With Additional Contacted Control Electrode Patents (Class 257/316)
  • Patent number: 9520400
    Abstract: A NOR flash memory and its manufacturing method are provided in the present disclosure, they are in the field of flash memory. In the manufacturing method, a mask dielectric layer is formed on a second polysilicon layer of a gate stack structure. In addition, part of the mask dielectric layer is etched patternedly to expose part of the second polysilicon layer which is close to a source. Furthermore, the exposed second polysilicon layer is self aligned to form a metal silicide layer. Thus in the NOR flash memory, an unetched mask dielectric layer is substantially located between a metal silicide layer and a drain contacting hole of the NOR flash memory. A drain current between the gate electrode and the drain electrode is small, the above manufacturing method is not complex, a process window is large, a side effect is small, which are advantageous to large scale production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CSMC TECHNOLOGIES FABI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shizhen Sun, Hao Fang, Yong Gu
  • Patent number: 9515086
    Abstract: Provided are a three dimensional semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. In the three dimensional semiconductor memory device, a stack of gate electrodes and insulating layers may be formed on a substrate, a channel structure may extend through the stack and connect to the substrate. A blocking insulating layer, a charge storing layer and a tunnel insulating layer may be formed between each gate electrode and the channel structure. The tunnel insulating layer may include a high-k dielectric layer with a low charge trap site density. The tunnel insulating layer may also include a first and a second tunnel insulating layers, and the high-k dielectric layer is provided between the first and second tunnel insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gukhyon Yon, Jaeyoung Ahn, Bio Kim, Young-Jin Noh, Kwangmin Park, Dongchul Yoo
  • Patent number: 9508734
    Abstract: A silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) device is disclosed. The SONOS device includes a substrate; a first oxide layer on the substrate; a silicon-rich trapping layer on the first oxide layer; a nitrogen-containing layer on the silicon-rich trapping layer; a silicon-rich oxide layer on the nitrogen-containing layer; and a polysilicon layer on the silicon-rich oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chin-Sheng Yang, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9502514
    Abstract: A device comprises a control gate structure over a substrate, a memory gate structure over the substrate, wherein a charge storage layer formed between the control gate structure and the memory gate structure, a first spacer along a sidewall of the memory gate structure, a second spacer over a top surface of the memory gate structure, a first drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the memory gate structure and a second drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the control gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang
  • Patent number: 9496275
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an ONO (oxide/nitride/oxide) film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a control gate provided on the ONO film, a first low-resistance layer, and a second low-resistance layer in contact with the first low-resistance layer, the second low-resistance layer having a sheet resistance lower than the first low-resistance layer. With this configuration, it is possible to downsize the memory cell and provide a fabrication method of the semiconductor device in which the peripheral circuit can be fabricated with simple fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kouketsu, Masaya Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9484443
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer opposing to a bottom surface and a side surface of a gate electrode. An insulation film is provided between the bottom surface of the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer and between the side surface of the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer. A first conduction-type drain layer is provided in the semiconductor layer on a side of an end part of one of the bottom surface and the side surface of the gate electrode. A second conduction-type source layer is provided in the semiconductor layer opposing to the other one of the bottom surface and the side surface of the gate electrode. A second conduction-type extension layer is provided in the semiconductor layer opposing to a corner part between the side surface and the bottom surface of the gate electrode and has a lower impurity concentration than that of the source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Masakazu Goto
  • Patent number: 9478558
    Abstract: A first blocking dielectric layer is formed in a memory opening through a stack of an alternating plurality of material layers and insulator layers. A spacer with a bottom opening is formed over the first blocking dielectric layer by deposition of a conformal material layer and an anisotropic etch. A horizontal portion of the first blocking dielectric layer at a bottom of the memory opening can be etched by an isotropic etch process that minimizes overetch into the substrate. An optional additional blocking dielectric layer, at least one charge storage element, a tunneling dielectric, and a semiconductor channel can be sequentially formed in the memory opening to provide a three-dimensional memory stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Sateesh Koka, Senaka Kanakamedala, Raghuveer S. Makala, Rahul Sharangpani, Yanli Zhang, Yao-Sheng Lee, George Matamis
  • Patent number: 9478643
    Abstract: A memory structure having at least substantially aligned floating and control gates. Such a memory structure can include a control gate material disposed between a first insulator layer and a second insulator layer, a floating gate material disposed between the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer and at least substantially aligned with the control gate material, the floating gate material including a metal region, and an interpoly dielectric (IPD) layer disposed between the control gate material and the floating gate material such that the IPD layer electrically isolates the control gate material from the floating gate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John Hopkins, Fatma A. Simsek-Ege
  • Patent number: 9472645
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a split gate flash memory cell. In some embodiments, the split gate flash memory cell has a select gate separated from a semiconductor substrate by a gate dielectric layer. A control gate is arranged at one side of the select gate. A charge trapping layer has a vertical portion disposed between the select gate and the control gate, and a lateral portion extending under the control gate. A first control gate spacer is arranged on the lateral portion of the charge trapping layer and extends continuously along an outer sidewall of the control gate. A second control gate spacer is arranged on the lateral portion of the charge trapping layer and extends along an outer sidewall of the first control gate spacer. Bottom surfaces of the first and second control gate spacers are substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Tai Tseng, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9472500
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes an active region extending in a first direction, a first single-layered gate intersecting the active region and extending in a second direction, a second single-layered gate intersecting the active region and extending in the second direction, and a selection gate intersecting the active region. The selection gate includes a first selection gate main line and a second selection gate main line that intersect the active region to be parallel with the first and second single-layered gates, a selection gate interconnection line that connects a first end of the first selection gate main line to a first end of the second selection gate main line, and a selection gate extension that extends from a portion of the selection gate interconnection line to be disposed between first ends of the first and second single-layered gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Hoon Kim, Sung Kun Park, Nam Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9466373
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a word line transfer unit which transfers voltage applied to a memory cell selected on the basis of an address to a word line. The word line transfer unit includes a word line transfer transistor which is arranged in a first layout area of the word line transfer unit and transfers voltage applied to the memory cell to the word line and a dummy word line transfer transistor which is arranged in a second layout area provided outside an end of the first layout area and does not transfer voltage applied to the memory cell to the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki Okada, Masayuki Akou, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9466666
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a semiconductor die having a trench formed in a surface of the semiconductor die. One or more circuit components may be formed on the surface of the semiconductor die. The trench can extend into the semiconductor die next to at least one circuit component. The trench may surround the circuit component partially or wholly. The trench may be filled with a material having a lower bulk modulus than the semiconductor die in which the trench is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL
    Inventors: Patrick F. M. Poucher, Padraig L. Fitzgerald, John Jude O'Donnell, Oliver J. Kierse, Denis M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 9466733
    Abstract: This technology relates to a nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same. The nonvolatile memory device may include a pipe connection gate electrode over a substrate, one or more pipe channel layers formed within the pipe connection gate electrode, pairs of main channel layers each connected with the pipe channel layer and extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate, a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and a plurality of cell gate electrodes alternately stacked along the main channel layers, and metal silicide layers configured to be in contact with the pipe connection gate electrode. The electric resistance of the pipe connection gate electrode may be greatly reduced without deteriorating the characteristics of the memory layers by forming the metal silicide layers coming in contact with the pipe connection gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Min-Soo Kim, Young-Jin Lee, Sung-Jin Whang
  • Patent number: 9460931
    Abstract: A memory device and a method of fabricating a memory device that includes forming a protrusion over a substrate, an etch stop layer over the protrusion, and a stack of alternating material layers over the etch stop layer. The method further includes etching the stack to the etch stop layer to form a memory opening having a first width dimension proximate to the etch stop layer, etching the etch stop layer to provide a void area between the protrusion and a bottom of the memory opening, where the void area has a second width dimension that is larger than the first width dimension, forming a memory film over a sidewall of the memory opening and within the void area over the top surface of the protrusion, etching the memory film to expose the protrusion, and forming a semiconductor channel in the memory opening that is electrically coupled to the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jayavel Pachamuthu, Johann Alsmeier, Raghuveer S. Makala, Yao-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 9455352
    Abstract: Memory devices having an increased effective channel length and/or improved TPD characteristics, and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain two or more memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and bit line dielectrics between the memory cells. The memory cell contains a charge trapping dielectric stack, a poly gate, a pair of pocket implant regions, and a pair of bit lines. The bit line can be formed by an implant process at a higher energy level and/or a higher concentration of dopants without suffering device short channel roll off issues because spacers at bit line sidewalls constrain the implant in narrower implant regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ning Cheng, Huaqiang Wu, Hiro Kinoshita, Jihwan Choi, Angela Hui
  • Patent number: 9455267
    Abstract: A monolithic three dimensional NAND string includes a plurality of control gate electrodes extending substantially parallel to a major surface of a substrate in at least one active region, a plurality of semiconductor channels having at least one end portion of each of the plurality of semiconductor channels extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate, at least one memory film located between each of the plurality of control gate electrodes and each respective semiconductor channel of the plurality of semiconductor channels, and at least one first slit trench extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of control gate electrodes has a nonlinear side wall adjacent to the at least one first slit trench in the at least one active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 9449982
    Abstract: A method of making a vertical NAND device includes forming a lower portion of a memory stack over a substrate, forming a lower portion of memory openings in the lower portion of the memory stack, and forming a sacrificial material portion including an encapsulated cavity. The method also includes forming an upper portion of the memory stack over the lower portion of the memory stack and over the sacrificial material, forming an upper portion of the memory openings in the upper portion of the memory stack to expose the sacrificial material in the lower portion of the memory openings, removing the sacrificial material portion to connect the lower portion of the memory openings with a respective upper portion of the memory openings to form continuous memory openings, and forming a semiconductor channel in each continuous memory opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Sateesh Koka, James Kai, Raghuveer S. Makala, Yao-Sheng Lee, Jayavel Pachamuthu, Johann Alsmeier, Henry Chien
  • Patent number: 9449971
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method including forming a first fin on a substrate, the first fin having a first longitudinal axis, forming a first trench having a first width in the first fin, the first trench dividing the first fin into at least two fin portions, forming a first gate structure and first source/drain regions over one of the at least two fin portions of the first fin, and forming a second gate structure and second source/drain regions over another of the at least two fin portions of the first fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang TIng, Jyh-Huei Chen, Wen-Huei Guo, Cheng-Han Wu, Yu-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 9443863
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a charge storage pattern formed on a substrate; a dielectric pattern formed on the charge storage pattern; a first conductive pattern including silicon doped with a first impurity of a first concentration, the first conductive pattern being disposed on the dielectric pattern; and a second conductive pattern including metal silicide doped with a second impurity of a second concentration, the second conductive pattern being disposed on the first conductive pattern. The first concentration may be higher than the second concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeeyong Kim, Woonkyung Lee, Sunggil Kim, Jin-Kyu Kang, Jung-Hwan Lee, Bonyoung Koo, Kihyun Hwang, Byoungsun Ju, Jintae Noh
  • Patent number: 9437599
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises: a semiconductor layer; a first gate insulating film; a plurality of floating gate electrodes; a second gate insulating film; a plurality of control gate electrodes; and an upper insulating film. The semiconductor layer is provided on a substrate and extends in a first direction. The floating gate electrode is formed on the semiconductor layer via the first gate insulating film. The control gate electrode faces the upper surface of the floating gate electrode via the second gate insulating film. Moreover, the control gate electrode extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The upper insulating film is formed on an upper portion of the plurality of control gate electrodes. Moreover, a height of an upper surface of the upper insulating film changes along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Koichi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9431416
    Abstract: A vertical-type nonvolatile memory device includes a first vertical channel structure, and first and second stacked structure. The first vertical channel structure extends vertically on a substrate. The first stacked structure includes gate electrodes and first interlayer insulating layers. The gate layers and the first interlayer insulating layers are alternately and vertically stacked on each other. The first stacked structure is disposed on a first sidewall of the first vertical channel structure. The second stacked structure includes first sacrificial layers and second interlayer insulating layers. The first sacrificial layers and the second interlayer insulating layers are alternately and vertically stacked on each other. The second stacked structure is disposed on a second sidewall of the first vertical channel structure. The first sacrificial layers is formed of a polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Phil-ouk Nam, Jun-kyu Yang, Hun-hyeong Lim, Ki-hyun Hwang, Jae-young Ahn, Dong-chul Yoo
  • Patent number: 9431418
    Abstract: A vertical memory device and a method of manufacturing a vertical memory device are disclosed. The vertical memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of channels, a charge storage structure, a plurality of gate electrodes, a first semiconductor structure, and a protection layer pattern. The substrate includes a first region and a second region. The plurality of channels is disposed in the first region. The plurality of channels extends in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. The charge storage structure is disposed on a sidewall of each channel. The plurality of gate electrodes is arranged on a sidewall of the charge storage structure and is spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The first semiconductor structure is disposed in the second region. The protection layer pattern covers the first semiconductor structure. The protection layer pattern has a thickness substantially similar to a thickness of a lowermost gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Seok Jung, Chang-Seok Kang, Min-Yong Lee, Sang-Woo Jin
  • Patent number: 9418996
    Abstract: Using an STI insulating film in a high breakdown voltage MOSFET leads to deterioration in reliability due to impact ionization near the bottom corner of a drain isolation insulating film. The invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including forming a hard mask film, an opening therein, and a sidewall insulating film on the side surface thereof; forming a shallow trench in the opening with the hard mask film as a mask and oxidizing at least an exposed portion; filling the trench with an insulating film and then removing it so as to leave it outside the trench in the opening and thereby forming a drain offset STI insulating film inside and outside the trench; and forming a gate electrode extending from the upper portion of a gate insulating film in an active region contiguous thereto to the upper portion of the drain offset insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Shinohara, Satoshi Iida
  • Patent number: 9412747
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a non-volatile memory cell includes forming first insulating films with first conductive films arranged therebetween, recessing the first insulating films using the first conductive films as a mask, so that heights of top surfaces of the first insulating films are lower than heights of top surfaces of the first conductive films, forming a second insulating film over the first conductive and insulating films, forming a second conductive film over the second insulating film, and patterning the first and second conductive films, and the second insulating film. A length of the floating gate in a second direction is larger than a maximum length of the floating gate in a first direction, and a length from a top surface of the second insulating film to a top surface of the floating gate is larger than a length of a space between a plurality the floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Fukumura, Yoshihiro Ikeda, Shunichi Narumi, Izumi Takesue
  • Patent number: 9406812
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) bitcell includes a source and a drain formed in an active region of a substrate and separated by a channel region in the active region. A gate stack formed over the substrate includes a gate formed on an oxide and at least one sidewall spacer formed around the gate. A charge trapping layer is formed on an opposite side of the sidewall spacer from the gate, where at least a portion of the charge trapping layer acts as a floating gate for the bitcell. The bitcell further includes a salicide block covering the floating gate portion of the charge trapping layer. An contact (sometimes referred to as a bar contact) physically contacts the salicide block above the floating gate portion of the charge trapping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Horch, Martin Luc Cecil Arthur Niset
  • Patent number: 9406687
    Abstract: Device and method for forming a device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with at least a memory cell region having first and second sub-regions and a logic region having input/output (I/O) region and core region. First voltage memory cell is formed in the first sub-region and second voltage memory cell is formed in the second sub-region of the memory cell region of the same substrate. The first voltage memory cell operates in a first voltage and the second voltage memory cell operates in a second voltage which is higher than the first voltage. Each of the first and second voltage memory cells includes a split gate having first and second gates. The first gate is a storage gate having a control gate over a floating gate and the second gate is a wordline. Logic I/O device is formed in the I/O region and logic core device is formed in the core region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Jianbo Yang, Yi Tat Lim, Sung Mun Jung
  • Patent number: 9397093
    Abstract: A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string includes forming a stack of alternating layers of a first material and a second material, etching the stack to form a front side opening in the stack, selectively forming a plurality of discrete semiconductor, metal or silicide charge storage regions on portions of the second material layers exposed in the front side opening, forming a tunnel dielectric layer and semiconductor channel layer in the front side opening, etching the stack to form a back side opening in the stack, removing at least a portion of the second material layers through the back side opening to form back side recesses between the first material layers, forming a blocking dielectric in the back side recesses through the back side opening, and forming control gates over the blocking dielectric in the back side recesses through the back side opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Raghuveer S. Makala, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 9397113
    Abstract: A vertical gate nonvolatile NAND array includes a plurality of vertically stacked NAND strings of nonvolatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines arranged orthogonally over the plurality of vertically stacked NAND strings, and a plurality of vertical columns of conductive gate material electrically coupled to the plurality of word lines. The plurality of vertically stacked NAND strings are with vertically stacked semiconductor strips having opposite sides including a first side and a second side. The vertical columns in the plurality of vertical columns are gates to only one side of the first side and the second side of the opposite sides of the vertically stacked semiconductor strips. The vertical columns in the plurality of vertical columns are gates to adjacent stacks in the plurality of vertically stacked NAND strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Guanru Lee
  • Patent number: 9397202
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. Preferably, two hard masks are utilized to define the width of the first gate (may serve for a control gate) and the width of the second gate (may serve for a select gate). The widths are thus well controlled. For example, in an embodiment, the width of the select gate may be adjusted in advance as desired, and the select gate is protected by the second hard mask during an etch process, so as to obtain a select gate which upper portion has an appropriate width. Accordingly the semiconductor device would still have an excellent performance upon miniaturization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chen Lee, Ping-Chia Shih, Chi-Cheng Huang, Wan-Fang Chung, Yu-Chun Chang, Je-Yi Su
  • Patent number: 9390963
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of auxiliary patterns formed over a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gate line patterns disposed in parallel with one another over the semiconductor substrate between the plurality of auxiliary patterns, and an air gap formed between the plurality of gate line patterns and between each of the plurality of gate line patterns and each of the auxiliary patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kyung Kim, Hyun Yul Kwon
  • Patent number: 9389999
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic memory system, and more specifically, to a system for emulating an electrically erasable programmable read only memory in a non-volatile memory device, and a method of emulating an electrically erasable programmable read only memory in a non-volatile memory device. According to an embodiment, a system for emulating an electrically erasable programmable read only memory is provided, the system including a Flash memory, wherein the Flash memory is configurable into a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is adapted to store a first class of data and the second region is adapted to store a second, different class of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Jens Rosenbusch, Ulrich Backhausen, Edvin Paparisto, Thomas Nirschl
  • Patent number: 9391170
    Abstract: A field-effect transistor (FET) on bulk substrate and a method of fabricating the same is discussed herein. The FET includes a dielectric layer disposed on the bulk substrate and a fin structure and a gate structure disposed on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes alternating first and second dielectric regions. The fin structure includes a channel region interposed between a source region and a drain region. The gate structure is capacitively coupled to the fin structure and positioned between the source region and the drain region. Improved performance characteristics of FET is primarily achieved with the dielectric layer providing electrical isolation of the fin structure from the bulk substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Seo Park
  • Patent number: 9379124
    Abstract: A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string which contains a semiconductor channel and a plurality of control gate electrodes, includes selectively forming a plurality of discrete charge storage regions using atomic layer deposition. The plurality of discrete charge storage regions includes at least one of a metal or an electrically conductive metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Rahul Sharangpani, Raghuveer S. Makala, Thomas Jongwan Kwon, Senaka Kanakamedala, George Matamis
  • Patent number: 9379128
    Abstract: A split gate NVM device includes a semiconductor substrate, an ONO structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode disposed on the ONO structure, a second gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate, adjacent to and insulated from the first gate electrode and the ONO structure, a first doping region with a first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the ONO structure, a second doping region with the first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the second gate electrode, and a third doping region with the first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate, disposed between the first doping region and the second doping region and adjacent to the ONO structure and the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Liang Yi, Ko-Chi Chen, Shen-De Wang, Chia-Ching Hsu, Chun-Sung Huang, Wen-Peng Hsu
  • Patent number: 9373677
    Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric material, comprising doping a zirconium oxide material, using a dopant precursor selected from the group consisting of Ti(NMe2)4; Ti(NMeEt)4; Ti(NEt2)4;TiCl4; tBuN?Nb(NEt2)3; tBuN?Nb(NMe2)3; t-BuN?Nb(NEtMe)3; t-AmN?Nb(NEt2)3; t-AmN?Nb(NEtMe)3; t-AmN?Nb(NMe2)3; t-AmN?Nb(OBu-t)3; Nb-13; Nb(NEt2)4; Nb(NEt2)5; Nb(N(CH3)2)5; Nb(OC2H5)5; Nb(thd)(OPr-i)4; SiH(OMe)3; SiCU; Si(NMe2)4; (Me3Si)2NH; GeRax(ORb)4.x wherein x is from 0 to 4, each Ra is independently selected from H or C1-C8 alkyl and each Rb is independently selected from C1-C8 alkyl; GeCl4; Ge(NRa2)4 wherein each Ra is independently selected from H and C1-C8 alkyl; and (Rb3Ge)2NH wherein each Rb is independently selected from C1-C8 alkyl; bis(N,N?-diisopropyl-1,3-propanediamide) titanium; and tetrakis(isopropylmethylamido) titanium; wherein Me is methyl, Et is ethyl, Pr-i is isopropyl, t-Bu is tertiary butyl, t-Am is tertiary amyl, and thd is 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Julie Cissell, Chongying Xu, Thomas M. Cameron, William Hunks, David W. Peters
  • Patent number: 9368570
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a driving device is disclosed. The integrate circuit includes a substrate comprising a high-voltage area and a low-voltage area; a plurality of first trenches, formed in the high-voltage area; a plurality of first isolations, formed in the plurality of first trenches of the high-voltage area; a plurality of second trenches, formed in the low-voltage area; and a plurality of second isolations, formed in the plurality of second trenches of the low-voltage area; wherein a depth difference exists between each of the plurality of first trenches and each of the plurality of second trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Hsu, Jui-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 9368509
    Abstract: A memory stack structure can be formed through a stack of an alternating plurality of first material layers and second material layers and through an overlying temporary material layer having a different composition than the first and second material layers. The memory stack structure can include a memory film and a semiconductor channel layer. The overlying temporary material layer is removed selective to the stack to form a lateral recess. Portions of the memory film are removed around the lateral recess, and dopants are laterally introduced into an upper portion of the semiconductor channel to form a self-aligned drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Liang Pang, Jayavel Pachamuthu, Yingda Dong
  • Patent number: 9368596
    Abstract: Provided is one embodiment of a semiconductor structure that includes a STI feature, wherein the STI feature is a continuous feature and includes a first portion in a first region and a second portion in a second region, and the first portion is recessed relative to the second portion; an active region bordered by the STI feature; a gate stack disposed on the active region and extended in a first direction to the first region of the STI feature; source and drain features formed in the active region and interposed by the gate stack; and a channel formed in the active region and spanned between the source and drain features in a second direction being different from the first direction. The channel includes top portion having a width W in the first direction and two side portions each having a height H less than the width W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 9362296
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to memory devices, and more particularly to memory devices having an intergate dielectric stack comprising multiple high k dielectric materials. In one aspect, a planar non-volatile memory device comprises a hybrid floating gate structure separated from an inter-gate dielectric structure by a first interfacial layer which is designed to be electrically transparent so as not to affect the program saturation of the device. The inter-gate structure comprises a stack of three layers having a high-k/low-k/high-k configuration and the interfacial layer has a higher k-value than its adjacent high-k layer in the inter-gate dielectric structure. A method of making such a non-volatile memory device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Judit Gloria Lisoni Reyes, Laurent Breuil, Pieter Blomme, Jan Van Houdt
  • Patent number: 9356157
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices include one or more transistors having a floating gate and a control gate. In at least one embodiment, the floating gate comprises an intermediate portion extending between two end portions. The intermediate portion has an average cross-sectional area less than one or both of the end portions. In some embodiments, the intermediate portion may comprise a single nanowire. In additional embodiments, semiconductor devices have one or more transistors having a control gate and a floating gate in which a surface of the control gate opposes a lateral side surface of a floating gate that defines a recess in the floating gate. Electronic systems include such semiconductor devices. Methods of forming semiconductor devices include, for example, forming a floating gate having an intermediate portion extending between two end portions, and configuring the intermediate portion to have an average cross-sectional area less than one or both of the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Chandra V. Mouli, Di Li
  • Patent number: 9355740
    Abstract: A semiconductor nonvolatile memory device of an embodiment includes: a plurality of transistors arranged in a matrix, the transistors in the same row being connected in series to form a transistor string having a first terminal and a second terminal; a plurality of first wiring lines each corresponding to one of the columns, and being connected to the gates of the transistors of the corresponding column; a common first electrode connected to each semiconductor region in which each transistor is disposed; and a write unit that selects one of the first wiring lines and one of the transistor strings, and applies a first voltage to the first electrode, a first write voltage to the selected first wiring line, a second voltage to the other first wiring lines, and a second write voltage to the first terminal and the second terminal of the selected transistor string in a write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichiro Zaitsu, Kosuke Tatsumura
  • Patent number: 9349785
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, trench isolations, a sacrificial layer, a first resist protect oxide (RPO) layer, a second RPO layer and a silicide layer. The semiconductor substrate has first portions and second portions which are alternately disposed, and each of the second portions includes a first resist region with a first resistance, a second resist region with a second resistance and a silicide region. The second resistance is greater than the first resistance. The trench isolations are in the first portions. The sacrificial layer is on the first resist region. The first RPO layer is on the sacrificial layer. The first RPO layer together with the sacrificial layer have a first thickness. The second RPO layer is on the second resist region, in which the second RPO layer has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. The silicide layer is on the silicide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Chen, Ping-Pang Hsieh, Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 9349815
    Abstract: A gate structure is provided. The gate structure includes a substrate, a gate disposed on the substrate and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the substrate and the gate, wherein the gate dielectric layer is in the shape of a barbell. The barbell has a thin center connecting to two bulging ends. Part of the bulging ends extends into the gate and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Kuan-Yi Tseng, Tzu-Ping Chen, Chun-Lung Chang, Chih-Haw Lee, Wei-Shiang Huang, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9343478
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes gate electrodes three dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor pattern extending from the semiconductor substrate and crossing sidewalls of the gate electrodes, a metal liner pattern formed between the semiconductor pattern and formed on a top surface and a bottom surface of each of the gate electrodes, and a charge storage layer formed between the semiconductor pattern and the metal liner pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SunWoo Lee, Sangwoo Lee, Changwon Lee, Jeonggil Lee
  • Patent number: 9343464
    Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) circuit includes a stacked field effect transistor (FET) and capacitor. The capacitor is fabricated directly on top of the FET to build the eDRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl R. Erickson, David P. Paulsen, John E. Sheets, II, Kelly L. Williams
  • Patent number: 9337352
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a floating gate flash memory device, comprising: a P-type substrate which has a source and a drain, and a first polysilicon gate, a first control gate and a second polysilicon gate and a second control gate which are respectively located in parallel on the upper and lower sides of the substrate, first and second polysilicon floating gates being respectively provided between the first and second control gates and the substrate; the floating gate flash memory device of the present invention utilizes a double-gate structure, can solve the problems such as the poor programming efficiency of the floating gate flash memory and the high programming current power consumption, by using the compilation mechanism of source side injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HUALI MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jinglun Gu
  • Patent number: 9337351
    Abstract: Provided are three-dimensional nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The memory devices include semiconductor pillars penetrating interlayer insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate and floating gates selectively interposed between the semiconductor pillars and the conductive layers. The floating gates are formed in recesses in the conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoungkeun Son, Hansoo Kim, Jinho Kim, Kihyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9331167
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including: a semiconductor substrate; a source region and a drain region that are formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to be separated from each other and so as to define a channel region therebetween; a tunnel insulating film that is formed on the channel region; an insulative charge storage film that is formed on the tunnel insulating film; a conductive charge storage film that is formed on the insulative charge storage film so as to be shorter than the insulative charge storage film in a channel direction; an interlayer insulating film that is formed on the conductive charge storage film; and a gate electrode that is formed on the interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Ishihara, Koichi Muraoka
  • Patent number: 9330921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The memory cell includes a selection transistor and a memory transistor. The selection transistor includes a selection gate, a first source, and a first drain. The memory transistor includes a floating gate, a control gate, a second source, a second drain, and a first insulating layer disposed between the floating gate and the control gate. The semiconductor device further includes a selection gate sidewall spacer disposed near an edge of a bit line of the selection gate of the selection transistor. The selection gate sidewall spacer is separated from the selection gate by a second insulating layer. The selection gate sidewall spacer and the control gate are formed of a first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bongkil Kim, Chuanmiao Zhou, Bing Guo, Xiaoyan Zhao
  • Patent number: 9324714
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and first and second transistors of first and second conductivity types on the substrate. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode on the substrate, a first source region of the second conductivity type and a first drain region of the first conductivity type disposed to sandwich the first gate electrode, and a first channel region of the first or second conductivity type disposed between the first source region and the first drain region. The second transistor includes a second gate electrode on the substrate, a second source region of the first conductivity type and a second drain region of the second conductivity type disposed to sandwich the second gate electrode, and a second channel region disposed between the second source region and the second drain region and having the same conductivity type as the first channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akira Hokazono, Masakazu Goto, Yoshiyuki Kondo