Capacitor Coupled To, Or Forms Gate Of, Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistor (e.g., Non-destructive Readout Dynamic Memory Cell Structure) Patents (Class 257/300)
  • Patent number: 8847361
    Abstract: A system and method for a memory cell layout is disclosed. An embodiment comprises forming dummy layers and spacers along the sidewalls of the dummy layer. Once the spacers have been formed, the dummy layers may be removed and the spacers may be used as a mask. By using the spacers instead of a standard lithographic process, the inherent limitations of the lithographic process can be avoided and further scaling of FinFET devices can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Chang-Yun Chang
  • Publication number: 20140264521
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limitation on the number of writing operations is provided. A semiconductor device is formed using a material which can sufficiently reduce the off-state current of a transistor, such as an oxide semiconductor material that is a wide-gap semiconductor. When a semiconductor material which can sufficiently reduce the off-state current of a transistor is used, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long period. In addition, by providing a capacitor or a noise removal circuit electrically connected to a write word line, a signal such as a short pulse or a noise input to a memory cell can be reduced or removed. Accordingly, a malfunction in which data written into the memory cell is erased when a transistor in the memory cell is instantaneously turned on can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Matsuzaki, Shuhei Nagatsuka, Hiroki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20140264520
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device comprises a common-gated dual-oxide MOSFET including a protective device and a MOSFET. A common gate electrode serves as a gate electrode of the protective device and as a gate of the MOSFET. The protective device comprises a first gate dielectric having a first thickness over a first channel region and the MOSFET comprises a second gate dielectric thicker than the first gate dielectric over a second channel region. During a plasma process, a first current can flow through the first dielectric that is higher than a second current through the second dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark D. Reisiger
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140246715
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a capacitor having first, second and third nodes. The first and second nodes of the first transistor are connected together and the first and second nodes of the second transistor are connected together. The third node of the first transistor is connected to the third node of the second transistor. Each of the third nodes is constructed so that each node comprises a width and a length that is at least ten percent of the width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Pratyush Kamal, Mukul Gupta, Foua Vang
  • Patent number: 8816420
    Abstract: A FinFET structure which includes: silicon fins on a semiconductor substrate, each silicon fin having two sides and a horizontal surface; sequential layers of a first layer of titanium nitride, a dielectric layer and a second layer of titanium nitride on the sides and horizontal surface of the silicon fins; a polysilicon gate layer over the second layer of titanium nitride on the silicon fins and over the semiconductor substrate such that first and second ends of the silicon fins protrude from the polysilicon layer; spacers adjacent to the polysilicon gate layer; epitaxial silicon over the first and second ends of the silicon fins to form sources and drains, wherein the combination of the first layer of titanium nitride, dielectric layer and second layer of titanium nitride forms a metal-insulator-metal capacitor situated between each silicon fin and the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Effendi Leobandung, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140231894
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a memory device having buried access lines (e.g., wordlines) and buried data/sense lines (e.g., digitlines) disposed below vertical cell contacts. The buried wordlines may be formed trenches in a substrate extending in a first direction, and the buried digitlines may be formed from trenches in a substrate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The buried digitlines may be coupled to a silicon sidewall by a digitline contact disposed between the digitlines and the silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Parekh, Ceredig Roberts, Thy Tran, Jim Jozwiak, David Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140231893
    Abstract: A capacitor and a method of fabricating thereof are provided. A structure of low pressure tetraethyl orthosilicate-low pressure silicon nitride-low pressure tetraethyl orthosilicate is used in the capacitor to replace the oxide-nitride-oxide structure of the existing capacitor; the capacitor has a relatively high unit capacitance value. Furthermore, the structure of low pressure tetraethyl orthosilicate—low pressure silicon nitride—low pressure tetraethyl orthosilicate is fabricaited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition method at relatively low temperature; thus the heat produced in the whole process is relatively low, which is insufficient to make the semiconductor device shift or make the gate metal layer or the metallized silicon layer peel off. Accordingly, the capacitor and the method of fabricating the capacitor of the present invention can be well applied in the process of the 0.5 ?m PIP capacitor or below 0.5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: CSMC TECHNOLOGIES FAB1 CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rengang Qin, Dejin Wang, Boyong He
  • Patent number: 8796815
    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: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Drynan
  • Patent number: 8796763
    Abstract: In a vertical transistor, to raise a drain withstand voltage while lowering an on-resistance. A drift layer 120 is formed above a drain layer 110, and has a first conductivity type. A gate insulating film 170 is formed on a side wall of a concave portion 142. A bottom surface insulating film 172 is formed on a bottom surface of the concave portion 142. A gate electrode 180 is buried in the concave portion 142. A source layer 150 is formed in a channel layer 140. A first conductivity type layer 130 is located between the channel layer 140 and the drift layer 120. An impurity concentration of the first conductivity type layer 130 is higher than an impurity concentration of the drift layer 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takeda
  • 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: 8786038
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a selection element formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A lower electrode is connected to the selection element. A magnetic tunnel junction element is provided on the lower electrode. An upper electrode is provided on the magnetic tunnel junction element. A growth layer is provided on the upper electrode and is composed of a conductive material and has a larger area than the upper electrode when viewed from above the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A wiring line is provided on the growth layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiji Hosotani, Hiroyuki Kanaya
  • Patent number: 8779550
    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. A silicide-block film comprised of a layer of silicon dioxide underlying a top layer of silicon nitride blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit, such as polysilicon-to-metal capacitors, are silicide-clad. Following silicidation, a capacitor dielectric is deposited over the remaining polysilicon structures, followed by formation of an upper metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kaiping Liu, Amitava Chatterjee, Imran Mahmood Khan
  • Patent number: 8779489
    Abstract: A semiconductor FET provides a resonant gate and source and drain electrodes, wherein the resonant gate is electromagnetically resonant at one or more predetermined frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: L. Pierre de Rochemont
  • Patent number: 8772852
    Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile memory device including a common source. The device includes a first active region crossing a second active region, a common source disposed in the second active region, and a source conductive line disposed on the common source in parallel to the common source. The source conductive line is electrically connected to the common source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Soo Kim, Keon-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8772862
    Abstract: A vertical channel transistor includes a pillar formed over a substrate, and a gate electrode formed on sidewalls of the pillar, wherein the pillar includes a source area, a vertical channel area over the source area, a drain area over the vertical channel area, and a leakage prevention area interposed between the vertical channel area and the drain area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Heung-Jae Cho
  • Publication number: 20140183610
    Abstract: A decoupling capacitor formed from a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) and method of using the same are provided. An embodiment decoupling capacitor includes a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) having a semiconductor substrate supporting a gate stack, a source, and a drain, a first terminal coupled to the semiconductor substrate and to the gate stack, the first terminal configured to couple with a first power rail, and a second terminal coupled to the source and to the drain, the second terminal configured to couple with a second power rail having a higher potential than the first power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Publication number: 20140183609
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compound semiconductor ESD protection devices using plural compound semiconductor E-FETs or compound semiconductor multi-gate E-FETs. The device comprises plural compound semiconductor E-FETs or multi-gate E-FETs, in which each of the gates is DC-connected to the source, drain, or an inter-gate region between two adjacent gates in the multi-gate E-FET through at least one first resister, and at least one of the gates is AC-connected to the source, drain, or an inter-gate region between two adjacent gates in the multi-gate E-FET through a gate capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: WIN Semiconductors Corp.
    Inventors: Shinichiro TAKATANI, Jung-Tao CHUNG, Chi-Wei WANG, Cheng-Guan YUAN, Shih-Ming Joseph LIU
  • Patent number: 8767404
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with decoupling capacitor circuitry are provided. The decoupling capacitor circuitry may include density-compliance structures. The density-compliance structures may be strapped to metal paths driven by power supply lines. Strapping density-compliance dummy structures in this way may increase the capacitance per unit area of the decoupling capacitor circuitry. Strapping density-compliance dummy structures in this way may shield the decoupling capacitor from nearby noisy signal sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Chin Hieang Khor
  • Patent number: 8759891
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, having a memory cell region and a peripheral circuit region, includes an insulating film, having an upper surface formed on a major surface of a semiconductor substrate to extend from a memory cell region to a peripheral circuit region thereof. A capacitor lower electrode is formed in the memory cell region to upwardly extend beyond the upper surface of the insulating film on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate. A capacitor upper electrode is formed on the capacitor lower electrode through a dielectric film, to extend onto the upper surface of the insulating film. The capacitor lower electrode includes a capacitor lower electrode part having a top surface and a bottom surface. The upper surface of the insulating film is located between the top and bottom surfaces of the capacitor lower electrode part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Masahiro Shimizu, Hideaki Arima
  • Patent number: 8749054
    Abstract: A monolithic power switch provides a semiconductor layer, a three dimensional FET formed in the semiconductor layer to modulate currents through the semiconductor layer, and a toroidal inductor with a ceramic magnetic core formed on the semiconductor layer around the FET and having a first winding connected to the FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: L. Pierre de Rochemont
  • Patent number: 8748266
    Abstract: In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a MISFET of trench gate structure, a trench is formed from a major surface of a semiconductor layer of first conductivity type which serves as a drain region, in a depth direction of the direction of the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film including a thermal oxide film and a deposited film is formed over the internal surface of the trench, and after a gate electrode has been formed in the trench, impurities are introduced into the semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type to form a semiconductor region of second conductivity type which serves as a channel forming region, and impurities are introduced into the semiconductor region of second conductivity type to form the semiconductor region of first conductivity type which serves as a source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi Ulsi Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumito Numazawa, Yoshito Nakazawa, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Satoshi Kudo, Yasuo Imai, Sakae Kubo, Takashi Shigematsu, Akihiro Ohnishi, Kozo Uesawa, Kentaro Oishi
  • 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: 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: 8729617
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a lower pillar protruding from a substrate in a vertical direction and extending in a first direction by a trench formed in the first direction; an upper pillar protruding on the lower pillar in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a buried bit line junction region disposed on one sidewall of the lower pillar; a buried bit line contacting the buried bit line junction region and filling a portion of the trench; an etch stop film disposed on an exposed surface of the buried bit line; a first interlayer dielectric film recessed to expose a portion of an outer side of at least the upper pillar disposed on the etch stop film; a second interlayer dielectric film disposed on the first interlayer dielectric film; and a gate surrounding the exposed outer side of the upper pillar and crossing the buried bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Kyun Kim
  • 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: 8710566
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a contact to a buried diffusion layer in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may comprise a substrate comprising an upper layer. The semiconductor memory device may also comprise an array of dummy pillars formed on the upper layer of the substrate and arranged in rows and columns. Each of the dummy pillars may extend upward from the upper layer and have a bottom contact that is electrically connected with the upper layer of the substrate. The semiconductor memory device may also comprise an array of active pillars formed on the upper layer of the substrate and arranged in rows and columns. Each of the active pillars may extend upward from the upper layer and have an active first region, an active second region, and an active third region. Each of the active pillars may also be electrically connected with the upper layer of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ellis, John Kim
  • Patent number: 8710567
    Abstract: The semiconductor device of the present invention includes a silicon substrate having a logic region and a RAM region, an NMOS transistor formed in the logic region, and an NMOS transistor formed in the RAM region. The NMOS transistor has a stack structure obtained by sequentially stacking the gate insulating film and the metal gate electrode over the silicon substrate. The NMOS transistor has a cap film containing an element selected from a group consisting of lanthanum, ytterbium, magnesium, strontium, and erbium as a composition element between the silicon substrate and metal gate electrode. The cap film is not formed in the NMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiko Moriya
  • Patent number: 8703552
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes memory, logic and capacitor structures on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In one embodiment, the device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having a memory region and a logic region. Trench capacitors are present in the memory region and the logic region, wherein each of the trench capacitors is structurally identical. A first transistor is present in the memory region in electrical communication with a first electrode of at least one trench capacitor that is present in the memory region. A second transistor is present in the logic region that is physically separated from the trench capacitors by insulating material. In some embodiments, the trench capacitors that are present in the logic region include decoupling capacitors and inactive capacitors. A method for forming the aforementioned device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni
  • Patent number: 8704283
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode, a supporting member enclosing at least an upper portion of the lower electrode, a dielectric layer on the lower electrode and the supporting member, and an upper electrode disposed on the dielectric layer. The supporting member may have a first portion that extends over an upper part of the sidewall of the lower electrode, and a second portion covering the upper surface of the lower electrode. The first portion of the supporting member protrudes above the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Kyu Kim, Sang-Sup Jeong, Sung-Gil Choi, Heung-Sik Park, Kuk-Han Yoon, Yong-Joon Choi
  • 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: 8680596
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including, forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, forming a capacitor on the first insulating film, forming a second insulating film covering the capacitor, forming a metal wiring on the second insulating film, forming a first capacitor protective insulating film covering the metal wiring and the second insulating film, forming an insulating sidewall on a side of the metal wiring, forming a third insulating film on the insulating sidewall, forming a hole by etching the third insulating film under a condition that an etching rate of the insulating sidewall would be lower than that of the third insulating film, and forming a conductive plug inside the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Kouichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8680597
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a first surface, forming an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having an second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, removing a portion of the isolation structure to form a recess therein having a bottom surface disposed below the first surface, and forming a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having a second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, a recess extending downwardly from the second surface, the recess having a bottom surface disposed below the first surface, a gate structure, and a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Chih-Yang Yeh, Bao-Ru Young, Yuh-Jier Mii
  • Patent number: 8680595
    Abstract: A method and structure are disclosed that are advantageous for aligning a contact plug within a bit line contact corridor (BLCC) to an active area of a DRAM that utilizes an insulated sleeve structure. A sleeve insulator layer is deposited in an opening to protect one or more conductor layers from conductive contacts formed in the opening. The sleeve insulator layer electrically insulates a conductive plug from the conductor layer and self-aligns the BLCC so as to improve contact plug alignment tolerances between the BLCC and the capacitor or conductive components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Ireland, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8675394
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can hold stored data even when not powered and which achieves high integration by reduction of the number of wirings. The semiconductor device is formed using a material which can sufficiently reduce the off-state current of a transistor, e.g., an oxide semiconductor material which is a wide bandgap semiconductor. When a semiconductor material which allows a sufficient reduction in the off-state current of a transistor is used, data can be held for a long period. One line serves as the word line for writing and the word line for reading and one line serves as the bit line for writing and the bit line for reading, whereby the number of wirings is reduced. Further, by reducing the number of source lines, the storage capacity per unit area is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Matsubayashi
  • 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: 8669603
    Abstract: Some embodiments include DRAM having transistor gates extending partially over SOI, and methods of forming such DRAM. Unit cells of the DRAM may be within active region pedestals, and in some embodiments the unit cells may comprise capacitors having storage nodes in direct contact with sidewalls of the active region pedestals. Some embodiments include 0C1T memory having transistor gates entirely over SOI, and methods of forming such 0C1T memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kunal R. Parekh
  • Publication number: 20140061744
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor also includes a first terminal having a fin disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor further includes a dielectric layer disposed onto the fin. The capacitor still further includes a second terminal having a FinFET compatible high-K metal gate disposed proximate and adjacent to the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ron Zhang, Lew G. Chua-Eoan, Shiqun Gu
  • Patent number: 8659064
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of utilizing compositions containing iridium and tantalum in semiconductor constructions, and includes semiconductor constructions comprising compositions containing iridium and tantalum. The compositions containing iridium and tantalum can be utilized as barrier materials, and in some aspects can be utilized as barriers to copper diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yongjun Jeff Hu
  • Patent number: 8659062
    Abstract: A lower electrode film is formed above a substrate. A ferroelectric film is formed above the lower electrode film. An amorphous intermediate film of a perovskite-type conductive oxide is formed above the ferroelectric film. A first upper electrode film comprising oxide of at least one metal selected from a group of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Ru, and Os is formed on the intermediate film. The intermediate film is crystallized by carrying out a first heat treatment in an atmosphere containing an oxidizing gas after the formation of the first upper electrode film. After the first heat treatment, a second upper electrode film comprising oxide of at least one metal selected from a group of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Ru, and Os is formed on the first upper electrode film, at a temperature lower than the growth temperature for the first upper electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • 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: 8653584
    Abstract: A dual vertical channel transistor includes a tuning fork-shaped substrate body; a buried bit line embedded at a bottom of a recess between two prong portions of the tuning fork-shaped substrate body; an out-diffused drain region adjacent to the buried bit line in the tuning fork-shaped substrate body; a source region situated at a top portion of each of the two prong portions of the tuning fork-shaped substrate body; an epitaxial portion connecting the two prong portions of the tuning fork-shaped substrate body between the out-diffused drain region and the source region; a front gate situated on a first side surface of the tuning fork-shaped substrate body; and a back gate situated on a second side surface opposite to the first side surface of the tuning fork-shaped substrate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Shing-Hwa Renn
  • Publication number: 20140042510
    Abstract: One illustrative integrated circuit product disclosed herein includes a metal-1 metallization layer positioned above a semiconducting substrate, a capacitor positioned between a surface of the substrate and a bottom of the metal-1 metallization layer, wherein the capacitor includes a plurality of conductive plates that are oriented in a direction that is substantially normal relative to the surface of the substrate, and at least one region of insulating material positioned between the plurality of conductive plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Kok Yong Yiang, Patrick R. Justison
  • Publication number: 20140042511
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device combining transistors integrating on a same substrate transistors including an oxide semiconductor in their channel formation region and transistors including non-oxide semiconductor in their channel formation region. An application of the present invention is to realize substantially non-volatile semiconductor memories which do not require specific erasing operation and do not suffer from damages due to repeated writing operation. Furthermore, the semiconductor device is well adapted to store multivalued data. Manufacturing methods, application circuits and driving/reading methods are explained in details in the description.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Jun KOYAMA, Kiyoshi KATO
  • Patent number: 8647944
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a logic formation region where a logic device is formed; a first impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a second impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a third impurity region formed in an upper surface of the first impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a fourth region formed in an upper surface of the second impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a first silicide film formed in an upper surface of the third impurity region; a second silicide film formed in an upper surface of the fourth impurity region and having a larger thickness than the first silicide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Shinkawata
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140029354
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell with high bit density is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a transistor having a wordline gate structure over a substrate, first and second floating gate structures proximate opposite sides of the wordline gate structure, and first and second diffusion regions in the substrate, wherein the wordline gate structure, the first floating gate structure, and the second floating gate structure are laterally between the first and second diffusion regions; and providing a capacitor having first, second, and third control gate structures over the substrate, a third floating gate structure between the first and second control gate structures, a fourth floating gate structure between the second and third control gate structures, and third and fourth diffusion regions in the substrate, wherein the first, second, and third control gate structures are laterally between the third and fourth diffusion regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Igor Lusetsky
  • Patent number: 8633528
    Abstract: A memory is described that includes a shared diode layer and a memory element coupled to the diode layer. The memory element has a pie slice-shape, and includes a sidewall having a carbon film thereon. Numerous other aspects are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Huiwen Xu, Er-Xuan Ping, Roy E. Scheuerlein