In Integrated Circuit Structure Patents (Class 257/334)
  • Patent number: 9768177
    Abstract: A method of forming conductive material of a buried transistor gate line includes adhering a precursor comprising tungsten and chlorine to material within a substrate trench. The precursor is reduced with hydrogen to form elemental-form tungsten material over the material within the substrate trench from the precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Nobuto
  • Patent number: 9755058
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a vertical power device, such as a superjunction MOSFET, an IGBT, a diode, and the like, and a surface device that comprises one or more lateral devices that are electrically active along a top surface of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: D3 Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Harrington, III, Zhijun Qu
  • Patent number: 9735328
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a light emitting device package including a substrate, a light emitting structure disposed under the substrate and including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer, first and second electrodes connected to the first and second conductive semiconductor layers, a first pad connected to the first electrodes in first-first through-holes penetrating the second conductive semiconductor layer and the active layer, and a first insulation layer disposed between the first pad and the second conductive semiconductor layer and between the first pad and the active layer to cover the first electrodes in a first-second through-hole, and a second pad connected to the second electrode through a second through-hole penetrating the first insulation layer and electrically spaced apart from the first pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Youl Lee, Kwang Ki Choi
  • Patent number: 9722035
    Abstract: A termination structure of a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an active area and a termination area adjacent to the active area, in which the termination area has the termination structure. The termination structure includes a substrate, an epitaxy layer, a dielectric layer, a conductive material layer and a conductive layer. The epitaxy layer is disposed on the substrate and has a voltage-sustaining region. The voltage-sustaining region has trenches parallel to each other. The dielectric layer is disposed in the trenches and on a portion of the epitaxy layer. The conductive material layer is disposed on the dielectric layer in the trenches. The conductive layer covers the trenches, and is in contact with the conductive material layer and a portion of the epitaxy layer, and is electrically connected between the active area and the termination area. A method for manufacturing the termination structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SUPER GROUP SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Ying Yeh, Yuan-Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 9716187
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a trench Schottky rectifier includes a termination trench and active trenches provided in a semiconductor layer. The active trenches are configured to be at a shallower depth than the termination trench to provide a trench depth difference. The selected trench depth difference in combination with one or more of the dopant concentration of the semiconductor layer, the thickness of the semiconductor layer, active trench width to termination trench width, and/or dopant profile of the semiconductor layer provide a semiconductor device having improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Tanvir Quddus, Mihir Mudholkar, Michael Thomason
  • Patent number: 9716101
    Abstract: Techniques for forming 3D memory arrays are disclosed. Memory openings are filled with a sacrificial material, such as silicon or nitride. Afterwards, a replacement technique is used to remove nitride from an ONON stack and replace it with a conductive material such as tungsten. Afterwards, memory cell films are formed in the memory openings. The conductive material serves as control gates of the memory cells. The control gate will not suffer from corner rounding. ONON shrinkage is avoided, which will prevent control gate shrinkage. Block oxide between the charge storage region and control gate may be deposited after control gate replacement, so the uniformity is good. Block oxide may be deposited after control gate replacement, so TiN adjacent to control gates can be thicker to prevent fluorine attacking the insulator between adjacent control gates. Therefore, control gate to control gate shorting is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Hiro Kinoshita, Daxin Mao, Johann Alsmeier, Wenguang Shi, Yingda Dong, Henry Chien, Kensuke Yamaguchi, Xiaolong Hu
  • Patent number: 9691759
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer, a source including a source pad and a source wiring, a gate including a gate pad and a gate wiring, first unit cells disposed in a first element region, and second unit cells disposed in a second element region. In a plan view, the first and second element regions are adjacent to each other with the gate wiring between the first and second element regions. A first electrode including the gate electrode of each first unit cell is disposed in the first element region and electrically connected to the gate. A second electrode including the gate electrode of each second unit cell is disposed in the second element region and not electrically connected to the gate. The first and second electrodes are separated below the gate wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Uchida, Nobuyuki Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9627274
    Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a first sacrificial layer comprising amorphous silicon or polysilicon material around a fin in a lateral space between a plurality of laterally spaced apart gate structures that are positioned around the fin, performing a first selective etching process to remove a first sacrificial layer selectively relative to surrounding material so as to expose the fin in the lateral space, forming an epi material on the exposed portion of the fin, and forming a second layer of a sacrificial material above the epi material. The method also includes selectively removing the second layer of sacrificial material relative to at least the first layer of material to thereby define a source/drain contact opening that exposes the epi material and forming a self-aligned trench conductive source/drain contact structure that is conductively coupled to the epi material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Haifeng Sheng, Xintuo Dai, Jinping Liu, Huang Liu
  • Patent number: 9620636
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes field electrode structures regularly arranged in lines in a cell area and forming a first portion of a regular pattern. Termination structures are formed in an inner edge area surrounding the cell area, wherein at least portions of the termination structures form a second portion of the regular pattern. Cell mesas separate neighboring ones of the field electrode structures from each other in the cell area and include first portions of a drift zone, wherein a voltage applied to a gate electrode controls a current flow through the cell mesas. At least one doped region forms a homojunction with the drift zone in the inner edge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, Martin Poelzl
  • Patent number: 9608081
    Abstract: Embodiments of a simple and cost-free multi-time programmable (MTP) structure for non-volatile memory cells are presented. The memory cell includes a substrate, a first transistor having a select gate and a second transistor having a floating gate. The select and floating gates are adjacent to one another and disposed over a transistor well. The transistors include first and second S/D regions disposed adjacent to the sides of the gates. A control gate is disposed over a control well. The control gate is coupled to the floating gate and includes a control capacitor. An erase terminal is decoupled from the control capacitor and transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyue Seng Tan, Yuan Sun
  • Patent number: 9601590
    Abstract: A transistor includes: a source region and a drain region that are formed in a substrate to be spaced apart from each other; a trench formed in the substrate between the source region and the drain region; and a buried gate electrode inside the trench, wherein the buried gate electrode includes: a lower buried portion which includes a high work-function barrier layer including an aluminum-containing titanium nitride, and a first low-resistivity layer disposed over the high work-function barrier layer; and an upper buried portion which includes a low work-function barrier layer disposed over the lower buried portion and overlapping with the source region and the drain region, and a second low-resistivity layer disposed over the low work-function barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-Kyun Kang
  • Patent number: 9590095
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes field electrode structures regularly arranged in lines in a cell area and forming a first portion of a regular pattern. Termination structures are formed in an inner edge area surrounding the cell area, wherein at least portions of the termination structures form a second portion of the regular pattern. Cell mesas separate neighboring ones of the field electrode structures from each other in the cell area and include first portions of a drift zone, wherein a voltage applied to a gate electrode controls a current flow through the cell mesas. At least one doped region forms a homojunction with the drift zone in the inner edge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, Martin Poelzl
  • Patent number: 9576841
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer including an active region in which a transistor having impurity regions is formed and a marginal region surrounding the active region, a second-conductivity-type channel layer formed between the active region and the marginal region and forming a front surface of the semiconductor layer, at least one gate trench formed in the active region to extend from the front surface of the semiconductor layer through the channel layer, a gate insulation film formed on an inner surface of the gate trench, a gate electrode formed inside the gate insulation film in the gate trench, and at least one isolation trench arranged between the active region and the marginal region to surround the active region and extending from the front surface of the semiconductor layer through the channel layer, the isolation trench having a depth equal to that of the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshimochi
  • Patent number: 9570404
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device comprises a plurality of power transistor cells each having a trenched gate disposed in a gate trench wherein the trenched gate comprising a shielding bottom electrode disposed in a bottom portion of the gate trench electrically insulated from a top gate electrode disposed in a top portion of the gate trench by an inter-electrode insulation layer. At least one of the transistor cells includes the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a source-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a source electrode of the semiconductor power device and at least one of the transistor cells having the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a gate-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a gate metal of the semiconductor power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Ji Pang, Daniel Ng, Anup Bhalla, Xiaobin Wang
  • Patent number: 9559201
    Abstract: Vertical memory devices comprise vertical transistors in an array region and digit lines extending in a first direction and comprising a source region or a drain region of at least some of the vertical transistors. The vertical memory devices further include word lines extending in a second direction along sidewalls of the vertical transistors and along sidewalls of columns of an oxide material in a word line end region. The wordlines extend closer to an upper surface of the vertical memory device on the sidewalls of the oxide material than on the sidewalls of the vertical transistors. Memory arrays comprising vertical transistors in an array region, digit line, and word lines are disclosed, as are memory devices comprising transistors in an array region, digit lines, and word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shyam Surthi
  • Patent number: 9508798
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, an insulating section, and a semiconductor section. The second semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. A carrier concentration of the first conductivity type of the second semiconductor region is lower than a carrier concentration of the first conductivity type of the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region is provided on the second semiconductor region. The insulating section is provided around the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. The insulating section is in contact with the second semiconductor region. The semiconductor section is provided around the insulating section. The semiconductor section is not in contact with the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tatsuo Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9496386
    Abstract: A semiconductor field-effect device is disclosed that utilizes an octagonal or inverse-octagonal deep trench super-junction in combination with an octagonal or inverse-octagonal gate trench. The field-effect device achieves improved packing density, improved current density, and improved on resistance, while at the same time maintaining compatibility with the multiple-of-45°-angles of native photomask processing and having well characterized (010), (100) and (110) (and their equivalent) silicon sidewall surfaces for selective epitaxial refill and gate oxidation, resulting in improved scalability. By varying the relative length of each sidewall surface, devices with differing threshold voltages can be achieved without additional processing steps. Mixing trenches with varying sidewall lengths also allows for stress balancing during selective epitaxial refill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: D3 Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Harrington, III, Robert Kuo-Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 9490178
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor substrate having a first and a second voltage device portion, each including a first and a second conductive type MOS region, forming a first gate insulating layer on the first and the second voltage device portion, removing the first gate insulating layer from the first conductive type MOS region of the first voltage device portion to expose a part of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first semiconductor layer on the first conductive type MOS region of the first voltage device portion, and removing the first gate insulating layer from the second conductive type MOS region of the first voltage device portion to expose a part of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Joon-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9484410
    Abstract: A semiconductor component may include a semiconductor layer which has a front side and a back side, a first terminal electrode on the front side, a second terminal electrode on the back side, a first dopant region of a first conduction type on the front side, which is electrically connected to one of the terminal electrodes, a second dopant region of a second conduction type in the semiconductor layer, which is electrically connected to the other terminal electrode, a pn junction being formed between the first and second dopant regions, a dielectric layer on the back side between the semiconductor layer and the second terminal electrode, and the dielectric layer having an opening through which an electrical connection between the second terminal electrode and the first or second dopant region is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Oliver Haeberlen, Franz Hirler, Maximilian Roesch
  • Patent number: 9472569
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first source layer, a first insulating layer located over the first source layer, and a first stacked structure located over the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include first channel layers passing through the first stacked structure and the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include a second source layer including a first region interposed between the first source layer and the first insulating layer and a second region interposed between the first channel layers and the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Ji Yeon Baek
  • Patent number: 9431496
    Abstract: A transistor includes: a source region and a drain region that are formed in a substrate to be spaced apart from each other; a trench formed in the substrate between the source region and the drain region; and a buried gate electrode inside the trench, wherein the buried gate electrode includes: a lower buried portion which includes a high work-function barrier layer including an aluminum-containing titanium nitride, and a first low-resistivity layer disposed over the high work-function barrier layer; and an upper buried portion which includes a low work-function barrier layer disposed over the lower buried portion and overlapping with the source region and the drain region, and a second low-resistivity layer disposed over the low work-function barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-Kyun Kang
  • Patent number: 9425210
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first source layer, a first insulating layer located over the first source layer, and a first stacked structure located over the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include first channel layers passing through the first stacked structure and the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include a second source layer including a first region interposed between the first source layer and the first insulating layer and second regions interposed between the first channel layers and the first insulating layer, wherein the second regions of the second source layer directly contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Ji Yeon Baek
  • Patent number: 9419123
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a field effect power electronic device, an epi layer is formed on a substrate defined by a device isolation area and a device operation area. A mask pattern is formed which covers the epi layer in the device operation area and has openings positioned at a predetermined distance along a first direction. An inside of the epi layer having the mask pattern formed thereon is formed as an active area, and a non-active area is formed by implanting ions into an inside of the epi layer having the mask pattern not formed thereon. The mask pattern is removed. Source and drain electrodes are formed, in a second direction, on the epi layer in the device operation area with the non-active area interposed therebetween. A gate electrode is formed on the epi layer in the device operation area between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Jong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 9397233
    Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a high voltage deep trench capacitor structure (10) that is integrated in an integrated circuit, alone or in alignment with a fringe capacitor (5). The deep trench capacitor structure is constructed from a first capacitor plate (4) that is formed from a doped n-type SOI semiconductor layer (e.g., 4a-c). The second capacitor plate (3) is formed from a doped p-type polysilicon layer (3a) that is tied to the underlying substrate (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: North Star Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhu, Vishnu Khemka, Amitava Bose, Todd C. Roggenbauer
  • Patent number: 9373783
    Abstract: A technique relates magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM). A dielectric layer is disposed on a transistor, and the transistor is formed in a uniform crystalline substrate. A hole is formed through the dielectric layer to reach the transistor. A polycrystalline material is disposed in the hole by using selective epitaxial growth (SEG), and the polycrystalline material is annealed to create an epitaxial stud. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is disposed on the epitaxial stud (SEG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Janusz J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 9368408
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source zone of a first conductivity type formed in a first electrode fin that extends from a first surface into a semiconductor portion. A drain region of the first conductivity type is formed in a second electrode fin that extends from the first surface into the semiconductor portion. A channel/body zone is formed in a transistor fin that extends between the first and second electrode fins at a distance to the first surface. The first and second electrode fins extend along a first lateral direction. A width of first gate sections, which are arranged on opposing sides of the transistor fin, along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction is greater than a distance between the first and second electrode fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Tegen, Marko Lemke, Rolf Weis
  • Patent number: 9362352
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer including an active region in which a transistor having impurity regions is formed and a marginal region surrounding the active region, a second-conductivity-type channel layer formed between the active region and the marginal region and forming a front surface of the semiconductor layer, at least one gate trench formed in the active region to extend from the front surface of the semiconductor layer through the channel layer, a gate insulation film formed on an inner surface of the gate trench, a gate electrode formed inside the gate insulation film in the gate trench, and at least one isolation trench arranged between the active region and the marginal region to surround the active region and extending from the front surface of the semiconductor layer through the channel layer, the isolation trench having a depth equal to that of the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshimochi
  • Patent number: 9343528
    Abstract: An electronic device can include an electronic component and a termination region adjacent to the electronic component region. In an embodiment, the termination region can include an insulating region that extends a depth into a semiconductor layer, wherein the depth is less than 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the termination region can include a first insulating region that extends a first depth into the semiconductor layer, and a second insulating region that extends a second depth into the semiconductor layer, wherein the second depth is less than the first depth. In another aspect, a process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a semiconductor layer to define a trench within termination region while another trench is being formed for an electronic component within an electronic component region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jaume Roig Guitart, Zia Hossain, Peter Moens, Gordon M. Grivna
  • Patent number: 9337256
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a VDMOSFET (Vertical Double-diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) and a planar gate MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor), including forming a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type by epitaxy, forming a body region recess for forming a body region of the VDMOSFET on the semiconductor layer, and embedding a semiconductor material of a second conductivity type in the body region recess by epitaxy or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Izumi
  • Patent number: 9324858
    Abstract: In a trench-gated MIS device contact is made to the gate within the trench, thereby eliminating the need to have the gate material, typically polysilicon, extend outside of the trench. This avoids the problem of stress at the upper corners of the trench. Contact between the gate metal and the polysilicon is normally made in a gate metal region that is outside the active region of the device. Various configurations for making the contact between the gate metal and the polysilicon are described, including embodiments wherein the trench is widened in the area of contact. Since the polysilicon is etched back below the top surface of the silicon throughout the device, there is normally no need for a polysilicon mask, thereby saving fabrication costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Vishay-Siliconix
    Inventors: Anup Bhalla, Dorman Pitzer, Jacek Korec, Xiaorong Shi, Sik Lui
  • Patent number: 9324862
    Abstract: To prevent a current leak in an impurity region surrounding a transistor, in a region where a portion, of a second conductivity type region, extending from a first circuit region side toward a second circuit region side and an element separation film overlap each other in plan view, a field plate and conductive films are provided alternately from the first circuit region side toward the second circuit region side in plan view. Further, in this region, there is a decrease in the potential of the field plate and the potentials of the conductive films from the first circuit region toward the second circuit region. Further, at least one of the conductive films has a potential lower than the potential of the field plate adjacent to the conductive film on the second circuit region side in plan view. Further, this conductive film covers at least a part of the second conductivity type region without space in the extension direction of the second conductivity type region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kaya, Yasushi Nakahara, Ryo Kanda, Tetsu Toda
  • Patent number: 9318493
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory arrays. The memory arrays may have digit lines under vertically-oriented transistors, with the digit lines interconnecting transistors along columns of the array. Each individual transistor may be directly over only a single digit line, with the single digit line being entirely composed of one or more metal-containing materials. The digit lines can be over a deck, and electrically insulative regions can be directly between the digit lines and the deck. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. A plurality of linear segments of silicon-containing material may be formed to extend upwardly from a base of the silicon-containing material. The base may be etched to form silicon-containing footings under the linear segments, and the footings may be converted into metal silicide. The linear segments may be patterned into a plurality of vertically-oriented transistor pedestals that extend upwardly from the metal silicide footings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lars P. Heineck, Shyam Surthi, Jaydip Guha
  • Patent number: 9306022
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a body including a first junction region; a pillar positioned over the body, and including a vertical channel region and a second junction region over the vertical channel region; a gate trench exposing side surfaces of the pillar; a gate dielectric layer covering the gate trench; and a gate electrode embedded in the gate trench, with the gate dielectric layer interposed therebetween. The gate electrode includes a first work function liner overlapping with the vertical channel region, and including an aluminum-containing metal nitride; a second work function liner overlapping with the second junction region, and including a silicon-containing non-metal material; and an air gap positioned between the second work function liner and the second junction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Kyung Oh
  • Patent number: 9306056
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (e.g., a flip chip) includes a substrate layer that is separated from a drain contact by an intervening layer. Trench-like feed-through elements that pass through the intervening layer are used to electrically connect the drain contact and the substrate layer when the device is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Vishay-Siliconix
    Inventors: Deva Pattanayak, King Owyang, Mohammed Kasem, Kyle Terrill, Reuven Katraro, Kuo-In Chen, Calvin Choi, Qufei Chen, Ronald Wong, Kam Hong Lui, Robert Xu
  • Patent number: 9306062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a body layer disposed in a semiconductor substrate, cell regions arranged around a surface layer part of the body layer, and trenches arranged in a grid pattern for separating the cell regions from each other. A gate insulating film covers inner walls of the first trenches and an inner wall of the second trench, and a gate electrode is filled in the first trenches and the second trench covered by the gate insulating film. A cell circumferential region is disposed to surround an outer side of the second trench. An interlayer insulating film is disposed on the cell regions, the first trenches, and the second trench. A gate contact hole is disposed in the interlayer insulating film at an intersection of the first trenches arranged in the grid pattern. A gate wiring is connected to the gate electrode via the gate contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Naoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9281416
    Abstract: A Schottky diode includes first and second trenches formed in a semiconductor layer where the first and second trenches are lined with a thin dielectric layer and filled partially with a trench conductor layer with the remaining portion being filled with a first dielectric layer. Well regions are formed spaced-apart in a top portion of the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches. A Schottky metal layer is formed on a top surface of the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches. The Schottky diode is formed with the Schottky metal layer as the anode and the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches as the cathode. The trench conductor layer in the first and second trenches is electrically connected to the anode of the Schottky diode. In one embodiment, the Schottky diode is formed integrated with a trench field effect transistor on the same semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Yi Su, Jongoh Kim, Hong Chang, Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel S. Ng
  • Patent number: 9281368
    Abstract: A plurality of gate trenches is formed into a semiconductor substrate in an active cell region. One or more other trenches are formed in a different region. Each gate trench has a first conductive material in lower portions and a second conductive material in upper portions. In the gate trenches, a first insulating layer separates the first conductive material from the substrate, a second insulating layer separates the second conductive material from the substrate and a third insulating material separates the first and second conductive materials. The other trenches contain part of the first conductive material in a half-U shape in lower portions and part of the second conductive material in upper portions. In the other trenches, the third insulating layer separates the first and second conductive materials. The first insulating layer is thicker than the third insulating layer, and the third insulating layer is thicker than the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Lingpeng Guan, Hongyong Xue, Yiming Gu, Yang Xiang, Terence Huang, Sekar Ramamoorthy, Wenjun Li, Hong Chang, Madhur Bobde, Paul Thorup, Hamza Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 9281196
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Ziwei Fang, Chii-Horng Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chao-Cheng Chen, Syun-Ming Jang
  • Patent number: 9252264
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power MOSFETs with self-aligned source contacts and methods for making such devices. The source contacts are self-aligned with spacers and the active devices may have a two-step gate oxide. A lower portion may have a thickness that is larger than the thickness of an upper portion of the gate oxide. The MOSFETS also may include a depletable shield in a lower portion of the substrate. The depletable shield may be configured such that during a high drain bias the shield substantially depletes. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Madhur Bobde, Hamza Yilmaz, Sik Lui, Daniel Ng
  • Patent number: 9230851
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming at least one trench from a top side of a semiconductor layer, wherein the trench is lined with a trench dielectric liner and filled by a first polysilicon layer. The surface of the trench dielectric liner is etched, wherein dips in the trench dielectric liner are formed relative to a top surface of the first polysilicon layer which results in forming a protrusion including the first polysilicon layer. The first polysilicon layer is etched to remove at least a portion of the protrusion. A second dielectric layer is formed over at least the trench after etching the first polysilicon layer. A second polysilicon layer is deposited. The second polysilicon layer is etched to remove it over the trench and provide a patterned second polysilicon layer on the top side of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Simon John Molloy, Christopher Boguslaw Kocon, John Manning Savidge Neilson, Hong Yang, Seetharaman Sridhar, Hideaki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 9224752
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first source layer, a first insulating layer located over the first source layer, and a first stacked structure located over the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include first channel layers passing through the first stacked structure and the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include a second source layer including a first region interposed between the first source layer and the first insulating layer and a second region interposed between the first channel layers and the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Ji Yeon Baek
  • Patent number: 9202866
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided herein. A semiconductor device includes a conductor concentrically surrounding an insulator, and the insulator concentrically surrounding a column. The conductor, the insulator and the conductor are alternately configured to be a transistor, a resistor, or a capacitor. The column also functions as a via to send signals from a first layer to a second layer of the semiconductor device. The combination of via and at least one of a transistor, a capacitor, or a resistor in a semiconductor device decreases an area penalty as compared to a semiconductor device that has vias formed separately from at least one of a transistor, a capacitor, or resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Luo, Hsiao-Tsung Yen
  • Patent number: 9190260
    Abstract: A method of forming a self-aligned MTJ without using a photolithography mask and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a first electrode over a metal layer, the metal layer recessed in a low-k dielectric layer; forming a MTJ layer over the first electrode; forming a second electrode over the MTJ layer; removing portions of the second electrode, the MTJ layer, and the first electrode down to the low-k dielectric layer; forming a silicon nitride-based layer over the second electrode and the low-k dielectric layer; and planarizing the silicon nitride-based layer down to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Xunyuan Zhang, Ruilong Xie, Xiuyu Cai, Seowoo Nam, Hyun-Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 9171921
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a trench MOSFET and a method for fabricating the same. The method comprises: providing a substrate with an epitaxy layer; forming a trench in the epitaxy layer; forming a first insulating layer, a first gate, a second insulating layer, and a second gate successively in the trench by deposition and etching; forming a well and a source region at both sides of the trench by ion implantation, and forming a trench-type contact and a metal plug. By forming the first gate and the second gate which are separated from each other, the first insulating layer between a lower portion of the first gate and the epitaxy layer has a thickness larger than that of the second insulating layer between the second gate and the well and the source region. The two separate gates are connected with each other by the metal plug. The resultant MOSFET has an increased breakdown voltage and stable performance while its manufacturer cost is lowered because the manufacturer process is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.
    Inventor: Liang Tong
  • Patent number: 9171621
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory and a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory are disclosed. A nonvolatile memory according to an exemplary embodiment may include a deep well formed on a substrate, a first well formed within the deep well, a second well formed separately from the first well within the deep well, a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) formed on the first well, and a second MOSFET formed on the second well. According to a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory according to an exemplary embodiment, a well region of a control MOSFET of a memory cell may be shared with a control MOSFET of an adjacent memory cell, or a well region of a tunneling MOSFET of a memory cell may be shared with a tunneling MOSFET of an adjacent memory cell, thereby reducing an area of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kun Sik Park, Kyu Ha Baek
  • Patent number: 9147641
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, the semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface; a plurality of conductive layers extending in a direction from the first surface side toward the second surface side of the semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor region of a second conductivity type surrounding part of each of the plurality of conductive layers on the second surface side of the semiconductor layer, a portion other than a front surface of the first semiconductor region being surrounded by the semiconductor layer; and an insulating film provided between each of the plurality of conductive layers and the semiconductor layer and between each of the plurality of conductive layers and the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norihisa Arai, Tsutomu Takahashi, Kazuo Hatakeyama, Kazuki Uchino
  • Patent number: 9136370
    Abstract: A trench formed in a body layer and epitaxial layer of a substrate is lined with a dielectric layer. A shield electrode formed within a lower portion of the trench is insulated by the dielectric layer. A gate electrode formed in the trench above the shield electrode is insulated from the shield electrode by another dielectric layer. One or more source regions formed within the body layer is adjacent a sidewall of the trench. A source pad formed above the body layer is electrically connected to the source regions and insulated from the gate electrode and shield electrode. The source pad provides an external contact to the source region. A gate pad provides an external contact to the gate electrode. A shield electrode pad provides an external contact to the shield electrode. A resistive element is electrically connected between the shield electrode pad and a source lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Sik Lui, Yi Su, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Anup Bhalla
  • Patent number: 9123548
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer having a first region with a first device and a second region with a second device; a device isolation pattern provided in the first semiconductor layer and electrically separating the first device and the second device from each other; a drain provided on a lower surface of the first region of the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer provided on a lower surface of the second region of the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jin-Gun Koo, Jong Il Won, Hyun-cheol Bae, Sang Gi Kim, Yil Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 9117528
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a smaller area. That is, in a row selection decoder including MOS transistors, which selectively connect a plurality of selection signal lines to row selection lines of NAND flash memories having an SGT structure, the MOS transistors are formed on a planar silicon layer that is formed on a substrate, and each have a structure such that a drain, a gate, and a source are disposed in the vertical direction and the gate surrounds a silicon pillar. The planar silicon layer is formed of a first activation region of a first conductivity type and a second activation region of a second conductivity type, and the first and second activation regions are connected with each other via a silicide layer formed on the surface of the planar silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Masamichi Asano
  • Patent number: 9099554
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device include: a trench disposed within a substrate, the trench comprising an upper trench part that is wider than a lower trench part in width; a gate disposed in the trench; an interlayer insulating layer pattern disposed above the gate in the trench; a source region disposed within the substrate and contacting a sidewall of the upper trench part; a body region disposed below the source region in the substrate; and a contact trench disposed above the body region and filled with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: SooChang Kang, YoungJae Kim