Capacitor Element In Single Crystal Semiconductor (e.g., Dram) Patents (Class 257/68)
  • Patent number: 7342272
    Abstract: A flash memory device where the floating gate of the flash memory is defined by a recessed access device. The use of a recessed access device results in a longer channel length with less loss of device density. The floating gate can also be elevated above the substrate a selected amount so as to achieve a desirable coupling between the substrate, the floating gate and the control gate incorporating the flash cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Abbott
  • Patent number: 7339191
    Abstract: Doped aluminum oxide layers having a porous aluminum oxide layer and methods of their fabrication. The porous aluminum oxide layer may be formed by evaporation physical vapor deposition techniques to facilitate formation of a high-purity aluminum oxide layer. A dopant material is embedded in the pores of the porous aluminum oxide layer and subsequently converted to a dielectric form. The degree of porosity of the porous aluminum oxide layer may be controlled during formation to facilitate control of the level of doping of the doped aluminum oxide layer. Such doped aluminum oxide layers are useful as gate dielectric layers, intergate dielectric layers and capacitor dielectric layers in various integrated circuit devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7335934
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to integrated circuit device including SOI logic transistors and SOI memory transistors, and method for fabricating such a device. In one embodiment, integrated circuit device includes memory portion having, for example, PD or FD SOI memory cells, and logic portion having, for example, high performance transistors, such as Fin-FET, multiple gate transistors, and/or non-high performance transistors (such as single gate transistors that do not possess the performance characteristics of the high performance transistors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Fazan
  • Patent number: 7332418
    Abstract: A memory cell which is formed on a substrate of a first conductivity type. A pillar of the first conductivity type extends vertically upward from the substrate. A source region of a second conductivity type is formed in the substrate extending adjacent to and away from a base of the pillar. A drain region of the second conductivity type is formed in an upper region of the pillar. A gate dielectric and conductor are arranged along a first side of the pillar. A capacitor dielectric and body capacitor plate are arranged along an opposite, second side of the pillar. A depletion region around the source region defines a floating body region within the pillar which forms both a body of an access transistor structure and a plate of a capacitor structure. The cell also provides gain with respect to charge stored within the floating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7326985
    Abstract: A memory cell and method of forming the same is provided. To make contact between a bit line and a select transistor of a dynamic memory unit on a semiconductor wafer, a contact hole is filled with a metal or a metal alloy. A liner layer may be introduced between the semiconductor substrate and the metal filling. The semiconductor substrate has a doped region in the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Staub, Jürgen Amon, Norbert Urbansky
  • Patent number: 7323736
    Abstract: A new method of provided for forming in one plane layers of semiconductor material having both high and low dielectric constants. Layers, having selected and preferably non-identical parameters of dielectric constants, are successively deposited interspersed with layers of etch stop material. The layers can be etched, creating openings there-through that can be filled with a layer of choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Pradeep Yelehanka, Sanford Chu, Chit Hwei Ng, Jia Zhen, Purakh Verma
  • Patent number: 7321145
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell with a charge storage structure is read by measuring current (such as band-to-band current) between the substrate region of the memory cell and at least one of the current carrying nodes of the memory cell. To enhance the operation of the nonvolatile memory cell, the band structure engineering is used to alter the band structure between a bulk part of the device and another part of the device supporting the measurement current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 7312490
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for a memory cell includes a substrate, a body extending vertically from the substrate, a first gate having a vertical member and a horizontal member and a second gate comprising a vertical member and a horizontal member. The first gate is disposed laterally from the body and the second gate is disposed laterally from the first gate. The horizontal member of the first gate overlaps the horizontal member of the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-Fei Zheng, Pranav Kalavade
  • Patent number: 7298002
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes cylindrical capacitors each including corresponding cylindrical electrodes. Each cylindrical electrode includes hemispherical silicon grains. The hemispherical silicon grains protruding from an upper region of the cylindrical electrode have a large size, and the hemispherical silicon grains protruding from a lower region of the cylindrical electrode have a small size or the lower region of the cylindrical electrode has no hemispherical silicon grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Elpida Memory Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kitamura, Yuki Togashi, Hiroyasu Kitajima, Noriaki Ikeda, Yoshitaka Nakamura, Eiichiro Kakehashi
  • Patent number: 7294856
    Abstract: To provide an electro-optical device comprising a thin film having a uniform thickness, which is formed by drying liquid droplets filled in a liquid droplet ejection region surrounded by a partition. An electro-optical device comprises partitions 22 for separating a plurality of regions formed on a substrate 10. Each of the partitions 22 has a lyophilic first partition 43 and a liquid-repellent second partition 44 which is formed on an upper surface portion of the first partition except for a circumferential portion surrounding the region of the first partition 43. The device also comprises a functional layer 45 which is formed on the region surrounded by the partition and includes at least a light emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ito, Ryoichi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 7282803
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a substrate. A capacitor and at least one semiconductor component are supported by a surface of the substrate. A substantially planar screen, oriented parallel to the surface of the substrate and made of metallic material, is placed between the capacitor and the semiconductor component. Preferably, the semiconductor component is placed in proximity to the surface of the substrate and several superposed layers of insulating material cover the surface of the substrate and the semiconductor component. The capacitor is then placed within at least one layer of insulating material above the semiconductor component, and the screen is placed within an intermediate layer of insulating material between the layer incorporating the capacitor and the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S. A.
    Inventors: Andréa Cathelin, Christophe Bernard, Philippe Delpech, Pierre Troadec, Laurent Salager, Christophe Garnier
  • Patent number: 7276733
    Abstract: A NAND memory array has a select line coupled to each of a plurality of NAND strings of memory cells of the memory array. The select line has a select gate at each intersection of one of the plurality of NAND strings and the select line. The select line further includes first and second conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer, and a contact that extends from a third conductive layer, disposed on the second conductive layer, to the first conductive layer. The contact is formed in a hole that passes through the second conductive layer and the dielectric layer and that terminates at the first conductive layer. The contact electrically connects the first and second conductive layers. The hole can have a slot shape so that the contact spans two or more NAND strings of the plurality of NAND strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Violette
  • Patent number: 7276753
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a dynamic random access memory cell is provided. A substrate having a patterned mask layer thereon and a deep trench therein is provided. The patterned mask layer exposes the deep trench. A deep trench capacitor is formed inside the deep trench. Thereafter, a trench is formed in the substrate on one side of the deep trench capacitor. The trench exposes a portion of the upper electrode of the deep trench capacitor and a portion of the substrate. After that, a semiconductor strip is formed in the trench. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the substrate to cover the exposed semiconductor strip and the substrate. A gate is formed over the gate dielectric layer such that the gate and the semiconductor strip crosses over each other, and the gate-covered portion of the semiconductor strip serves as a channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiao-Che Wu
  • Patent number: 7271413
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor constructions containing vertically-extending pillars, and methods for forming such constructions. The vertically-extending pillars can be incorporated into transistor devices, and can contain vertically-extending channel regions of the transistor devices. The transistor devices can be incorporated into integrated circuitry, and in some aspects are incorporated into memory constructions, such as, for example, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randal W. Chance, Gordon A. Haller, Sanh D. Tang, Steven D. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7268384
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming memory circuitry. In one implementation, a semiconductor substrate includes a pair of word lines having a bit node received therebetween. A bit node contact opening is formed within insulative material over the bit node. Sacrificial plugging material is formed within the bit node contact opening between the pair of word lines. Sacrificial plugging material is removed from the bit node contact opening between the pair of word lines, and it is replaced with conductive material that is in electrical connection with the bit node. Thereafter, the conductive material is formed into a bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal R. Parekh, Byron N. Burgess
  • Patent number: 7262452
    Abstract: In a method of forming a DRAM device having a capacitor and a DRAM device so formed, an interlayer dielectric having at least one layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interlayer dielectric layer and a predetermined portion of the semiconductor substrate are sequentially etched to form a storage node hole. A lower electrode is conformally formed in the storage node hole and on the interlayer dielectric layer. A planarization process is performed to remove a portion of the lower electrode layer that lies on the interlayer dielectric layer and to form a lower electrode in the storage node hole. A dielectric layer and an upper electrode layer are sequentially formed on the lower electrode. The upper electrode layer and the dielectric layer are sequentially patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Il Chae
  • Patent number: 7262464
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate with an insulating surface and a single crystal semiconductor layer, which is bonded to the insulating surface of the substrate. The device further includes a first insulating layer, which is provided between the insulating surface of the substrate and the single crystal semiconductor layer, and a second insulating layer, which has been deposited on the entire insulating surface of the substrate except an area in which the first insulating layer is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Takafuji, Takashi Itoga
  • Publication number: 20070181883
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a plurality of interconnect layers each including a plurality of interconnect lines. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric film (HDP film) formed by means of high density plasma-enhanced CVD and including an edge formed on the side surface of the topmost-layer interconnect lines, a silicon oxide film formed by modifying a SOG film on the HDP film between adjacent two of the topmost-layer interconnect lines in the element forming region, and a passivation film formed to cover the HDP film and the topmost-layer interconnect lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Masateru Ando
  • Patent number: 7250649
    Abstract: A capacitor of a memory device, and a method of fabricating the same, includes a lower electrode electrically coupled to a doping region of a transistor structure, the lower electrode having a metal electrode and a metal oxide electrode, a ferroelectric layer covering and extending laterally along the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-soo Park, Jung-hyun Lee, Choong-rae Cho, June-mo Koo, Suk-pil Kim, Sang-min Shin
  • Patent number: 7251192
    Abstract: Data not stored in the DRAM array of a SDRAM module is read from the SDRAM module in a synchronous data transfer. The data transfer, referred to as register read command/operation, resembles a read command/operation directed to data stored in the DRAM array in timing and operation. The register read command is distinguished by a unique encoding of the SDRAM control signals and bank address bits. In one embodiment, the register read command comprises the same control signal states as a MSR or EMSR command, with the bank address set to a unique value, such as 2?b10. The register read command may read only a single datum, or may utilize the address bus to address a plurality of data not stored in the DRAM array. The register read operation may be a burst read, and the burst length may be defined in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert Michael Walker
  • Patent number: 7247528
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit having thin film transistors using an SEG technique are provided. The methods include forming an inter-layer insulating layer on a single-crystalline semiconductor substrate. A single-crystalline semiconductor plug extends through the inter-layer insulating layer, and a single-crystalline epitaxial semiconductor pattern is in contact with the single-crystalline semiconductor plug on the inter-layer insulating layer. The single-crystalline epitaxial semiconductor pattern is at least partially planarized to form a semiconductor body layer on the inter-layer insulating layer, and the semiconductor body layer is patterned to form a semiconductor body. As a result, the semiconductor body includes at least a portion of the single-crystalline epitaxial semiconductor pattern. Thus, the semiconductor body has an excellent single-crystalline structure. Semiconductor integrated circuits fabricated using the methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Ho Kwak, Jae-Hoon Jang, Soon-Moon Jung, Won-Seok Cho, Hoon Lim, Sung-Jin Kim, Byung-Jun Hwang, Jong-Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 7244981
    Abstract: A plurality of select gates are formed over a substrate. In one embodiment, the select gates are formed vertically on the sidewalls of trenches. The substrate includes a plurality of diffusion regions that are each formed between a pair of planar select gates. In a vertical embodiment, the diffusion regions are formed at the bottom of the trenches and the tops of the mesas formed by the trenches. An enriched region is formed in the substrate adjacent to and substantially surrounding each diffusion region in the substrate. Each enriched region has a matching conductivity type with the substrate. A gate insulator stack is formed over the substrate and each of the plurality of select gates. A word line is formed over the gate insulator stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7232745
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure having a body capacitance plate, which is formed with a process that assures that the body capacitance plate is self-aligned to both the source line (SL) diffusion and the bitline diffusion is provided. Thus the amount of overlap between the SL and the bitline diffusions and the body capacitance plate is precisely controlled. More specifically, the present invention forms the structure of a 1T-capacitorless SOI body charge storage cell having sidewall capacitor plates using a process that assures that there is 1) minimal overlap between plate and source/drain diffusions, and 2) that the minimal overlap obtained in the present invention is precisely controlled and is not subject to alignment tolerances. The inventive cell results in larger signal margin, improved performance, smaller chip size, and reduced dynamic power dissipation relative to the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack A. Mandelman, Louis C. Hsu, Rajiv Vasant Joshi
  • Patent number: 7230876
    Abstract: Data not stored in the DRAM array of a SDRAM module is read from the SDRAM module in a synchronous data transfer. The data transfer, referred to as register read command/operation, resembles a read command/operation directed to data stored in the DRAM array in timing and operation. The register read command is distinguished by a unique encoding of the SDRAM control signals and bank address bits. In one embodiment, the register read command comprises the same control signal states as a MSR or EMSR command, with the bank address set to a unique value, such as 2'b10. The register read command may read only a single datum, or may utilize the address bus to address a plurality of data not stored in the DRAM array. The register read operation may be a burst read, and the burst length may be defined in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert Michael Walker
  • Patent number: 7230316
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a semiconductor device integrating various elements without using a semiconductor substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a layer to be separated including an inductor, a capacitor, a resistor element, a TFT element, an embedded wiring and the like, is formed over a substrate, separated from the substrate, and transferred onto a circuit board 100. An electrical conduction with a wiring pattern 114 provided in the circuit board 100 is made by a wire 112 or a solder 107, thereby forming a high frequency module or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Yumiko Ohno, Yuugo Goto, Hideaki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7227184
    Abstract: An active matrix organic electro luminescent display (ELD) device comprises a substrate, first and second active layers formed of polycrystalline silicon on the substrate, first source and drain regions and second source and drain regions, the first source and drain regions neighboring the first active layer and the second source and drain regions neighboring the second active layer, a gate insulating layer on the first and second active layers, first and second gate electrodes on the gate insulating layer, a first inter layer on the first and second gate electrodes, an anode electrode and a capacitor electrode on the first inter layer, a first passivation layer on the anode electrode and the capacitor electrode, a power line on the first passivation layer, first source and drain electrodes on the first passivation layer, the first source electrode being connected to the first source region and the first drain electrode being connected to the first drain region, second source and drain electrodes on the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Yong Park, Juhn Suk Yoo
  • Patent number: 7226845
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, Thomas M. Graettinger
  • Patent number: 7208813
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a plurality of capacitive memory elements disposed on a substrate. The substrate may comprise a processor, a memory device or other integrated circuit device. The capacitive memory elements may have a generally oblong shape and may be capacitive elements. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed in a slanted orientation. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed in a non-orthogonal orientation. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed so that an axis through one of the plurality of capacitive memory elements is not generally parallel with an edge of the substrate. The axis may not be generally perpendicular with an orthogonal edge of the substrate. The plurality of capacitive memory elements may be arranged in a first row and a second row so that an axis through one of the plurality of capacitive memory elements located in the first row does not form an axis of any capacitive memory element in the second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill Baggenstoss
  • Patent number: 7206215
    Abstract: A capacitor has a tantalum oxynitride film. One method for making the film comprises forming a bottom plate electrode and then forming a tantalum oxide film on the bottom plate electrode. Nitrogen is introduced to form a tantalum oxynitride film. A top plate electrode is formed on the tantalum oxynitride film. Embodiments include a method of operating an antifuse, comprising applying a voltage across electrodes of a capacitor having a tantalum oxynitride film and forming a hole in the tantalum oxynitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Jeffrey DeBoer, Husam N. Al-Shareef, Randhir P. S. Thakur, Dan Gealy
  • Patent number: 7205194
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a flash memory cell having a split gate structure. A sacrificial layer is formed on a floating gate layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. The sacrificial layer is etched to form an opening exposing a portion of the floating gate layer. A gate interlayer insulating layer pattern is formed inside the opening. After removing the sacrificial layer pattern and etching the floating gate layer (using the gate interlayer insulating layer pattern as an etch mask), a floating gate is formed under the gate interlayer insulating layer pattern. A control gate is formed overlapping a portion of the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Sun Lee, Jae-Min Yu, Don-Woo Lee, Jung-Hun Cho, Chul-Soon Kwon, Jung-Ho Moon, In-Gu Yoon, Jae-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7205633
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a plurality of capacitive memory elements disposed on a substrate. The substrate may comprise a processor, a memory device or other integrated circuit device. The capacitive memory elements may have a generally oblong shape and may be capacitive elements. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed in a slanted orientation. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed in a non-orthogonal orientation. The capacitive memory elements may be disposed so that an axis through one of the plurality of capacitive memory elements is not generally parallel with an edge of the substrate. The axis may not be generally perpendicular with an orthogonal edge of the substrate. The plurality of capacitive memory elements may be arranged in a first row and a second row so that an axis through one of the plurality of capacitive memory elements located in the first row does not form an axis of any capacitive memory element in the second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill Baggenstoss
  • Patent number: 7199415
    Abstract: Container structures for use in integrated circuits and methods of their manufacture. The container structures have a dielectric cap on the top of a conductive container to reduce the risk of container-to-container shorting by insulating against bridging of conductive debris across the tops of adjacent container structures. The container structures are adapted for use in memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej Singh Sandhu, Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 7190045
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is composed of: an interconnect made of a first conductive film and a second conductive film that are stacked in sequence from the interconnect underside on an insulating film formed on a substrate; and a capacitor composed of a lower capacitor electrode made of the first conductive film, a dielectric film formed on the lower capacitor electrode, and an upper capacitor electrode made of the second conductive film and formed on the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoko Egashira, Shin Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7176080
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming trenches in active areas respectively, the trenches having sidewalls and upper openings respectively, forming first conductive regions in the trenches so that the first conductive regions serve as electrodes of the trench capacitors, respectively, each first conductive region including first impurity of a predetermined conductive type, forming sidewall insulating films on the sidewalls located over the first conductive regions respectively, forming second conductive regions inside the sidewall insulating films respectively, removing the sidewall insulating film located above the second conductive regions respectively, doping regions of the substrate located under the gate electrodes with second impurity of a reverse conduction type relative to the first impurity in the second direction from the upper openings through portions of the trenches from which the sidewall insulating films have been removed respectively, and forming third conductive regi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Itaru Kawabata, Hirofumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7166861
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thin-film transistor that is formed by using a patterning method capable of forming a semiconductor channel layer in sub-micron order and a method for manufacturing thereof that provides a thin-film transistor with a larger area, and suitable for mass production. These objects are achieved by a thin-film transistor formed on a substrate 1 with a finely processed concavoconvex surface 2, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on adjacent convex portions of the concavoconvex surface 2, with a channel and a gate being formed on a concave area between the convex portions. A gate electrode 5, a gate insulating film 6 and a semiconductor channel layer 7 are laminated in this order on the concave area from the bottom surface of the concave portion toward the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Saito, Yudai Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7157738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitor element and its manufacturing method. The invention presents a capacitor element comprising a lower electrode, a dielectric film, and an upper electrode, and its manufacturing method, in which the surface of at least one layer of the lower electrode in a single layer structure or laminated structure, for example, the surface of the lower electrode contacting with the dielectric film, is flattened by processing the material itself which composes this surface. For example, it is flattened by filling the recesses at the crystal grain boundary of the surface with the material itself shaved from the surface. As a result, undulations of the surface of the lower electrode of the capacitor element are lessened, and the film thickness of the dielectric film is made uniform, and capacity drop and increase of leak current can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Sato, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7148510
    Abstract: A semiconductor display device with an interlayer insulating film in which surface levelness is ensured with a limited film formation time, heat treatment for removing moisture does not take long, and moisture in the interlayer insulating film is prevented from escaping into a film or electrode adjacent to the interlayer insulating film. A TFT is formed and then a nitrogen-containing inorganic insulating film that transmits less moisture compared to organic resin film is formed so as to cover the TFT. Next, organic resin including photosensitive acrylic resin is applied and an opening is formed by partially exposing the organic resin film to light. The organic resin film where the opening is formed, is then covered with a nitrogen-containing inorganic insulating film which transmits less moisture than organic resin film does.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Satoshi Murakami, Masahiko Hayakawa, Kiyoshi Kato, Mitsuaki Osame, Takashi Hirosue, Saishi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7132730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for epitaxy, especially for preparation of nitride semiconductor layers. Invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more than 1.0 ?m thick and its C-plane surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2, while its volume is sufficient to produce at least one further-processable non-polar A-plane or M-plane plate having a surface area at least 100 mm2. More generally, the present invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal which is characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium-containing nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium-containing nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more 1.0 ?m thick and its surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignees: Ammono Sp. z.o.o., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dwiliński, Roman Doradziński, Jerzy Garczyński, Leszek P. Sierzputowski, Yasuo Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7126179
    Abstract: A method of filling vias for a PCRAM cell with a metal is described. A PCRAM intermediate structure including a substrate, a first conductor, and an insulator through which a via extends has a metallic material formed within the via and on a surface of the insulator. The metallic material may be deposited on the surface and within the via. A hard mask of a flowable oxide is deposited over the metallic material in the via to protect the metallic material in the via, A subsequent dry sputter etch removes the metallic meterial from the surface of the insulator and a portion of the hard mask. After complete removal of the hard mask, a glass material is recessed over the metallic material in the via. Then, a layer of a metal-containing material is formed over the glass material. Finally, a second conductor is formed on the surface of the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Li, Jiutao Li
  • Patent number: 7112822
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer formed above a first region of a supporting substrate with a buried oxide layer disposed therebetween and a second semiconductor layer formed on a second region of the supporting substrate. An interface between the supporting substrate and the second semiconductor layer is placed in substantially the same depth position as the undersurface of the buried oxide layer or in a position deeper than the buried oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hajime Nagano, Shinichi Nitta, Hisato Oyamatsu
  • Patent number: 7105884
    Abstract: A method of forming memory circuitry having a memory array having a plurality of memory capacitors and having peripheral memory circuitry operatively configured to write to and read from the memory array, includes forming a dielectric well forming layer over a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the well forming layer is removed effective to form at least one well within the well forming layer. An array of memory cell capacitors is formed within the well. The peripheral memory circuitry is formed laterally outward of the well forming layer memory array well. In one implementation, memory circuitry includes a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of word lines is received over the semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer is received over the word lines and the substrate. The insulative layer has at least one well formed therein. The well has a base received over the word lines. The well peripherally defines an outline of a memory array area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Belford T. Coursey
  • Patent number: 7091546
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes semiconductor substrate, a trench capacitor formed in the semiconductor substrate, a cell transistor formed so as to the trench capacitor and having a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate and a source/drain region formed in a surface of the semiconductor substrate, an impurity diffusion region formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to be electrically connected between the trench capacitor and the source/drain region, and a Ge inclusion region formed between the impurity diffusion region and the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sato, Hirofumi Inoue, Masaru Kito
  • Patent number: 7087519
    Abstract: A method for forming a contact of a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer is formed on a conductive region, e.g., an active region. The first ILD layer is etched to form a first contact hole therein to expose the conductive region. The first contact hole is filled with a porous layer having a high etch selectivity with respect to the first ILD layer to form a porous plug therein. Next, a second ILD layer is formed overlying the porous plug. The second ILD layer is etched to form a second contact hole therein to expose the porous plug. The porous plug in the first contact hole is removed. The first and second contact holes are filled with a conductive material to form a contact plug. During this contact formation process, the active region or the conductive region of the semiconductor substrate can be protected with the porous plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Sook Park
  • Patent number: 7078275
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device manufacturing method which makes possible a thin film transistor which is little affected by crystal grain boundaries, even when the channel width of the thin film transistor is made larger than the crystal grains of the semiconductor material. To this end, a thin film transistor of this invention comprises a gate electrode 22, source region 24, drain region 25, and channel formation region 26. The silicon film used in forming the active region comprises a plurality of substantially single-crystal silicon crystal grains, and regions including crystal grain boundaries which exist in the longitudinal direction of the channel formation region 26 (the direction L in the drawings) are removed. By this means, crystal grain boundaries are prevented from being included in each channel formation region 26, and the effective channel width can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Hiroshima, Mitsutoshi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 7071507
    Abstract: A high-voltage stacked capacitor includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. Each capacitor includes a first plate comprising a first semiconductive body and a second plate comprising a floating electrode. The first and second semiconductive bodies are electrically isolated from each other. The floating electrode includes an intercapacitor node configured to self-adjust to a value less than a working voltage impressed on the stacked capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Diorio, Frederic J. Bernard
  • Patent number: 7061050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device such as a DPAM memory device is disclosed. A, Substrate (12) of semiconductor material is provided with energy band modifying means in the form of a box region (38) and is covered by an insulating layer (14). A semi-conductor layer (16) has source (18) and drain (20) regions formed therein to define bodies (22) of respective field effect transistors. The box region (38) is more heavily doped than the adjacent body (22), but less highly doped than the corresponding source (18) and drain (20), and modifies the valence and/or conduction band of the body (22) to increase the amount of electrical charge which can be stored in the body (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7034336
    Abstract: The channel region (11) and the source-drain regions (9, 10) are arranged vertically at a sidewall of a dielectric trench filling (4). On the opposite side, the semiconductor material is bounded by the gate dielectric (18) and the gate electrode (16), which is arranged in a cutout of the semiconductor material. A memory cell array comprises a multiplicity of vertically oriented strip-type semiconductor regions in which source-drain regions are implanted at the top and bottom and a channel region embedded in insulating material on all sides is present in between as a floating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG, Infineon Technologies Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Josef Willer
  • Patent number: 6998639
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a highly stable and reliable semiconductor, comprising: coating the surface of an amorphous silicon film with a solution containing a catalyst element capable of accelerating the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film, and heat treating the amorphous silicon film thereafter to crystallize the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtani, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hongyong Zhang
  • Patent number: 6982472
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate and a capacitor provided above the semiconductor substrate, the capacitor comprises a lower electrode containing metal, a dielectric film containing tantalum oxide or niobium oxide, an upper electrode containing metal, and at least one of a lower barrier layer which is provided between the lower electrode and the dielectric film and an upper barrier layer which is provided between the upper electrode and the dielectric film, the lower barrier layer and the upper barrier layer being insulating layers which contain silicon and oxygen and containing the oxygen at least in a portion on a side contacting the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiro Kiyotoshi
  • Patent number: 6974987
    Abstract: A memory cell transistor and a trench capacitor are provided in a memory region, and both transistors of CMOS are provided in a logic circuit region. There are provided a bit line contact 31 and a bit line 32 extending on an inter-level dielectric 30. In a memory cell transistor, a source diffusion layer 18 is covered with two dielectric sidewalls 25a and 25b in the memory cell transistor so that no silicide layer is formed on the source diffusion layer 18. A plate contact 31 is provided to pass through the inter-level dielectric 30 and connect a shield line 33 to a plate electrode 16b. The shield line 33 is arranged in the same interconnect layer as the bit line 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ogawa, Isao Miyanaga, Koji Eriguchi, Takayuki Yamada, Kazuichiro Itonaga, Yoshihiro Mori