With Additional, Non-memory Control Electrode Or Channel Portion (e.g., Accessing Field Effect Transistor Structure) Patents (Class 257/326)
  • Patent number: 8314458
    Abstract: In the semiconductor device according to the present invention, a P type diffusion layer and an N type diffusion layer as a drain lead region are formed on an N type diffusion layer as a drain region. The P type diffusion layer is disposed between a source region and the drain region of the MOS transistor. When a positive ESD surge is applied to a drain electrode, causing an on-current of a parasite transistor to flow, this structure allows the on-current of the parasite transistor to take a path flowing through a deep portion of an epitaxial layer. Thus, the heat breakdown of the MOS transistor is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: SANYO Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Seiji Otake
  • Patent number: 8314457
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory devices are provided including a control gate electrode on a substrate; a charge storage insulation layer between the control gate electrode and the substrate; a tunnel insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the substrate; a blocking insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the control gate electrode; and a material layer between the tunnel insulation layer and the blocking insulation layer, the material layer having an energy level constituting a bottom of a potential well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Suk Kim, Sun-Il Shim, Chang-Seok Kang, Won-Cheol Jeong, Jung-Dal Choi, Jae-Kwan Park, Seung-Hyun Lim, Sun-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8299521
    Abstract: Provided are a nonvolatile memory device having a vertical folding structure and a method of manufacturing the nonvolatile memory device. A semiconductor structure includes first and second portions that are substantially vertical. A plurality of memory cells are arranged along the first and second portions of the semiconductor structure and are serially connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-hyun Lee, Young-eal Kim, Chang-soo Lee, Dong-joon Ma
  • Patent number: 8294191
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first and a second stacked structure, a first and a second semiconductor pillar, a semiconductor connection portion, a first and a second connection portion conductive layer, a first and a second pillar portion memory layer, a first and a second connection portion memory layer. The first and second stacked structures include electrode films and inter-electrode insulating films alternately stacked in a first direction. The second stacked structure is adjacent to the first stacked structure. The first and second semiconductor pillars pierce the first and second stacked structures, respectively. The semiconductor connection portion connects the first and second semiconductor pillars. The first and second pillar portion memory layers are provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryota Katsumata, Hideaki Aochi, Masaru Kito, Masaru Kidoh, Ryouhei Kirisawa
  • Publication number: 20120261743
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having plural memory cell regions featuring nonvolatile memory cells, each nonvolatile memory cell including a first insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate, a control electrode formed over the first insulating film, the first insulating film acting as a gate insulator for the control gate electrode, a second insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate, and a memory gate electrode formed over the second insulating film and arranged adjacent with the control gate electrode through the second gate insulating film, the second insulating film acting as a gate insulator for the memory gate electrode and featuring a non-conductive charge trap film, wherein each of the nonvolatile memory cells of a first memory cell region and each of the nonvolatile memory cells of a second memory cell region are formed adjacent to one another such that a drain region is shared between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Shoji SHUKURI
  • Patent number: 8278695
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, and a plurality of memory strings, the memory string including a first selection transistor including a first pillar shaped semiconductor formed perpendicular to the substrate, a first gate insulating film formed around the first pillar shaped semiconductor, and a first gate electrode formed around the first gate insulating film, and a plurality of memory cells including a second pillar shaped semiconductor formed on the first pillar shaped semiconductor, the diameter of the first pillar shaped semiconductor being larger than the diameter of the second pillar shaped semiconductor at the part where the second pillar shaped semiconductor is connected to the first pillar shaped semiconductor, a first insulating film formed around the second pillar shaped semiconductor, a charge storage layer formed around the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed around the charge storage layer, and first to nth electrodes formed around the second i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kidoh, Ryota Katsumata, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hideaki Aochi, Masaru Kito
  • 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: 8278698
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a device isolation pattern, a charge trap layer, and a plurality of word lines. The device isolation pattern defines an active region in a semiconductor substrate and extends in a first direction. The charge trap layer covers the active region and the device isolation pattern. The word lines on the charge trap layer cross the active region and extend in a second direction. The charge trap layer disposed in a first region where the word line and the active region cross each other has a different nitrogen content ratio from the charge trap layer disposed in a second region surrounding the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiro Nakanishi, Chanjin Park, Siyoung Choi, Bonyoung Koo
  • Patent number: 8278703
    Abstract: A non-planar transistor having floating body structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the transistor includes a fin having upper and lower doped regions. The upper doped regions may form a source and drain separated by a shallow trench formed in the fin. During formation of the fin, a hollow region may be formed underneath the shallow trench, isolating the source and drain. An oxide may be formed in the hollow region to form a floating body structure, wherein the source and drain are isolated from each other and the substrate formed below the fin. In some embodiments, independently bias gates may be formed adjacent to walls of the fin. In other embodiments, electrically coupled gates may be formed adjacent to the walls of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Publication number: 20120241846
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first inter-electrode insulating film, and a third conductive layer stacked above the first conductive layer, a memory film, a semiconductor layer, an insulating member, and a silicide layer. The memory film and the semiconductor layer is formed on the inner surface of through hole provided in the second conductive layer, the first inter-electrode insulating film, and the third conductive layer. The insulating member is buried in a slit dividing the second conductive layer, the first inter-electrode insulating film, and the third conductive layer. The silicide layer is formed on surfaces of the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer in the slit. The distance between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer along the inner surface of the slit is longer than that of along the stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kaori KAWASAKI, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kito, Tomoko Fujiwara, Takeshi Imamura, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8274108
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, includes: a stacked body including a plurality of insulating films alternately stacked with a plurality of electrode films, the electrode films being divided to form a plurality of control gate electrodes aligned in a first direction; a plurality of semiconductor pillars aligned in a stacking direction of the stacked body, the semiconductor pillars being arranged in a matrix configuration along the first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction to pierce the control gate electrodes; and a connection member connecting a lower end portion of one of the semiconductor pillars to a lower end portion of one other of the semiconductor pillars, an upper end portion of the one of the semiconductor pillars being connected to a source line, an upper end portion of the one other of the semiconductor pillars being connected to a bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Megumi Ishiduki, Yosuke Komori, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8273621
    Abstract: A MOSFET comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material; source/drain regions, which are arranged at a distance from each other at a surface of the substrate; a gate electrode arranged above an area of the surface of the substrate between the source/drain regions, the gate electrode being electrically insulated from the semiconductor material; at least one recess in the gate electrode, a through-contact arranged in the recess of the gate electrode, the through-contact being electrically insulated from the gate electrode; a terminal contact on the semiconductor material; and a terminal conductor arranged on the side of the gate electrode that faces away from the substrate, wherein the through-contact electrically connects the terminal contact to the terminal conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Georg Röhrer
  • Publication number: 20120235226
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Toshitake Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 8269269
    Abstract: A gate electrode of a select gate transistor includes a gate insulating film that is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a lower gate electrode that is formed on the gate insulating film and that has a tapered portion in which a side surface on a side of a gate electrode of a memory cell transistor is in a tapered shape, a first oxide film, a silicon nitride film, a second oxide film, and a conductive film that are sequentially formed on the tapered portion, and an upper gate electrode that is connected to the conductive film and the lower gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Motoki Sugi
  • Patent number: 8269268
    Abstract: The device includes: a tunnel insulating layer, a charge trap layer; a blocking insulating layer; and a gate electrode sequentially formed on a substrate. The charge trap layer includes: plural trap layers comprising a first material having a first band gap energy level; spaced apart nanodots, each nanodot being at least partially surrounded by at least one of the trap layers, wherein the nanodots comprise a second material having a second band gap energy level that is lower than the first band gap energy level; and an intermediate blocking layer comprising a third material having a third band gap energy level that is higher than the first band gap energy level, formed between at least two of the trap layers. This structure prevents loss of charges from the charge trap layer and improves charge storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zong-liang Huo, In-seok Yeo, Seung-Hyun Lim, Kyong-hee Joo, Jun-kyu Yang
  • Patent number: 8269266
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having, over a semiconductor substrate, a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode which are adjacent to each other and constitute a nonvolatile memory. The height of the memory gate electrode is lower than the height of the control gate electrode. A metal silicide film is formed over the upper surface of the control gate electrode, but not formed over the upper surface of the memory gate electrode. The memory gate electrode has, over the upper surface thereof, a sidewall insulating film made of silicon oxide. This sidewall insulating film is formed in the same step as that for the formation of respective sidewall insulating films over the sidewalls of the memory gate electrode and the control gate electrode. The present invention makes it possible to improve the production yield and performance of the semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Toba, Yasushi Ishii, Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Satoru Machida, Munekatsu Nakagawa, Takashi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8269267
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to an aspect of the invention comprises a semiconductor substrate which has an SOI region and an epitaxial region at its surface, a buried oxide film arranged on the semiconductor substrate in the SOI region, an SOI layer arranged on the buried oxide film, a plurality of memory cells arranged on the SOI layer, an epitaxial layer arranged in the epitaxial region, and a select gate transistor arranged on the epitaxial layer, wherein the SOI layer is made of a microcrystalline layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumitaka Arai, Ichiro Mizushima, Makoto Mizukami
  • Patent number: 8264031
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a multilayer structure; a semiconductor pillar; a third insulating film; and a fourth insulating film layer. The a multilayer structure is provided on the semiconductor substrate and including a plurality of constituent multilayer bodies stacked in a first direction perpendicular to a major surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the plurality of constituent multilayer bodies includes an electrode film provided parallel to the major surface, a first insulating film, a charge storage layer provided between the electrode film and the first insulating film, and a second insulating film provided between the charge storage layer and the electrode film. The semiconductor pillar penetrates through the multilayer structure in the first direction. The third insulating film is provided between the semiconductor pillar and the electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Tomoko Fujiwara, Megumi Ishiduki, Yosuke Komori, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Ryouhei Kirisawa, Junya Matsunami, Hideaki Aochi
  • Publication number: 20120217573
    Abstract: A first dielectric is formed over a semiconductor layer, a first gate layer over the first dielectric, a second dielectric over the first gate layer, and a third dielectric over the second dielectric. An etch is performed to form a first sidewall of the first gate layer. A second etch is performed to remove portions of the first dielectric between the semiconductor layer and the first gate layer to expose a bottom corner of the first gate layer and to remove portions of the second dielectric between the first gate layer and the third dielectric layer to expose a top corner of the first gate layer. An oxide is grown on the first sidewall and around the top and bottom corners to round the corners. The oxide is then removed. A charge storage layer and second gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and overlapping the first sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: SUNG-TAEG KANG
  • Patent number: 8253188
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulator, a laminated insulator including a second insulator having fixed charges more than those of the first insulator, a single-layer insulator, memory cells between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, each memory cells separated from an adjacent memory cell by a cavity portion and including a tunnel insulator, a charge accumulation layer, an insulator, and a control gate electrode, a first selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, a second selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, between one memory cell and the first selection gate transistor, and in contact with the laminated insulator on a first side face on a memory cell side thereof, and a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, and in contact with the single-layer insulator on a side face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamigaichi, Satoshi Nagashima, Kenji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8253187
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device 10 has a plurality of memory strings 100 with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory transistors MTr1-MTr4 connected in series. The memory string 100 includes a columnar semiconductor CLmn extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, a plurality of charge accumulation layers formed around the columnar semiconductor CLmn via insulating films, and selection gate lines on the drain side SGD contacting the columnar semiconductor to configure transistors. The selection gate lines on the drain side SGD have lower selection gate lines on the drain side SGDd, each of which is arranged with an interval with a certain pitch, and upper selection gate lines on the drain side SGDu located on a higher layer than the lower selection gate lines on the drain side SGDd, each of which is arranged on gaps between the lower selection gate lines on the drain side SGDd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kido, Hideaki Aochi, Mitsuru Sato, Yasuyuki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20120211823
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a lower select transistor formed within a semiconductor substrate, memory cells stacked over the lower select transistors, and an upper select transistor formed over the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Se Yun LIM, Eun Seok CHOI
  • Patent number: 8247863
    Abstract: A memory string comprises: a pair of columnar portions; a first insulating layer surrounding a side surface of the columnar portions; a charge storage layer surrounding a side surface of the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer surrounding a side surface of the charge storage layer; and a first conductive layer surrounding a side surface of the second insulating layer. A select transistor comprises: a second semiconductor layer extending from an upper surface of the columnar portions; a third insulating layer surrounding a side surface of the second semiconductor layer; a fourth insulating layer surrounding a side surface of the third insulating layer; and a second conductive layer surrounding a side surface of the fourth insulating layer. The first semiconductor layer is formed continuously in an integrated manner with the second semiconductor layer. The first insulating layer is formed continuously in an integrated manner with the third insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Megumi Ishiduki, Yosuke Komori, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8242554
    Abstract: The non-volatile memory cell is comprised of the series integration of a fixed threshold element and a bistable element. The fixed threshold element is formed over a substrate with a gate insulator layer and an access gate having a nitride layer. The bistable element is formed adjacent to the fixed threshold element by a tunnel insulator over the substrate, a charge trapping layer over the tunnel insulator, a charge blocking layer over the trapping layer, and a control gate, having a nitride layer, over the charge blocking layer. In one embodiment, the gate insulator, tunnel insulator and charge trapping layers are all SiON with thicknesses that depend on the designed programming voltage. The control gate can be formed overlapping the access gate or the access gate can be formed overlapping the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20120199898
    Abstract: Monolithic, three dimensional NAND strings include a semiconductor channel, at least one end portion of the semiconductor channel extending substantially perpendicular to a major surface of a substrate, a plurality of control gate electrodes having a strip shape extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate, the blocking dielectric comprising a plurality of blocking dielectric segments, a plurality of discrete charge storage segments, and a tunnel dielectric located between each one of the plurality of the discrete charge storage segments and the semiconductor channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Alsmeier, Vinod Robert Purayath, Henry Chien, George Matamis, Yao-Sheng Lee, James Kai, Yuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8237218
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first stack unit with a first selection transistor and a second selection transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and a second stack unit with first insulating layers and first conductive layers stacked alternately on the upper surface of the first stack unit. The second stack unit includes a second insulating layer formed in contact with side walls of the first insulating layer and the first conductive layer, a charge storage layer formed in contact with the second insulating layer for storing electrical charges, a third insulating layer formed in contact with the charge storage layer, and a first semiconductor layer formed in contact with the third insulating layer so as to extend in a stacking direction, with one end connected to one diffusion layer of the first selection transistor and the other end connected to a diffusion layer of the second selection transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Murata, Takeshi Kamigaichi
  • Patent number: 8237213
    Abstract: Memory arrays and methods of their formation are disclosed. One such memory array has memory-cell strings are formed adjacent to separated substantially vertical, adjacent semiconductor structures, where the separated semiconductor structures couple the memory cells of the respective strings in series. For some embodiments, two dielectric pillars may be formed from a dielectric formed in a single opening, where each of the dielectric pillars has a pair of memory-cell strings adjacent thereto and where at least one memory cell of one of the strings on one of the pillars and at least one memory cell of one of the strings on the other pillar are commonly coupled to an access line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zengtao Liu
  • Patent number: 8233323
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a control circuit performing an erase operation to erase data from a selected one of memory transistors. The control circuit applies a first voltage to the other end of selected one of selection transistors, causes the selected one of the selection transistors to turn on, and causes any one of the memory transistors to turn on that is closer to the selection transistor than the selected one of the memory transistors. The control circuit also applies a second voltage lower than the first voltage to a gate of the selected one of the memory transistors. Such a potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage causing a change in electric charges in the electric charge storage layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoo Hishida, Yoshihisa Iwata, Kiyotaro Itagaki, Takashi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120181602
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cell array portion, single-crystal semiconductor layer, and circuit portion. The memory cell array portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and includes memory cells. The semiconductor layer is formed on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the memory cell array portion. The circuit portion is formed on the semiconductor layer. The Ge concentration in the lower portion of the semiconductor layer is higher than that in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Masaru Kito, Kiyotaka Miyano, Shinji Mori, Ichiro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 8217446
    Abstract: Each of memory strings is provided with a first semiconductor layer having a pair of columnar portions extending in a perpendicular direction with respect to a substrate; a charge storage layer formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portions; and a first conductive layer formed to surround the charge storage layer. Each of the select transistors is provided with a second semiconductor layer extending upwardly from an upper surface of the columnar portions; a gate insulating layer formed to surround a side surface of the second semiconductor layer; and a second conductive layer formed to surround the gate insulating layer. An effective impurity concentration of the second semiconductor layer is less than or equal to an effective impurity concentration of the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Masaru Kito, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kidoh, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yosuke Komori, Megumi Ishiduki, Hideaki Aochi
  • Patent number: 8207572
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first columnar protrusion and a second columnar protrusion formed to be spaced out on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and the first and the second columnar protrusions each include a split gate nonvolatile memory cell in which a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region are formed at a surrounding part and an extremity, and in which a first layered structure, in which a charge accumulating film and a memory gate line are layered, and a second layered structure, in which a gate oxide film and a control gate line are layered, are formed on a surface of a sidewall between the surrounding part and the extremity. The first layered structure is also formed between the first and second columnar protrusions, whereby the memory gate line of the first columnar protrusion and the second columnar protrusion is connected each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mizushima, Fumihiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8203177
    Abstract: A flash memory device includes a substrate; a cell stack having a semiconductor layer for providing junction areas and channel areas and an interlayer isolation layer for insulating the semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layer and the interlayer isolation layer are repeatedly stacked; an array of gate columns, the gate columns penetrating through the cell stack, perpendicular to the substrate; and a trap layered stack introduced into an interface between the gate columns and the cell stack to store charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hack Seob Shin, Kyoung Hwan Park, Young Ok Hong, Yu Jin Park
  • Publication number: 20120146128
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory cell transistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to select the memory cell transistors, each of the memory cell transistors of a charge trap type are at least composed of a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode respectively, and the select transistor is at least composed of a second insulating layer and a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a first width formed on the first insulating layer. The second gate electrode is provided with an impurity-doped silicon layer formed on the second insulating layer and with a second silicide layer of a second width formed on the impurity-doped silicon layer. The second silicide has the same composition as the first silicide. The second width is larger than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Izumida, Nobutoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8198669
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first layer; a second layer; a columnar structural unit; and a side portion. The second layer is provided on a major surface of the first layer. The columnar structural unit is conductive and aligned in the first layer and the second layer to pass through the major surface. The side portion is added to a side wall of the columnar structural unit on the second layer side of the major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 8198672
    Abstract: Monolithic, three dimensional NAND strings include a semiconductor channel, at least one end portion of the semiconductor channel extending substantially perpendicular to a major surface of a substrate, a plurality of control gate electrodes having a strip shape extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate, the blocking dielectric comprising a plurality of blocking dielectric segments, a plurality of discrete charge storage segments, and a tunnel dielectric located between each one of the plurality of the discrete charge storage segments and the semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 8198670
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a multilayer body with a plurality of insulating films and electrode films alternately stacked therein; a plurality of select gate electrodes provided on the multilayer body, extending in one direction orthogonal to a stacking direction of the multilayer body, and spaced from each other; semiconductor pillars penetrating through the multilayer body and the select gate electrodes; and a charge storage film provided between one of the electrode films and one of the semiconductor pillars, two neighboring ones of the semiconductor pillars penetrating through a common one of the select gate electrodes and penetrating through mutually different positions in a width direction of the select gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120139030
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes first to n-th (n is a natural number not less than 2) semiconductor layers in a first direction and extend in a second direction, and the semiconductor layers having a stair case pattern in a first end of the second direction, a common semiconductor layer connected to the first to n-th semiconductor layers commonly in the first end of the second direction, first to n-th layer select transistors which are provided in order from the first electrode side between the first electrode and the first to n-th memory strings, and first to n-th impurity regions which make the i-th layer select transistor (i is one of 1 to n) a normally-on state in the first end of the second direction of the i-th semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Kiwamu SAKUMA, Atsuhiro Kinoshita, Masahiro Kiyotoshi, Daisuke Hagishima, Koichi Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20120139032
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory elements formed above the substrate in rows and columns, bit lines and word lines selectively connected with the memory elements in the respective columns and rows, each memory element including, a first gate insulator formed above the substrate, a charge accumulation layer formed on the first gate insulator, a second gate insulator formed on the charge accumulation layer, and a control electrode formed on the second gate insulator, wherein a ratio r/d is not smaller than 0.5, where r: a radius of curvature of an upper corner portion or surface roughness of the charge accumulation layer and d: an equivalent oxide thickness of the second gate insulator in a cross section along a direction vertical to the bit lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi AKAHORI, Wakako Takeuchi, Atsuhiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20120139031
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory cell transistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to select the memory cell transistors, each of the memory cell transistors of a charge trap type are at least composed of a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode respectively, and the select transistor is at least composed of a second insulating layer and a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a first width formed on the first insulating layer. The second gate electrode is provided with an impurity-doped silicon layer formed on the second insulating layer and with a second silicide layer of a second width formed on the impurity-doped silicon layer. The second silicide has the same composition as the first silicide. The second width is larger than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi IZUMIDA, Nobutoshi AOKI
  • Patent number: 8194453
    Abstract: A three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to examples of the present invention includes a memory cell array comprised of first and second blocks disposed side by side and a driver disposed between the first and second blocks. At least two conductive layers having the same structure as that of the at least two conductive layers in the first and second blocks are disposed on the driver, and select gate lines in the first and second blocks are connected to the driver through the at least two conductive layers on the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maejima
  • Patent number: 8193053
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an integrated semiconductor nonvolatile storage device that can be read at high speed and reprogrammed an increased number of times. In the case of conventional nonvolatile semiconductor storage devices having a split-gate structure, there is a tradeoff between the read current and the maximum allowable number of reprogramming operations. To overcome this problem, an integrated semiconductor nonvolatile storage device of the present invention is configured such that memory cells having different memory gate lengths are integrated on the same chip. This allows the device to be read at high speed and reprogrammed an increased number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Digh Hisamoto, Shin'ichiro Kimura, Daiske Okada, Kan Yasui
  • Patent number: 8193054
    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 different from the first material over a substrate, etching the stack to form at least one opening in the stack, forming a discrete charge storage material layer on a sidewall, forming a tunnel dielectric layer, forming a semiconductor channel material, selectively removing the second material layers without removing the first material layers, etching the discrete charge storage material layer to form a plurality of separate discrete charge storage segments, depositing an insulating material between the first material layers, selectively removing the first material layers to expose side wall of the discrete charge storage segments, forming a blocking dielectric, and forming control gates on the blocking dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20120132985
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plurality of memory cells are provided on a semiconductor substrate. In each memory cell, a control gate electrode is provided on a charge accumulation layer with an inter-electrode insulation film interposed between the control gate electrode and the charge accumulation layer, an air gap is provided between the charge accumulation layers adjacent to each other in a word line direction, and an insulation film disposed below the inter-electrode insulation film is divided into an upper part and a lower part by the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Naoki KAI, Satoshi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8188536
    Abstract: A memory device including a substrate, a plurality of conductive layers, a composite dielectric layer and a plurality of gates are provided. Wherein, the conductive layers are disposed on the substrate. The composite dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate and covers the conductive layers. The composite dielectric layer includes a charge trapping layer. The gates are disposed on the composite dielectric layer and across the conductive layers. Wherein, the conductive layers can be used as local bit lines to reduce the resistance values and improve the performance of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Jye Liu, Tai-Liang Hsiung
  • Patent number: 8188518
    Abstract: A thin film transistor structure of a pixel is provided. In the present invention, a first metal layer serves as a gate electrode, and the gate electrode includes an extending gate electrode portion. A second metal layer includes a drain electrode partially and respectively overlapping the gate electrode and the gate electrode portion with the amorphous silicon layer interposed therebetween so as to form a first parasitic capacitor and a second parasitic capacitor. The total capacitance of the first parasitic capacitor and the second parasitic capacitor is invariable to withstand deviation caused by vibration of the machine in the photolithographic process, so that undesired effects in the liquid crystal display panel such as mura and flicker can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Century Display(ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Chung Liu
  • Publication number: 20120127795
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof and a method for operating a memory cell are provided. The non-volatile memory includes a substrate, first and second doped regions, a charged-trapping structure, first and second gates and an inter-gate insulation layer. The first and second doped regions are disposed in the substrate and extend along a first direction. The first and second doped regions are arranged alternately. The charged-trapping structure is disposed on the substrate. The first and second gates are disposed on the charged-trapping structure. Each first gate is located above one of the first doped regions. The second gates extend along a second direction and are located above the second doped regions. The inter-gate insulation layer is disposed between the first gates and the second gates. Adjacent first and second doped regions and the first gate, the second gate and the charged-trapping structure therebetween define a memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Guan-Wei Wu, I-Chen Yang, Yao-Wen Chang, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20120126306
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory cell includes a charge storage layer. A first air gap is provided between charge storage layers adjacent in a word line direction. A second air gap is provided between charge storage layers adjacent in a bit line direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Genki KAWAGUCHI, Fumitaka Arai, Satoshi Nagashima, Naoki Kai, Wataru Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Nitta
  • Publication number: 20120126309
    Abstract: A feature is formed in the NVM isolation region during the patterning and etching of an NVM device and a logic device such that the feature is of substantially equal height to the logic device and is well-defined so that it does not cause defect signals. A first conductive layer is formed over a substrate. The first conductive layer is patterned to expose at least a portion of the substrate in an NVM region and at least a portion of an isolation region. An NVM dielectric stack is formed over the first conductive layer, the exposed substrate, and the exposed isolation region, and a second conductive layer is formed over the NVM dielectric stack. The first and second conductive layers and the NVM dielectric stack are patterned to form a first gate and a second gate of an NVM cell in the NVM region and a feature over the isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: JANE A. YATER, Sung-Taeg Kang, Mehul D. Shroff
  • Patent number: 8183552
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having a first wiring layer which is provided on a first insulator, and which extends in a first direction, and a non-volatile memory cell which is provided in a pillar shape on the first wiring layer, and which includes a non-ohmic element and variable resistance element connected in series. The resistance value of the variable resistance element changes in accordance with a voltage or current applied thereto. A barrier layer is provided on the memory cell and is configured in an in-plane direction. A conductive layer is provided on the barrier layer and is configured in an in-plane direction. A second insulator is provided on the first insulator and covers side surfaces of the memory cell, the barrier layer, and the conductive layer. A second wiring layer is provided on the conductive layer and extends in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shingo Nakajima, Eiji Ito, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8183624
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a step including a first upper surface and a second upper surface higher than the first upper surface, a memory cell array formed on the first upper surface, and a peripheral circuit formed on the second upper surface and configured to supply an electrical signal to the memory cell array. The memory cell array includes a stacked structure having a plurality of first interconnection layers and a plurality of second interconnection layers respectively connected to the first interconnection layers. The first interconnection layers are stacked on the first upper surface, are separated from each other by insulating films, and extend in a first direction. The second interconnection layers extend upward and are separated from each other by insulating films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Mizukami, Kiyohito Nishihara