Vertical Transistor Patents (Class 257/302)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9466713
    Abstract: A non-floating vertical transistor includes a substrate and a protuberant structure extending from the substrate. A segregating pillar is inside the protuberant structure. A pair of segregated bit-lines which are segregated by the segregating pillar is disposed in the substrate and in the protuberant structure and adjacent to the bottom of the segregating pillar. A gate oxide layer is attached to the sidewall of the protuberant structure. A word-line is adjacent to the gate oxide layer so that the gate oxide layer is sandwiched between the word-line and a doped deposition layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Tzung-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 9460807
    Abstract: An OTP (One-Time Programmable) element can be fabricated in CMOS FinFET processes are disclosed. The OTP cell can be implemented as a MOS device, dummy-gate diode, or Schottky diode as selector is disclosed here. In one embodiment, the OTP element includes a MOS gate with at least one portion of the MOS gate can have at least one extended area to accelerate programming. An extended area is an extension of the OTP element beyond two nearest cathode and anode contacts and are longer than required by design rules. The extended area can also have reduced or substantially no current flowing through. The selector can be built with a MOS gate to divide at least one fin structure into two different active regions. By using different source/drain implant schemes on the two active regions, the selector can be turned on as MOS device, MOS device and/or diode, dummy-gate diode, or Schottky diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Shine C. Chung
  • Patent number: 9461049
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including first and second semiconductor pillars formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and aligning in a first direction; a first interconnect extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and provided between the first and second semiconductor pillars; and a first contact pad located over the first interconnect, the first contact pad being in contact with and electrically connected to the first semiconductor pillar at a side surface thereof, while being electrically isolated from the second semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Kazuma Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 9454997
    Abstract: Disclosed is an array of nonvolatile memory cells includes five memory cells per unit cell. Also disclosed is an array of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells that includes five memory cells occupying a continuous horizontal area of 4F2 within an individual of the tiers. Also disclosed is an array of nonvolatile memory cells comprising a plurality of unit cells which individually comprise three elevational regions of programmable material, the three elevational regions comprising the programmable material of at least three different memory cells of the unit cell. Also disclosed is an array of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells that includes a continuous volume having a combination of a plurality of vertically oriented memory cells and a plurality of horizontally oriented memory cells. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 9437731
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, a plurality of pillars extending to a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a stress providing layer formed in the semiconductor substrate between pillars and forming a junction with the semiconductor substrate below each pillar to cause lattice deformation in the pillar, a source region having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor substrate below the pillar, a drain region having the second conductivity type formed in an upper portion of the pillar, a gate insulating layer formed on a lateral surface of the pillar and a surface of the stress providing layer, and a gate electrode formed to surround the lateral surface of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 9431107
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a transistor having a gate disposed over a workpiece. The transistor includes a source region and a drain region disposed in the workpiece proximate the gate. The memory device includes an erase gate having a tip portion that extends towards the workpiece. The erase gate is coupled to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Hsiao-Chin Tuan, Felix Ying-Kit Tsui, Hau-Yan Lu
  • Patent number: 9431481
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a power device can include an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type, an active region, a termination region surrounding the active region, a plurality of trenches disposed in the epitaxial layer, and silicon material of a second conductivity type disposed in the plurality of trenches. The silicon material of the second conductivity type and a plurality of mesas defined in the epitaxial layer by the trenches, can define a plurality of concentric octagon-shaped pillars of alternating conductivity type, a first portion of the pillars being disposed in the active region and a second portion of the pillars being disposed in the termination region. Sidewalls of the plurality of trenches can define a first four legs and a second four legs of each of the pillars. The sidewalls can have a same crystallographic plane direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Jaegil Lee
  • Patent number: 9406796
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a second conductivity type back gate electrode formed within a body area, and electrically connected with the body area, and performs bidirectional current control in a direction from a drain area to a source area and in a direction from the source area to the drain area. A sheet resistance of the back gate electrode is lower than a sheet resistance of the body area. The source area and the back gate electrode are disposed apart from each other with a clearance sufficient for preventing a breakdown phenomenon caused between the source area and the back gate electrode when a maximum operation voltage is applied between the source area and the drain area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsushige Yamashita, Shigetaka Aoki
  • Patent number: 9401399
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate including a main surface. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and a gate electrode. The source region and the drain region are disposed along a first direction, the first direction being parallel to the main surface. The channel region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction, the ridge including a top side and a first and a second sidewalls. The gate electrode is disposed at the first sidewall of the channel region, and the gate electrode is absent from the second sidewall of the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Till Schloesser, Franz Hirler
  • Patent number: 9397103
    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 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicky Lu, Ming-Hong Kuo
  • Patent number: 9391149
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a drift region of a first doping type, a junction between the drift region and a device region, and a field electrode structure in the drift region. The field electrode structure includes a field electrode, a field electrode dielectric adjoining the field electrode, arranged between the field electrode and the drift region, and having an opening, and at least one of a field stop region and a generation region. The semiconductor device further includes a coupling region of a second doping type complementary to the first doping type. The coupling region is electrically coupled to the device region and coupled to the field electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Franz Hirler
  • Patent number: 9385202
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an isolated trench-electrode structure. The semiconductor device is formed using a modified photolithographic process to produce alternating regions of thick and thin dielectric layers that separate the trench electrode from regions of the semiconductor device. The thin dielectric layers can be configured to control the formation channel regions, and the thick dielectric layers can be configured to reduce switching losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marian Kuruc, Juraj Vavro
  • Patent number: 9378959
    Abstract: First, a first resist mask for forming an n+ emitter region is formed on the front surface of an n? semiconductor substrate. The first resist mask is left on the surface of the gate electrode. Next, a first ion implantation is performed with the first resist mask to form the n+ emitter region. At this time, as the first ion implantation, both a perpendicular ion implantation is performed at an implantation angle that is perpendicular to the substrate front surface, and an oblique ion implantation at an implantation angle that is tilted relative to the direction perpendicular to the substrate front surface. The oblique ion implantation widens a width of the n+ emitter region in the trench widthwise direction. Next, a second ion implantation is performed with a second resist mask to form a p+ contact region. Thereafter, a heat treatment is used to diffuse and activate the n+ emitter region and the p+ contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9331275
    Abstract: Switching device structures and methods are described herein. A switching device can include a vertical stack comprising a material formed between a first and a second electrode. The switching device can further include a third electrode coupled to the vertical stack and configured to receive a voltage applied thereto to control a formation state of a conductive pathway in the material between the first and the second electrode, wherein the formation state of the conductive pathway is switchable between an on state and an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 9324613
    Abstract: A method for forming through silicon vias (TSVs) in a silicon substrate is disclosed. The method involves forming a silicon post as an substantially continuous annulus in a first side of a silicon substrate, removing material from an opposite side to the level of the substantially continuous annulus, removing the silicon post and replacing it with a metal material to form a metal via extending through the thickness of the substrate. The substantially continuous annulus may be interrupted by at least one tether which connects the silicon post to the silicon substrate. The tether may be formed of a thing isthmus of silicon, or some suitable insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Innovative Micro Technology
    Inventors: John C Harley, Zhimin J. Yao
  • Patent number: 9324856
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes MOSFET cells having a drift region of a first conductivity type. A first and second active area trench are in the drift region. A split gate uses the active trenches as field plates or includes planar gates between the active trenches including a MOS gate electrode (MOS gate) and a diode gate electrode (diode gate). A body region of the second conductivity type in the drift region abutts the active trenches. A source of the first conductivity type in the body region includes a first source portion proximate to the MOS gate and a second source portion proximate to the diode gate. A vertical drift region uses the drift region below the body region to provide a drain. A connector shorts the diode gate to the second source portion to provide an integrated channel diode. The MOS gate is electrically isolated from the first source portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christopher Boguslaw Kocon, John Manning Savidge Neilson
  • Patent number: 9318576
    Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device, a resistive variable memory device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 9312366
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of processing an integrated circuit (IC) structure for metal gate replacement, the method comprising: providing a structure including a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin positioned over a buried insulator layer of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, and a gate structure positioned over the first and second semiconductor fins, wherein the gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a metal layer positioned over the gate dielectric layer; forming a planarizing resist over the first and second semiconductor fins, wherein the planarizing resist includes: a first organic planarizing layer (OPL), and a second OPL over the first OPL; removing a portion of the second OPL; removing an exposed portion of the first OPL and a portion of the metal layer positioned over the second semiconductor fin; and forming a replacement metal gate (RMG) over the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Huihang Dong, Wai-Kin Li
  • Patent number: 9293538
    Abstract: An electrode structure is described in which conductive regions are recessed into a semiconductor region. Trenches may be formed in a semiconductor region, such that conductive regions can be formed in the trenches. The electrode structure may be used in semiconductor devices such as field effect transistors or diodes. Nitride-based power semiconductor devices are described including such an electrode structure, which can reduce leakage current and otherwise improve performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Tomas Apostol Palacios, Bin Lu, Elison de Nazareth Matioli
  • Patent number: 9263459
    Abstract: A three dimensional or stacked circuit device includes a conductive channel cap on a conductor channel. The channel cap can be created via selective deposition or other process to prevent polishing down the conductive material to isolate the contacts. The conductor channel extends through a deck of multiple tiers of circuit elements that are activated via a gate. The gate is activated by electrical potential in the conductor channel. The conductive cap on the conductor channel can electrically connect the conductor channel to a bitline or other signal line, and/or to another deck of multiple circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hongqi Li, Gowrisankar Damarla, Roger Lindsay, Zailong Bian, Jin Lu, Shyam Ramalingam, Prasanna Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9257456
    Abstract: A method of forming a metal pattern includes disposing a gate metal layer on a substrate; disposing a photoresist layer on the gate metal layer; etching portions of the photoresist layer to form a first photo pattern; etching portions of the gate metal layer to form a gate pattern including a gate electrode, in which the gate metal layer is patterned using the first photo pattern as a mask; ashing an end portion of the first photo pattern to form a second photo pattern; disposing a first gate insulating layer over the substrate and the second photo pattern; removing the second photo pattern and a portion of the first gate insulating layer disposed over the second photo pattern; and disposing a second insulating layer over the gate pattern and the remaining portions of the first gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Min Moon, Hong-Sick Park
  • Patent number: 9252251
    Abstract: A semiconductor component is disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor body including a first semiconductor layer having at least one active component zone, a cell array with a plurality of trenches, and at least one cell array edge zone. The cell array edge zone is only arranged in an edge region of the cell array, adjoining at least one trench of the cell array, and being at least partially arranged below the at least one trench in the cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Ralf Siemieniec, Christian Geissler, Oliver Blank, Maximilian Roesch
  • Patent number: 9245994
    Abstract: A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in and on a semiconductor surface provides a drift region of a first conductivity type. A plurality of active area trenches in the drift region, and first and second termination trenches are each parallel to and together sandwiching the active area trenches. The active area trenches and termination trenches include a trench dielectric liner and electrically conductive filler material filled field plates. A gate is over the drain drift region between active area trenches. A body region of a second conductivity abuts the active region trenches. A source of the first conductivity type is in the body region on opposing sides of the gate. A vertical drain drift region uses the drift region below the body region. A first and second curved trench feature couples the field plate of the first and second termination trench to field plates of active area trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideaki Kawahara, Christopher Boguslaw Kocon, Simon John Molloy, John Manning Savidge Neilson
  • Patent number: 9240451
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a low-concentration n-type drift layer deposited on a silicon carbide substrate to form a semiconductor substrate. A first front surface metal layer, which forms a Schottky contact with the semiconductor substrate, is formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate. An outer circumferential end of the first front surface metal layer extends on an interlayer insulating film which covers an edge portion. A second front surface metal layer which forms a front surface electrode is formed on the first front surface metal layer. When a portion of the second front surface metal layer is formed by dry etching, the entire first front surface metal layer, which will be Schottky contact metal, is covered with the second front surface metal layer. Thus, generation of an etching residue is prevented and a device with a front surface electrode structure with high reliability is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumikazu Imai
  • Patent number: 9236386
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form bulb-type trenches that define a plurality of active regions in the semiconductor substrate; forming a supporter in each of the bulb-type trenches; dividing each active region, of the plurality of active regions, into a pair of body lines by forming a trench through each active region; and forming a bit line in each body line of the pair of body lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Heung-Jae Cho, Eui-Seong Hwang, Eun-Shil Park
  • Patent number: 9236327
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a punch stop region formed in a substrate; a plurality of buried bit lines formed over the substrate; a plurality of pillar structures formed over the buried bit lines; a plurality of word lines extending to intersect the buried bit lines and being in contact with the pillar structures; and an isolation layer isolating the word lines from the buried bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Heung-Jae Cho, Bong-Seok Jeon
  • Patent number: 9196655
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device including a vertical transistor includes an active pillar including a channel region, a source formed in one end of the channel region, and a lightly doped drain (LDD) region and a drain formed in the other end of the channel region, a first gate electrode formed to surround a periphery of the LDD region and having a first work function, and a second gate electrode formed to be connected to the first gate electrode and to surround the channel region and having a second work function that is higher than the first work function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 9190514
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least one first conductive layer stacked on a substrate where a cell region and a contact region are defined; at least one first slit passing through the first conductive layer, second conductive layers stacked on the first conductive layer; a second slit passing through the first and second conductive layers and connected with one side of the first slit, and a third slit passing through the first and second conductive layers and connected with the other side of the first slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Il Do Kim
  • Patent number: 9166397
    Abstract: An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires, a plurality of electronic components, a common wire, an interrupt wire and a protective layer. The component-mounted wires and the common wire are disposed on the substrate. The electronic components are mounted on the respective component-mounted wires and are coupled with the common wire. The interrupt wire is coupled between one component-mounted wire and the common wire, and is configured to melt in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent to interrupt a coupling between the component-mounted wire and the common wire. The protective layer covers a surface of the substrate including the interrupt wire and defines an opening portion so that at least a portion of the interrupt wire is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuki Mikami, Toru Itabashi, Takahiko Furuta, Ryoichi Shiraishi, Hiroaki Nakamura, Shigeki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9129845
    Abstract: Variable-resistance material memories include a buried salicide word line disposed below a diode. Variable-resistance material memories include a metal spacer spaced apart and next to the diode. Processes include the formation of one of the buried salicide word line and the metal spacer. Devices include the variable-resistance material memories and one of the buried salicided word line and the spacer word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette
  • Patent number: 9123627
    Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes removing at least a portion of a fin to thereby define a fin trench in a layer of insulating material, forming first and second layers of semiconductor material in the fin trench, after forming the second layer of semiconductor material, performing an anneal process to induce defect formation in at least the first layer of semiconductor material, wherein, after the anneal process is performed, the upper surface of the second layer of semiconductor material is substantially defect-free, forming a layer of channel semiconductor material on the upper surface of the second layer of semiconductor material and forming a gate structure around at least a portion of the channel semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Qi, Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob, Shurong Liang
  • Patent number: 9118005
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a memory apparatus in which memory devices each having a memory layer whose resistance value reversibly varies by voltage application between bottom and upper electrodes are formed, includes: forming and shaping a bottom electrode material film into a first linear pattern extending in a first direction; forming a memory layer material film and an upper electrode material film in this order on the bottom electrode material film; forming the upper electrodes and the memory layers by shaping the upper electrode material film and the memory layer material film into a second linear pattern extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and forming the bottom electrodes having a quadrangle plane shape at regions where the first linear pattern intersect with the second linear pattern by shaping the bottom electrode material film into the second linear pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Miyata
  • Patent number: 9105506
    Abstract: A dynamic memory structure includes a strip semiconductor material disposed on a substrate, a gate standing astride the strip semiconductor material and dividing the strip semiconductor material into a source terminal, a drain terminal and a channel region wherein a source width of the source terminal is larger than or equal to a channel width, a dielectric layer sandwiched between the gate and the strip semiconductor material, and a capacitor unit disposed on the substrate and including the source terminal serving as a lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicky Lu, Ming-Hong Kuo
  • Patent number: 9082714
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards use of an etch process post wordline definition to improve data retention in a flash memory device. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a plurality of wordline structures on a substrate, wherein individual wordline structures of the plurality of wordline structures include a control gate having an electrically conductive material and a cap having an electrically insulative material formed on the control gate, depositing an electrically insulative material to form a liner on a surface of the individual wordline structures, and etching the liner to remove at least a portion of the liner. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Max F. Hineman, Ronald A. Weimer, Vinayak K. Shamanna, Thomas M. Graettinger, William R. Kueber, Christopher Larsen, Alex J. Schrinsky
  • Patent number: 9070740
    Abstract: A memory unit includes a substrate, at least one charge storage element, at least one first recessed access element, and an isolation portion. The substrate has a surface and the first recessed access element is disposed in an active area of the substrate and extending from the surface into the substrate. The first recessed access element is electrically connected to the charge storage element and induces in the substrate a first depletion region. The isolation portion is adjacent to the active area and extending from the surface into the substrate. The isolation portion includes a trenched isolating barrier and a second recessed access element. The second recessed access element is disposed in the trenched isolating barrier and induces in the substrate a second depletion region merging with the first depletion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzung-Han Lee, Yaw-Wen Hu, Chung-Yuan Lee, Hsu Chiang, Sheng-Hsiung Wu, Hung Chang Liao
  • Patent number: 9070767
    Abstract: Vertical memory devices comprise vertical transistors, buried digit lines extending in a first direction in an array region, and word lines extending in a second direction different from the first direction. Portions of the word lines in a word line end region have a first vertical length greater than a second vertical length of portions of the word lines in the array region. Apparatuses including vertical transistors in an array region, buried digit lines extending in a first direction, and word lines are also disclosed. Each of the word lines extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, is formed over at least a portion of a sidewall of at least some of the vertical transistors, and vertically has a depth in a word line end region about equal to or greater than a depth thereof in the array region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shyam Surthi
  • Patent number: 9059141
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a semiconductor fabrication method. The method comprises forming an isolation region between a first and a second region in a substrate, forming a recess in the substrate surface, and lining the recess with a uniform oxide. Embodiments further include doping a channel region under the bottom recess surface in the first and second regions and depositing a gate electrode material in the recess. Preferred embodiments include forming source/drain regions adjacent the channel region in the first and second regions, preferably after the step of depositing the gate electrode material. Another embodiment of the invention provides a semiconductor device comprising a recess in a surface of the first and second active regions and in the isolation region, and a dielectric layer having a uniform thickness lining the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Richard Lindsay, Matthias Hierlemann
  • Patent number: 9048116
    Abstract: A semiconductor uses an isolation trench, and one or more additional trenches to those required for isolation are provided. These additional trenches can be connected between a transistor gate and the drain to provide additional gate-drain capacitance, or else they can be used to form series impedance coupled to the transistor gate. These measures can be used separately or in combination to reduce the switching speed and thereby reduce current spikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Phil Rutter, Ian Culshaw, Steven Thomas Peake
  • Patent number: 9041049
    Abstract: In general, in a semiconductor active element such as a normally-off JFET based on SiC in which an impurity diffusion speed is significantly lower than in silicon, gate regions are formed through ion implantation into the side walls of trenches formed in source regions. However, to ensure the performance of the JFET, it is necessary to control the area between the gate regions thereof with high precision. Besides, there is such a problem that, since a heavily doped PN junction is formed by forming the gate regions in the source regions, an increase in junction current cannot be avoided. The present invention provides a normally-off power JFET and a manufacturing method thereof and forms the gate regions according to a multi-epitaxial method which repeats a process including epitaxial growth, ion implantation, and activation annealing a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Arai, Yasuaki Kagotoshi, Nobuo Machida, Natsuki Yokoyama, Haruka Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9035368
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including first and second semiconductor pillars formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and aligning in a first direction; a first interconnect extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and provided between the first and second semiconductor pillars; and a first contact pad located over the first interconnect, the first contact pad being in contact with and electrically connected to the first semiconductor pillar at a side surface thereof, while being electrically isolated from the second semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Kazuma Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 9013006
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a field-effect transistor, including forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first insulating film in the trench, forming an intrinsic polycrystalline silicon film over the first insulating film, and introducing first conductive type impurities into the intrinsic polycrystalline silicon film to form a first conductive film. The first conductive film is etched to form a first gate electrode in the trench. Next, a second insulating film is formed in the trench above the first insulating film and the first gate electrode, and a first conductivity type doped polycrystalline silicon film, having higher impurity concentration than the first gate electrode is formed over the second insulating film. The doped polycrystalline silicon film, upper part of the trench ton form a second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Nakazawa, Yuji Yatsuda
  • Patent number: 9006810
    Abstract: A semiconductor nanowire is formed integrally with a wraparound semiconductor portion that contacts sidewalls of a conductive cap structure located at an upper portion of a deep trench and contacting an inner electrode of a deep trench capacitor. The semiconductor nanowire is suspended from above a buried insulator layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the surfaces of the patterned semiconductor material structure including the semiconductor nanowire and the wraparound semiconductor portion. A wraparound gate electrode portion is formed around a center portion of the semiconductor nanowire and gate spacers are formed. Physically exposed portions of the patterned semiconductor material structure are removed, and selective epitaxy and metallization are performed to connect a source-side end of the semiconductor nanowire to the conductive cap structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9006809
    Abstract: A method for contacting MOS devices. First openings in a photosensitive material are formed over a substrate having a top dielectric in a first die area and a second opening over a gate stack in a second die area having the top dielectric, a hard mask, and a gate electrode. The top dielectric layer is etched to form a semiconductor contact while etching at least a portion the hard mask layer thickness over a gate contact area exposed by the second opening. An inter-layer dielectric (ILD) is deposited. A photosensitive material is patterned to generate a third opening in the photosensitive material over the semiconductor contact and a fourth opening inside the gate contact area. The ILD is etched through to reopen the semiconductor contact while etching through the ILD and residual hard mask if present to provide a gate contact to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Fei Xie, Wen Cheng Tien, Ya Ping Chen, Li Bin Man, Kuo Jung Chen, Yu Liu, Tian Yi Zhang, Sisi Xie
  • Patent number: 8994101
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of trenches using a first mask. The trenches include source pickup trenches located in outside a termination area and between two adjacent active areas. First and second conductive regions separated by an intermediate dielectric region are formed using a second mask. A first electrical contact to the first conductive region and a second electrical contact to the second conductive region are formed using a third mask and forming a source metal region. Contacts to a gate metal region are formed using a fourth mask. A semiconductor device includes a source pickup contact located outside a termination region and outside an active region of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Chang, Yi Su, Wenjun Li, Limin Weng, Jongoh Kim, John Chen
  • Patent number: 8987083
    Abstract: In a non-planar based semiconductor process where the structure includes both N and P type raised structures (e.g., fins), and where a different type of epitaxy is to be grown on each of the N and P type raised structures, prior to the growing, a lithographic blocking material over one of the N and P type raised structure portions is selectively etched to expose and planarize a gate cap. After the first type of epitaxy is grown, the process is repeated for the other of the N and P type epitaxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Hu, Zhao Lun, Xing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8981448
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a vertical transistor with a shunt gate that increases an area of a gate of the vertical transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 8975681
    Abstract: In one surface of a semiconductor substrate, an active region in which main current flows and an IGBT is disposed is formed. A termination structure portion serving as an electric-field reduction region is formed laterally with respect to the active region. In the termination structure portion, a porous-oxide-film region, a p-type guard ring region, and an n+-type channel stopper region are formed. A plurality of floating electrodes are formed to contact the surface of the porous-oxide-film region. Another plurality of floating electrodes are formed to contact a first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Akiyama, Akira Okada
  • Patent number: 8963218
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are described that include a dual-gate configuration. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The substrate includes a first and a second body region formed proximal to the first surface. Moreover, each body region includes a source region formed therein. The substrate further includes a drain region formed proximal to the second surface and an epitaxial region that is configured to function as a drift region between the drain region and the source regions. A dual-gate is formed over the first surface of the substrate. The dual-gate includes a first gate region and a second gate region that define a gap there between to reduce the gate to drain capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Harmeet Sobti, Timothy K. McGuire, David L. Snyder, Scott J. Alberhasky
  • Patent number: 8952443
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor device includes an electrode structure has electrodes stacked on a substrate, semiconductor patterns penetrating the electrode structure, charge storing patterns interposed between the semiconductor patterns and the electrode structure, and blocking insulating patterns interposed between the charge storing patterns and the electrode structure. Each of the blocking insulating patterns surrounds the semiconductor patterns, and the charge storing patterns are horizontally spaced from each other and configured in such a way as to each be disposed around a respective one of the semiconductor patterns. Also, each of the charge storing patterns includes a plurality of horizontal segments, each interposed between vertically adjacent ones of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Il Chang, Young Woo Park, Jae Goo Lee