Vertical Transistor Patents (Class 257/302)
  • Patent number: 10164089
    Abstract: A power MOSFET including a first transistor and a second transistor is provided. The first and the second transistors respectively include following elements. A well region is located in a substrate structure. A trench gate is disposed in the well region. First doped regions are disposed in the well region at two sides of the trench gate. A first metal layer is disposed on a first surface of the substrate structure and electrically connected to the first doped regions. A second doped region is disposed in the substrate structure. A second metal layer is disposed on a second surface of the substrate structure opposite to the first surface and electrically connected to the second doped region. The well regions of the first and the second transistors are separated from each other. The first and the second transistors share the second doped region and the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shao-Cian Lee, Hong-Ze Lin, Lung-Chih Wang, Shan-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 10157666
    Abstract: A bit line architecture for dual-port static random-access memory (DP SRAM) is provided. An array of memory cells is arranged in rows and columns, and comprises a first subarray and a second subarray. A first pair of complementary bit lines (CBLs) extends along a column, from a first side of the array, and terminates between the first and second subarrays. A second pair of CBLs extends from the first side of the array, along the column, to a second side of the array. The CBLs of the second pair of CBLs have stepped profiles between the first and second subarrays. A third pair of CBLs and a fourth pair of CBLs extend along the column. The first and third pairs of CBLs electrically couple to memory cells in the first subarray, and the second and fourth pairs of CBLs electrically couple to memory cells in the second subarray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sahil Preet Singh, Jung-Hsuan Chen, Yen-Huei Chen, Avinash Chander, Albert Ying
  • Patent number: 10141299
    Abstract: In a circuit portion, a p+-type diffusion region penetrates, in the depth direction, an n?-type base region on the front side of a base substrate and surrounds a MOSFET. In a protective element portion on the same substrate, a p++-type contact region, an n+-type diffusion region, and a p+-type diffusion region are selectively provided in a p+-type diffusion region on the front side of the base substrate. The p+-type diffusion region penetrates the p?-type diffusion region in the depth direction, on the outer periphery of the p?-type diffusion region. An n+-type source region, the p+-type diffusion region, the p++-type contact region, and the n+-type diffusion region are connected to a GND terminal. The rear surface of the substrate is connected to a VCC terminal. A snapback start voltage of a parasitic bipolar element of the protective element portion is lower than that of the circuit portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Toyoda, Hideaki Katakura
  • Patent number: 10134721
    Abstract: A silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) using separate bipolar transistors is disclosed. The separate bipolar SCR enables access to internal feedback terminals of the SCR, which may then may be used to adjust the gain of individual bipolar transistors. Further embodiments provide custom design latch up immune solutions. The latch up immunity is achieved by integrating an active Field Effect Transistor (FET) into the internal feedback node of the SCR. This provides access to ‘feedback’ node of the SCR allowing for latch-up free SCR design. The active FET times out in a short time period (e.g., microseconds) thus shutting off the SCR feedback mechanism making the SCR latch-up immune.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C Appaswamy, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 10083871
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical fin field effect transistor (vertical finFET) with a self-aligned bottom source/drain, including forming a doped layer on a substrate, forming one or more vertical fins on the doped layer, forming a protective layer on the one or more vertical fins, wherein the protective layer has a thickness, and forming at least one isolation trench by removing at least a portion of the protective layer on the doped layer, wherein the isolation trench is laterally offset from at least one of the one or more vertical fins by the thickness of the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 10068975
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, first and second field plate structures extending in a first direction parallel to the first surface, a plurality of gate electrode structures disposed over the first surface and extending in a second direction parallel to the first surface, the second direction being different than the first direction, and a plurality of source regions and drain regions of a first conductivity type arranged in an alternating manner at the first surface so that a drain region is disposed on one side of a gate electrode structure and a source region is disposed on the other side of the gate electrode structure. The gate electrode structures are disposed between the first and the second field plate structures. The source regions and the drain regions extend in parallel with one another along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Martin Poelzl
  • Patent number: 10050141
    Abstract: A transistor includes a vertical channel fin directly on a bottom source/drain region. A gate stack is formed on sidewalls of the vertical channel fin. Spacers are formed directly above the gate stack, one above each sidewall of the vertical channel fin. A top source/drain region is formed directly on a top surface of the vertical channel fin, between the spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 10050041
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an active region defined by a device isolation layer and at least a gate trench linearly extending in a first direction to cross the active region, the active region having a gate area at a bottom of the gate trench and a junction area at a surface of the substrate. The device further may include a first conductive line filling the gate trench and extending in the first direction, the first conductive line having a buried gate structure on the gate area of the active region. The device also may include a junction including implanted dopants at the junction area of the active region, and a junction separator on the device isolation layer and defining the junction. The junction separator may be formed of an insulative material and have an etch resistance greater than that of the device isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan-Sic Yoon, Ho-In Ryu, Ki-Seok Lee, Chang-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 10014305
    Abstract: A method of forming an array comprising pairs of vertically opposed capacitors comprises forming a conductive lining in individual capacitor openings in insulative-comprising material. An elevational mid-portion of individual of the conductive linings is removed to form an upper capacitor electrode lining and a lower capacitor electrode lining that are elevationally separate and spaced from one another in the individual capacitor openings. A capacitor insulator is formed laterally inward of the upper and lower capacitor electrode linings in the individual capacitor openings. Conductive material is formed laterally inward of the capacitor insulator in the individual capacitor openings and elevationally between the capacitor electrode linings. The conductive material is formed to comprise a shared capacitor electrode that is shared by vertically opposed capacitors in individual of the pairs of vertically opposed capacitors. Additional methods and structure independent of method are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9985034
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an active region defined by a device isolation layer and at least a gate trench linearly extending in a first direction to cross the active region, the active region having a gate area at a bottom of the gate trench and a junction area at a surface of the substrate. The device further may include a first conductive line filling the gate trench and extending in the first direction, the first conductive line having a buried gate structure on the gate area of the active region. The device also may include a junction including implanted dopants at the junction area of the active region, and a junction separator on the device isolation layer and defining the junction. The junction separator may be formed of an insulative material and have an etch resistance greater than that of the device isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan-Sic Yoon, Ho-In Ryu, Ki-Seok Lee, Chang-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9972705
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a wafer that includes semiconductor elements, placing the wafer on a stage so that a second electrode is in contact with a place surface of the stage, and measuring an on-resistance of at least one of the semiconductor elements with a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal. The on-resistance is measured by contacting the first measurement terminal to a first electrode of one of the semiconductor elements to be measured while applying a control signal to a control electrode of the one of the semiconductor elements, contacting the second measurement terminal to a first electrode of another one of the semiconductor elements while applying the control signal to a control electrode of the another one of the semiconductor elements, and measuring a resistance between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 9966431
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to vertical memory cell structures and methods of manufacture. The vertical memory cell includes a vertical nanowire capacitor and vertical pass gate transistor. The vertical nanowire capacitor composes of: a plurality of vertical nanowires extending from an insulator layer; a dielectric material on vertical sidewalls of the plurality of vertical nanowires; doped material provided between the plurality of vertical nanowire; the pass gate transistor composes of: high-k dielectric on top part of the nanowire, metal layer surrounding high-k material as all-around gate. And there is dielectric layer in between vertical nanowire capacitor and vertical nanowire transistor as insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Waikin Li, Chengwen Pei, Ping-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 9960114
    Abstract: A method of forming a conductive via comprises forming a structure comprising an elevationally-extending-conductive via and a conductive line electrically coupled to and crossing above the conductive via. The conductive line comprises first conductive material and the conductive via comprises second conductive material of different composition from that of the first conductive material. The conductive line and the conductive via respectively having opposing sides in a vertical cross-section. First insulator material having k no greater than 4.0 is formed laterally outward of the opposing sides of the second conductive material of the conductive via selectively relative to the first conductive material of the opposing sides of the conductive line. The first insulator material is formed to a lateral thickness of at least 40 Angstroms in the vertical cross-section. Second insulator material having k greater than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sourabh Dhir, Andrew L. Li, Sanh D. Tang, Naoyoshi Kobayashi, Katsumi Koge
  • Patent number: 9941127
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, and a gate electrode. The gate electrode has a first portion arranged with the second semiconductor region in a direction perpendicular to a first direction extending from the first electrode to the first semiconductor region, and has a second portion on the first portion. The semiconductor also includes a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and each of the three semiconductor regions. The gate insulating layer extends to the upper surface of the third semiconductor region to form an extending portion. The second portion of the gate electrode protrudes in an upward direction from the upper surface of the extending portion of the gate insulating layer, and a lower part of the second portion of the gate electrode is embedded in the first portion of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Bungo Tanaka, Norio Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 9935193
    Abstract: A method, in one embodiment, can include forming a core trench and a termination trench in a substrate. The termination trench is wider than the core trench. In addition, a first oxide can be deposited that fills the core trench and lines the sidewalls and bottom of the termination trench. A first polysilicon can be deposited into the termination trench. A second oxide can be deposited above the first polysilicon. A mask can be deposited above the second oxide and the termination trench. The first oxide can be removed from the core trench. A third oxide can be deposited that lines the sidewalls and bottom of the core trench. The first oxide within the termination trench is thicker than the third oxide within the core trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Siliconix Technology C. V.
    Inventors: Misbah Ul Azam, Kyle Terrill
  • Patent number: 9935109
    Abstract: A dynamic memory structure is disclosed. The dynamic memory structure includes: a substrate; a first strip semiconductor material disposed on the substrate and extending along a first direction; a gate standing astride the first strip semiconductor material, extending along a second direction and dividing the first strip semiconductor material into a first source terminal, a first drain terminal and a first channel region; a first dielectric layer sandwiched between the gate and the first strip semiconductor material; a first capacitor unit disposed on the substrate and comprising the first source terminal serving as a bottom electrode, a second dielectric layer covering the first source terminal to serve as a capacitor dielectric layer and a capacitor metal layer covering the second dielectric layer to serve as a top electrode. Preferably, the first source terminal and the first drain terminal have asymmetric shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicky Lu, Ming-Hong Kuo
  • Patent number: 9929214
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to fine geometry electrical circuits and methods of manufacture thereof. More specifically, methods for forming 3D cross-point memory arrays using a single nano-imprint lithography step and no photolithography are disclosed. The method includes imprinting a multilevel topography pattern, transferring the multilevel topography pattern to a substrate, filling the etched multilevel topography pattern with hard mask material, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a first portion of the substrate, etching a first trench in the first portion of the substrate, depositing a first plurality of layers in the first trench, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a second portion of the substrate, etching a second trench in the second portion of the substrate and depositing a second plurality of layers in the second trench. The method is repeated until a 4F2 3D cross-point memory array has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mac D. Apodaca, Daniel Robert Shepard
  • Patent number: 9911641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate, characterized in that it comprises providing at least one donor semiconductor substrate comprising at least one useful silicon layer; inspecting the donor substrate via an inspecting machine in order to detect whether the useful layer contains emerging cavities of a size larger than or equal to a critical size, said critical size being strictly smaller than 44 nm; and manufacturing a semiconductor substrate comprising at least part of the useful layer of the donor substrate if, considering cavities of a size larger than or equal to the critical size, the density or number of cavities in the useful layer of the donor substrate is lower than or equal to a critical defect density or number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Francois Boedt, Roland Brun, Olivier Ledoux, Eric Butaud
  • Patent number: 9911848
    Abstract: A vertical transistor includes a source-channel-drain structure, a gate and a gate dielectric layer. The source-channel-drain structure includes a source, a drain over the source and a channel between the source and the drain. The gate surrounds a portion of the channel. The gate is configured to provide compressive strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is an n-channel vertical transistor, or the gate is configured to provide tensile strain substantially along the extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is a p-channel vertical transistor. In some embodiments, the vertical transistor further includes an ILD configured to provide tensile strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is an n-channel vertical transistor, or configured to provide compressive strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is a p-channel vertical transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wai-Yi Lien, Kai-Chieh Yang, Hao-Ling Tang
  • Patent number: 9893163
    Abstract: A 3D capacitor and method for fabricating a 3D capacitor is disclosed. An exemplary 3D capacitor includes a substrate including a fin structure, the fin structure including a plurality of fins. The 3D capacitor further includes an insulation material disposed on the substrate and between each of the plurality of fins. The 3D capacitor further includes a dielectric layer disposed on each of the plurality of fins. The 3D capacitor further includes a first electrode disposed on a first portion of the fin structure. The first electrode being in direct contact with a surface of the fin structure. The 3D capacitor further includes a second electrode disposed on a second portion of the fin structure. The second electrode being disposed directly on the dielectric layer and the first and second portions of the fin structure being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Wen Liu, Chao-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 9893169
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical fin field effect transistor having a consistent channel width, including forming one or more vertical fin(s) on the substrate, wherein the one or more vertical fin(s) have a tapered profile, oxidizing the one or more vertical fin(s) to form an oxide by consuming at least a portion of the vertical fin material, and removing the oxide from the one or more vertical fin(s), wherein the one or more vertical fin(s) include a tapered upper portion, a tapered lower portion and a straight channel portion there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li
  • Patent number: 9859284
    Abstract: A memory array includes a semiconductor substrate having thereon a plurality of active areas and trench isolation regions between the active areas. Buried word lines are disposed in the semiconductor substrate. Two of the buried word lines intersect with each of the active areas, separating each of the active areas into three portions including a digit line contact area and two cell contact areas. Buried digit lines are disposed in the semiconductor substrate above the buried word lines. An epitaxial silicon layer extends from exposed sidewalls and a top surface of each of the cell contact areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kuo-Chen Wang
  • Patent number: 9853033
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells. At least one of the memory cells includes a plurality of transistors with vertical-gate-all-around configurations and a plurality of active blocks. A portion of one of the active blocks serves as a source or a drain of one of the transistors. The active blocks in any adjacent two of the memory cells are isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 9837470
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a pillar may be formed on a semiconductor substrate. A hard mask pattern may be formed on a top surface and a portion of a sidewall of the pillar. An electric field-buffering region may be formed in the sidewall of the pillar. A gate insulating layer may be formed on an outer surface of the pillar. A gate may be formed on the gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Yean Oh
  • Patent number: 9837405
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical fin field effect transistor having a consistent channel width, including forming one or more vertical fin(s) on the substrate, wherein the one or more vertical fin(s) have a tapered profile, oxidizing the one or more vertical fin(s) to form an oxide by consuming at least a portion of the vertical fin material, and removing the oxide from the one or more vertical fin(s), wherein the one or more vertical fin(s) include a tapered upper portion, a tapered lower portion and a straight channel portion there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li
  • Patent number: 9818831
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor having a drain region, a source region, a dielectric layer, and a gate electrode. The dielectric layer can have a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is relatively thicker and closer to the drain region; the second portion is relatively thinner and closer to the source region. The gate electrode of the transistor can overlie the first and second portions of the dielectric layer. In another aspect, an electronic device can be formed using two different dielectric layers having different thicknesses. A gate electrode within the electronic device can be formed over portions of the two different dielectric layers. The process can eliminate masking and doping steps that may be otherwise used to keep the drain dopant concentration closer to the concentration as originally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTREIS, LLC
    Inventors: Gary H. Loechelt, Gordon M. Grivna
  • Patent number: 9812552
    Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. The methods may include forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming a first sacrificial pattern and a second sacrificial pattern on opposing sides of the gate structure respectively and partially replacing the first sacrificial pattern with a first insulating pattern such that a portion of the first sacrificial pattern remains in the first insulating pattern and replacing the second sacrificial pattern with a second insulating pattern. The methods may also include replacing at least some of the portion of the first sacrificial pattern that remains in the first insulating pattern with a conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwi-Chan Jun, Heon-Jong Shin, Jae-Ran Jang
  • Patent number: 9812506
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to fine geometry electrical circuits and methods of manufacture thereof. More specifically, methods for forming 3D cross-point memory arrays using a single nano-imprint lithography step and no photolithography are disclosed. The method includes imprinting a multilevel topography pattern, transferring the multilevel topography pattern to a substrate, filling the etched multilevel topography pattern with hard mask material, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a first portion of the substrate, etching a first trench in the first portion of the substrate, depositing a first plurality of layers in the first trench, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a second portion of the substrate, etching a second trench in the second portion of the substrate and depositing a second plurality of layers in the second trench. The method is repeated until a 4F2 3D cross-point memory array has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mac D. Apodaca, Daniel Robert Shepard
  • Patent number: 9812567
    Abstract: Transistor and methods of forming the same include forming a channel fin on a bottom source/drain region. A dielectric fill is formed around the channel fin with a gap in an area directly above the channel fin that has a width greater than a width of the channel fin. Spacers are formed in the gap. The dielectric fill is etched away. A gate stack is formed on sidewalls of the channel fin directly underneath the spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9806078
    Abstract: FinFET spacer formation includes, for example, providing an intermediate semiconductor structure having a substrate having one or more fin having a first and a second plurality of gates disposed thereon, and a first plurality of spacers disposed on sides of the first and second plurality of gates, depositing a first liner on the structure, depositing a fill material at a level along inner portions of the first liner between the gates adjacent to the one or more fin, removing outer portions of the first spacers and the first liner away from the fill material, the remaining portions of the first spacers and the first liner defining a first thickness, and depositing a second liner having a second thickness over the gates and over the remaining portions of the first spacers and the first liner, and the fill material, and wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Christopher Prindle, Tenko Yamashita, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Pietro Montanini, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 9780102
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a source material, a dielectric material over the source material, a select gate material over the dielectric material, a memory cell stack over the select gate material, a conductive plug located in an opening of the dielectric material and contacting a portion of the source material, and a channel material extending through the memory cell stack and the select gate material and contacting the conductive plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Krishna K. Parat, Luan C. Tran, Meng-Wei Kuo, Yushi Hu
  • Patent number: 9773702
    Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having first and second surfaces. At least one through silicon via (TSV) opening is formed in the substrate. The TSV opening extends through the first and second surfaces of the substrate. An alignment trench corresponding to an alignment mark is formed in the substrate. The alignment trench extends from the first surface of the substrate to a depth shallower than a depth of the TSV opening. A dielectric liner layer is provided over the substrate. The dielectric liner layer at least lines sidewalls of the TSV opening. A conductive layer is provided over the substrate. The conductive layer fills at least the TSV opening to form TSV contact. A redistribution layer (RDL) is formed over the substrate. The RDL layer is patterned using a reticle to form at least one opening which corresponds to a TSV contact pad. The reticle is aligned using the alignment mark in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Shunqiang Gong, Juan Boon Tan, Shijie Wang, Mahesh Bhatkar, Daxiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9773790
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including at least a memory region defined therein and a plurality of memory cells formed in the memory region, a plurality of first connecting structures, a plurality of second connecting structures, a plurality of dummy nodes respectively disposed on the first connecting structures, and a plurality of first storage nodes respectively disposed on the second connecting structures. The first connecting structures respectively include a conductive portion and a first metal portion, and the second connecting structures respectively include the conductive portion and a second metal portion. The first metal portion and the second metal portion include the same material. And the first metal portion and the second metal portion include different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Ting Ho, Li-Wei Feng, Ying-Chiao Wang, Yu-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 9748381
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical field effect transistor includes forming fins from a portion of a substrate. At least a first fin of the fins is associated with a first device, at least a second fin of the fins is associated with a second device. The method includes forming alternating pillars of a first polymer and a second polymer on the substrate, removing the pillars of the second polymer except between two or more fins of a same device, and forming the substrate pillars below the pillars of the first polymer. The etching creates a deep trench between the first fin and the second fin. Removing the pillars of the first polymer and any remaining ones of the pillars of the second polymer is followed by performing an oxide fill to fill the deep trench and gaps between the pillars of the substrate with oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9748389
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a precursor having a substrate and first and second pluralities of gate structures, the first pluralities having a greater pitch than the second pluralities. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer covering the substrate and the first and second pluralities; and performing an etching process to the dielectric layer. The etching process removes a first portion of the dielectric layer over the substrate, while a second portion of the dielectric layer remains over sidewalls of the first and second pluralities. The second portion of the dielectric layer is thicker over the sidewalls of the second plurality than over the sidewalls of the first plurality. The method further includes etching the substrate to form third and fourth pluralities of recesses adjacent the first and second pluralities, respectively; and epitaxially growing fifth and sixth pluralities of semiconductor features in the third and fourth pluralities, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Lee, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Ting-Yeh Chen, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 9748244
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first and second fin-shaped semiconductor layers on a substrate. A first insulating film is around the first and second fin-shaped layers. A first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers reside on the first and second fin-shaped layers, respectively. A width of a bottom of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer is equal to a width of a top of the first fin-shaped semiconductor layer, and a width of a bottom of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer is equal to the width of a top of the second fin-shaped semiconductor layer. First and second gate insulating films and first and second metal gate electrodes reside around the first and second pillar-shaped layers, respectively. A metal gate line is connected to the first and second metal gate electrodes and extends in a direction perpendicular to the first and second fin-shaped layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9741661
    Abstract: A logic semiconductor device includes a plurality of active patterns extending in a horizontal direction and being spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, an isolation layer defining the active patterns, a plurality of gate patterns extending in the vertical direction on the active patterns and the isolation layer, the gate patterns being spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, a plurality of lower wirings extending in the horizontal direction over the gate patterns, a plurality of upper wirings extending in the vertical direction over the lower wirings, a through contact connecting at least one upper wiring of the upper wirings and at least one gate pattern of the gate patterns, the through contact extending from a bottom surface of the upper wiring to a position under a bottom surface of one of the lower wirings relative to the active patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Raheel Azmat, Sengupta Rwik, Su-Hyeon Kim, Chul-Hong Park, Jae-Hyoung Lim
  • Patent number: 9711621
    Abstract: A trench transistor having a semiconductor body includes a source region, a body region, a drain region electrically connected to a drain contact, and a gate trench including a gate electrode which is isolated from the semiconductor body. The gate electrode is configured to control current flow between the source region and the drain region along at least a first side wall of the gate trench. The trench transistor further includes a doped semiconductor region having dopants introduced into the semiconductor body through an unmasked part of the walls of a trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Uwe Wahl, Thorsten Meyer, Michael Rüb, Armin Willmeroth, Markus Schmitt, Carolin Tolksdorf, Carsten Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 9685449
    Abstract: A dynamic memory structure is disclosed. The dynamic memory structure includes: a substrate; a first strip semiconductor material disposed on the substrate and extending along a first direction; a gate standing astride the first strip semiconductor material, extending along a second direction and dividing the first strip semiconductor material into a first source terminal, a first drain terminal and a first channel region; a first dielectric layer sandwiched between the gate and the first strip semiconductor material; a first capacitor unit disposed on the substrate and comprising the first source terminal serving as a bottom electrode, a second dielectric layer covering the first source terminal to serve as a capacitor dielectric layer and a capacitor metal layer covering the second dielectric layer to serve as a top electrode. Preferably, the first source terminal and the first drain terminal have asymmetric shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicky Lu, Ming-Hong Kuo
  • Patent number: 9679903
    Abstract: An anti-fuse based on a Field Nitride Trap (FNT) is disclosed. The anti-fuse includes a first active pillar including a first junction, a second active pillar including a second junction, a selection line buried between the first active pillar and the second active pillar, and a trap layer for electrically coupling the first junction to the second junction by trapping minority carriers according to individual voltages applied to the first junction, the second junction and the selection line. As a result, the fuse can be highly integrated through the above-mentioned structure, and programming of the fuse can be easily achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Eun Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9673308
    Abstract: According to the present invention, since the buffer layer is formed by multiple ion implantations of different acceleration energies and the non-diffusion region in which impurity do not diffuse is left between the buffer layer and the collector layer, the semiconductor device which can supply sufficient holes to the drift layer at the turn-off can be manufactured while the withstand voltage is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawase, Kazunori Kanada, Tadaharu Minato
  • Patent number: 9666488
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicide layer as a pass-through contact under a gate contact between p-epilayer and n-epilayer source/drains and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include depositing a semiconductor layer over a substrate; forming a pFET gate on a p-side of the semiconductor layer and a nFET gate on a n-side of the semiconductor layer; forming a gate contact between the pFET gate and the nFET gate; forming raised source/drains on opposite sides of each of the pFET and nFET gates; and forming a metal silicide over a first raised source/drain on the p-side and over a second raised source/drain on the n-side, wherein the metal silicide extends from the first raised source/drain to the second raised source/drain and below the gate contact between the pFET and nFET gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Tuhin Guha Neogi, David Pritchard, Scott Luning, Guillaume Bouche, David Doman
  • Patent number: 9640541
    Abstract: An anti-fuse based on a Field Nitride Trap (FNT) is disclosed. The anti-fuse includes a first active pillar including a first junction, a second active pillar including a second junction, a selection line buried between the first active pillar and the second active pillar, and a trap layer for electrically coupling the first junction to the second junction by trapping minority carriers according to individual voltages applied to the first junction, the second junction and the selection line. As a result, the fuse can be highly integrated through the above-mentioned structure, and programming of the fuse can be easily achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Eun Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9627511
    Abstract: A method of forming a spacer for a vertical transistor is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure that includes a fin on a semiconductor substrate, forming a source junction or a drain junction at an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and at a base of the fin and epitaxially growing a rare earth oxide (REO) spacer to have a substantially uniform thickness along respective upper surfaces of the source or drain junction and on opposite sides of the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Geng Wang, Qintao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9608106
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first junction region formed at the bottom of a vertical pillar, a bit line formed below the first junction region, and an insulation film formed below the bit line. As a result, the 4F2-sized semiconductor device is provided and the bit line is configured in the form of a laminated structure of a conductive layer and a polysilicon layer, so that bit line resistance is reduced. In addition, the semiconductor device reduces ohmic contact resistance by forming silicide between the conductive layer and the polysilicon layer, and includes an insulation film at a position between the semiconductor substrate and the bit line, resulting in reduction of bit line capacitance. Therefore, the sensing margin of the semiconductor device is increased and the data retention time is also increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Tae Su Jang, Min Soo Yoo
  • Patent number: 9583587
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an injection-enhanced insulated-gate bipolar transistor, comprising the following steps: an n-type substrate (12) is provided; a p-type doped layer (14) is formed on the n-type substrate (12); a hard layer (20) is formed on the p-type doped layer (14); a groove (40) extending to the n-type substrate (12) is formed by etching on the p-type doped layer (14); an n-type doped layer (50) is formed on the sidewalls and bottom of the groove (40); the hard layer (20) is removed; p-type impurities of the p-type doped layer (14) and n-type impurities of the n-type doped layer (50) are driven in together, where the p-type impurities are diffused to form a p-type base region (60), and the n-type impurities are diffused to form an n-type buffer layer (70); a gated oxide dielectric layer (80) is formed on the surface of the groove (40); and, a polysilicon layer (90) is deposited in the groove having formed therein the gate oxide dielectric layer (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CSMC TECHNOLOGIES FABI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wanli Wang, Xiaoshe Deng, Genyi Wang, Xuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9570363
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertically integrated memory cell including a deep trench extending into a substrate, a trench capacitor located within the deep trench, and a vertical transistor at least partially embedded within the deep trench above the trench capacitor, the vertical transistor is in direct contact with and electrically coupled to the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Barth, Jr., Babar A. Khan
  • Patent number: 9525025
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate including an active region and a device isolation region that isolates the active region, and a buried bit line and a buried gate electrode formed in the substrate. The device isolation region includes a first device isolation region extending in a first direction and a second device isolation region extending in a second direction crossing with the first direction and having an formed air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Seung-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9496256
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor. Each of the first and second transistors includes a channel. The channel of the first transistor extends in a substantially vertical direction. The channel of the second transistor extends in a substantially horizontal direction. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chin-Chi Wang, Wu-Ping Huang, Wun-Jie Lin
  • Patent number: 9484268
    Abstract: The object to provide a semiconductor device comprising a highly-integrated SGT-based CMOS inverter circuit is achieved by forming an inverter which comprises: a first transistor including; an first island-shaped semiconductor layer; a first gate insulating film; a gate electrode; a first first-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer arranged above the first island-shaped semiconductor layer; and a second first-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer arranged below the first island-shaped semiconductor layer, and a second transistor including; a second gate insulating film surrounding a part of the periphery of the gate electrode; a second semiconductor layer in contact with a part of the periphery of the second gate insulating film; a first second-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer arranged above the second semiconductor layer; and a second second-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer arranged below the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura