Using Trench Refilling With Dielectric Materials (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.546)
  • Publication number: 20120302039
    Abstract: Shallow trenches are formed around a vertical stack of a buried insulator portion and a top semiconductor portion. A dielectric material layer is deposited directly on sidewalls of the top semiconductor portion. Shallow trench isolation structures are formed by filling the shallow trenches with a dielectric material such as silicon oxide. After planarization, the top semiconductor portion is laterally contacted and surrounded by the dielectric material layer. The dielectric material layer prevents exposure of the handle substrate underneath the buried insulator portion during wet etches, thereby ensuring electrical isolation between the handle substrate and gate electrodes subsequently formed on the top semiconductor portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert H. Dennard, Marwan H. Khater, Leathen Shi, Jeng-Bang Yau
  • Patent number: 8318584
    Abstract: The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced volume fraction of voids is described. The deposition involves the formation of an oxygen-rich less-flowable liner layer before an oxygen-poor more-flowable gapfill layer. However, the liner layer is deposited within the same chamber as the gapfill layer. The liner layer and the gapfill layer may both be formed by combining a radical component with an unexcited silicon-containing precursor (i.e. not directly excited by application of plasma power). The liner layer has more oxygen content than the gapfill layer and deposits more conformally. The deposition rate of the gapfill layer may be increased by the presence of the liner layer. The gapfill layer may contain silicon, oxygen and nitrogen and be converted at elevated temperature to contain more oxygen and less nitrogen. The presence of the gapfill liner provides a source of oxygen underneath the gapfill layer to augment the gas phase oxygen introduced during the conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: DongQing Li, Jingmei Liang, Nitin K. Ingle
  • Patent number: 8319311
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a top surface; forming an opening extending from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate; and performing a first deposition step to fill a first dielectric material into the opening. The first dielectric material is then recessed. A second deposition step is performed to fill a remaining portion of the opening with a second dielectric material. The second dielectric material is denser than the first dielectric material. The second dielectric material is recessed until a top surface of the second dielectric material is lower than the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Neng-Kuo Chen, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Kuo-Hwa Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20120292704
    Abstract: A method includes forming at least one shallow trench isolation structure in a substrate to isolate adjacent different type devices. The method further includes forming a barrier trench structure in the substrate to isolate diffusions of adjacent same type devices. The method further includes spanning the barrier trench structure with material to connect the diffusions of the adjacent same type device, on a same level as the adjacent same type devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. ANDERSON, Andres BRYANT, Edward J. NOWAK, Jed H. RANKIN
  • Publication number: 20120292684
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a first storage layer making contact with a sidewall of an active region in an isolation trench and a second charge storage layer making contact with an opposite sidewall of the active region in the isolation trench, first and second tunnel insulation layers interposed between the first charge storage layer and the active region and between the second charge storage layer and the active region, a first charge blocking layer disposed over the first and second charge storage layers, and a control gate disposed over the first charge blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Cha-Deok DONG
  • Publication number: 20120289023
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device having a sidewall insulation includes providing a semiconductor body having a first side and a second side lying opposite the first side. At least one first trench is at least partly filled with insulation material proceeding from the first side in the direction toward the second side into the semiconductor body. The at least one first trench is produced between a first semiconductor body region for a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor body region for a second semiconductor device. An isolating trench extends from the first side of the semiconductor body in the direction toward the second side of the semiconductor body between the first and second semiconductor body regions in such a way that at least part of the insulation material of the first trench adjoins at least a sidewall of the isolating trench. The second side of the semiconductor body is partly removed as far as the isolating trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Carsten Ahrens, Rudolf Berger, Manfred Frank, Uwe Hoeckele, Bernhard Knott, Ulrich Krumbein, Wolfgang Lehnert, Berthold Schuderer, Juergen Wagner, Stefan Willkofer
  • Publication number: 20120286346
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a trench formed in an element isolating area of the semiconductor substrate, and a silicon oxide film that is embedded in the trench and contains an alkali metal element or alkali earth metal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Keisuke NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20120286367
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an integrated one-time programmable (OTP) semiconductor device pair includes a split-thickness dielectric under an electrode and over an isolation region formed in a doped semiconductor substrate, where a reduced-thickness center portion of the dielectric forms, in conjunction with the isolation region, programming regions of the OTP semiconductor device pair, and where the thicker, outer portions of the dielectric form dielectrics for transistor structures. In one embodiment, the split-thickness dielectric comprises a gate dielectric. In one embodiment, multiple OTP semiconductor device pairs are formed in an array that minimizes the number of connections required to program and sense states of specific OTP cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Smith
  • Patent number: 8309427
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a FIN-FET having a floating body is disclosed. The manufacturing method of this invention includes forming openings in a poly crystalline layer; extending the openings downward; forming spacers on sidewalls of the openings; performing an isotropic silicon etching process on bottoms of the openings; performing deposition by using TEOS to form gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick David Fishburn, Peter Strobl
  • Publication number: 20120282756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin film filling method, including: feeding reactive gases including a silicon-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, an inert gas and a fluent gas into a reaction chamber; forming a first deposited thin film in the trench or gap through HDP CVD; feeding an etching gas and the fluent gas without feeding said silicon-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas, to sputter the surface of the first deposited thin film; feeding said silicon-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas without feeding said etching gas, so that a second deposited thin film is formed on the surface of the sputtered first deposited thin film; feeding said etching gas and fluent gas without feeding said silicon-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas, to sputtering the surface of said second deposited thin film; repeating the last two steps; feeding the silicon-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas without feeding the etching gas to form a plasmas of low pressure and high density, so that a third de
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Lingkuan Meng
  • Publication number: 20120276713
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which provides an isolation region in which a dense silicon oxide film is formed in a trench that requires high aspect ratio. The method includes forming an isolation trench using, as an etching mask, a nitride mask film formed on a substrate, forming a liner nitride film in the isolation trench, depositing a flowable silazane compound by a CVD method such that the height of the flowable silazane compound is higher than the upper surface of the nitride mask film from the upper portion of the trench, performing heat treatment under an oxidizing atmosphere to convert the flowable silazane compound film into a silicon oxide film and simultaneously densifying therefor, and planarizing the silicon oxide film to the height of the upper surface of the nitride mask film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Jiro MIYAHARA, Nan WU
  • Publication number: 20120273840
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method comprises: disposing a first dielectric material layer on a first semiconductor layer and defining openings in the first dielectric material layer; epitaxially growing a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer via the openings defined in the first dielectric material layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer and the first semiconductor layer comprise different materials from each other; and forming plugs of a second dielectric material in the second semiconductor layer at positions where the openings are defined in the first dielectric material layer and also at middle positions between adjacent openings. According to embodiments of the disclosure, defects occurring during the heteroepitaxial growth can be effectively suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Zhijiong Luo, Haizhou Yin, Huilong Zhu
  • Publication number: 20120276712
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device having a Ge— or SiGe-fin structure includes a convex-shaped active area formed along one direction on the surface region of a Si substrate, a buffer layer of Si1-xGex (0<x<1) formed on the active area, and a fin structure of Si1-yGey (x<y?1) formed on the buffer layer. The fin structure has a side surface of a (110) plane perpendicular to the surface of the Si substrate and the width thereof in a direction perpendicular to the one direction of the fin structure is narrower than that of the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiji Ikeda, Tsutomu Tezuka, Yoshihiko Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20120270380
    Abstract: A method for forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate. A liner layer that includes a liner nitride layer and a liner oxide layer is formed on an exposed surface of the trench. A flowable insulation layer is formed to fill the trench. The flowable insulation layer is recessed to expose a portion of the liner nitride layer on an upper portion of the trench. A first preheating process is performed to release stress of the liner layer. A second preheating process is performed to oxidize the exposed liner nitride layer. A buffer layer is formed on a portion of the liner layer that is formed on a sidewall of the trench and exposed after the flowable insulation layer is recessed. The buffer layer is etched to smoothen a rough portion of the liner layer that is formed when the flowable insulation layer is recessed. A buried insulation layer is deposited in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Byung Soo EUN
  • Patent number: 8293618
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a trench on a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, forming a radical oxide layer on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the trench, and forming a nitride layer on the radical oxide layer. The conduction band offset of the radical oxide layer is greater than the conduction band offset of a thermal oxide layer having the same thickness as the radical oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongchan Kim, Sungkweon Baek
  • Patent number: 8294236
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a memory cell area and a peripheral circuit area includes a silicon substrate and an isolation structure implemented by a silicon oxide film formed on a surface of the silicon substrate. A depth of the isolation structure in the memory cell area is smaller than a depth of the isolation structure in the peripheral circuit area, and an isolation height of the isolation structure in the memory cell area is substantially the same as an isolation height of the isolation structure in the peripheral circuit area. Reliability of the semiconductor device can thus be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Mitsuhira, Takehiko Nakahara, Yasusuke Suzuki, Jun Sumino
  • Publication number: 20120261789
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming an insulating spacer includes providing a base layer, providing an intermediate layer above an upper surface of the base layer, etching a first trench in the intermediate layer, depositing a first insulating material portion within the first trench, depositing a second insulating material portion above an upper surface of the intermediate layer, forming an upper layer above an upper surface of the second insulating material portion, etching a second trench in the upper layer, and depositing a third insulating material portion within the second trench and on the upper surface of the second insulating material portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andrew B. Graham, Gary Yama, Gary O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8288243
    Abstract: A method of forming large microchannels in an integrated circuit by etching an enclosed trench into the substrate and later thinning the backside to expose the bottom of the trenches and to remove the material enclosed by the trench to form the large microchannels. A method of simultaneously forming large and small microchannels. A method of forming structures on the backside of the substrate around a microchannel to mate with another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Stuart McDougall Jacobsen, Byron Neville Burgess
  • Publication number: 20120252185
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device includes forming first and second mask structures on respective first and second regions of a feature layer. Each of the first and second mask structures includes a dual mask pattern and an etch mask pattern thereon having an etch selectivity relative to the dual mask pattern. The etch mask patterns of the first and second mask structures are etched to partially remove the etch mask pattern from the second mask structure. Spacers are formed on opposing sidewalls of the first and second mask structures. The first mask structure is selectively removed from between the spacers in the first region to define a first mask pattern including the opposing sidewall spacers with a void therebetween in the first region, and a second mask pattern including the opposing sidewall spacers with the second mask structure therebetween in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Young-Ho LEE, Jae-Kwan PARK, Jae-Hwang SIM, Sang-Yong PARK
  • Publication number: 20120252186
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active area defined by an device isolation region, a buried gate formed on both side walls of a trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, and a storage node contact which is buried between the buried gates, and is connected to the active region of a middle portion of the trench and the device isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Young Man CHO
  • Publication number: 20120252188
    Abstract: A plasma processing method for use in device isolation by shallow trench isolation in which an insulating film is embedded in a trench formed in silicon and the insulating film is planarized to form a device isolation film, the method includes a plasma nitriding the silicon of an inner wall surface of the trench by using a plasma before embedding the insulating film in the trench. The plasma nitriding is performed by using a plasma of a processing gas containing a nitrogen-containing gas under conditions in which a processing pressure ranges from 1.3 Pa to 187 Pa and a ratio of a volumetric flow rate of the nitrogen-containing gas to a volumetric flow rate of the entire processing gas ranges from 1% to 80% such that a silicon nitride film is formed on the inner wall surface of the trench to have a thickness of 1 to 10 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryota YONEZAWA, Kazuyoshi Yamazaki, Masaki Sano
  • Publication number: 20120241867
    Abstract: In a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, first element isolation insulation layers in a memory cell area are formed by burying a first oxide film in first element isolation trenches of the memory cell area. The top surface of the first oxide film is positioned at a level between the top surface of a semiconductor substrate and the top surface of a first gate electrode. Each of second element isolation insulation layers in a peripheral area includes a first oxide film embedded in the entirety of second element isolation trenches of the peripheral area, and a second oxide film formed on the first oxide film. The top surface of the first oxide film is at a higher level than the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The top surface of the second oxide film is at a higher level than the top surface of a first conductor film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitohisa ONO, Kazunori Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20120241833
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the storage device further includes: a first electrode that is formed in a reverse convex and in contact with an upper surface of a first region, parts of a side and an upper surface of a first isolation region that face a second isolation region, and parts of a side and an upper surface of the second isolation region that face the first isolation region; and a third electrode that is positioned in a different direction from a second direction with respect to the first electrode, formed in a reverse convex and in contact with an upper surface of a second region, parts of a side and the upper surface of the second isolation region that face a third isolation region, and parts of a side and an upper surface of the third isolation region that face the second isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hidenobu NAGASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8274155
    Abstract: An interconnect is provided in a first insulating layer and the upper surface of the interconnect is higher than the upper surface of the first insulating layer. An air gap is disposed between the interconnect and the first insulating layer. An etching stopper film is formed over the first insulating layer, the air gap, and the interconnect. A second insulating layer is formed over the etching stopper film. A via is provided in the second insulating layer and is connected to the interconnect. A portion of the etching stopper film that is disposed over the air gap is thicker than another portion that is disposed over the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Usami
  • Patent number: 8273630
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a silicon substrate having first and second surfaces, the silicon substrate including no oxide film or an oxide film having a thickness no greater than 100 nm, forming a first oxide film at least on the second surface of the silicon substrate, forming a first film by covering at least the first surface, forming a mask pattern on the first surface by patterning the first film, forming a device separating region on the first surface by using the mask pattern as a mask, forming a gate insulating film on the first surface, forming a gate electrode on the first surface via the gate insulating film, forming a source and a drain one on each side of the gate electrode, and forming a wiring layer on the silicon substrate while maintaining the first oxide film on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Wada, Masanori Terahara, Junji Oh
  • Publication number: 20120236620
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory device and a manufacturing method thereof, the device comprising a plurality of word lines; a plurality of bit lines perpendicular to the word lines; and a plurality of memory cells including a transistor with a source connected to a source line, a gate, and a drain connected to a memory element, with the other end of the memory element connected to the bit lines. Between memory cells adjacent along a bit line, a gate terminal in a groove between the memory cells connects the gates in the memory cells to a word line. Memory cells adjacent along a word line are connected to one bit line contact point, and memory cells sharing a gate terminal are connected to different bit lines. Bit lines are disposed at the upper portion and source lines at the lower end of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Jai-Hoon Sim
  • Publication number: 20120235245
    Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices on the basis of high-k metal gate electrode structures, which are to be provided in an early manufacturing stage, the encapsulation of the sensitive gate materials may be improved by reducing the depth of or eliminating recessed areas that are obtained after forming sophisticated trench isolation regions. To this end, after completing the STI module, an additional fill material may be provided so as to obtain the desired surface topography and also preserve superior material characteristics of the trench isolation regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Rohit Pal, Stephan-Detlef Kronholz
  • Patent number: 8269306
    Abstract: A dielectric liner is formed in first and second trenches respectively in first and second portions of a substrate. A layer of material is formed overlying the dielectric liner so as to substantially concurrently substantially fill the first trench and partially fill the second trench. The layer of material is removed substantially concurrently from the first and second trenches to expose substantially all of the dielectric liner within the second trench and to form a plug of the material in the one or more first trenches. A second layer of dielectric material is formed substantially concurrently on the plug in the first trench and on the exposed portion of the dielectric liner in the second trench. The second layer of dielectric material substantially fills a portion of the first trench above the plug and the second trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sukesh Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8269283
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Kelin Kuhn, Jack T. Kavalieros, Markus Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120231606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) stack that includes a substrate layer, a first oxide layer on the substrate layer and a silicon layer on the first oxide layer (BOX layer). The method includes providing at least one first region of the SOI stack wherein the silicon layer is thinned by thermally oxidizing a part of the silicon layer and providing at least one second region of the SOI stack wherein the first oxide layer (BOX layer) is thinned by annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Bich-Yen Nguyen, Carlos Mazure, Richard Ferrant
  • Publication number: 20120231605
    Abstract: A method including forming an isolation trench; forming first and second liners on the isolation trench; filling the isolation trench an insulating material to form an isolation region and an active region; forming a preliminary gate trench including a first region across the isolation region to expose the first liner, the second liner, and the insulating material, and a second region across the active region to expose a portion of the substrate, the first region having a first sidewall with a planar shape, and the second region having a second sidewall with a concave central area such that an interface between the first and second regions has a pointed portion; removing a portion of the first liner exposed by the first region to form a dent having a first depth by which the pointed portion protrudes; removing the pointed portion to form a gate trench; and forming a gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Young-Pil KIM, Hyung-Ik Lee, Woo-Sung Jeon, Ki-Hong Kim, Jung-Yun Won, In-Sun Jung
  • Patent number: 8264064
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which an internal circuit is formed in a central position an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, and a moisture-resistant ring formed by a metal plug embedded in the insulating layer, the moisture-resistant ring surrounding the internal circuit, the moisture-resistant ring extending over the semiconductor substrate in a shape, the moisture-resistant ring including a first extending portion linearly extending in a first direction in parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a vertical portion connected to the first extending portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first extending portion, and a second extending portion orthogonal to the vertical portion and parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, the second extending portion spaced apart from the first extending portion, the second extending portion crossing the vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Kenichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8263473
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer and an undoped polysilicon layer that are stacked over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is exposed by removing the portions of the undoped polysilicon layer and the insulating layer. The trenches are formed by etching the exposed semiconductor substrate. Isolation layers are formed in the trenches, and a doped polysilicon layer is formed by implanting impurities into the undoped polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120223379
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate including a plurality of active regions and a plurality of device isolating trenches formed between a respective one of each of the active regions along a first direction in the substrate. A plurality of gate structures each including a tunnel insulating layer pattern, a floating gate electrode, a dielectric layer pattern and a control gate electrode is formed on the substrate. A first insulating layer pattern is provided within the device isolating trenches. A second insulating layer pattern is formed along an inner surface portion of a gap between the gate structures. An impurity doped polysilicon pattern is formed on the second insulating layer pattern in the gap between the gate structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Hyun-Sil OH, Sung-Hoi Hur, Dae-Sin Kim
  • Publication number: 20120223407
    Abstract: When forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing stage, integrity of an encapsulation and, thus, integrity of sensitive gate materials may be improved by reducing the surface topography of the isolation regions. To this end, a dielectric cap layer of superior etch resistivity is provided in combination with the conventional silicon dioxide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Thilo Scheiper, Peter Baars, Sven Beyer
  • Publication number: 20120223410
    Abstract: A region-divided substrate includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and having a plurality of partial regions, which are divided by a plurality of trenches, wherein each trench penetrates the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; a conductive layer having an electrical conductivity higher than the substrate and disposed on a sidewall of one of the plurality of partial regions from the first surface to the second surface; and an insulator embedded in each trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo FUJII, Keisuke Gotoh, Masaya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120217612
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a memory area including floating body transistors in the form of pillar structures, which are formed in a bulk architecture. The pillar structures may be appropriately addressed on the basis of a buried word line and a buried sense region or sense lines in combination with an appropriate bit line contact regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Peter Baars, Till Schloesser
  • Patent number: 8252660
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are flash memory devices and methods of making the same. According to one embodiment, a flash memory device includes first trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate and arranged in parallel, second trenches discontinuously formed in the semiconductor substrate and arranged between the first trenches, first isolation structures respectively formed within the first trenches, second isolation structures respectively formed within the second trenches, and active regions defined by the first isolation structures and the second isolation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Kee Park
  • Publication number: 20120211861
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of element-separating insulators, and contacts. The plurality of element-separating insulators are formed in an upper layer portion of the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of element-separating insulators partition the upper layer portion into a plurality of active areas extending in a first direction. The contacts are connected to the active areas. A recess is made in a part in the first direction of an upper surface of each of the active areas. The recess is made across the entire active area in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Positions in the first direction of two of the contacts connected respectively to mutually-adjacent active areas are different from each other. One of the contacts is in contact with a side surface of the recess and not in contact with a bottom surface of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kiyohito NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20120211860
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment comprises active areas on a semiconductor substrate. An element isolation is arranged between the active areas and filled by an insulating film. A plurality of memory cells configured to store data are formed on the active areas. Air gaps are arranged between upper-end edge parts of the active areas where the memory cells are formed and an insulating film in the element isolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hideto TAKEKIDA
  • Patent number: 8247299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flash memory device and a fabrication method thereof. In an embodiment, a flash memory device includes a tunnel insulating film and a floating gate laminated over an active region of a semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer formed in a field region of the semiconductor substrate and projected higher than the floating gate, a dielectric layer formed over the semiconductor substrate including the floating gate and the isolation layer, and a control gate formed on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Soon Jang, Hee Hyun Chang
  • Patent number: 8247329
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a nanotube region using a thin epitaxial layer formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body. The thin epitaxial layer has uniform doping concentration. In another embodiment, a first thin epitaxial layer of the same conductivity type as the semiconductor body is formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body and a second thin epitaxial layer of the opposite conductivity type is formed on the first epitaxial layer. The first and second epitaxial layers have uniform doping concentration. The thickness and doping concentrations of the first and second epitaxial layers and the semiconductor body are selected to achieve charge balance. In one embodiment, the semiconductor body is a lightly doped P-type substrate. A vertical trench MOSFET, an IGBT, a Schottky diode and a P-N junction diode can be formed using the same N-Epi/P-Epi nanotube structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Xiaobin Wang, Anup Bhalla, John Chen, Hong Chang
  • Publication number: 20120205775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. Accordingly, the trench processing sequence is changed and stress absorbing layers are applied. A shallow trench structure is etched. A deep trench structure is etched. A liner oxide is applied in the deep and shallow trench structure. An amorphous polysilicon liner is deposited on top of the liner oxide. A nitride liner is applied on top of the amorphous polysilicon liner, and the deep and shallow trenches are filled with oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alfred HAEUSLER, Wolfgang SCHWARTZ
  • Publication number: 20120208346
    Abstract: A polysilazane film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate in such a manner that the upper surface level of the polysilazane film buried in a trench of 0.2 ?m or less in width becomes higher than that of a pad insulating film and the upper surface level of the polysilazane film buried in a trench of 1.0 ?m or more in width becomes lower than that of the pad insulating film. Then, heat treatment is conducted at 300° C. or more to convert the polysilazane film into a first buried film made of silicon oxide (SiO2) and remove a void in the upper portion of the narrower trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru KADOSHIMA, Hiroshi Umeda, Tatsunori Kaneoka, Katsuyuki Horita
  • Publication number: 20120208345
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for forming microelectronic structures in a semiconductor substrate. The method includes selectively removing dielectric material to expose a portion of an oxide overlying a semiconductor substrate. Insulating material may be formed substantially conformably over the oxide and remaining portions of the dielectric material. Spacers may be formed from the insulating material. An isolation trench etch follows the spacer etch. An optional thermal oxidation of the surfaces in the isolation trench may be performed, which may optionally be followed by doping of the bottom of the isolation trench to further isolate neighboring active regions on either side of the isolation trench. A conformal material may be formed substantially conformably over the spacer, over the remaining portions of the dielectric material, and substantially filling the isolation trench. Planarization of the conformal material may follow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, David Chapek, Randhir P.S. Thakur
  • Publication number: 20120208347
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a three-dimensional semiconductor device are provided. Methods may include forming a stack structure including first layers and second layers alternately stacked on a substrate, patterning the stack structure to form at least one isolation trench, forming channel structures penetrating the stack structure and being spaced apart from the isolation trench, and forming upper interconnection lines on the stack structure to connect the channel structures to each other. An isolation trench may be formed prior to formation of the channel structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Min Hwang, Kwangmin Park, Woonkyung Lee, Jintaek Park, Byong-byun Jang, Jumi Yun
  • Publication number: 20120205774
    Abstract: An trench isolation structure and method for manufacturing the trench isolation structure are disclosed. An exemplary trench isolation structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends from a surface of a semiconductor substrate to a first depth in the semiconductor substrate, and has a width that tapers from a first width at the surface of the semiconductor substrate to a second width at the first depth, the first width being greater than the second width. The second portion extends from the first depth to a second depth in the semiconductor substrate, and has substantially the second width from the first depth to the second depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shiang-Bau Wang
  • Patent number: 8242584
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided comprising at least one trench including a stress-inducing material which imparts a stress on a channel region of a device, such as a junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) or a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata A. Camillo-Castillo, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Andreas D. Stricker
  • Patent number: 8241994
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an isolation layer in a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate; forming a flowable insulation layer on the trench and the semiconductor substrate; converting the flowable insulation layer to a silicon oxide layer by implementing a curing process comprising continuously heating the flowable insulation layer; and forming an isolation layer by planarizing the silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Yul Lee
  • Publication number: 20120199940
    Abstract: A method of making a semi-insulating epitaxial layer includes implanting a substrate or a first epitaxial layer formed on the substrate with boron ions to form a boron implanted region on a surface of the substrate or on a surface of the first epitaxial layer, and growing a second epitaxial layer on the boron implanted region of the substrate or on the boron implanted region of the first epitaxial layer to form a semi-insulating epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SS SC IP, LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. MAZZOLA