Making Electrode Structure Comprising Conductor-insulator-conuctor-insulator-semiconductor, E.g., Gate Stack For Non-volatile Memory (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.209)
  • Patent number: 12114499
    Abstract: A memory device stores data in non-volatile memory. The memory device includes a non-volatile memory array. The memory array includes tiers for accessing data stored in blocks of the memory array, including a block having a left block portion and a right block portion. A first staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a bottom portion of the first staircase includes steps corresponding to first tiers of the left block portion. A second staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a top portion of the second staircase includes steps corresponding to second tiers of the right block portion. The steps of the first staircase and the steps of the second staircase descend in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Lodestar Licensing Group LLC
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 12094984
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell. The NVM cell includes a semiconductor wire disposed over an insulating layer disposed on a substrate. The NVM cell includes a select transistor and a control transistor. The select transistor includes a gate dielectric layer disposed around the semiconductor wire and a select gate electrode disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The control transistor includes a stacked dielectric layer disposed around the semiconductor wire and a control gate electrode disposed on the stacked dielectric layer. The stacked dielectric layer includes a charge trapping layer. The select gate electrode is disposed adjacent to the control gate electrode with the stacked dielectric layer interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Cheng-Bo Shu, Yun-Chi Wu, Chung-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 11955340
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a stack in which first material layers and second material layers are alternately stacked, forming a channel structure passing through the stack, forming openings by removing the first material layers, forming an amorphous blocking layer in the openings, and performing a first heat treatment process to supply deuterium through the openings and substitute hydrogen in the channel structure with the deuterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Hee Han, Sung Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 11825650
    Abstract: A single poly non-volatile memory device is provided. The single poly non-volatile memory device is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and includes a sensing transistor, a selection transistor, and a capacitor, wherein a thickness of a selection gate insulating film is formed to be thicker than a thickness of a sensing gate insulating film, wherein a thickness of a control gate insulating film of the capacitor is formed to be the same, or greater than, a thickness of the sensing gate insulating film, and wherein the sensing gate of the sensing transistor and the control gate of the capacitor are physically and electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KEY FOUNDRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su Jin Kim, Min Kuck Cho, Jung Hwan Lee, In Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 11756832
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a high-k gate dielectric layer over and along sidewalls of a semiconductor fin. The method further includes depositing an n-type work function metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric layer and performing a passivation treatment on the high-k gate dielectric layer through the n-type work function metal layer. The passivation treatment comprises a remote plasma process. The method further includes depositing a fill metal over the n-type work function metal layer to form a metal gate stack over the high-k gate dielectric layer. The metal gate stack comprising the n-type work function metal layer and the fill metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Pei Ying Lai, Chia-Wei Hsu, Cheng-Hao Hou, Xiong-Fei Yu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11581445
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes a graphene layer, a first electrode and a second electrode that are connected to the graphene layer, and an enhancement layer. The enhancement layer is disposed below the graphene layer to enhance the intensity of an optical electric field by surface plasmon resonance. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged parallel to a first direction. The intensity of the optical electric field enhanced by the enhancement layer is greater on a first electrode side than on a second electrode side with respect to a centerline in the first direction of the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenjiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11411085
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor structure comprise forming an opening through a stack of alternating tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials, and laterally removing a portion of each of the tier control gate materials to form control gate recesses. A charge blocking material comprising a charge trapping portion is formed on exposed surfaces of the tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials in the opening. The control gate recesses are filled with a charge storage material. The method further comprises removing the charge trapping portion of the charge blocking material disposed horizontally between the charge storage material and an adjacent tier dielectric material to produce air gaps between the charge storage material and the adjacent tier dielectric material. The air gaps may be substantially filled with dielectric material or conductive material. Also disclosed are semiconductor structures obtained from such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10879251
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a first isolation feature, and a plurality of memory cells. The substrate has a cell region, a peripheral region, and a transition region between the cell region and the peripheral region. A top surface of the cell region is lower than a top surface of the peripheral region, and the substrate includes at least one protrusion portion in the transition region. The first isolation feature is in the transition region and covers the protrusion portion of the substrate. The memory cells are over the cell region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chin-Wen Chan, Chih-Ren Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10615334
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory cell structure, a method of manufacturing a memory, and a memory apparatus that are capable of providing a memory cell structure of an MRAM, which reduces resistance of drawn wiring to be connected to an MTJ, reduces an area of a memory cell, and avoids performance degradation of the MTJ due to heat. A memory cell includes: a transistor that uses a first diffusion layer formed in a bottom portion of a concave portion formed by processing a silicon substrate into a groove shape, and a second diffusion layer formed in upper end portions of two opposing sidewall portions of the concave portion, to form channels at portions between the first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer in the two sidewall portions; and a memory element that is disposed below the first diffusion layer. The first diffusion layer is electrically connected to the memory element via a contact formed after the silicon substrate is thinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Umebayashi, Shunichi Sukegawa, Takashi Yokoyama, Masanori Hosomi, Yutaka Higo
  • Patent number: 10559677
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating an enhancement mode Group III-nitride HEMT device and a Group III-nitride structure fabricated therefrom. One example embodiment is a method for fabricating an enhancement mode Group III-nitride HEMT device. The method includes providing a structure. The structure includes a substrate having a main surface. The structure also includes a layer stack overlying the main surface. Each layer of the layer stack includes a Group III-nitride material. The structure further includes a capping layer on the layer stack. The method also includes forming a recessed gate region by removing, in a gate region, at least the capping layer by performing an etch process, thereby exposing a top surface of an upper layer of the layer stack. The method further includes forming a p-type doped GaN layer in the recessed gate region and on the capping layer by performing a non-selective deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Shuzhen You, Niels Posthuma
  • Patent number: 10510758
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor memory device includes the following steps. A gate structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The gate structure includes a floating gate electrode, a control gate electrode, a first oxide layer, and a second oxide layer. The control gate electrode is disposed on the floating gate electrode. The first oxide layer is disposed between the floating gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. The second oxide layer is disposed between the floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode. An oxide spacer layer is conformally on the gate structure and the semiconductor substrate. A nitride spacer is formed on the oxide spacer layer and on a sidewall of the gate structure. An oxidation process is performed after the step of forming the nitride spacer. A thickness of an edge portion of the first oxide layer is increased by the oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yen-Ting Ho, Sung-Bin Lin
  • Patent number: 10497710
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a metal-gate logic transistor formed in a first region of a substrate, and a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell including a select gate and a memory gate formed in a first recess in a second region of the same substrate, wherein the recess is recessed relative to a first surface of the substrate. The metal-gate logic transistor includes a planarized surface above and substantially parallel to the first surface, and top surfaces of the select gate and memory gate are approximately at or below an elevation of the planarized surface of the metal-gate. Generally, at least one of the top surfaces of the select gate or the memory gate includes a silicide formed thereon. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Taeg Kang, James Pak, Unsoon Kim, Inkuk Kang, Chun Chen, Kuo-Tung Chang
  • Patent number: 10468529
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate and having a sidewall, a spacer element over the sidewall of the gate structure and a source/drain portion adjacent to the spacer element and the gate structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes an etch stop layer over the source/drain portion, an interlayer dielectric layer over the etch stop layer and in contact with the spacer element, and a contact plug penetrating through the interlayer dielectric layer and the etch stop layer, and electrically connected to the source/drain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Ting Ko, Bo-Cyuan Lu, Jr-Hung Li, Chi-On Chui
  • Patent number: 10431265
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for performing address fault detection in a flash memory system. An address fault detection array is used to confirm that an activated word line or bit line is the word line or bit line that was actually intended to be activated based upon the received address, which will identify a type of fault where the wrong word line or bit line is activated. The address fault detection array also is used to indicate whether more than one word line or bit line was activated, which will identify a type of fault where two or more word lines or bit lines are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Xian Liu, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 10424591
    Abstract: In a memory cell region of a semiconductor device, a memory active region is defined by an element isolation insulating film. In the memory cell region, the position of the upper surface of the element isolation insulating film is set to be lower than the position of the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. A buried silicon nitride film and an etching stopper film are formed over the element isolation insulating film. The position of the upper surface of the etching stopper film is higher than that of the upper surface of the element isolation insulating film defining a peripheral active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Ogata
  • Patent number: 10381363
    Abstract: A method for forming a string of memory cells, a memory device having a string of memory cells, and a system are disclosed. The string of memory cells can include a string of planar memory cells formed as recesses in each of a plurality of control gate material formed as a vertical stack of alternating insulator and control gate material. The recesses can be lined with a dielectric material and filled with a floating gate material. Metal nano-particles can be formed on a surface of the floating gate material and/or infused into the floating gate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Akira Goda, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 10381446
    Abstract: A memory cell and a non-volatile semiconductor memory device are disclosed. Nitride sidewall layers are respectively disposed in a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer, to separate a memory gate electrode and a first select gate electrode from each other and the memory gate electrode and a second select gate electrode from each other. Hence, a breakdown voltage is improved around the memory gate electrode as compared with a conventional case in which the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer are simply made of insulating oxide films. The nitride sidewall layers are disposed farther from a memory well than a charge storage layer. Hence, charge is unlikely to be injected into the nitride sidewall layers at charge injection from the memory well into the charge storage layer, thereby preventing an operation failure due to charge storage in a region other than the charge storage layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FLOADIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Taniguchi, Fukuo Owada, Yasuhiko Kawashima, Shinji Yoshida, Kosuke Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10236344
    Abstract: A tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) including a first doped source region for a first type TFET or a second doped source region for a second type TFET; a second doped drain region for the first type TFET or a first doped drain region for the second type TFET; a body region that is either intrinsic or doped, with a doping concentration less than that of the first or second source region, separating the first or second source from the first or second drain regions; a self-aligned etch cavity separating the first or second doped source and drain regions; a thin epitaxial channel region that is grown within the self-aligned etch cavity, covering at least the first or the second source region; a replacement gate stack comprising a high-k gate dielectric and one or a combination of metals and polysilicon; and sidewall spacers adjacent to the replacement gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Hung H. Tran, Reinaldo A. Vega, Xiaobin Yuan
  • Patent number: 10204917
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a cell well, a logic well and a high voltage well are formed in a first, a second and a third regions of a substrate. A first and a second stacked structures are formed on the first and second regions. A first and a second word line wells are formed in the cell well. First spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first and second stacked structures. A first gate oxide layer is formed on the third region and the first and second word line wells. A portion of the first stacked structure is removed to form a first and a second device structures. A second gate oxide layer is formed to cover the first, second and third regions. A first and a second word lines are formed adjacent to the first and second device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yu Yang, Chung-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 10170428
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to cavity generation for an embedded interconnect bridge utilizing a temporary structure. An embodiment of a package includes a substrate; a silicon interconnect bridge including a plurality of interconnections, the interconnect bridge being embedded in the substrate; and a plurality of contacts on a surface of the substrate, the plurality of contacts being coupled with the plurality of interconnections of the interconnect bridge. The interconnect bridge is bonded in a cavity in the substrate, the cavity being formed by removal of at least one temporary structure from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas V. Pietambaram, Rahul N. Manepalli
  • Patent number: 10147806
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a floating gate includes providing a substrate divided into a cell region and a logic region. A silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer cover the cell region and the logic region. Numerous STIs are formed in the silicon nitride layer, the silicon oxide layer, and the substrate. Later, the silicon nitride layer within the cell region is removed to form one recess between the adjacent STIs within the cell region while the silicon nitride layer within the logic region remains. Subsequently, a conductive layer is formed to fill the recess. The conductive layer is thinned to form a floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Bin Tang, Jubao Zhang, Xiaofei Han, Chao Jiang, Hong Liao
  • Patent number: 10109484
    Abstract: Method for producing nanocrystals of semiconductor, comprising at least: ion bombardment of a thin layer of semiconductor arranged on at least one dielectric layer, achieving at least one among an implantation of ions of at least one chemical element of rare gas type and an implantation of ions of at least one semiconductor element of same nature as that of the thin layer, in at least one part of the thickness of the thin layer; annealing of the thin layer achieving a dewetting of the semiconductor of the thin layer and forming, on the dielectric layer, nanocrystals of semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Yann Almadori, Jean-Charles Barbe, Lukasz Borowik
  • Patent number: 10090192
    Abstract: A method for producing a rounded conductor line of a semiconductor component is disclosed. In that method, a partially completed semiconductor component is provided. The partially completed semiconductor component has a bottom side and a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. Also provided is an etchant. On the top side, a dielectric layer is arranged. The dielectric layer has at least two different regions that show different etch rates when they are etched with the etchant. Subsequently, a trench is formed in the dielectric layer such that the trench intersects each of the different regions. Then, the trench is widened by etching the trench with the etchant at different etch rates. By filling the widened trench with an electrically conductive material, a conductor line is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Markus Menath, Andreas Zankl, Anja Reitmeier
  • Patent number: 10043919
    Abstract: Representative methods of manufacturing memory devices include forming a transistor with a gate disposed over a workpiece, and forming an erase gate with a tip portion extending towards the workpiece. The transistor includes a source region and a drain region disposed in the workpiece proximate the gate. The erase gate is coupled to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Hsiao-Chin Tuan, Felix Ying-Kit Tsui, Hau-Yan Lu
  • Patent number: 9997568
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device which is non-volatile, easily manufactured, and can be additionally written. A semiconductor device of the invention includes a plurality of transistors, a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the transistors, and a memory element which overlaps one of the plurality of transistors, and a conductive layer which functions as an antenna. The memory element includes a first conductive layer, an organic compound layer and a phase change layer, and a second conductive layer stacked in this order. The conductive layer which functions as an antenna and a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the plurality of transistors are provided on the same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hiroko Abe, Yukie Nemoto, Ryoji Nomura, Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 9978763
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first source terminal formed of a material and connected to a first source, a first drain terminal formed of the material and connected to a first drain, a first gate overlapping a portion of the substrate that is between the first source and the first drain, and a first dielectric layer between the first gate and the substrate. The second transistor includes a control gate formed of the material and overlapping a part of the substrate that is positioned between a second source and a second drain, a second dielectric layer between the control gate and the substrate, a floating gate extending through the second dielectric layer to contact a doped region in the substrate, and an insulating member positioned between the control gate and the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Herb He Huang, Clifford Ian Drowley
  • Patent number: 9966425
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes the steps of: forming a capacitor bottom metal (CBM) layer on a material layer; forming a silicon layer on the CBM layer; forming a capacitor dielectric layer on the silicon layer; and forming a capacitor top metal (CTM) layer on the capacitor dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jen-Po Huang, Chin-Fu Lin, Bin-Siang Tsai, Xu Yang Shen, Seng Wah Liau, Yen-Chen Chen, Ko-Wei Lin, Chun-Ling Lin, Kuo-Chih Lai, Ai-Sen Liu, Chun-Yuan Wu, Yang-Ju Lu
  • Patent number: 9922713
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device, such as a flash memory device and/or a write-once-read-once memory device, where the device has a polyoxometallate that is capable of providing and/or accepting one or more electrons. The polyoxometallate may have a Wells-Dawson structure and the polyoxometallate may comprise a cage and optionally one or more guests. Also provided is a method of using the memory device, the method comprising the step of providing to or accepting from the polyoxometalate one or more electrons to provide a polyoxometalate in a reduced or oxidized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Asen Asenov
  • Patent number: 9899402
    Abstract: A cheap and high performance 1.5 transistor-type flash memory highly compatible externally of a memory region has a sacrifice film formed on a substrate. A U-shaped groove is formed on the sacrifice film, where multiple insulating films are laminated. The multiple insulating films includes a silicon nitride film as a charge storage layer. Low resistive material is disposed on the multiple insulating films to form a control gate. The select gate is formed on the insulating film on a side of the control gate in a self-aligned manner. Semiconductor regions opposite in conductivity to the substrate on both sides of the adjoining control gate and the select gate form a source and a drain, respectively. Thus, a 1.5 transistor-type flash memory is formed with the adjoining control gate and the select gate between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: IM Solution Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Te-Chang Tseng, Yukihiro Nagai, Riichiro Shirota, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9892790
    Abstract: A split gate NAND flash memory structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The NAND structure comprises a first region of a second conductivity type in the substrate with a second region of the second conductivity type in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region. A continuous first channel region is defined between the first region and the second region. A plurality of floating gates are spaced apart from one another with each positioned over a separate portion of the channel region. A plurality of control gates are provided with each associated with and adjacent to a floating gate. Each control gate has two portions: a first portion over a portion of the channel region and a second portion over the associated floating gate and capacitively coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuniarto Widjaja, John W. Cooksey, Changyuan Chen, Feng Gao, Ya-Fen Lin, Dana Lee
  • Patent number: 9852801
    Abstract: A method for determining a leakage current through an inter-gate dielectric structure of a flash memory cell, the flash memory cell including a substrate including a channel region; a floating gate positioned above the channel region and separated from the channel region by a tunnel dielectric layer; a control gate positioned above the floating gate and separated from the floating gate electrode by the inter-gate dielectric structure; the method including programming the flash memory cell into an initial programmed state and applying biasing conditions to the programmed flash memory cell so as to obtain a zero electric field in the tunnel dielectric layer; measuring over time a change in a threshold voltage of the flash memory cell; and determining the leakage current from the change in the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Jean Coignus, Adam Dobri, Simon Jeannot
  • Patent number: 9853039
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell and method of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a metal-gate logic transistor formed on a logic region of a substrate, and the NVM cell integrally formed in a first recess in a memory region of the same substrate, wherein the first recess is recessed relative to a first surface of the substrate in the logic region. Generally, the metal-gate logic transistor further including a planarized surface above and substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate in the logic region, and the NVM cell is arranged below an elevation of the planarized surface of the metal-gate. In some embodiments, logic transistor is a High-k Metal-gate (HKMG) logic transistor with a gate structure including a metal-gate and a high-k gate dielectric. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Taeg Kang, James Pak, Unsoon Kim, Inkuk Kang, Chun Chen, Kuo-Tung Chang
  • Patent number: 9842902
    Abstract: An SGT is produced by forming a first insulating film around a fin-shaped semiconductor layer, forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped layer, forming a second insulating film, a polysilicon gate electrode covering the second insulating film, and a polysilicon gate line, forming a diffusion layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped layer and a lower portion of the pillar-shaped layer, forming a metal-semiconductor compound in an upper portion of the diffusion layer in the fin-shaped layer, depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing and etching the polysilicon gate electrode and gate line, depositing a first metal, forming a metal gate electrode and a metal gate line, and forming a third metal sidewall on an upper side wall of the pillar-shaped layer. The third metal sidewall is connected to an upper surface of the pillar-shaped layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9831087
    Abstract: Provided is a split-gate embedded flash memory cell and method for forming the same. The flash memory cell includes split-gate transistors in which the control gate is aligned with respect to the floating gate without the use of a photolithographic patterning operation to pattern the material from which the control gates are formed. An anisotropic blanket etching operation is used to form the floating gates of the split-gate floating gate transistors alongside sidewalls of a sacrificial layer. Local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) methods are not needed to form the inter-gate dielectric and therefore high integrity is maintained for the floating transistor gates. The floating transistor gates are formed of charge storage material such as silicon nitride, Si3N4 in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: WAFERTECH, LLC
    Inventors: Pang Leen Ong, Ganesh Yerubandi, Arjun Gupta
  • Patent number: 9825136
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes an element composed of a conductive material, which is arranged above a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The element includes an element region not adjoined by any electrical contacts to an overlying or underlying electrically conductive plane. In this case, a surface of the element facing away from the semiconductor substrate is patterned with elevations or depressions and a surface of the element region facing the semiconductor substrate is patterned to a lesser extent or is not patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Josef Niedernostheide, Manfred Pfaffenlehner, Frank Dieter Pfirsch, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Holger Schulze, Christoph Weiss
  • Patent number: 9818755
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell and method of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a metal-gate logic transistor formed on a logic region of a substrate, and the NVM cell integrally formed in a first recess in a memory region of the same substrate, wherein the first recess is recessed relative to a first surface of the substrate in the logic region. Generally, the metal-gate logic transistor further including a planarized surface above and substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate in the logic region, and the NVM cell is arranged below an elevation of the planarized surface of the metal-gate. In some embodiments, logic transistor is a High-k Metal-gate (HKMG) logic transistor with a gate structure including a metal-gate and a high-k gate dielectric. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Taeg Kang, James Pak, Unsoon Kim, Inkuk Kang, Chun Chen, Kuo-Tung Chang
  • Patent number: 9806087
    Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a cell area separated by other active areas by isolation regions. First and second lower sub-gates of first and second transistors are formed in the cell area. A common upper sub-gate of the first and second transistors is formed. The common upper sub-gate and first and second lower sub-gates are separated by an intergate dielectric layer and the common upper sub-gate surrounds the first and second lower sub-gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Chandrasekar Venkataramani, Qiuji Zhao, Koe Sun Pak, Bai Yen Nguyen, Yoke Weng Tam
  • Patent number: 9768267
    Abstract: An SGT is produced by forming a first insulating film around a fin-shaped semiconductor layer, forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped layer, forming a second insulating film, a polysilicon gate electrode covering the second insulating film, and a polysilicon gate line, forming a diffusion layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped layer and a lower portion of the pillar-shaped layer, forming a metal-semiconductor compound in an upper portion of the diffusion layer in the fin-shaped layer, depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing and etching the polysilicon gate electrode and gate line, depositing a first metal, forming a metal gate electrode and a metal gate line, and forming a third metal sidewall on an upper side wall of the pillar-shaped layer. The third metal sidewall is connected to an upper surface of the pillar-shaped layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9761596
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory having memory cells is provided. The memory cells include stack structures, floating gates, tunneling dielectric layers, erase gate dielectric layers, auxiliary gate dielectric layers, source regions, drain regions, control gates and inter-gate dielectric layers. The stacked structures include gate dielectric layers, auxiliary gates, insulating layers and erase gates. The floating gates are disposed on sidewalls on a first side of the stacked structures. The tunneling dielectric layers are disposed under the floating gates. The erase gate dielectric layers are disposed between the erase gates and floating gates. The auxiliary gate dielectric layers are disposed between the auxiliary gates and the floating gates. The source and drain regions are separately disposed on sides of the stack structures and the floating gates. The control gates are disposed on the source regions and the floating gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: IoTMemory Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 9741728
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embedded flash memory device is provided. A pair of gate stacks are formed spaced over a semiconductor substrate, and including floating gates and control gates over the floating gates. A common gate layer is formed over the gate stacks and the semiconductor substrate, and lining sidewalls of the gate stacks. A first etch is performed into the common gate layer to recess an upper surface of the common gate layer to below upper surfaces respectively of the gate stacks, and to form an erase gate between the gate stacks. Hard masks are respectively formed over the erase gate, a word line region of the common gate layer, and a logic gate region of the common gate layer. A second etch is performed into the common gate layer with the hard masks in place to concurrently form a word line and a logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9721955
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET) device. The device includes a substrate having an n-type FinFET (NFET) region and a p-type FinFET (PFET) region. The device also includes a first and a second fin structures over the substrate in the NFET region and a third fin structure over the substrate in the PFET region. The device also includes a first high-k (HK)/metal gate (MG) stack in the NFET region, including wrapping over a portion of the first fin structure, a first subset of the first source/drain (S/D) features, adjacent to the first HK/MG stack, over the recessed first fin structure and a second subset of the first S/D features partially over the recessed second fin structure and partially over the recessed first fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ka-Hing Fung, Chih-Sheng Chang, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9698236
    Abstract: It is made possible to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that has a high-quality insulating film in which defects are not easily formed, and experiences less leakage current. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on an insulating layer; introducing oxygen into the amorphous silicon layer; and forming a silicon oxynitride layer by nitriding the amorphous silicon layer having oxygen introduced thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsushita, Yuuichiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 9679652
    Abstract: A memory management method, a memory storage device and a memory controlling circuit unit are provided. The method comprises: obtaining an erased state voltage of a first memory cell and a programmed state voltage of the first memory cell, where the first memory cell is operated in a first programming mode; and operating the first memory cell in a second programming mode if a width of a gap between the erased state voltage and the programmed state voltage is larger than a first threshold value. Accordingly, the reliability of the first memory cell may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: PHISON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9672879
    Abstract: There are provided a page buffer and a memory device having the same. A page buffer includes a reference current generation unit for precharging a bit line by generating a reference current, a current sensing unit for changing or maintaining a voltage of a select node, based on a change in current of the bit line, a first data sensing unit for storing first data, based on a change in the voltage of the select node, and a second data sensing unit for, when the first data is stored in the first data sensing unit, consecutively storing second data, based on the change in the voltage of the select node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9672925
    Abstract: A device includes a memory and a read/write (R/W) unit. The memory includes multiple gates coupled to a common charge-trap layer. The R/W unit is configured to program and read the memory by creating and reading a set of electrically-charged regions in the common charge-trap layer, wherein at least a given region in the set is not uniquely associated with any single one of the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arik Rizel, Avraham Poza Meir, Yael Shur, Eyal Gurgi, Barak Baum
  • Patent number: 9620603
    Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the formation of a p-n junction in a conductive layer. The method may allow for the production of semiconductor memory devices of reduced size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaw-Hung Ku, Chih-Hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 9607703
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a memory and a setting unit. The memory includes a memory cell array and a peripheral circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells, each of which holds an electrical charge. The peripheral circuit is configured to read a value from each memory cell by comparing a quantity of an electrical charge held in the memory cell with a determination threshold. The memory stores first data in the memory cell array. The first data include a plurality of values. The setting unit is configured to change the determination threshold according to the number of values which are different in second data and third data among the plurality of values. The second data are first data before being written to the memory. The third data are first data that have been read from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shinichi Kanno
  • Patent number: 9595588
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with embedded cell is provided. A silicon substrate has a first area with at least one first cell and a second area with at least one second cell. The first cell is positioned in the first area and formed in a trench of the silicon substrate, and the second cell is positioned in the second area and formed on the silicon substrate. The first cell includes a first dielectric layer formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench, a floating gate formed on the first dielectric layer and embedded in the trench, a second dielectric layer formed on the floating gate and embedded in the trench, and a control gate formed on the second dielectric layer and embedded in the trench, wherein the control gate is separated from the floating gate by the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Sung Huang, Ko-Chi Chen, Shen-De Wang
  • Patent number: 9590059
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a semiconductor substrate including a flash memory region and a capacitor region. A flash memory cell is arranged over the flash memory region and includes a polysilicon select gate arranged between first and second source/drain regions of the flash memory cell. The flash memory cell also includes a control gate arranged alongside the select gate and separated from the select gate by a control gate dielectric layer. A capacitor is arranged over the capacitor region and includes: a polysilicon first capacitor plate and polysilicon second capacitor plate, which are inter-digitated with one another and separated from one another by a capacitor dielectric layer. The capacitor dielectric layer and control gate dielectric layer are made of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Yu-Hsiung Wang, Chen-Chin Liu
  • Patent number: 9574269
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming a thin film using an organic metal compound gas and oxidizing agents are disclosed. The method includes performing a first film formation process of forming a thin film on an object to be processed using an organic metal compound gas and a first oxidizing agent; performing an annealing process of supplying a second oxidizing agent having stronger oxidizing power than the first oxidizing agent into the reaction chamber while an interior of the reaction chamber is heated to a predetermined temperature; and performing a second film formation process of forming a thin film on the thin film formed in the first thin film formation process using the organic metal compound gas and the second oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsushige Harada, Susumu Takada