With Floating Gate (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.422)
  • Patent number: 8410543
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory in which writing/erasing is performed by changing a total charge amount by injecting electrons and holes into a silicon nitride film serving as a charge accumulation layer, in order to realize a high efficiency of a hole injection from a gate electrode, the gate electrode of a memory cell comprises a laminated structure made of a plurality of polysilicon films with different impurity concentrations, for example, a two-layered structure comprising a p-type polysilicon film with a low impurity concentration and a p+-type polysilicon film with a high impurity concentration deposited thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Itaru Yanagi, Toshiyuki Mine, Hirotaka Hamamura, Digh Hisamoto, Yasuhiro Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 8404542
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes transistors with a vertical gate electrode. In a transistor structure, a semiconductor pattern has first and second sides facing in a transverse direction, and third and fourth sides facing in a longitudinal direction. Gate patterns are disposed adjacent to the first and second sides of the semiconductor pattern. Impurity patterns directly contact the third and fourth sides of the semiconductor pattern. A gate insulating pattern is interposed between the gate patterns and the semiconductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Woo Kang, Jeong-Uk Han, Yong-Tae Kim, Seung-Beom Yoon
  • Publication number: 20130069136
    Abstract: A single-gate non-volatile flash memory cell, a memory device including the memory cell, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The memory cell includes a semiconductor structure and a movable switch (200), wherein the semiconductor structure includes a floating-gate structure, and an interlayer dielectric layer (130) with an opening (1204) through which the floating-gate structure is exposed; the movable switch (200) includes a support component (210) and a conductive interconnection component (220),the support component (210) is located on the periphery of the conductive interconnection component (220) and connected with the interlayer dielectric layer (130), and the conductive interconnection component (220) is floating over the opening (1024).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jianhong Mao, Fengqin Han
  • Publication number: 20130069135
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an interelectrode insulating film formed between a charge storage layer and a control electrode layer. The interelectrode insulating film is formed in a first region above an upper surface of an element isolation insulating film, a second region along a sidewall of the charge storage layer, and a third region above an upper surface of the charge storage layer. The interelectrode insulating film includes a first stack including a first silicon nitride film or a high dielectric constant film interposed between a first and a second silicon oxide film or a second stack including a second high dielectric constant film and a third silicon oxide film, and a second silicon nitride film formed between the control electrode layer and the first or the second stack. The second silicon nitride film is relatively thinner in the third region than in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji Nakahara, Kazuhiro Matsuo, Masayuki Tanaka, Hirofumi Iikawa
  • Publication number: 20130065368
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided which overcomes a problem of penetration of implanted ions due to the difference of an optimal gate height in simultaneous formation of a self-align split gate type memory cell utilizing a side wall structure and a scaled MOS transistor. A select gate electrode to form a side wall in a memory area is formed to be higher than that of the gate electrode in a logic area so that the height of the side wall gate electrode of the self-align split gate memory cell is greater than that of the gate electrode in the logic area. Height reduction for the gate electrode is performed in the logic area before gate electrode formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8395202
    Abstract: A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8389356
    Abstract: Methods for forming split gate flash cell structures provide for symmetrical cells that are immune to misalignment of the photoresist pattern when forming the control gates. Spacers are utilized to form the floating gates in the floating gate transistors used in the flash cells. The spacers may be oxide spacers used to mask a polysilicon layer that will form the floating gates or the spacers may be polysilicon spacers that will themselves form the floating gates. The inter-gate oxide of the floating gate transistors may be formed using HTO or may be deposited. Hard mask spacers are used in conjunction with the control gate photoresist patterning operation to control the size and configuration of the control gate and the channel length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Wafertech, LLC
    Inventor: Yimin Wang
  • Publication number: 20130049094
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming a gate layer over a substrate having a cell region and a peripheral circuit region, forming a gate pattern corresponding to a region for selection lines and a region between neighboring selection lines in the cell region, where during the forming of the gate pattern, word lines in the cell region and a peripheral circuit gate in the peripheral circuit region are formed by selectively etching the gate layer, forming spacers on sidewalls of the peripheral circuit gate, and forming the selection lines by selectively etching a portion of the gate pattern corresponding to the region between the neighboring selection lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jae-Soon KWON
  • Patent number: 8383475
    Abstract: A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a cell area separated by other active areas by isolation regions. First and second gates of first and second transistors in the cell area are formed. The first gate includes first and second sub-gates separated by a first intergate dielectric layer. The second gate includes a second sub-gate surrounding a first sub-gate. The first and second sub-gates of the second gate are separated by a second intergate dielectric layer. First and second junctions of the first and second transistors are formed. The method also includes forming a first gate terminal coupled to the second sub-gate of the first transistor and a second gate terminal coupled to at least the first sub-gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Globalfoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Mun Jung, Kian Hong Lim, Jianbo Yang, Swee Tuck Woo, Sanford Chu
  • Patent number: 8383476
    Abstract: A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a cell area and forming first and second gates of first and second transistors in the cell area. The first gate includes a second sub-gate surrounding a first sub-gate. The first and second sub-gates of the first gate are separated by a first intergate dielectric layer. The second gate includes a second sub-gate surrounding a first sub-gate. The first and second sub-gates of the second gate are separated by a second intergate dielectric layer. The method also includes forming first and second junctions of the first and second transistors. A first gate terminal is formed and coupled to the second sub-gate of the first transistor. A second gate terminal is formed and coupled to at least the first sub-gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Globalfoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Mun Jung, Kian Hong Lim, Jianbo Yang, Swee Tuck Woo, Sanford Chu
  • Patent number: 8384142
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a non-planar transistor. Fin field effect transistors (finFETs) are often built around a fin (e.g., a tall, thin semiconductive member). During manufacturing, a fin may encounter various mechanical stresses, e.g., inertial forces during movement of the substrate and fluid forces during cleaning steps. If the forces on the fin are too large, the fin may fracture and possibly render a transistor inoperative. Supporting one side of a fin before forming the second side of a fin creates stability in the fin structure, thereby counteracting many of the mechanical stresses incurred during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Publication number: 20130045578
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a silicon oxynitride layer on a semiconductor device for use in a variety of electronic systems. The silicon oxynitride layer may be structured to control strain in a silicon channel of the semiconductor device to modify carrier mobility in the silicon channel, where the silicon channel is configured to conduct current under appropriate operating conditions of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130037877
    Abstract: A split gate memory cell is fabricated with a fin structure between a memory gate stack and a select gate. Embodiments include a first channel region under the memory gate stack and a second channel region under the select gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyue Seng (Jason) Tan, Eng Huat Toh, Elgin Quek
  • Patent number: 8372707
    Abstract: Methods of forming non-volatile memory is described. The non-volatile memory includes a substrate having a source region, a drain region and a channel region. The channel region separates the source region and the drain region. An electrically insulating layer is adjacent to the source region, drain region and channel region. A floating gate electrode is adjacent to the electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separates the floating gate electrode from the channel region. The floating gate electrode has a floating gate major surface. A control gate electrode has a control gate major surface and the control gate major surface opposes the floating gate major surface. A vacuum layer or gas layer at least partially separates the control gate major surface from the floating gate major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Jun Zheng
  • Patent number: 8372712
    Abstract: In a memory device and a method of manufacturing the memory device, a source contact connected to a common source line may be formed on a drain region instead of a source region. A transistor having a negative threshold voltage may be formed between the source region and the drain region. A channel of the transistor may be formed. Because the source contact is formed on the drain region, the size of the source region may be reduced. An integration degree of the memory device may be improved. A control gate may linearly extend in a second direction because the source contact is not formed on the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wook-Hyoung Lee
  • Publication number: 20130032872
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including a substrate of a first conductivity type with first and second spaced apart regions formed therein of a second conductivity type with a channel region therebetween. A polysilicon metal gate word line is positioned over a first portion of the channel region and spaced apart therefrom by a high K dielectric layer. The metal portion of the word line is immediately adjacent to the high K dielectric layer. A polysilicon floating gate is immediately adjacent to and spaced apart from the word line, and positioned over and insulated from another portion of the channel region. A polysilicon coupling gate is positioned over and insulated from the floating gate. A polysilicon erase gate is positioned on another side of and insulated from the floating gate, positioned over and insulated from the second region, and immediately adjacent to but spaced apart from another side of the coupling gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Alexander Kotov, Chien-Sheng Su
  • Publication number: 20130026496
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising forming a tunneling dielectric layer, a storage dielectric layer, a gate dielectric layer and a gate layer sequentially on a semiconductor substrate of a first semiconductor material; patterning the tunneling dielectric layer, the storage dielectric layer, the gate dielectric layer and the gate layer to form a gate stack; forming a groove in the semiconductor substrate on the sides of the gate stack; filling the groove with a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material, meanwhile, the entire device is covered by the dielectric layer. The surface energy level in the channel is made to change by the stress generated by the second semiconductor material and the covering dielectric layer, thereby increasing tunneling current and improving the storage efficiency of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Huaxiang Yin, Qiuxia Xu, Dapeng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130026553
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) bitcell with a replacement metal control gate and an additional floating gate. The bitcell may be created using a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor manufacturing processes (“CMOS processes”) without any additional process steps, thereby reducing the cost and time associated with fabricating a semiconductor device incorporating the NVM bitcell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SYNOPSYS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Publication number: 20130020626
    Abstract: A device having a substrate prepared with a memory cell region having a memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell includes an access transistor and a storage transistor. The access transistor includes first and second source/drain (S/D) regions and the storage transistor includes first and second storage S/D regions. The access and storage transistors are coupled in series and the second S/D regions being a common S/D region. An erase gate is disposed over the common S/D region. A program gate is disposed over the first storage S/D region. Such an arrangement of the memory cell decouples a program channel and an erase channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Shyue Seng TAN, Eng Huat TOH, Elgin QUEK, Yanzhe TANG
  • Publication number: 20130020628
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a transistor may include forming source and drain regions in a substrate, and forming a floating gate having electrically conductive nanoparticles able to accumulate electrical charge. The process may include deoxidizing part of the floating gate located on the source side, and oxidizing the space resulting from the prior deoxidation so as to form an insulating layer on the source side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Philippe BOIVIN
  • Patent number: 8357966
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises an active area extending in a first direction, a contact plug located on a first portion of the active area, and a transistor located on a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the active area in the first direction. A width of a top surface area of the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than that of a top surface area of the second portion in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Aya Minemura, Kenji Sawamura, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20130016570
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a floating-gate NMOSFET (n-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) is disclosed. A silicide blocking layer (e.g. oxide, nitride) is used not only to block areas from being silicided but to also form an insulator on top of a poly-silicon gate. The insulator along with a top electrode (control gate) forms a capacitor on top of the poly-silicon gate. The poly-silicon gate also serves as the bottom electrode of the capacitor. The capacitor can then be used to capacitively couple charge to the poly-silicon gate. Because the poly-silicon gate is surrounded by insulating material, the charge coupled to the poly-silicon gate may be stored for a long period of time after a programming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shanjen Pan, Allan T. Mitchell, Jack G. Qian
  • Publication number: 20130015516
    Abstract: The asymmetrical non-volatile memory cell is provided on a substrate of first conductivity type and comprises a control region and a floating region, wherein the control region is adjacent to the floating region and isolated from the floating region. The control region further comprises an implant region, having second conductivity type, disposed entirely across the control region and a polycrystalline silicon control gate disposed entirely over the implant region. The floating region further comprises a first voltage state of a drain implant region and a second voltage state of a source implant region, both having second conductivity type, the first voltage state is different from the second voltage state, a channel region that separates the drain implant region and the source implant region, and a polycrystalline silicon floating gate disposed entirely over the channel region and at least partially over the source implant region and drain implant region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Sang Y. Kim, Sang H. Lee, Norhafizah Che May
  • Publication number: 20130017642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Milgrew, James BUSTILLO, Todd Rearick
  • Publication number: 20130017655
    Abstract: Devices can be fabricated using a method of growing nanoscale structures on a semiconductor substrate. According to various embodiments, nucleation sites can be created on a surface of the substrate. The creation of the nucleation sites may include implanting ions with an energy and a dose selected to provide a controllable distribution of the nucleation sites across the surface of the substrate. Nanoscale structures may be grown using the controllable distribution of nucleation sites to seed the growth of the nanoscale structures. According to various embodiments, the nanoscale structures may include at least one of nanocrystals, nanowires, or nanotubes. According to various nanocrystal embodiments, the nanocrystals can be positioned within a gate stack and function as a floating gate for a nonvolatile device. Other embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Patent number: 8354318
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell transistor. The first memory cell transistor includes a tunnel insulation film provided on a semiconductor substrate, a floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film, an inter-gate insulation film provided on the floating electrode, and a control electrode provided on the inter-gate insulation film. The floating electrode includes a first floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film and a second floating electrode provided on one end portion of the first floating electrode, the floating electrode having an L-shaped cross section in a wiring direction of the control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshiharu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8354335
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a floating gate memory device comprises using a buried diffusion oxide that is below the floating gate thereby producing an increased step height between the floating gate and the buried diffusion oxide. The increased step height can produce a higher GCR, while still allowing decreased cell size using a virtual ground array design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Chin Liu, Lan Ting Huang, Ling Kuey Yang, Po Hsuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20130009231
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for concurrently fabricating a memory region with a logic region in a common substrate includes forming a lower dielectric segment in the common substrate in the memory and logic regions. The method also includes forming a polysilicon segment over the lower dielectric segment in the memory region, while concurrently forming a sacrificial polysilicon segment over the lower dielectric segment in the logic region. Furthermore, the method includes removing from the logic region the lower dielectric segment and the sacrificial polysilicon segment. The method additionally includes forming a high-k segment in the logic region over the common substrate, and in the memory region over the polysilicon segment and forming a metal segment over the high-k segment in the logic and memory regions. An exemplary structure achieved by the described exemplary method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Xia, Xiangdong Chen
  • Patent number: 8349686
    Abstract: To reduce capacitance between each adjacent two word lines in a semiconductor memory device, a first insulating film is formed, with a first gate insulating film thereunder, in an interstice between gates respectively of each adjacent two memory transistors, and in an interstice between a gate of a selective transistor and a gate of a memory transistor adjacent thereto. Additionally, a second insulating film is formed on the first insulating film, sides of the gate of each memory transistor, and a side, facing the memory transistor, of the gate of the selective transistor. A third insulating film is formed parallel to a semiconductor substrate so as to cover a metal silicide film, the first and second insulating films and fourth and fifth insulating films. Avoid part is provided in the interstice between each adjacent two gates of the memory transistors, and in the interstice between the gate of the selective transistor and the gate of the memory transistor adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nitta
  • Publication number: 20130005098
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a flash memory cell provided with a floating gate, an intermediate insulating film, and a control gate, forming first and second impurity diffusion regions, thermally oxidizing surfaces of a silicon substrate and the floating gate, etching a tunnel insulating film in a partial region through a window of a resist pattern; forming a metal silicide layer on the first impurity diffusion region in the partial region, forming an interlayer insulating film covering the flash memory cell, and forming, in a first hole of the interlayer insulating film, a conductive plug connected to the metal silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130001669
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate and a plurality of rows of memory cells. The substrate comprises a plurality of isolation structures and a plurality of active regions. Each of the active regions is spaced apart from another active region by one of the isolation structures. In a cross-section of the substrate between two rows of memory cells in a direction parallel to the two rows of memory cells, a maximum height of each isolation structure with respect to a bottom of the substrate is lower than or equal to minimum heights of active regions adjacent thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lo-Yueh Lin
  • Publication number: 20120329223
    Abstract: In a semiconductor storage device a select gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape so as to surround the second impurity regions, and is electrically connected to a word line. A first control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the outer peripheral side of the select gate electrode, and a second control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the inner peripheral side of the select gate electrode. A pair of first and second bit lines corresponding to every row are placed on the memory cells of the device, a first bit line is electrically connected to one of first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction, and a second bit line is electrically connected to the other of the first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Renesas Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki TAKESHITA
  • Patent number: 8338244
    Abstract: Provided are three-dimensional nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The memory devices include semiconductor pillars penetrating interlayer insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate and floating gates selectively interposed between the semiconductor pillars and the conductive layers. The floating gates are formed in recesses in the conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoungkeun Son, Hansoo Kim, Jinho Kim, Kihyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120319186
    Abstract: A method for forming a memory device includes: forming a tunnel insulation layer, a conductive layer for a floating gate electrode, a charge blocking layer and a conductive layer for a control gate electrode over a substrate; and selectively etching the conductive layer for the control gate electrode, the charge blocking layer and the conductive layer for the floating gate electrode, thereby forming a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of select lines and at least two dummy lines disposed in a gap region between adjacent select lines, wherein the gate lines, the select lines and the dummy lines together construct strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Nam-Jae LEE
  • Publication number: 20120319096
    Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for semiconductor devices including an electrically percolating source layer and methods of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate layer, a dielectric layer, a memory layer, a source layer, a semiconducting channel layer, and a drain layer. The source layer is electrically percolating and perforated. The semiconducting channel layer is in contact with the source layer and the memory layer. The source layer and the semiconducting channel layer form a gate voltage tunable charge injection barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew Gabriel Rinzler, Bo Liu, Mitchell Austin McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8334560
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for providing a floating gate structure comprising floating gate cells having improved reverse tunnel disturb immunity. A floating gate structure is formed over a semiconductor substrate comprising a floating gate, a charge trapping dielectric layer is formed, and a control gate is formed. The floating gate structure has vertical sidewalls, one side adjacent a source region and one side adjacent a drain region. A symmetric sidewall dielectric is formed over the floating gate structure on both the source side and drain side regions. An asymmetric dielectric layer is formed over the drain side sidewall only. The use of the asymmetric sidewall on the drain side sidewall provides improved RTD immunity. Methods for forming the structure are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Yu Pan, Chung-Jen Hwang, Ming-Hui Shen
  • Patent number: 8329530
    Abstract: A method and system for providing at least one contact in a flash memory device is disclosed. The flash memory device includes a plurality of gate stacks and at lease one component including a polysilicon layer as a top surface. The method and system further include forming a silicide on the top surface of the polysilicon layer and providing an insulating layer covering the plurality of gate stacks, the at least one component and the silicide. The method and system also include etching the insulating layer to provide at least one contact hole. The insulating layer etching step uses the silicide as an etch stop layer to ensure that the insulating etching step does not etch through the polysilicon layer. The method and system also include filling the at least one contact hole with a conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Chang, Hao Fang, King Wai Kelwin Ko
  • Patent number: 8330207
    Abstract: A flash memory device including a lower tunnel insulation layer on a substrate, an upper tunnel insulation layer on the lower tunnel insulation layer, and a P-type gate on the upper tunnel insulation layer, wherein the upper tunnel insulation layer includes an amorphous oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-kweon Baek, Sang-ryol Yang, Si-young Choi, Bon-young Koo, Ki-hyun Hwang, Jin-tae Noh
  • Publication number: 20120307569
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell is disclosed, having first and second semiconductor islands at the same horizontal level and spaced a predetermined distance apart, the first semiconductor island providing a control gate and the second semiconductor island providing source and drain terminals; a gate dielectric layer on at least part of the first semiconductor island; a tunneling dielectric layer on at least part of the second semiconductor island; a floating gate on at least part of the gate dielectric layer and the tunneling dielectric layer; and a metal layer in electrical contact with the control gate and the source and drain terminals. In one advantageous embodiment, the nonvolatile memory cell may be manufactured using an “all-printed” process technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Arvind KAMATH, Patrick Smith, James Montague Cleeves
  • Patent number: 8324676
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for a memory cell are provided. One embodiment includes a memory cell with a storage node separated from a body region by a first dielectric, wherein the body region includes a channel separating a source and a drain region, and wherein a length of the storage node is less than a length of the channel. The embodiment further includes a memory cell with a gate separated from the storage node by a second dielectric, wherein a length of the gate is greater than a length of the storage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hussein I. Hanafi
  • Patent number: 8324051
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing NOR-type flash memory device include forming a tunnel oxide layer on a substrate, forming a first conductive layer on the tunnel oxide layer, forming first mask patterns parallel to one another on the first conductive layer in a y direction of the substrate, and selectively removing the first conductive layer and the tunnel oxide layer using the first mask patterns as an etch mask. Thus, first conductive patterns and tunnel oxide patterns are formed, and first trenches are formed to expose the surface of the substrate between the first conductive patterns and the tunnel oxide patterns. A photoresist pattern is formed to open at least one of the first trenches, and impurity ions are implanted using the photoresist pattern as a first ion implantation mask to form an impurity region extending in a y direction of the substrate. The photoresist pattern is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Soo Song, Joong-Shik Shin
  • Patent number: 8324675
    Abstract: A flash memory device having a vertical channel structure. The flash memory device includes a substrate having a surface that extends in a first direction, a channel region having a pillar shape and extending from the substrate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, a gate dielectric layer formed around the channel region, a memory cell string comprising a plurality of transistors sequentially formed around the channel region in the second direction, wherein the gate dielectric layer is disposed between the plurality of transistors and the channel region, and a bit line connected to one of the plurality of transistors, and surrounding a side wall and an upper surface of one end of the channel region so as to directly contact the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-chang Moon, Han-soo Kim, Won-seok Cho, Jae-hoon Jang, Ki-hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120299079
    Abstract: Field Side Sub-bitline NOR-type (FSNOR) flash array and the methods of fabrication are disclosed. The field side sub-bitlines of the invention formed with the same impurity type as the memory cells' source/drain electrodes along the two sides of field trench oxide link all the source electrodes together and all the drain electrodes together, respectively, for a string of semiconductor Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cells in a NOR-type flash array of the invention. Each field side sub-bitline is connected to a main metal bitline through a contact at its twisted point in the middle. Because there are no contacts in between the linked NVM cells' electrodes in the NOR-type flash array of the invention, the wordline pitch and the bitline pitch can be applied to the minimum geometrical feature of a specific technology node. The NOR-type flash array of the invention provides at least as high as those in the conventional NAND flash array in cell area density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Lee WANG
  • Patent number: 8319267
    Abstract: A device including a novel nonvolatile memory element is provided. A device including a nonvolatile memory element in which an oxide semiconductor is used as a semiconductor material for a channel formation region. The nonvolatile memory element includes a control gate, a charge accumulation layer which overlaps with the control gate with a first insulating film provided therebetween, and an oxide semiconductor layer formed using an oxide semiconductor material, which overlaps with the charge accumulation layer with a second insulating film provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kato, Yoshinori Ieda, Jun Koyama
  • Publication number: 20120292682
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a floating-gate PMOSFET (p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) is disclosed. A silicide blocking layer (e.g. oxide, nitride) is used not only to block areas from being silicided but to also form an insulator on top of a poly-silicon gate. The insulator along with a top electrode (control gate) forms a capacitor on top of the poly-silicon gate. The poly-silicon gate also serves at the bottom electrode of the capacitor. The capacitor can then be used to capacitively couple charge to the poly-silicon gate. Because the poly-silicon gate is surrounded by insulating material, the charge coupled to the poly-silicon gate may be stored for a long period of time after a programming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shanjen Pan, Allan T. Mitchell, Weidong Tian
  • Publication number: 20120287715
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell and array structure is disclosed situated within a high voltage region of an integrated circuit. The cell utilizes capacitive coupling based on an overlap between a gate and a drift region to impart a programming voltage. Programming is effectuated using a drain extension which can act to inject hot electrons. The cell can be operated as a one-time programmable (OTP) or multiple-time programmable (MTP) device. The fabrication of the cell relies on processing steps associated with high voltage devices, thus avoiding the need for additional masks, manufacturing steps, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: David K.Y. Liu
  • Publication number: 20120288976
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Wolfgang Hinz, Kim L. Johnson, James Bustillo
  • Publication number: 20120289011
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device includes defining a first area by forming a separating area on a substrate, and forming a tunnel film in the first area, a floating gate on the tunnel film, a first electrode in the separating area, a first film on the floating gate, a second film on the first electrode, a control gate on the first film, a second electrode on the second film, and source and drain areas in the first area. The method includes forming a first interlayer film to cover the control gate and the second electrode, forming, in the first interlayer film, a conductive via plug reaching the second electrode, and forming, on the first interlayer film, a second wiring electrically coupled to the second electrode via the conductive via plug, and a first wiring that is capacitively-coupled to the second wiring and to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Toru Anezaki
  • Publication number: 20120289010
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of making a semiconductor device are disclosed. A semiconductor body, a floating gate poly and a source/drain region are provided. A metal interconnect region with a control gate node is provided that capacitively couples to the floating gate poly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Georg Tempel, Ernst-Otto Andersen, Achim Gratz
  • Publication number: 20120280303
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first trench extending in a first direction is formed in a stacked structure in which a plurality of spacer films and a plurality of channel semiconductor films are alternately stacked. A first space is formed by forming a recess in the channel semiconductor films from the first trench. A tunnel dielectric film is formed in the first space, and the first space is further filled with a floating gate electrode film. Second trenches that divide the stacked structure at predetermined interval in the first direction are formed so as to divide the floating gate electrode film between memory cells adjacent to each other in the first direction but not to divide the channel semiconductor films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masahiro KIYOTOSHI, Kiwamu Sakuma, Haruka Kusai