit, a first conductive structure, a first conductive plug, and a second conductive structure is provided. The semiconductor unit has a substrate on a first side of the semiconductor unit. The substrate has at least a hole. The first conductive plug is in the hole and the hole may be full of the conductive plug. The first conductive structure is on the surface of the semiconductor unit. The surface is at the first side of the semiconductor unit. The second conductive structure is on a surface at a second side of the substrate of the semiconductor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu Wen Hsu, Chih Cheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8729616
    Abstract: An analog floating-gate electrode in an integrated circuit, and method of fabricating the same, in which trapped charge can be stored for long durations. The analog floating-gate electrode is formed in a polycrystalline silicon gate level, and includes portions serving as a transistor gate electrode, a plate of a metal-to-poly storage capacitor, and a plate of poly-to-active tunneling capacitors. Silicide-block silicon dioxide blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit are silicide-clad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Imran Mahmood Khan, Allan T. Mitchell, Kaiping Liu
  • Patent number: 8723242
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same of the embodiments are provided. The non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: drain contact plugs formed in memory cell regions and having bottom ends joined to drain diffusion layers of the respective memory cells; a local interconnect provided to extend in a WL direction across the memory cell regions and a shunt region, and having a bottom end joined commonly to plural source diffusion layers; drain via plugs formed in the memory cell regions and having bottom ends joined to the top ends of the respective drain contact plugs; and a power supply via for source formed in the shunt region to extend in a BL direction, and having a bottom end joined to the top end of the local interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Asada
  • Patent number: 8710564
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including an insulating layer of a cubic system or a tetragonal system, having good electrical characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region, a transistor that is formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate, an interlevel insulating layer that is formed on the semiconductor substrate and a contact plug that is formed in the interlevel insulating layer and that is electrically connected to the transistor. The semiconductor device may include a lower electrode that is formed on the interlevel insulating layer and that is electrically connected to the contact plug, an upper electrode that is formed on the lower electrode and an insulating layer of a cubic system or a tetragonal system including a metal silicate layer. The insulating layer may be formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-cheol Lee, Jun-noh Lee, Ki-vin Im, Ki-yeon Park, Sung-hae Lee, Sang-yeol Kang
  • Patent number: 8698219
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a non-volatile memory cell including a write transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor and has small leakage current in an off state (off-state current) between a source and a drain, a read transistor including a semiconductor material different from that of the write transistor, and a capacitor. Data is written or to the memory cell by applying a potential to a node where one of a source electrode and drain electrode of the write transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the read transistor are electrically connected to one another so that the predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. The memory window width is changed by 2% or less, before and after 1×109 times of writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Sekine, Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8698220
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a memory element, and which is manufactured by a simplified manufacturing process. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes, forming a first insulating film to cover a first semiconductor film and a second semiconductor film; forming a first conductive film and a second conductive film over the first semiconductor film and the second semiconductor film, respectively, with the first insulating film interposed therebetween; forming a second insulating film to cover the first conductive film; forming a third conductive film selectively over the first conductive film which is formed over the first semiconductor film, with the second insulating film interposed therebetween, and doping the first semiconductor film with an impurity element with the third conductive film serving as a mask and doping the second semiconductor film with the impurity element through the second conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Asami
  • Patent number: 8687416
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a signal processing circuit for which a complex manufacturing process is not necessary and whose power consumption can be suppressed. In particular, it is an object to provide a signal processing circuit whose power consumption can be suppressed by stopping the power supply for a short time. The signal processing circuit includes a control circuit, an arithmetic unit, and a buffer memory device. The buffer memory device stores data sent from the main memory device or the arithmetic unit in accordance with an instruction from the control unit; the buffer memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells; and the memory cells each include a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region and a memory element to which charge whose amount depends on a value of the data is supplied via the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8680517
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display device includes: a semiconductor layer on a substrate and including source and drain regions; a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode and a first storage electrode on the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer on the gate electrode and the first storage electrode; source and drain electrodes connected with the source and drain regions, respectively; a second storage electrode on the second insulating layer at a location corresponding to the first storage electrode; a third insulating layer on the source and drain electrodes and the second storage electrode; a first metal layer on the third insulating layer and connecting the drain electrode to an anode; and a second metal layer on the third insulating layer at a location corresponding to the second storage electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aram Shin, Juhn-Suk Yoo, Soo-Jeong Park
  • Patent number: 8674422
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) bitcell with one or more active regions capacitively coupled to the floating gate but that are separated from both the source and the drain. The inclusion of capacitors separated from the source and drain allows for improved control over the voltage of the floating gate. This in turn allows CHEI (or IHEI) to be performed with much higher efficiency than in existing bitcells, thereby the need for a charge pump to provide current to the bitcell, ultimately decreasing the total size of the bitcell. The bitcells may be constructed in pairs, further reducing the space requirements of the each bitcell, thereby mitigating the space requirements of the separate capacitor/s. The bitcell may also be operated by CHEI (or IHEI) and separately by BTBT depending upon the voltages applied at the source, drain, and capacitor/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Patent number: 8669604
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell that includes a capacitor, a tunnel structure, a state transistor, and an access transistor. In an embodiment, the capacitor and tunnel structure can include upper electrodes, wherein the upper electrode of the capacitor has a first conductivity type, and the upper electrode of the tunnel structure includes at least a portion that has a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. In another embodiment, a process of forming the nonvolatile memory is performed using a single poly process. In a further embodiment, charge carriers can tunnel through a gate dielectric layer of the state transistor during programming and tunnel through a tunnel dielectric of the tunnel transistor during erasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Thierry Coffi Herve Yao, Gregory James Scott
  • Patent number: 8664706
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell with improved read current in one of its programmed states, and a memory cell so fabricated. The OTP memory cell is constructed with trench isolation structures on its sides. After trench etch, and prior to filling the isolation trenches with dielectric material, a fluorine implant is performed into the trench surfaces. The implant may be normal to the device surface or at an angle from the normal. Completion of the cell transistor to form a floating-gate metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor is then carried out. Improved on-state current (Ion) results from the fluorine implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shanjen “Robert” Pan, Allan T. Mitchell, Weidong Tian
  • Patent number: 8664704
    Abstract: An electronic component is provided on a substrate. A thin-film capacitor is attached to the substrate, the thin-film capacitor includes a pyrochlore or perovskite dielectric layer between a plurality of electrode layers, the electrode layers being formed from a conductive thin-film material. A reactive barrier layer is deposited over the thin-film capacitor. The reactive barrier layer includes an oxide having an element with more than one valence state, wherein the element with more than one valence state has a molar ratio of the molar amount of the element that is in its highest valence state to its total molar amount in the barrier of 50% to 100%. Optionally layers of other materials may intervene between the capacitor and reactive barrier layer. The reactive barrier layer may be paraelectric and the electronic component may be a tunable capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Marina Zelner, Paul Bun Cheuk Woo, Mircea Capanu, Susan C. Nagy, Andrew Vladimir Claude Cervin
  • Patent number: 8653596
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an SOI substrate with a unitary N+ layer below the BOX, a P region in the N+ layer, an eDRAM with an N+ plate, and logic/SRAM devices above the P region. The P region functions as a back gate of the logic/SRAM devices. An optional intrinsic (undoped) layer can be formed between the P back gate layer and the N+ layer to reduce the junction field and lower the junction leakage between the P back gate and the N+ layer. In another embodiment an N or N+ back gate can be formed in the P region. The N+ back gate functions as a second back gate of the logic/SRAM devices. The N+ plate of the SOI eDRAM, the P back gate, and the N+ back gate can be electrically biased at the same or different voltage potentials. Methods to fabricate the integrated circuits are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Terence B. Hook, Ali Khakifirooz, Pranita Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8643110
    Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator device has a localized biasing structure formed in the insulator layer of the SOI. The localized biasing structure includes a patterned conductor that provides a biasing signal to distinct regions of the silicon layer of the SOI. The conductor is recessed into the insulator layer to provide a substantially planar interface with the silicon layer. The conductor is connected to a bias voltage source. In an embodiment, a plurality of conductor is provided that respectively connected to a plurality of voltage sources. Thus, different regions of the silicon layer are biased by different bias signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, John K. Zahurak
  • Patent number: 8643124
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a silicon-oxide-oxynitride-oxide-silicon structure and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the structure comprises: a tunnel oxide layer on a surface of a substrate including silicon; a multi-layer charge storing layer including an oxygen-rich, first oxynitride layer on the tunnel oxide layer in which the stoichiometric composition of the first oxynitride layer results in it being substantially trap free, and an oxygen-lean, second oxynitride layer on the first oxynitride layer in which the stoichiometric composition of the second oxynitride layer results in it being trap dense; a blocking oxide layer on the second oxynitride layer; and a silicon containing gate layer on the blocking oxide layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sagy Levy, Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Fredrick Jenne, Sam Geha
  • Publication number: 20140022844
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a tunnel structure that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and tunnel dielectric layer disposed between the electrodes. In a particular embodiment, the tunnel structure may or may not include an intermediate doped region that is at the primary surface, abuts a lightly doped region, and has a second conductivity type opposite from and a dopant concentration greater than the lightly doped region. In another embodiment, the electrodes have opposite conductivity types. In a further embodiment, an electrode can be formed from a portion of a substrate or well region, and the other electrode can be formed over such portion of the substrate or well region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Thierry Coffi Herve Yao, Gregory James Scott
  • Patent number: 8633548
    Abstract: A non-volatile programmable memory cell suitable for use in a programmable logic array includes a non-volatile MOS transistor of a first conductivity type in series with a volatile MOS transistor of a second conductivity type. The non-volatile MOS transistor may be a floating gate transistor, such as a flash transistor, or may be another type of non-volatile transistor such as a floating charge-trapping SONOS, MONOS transistor, or a nano-crystal transistor. A volatile MOS transistor, an inverter, or a buffer may be driven by coupling its gate or input to the common connection between the non-volatile MOS transistor and the volatile MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corporation
    Inventors: Fethi Dhaoui, John McCollum, Frank Hawley, Leslie Richard Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8628981
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, a first insulating film covering a ferroelectric capacitor is formed, and a first opening that has a relatively large diameter and reaches an electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor is formed in the first insulating film, and then recovery annealing of the ferroelectric capacitor is performed, and thereby, a path for oxygen can be secured in performing the recovery annealing, and the sufficient recovery annealing can be performed without causing problems during a manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Kouichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8624313
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a non-volatile semiconductor memory element formed over the semiconductor substrate, including a variable resistance element including a laminate comprising a first electrode, a variable resistance layer, and a second electrode, and a volatile semiconductor memory element formed over the semiconductor substrate, including a capacitance element including a laminate comprising a third electrode, a dielectric layer including a same material as the variable resistance layer, and a fourth electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kajigaya
  • Patent number: 8618592
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory cell is provided that includes a trench capacitor and an access transistor. The access transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a gate structure overlying the trench capacitor, and an active body region that couples the drain region to the source region. The active body region directly contacts the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jin Cho, Sang H. Dhong, Jung-Suk Goo, Gurupada Mandal
  • Patent number: 8618586
    Abstract: An object is to provide a memory device which does not need a complex manufacturing process and whose power consumption can be suppressed, and a semiconductor device including the memory device. A solution is to provide a capacitor which holds data and a switching element which controls storing and releasing charge in the capacitor in a memory element. In the memory element, a phase-inversion element such as an inverter or a clocked inverter includes the phase of an input signal is inverted and the signal is output. For the switching element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region is used. In the case where application of a power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped, the data is stored in the capacitor, so that the data is held in the capacitor even when the application of the power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8598642
    Abstract: An asymmetric non-volatile memory bitcell is described. The bitcell comprises source and drain regions comprising carriers of the same conductivity type. A floating gate rests on top of the well, and extends over a channel region, and at least a portion of the source and drain regions. The drain region comprises additional carriers of a second conductivity type, allowing band to band tunneling. The source region comprises additional carriers of a first conductivity type, thereby increasing source-gate capacitance. Thus, the bitcell incorporates a select device, thereby decreasing the overall size of the bitcell. The bitcell may be created without any additional CMOS process steps, or through the addition of a single extra mask step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Patent number: 8598643
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first inter-electrode insulating film, and a third conductive layer stacked above the first conductive layer, a memory film, a semiconductor layer, an insulating member, and a silicide layer. The memory film and the semiconductor layer is formed on the inner surface of through hole provided in the second conductive layer, the first inter-electrode insulating film, and the third conductive layer. The insulating member is buried in a slit dividing the second conductive layer, the first inter-electrode insulating film, and the third conductive layer. The silicide layer is formed on surfaces of the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer in the slit. The distance between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer along the inner surface of the slit is longer than that of along the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kaori Kawasaki, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kito, Tomoko Fujiwara, Takeshi Imamura, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8598644
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including a first transistor comprising a first gate electrode including a charge storage layer, an interelectrode insulating film, and a control electrode layer; a second transistor comprising a second gate electrode including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an upper silicide portion above the upper electrode; and a third transistor comprising a third gate electrode including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an upper silicide portion above the upper electrode; wherein the lower electrodes of the second and the third gate electrodes have a first side and a second side taken along a length direction of the second and the third gate electrodes, the lower electrodes of the second and the third gate electrodes including a lower silicide portion in which at least the first side of the lower electrodes are partially silicided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Wataru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8581324
    Abstract: Electrically erasable programmable “read-only” memory (EEPROM) cells in an integrated circuit, and formed by a single polysilicon level. The EEPROM cell consists of a coupling capacitor and a combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor. The capacitance of the coupling capacitor is much larger than that of the tunneling capacitor. In one embodiment, field oxide isolation structures isolate the devices from one another; a lightly-doped region at the source of the read transistor improves breakdown voltage performance. In another embodiment, trench isolation structures and a buried oxide layer surround the well regions at which the coupling capacitor and combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaoju Wu, Jozef Czeslaw Mitros
  • Patent number: 8581317
    Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) multi-gate field effect transistor electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (MuFET EPROM) includes a substrate having a dielectric surface. A first semiconducting region is in or on the dielectric surface. A source region, a drain region and a channel region interposed between the source and drain are formed in first semiconducting region. A gate dielectric layer is on the channel region. At least a second semiconducting region in or on the dielectric surface is spaced apart from the first semiconducting region. A first electrode layer comprises a first electrode portion including a transistor gate electrode and a control gate electrode electrically isolated from one another. The transistor gate overlies the channel region to form a transistor. The control gate extends to overlay a portion of the second semiconducting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Howard Tigelaar, Cloves Rinn Cleavelin, Andrew Marshall, Weize Xiong
  • Patent number: 8558296
    Abstract: An analog floating-gate electrode in an integrated circuit, and method of fabricating the same, in which trapped charge can be stored for long durations. The analog floating-gate electrode is formed in a polycrystalline silicon gate level, and includes portions serving as a transistor gate electrode, a plate of a metal-to-poly storage capacitor, and a plate of poly-to-active tunneling capacitors. Silicide-block silicon dioxide blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit are silicide-clad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Imran Mahmood Khan, Allan T. Mitchell, Kaiping Liu