Including Different Types Of Peripheral Fets (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.689)
  • Patent number: 10861550
    Abstract: A memory cell having a structure of a modified flash memory cell, but configured to operate in a low voltage domain (e.g., using voltages of ?6V amplitude for program and/or erase operations) is provided. The disclosed memory cells may be formed with dielectric layers having reduced thickness(es) as compared with conventional flash memory cells, which allows for such low voltage operation. The disclosed memory cells may be compatible with advanced, high density, low energy data computational applications. The disclosed memory cells may replace or reduce the need for RAM (e.g., SRAM or DRAM) in a conventional device, e.g., microcontroller or computer, and are thus referred to “RAM Flash” memory cells. Data retention of RAM Flash memory cells may be increased (e.g., to days, months, or years) by (a) applying a static holding voltage at selected nodes of the cell, and/or (b) periodically refreshing data stored in RAM Flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sonu Daryanani, Bomy Chen, Matthew Martin
  • Patent number: 10658364
    Abstract: According to principles as discussed herein, an EEPROM cell is provided and then, after testing the code, using the exact same architecture, transistors, memory cells, and layout, the EEPROM cell is converted to a read-only memory (“ROM”) cell. This conversion is done on the very same integrated circuit die using the same layout, design, and timing with only a single change in an upper level mask in the memory array. In one embodiment, the mask change is the via mask connecting metal 1 to poly. This allows the flexibility to store the programming code as non-volatile memory code, and then after it has been tested, at time selected by the customer, some or all of that code from a code that can be written to a read-only code that is stored in a ROM cell that is composed the same transistors and having the same layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Fabio De Santis, Vikas Rana
  • Patent number: 10553583
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a boundary region defined between a low voltage region, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit comprises a first gate boundary dielectric layer disposed over a substrate in the low voltage region. A second gate boundary dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate in the high voltage region having a thickness greater than that of the first boundary dielectric layer. The first boundary dielectric layer meets the second boundary dielectric layer at the boundary region. A first polysilicon component is disposed within the boundary region over the first boundary dielectric layer and the second gate boundary layer. A second polysilicon component is disposed within the boundary region over the first polysilicon component. A hard mask component is disposed over the first polysilicon component and laterally neighbored to the second polysilicon component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Huan Chen, Chien-Chih Chou, Kong-Beng Thei
  • Patent number: 10431629
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 10347728
    Abstract: A memory cell, e.g., a flash memory cell, includes a substrate, a floating gate formed over the substrate, and a word line and an erase gate formed over the floating gate. The word line overlaps the floating gate by a first lateral overlap distance, and the erase gate overlaps the floating gate by a second lateral overlap distance that is substantially greater than the first lateral distance. This configuration allows the program and erase coupling to the floating gate to be optimized independently, e.g., to decrease or minimize the program current and/or increase or maximize the erase current for the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mel Hymas, James Walls, Sonu Daryanani
  • Patent number: 10325915
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of CMOS control elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, where each CMOS control element of the plurality of CMOS control elements includes semiconductor devices. The plurality of CMOS control elements each including a PMOS semiconductor device portion comprising a high voltage PMOS device and a low voltage PMOS device and an NMOS semiconductor device portion comprising a high voltage NMOS device and a low voltage NMOS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: James Christian Salvia, Michael H. Perrott, Marian Voros, Eldwin Ng, Julius Ming-Lin Tsai, Nikhil Apte
  • Patent number: 10315222
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of CMOS control elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, where each CMOS control element of the plurality of CMOS control elements includes two semiconductor devices. The plurality of CMOS control elements include a first subset of CMOS control elements, each CMOS control element of the first subset of CMOS control elements including a semiconductor device of a first class and a semiconductor device of a second class, and a second subset of CMOS control elements, each CMOS control element of the second subset of CMOS control elements including a semiconductor device of the first class and a semiconductor device of a third class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: James Christian Salvia, Michael H. Perrott, Marian Voros, Eldwin Ng, Julius Ming-Lin Tsai, Nikhil Apte
  • Patent number: 10157931
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory including a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a transistor. The first capacitor includes a first conductive layer provided on a surface of an n-well, n-type diffusion layers provided in a surface layer portion of the n-well, and a p-type diffusion layer provided in the surface layer portion of the n-well so as to be adjacent to the first conductive layer and separated from the n-type diffusion layers. The second capacitor includes a second conductive layer provided on a surface of an n-well, n-type diffusion layers provided in a surface layer portion of the n-well, and a p-type diffusion layer provided in the surface layer portion of the n-well so as to be adjacent to the second conductive layer and separated from the n-type diffusion layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobukazu Murata
  • Patent number: 10038096
    Abstract: A three-dimensional transistor includes a channel with a center portion (forked channel) or side portions (narrow channel) removed, or fins without shaping, after removal of the dummy gate and before a replacement metal gate is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Min-hwa Chi
  • Patent number: 10014307
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, a first conductor, a second conductor, a first dielectric, a second dielectric, and a designated region. The first conductor is positioned between the first dielectric and the substrate. The second conductor is positioned between the second dielectric and the substrate. The first designated region is positioned in the substrate. The method includes providing a conductive material layer, which completely covers the first dielectric and the second dielectric. The method includes partially removing the conductive material layer to form a third conductor and a fourth conductor. The first dielectric is positioned between the third conductor and the first conductor. The fourth conductor directly contacts the designated region. The method includes implementing a memory unit using the first conductor and the third conductor and includes implementing a logic unit using the second conductor and the designated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: YiPeng Chan, Jieqiong Dong, Huajun Jin, Ruling Zhou, Shibi Guo, Bongkil Kim
  • Patent number: 9673205
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory embedded in an advanced logic circuit and a method forming the same are provided. In the nonvolatile memory, the word lines and erase gates have top surfaces lower than the top surfaces of the control gate. In addition, the word lines and the erase gates are surrounded by dielectric material before a self-aligned silicidation process is performed. Therefore, no metal silicide can be formed on the word lines and the erase gate to produce problems of short circuit and current leakage in a later chemical mechanical polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Wei-Cheng Wu, Yuan-Tai Tseng, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee, Harry Hak-Lay Chuang
  • Patent number: 9653393
    Abstract: An integrated circuit layout includes a first metal line, a second metal line, at least one first conductive via and a first conductive segment. The first metal line is formed along a first direction. The at least one first conductive via is disposed over the first metal line. The second metal line is disposed over at least one first conductive via and is in parallel with the first metal line. The first conductive segment is formed on one end of the second metal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Hsiang-Jen Tseng
  • Patent number: 9431253
    Abstract: An integrated circuit contains a flash cell in which the top gate of the sense transistor is a metal sense gate over the floating gate. The source/drain regions of the sense transistor extend under the floating gate so that the source region is separated from the drain region by a sense channel length less than 200 nanometers. The floating gate is at least 400 nanometers wide, so the source/drain regions of the sense transistor extend under the floating gate at least 100 nanometers on each side. The integrated circuit is formed by forming the sense transistor source and drain regions before forming the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ning Tan, Weidong Tian
  • Patent number: 9240548
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9214354
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of sequentially forming a gate electrode film of the MOSFET, forming a gate electrode film of the non-volatile memory FET, patterning the gate electrode of the non-volatile memory FET, and patterning the gate electrode of the MOSFET, in order to form the MOSFET and the non-volatile memory FET on the same semiconductor substrate. The value of the product of S/L and H/L is specified in a case that the line of the gate electrode of the non-volatile memory FET is set to L, the space thereof is set to S, and the height thereof is set to H so that the thickness of a resist film on the gate electrode of the non-volatile memory FET which is formed in advance is set to a thickness which is not lost by etching for forming the gate electrode of the MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Display Devices GK
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishida, Kazuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 8927370
    Abstract: A method for fabrication a memory having a memory area and a periphery area is provided. The method includes forming a gate insulating layer over a substrate in the periphery area. Thereafter, a first conductive layer is formed in the memory area, followed by forming a buried diffusion region in the substrate adjacent to the sides of the first conductive layer. An inter-gate dielectric layer is then formed over the first conductive layer followed by forming a second conductive layer over the inter-gate dielectric layer. A transistor gate is subsequently formed over the gate insulating layer in the periphery area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan Lo, Chun-Pei Wu
  • Patent number: 8877585
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure using a substrate having a non-volatile memory (NVM) portion, a first high voltage portion, a second high voltage portion and a logic portion, includes forming a first conductive layer over an oxide layer on a major surface of the substrate in the NVM portion, the first and second high voltage portions, and logic portion. A memory cell is fabricated in the NVM portion while the first conductive layer remains in the first and second high voltage portions and the logic portion. The first conductive layer is patterned to form transistor gates in the first and second high voltage portions. A protective mask is formed over the NVM portion and the first and second high voltage portions. A transistor gate is formed in the logic portion while the protective mask remains in the NVM portion and the first and second high voltage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Asanga H. Perera, Cheong Min Hong, Sung-Taeg Kang
  • Patent number: 8513076
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a peripheral circuit region and a cell region. A method for fabricating the non-volatile memory device includes forming gate patterns over a substrate, the gate pattern including a tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate electrode, a charge blocking layer and a control gate electrode, and removing the control gate electrode and the charge blocking layer of the gate pattern formed in the peripheral circuit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Nam-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8377772
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods for fabricating dual supply voltage CMOS devices with a desired I/O transistor threshold voltage. The dual supply voltage CMOS devices can be fabricated in a semiconductor substrate that includes isolated regions for a logic NMOS transistor, a logic PMOS transistor, an I/O NMOS transistor, and an I/O PMOS transistor. Specifically, the fabrication can first set and/or adjust the threshold voltage (VT) of each of the I/O NMOS transistor and the I/O PMOS transistor to a desired level. Logic NMOS and logic PMOS transistors can then be formed with I/O NMOS and I/O PMOS transistors masked without affecting the set/adjusted VT of the I/O transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Weize Xiong, Greg Charles Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8338305
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method includes forming a multi-fin device. The method includes forming a patterned mask layer on a semiconductor substrate. The patterned mask layer includes a first opening having a first width W1 and a second opening having a second width W2 less than the first width. The patterned mask layer defines a multi-fin device region and an inter-device region, wherein the inter-device region is aligned with the first opening; and the multi-fin device region includes at least one intra-device region being aligned with the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chih Chen, Tsung-Lin Lee, Feng Yuan
  • Patent number: 8080842
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory device with cell and peripheral circuit regions confined on a substrate. Cell gate electrodes are arranged in the cell region while peripheral gate electrodes are arranged in the peripheral-circuit region. Each cell gate electrode includes stacked conductive and semiconductor layers, but the peripheral gate electrode includes stacked semiconductor layers. The conductive layer of the cell gate electrode is different from the lowest semiconductor layer of the peripheral gate electrode in material, which can improve characteristics of memory cells and peripheral transistors without causing mutual interference with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8076192
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, which comprises forming a film stack of a gate insulating film, a charge storage film, insulating film, polysilicon film, silicon oxide film, silicon nitride film and cap insulating film over a semiconductor substrate; removing the film stack by photolithography and etching from a low breakdown voltage MISFET formation region and a high breakdown voltage MISFET formation region; forming gate insulating films, polysilicon film and cap insulating film over the semiconductor substrate, forming a gate electrode in the low breakdown voltage MISFET formation region and high breakdown voltage MISFET formation region, and then forming a gate electrode in a memory cell formation region. By the manufacturing technology of a semiconductor device for forming the gate electrodes of a first MISFET and a second MISFET in different steps, the present invention makes it possible to provide the first MISFET and the second MISFET each having improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Taniguchi, Kazuyoshi Shiba
  • Patent number: 8004031
    Abstract: Method and device embodiments are described for fabricating MOSFET transistors in a semiconductor also containing non-volatile floating gate transistors. MOSFET transistor gate dielectric smiling, or bird's beaks, are adjustable by re-oxidation processing. An additional re-oxidation process is performed by opening a poly-silicon layer prior to forming an inter-poly oxide dielectric provided for the floating gate transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Aritome
  • Patent number: 7902013
    Abstract: An electrically floating region is formed in the top surface of a semiconductor wafer to implement a radio frequency (RF) blocking structure. The RF blocking structure lies below the metal pads and traces that carry an RF signal in a metal interconnect structure to substantially reduces the attenuation of the RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Babcock, Yongseon Koh
  • Patent number: 7875516
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first gate stack and a second gate stack and a method of manufacturing is disclosed. One embodiment provides non-volatile memory cells including a first gate stack and a gate dielectric on a first surface section of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a second gate stack including a memory layer stack on a second surface section. A first pattern is transferred into the first gate stack and a second pattern into the second gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Roman Knoefler, Michael Specht, Josef Willer
  • Patent number: 7816211
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is made on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a high voltage transistor in a first region of the semiconductor substrate. After the first insulating layer is formed, a second insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a non-volatile memory transistor in a second region of the substrate. After the second insulating layer is formed, a third insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a logic transistor in a third region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh A. Rao, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 7811880
    Abstract: A memory cell of a memory device is fabricated by forming a first electrode on a substrate, positioning a photo mask at a first position relative to the substrate, and forming a first material layer on the first electrode based on a pattern on the photo mask. The photo mask is positioned at a second position relative to the substrate, and a second material layer is formed above the first material layer based on the pattern on the photo mask, the second material layer being offset from the first material layer so that a first sub-cell of the memory cell includes the first material layer and not the second material layer, and a second sub-cell of the memory cell includes both the first and second material layers. A second electrode is formed above the first and second material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Wen-Tai Shuy
  • Patent number: 7666722
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device used as an ID chip, by which data can be written with improved throughput. According to the manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, a logic circuit, a memory circuit, and an antenna circuit over an insulating substrate, the memory circuit is a nonvolatile memory circuit of which data is written in the manufacture of the semiconductor device, and elements in a data portion are formed by electron beam exposure or laser exposure while the other portions are formed by mirror projection exposure, step and repeat exposure, or step and scan exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 7642156
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a three-dimensional flash memory cell and method of forming the same that may be improve the uniformity of flash memory cell by removing a width difference of a polysilicon pattern when forming a floating gate of flash memory device, to thereby improve the reliability of semiconductor device. The process may be simplified due to the self-alignment in the step of forming the polysilicon pattern, which may improve the yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Gyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7626864
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory cells and array are provided. The memory cell comprises a body, a source, a drain, and a charge storage region. The body comprises an n-type conductivity and is formed in a well of the n-type conductivity. The source and the drain have p-type conductivity and are formed in the well with a channel of the body defined therebetween. The charge storage region is disposed over and insulated from the channel by a channel insulator. Each cell further comprises a bias setting having a source voltage applied to the source, a well voltage applied to the well, and a drain voltage applied to the drain. A bias configuration for an erase operation of the memory cell is further provided, wherein the source voltage is sufficiently more negative with respect to the well voltage and is sufficiently more positive with respect to the drain voltage to inject hot holes onto the charge storage region. The cells can be arranged in row and column to form memory arrays and memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Chih-Hsin Wang
  • Patent number: 7601581
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, which comprises forming a film stack of a gate insulating film, a charge storage film, insulating film, polysilicon film, silicon oxide film, silicon nitride film and cap insulating film over a semiconductor substrate; removing the film stack by photolithography and etching from a low breakdown voltage MISFET formation region and a high breakdown voltage MISFET formation region; forming gate insulating films, polysilicon film and cap insulating film over the semiconductor substrate, forming a gate electrode in the low breakdown voltage MISFET formation region and high breakdown voltage MISFET formation region, and then forming a gate electrode in a memory cell formation region. By the manufacturing technology of a semiconductor device for forming the gate electrodes of a first MISFET and a second MISFET in different steps, the present invention makes it possible to provide the first MISFET and the second MISFET each having improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Taniguchi, Kazuyoshi Shiba
  • Patent number: 7598565
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a semiconductor memory device having a highly reliable and small-sized involatile memory by realizing a semiconductor memory element which restrains extreme concentration of an electric field onto a surface of activating layer in a channel region and is very minute. Further, it is an object thereof to provide a highly reliable and small-sized semiconductor memory device. There is fabricated a semiconductor memory element in which a surface of an activating layer is flat and which is very minute by using a crystallizing process of a semiconductor activating layer for adding a metal element onto a substrate having an insulating surface to subject to a heating processing and thereafter carrying out continuous oscillating laser irradiation. By using such a semiconductor memory element, a highly reliable and small-sized involatile memory and a semiconductor memory device having the involatile memory are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7572697
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing flash memory devices wherein, after gate lines are formed, an HDP oxide film having at least the same height as that of a floating gate is formed between the gate lines. Spacers are formed between the remaining spaces using a nitride film. Accordingly, the capacitance between the floating gates can be lowered. After an ion implantation process is performed, spacers can be removed. It is therefore possible to secure contact margin of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Young Ok Hong
  • Patent number: 7560329
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a gate electrode 112 formed over a semiconductor substrate 10, a sidewall spacer 116 formed on the side wall of the gate electrode 112, a sidewall spacer 144 formed on the side wall of the gate electrode 112 with the sidewall spacer 116 formed on, and an oxide film 115 formed between the sidewall spacer 116 and the sidewall spacer 144, and the semiconductor substrate 10. The film thickness of the oxide film 115 between the sidewall spacer 144 and the semiconductor substrate 10 is thinner than the film thickness of the oxide film 115 between the sidewall spacer 116 and the semiconductor substrate 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Shinichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7557004
    Abstract: The method for fabricating the semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming an insulating film 20, a conductive film 22 and an insulating film 24 over a semiconductor substrate 10 having a first to a third region; removing an insulating film 24, the conductive film 22 and an insulating film 20 formed in the second region and the third region; forming an insulating film 38 in the second region and the third region; removing the insulating film 24 in the first region and the insulating film 38 in the third region; forming an insulating film 44 in the third region; after a conductive film 52 has been formed, patterning the conductive films 22, 52 in the first region to form a gate electrode 58; and patterning the conductive film 52 to form gate electrodes 62 in the second region and the third region while removing the conductive film 52 over the gate electrode 58.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogawa, Hideyuki Kojima
  • Patent number: 7547603
    Abstract: A memory cell has a trench formed into a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and spaced apart source and drain regions with a channel region formed therebetween. The source region is formed underneath the trench, and the channel region includes a first portion extending vertically along a sidewall of the trench and a second portion extending horizontally along the substrate surface. An electrically conductive floating gate is disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the channel region first portion. An electrically conductive control gate is disposed over and insulated from the channel region second portion. An erase gate is disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the floating gate. A block of conductive material has at least a lower portion thereof disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the erase gate, and electrically connected to the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bomy Chen, Sohrab Kianian, Yaw Wen Hu
  • Patent number: 7541236
    Abstract: On a surface of a Si substrate, a nonvolatile memory cell, an nMOS transistor, and a pMOS transistor are formed, and thereafter an interlayer insulation film covering the nonvolatile memory cell, the nMOS transistor, and the pMOS transistor is formed. Next, in the interlayer insulation film, there are formed plural contact plugs connected respectively to a control gate of the nonvolatile memory cell, a source or a drain of the nMOS transistor, and a source or a drain of the PMOS transistor. Thereafter, there is formed a single-layer wiring connecting the control gate to the sources or drains of the nMOS transistor and the pMOS transistor via the plural contact plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Shinichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7439587
    Abstract: An isolation insulating film (5) of partial-trench type is selectively formed in an upper surface of a silicon layer (4). A power supply line (21) is formed above the isolation insulating film (5). Below the power supply line (21), a complete isolation portion (23) reaching an upper surface of an insulating film (3) is formed in the isolation insulating film (5). In other words, a semiconductor device comprises a complete-isolation insulating film which is so formed as to extend from the upper surface of the silicon layer (4) and reach the upper surface of insulating film (3) below the power supply line (21). With this structure, it is possible to obtain the semiconductor device capable of suppressing variation in potential of a body region caused by variation in potential of the power supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hirano, Shigeto Maegawa, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Takuji Matsumoto, Shigenobu Maeda, Yasuo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080254582
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having nonvolatile memory cells each formed of a MISFET having both a floating gate and a control gate and first and second semiconductor regions serving as the source and drain regions, respectively. In accordance with the method of manufacture thereof, an impurity, for example, arsenic, is introduced to form both the first and second semiconductor regions but with the second semiconductor region having a lower dose thereof so that the first semiconductor region formed attains a junction depth greater than that of the second semiconductor region, and both the first and second semiconductor regions have portions thereof extending under the floating gate electrode. The device and method therefor further feature the formation of MISFETs of peripheral circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KOMORI, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Satoshi Meguro, Hitoshi Kume, Yoshiaki Kamigaki
  • Publication number: 20080220573
    Abstract: On a surface of a Si substrate, a nonvolatile memory cell, an nMOS transistor, and a pMOS transistor are formed, and thereafter an interlayer insulation film covering the nonvolatile memory cell, the nMOS transistor, and the pMOS transistor is formed. Next, in the interlayer insulation film, there are formed plural contact plugs connected respectively to a control gate of the nonvolatile memory cell, a source or a drain of the nMOS transistor, and a source or a drain of the pMOS transistor. Thereafter, there is formed a single-layer wiring connecting the control gate to the sources or drains of the nMOS transistor and the pMOS transistor via the plural contact plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Shinichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7419876
    Abstract: A method manufactures non-volatile memory devices integrated on a semiconductor substrate and including a matrix of non-volatile memory cells and associated circuitry. The manufacturing method includes: forming a plurality of electrodes of the matrix memory cells, each electrode including a first dielectric layer, a first conductive layer, a second dielectric layer and a second conductive layer; and forming a plurality of electrodes of transistors of the circuitry each including a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer. The method also includes forming first coating spacers on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the memory cell and second coating spacers on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the circuitry, the second spacers being wider than the first spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carlo Cremonesi, Alessandro Grossi, Giulio Albini
  • Patent number: 7402495
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor region of a first conductive type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductive type in a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; and first to third ion implantation processes sequentially executed for controlling threshold voltages corresponding to each transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate the first semiconductor region, and the second semiconductor region respectively. The first ion implantation process is executed in a high-threshold low-voltage transistor forming region of the first semiconductor region after forming the first semiconductor region. The second ion implantation process is executed in a high-threshold low-voltage transistor forming region of the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Minori Kajimoto, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7399662
    Abstract: A method of making a thin film transistor device, including forming and patterning a semiconductor film to form first and second semiconductor films in, respectively, low-voltage driven and high-voltage driven thin film transistor formation regions. The method also includes forming a first insulating film on the first and second semiconductor films, and forming a first gate electrode on the first insulating film in the low-voltage driven thin film transistor formation region. Additionally, a second insulating film is formed on the entire surface of the resultant structure above the substrate, and a second gate electrode is formed on the second insulating film in the high-voltage driven thin film transistor formation region. The method also includes etching the first and second insulating films, thus forming first and second gate insulating films below, respectively, the first and second gate electrodes, with the second gate insulating film being wider than the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Yanai, Yoshio Nagahiro, Kazushige Hotta, Koji Ohgata, Yasuyoshi Mishima, Nobuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7371631
    Abstract: For enhancing the high performance of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having an MONOS type transistor, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided with MONOS type transistors having improved performance in which the memory cell of an MONOS non-volatile memory comprises a control transistor and a memory transistor. A control gate of the control transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is formed over a gate insulative film comprising a silicon oxide film. A memory gate of the memory transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is disposed on one of the side walls of the control gate. The memory gate comprises a doped polycrystal silicon film with a sheet resistance lower than that of the control gate comprising a polycrystal silicon film formed by ion implantation of impurities to the undoped silicon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakai, Yasushi Ishii, Tsutomu Okazaki, Masaru Nakamichi, Toshikazu Matsui, Kyoya Nitta, Satoru Machida, Munekatsu Nakagawa, Yuichi Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7364969
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming polysilicon nanocrystals on a tunnel oxide overlying a first region of a substrate. A second dielectric is deposited overlying the first region and a second region. Without providing any protective layer overlying the second dielectric in the first region, an additional thermal oxidation step is performed without oxidizing the nanocrystals. A gate electrode film is then deposited over the second dielectric and patterned to form first and second gate electrodes. The second dielectric may be an annealed, CVD oxide. The additional thermal oxidation may include forming by dry oxidation a third dielectric overlying a third region of the semiconductor substrate. The dry oxidation produces a interfacial silicon oxide underlying the second dielectric in the second region. An upper surface of a fourth region of the substrate may then be exposed and a fourth dielectric formed on the upper surface in the fourth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin J. Prinz, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Publication number: 20080067554
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory device includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers, device isolation layer patterns disposed in predetermined regions of each of the plurality of semiconductor layers, the device isolation layers defining active regions, source and drain impurity regions in the active regions, a source line plug structure electrically connecting the source impurity regions, and a bit-line plug structure electrically connecting the drain impurity regions, wherein the source impurity regions are electrically connected to the semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jae-Hun Jeong, Ki-Nam Kim, Soon-Moon Jung, Jae-Hoon Jang
  • Publication number: 20080001211
    Abstract: A NOR flash memory device includes a substrate having trenches that extend in a first direction and stepped portions that are arranged between the trenches. A bit region having a linear shape extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in the substrate. The bit region is doped with impurities. A first dielectric layer is on the substrate having the trenches. An electric charge trap layer is on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is on the electric charge trap layer. An upper electrode is on sidewalls of the trenches. The upper electrode has a spacer shape. Related fabrication methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Byung-Kyu Cho, Tae-Yong Kim, Choong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7312503
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of local bit lines, a global bit line, a first switch element, and a holding circuit. The memory cell includes first and second MOS transistors. The first MOS transistor has a charge accumulation layer and a control gate. The second MOS transistor has one end of its current path connected to one end of a current path of the first MOS transistor. The local bit line connects other end of the current paths of the first MOS transistors. The first switch element makes a connection between the local bit lines and the global bit line. The holding circuit is connected to the global bit line and holds data to be written into the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Umezawa, Takehiro Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20070284645
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region. A first gate electrode is disposed on the first region. A multi-layered charge storage layer is interposed between the first gate electrode and the substrate, the multi-layered charge storage including a tunnel insulation, a trap insulation, and a blocking insulation layer which are sequentially stacked. A second gate electrode is placed on the substrate of the second region, the second gate electrode including a lower gate and an upper gate connected to a region of an upper surface of the lower gate. A gate insulation layer is interposed between the second gate electrode and the substrate. The first gate electrode and the upper gate of the second gate electrode comprise a same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Kyu-Charn Park
  • Patent number: RE44156
    Abstract: First of all, a semiconductor substrate is provided, and then a first/second wells with a first conductivity are formed therein so as to individually form a first part of the floating gate of single-level EEPROM and a low-voltage device thereon, wherein the first and the second wells are used to separate the high-voltage device, and the depth of the first well is the same as the second well. Furthermore, the high-voltage device and the second part of the floating gate of single-level EEPROM are individually formed on the semiconductor substrate between the first and the second wells, and the control gate of the floating gate of single-level EEPROM is formed in the third well located under the second part of the floating gate of single-level EEPROM, wherein the high-voltage device can be operated in the opposite electric field about 18V, such as ?6V˜12V, ?12V˜6V, ?9V˜9V etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Rong-Ching Chen, Ching-Chun Huang, Jy-Hwang Lin