Separate Control Electrodes For Charging And For Discharging Floating Electrode Patents (Class 257/320)
  • Patent number: 8659069
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure includes forming a tunnel insulation layer pattern on a substrate, forming a floating gate on the tunnel insulation layer pattern, forming a dielectric layer pattern on the floating gate, the dielectric layer pattern including a first oxide layer pattern, a nitride layer pattern on the first oxide layer pattern, and a second oxide layer pattern on the nitride layer pattern, the second oxide layer pattern being formed by performing an anisotropic plasma oxidation process on the nitride layer, such that a first portion of the second oxide layer pattern on a top surface of the floating gate has a larger thickness than a second portion of the second oxide layer pattern on a sidewall of the floating gate, and forming a control gate on the second oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Hwan Kim, Sung-Ho Heo, Jae-Ho Choi, Hun-Hyeong Lim, Ki-Hyun Hwang, Woo-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8629385
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging element including: (A) a light reception/charge storage region formed in a semiconductor layer, the light reception/charge storage region including M light reception/charge storage layers stacked one on top of the other, where M?2; (B) a charge output region formed in the semiconductor layer; (C) a conduction/non-conduction control region which includes a portion of the semiconductor layer located between the light reception/charge storage region and the charge output region; and (D) a conduction/non-conduction control electrode adapted to control the conduction or non-conduction state of the conduction/non-conduction control region, wherein mth potential control electrodes are provided between the mth and (m+1)th light reception/charge storage layers, where 1?m?(M?1), to control the potentials of the light reception/charge storage layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kaneyoshi Takeshita, Takashi Kubodera, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8614473
    Abstract: A flash memory device wherein the floating gate of the flash memory is defined by a recessed access device. The use of a recessed access device results in a longer channel length with less loss of device density. The floating gate can also be elevated above the substrate a selected amount so as to achieve a desirable coupling between the substrate, the floating gate and the control gate comprising the flash cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Abbott
  • Patent number: 8610193
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions. Alternating layers of n-type doped material and p-type doped material may be formed. The alternating layers may be patterned into a plurality of vertical columns that are spaced from one another by openings. The openings may be lined with tunnel dielectric, charge-storage material and blocking dielectric. Alternating layers of insulative material and conductive control gate material may be formed within the lined openings. Some embodiments include methods of forming NAND unit cells. Columns of alternating n-type material and p-type material may be formed. The columns may be lined with a layer of tunnel dielectric, a layer of charge-storage material, and a layer of blocking dielectric. Alternating layers of insulative material and conductive control gate material may be formed between the lined columns. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions, and some embodiments include NAND unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8610197
    Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile memory 10 having a selective gate SG formed below a silicon layer 14, which is to be a channel region formed between a source region S and a drain region D of a transistor, through a gate insulating film 15 between the silicon layer and the selective gate, a floating gate FG formed on a part over the silicon layer 14 through a gate insulating film 16, and a control gate CG connected to the floating gate FG. The selective gate SG has one end overlapping the source region S through the gate insulating film 15, and the floating gate FG has one end overlapping the drain region D through the gate insulating film 16, and the other end separated from the source region S and overlapping the silicon layer 14 through the gate insulating film 16. Thus, a nonvolatile memory whose performance is not deteriorated even when it is formed on an insulating substrate having a low heat dissipating characteristic can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ueda, Yoshimitsu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8587051
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically erasable and programmable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device whose tunnel region formed in the drain region has the second conductivity-type low-impurity-concentration region with the first tunnel insulating film for solely injecting electrons disposed thereon, and the first conductivity-type low-impurity-concentration region with the second tunnel insulating film for solely ejecting electrons disposed thereon, both regions fixed to the same potential as the drain region and having a lower impurity concentration than that of the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takasu
  • Patent number: 8587036
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is formed on a substrate. The non-volatile memory includes an isolation structure, a floating gate, and a gate dielectric layer. The isolation structure is disposed in the substrate to define an active area. The floating gate is disposed on the substrate and crosses over the active area. The gate dielectric layer is disposed between the floating gate and the substrate. The floating gate includes a first region and a second region. An energy band of the second region is lower than an energy band of the first region, so that charges stored in the floating gate are away from an overlap region of the floating gate and the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: eMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chen Wang, Wen-Hao Ching
  • Patent number: 8575017
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells, each including a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate formed on the semiconductor substrate with the inclusion of the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the floating gate, and a control gate formed on the floating gate with the inclusion of the second insulating film; an element isolation insulating film formed in the semiconductor substrate and extending in a gate-length direction to isolate between memory cells adjoining in a gate-width direction; and an air gap formed on the element isolation insulating film and between floating gates adjoining in the gate-width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takuji Kuniya
  • Publication number: 20130248972
    Abstract: An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a substrate structure; a first PMOS transistor comprising a select gate, a first source/drain region, and a second source/drain region, wherein the select gate is connected to a select gate voltage, and the first source/drain region is connected to a source line voltage; a second PMOS transistor comprising the second source/drain region, a third source/drain region, and a floating gate, wherein the third source/drain region is connected to a bit line voltage and the first, second and third source/drain regions are constructed in a N-well region; and an erase gate region adjacent to the floating gate, wherein the erase gate region comprises a n-type source/drain region connected to an erase line voltage and a P-well region; wherein the N-well region and the P-well region are formed in the substrate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: eMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Ren Chen, Te-Hsun Hsu, Wen-Hao Lee
  • Publication number: 20130248973
    Abstract: An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a substrate structure; a floating gate transistor having a floating gate, a gate oxide layer under the floating gate, and a channel region, wherein the channel region is formed in a N-well region; and an erase gate region, wherein the floating gate is extended to and is adjacent to the erase gate region and the erase gate region comprises a n-type source/drain region connected to an erase line voltage and a P-well region. The N-well and P-well region are formed in the substrate structure. The gate oxide layer comprises a first portion above the channel region of the floating gate transistor and a second portion above the erase gate region, and a thickness of the first portion of the gate oxide layer is different from a thickness of the second portion of the gate oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: eMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Ren Chen, Te-Hsun Hsu, Wen-Hao Lee
  • Publication number: 20130234228
    Abstract: An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a floating gate transistor having a floating gate, a gate oxide layer under the floating gate, and a channel region; and an erase gate region, wherein the floating gate is extended to and is adjacent to the erase gate region. The gate oxide layer comprises a first portion above the channel region of the floating gate transistor and a second portion above the erase gate region, and a thickness of the first portion of the gate oxide layer is different from a thickness of the second portion of the gate oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: eMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Te-Hsun Hsu, Hsin-Ming Chen, Ching-Sung Yang, Wen-Hao Ching, Wei-Ren Chen
  • Publication number: 20130234227
    Abstract: An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a first PMOS transistor comprising a select gate, a first p-type doped region, and a second p-type doped region, wherein the select gate is connected to a select gate voltage, and the first p-type doped region is connected to a source line voltage; a second PMOS transistor comprising the second p-type doped region, a third p-type doped region, and a floating gate, wherein the third p-type doped region is connected to a bit line voltage; and an erase gate region adjacent to the floating gate, wherein the erase gate region is connected to an erase line voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: eMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Ren Chen, Te-Hsun Hsu, Shih-Chen Wang, Hsin-Ming Chen, Ching-Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 8519470
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a redistribution interconnect that is implemented by shorting bumps, and a semiconductor package and a system each including the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, a passivation film disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of pseudo bumps disposed on the passivation film. Each pseudo bump is directly connected to adjacent pseudo bumps to form at least one redistribution interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sun-won Kang, Hwan-sik Lim
  • Patent number: 8513728
    Abstract: An array of non-volatile memory cells with spaced apart first regions extending in a row direction and second regions extending in a column direction, with a channel region defined between each second region and its associated first region. A plurality of spaced apart word line gates each extending in the row direction and positioned over a first portion of a channel region. A plurality of spaced apart floating gates are positioned over second portions of the channel regions. A plurality of spaced apart coupling gates each extending in the row direction and over the floating gates. A plurality of spaced apart metal strapping lines each extending in the row direction and overlying a coupling gate. A plurality of spaced apart erase gates each extending in the row direction and positioned over a first region and adjacent to a floating gate and coupling gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Parviz Ghazavi, Hieu Van Tran, Shiuh-Luen Wang, Nhan Do, Henry A. Om'mani
  • Patent number: 8488388
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell includes first and second regions and a channel region therebetween, a word line gate over a first portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region and adjacent to the word line gate, a coupling gate over the floating gate, and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate on an opposite side to the word line gate and over the second region. Programming the memory cell includes applying a first positive voltage to the word line gate, applying a voltage differential between the first and second regions, applying a second positive voltage to the coupling gate (where the voltages and the voltage differential are applied substantially at the same time), and applying a third positive voltage to the erase gate after a period of delay from the application of the first and second positive voltages and the voltage differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Viktor Markov, Jong-Won Yoo, Hung Quoc Nguyen, Alexander Kotov
  • Patent number: 8482050
    Abstract: A flash memory device wherein the floating gate of the flash memory is defined by a recessed access device. The use of a recessed access device results in a longer channel length with less loss of device density. The floating gate can also be elevated above the substrate a selected amount so as to achieve a desirable coupling between the substrate, the floating gate and the control gate comprising the flash cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Abbott
  • Patent number: 8471327
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory transistor includes an island-shaped semiconductor having a source region, a channel region, and a drain region formed in this order from the silicon substrate side, a floating gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the channel region with a tunnel insulating film interposed between the floating gate and the channel region, a control gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the floating gate with an inter-polysilicon insulating film interposed between the control gate and the floating gate, and a control gate line electrically connected to the control gate and extending in a predetermined direction. The inter-polysilicon insulating film is arranged so as to be interposed between the floating gate and the lower and inner side surfaces of the control gate and between the floating gate and the lower surface of the control gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8472251
    Abstract: A single polycrystalline silicon floating gate nonvolatile memory cell has a MOS capacitor and a storage MOS transistor fabricated with dimensions that allow fabrication using current low voltage logic integrated circuit process. The MOS capacitor has a first plate connected to a gate of the storage MOS transistor to form a floating gate node. The physical size of the MOS capacitor is relatively large (approximately 10 time greater) when compared to a physical size of the storage MOS transistor to establish a large coupling ratio (greater than 80%) between the second plate of the MOS capacitor and the floating gate node. When a voltage is applied to the second plate of the MOS capacitor and a voltage applied to the source region or drain region of the MOS transistor establishes a voltage field within the gate oxide of the MOS transistor such that Fowler-Nordheim edge tunnel is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Aplus Flash Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Wung Lee, Fu-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 8471325
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a first memory portion and a second memory portion. The first electrode extends in a first direction and is provided on the substrate. The second electrode extends in a second direction crossing the first direction and is provided on the first electrode. The third electrode extends in a third direction crossing the second direction and is provided on the second electrode. The first memory portion is provided between the first and the second electrodes and has a first oxygen composition ratio and a first layer thickness. The second memory portion is provided between the second and the third electrodes and has at least one of a second oxygen composition ratio different from the first oxygen composition ratio and a second layer thickness different from the first layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fukumizu, Noriko Bota
  • Patent number: 8461640
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell has a substrate layer with a fin shaped semiconductor member of a first conductivity type on the substrate layer. The fin shaped member has a first region of a second conductivity type and a second region of the second conductivity type, spaced apart from the first region with a channel region extending between the first region and the second region. The fin shaped member has a top surface and two side surfaces between the first region and the second region. A word line is adjacent to the first region and is capacitively coupled to the top surface and the two side surfaces of a first portion of the channel region. A floating gate is adjacent to the word line and is insulated from the top surface and is capacitively coupled to the two side surfaces of a second portion of the channel region. A coupling gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate. An erase gate is insulated from the second region and is adjacent to the floating gate and coupling gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaw Wen Hu, Prateep Tuntasood
  • Patent number: 8456908
    Abstract: A multi-dot flash memory includes active areas arranged in a first direction, which extend to a second direction crossed to the first direction, the first and second direction being parallel to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, floating gates arranged in the first direction, which are provided above the active areas, a word line provided above the floating gates, which extends to the first direction, and bit lines provided between the floating gates, which extend to the second direction. Each of the floating gates has two side surfaces in the first direction, shapes of the two side surfaces are different from each other, and shapes of the facing surfaces of the floating gates which are adjacent to each other in the first direction are symmetrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Ichikawa, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kenji Kawabata
  • Patent number: 8436411
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including a substrate, two first conductive layers, a second conductive layer, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and two heavily doped regions is provided. The substrate has at least two isolation structures therein and an active region between the isolation structures. The first conductive layers are respectively disposed on the isolation structures. The second conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and covering a portion of the active region and a portion of each first conductive layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed between each first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed between the second conductive layer in the active region and the substrate. The heavily doped regions are disposed in the substrate beside the second conductive layer in the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Sung-Bin Lin, Yuan-Hsiang Chang, Yu-Huang Yeh, Che-Lieh Lin
  • Patent number: 8426904
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tanaka, Yukiko Umemoto, Mitsuru Hiraki, Yutaka Shinagawa, Masamichi Fujito, Kazufumi Suzukawa, Hiroyuki Tanikawa, Takashi Yamaki, Yoshiaki Kamigaki, Shinichi Minami, Kozo Katayama, Nozomu Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8334560
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for providing a floating gate structure comprising floating gate cells having improved reverse tunnel disturb immunity. A floating gate structure is formed over a semiconductor substrate comprising a floating gate, a charge trapping dielectric layer is formed, and a control gate is formed. The floating gate structure has vertical sidewalls, one side adjacent a source region and one side adjacent a drain region. A symmetric sidewall dielectric is formed over the floating gate structure on both the source side and drain side regions. An asymmetric dielectric layer is formed over the drain side sidewall only. The use of the asymmetric sidewall on the drain side sidewall provides improved RTD immunity. Methods for forming the structure are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Yu Pan, Chung-Jen Hwang, Ming-Hui Shen
  • Patent number: 8330203
    Abstract: A first insulation film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first gate electrode is formed on the first insulation film. A second insulation film is formed on an upper surface and a side surface of the first gate electrode. A second gate electrode is formed on the second insulation film. The entirety of that part of the second gate electrode, which is located above the second insulation film formed on the upper surface of the first gate electrode, is a silicide layer. At least a portion of that part of the second gate electrode, which is located on the side surface of the first gate electrode, is a silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshitake Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 8324675
    Abstract: A flash memory device having a vertical channel structure. The flash memory device includes a substrate having a surface that extends in a first direction, a channel region having a pillar shape and extending from the substrate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, a gate dielectric layer formed around the channel region, a memory cell string comprising a plurality of transistors sequentially formed around the channel region in the second direction, wherein the gate dielectric layer is disposed between the plurality of transistors and the channel region, and a bit line connected to one of the plurality of transistors, and surrounding a side wall and an upper surface of one end of the channel region so as to directly contact the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-chang Moon, Han-soo Kim, Won-seok Cho, Jae-hoon Jang, Ki-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8319270
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory of a semiconductor device has a tunnel insulation film provided on the active area; a floating gate electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film; a control gate electrode provided over the floating gate electrode; and an inter-electrode insulation film provided between the floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode, wherein, in a section of the non-volatile memory cell in a channel width direction, a dimension of a top face of the active area in the channel width direction is equal to or less than a dimension of a top face of the tunnel insulation film in the channel width direction, and the dimension of the top face of the tunnel insulation film in the channel width direction is less than a dimension of a bottom face of the floating gate electrode in the channel width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mutsuo Morikado, Kiyomi Naruke, Hiroaki Tsunoda, Tohru Maruyama, Fumitaka Arai
  • Patent number: 8299520
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes first and second auxiliary gate electrodes and a semiconductor layer crossing the first and second auxiliary gate electrodes. A primary gate electrode is provided on the semiconductor layer so that the semiconductor layer is between the primary gate electrode and the first and second auxiliary gate electrodes. Moreover, the first and second auxiliary gate electrodes are configured to induce respective first and second field effect type source/drain regions in the semiconductor layer. Related methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-pil Kim, Yoon-dong Park, Jae-young Choi, June-mo Koo, Byung-hee Hong
  • Patent number: 8278701
    Abstract: In the trap type memory chip the withstanding voltage is raised up, and then the electric current for reading out is increased. There are formed on the p-type semiconductor substrate 1 a first gate lamination structure which comprises a first insulating film 11 including a trap layer, and a first conductive body 9, and a second gate lamination structure which comprises a second insulating film 12 free of a trap layer and including an insulating film layer 13 doped with metal for controlling the work function at least on the upper layer, and a second conductive body 10. A source drain region 2 and a source drain region 3 are formed such that the first gate lamination structure and the second gate lamination structure are interleaved therebetween. The effective work function of the second gate lamination structure is higher than that of the first gate lamination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Terai
  • Patent number: 8273622
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a dynamic gate drain capacitance. One embodiment provides a semiconductor device. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a field effect transistor structure including a source region, a first body region, a drain region, a gate electrode structure and a gate insulating layer. The gate insulating layer is arranged between the gate electrode structure and the body region. The gate electrode structure and the drain region partially form a capacitor structure including a gate-drain capacitance configured to dynamically change with varying reverse voltages applied between the source and drain regions. The gate-drain capacitance includes at least one local maximum at a given threshold or a plateau-like course at given reverse voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Carolin Tolksdorf, Winfried Kaindl, Armin Willmeroth
  • Patent number: 8237211
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a memory string including a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. The non-volatile semiconductor storage device also has a protruding layer formed to protrude upward with respect to a substrate. The memory string includes: a plurality of first conductive layers laminated on the substrate; a first semiconductor layer formed to penetrate the plurality of first conductive layers; and an electric charge storage layer formed between the first conductive layers and the first semiconductor layer, and configured to be able to store electric charges. Each of the plurality of first conductive layers includes: a bottom portion extending in parallel to the substrate; and a side portion extending upward with respect to the substrate along the protruding layer at the bottom portion. The protruding layer has a width in a first direction parallel to the substrate that is less than or equal to its length in a lamination direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Masaru Kidoh, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Akihiro Nitayama, Hideaki Aochi, Hitoshi Ito, Yasuyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8232590
    Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device includes: a tunnel insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate; a floating gate electrode including a bottom gate electrode doped with carbon and contacting the tunnel insulation layer and a top gate electrode on the bottom gate electrode; a gate interlayer insulation layer on the floating gate electrode; and a control gate electrode on the gate interlayer insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoungsun Ju, Sunggil Kim, Jintae Noh, Siyoung Choi, Kihyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 8222099
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A multi-component high-k interface layer containing elements of the substrate is formed from a ultra-thin high-k dielectric material in a single-layer structure of atoms by rapid annealing in the manufacturing of a CMOS transistor by the replacement gate process, and a high-k gate dielectric layer with a higher dielectric constant and a metal gate layer are formed thereon. The EOT of the device is effectively decreased, and the diffusion of atoms in the high-k gate dielectric layer from an upper level thereof is effectively prevented by the optimized high-k interface layer at high-temperature treatment. Thus, the present invention may also avoid the growth of the interface layers and the degradation of carrier mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Wenwu Wang, Kai Han, Shijie Chen, Xiaolei Wang, Dapeng Chen
  • Patent number: 8223546
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multi-dot flash memory includes an active area, a floating gate arranged on the active area via a gate insulating film and having a first side and a second side facing each other in a first direction, a word line arranged on the floating gate via an inter-electrode insulating film, a first bit line arranged on the first side of the floating gate via a first tunnel insulating film and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a second bit line arranged on the second side of the floating gate via a second tunnel insulating film and extending in the second direction. The active area has a width in the first direction narrower than that between a center of the first bit line and a center of the second bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Makoto Mizukami
  • Patent number: 8217456
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a field effect transistor (FET), device including a FET, and a method of making the same. In embodiments of the disclosure, a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is provided. The SOI substrate includes a body having a first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer of the SOI substrate, the body including a first body region connecting a second body region to a third body region; and a source and a drain, each having a second conductivity type, disposed on opposite sides of the first body region. A first gate electrode having a second work function is disposed above the first body region; and a second gate electrode having a first work function disposed above the second and third body regions. A first gate dielectric layer may be disposed vertically between the first body region and the first gate electrode, and a second gate dielectric layer may be disposed vertically between the second and third body regions and the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Andres Bryant, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 8134200
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention includes a memory cell including, a charge storage layer on a gate insulating film, a multilayer insulator on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the multilayer insulator, the gate insulating film including a first tunnel film, a first high-dielectric-constant film on the first tunnel film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first tunnel film, and a second tunnel film on the first high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first tunnel film, the multilayer insulator including a first insulating film, a second high-dielectric-constant film on the first insulating film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first insulating film, and a second insulating film on the second high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshitake Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 8120090
    Abstract: An aging device includes a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation insulating layer which is formed in a recessed portion of the semiconductor substrate and which has an upper surface higher than an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, first and second element regions isolated by the element isolation insulating layer, first and second diffusion layers formed in the semiconductor substrate in the first element region, a first gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate between the first and second diffusion layers, a second gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate in the second element region, and a floating gate electrode formed on the first and second gate insulating films and formed to extend from the first element region to the second element region. The deepest portions of the first and second diffusion layers are isolated from the element isolation insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Hagishima, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8115249
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a tunnel insulating layer, a charge storage layer and a charge block layer are formed on a silicon substrate in this order, and a plurality of control gate electrodes are provided above the charge block layer. Moreover, a cap layer made of silicon nitride is formed between the charge block layer and each of the control gate electrode, the cap layer being divided for each gate control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Isao Kamioka, Yoshio Ozawa, Katsuyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 8093631
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes: forming a gate structure on a substrate, the gate structure including a first insulation layer, a first electrode layer for a floating gate and a second insulation layer; forming a third insulation layer on the gate structure covering predetermined regions of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure; and forming a second electrode layer for a control gate on the third insulation layer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure and the predetermined regions of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Sik Jeong
  • Patent number: 8072020
    Abstract: A first select transistor is connected to one end of a plurality of memory cell transistors that are serially connected. A second select transistor is connected to the other end of the serially connected memory cell transistors. A first impurity diffusion region is formed in a semiconductor substrate and constitutes a first main electrode of the first select transistor. A second impurity diffusion region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and constitutes a second main electrode of the second select transistor. A depth of the first impurity diffusion region is greater than a depth of the second impurity diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Gomikawa, Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Yoshiko Kato, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8067795
    Abstract: A single-poly EEPROM memory device comprises source and drain regions in a semiconductor body, a floating gate overlying a portion of the source and drain regions, which defines a source-to-floating gate capacitance and a drain-to-floating gate capacitance, wherein the source-to-floating gate capacitance is substantially greater than the drain-to-floating gate capacitance. The source-to-floating gate capacitance is, for example, at least about three times greater than the drain-to-floating gate capacitance to enable the memory device to be electrically programmed or erased by applying a potential between a source electrode and a drain electrode without using a control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jozef Czeslaw Mitros, Xiaoju Wu
  • Patent number: 8053302
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the non-volatile memory device are provided. At least one first semiconductor layer and at least one second semiconductor layer are disposed. At least one control gate electrode is disposed between the at least one first semiconductor layer and the at least one second semiconductor layer. At least one first layer selection line is capacitively coupled to the at least one first semiconductor layer. At least one second layer selection line is capacitively coupled to the at least one second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-soo Seol, Yoon-dong Park
  • Patent number: 8035155
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a floating gate; an erasing gat; and a control gate. The floating gate is provided on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate through a first insulating layer. The erasing gate is provided on the floating gate through a second insulating layer. The control gate is provided beside the floating gate and the erasing gate through a third insulating layer. The floating gate is U-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Isami Sakai
  • Patent number: 8026545
    Abstract: An EEPROM according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer of a first conductive type; and a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer. A first impurity region, a second impurity region, a third impurity region, a fourth impurity region, and a fifth impurity region of a second conductive type are formed in top layer portions of the semiconductor layer. On the first insulating film, a select gate, a first floating gate, and a second floating gate are respectively disposed opposite a region between the first impurity region and the second impurity region, a region between the second impurity region and the third impurity region, and a region between the third impurity region and the fourth impurity region. In the first insulating film, a first tunnel window and a second tunnel window are respectively formed at portions in contact with the first floating gate and the second floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yushi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8017988
    Abstract: A first plurality of memory cells is in a first plane in a first column of the array. A second plurality of memory cells is in a second plane in the same column. The second plurality of memory cells are coupled to the first plurality of memory cells through a series connection of their source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn
  • Patent number: 8017991
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide a non-volatile memory device with increased integration and methods of operating and fabricating the same. A non-volatile memory device may include a plurality of first storage node films and a plurality of first control gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of second storage node films and a plurality of second control gate electrodes may be recessed into the semiconductor substrate between two adjacent first control gate electrodes and below the bottom of the plurality of first control gate electrodes. A plurality of bit line regions may be on the semiconductor substrate and each may extend across the plurality of first control gate electrodes and the plurality of second control gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-joo Kim, Suk-pil Kim, Yoon-dong Park, June-mo Koo
  • Patent number: 8017986
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tanaka, Yukiko Umemoto, Mitsuru Hiraki, Yutaka Shinagawa, Masamichi Fujito, Kazufumi Suzukawa, Hiroyuki Tanikawa, Takashi Yamaki, Yoshiaki Kamigaki, Shinichi Minami, Kozo Katayama, Nozomu Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8008748
    Abstract: A deep trench varactor structure compatible with a deep trench capacitor structure and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A buried plate layer is formed on a second deep trench, while the first trench is protected from formation of any buried plate layer. The inside of the deep trenches is filled with a conductive material to form inner electrodes. At least one doped well is formed outside and abutting portions of the first deep trench and constitutes at least one outer varactor electrode. Multiple doped wells may be connected in parallel to provide a varactor having complex voltage dependency of capacitance. The buried plate layer and another doped well connected thereto constitute an outer electrode of a linear capacitor formed on the second deep trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Collins, Robert M. Rassel, Eric Thompson
  • Patent number: 7994004
    Abstract: A flash NAND type EEPROM system with individual ones of an array of charge storage elements, such as floating gates, being capacitively coupled with at least two control gate lines. The control gate lines are preferably positioned between floating gates to be coupled with sidewalls of floating gates. The memory cell coupling ratio is desirably increased, as a result. Both control gate lines on opposite sides of a selected row of floating gates are usually raised to the same voltage while the second control gate lines coupled to unselected rows of floating gates immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of the selected row are kept low. The control gate lines can also be capacitively coupled with the substrate in order to selectively raise its voltage in the region of selected floating gates. The length of the floating gates and the thicknesses of the control gate lines can be made less than the minimum resolution element of the process by forming an etch mask of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Eliyahou Harari
  • Patent number: 7982255
    Abstract: A flash memory device wherein the floating gate of the flash memory is defined by a recessed access device. The use of a recessed access device results in a longer channel length with less loss of device density. The floating gate can also be elevated above the substrate a selected amount so as to achieve a desirable coupling between the substrate, the floating gate and the control gate comprising the flash cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Abbott