Stacked Capacitor Patents (Class 257/303)
  • Publication number: 20100283093
    Abstract: A memory device is provided that in one embodiment includes a trench capacitor located in a semiconductor substrate including an outer electrode provided by the semiconductor substrate, an inner electrode provided by a conductive fill material, and a node dielectric layer located between the outer electrode and the inner electrode; and a semiconductor device positioned centrally over the trench capacitor. The semiconductor device includes a source region, a drain region, and a gate structure, in which the semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor layer that is separated from the semiconductor substrate by a dielectric layer. A first contact is present extending from an upper surface of the semiconductor layer into electrical contact with the semiconductor substrate, and a second contact from the drain region of the semiconductor device in electrical contact to the conductive material within the at least one trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chengwen Pei, Kangguo Cheng, Herbert L. Ho, Subramanian S. Iyer, Byeong Y. Kim, Geng Wang, Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7825451
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and integrated circuitry. Pillars project outwardly from openings in a first material over individual capacitor storage node locations. Insulative material is deposited over the first material laterally about sidewalls of the projecting pillars, and is anisotropically etched effective to expose underlying first material and leave electrically insulative material received laterally about the sidewalls of the projecting pillars. Openings are formed within a second material to the pillars. The pillars are etched from the substrate through the openings in the second material, and individual capacitor electrodes are formed within the openings in electrical connection with the storage node locations. The individual capacitor electrodes have the anisotropically etched insulative material received laterally about their outer sidewalls. The individual capacitor electrodes are incorporated into a plurality of capacitors. Other implementations and aspects are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7825450
    Abstract: A sacrificial, self-aligned polysilicon interconnect structure is formed in a region of insulating material adjacent to an active region location and underlying a semiconductor device of a substrate assembly in order to electrically connect the active region and the semiconductor device. A preexisting geometry of the active region is maintained during etching of an interconnect structure hole in which the interconnect structure is formed and saves process steps. Under the method, a region of insulating material is formed immediately adjacent the active region location. A nitride layer is formed over the active region and protects the active region while an interconnect structure hole is etched partially into the region of insulating material adjacent the active region location with an etching process that is selective to the nitride layer. The interconnect structure hole is filled with polysilicon, the surface of the substrate assembly is planarized, and the nitride layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Walker, Karl M. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7820506
    Abstract: Some embodiments include dielectric structures. The structures include first and second portions that are directly against one another. The first portion may contain a homogeneous mixture of a first phase and a second phase. The first phase may have a dielectric constant of greater than or equal to 25, and the second phase may have a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 20. The second portion may be entirely a single composition having a dielectric constant of greater than or equal to 25. Some embodiments include electrical components, such as capacitors and transistors, containing dielectric structures of the type described above. Some embodiments include methods of forming dielectric structures, and some embodiments include methods of forming electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Rocklein, Chris M. Carlson, Dave Peterson, Cunyu Yang, Praveen Vaidyanathan, Vishwanath Bhat
  • Patent number: 7821047
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor apparatus including: a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation region formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to extend in a first direction; a gate electrode formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to extend in a second direction crossing the first direction and to penetrate through the element isolation region; a gate insulating film interposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate; an interlayer dielectric film formed on the gate electrode; a ferroelectric capacitor including: first and second electrodes disposed on the interlayer dielectric film and a ferroelectric between the first and second electrodes; and first and second semiconductor pillars being in contact respectively with the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tohru Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7816762
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides on-chip decoupling capacitor structures having trench capacitors integrated with planar capacitors to provide an improved overall capacitance density. In some embodiments, the structure includes at least one deep trench capacitor, at least one planar capacitor, and a metal layer interconnecting said deep trench and planar capacitors. In other embodiments, the structure includes at least one deep trench capacitor and a metal layer in electrical communication with the at least one deep trench capacitor. The at least one deep trench capacitor has a shallow trench isolation region, a doped region, an inner electrode, and a dielectric between the doped region and the inner electrode. The dielectric has an upper edge that terminates at a lower surface of the shallow trench isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anil K. Chinthakindi, Eric Thompson
  • Patent number: 7812387
    Abstract: A trench capacitor with an isolation collar in a semiconductor substrate where the substrate adjacent to the isolation collar is free of dopants caused by auto-doping. The method of fabricating the trench capacitor includes the steps of forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate; depositing a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the trench; filling the trench with a first layer of undoped polysilicon; etching away the first layer of undoped polysilicon and the dielectric layer from an upper section of the trench whereby the semiconductor substrate is exposed at the sidewall in the upper section of the trench; forming an isolation collar layer on the sidewall in the upper section of the trench; and filling the trench with a second layer of doped polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 7808030
    Abstract: The electronic component includes a base material, a capacitor unit, and a wiring portion. The capacitor unit has a stacked structure including a first electrode portion provided on the base material, a second electrode portion including a first surface opposing the first electrode portion and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a dielectric portion interposed between the electrode portions. The wiring portion includes a via portion having a surface on the base material side, and joined to the second surface of the second electrode portion via the surface on the base material side. The surface of the via portion on the base material side includes an extending portion extending outward of the periphery of the second surface of the second electrode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mizuno, Xiaoyu Mi, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Hisao Okuda, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7799582
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device is fabricated while mitigating edge degradation. A bottom electrode is formed over one or more semiconductor layers. A ferroelectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed over the ferroelectric layer. The top electrode, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode are patterned or etched. A dry clean is performed that mitigates edge degradation. A wet etch/clean is then performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Lindsey H. Hall, Francis G. Celii, Scott R. Summerfelt
  • Patent number: 7795657
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell portion, the memory cell portion including a ferroelectric capacitor and a memory cell transistor, the ferroelectric capacitor including a first electrode film on a semiconductor substrate, a second electrode film over the first electrode film, and a ferroelectric film between the first and second electrode films, and the memory cell transistor including a source and a drain between the first and second electrode films, wherein either the source or the drain connects to the first electrode film, and the other of the source or the drain connects to the second electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Osamu Hidaka
  • Patent number: 7795662
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a first interlayer insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate and having a capacitor opening portion provided in the film, and a capacitance element formed over the bottom and sides of the capacitor opening portion and composed of a lower electrode, a capacitance insulating film, and an upper electrode. A bit-line contact plug is formed through the first interlayer insulating film. At least parts of respective upper edges of the lower electrode, the capacitance insulating film, and the upper electrode at a side facing the bit-line contact plug are located below the surface of the first interlayer insulating film, the lower electrode, the capacitance insulating film, and the upper electrode being located over the sides of the capacitor opening portion. The upper electrode is formed over only the bottom and sides of the capacitor opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Arai, Takashi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7795661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that contains at least one trench capacitor and at least one vertical transistor, and methods for forming such a semiconductor device. Specifically, the trench capacitor is located in a semiconductor substrate and comprises an outer electrode, an inner electrode, and a node dielectric layer located between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The vertical transistor is located over the trench capacitor and comprises a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a gate dielectric, and a gate electrode. The channel region of the vertical transistor is located in a tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer that is oriented perpendicularly to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, the tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer is embedded in an insulator structure, so that the vertical transistor has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Jack A. Mandelman
  • Patent number: 7795660
    Abstract: A capacitor structure includes: a number of conductive regions of metallic and/or semiconducting materials and/or conductive metal compounds thereof, the conductive regions being arranged as stacked layers in a trench structure of a semiconductor device; and a dielectric surrounding the conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Helmut Strack
  • Patent number: 7791124
    Abstract: A bottle shaped trench for an SOI capacitor is formed by a simple processing sequence. A non-conformal dielectric layer with an optional conformal dielectric diffusion barrier layer underneath is formed on sidewalls of a deep trench. Employing an isotropic etch, the non-conformal dielectric layer is removed from a bottom portion of the deep trench, leaving a dielectric spacer covering sidewalls of the buried insulator layer and the top semiconductor layer. The bottom portion of the deep trench is expanded to form a bottle shaped trench, and a buried plated is formed underneath the buried insulator layer. The dielectric spacer may be recessed during formation of a buried strap to form a graded thickness dielectric collar around the upper portion of an inner electrode. Alternately, the dielectric spacer may be removed prior to formation of a buried strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Herbert L. Ho, Paul C. Parries, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 7786520
    Abstract: An embedded semiconductor device which a logic region and the memory region are planarized with planarization resistance patterns and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-young Lee, Il-young Yoon, Boung-ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7781820
    Abstract: The semiconductor memory device includes: an interlayer insulating film that is formed on a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film that is formed on the interlayer insulating film and has a cylinder hole; and a capacitor that has an impurity-containing silicon film, a lower metal electrode, a capacitive insulating film and an upper electrode, which are formed so as to cover a bottom and a side of the cylinder hole, wherein the cylinder hole extends through the insulating film so as to expose an end side of the contact plug, the end side facing opposite from the source electrode; and the impurity-containing silicon film has a silicide layer near an interface between the impurity-containing silicon film and the lower metal electrode, the silicide layer being produced by a reaction of impurity-containing silicon included in the impurity-containing silicon film with metal included in the lower metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeru Sugioka
  • Patent number: 7768051
    Abstract: DRAM memory cells having a feature size of less than about 4F2 include vertical surround gate transistors that are configured to reduce any short channel effect on the reduced size memory cells. In addition, the memory cells may advantageously include reduced resistance word line contacts and reduced resistance bit line contacts, which may increase a speed of the memory device due to the reduced resistance of the word line and bit line contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd R. Abbott
  • Patent number: 7768054
    Abstract: A semiconductor component has an insulating layer which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and in which a capacitance structure (K) is formed. The capacitance structure (K) has at least two metallization planes (1 to 7) which are arranged parallel to one another and are each connected to an electrical connecting line. Arranged between the metallization planes (1 to 7) is at least one electrically conductive region (1a to 1j; 2a to 2j; 31a to 36a; 41a to 46a; 5a to 5f) for producing a capacitance surface, the electrically conductive region (1a to 1j; 2a to 2j; 31a to 36a; 41a to 46a; 5a to 5f) being electrically connected only to one of the metallization planes (1 to 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Thomas Benetik, Erwin Ruderer
  • Publication number: 20100187587
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a substrate, an access transistor and a storage capacitor. The access transistor comprising a gate stack disposed on the substrate, and a first and second diffusion region located on a first and second opposing sides of the gate stack. The storage capacitor comprises a first capacitor plate comprising a portion embedded within the substrate below the first diffusion region, a second capacitor plate and a capacitor dielectric sandwiched between the embedded portion of the first capacitor plate. At least a portion of the first diffusion region forms the second capacitor plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: CHARTERED SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING, LTD.
    Inventors: Zhao LUN, James Yong Meng LEE, Lee Wee TEO, Shyue Seng TAN, Chung Woh LAI, Johnny WIDODO, Shailendra MISHRA, Jeffrey CHEE
  • Patent number: 7763923
    Abstract: A semiconductor capacitor device. A dielectric layer is on a substrate. A stack capacitor structure is disposed in the dielectric layer and comprises first and overlying second MIM capacitors electrically connected in parallel. The first and second MIM capacitors have individual upper and lower electrode plates and different compositions of capacitor dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Der-Chyang Yeh, Chie-Iuan Lin, Chuan-Ying Lee, Yi-Ting Chao, Ming-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 7763924
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory structure includes a recessed-gate transistor disposed in the substrate; a trench capacitor structure disposed in the substrate and electrically connected to a first source/drain of the recessed-gate transistor; a first conductive structure disposed on and contacting the trench capacitor structure; a stack capacitor structure disposed on and contacting the first conductive structure, wherein a bottom electrode of the trench capacitor structure and a top electrode of the stack capacitor structure are electrically connected to serve as a common electrode; and a bit line disposed above a second source/drain of the recessed-gate transistor and electrically connected to the second source/drain, wherein the top of the bit line is lower than the top of the gate conductive layer of the recessed-gate transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuei Huang
  • Patent number: 7759194
    Abstract: An electrically programmable device with embedded EEPROM and method for making thereof. The method includes providing a substrate including a first device region and a second device region, growing a first gate oxide layer in the first device region and the second device region, and forming a first diffusion region in the first device region and a second diffusion region and a third diffusion region in the second device region. Additionally, the method includes implanting a first plurality of ions to form a fourth diffusion region in the first device region and a fifth diffusion region in the second device region. The fourth diffusion region overlaps with the first diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Peng Chan, Sheng-He Huang, Zhen Yang
  • Patent number: 7745866
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a capacitor which has: a lower electrode formed along an opening provided above a semiconductor substrate to have a concave cross section; a capacitor insulating film formed on the inner and top surfaces of the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed on the capacitor insulating film. The upper electrode includes: a first conductive film formed on the inner surface of the capacitor insulating film and filling the opening; and a second conductive film formed to extend from the top surface of the first conductive film to the top surface of the capacitor insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7732850
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device according to embodiments of the invention, a capacitor includes a storage electrode having a cylindrical storage conductive layer pattern and connecting members formed on the upper portion of the cylindrical storage conductive layer pattern. The connecting member connects to an adjacent connecting member of another storage electrode. A dielectric layer and a plate electrode are successively formed on the storage electrode. All of the capacitors are connected by one another by forming cylindrical storage electrodes so that the storage electrode does not fall down when the capacitors have an extremely large aspect ratio. Thus, the capacitance of the capacitors may be improved to the desired level. A semiconductor device that includes these capacitors may have improved reliability and the throughput of a semiconductor manufacturing process may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-Min Park
  • Patent number: 7709877
    Abstract: A high surface area capacitor structure includes a storage electrode with recesses. An upper surface of the storage electrode has a maze-like appearance. Low elevation regions of a hemispherical grain polysilicon layer may remain on the upper surface of the storage electrode. The storage electrode or portions thereof may be lined or coated with dielectric material. The dielectric material may space a cell electrode of the high surface area capacitor structure apart from the storage electrode. One or both of the storage electrode and the cell electrode may be formed from polysilicon. Intermediate structures, which include mask material over contiguous low elevation regions of a layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon, which may have a maze-like appearance, and apertures located laterally between the low elevation regions of the layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Green, Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 7704867
    Abstract: In semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, a zirconium source having zirconium, carbon and nitrogen is provided onto a substrate to form an adsorption layer of the zirconium source on the substrate. A first purging process is performed to remove a non-adsorbed portion of the zirconium source. An oxidizing gas is provided onto the adsorption layer to form an oxidized adsorption layer of the zirconium source on the substrate. A second purging process is performed to remove a non-reacted portion of the oxidizing gas. A nitriding gas is provided on the oxidized adsorption layer to form a zirconium carbo-oxynitride layer on the substrate, and a third purging process is provided to remove a non-reacted portion of the nitriding gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weon-Hong Kim, Min-Woo Song, Pan-Kwi Park, Jung-Min Park
  • Patent number: 7704885
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method of fabricating a semiconductor device provides a semiconductor substrate; forming a first insulating layer, a first conductive layer and a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer over the semiconductor substrate in sequence; forming openings in the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer and the underlying first conductive layer to expose the first insulating layer, thereby leaving a patterned chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer and a patterned first conductive layer; forming a second insulating layer on the patterned chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer, filling in the openings; performing a planarization process to remove a portion of the second insulating layer until the patterned chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer is exposed, thereby leaving a remaining second insulating layer in the openings; removing the patterned chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kern-Huat Ang, Po-Jen Wang
  • Patent number: 7700988
    Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having a top electrode, a bottom electrode and a capacitor dielectric layer is provided. The top electrode is located over the bottom electrode and the capacitor dielectric layer is disposed between the top and the bottom electrode. The capacitor dielectric layer comprises several titanium oxide (TiO2) layers and at least one tetragonal structure material layer. The tetragonal structure material layer is disposed between two titanium oxide layers and each tetragonal structure material layer has the same or a different thickness. Leakage path can be cut off through the tetragonal material layer between the titanium oxide layers. In the meantime, the tetragonal structure material layer can induce the titanium oxide layers to transform into a high k rutile phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Industrail Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Cha-Hsin Lin, Ching-Chiun Wang, Lurng-Shehng Lee
  • Patent number: 7700433
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an MIM type capacitor includes at least one of: Forming a first trench within an insulating interlayer formed on a semiconductor substrate. Forming a lower electrode layer of a metal nitride layer substance to fill an inside of the first trench. Forming a second trench on a surface of the lower electrode layer to have a depth less than the first trench. Forming a capacitor dielectric layer conformal along a surface of the lower electrode layer including the second trench. Forming an upper electrode layer of a metal nitride layer substance on the capacitor dielectric layer. Sequentially patterning the upper electrode layer and the capacitor dielectric layer by photolithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Il Hwang
  • Patent number: 7700984
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device capable of additionally recording data at a time other than during manufacturing and preventing forgery due to rewriting and the like. Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, nonvolatile, and highly-reliable semiconductor device. A semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an organic compound layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the organic compound layer can have the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer come into contact with each other when Coulomb force generated by applying potential to one or both of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer is at or over a certain level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7696550
    Abstract: A multi-layer PrxCa1-xMnO3 (PCMO) thin film capacitor and associated deposition method are provided for forming a bipolar switching thin film. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; depositing a nanocrystalline PCMO layer; depositing a polycrystalline PCMO layer; forming a multi-layer PCMO film with bipolar switching properties; and, forming top electrode overlying the PCMO film. If the polycrystalline layers are deposited overlying the nanocrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, negative voltage pulses. The PCMO film can be reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, positive amplitude pulse. Likewise, if the nanocrystalline layers are deposited overlying the polycrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, positive voltage pulses, and reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, negative amplitude pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tingkai Li, Lawrence J. Charneski, Wei-Wei Zhuang, David R. Evans, Sheng Teng Hsu
  • Patent number: 7687839
    Abstract: In capacitive sensor circuits where physical contact is required and excess pressure may be inadvertently applied to the sensor surface, aluminum is not sufficiently hard to provide “scratch” protection and may delaminate, causing circuit failure, even if passivation integrity remains intact. Because hard passivation layers alone provide insufficient scratch resistance, at least the capacitive electrodes and preferably all metallization levels within the sensor circuit in the region of the capacitive electrodes between the surface and the active regions of the substrate are formed of a conductive material having a hardness greater than that of aluminum. The selected conductive material preferably has a hardness which is at least as great as the lowest hardness for any interlevel dielectric or passivation material employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Danielle A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7687843
    Abstract: A process for producing structures in a semiconductor zone, has the steps of a) producing a trench (2) in the semiconductor zone (18), b) filling the trench with a photoresist (19), and c) exposing the photoresist (19) using ion beams (20), d) developing the photoresist (19). The energy density and ion dose for the ion beams (20) are selected in such a way that the photoresist (19) is only chemically changed at defined depths, so as to produce two regions, in the first region (21) of which the photoresist has been chemically changed at the defined depths by the ion beams (20), and in the second region of which the photoresist has been left chemically unchanged, so that during the developing step the photoresist is removed in precisely one of the two regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Rueb
  • Publication number: 20100072532
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices having recessed access devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming the recessed access device includes forming a device recess in a substrate material that extends to a first depth in the substrate that includes a gate oxide layer in the recess. The device recess may be extended to a second depth that is greater that the first depth to form an extended portion of the device recess. A field oxide layer may be provided within an interior of the device recess that extends inwardly into the interior of the device recess and into the substrate. Active regions may be formed in the substrate that abut the field oxide layer, and a gate material may be deposited into the device recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt D. Beigel, Jigish D. Trivedi, Kevin G. Duesman
  • Patent number: 7682924
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of capacitors includes an insulative material received over a capacitor array area and a circuitry area. The array area comprises a plurality of capacitor electrode openings within the insulative material received over individual capacitor storage node locations. The intervening area comprises a trench. Conductive material is formed within the openings and against a sidewall portion of the trench to less than completely fill the trench. Covering material is formed over an elevationally outer lateral interface of the conductive material within the trench and the insulative material of the circuitry area. The insulative material within the array area is etched with a liquid etching solution effective to expose outer sidewall portions of the conductive material within the array area and to expose the conductive material within the trench. The conductive material within the array area is incorporated into a plurality of capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishwanath Bhat, Kevin R. Shea, Farrell Good
  • Patent number: 7683415
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes: forming a contact plug passing through an inter-layer insulation layer; sequentially forming a lower electrode layer, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode layer on the inter-layer insulation layer; patterning the upper electrode layer; patterning the dielectric layer and the lower electrode layer, thereby obtaining a capacitor including an upper electrode, a patterned dielectric layer and a lower electrode; and sequentially forming a first metal interconnection line connected with the contact plug and second metal interconnection lines connected with the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Youn Cho
  • Patent number: 7671446
    Abstract: A capacitor can prevent a problem of step coverage in semiconductor device, caused by a thickness of an insulator film and an upper metal film included a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, between the MIM capacitor region and its circumferential region. A capacitor in a semiconductor device includes a first metal film provided with a recess having a predetermined depth over a semiconductor substrate. An insulator film and a second metal film may be formed in the recess with a thickness corresponding to a depth of the recess. The insulator and second metal films are disconnected from an inner lateral side of the recess. A dielectric film including a plurality of plugs is in contact with the first and second metal films and the insulator film. A plurality of metal electrodes is in contact with the plugs over the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 7671395
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices are provide having a vertical diode therein. The devices include an integrated circuit substrate and an insulating layer on the integrated circuit substrate. A contact hole penetrates the insulating layer. A vertical diode is in lower region of the contact hole and a bottom electrode in the contact hole has a bottom surface on a top surface of the vertical diode. The bottom electrode is self-aligned with the vertical diode. A top surface area of the bottom electrode is less than a horizontal section area of the contact hole. Methods of forming the integrated circuit devices and phase change memory cells are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyun Park, Jae-Hee Oh, Se-Ho Lee, Won-Cheol Jeong
  • Publication number: 20100038694
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure for a dynamic random access memory cell, the structure including: a fin of a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) device formed over and spaced apart from a conductive region of a substrate; a storage capacitor connected to a first end of the fin; and a back-gate at a first lateral side of the fin and in electrical contact with the conductive region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7663175
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with a plurality of power supply wire layers including a first potential power supply wire and a second potential power supply wire formed in different layers. At least one capacitor contact wire extends from one of the first and second potential power supply wires toward the other one of the first and second potential power supply wires so as to form a capacitor between each capacitor contact wire and its surrounding wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Kazufumi Komura, Takayoshi Nakamura, Keiichi Fujimura, Masahito Hirose, Keigo Nakashima, Masaki Nagato
  • Patent number: 7662694
    Abstract: The capacitance of a capacitor is adjusted by forming openings in one of a pair of electrodes of the capacitor, the openings having different sizes d1, d2, d3, . . . , wherein d1>d2>d3> . . . and being arranged in numbers n1, n2, n3, . . . , respectively; and sequentially filling a necessary number of the openings with an electroconductive material in descending order of the size so as to adjust the capacitance gradually with an increasing degree of precision. The resulting capacitor is mounted to a printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Sakamoto, Takashi Kariya, Yasuhiko Mano
  • Patent number: 7659161
    Abstract: The invention includes memory arrays, and methods which can be utilized for forming memory arrays. A patterned etch stop can be used during memory array fabrication, with the etch stop covering storage node contact locations while leaving openings to bitline contact locations. An insulative material can be formed over the etch stop and over the bitline contact locations, and trenches can be formed through the insulative material. Conductive material can be provided within the trenches to form bitline interconnect lines which are in electrical contact with the bitline contact locations, and which are electrically isolated from the storage node contact locations by the etch stop. In subsequent processing, openings can be formed through the etch stop to the storage node contact locations. Memory storage devices can then be formed within the openings and in electrical contact with the storage node contact locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Fred D. Fishburn
  • Patent number: 7659603
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate formed with a predetermined trench, a plurality of devices fixed into the trench, an etch stop layer on an entire surface of the substrate including the devices while selectively exposing the devices, an interlayer dielectric layer on the etch stop layer, in which the interlayer dielectric layer includes a predetermined via hole and a predetermined trench, and a via plug and a metal line formed on the interlayer dielectric layer while filling the via hole and the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 7659568
    Abstract: An external electrode structure for a monolithic ceramic capacitor provided with a function as a resistance element is capable of preventing a reduction of the external electrode due to baking in a reducing atmosphere, so that Ni or a Ni alloy can be used in an internal electrode and a good electrical connection between the internal electrode and the external electrode is achieved. The external electrodes disposed on an outer surface of a capacitor main body include an electrically conductive layer and a metal plating layer disposed thereon, and the electrically conductive layer includes a compound oxide, e.g., an In—Sn compound oxide, which reacts with Ni or the Ni alloy, and a glass component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kusano, Shizuharu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7659578
    Abstract: Embodiments of a semiconductor device capable of increasing an aperture ratio of an organic electroluminescence display device by decreasing the surface area of a capacitor in the organic electroluminescence display device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. By forming a gate insulating film of a gate electrode with a thickness different from that of a dielectric film of a capacitor, the surface area of the capacitor can be decreased without variation in capacitance, thereby increasing the aperture ratio of an organic electroluminescence display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 7656037
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit arrangement includes at least three conductive structures levels and elongated interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martina Hommel, Heinrich Koerner, Markus Schwerd, Martin Seck
  • Patent number: 7655969
    Abstract: A DRAM device has a stacked capacitor including a first capacitor section received in a thick insulation film and a second capacitor section overlying the first capacitor section. A portion of the bottom electrode in the second capacitor section has a thickness larger than the thickness of another portion of the bottom electrode in the first capacitor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takaishi
  • Publication number: 20100019301
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory structure includes a recessed-gate transistor disposed in the substrate; a trench capacitor structure disposed in the substrate and electrically connected to a first source/drain of the recessed-gate transistor; a first conductive structure disposed on and contacting the trench capacitor structure; a stack capacitor structure disposed on and contacting the first conductive structure, wherein a bottom electrode of the trench capacitor structure and a top electrode of the stack capacitor structure are electrically connected to serve as a common electrode; and a bit line disposed above a second source/drain of the recessed-gate transistor and electrically connected to the second source/drain, wherein the top of the bit line is lower than the top of the gate conductive layer of the recessed-gate transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Kuei Huang
  • Patent number: 7651908
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an image sensor which reduces fabricating costs through simultaneous formation of capacitor structures and contact structures may be provided. The method may include forming a lower electrode on a substrate, forming an interlayer insulating film on the substrate, the interlayer insulating film may have a capacitor hole to expose a first portion of the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gil-Sang Yoo, Byung-Jun Park
  • Patent number: 7646583
    Abstract: A common centroid symmetric structure capacitor is provided, which includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer, and a fourth metal layer. The first metal layer is adjacent to the second metal layer, the third metal layer is adjacent to the first metal layer, the fourth metal layer is adjacent to the second metal layer, and the first metal layer is symmetric to the fourth metal layer, the second metal layer is symmetric to the third metal layer. Each of the metal layers has two sets of metal wires, each set has a plurality of metal wires, and each of the metal wires in each set is arranged in an interlaced manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Szu-Kang Hsien, I-Hsun Chen, Chien-Hua Cheng