Resistor Only (epo) Patents (Class 257/E27.047)
  • Patent number: 11588008
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a polysilicon resistor having a plurality of segments, including first, second and third segments, the second segment located between and running about parallel to the first and third segments. A first header connects the first and second segments, and a second header connects the second and third segments. A first metal silicide layer located over the first header extends over the first and second segments toward the second header. A second metal silicide layer located over the second header extends over the second and third segments toward the first header. A dielectric layer is located over and contacts the first, second and third segments between the first and second metal silicide layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Mahalingam Nandakumar
  • Patent number: 11562837
    Abstract: Particularly, it is an object to provide a circuit substrate that can reduce a field intensity near an electrode having a high potential. A circuit substrate of the present invention includes an insulated substrate, a thin-film resistive element, and electrodes electrically connected to both sides of the thin-film resistive element, the thin-film resistive element and the electrodes being disposed on a surface of the insulated substrate. The circuit substrate is characterized in that the thin-film resistive element has a pattern in which a resistance wire is repeatedly folded back, and a dummy wire for reducing a field intensity is provided on a high-potential electrode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: KOA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Kanegae
  • Patent number: 11509225
    Abstract: This power supply IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit device serving as a main part for controlling a switching power supply and is formed by integrating a feedback resistor and an output feedback control unit on a single semiconductor substrate, said feedback resistor generating a feedback voltage by dividing the output voltage of the switching power supply (or the induced voltage appearing across an auxiliary winding provided on the primary side of a transformer included in an insulation-type switching power supply), said output feedback control unit performing output feedback control of the switching power supply in accordance with the feedback voltage. The feedback resistor is a polysilicon resistor having a withstand voltage of 100 V or more. A high-voltage region having higher withstand voltage in the substrate thickness direction than the other region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and the feedback resistor is formed on the high-voltage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Nate, Yoshinori Sato
  • Patent number: 11336245
    Abstract: Differential amplifier circuitry including: first and second main transistors of a given conductivity type; and first and second auxiliary transistors of an opposite conductivity type, where the first and second main transistors are connected along first and second main current paths passing between first and second main voltage reference nodes and first and second output nodes, respectively, with their source terminals connected to the first and second output nodes, respectively, and with their gate terminals controlled by component input signals of a differential input signal; and the first and second auxiliary transistors are connected along first and second auxiliary current paths passing between first and second auxiliary voltage reference nodes and the first and second output nodes, respectively, with their drain terminals connected to the first and second output nodes, respectively, and with their gate terminals controlled by the component input signals of the differential input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Armin Jalili Sebardan, Alistair John Gratrex
  • Patent number: 10354951
    Abstract: A device including a thin film resistor (TFR) structure. The TFR structure is accessible by one or more conductive vias that extend vertically from an upper metal layer to completely penetrate a TFR layer positioned thereunder. The conductive vias are coupled to one or more sidewalls of the TFR layer at or near the sites of penetration. The TFR structure can be manufactured by a method that includes etching a via trench completely through the TFR layer and a dielectric layer above the TFR layer, and filling the via trench with a conductor coupled to a sidewall of the TFR layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Dhishan Kande, Qi-Zhong Hong, Abbas Ali, Gregory B. Shinn
  • Patent number: 10123117
    Abstract: Input impedance biasing may be improved with an ultra-high-input-impedance biasing circuit having low temperature variation. The impedance biasing circuit may include a first transistor coupled to a first power supply and a second transistor coupled to a second power supply. A gate of the first transistor may be coupled to a gate of the second transistor at an intermediate bias node. The first transistor and the second transistor may provide a selected DC impedance at the intermediate bias node. The impedance may be used to provide low-pass and or high-pass filtering of audio signals and/or noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Saraf, Axel Thomsen, Ravi Kummaraguntla, John C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 10026802
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having a resistor including silicide layers and a polysilicon layer with impurities, and the resistor includes a plurality of boundary surfaces between the silicide layers and the polysilicon layer in a longitudinal direction of the resistor, permitting correction with one photomask when a resistance value of a resistor is deviated from a design value while suppressing upsizing of a semiconductor device. Further, provided is a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, in which the resistance value is adjusted by changing one mask for forming the silicide layers to change the number of boundary surfaces between the silicide layers and the polysilicon layer, and change a length of the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Naoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9638589
    Abstract: A method and corresponding system are provided for determining a three-dimensional stress field of an object having a flat surface. At least four flat resistors are placed on the flat surface of the object, with at least one of the resistors having a geometry different from that of the others. A variation of resistance of the resistors is measured. The three-dimensional stress field is determined from a system of equations involving the stress field, values of variations of the measured resistive values and sensitivity parameters of the resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Vincent Fiori, Pierre Bar, Sébastien Gallois-Garreignot
  • Patent number: 9627467
    Abstract: A novel integrated circuit and method thereof are provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of first interconnect pads, a plurality of second interconnect pads, a first inter-level dielectric layer, a thin film resistor, and at least two end-caps. The end-caps, which are connectors for the thin film resistor, are positioned at the same level with the plurality of second interconnect pads. Therefore, an electrical connection between the end-caps and the plurality of second interconnect pads can be formed by directly connection of them. An integrated circuit with a thin film resistor can be made in a cost benefit way accordingly, so as to overcome disadvantages mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Tai Tseng, Ming-Chyi Liu, Chung-Yen Chou, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 9438353
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical communication receiver capable of compensating a DC offset while preventing an input load effect. The optical communication receiver includes an optical signal detector; an amplifier inputted with a photocurrent outputted from the optical signal detector; and a DC offset compensation unit provided therein with a third transistor and a fifth transistor which are connected in series to each other to prevent an input load effect, wherein the DC offset compensation unit compensates a DC offset by outputting at least a portion of DC current inputted to the amplifier to ground through the third transistor and the fifth transistor when the photocurrent is an over current more than a predetermined set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University, OE Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Yeoul Yun, Moon Soo Park, Ji-Young Lee, Ji-Young Lee, Jun-Young Park
  • Patent number: 8952492
    Abstract: An embodiment of an electrically trimmable electronic device, wherein a resistor of electrically modifiable material is formed by a first generally strip-shaped portion and by a second generally strip-shaped portion, which extend transversely with respect to one another and are in direct electrical contact in a crossing area. The first and second portions have respective ends connected to own contact regions, coupled to a current pulse source and are made of the same material or of the same composition of materials starting from a same resistive layer of the material having electrically modifiable resistivity, for example, a phase-change material, such as a Ge—Sb—Te alloy, or polycrystalline silicon, or a metal material used for thin-film resistors. The trimming is performed by supplying a trimming current to the second portion so as to heat the crossing area and modify the resistivity thereof, without flowing longitudinally in the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefania Maria Serena Privitera, Antonello Santangelo
  • Patent number: 8878342
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are direct to nanoscale, reconfigurable, memristor devices. In one aspect, a memristor device comprises an electrode (301,303) and an alloy electrode (502,602). The device also includes an active region (510,610) sandwiched between the electrode and the alloy electrode. The alloy electrode forms dopants in a sub-region of the active region adjacent to the alloy electrode. The active region can be operated by selectively positioning the dopants within the active region to control the flow of charge carriers between the electrode and the alloy electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Quitoriano, Douglas Ohlberg, Philip J. Kuekes, Jianhua Yang
  • Patent number: 8829581
    Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a stack comprising conductor layers and insulator layers, with the edges of the conductor layers and insulating layers exposed on the sides of the stack. An insulator is disposed on a first side of the stack to cover exposed edges of the conductor layers on the first side of the stack. A memory layer disposed over the stack and insulator, such that the memory layer is in electrical contact with edges of the conductor layers on a second side of the stack but is insulated from edges on the first side of the stack by the insulator. A conductive ribbon is disposed over the memory layer to form programmable memory elements where the conductive ribbon crosses edges of the conductor layers on the second side of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shih-Yuan Wang, Jianhua Yang, Alexandre M. Bratkovski, R. Stanley Williams
  • Patent number: 8829649
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer), a resistive element that is disposed over the first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer) and at least a surface layer of which is a TaSiN layer, and an interlayer insulating layer disposed over the first insulating layer (interlayer insulating layer) and the resistive element. Multiple via plugs having ends coupled to the TaSiN layer are disposed in the interlayer insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kawahara, Naoya Inoue, Naoya Furutake, Yoshihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8772880
    Abstract: A high-speed semiconductor integrated circuit device is achieved by adjusting an offset voltage. For example, dummy NMOS transistors MND1 (MND1a and MND1b) and MND2 (MND2a and MND2b) are connected to drain outputs of NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 operated according to differential input signals Din_p and Din_n, respectively. The MND1 is arranged adjacent to the MN1, and a source of the MND1a and a drain of the MN1 share a diffusion layer. The MND2 is arranged adjacent to the MN2, and a source of the MND2a and a drain of the MN2 share a diffusion layer. The MND1 and the MND2 function as dummy transistors for suppressing variations in process of the MN1 and the MN2 and, and besides, they also function as means for adjusting the offset voltage by appropriately applying an offset-amount setting signal OFST to each gate to provide a capacitor to either the MN1 or the MN2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fukuda, Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8692329
    Abstract: An electric resistance element comprising: a base body, which is formed with a semiconductor material; a first contact element, which is electrically conductively connected to the base body; and a second contact element, which is electrically conductively connected to the base body. The base body has a first main surface into which a cutout is introduced. The first contact element is electrically conductively connected to the base body at least in places in the cutout. The base body has a second main surface, which is arranged in a manner lying opposite the first main surface. The second contact element is electrically conductively connected to the base body at least in places at the second main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Krister Bergenek
  • Patent number: 8679936
    Abstract: An anneal recipe is provided to tighten the distribution of resistance values in the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits. An adjusted amount of dopant is implanted to compensate for a shift in the distribution of resistance values associated with the anneal recipe. The distribution tightening can be effectuated by including an ammonia gas flow in the anneal recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thanas Budri, Jerald M. Rock, Randy Supczak
  • Publication number: 20140070365
    Abstract: Embodiments of semiconductor devices (e.g., RF devices) include a substrate, an isolation structure, an active device, a lead, and a circuit. The isolation structure is coupled to the substrate, and includes an opening. An active device area is defined by a portion of the substrate surface that is exposed through the opening. The active device is coupled to the substrate surface within the active device area. The circuit is electrically coupled between the active device and the lead. The circuit includes one or more elements positioned outside the active device area (e.g., physically coupled to the isolation structure and/or under the lead). The elements positioned outside the active device area may include elements of an envelope termination circuit and/or an impedance matching circuit. Embodiments also include method of manufacturing such semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Lakshminarayan Viswanathan, Jeffrey K. Jones, Scott D. Marshall
  • Patent number: 8643144
    Abstract: A current sense resistor integrated with an integrated circuit die housed in a chip-scale semiconductor package includes a metal layer formed over a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die where the metal layer having an array of metal pillars extending therefrom. The metal pillars are to be electrically connected to a first conductive electrode and a second conductive electrode external to the chip-scale semiconductor package where the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode are physically separated from each other by a separation of a first distance. The current sense resistor is formed in a portion of the metal layer spanning the separation between the first and second conductive electrodes. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device including an integrated circuit die housed in a chip-scale semiconductor package includes a current sense resistor formed in a metal layer formed over a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Jackson
  • Patent number: 8643143
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a metal dummy pattern and a thin film resistor. In detail, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a thin film resistor, and a metal dummy pattern. The thin film resistor disposed over the semiconductor substrate and extending in a first direction relative to the semiconductor substrate. The metal dummy pattern disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the thin film resistor, the metal dummy pattern including a reflective pattern extending in the first direction semiconductor substrate and spatially corresponding to a periphery of the thin film resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Eun Lee
  • Patent number: 8581364
    Abstract: Provided are resistance memory devices and methods of forming the same. The resistance memory devices include a first electrode and a second electrode on a substrate, a transition metal oxide layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte layer interposed between the second electrode and the transition metal oxide layer, and conductive bridges having one end that is electrically connected to the second electrode on the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: KyungTae Nam, Ingyu Baek
  • Publication number: 20130277750
    Abstract: A system and method for forming a resistor system is provided. An embodiment comprises a resistor formed in a U-shape. The resistor may comprise multiple layers of conductive materials, with a dielectric layer filling the remainder of the U-shape. The resistor may be integrated with a dual metal gate manufacturing process or may be integrated with multiple types of resistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Yao Lai, Chun-Yi Lee, Shyh-Wei Wang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8531004
    Abstract: A current sense resistor integrated with an integrated circuit die where the integrated circuit die is housed in a chip-scale semiconductor package includes a metal layer formed over a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die where the metal layer has an array of metal pillars extending therefrom. The metal pillars are to be electrically connected to a first conductive trace portion and a second conductive trace portion formed on a printed circuit board where the first conductive trace portion and the second conductive trace portion are electrically isolated from each other and physically separated by a separation of a first distance. The current sense resistor is formed in a portion of the metal layer spanning the separation between the first and second metal trace portions, the first and second conductive trace portions forming terminals of the current sense resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Jackson
  • Patent number: 8482100
    Abstract: A resistor array includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of isolation regions, a plurality of dummy active regions and a plurality of unit resistors. The plurality of isolation regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of dummy active regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate between the plurality of isolation regions. The plurality of unit resistors are formed on the plurality of dummy active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 8440522
    Abstract: A method for increasing an electrical resistance of a resistor that is within a semiconductor structure. A fraction of a surface layer of the resistor is oxidized with oxygen particles. In an embodiment, the fraction of the surface layer is heated by a beam of particles, such that the semiconductor structure is within a chamber that includes the oxygen particles as gaseous oxygen-comprising molecules. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure is immersed in a chemical solution which includes the oxygen particles, wherein the oxygen particles includes oxygen-comprising liquid molecules, oxygen ions, or an oxygen-comprising gas dissolved in the chemical solution under pressurization. In an embodiment, the resistor is tested to determine whether the electrical resistance of the resistor after being oxidized with the oxygen particles is within a tolerance of a predetermined target resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Daniel C. Edelstein, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8440990
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory device having an interface layer structure disposed between at least one of the electrodes and a variable resistance layer formed in the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of forming the same. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players. In one configuration of the resistive switching nonvolatile memory device, the interface layer structure comprises a passivation region, an interface coupling region, and/or a variable resistance layer interface region that are configured to adjust the nonvolatile memory device's performance, such as lowering the formed device's switching currents and reducing the device's forming voltage, and reducing the performance variation from one formed device to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun Wang, Tony Chiang, Imran Hashim
  • Patent number: 8436446
    Abstract: A method, structure, and design structure for a through-silicon-via Wilkinson power divider. A method includes: forming an input on a first side of a substrate; forming a first leg comprising a first through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the first leg electrically connects the input and a first output; forming a second leg comprising a second through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the second leg electrically connects the input and a second output, and forming a resistor electrically connected between the first output and the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Alvin J. Joseph, Wayne H. Woods, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130093055
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate, the first insulation layer including a lower metal line, a metal head pattern on the first insulation layer, the metal head pattern including an inclined side surface, a thin film resistor pattern on the metal head pattern, a second insulation layer on the metal head pattern and the thin film resistor pattern, an upper metal line on the second insulation layer, a first via connecting the lower metal line to the upper metal line, and a second via connecting the metal head pattern to the upper metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Chang Eun Lee
  • Publication number: 20130032926
    Abstract: An adjustable resistor formed on a first insulating layer of a substrate, including: a first polysilicon layer covered with a second insulating layer of a first thickness, except in a region where the first polysilicon layer is covered with a thin insulator layer of a second thickness smaller than the first thickness; a second polysilicon layer covering the second insulating layer and the thin insulator layer; on each side of the second insulating layer and at a distance from it, a first and a second conductive vias providing access to the terminals of the resistor on the first polysilicon layer; and a third conductive via providing access to a contacting area on the second polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Pascal FORNARA, Arnaud Regnier
  • Patent number: 8338914
    Abstract: The formation of devices in semiconductor material is provided using an HF/HCL cleaning process. In one embodiment, the method includes forming at least one hard mask overlaying at least one layer of resistive material, forming at least one opening to a working surface of a silicon substrate of the semiconductor device, and cleaning the semiconductor device with a diluted HF/HCL process. The HF/HCL process includes applying a dilute of HF for a select amount of time and applying a dilute of HCL for a specific amount of time. After cleaning with the diluted HF/HCL process, a silicide contact junction is formed in the at least one opening to the working surface of the silicon substrate, and interconnect metal layers are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Gasner, John Stanton, Dustin A. Woodbury, James D. Beasom
  • Patent number: 8325507
    Abstract: A memristor includes a first electrode of a nanoscale width; a second electrode of a nanoscale width; and an active region disposed between the first and second electrodes. The active region has a both a non-conducting portion and a source of dopants portion induced by electric field. The non-conducting portion comprises an electronically semiconducting or nominally insulating material and a weak ionic conductor switching material capable of carrying a species of dopants and transporting the dopants under an electric field. The non-conducting portion is in contact with the first electrode and the source of dopants portion is in contact with the second electrode. The second electrode comprises a metal reservoir for the dopants. A crossbar array comprising a plurality of the nanoscale switching devices is also provided. A process for making at least one nanoscale switching device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jianhua Yang, Wei Yi, Michael Josef Stuke, Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20120212303
    Abstract: A method, structure, and design structure for a through-silicon-via Wilkinson power divider. A method includes: forming an input on a first side of a substrate; forming a first leg comprising a first through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the first leg electrically connects the input and a first output; forming a second leg comprising a second through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the second leg electrically connects the input and a second output, and forming a resistor electrically connected between the first output and the second output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi DING, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Wayne H. WOODS, JR.
  • Patent number: 8203134
    Abstract: Memory cells of a memory device including a variable resistance material have a cavity between the memory cells. Electronic systems include such memory devices. Methods of forming a memory device include providing a cavity between memory cells of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Liu
  • Publication number: 20120056303
    Abstract: A resistor array includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of isolation regions, a plurality of dummy active regions and a plurality of unit resistors. The plurality of isolation regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of dummy active regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate between the plurality of isolation regions. The plurality of unit resistors are formed on the plurality of dummy active regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young-Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 8049305
    Abstract: A resistance-change memory device using stress engineering is described, including a first layer including a first conductive electrode, a second layer above the first layer including a resistive-switching element, a third layer above the second layer including a second conductive electrode, where a first stress is created in the switching element at a first interface between the first layer and the second layer upon heating the memory element, and where a second stress is created in the switching element at a second interface between the second layer and the third layer upon the heating. A stress gradient equal to a difference between the first stress and the second stress has an absolute value greater than 50 MPa, and a reset voltage of the memory element has a polarity relative to a common electrical potential that has a sign opposite the stress gradient when applied to the first conductive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Prashant Phatak, Tony Chiang
  • Patent number: 8026556
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resistive divider circuit, includes providing a silicon body having a plurality of opposing pairs of intermediate taps extending therefrom. Each tap comprises a thin silicon stem supporting a relatively wider silicon platform. A silicidation protection (SIPROT) layer is deposited over the body and intermediate taps and then patterned to expose the platform. A silicidation process is performed to silicidate the platform to form a contact pad of relatively low resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Andy C. Negoi
  • Patent number: 8000126
    Abstract: A phase change memory is formed of a plug buried within a through-hole in an insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, an interface layer formed on the insulating film in which the plug is buried, a recording layer formed of a chalcogenide layer formed on the interface layer, and an upper contact electrode formed on the recording layer. The recording layer storing information according to resistance value change is made of chalcogenide material containing indium in an amount range from 20 atomic % to 38 atomic %, germanium in a range from 9 atomic % to 28 atomic %, antimony in a range from 3 atomic % to 18 atomic %, and tellurium in a range from 42 atomic % to 63 atomic %, where the content of germanium larger than or equal to the content of antimony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Morikawa, Motoyasu Terao, Norikatsu Takaura, Kenzo Kurotsuchi, Nozomu Matsuzaki, Yoshihisa Fujisaki, Masaharu Kinoshita, Yuichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7999352
    Abstract: A semiconductor device equipped with a metal thin film resistor is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a second interlayer insulating film formed on a first interlayer insulating film including a formation area of a wiring pattern. Connecting holes are formed in the second interlayer insulating film corresponding to both ends of the metal thin film resistor and the wiring pattern. An upper part of each connecting hole is formed in a taper shape. A sidewall is formed on the inner wall of each connecting hole. The metal thin film resistor is formed on the second interlayer insulating film between the connecting holes, inside of each connecting hole, and on the wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Yamashita, Yasunori Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20110163389
    Abstract: A precision low capacitance resistor is formed, e.g., in a bulk substrate. An embodiment includes forming a source/drain region on a substrate, patterning a portion of the source/drain region to form segments, etching the segments to substantially separate an upper section of each segment from a lower section of each segment, and filling the space between the segments with an insulating material. The resulting structure maintains electrical connection between the segments at end pads, but separates the resistor segments from the bottom substrate, thereby avoiding capacitive coupling with the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Soss
  • Patent number: 7923783
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resistance element which is constructed with a first conductor which extends in a first direction and is connected to a first contact; a second conductor which extends in said first direction and is connected to a second contact; and a first insulation film which exists between said first conductor and said second conductor, said first insulation film also having an opening in which a third conductor which connects said first conductor and said second conductor is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takumi Abe
  • Patent number: 7880235
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device has an SOI substrate comprising an insulating film laminated on a semiconductor support substrate and a semiconductor thin film laminated on the insulating film. A first N-channel MOS transistor, a first P-channel MOS transistor, and a resistor are each disposed on the semiconductor thin film. A second N-channel MOS transistor serving as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor support substrate that is exposed by removing a part of the semiconductor thin film and a part of the insulating film. The second N-channel MOS transistor has a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region surrounding the source region through the gate electrode to maintain a constant distance between the drain region and the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Naoto Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7855434
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided wherein a foundation insulating film is formed over a semiconductor substrate, a metal resistance element is formed on the foundation insulating film, and contacts are formed at both ends of the metal resistance element in a longitudinal direction of the metal resistance element and connected to the metal resistance element. The foundation insulating film comprises a single upwardly concave curved surface constituting not less than about 40 percent of an upper surface of the metal resistance element between the contacts in the longitudinal direction thereof. The curved surface of the foundation insulating film causes the metal resistance element to comprise a single upwardly concave curved surface constituting not less than about 40 percent of upper and lower surfaces of the metal resistance element between the contacts in the longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimihiko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7843037
    Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate active region, a plurality of first conductivity type silicon pillars, and a plurality of second conductivity type silicon patterns. The plurality of first conductivity type silicon pillars is formed on the semiconductor active region such that each first conductivity type silicon pillar is provided for two adjoining cells. The plurality of second conductivity type silicon patterns is formed on the plurality of first conductivity type silicon pillars such that two second conductivity type silicon patterns are formed on opposite sidewalls of each first conductivity type silicon pillars. Two adjoining cells together share only one first conductivity type silicon pillar and each adjoining cell is connected to only one second conductivity type silicon pattern which constitutes a PN diode which serves as a single switching element for each corresponding cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung Do Kim
  • Patent number: 7829428
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for eliminating a mask layer during the manufacture of thin film resistor circuits. The method of the present invention enables the simultaneous etching of both deep vias and shallow vias using one mask layer instead of two mask layers. A high selectivity film layer of silicon nitride is formed on the ends of a thin film resistor layer. The thickness of the silicon nitride causes the etch time for a shallow via to the thin film resistor to be approximately equal to an etch time for a deep via that is etched through dielectric material to an underlying patterned metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yaojian Leng, Rodney Hill, Terry Lines
  • Patent number: 7808048
    Abstract: A buried thin film resistor having end caps defined by a dielectric mask is disclosed. A thin film resistor is formed on an integrated circuit substrate. A resistor protect layer is formed over the thin film resistor. A layer of dielectric material is formed over the resistor protect layer. The dielectric material is masked and dry etched to leave a first portion of dielectric material over a first end of the thin film resistor and a second portion of dielectric material over a second end of the thin film resistor. The resistor protect layer is then wet etched using the first and second portions of the dielectric material as a hard mask. Then a second dielectric layer is deposited and vias are etched down to the underlying portions of the resistor protect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Hill, Victor Torres, William Max Coppock, Richard W. Foote, Jr., Terry L. Lines, Tom Bold
  • Patent number: 7759770
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a memory element coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode, the memory element includes fast-operation resistance changing material doped with dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Thomas Happ, Jan Boris Philipp
  • Patent number: 7750431
    Abstract: Storage cells for a semiconductor device can include a first layer of phase change material on a substrate and a second layer of phase change material being in contact with the first layer, the second layer of phase change material having a higher resistance than the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Horii Hideki
  • Patent number: 7737527
    Abstract: Provided are a phase change material containing carbon (C), a memory device including the phase change material, and a method of operating the memory device. The phase change material contains a main compound and an additive, wherein the main compound is In—Sb—Te and the additive includes carbon (C). A content a of the carbon (C) may be 0.005?a?0.30 atomic (at) %. The additive may further contain nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), boron (B), or a transition metal. The additive may include carbide instead of the carbon (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn-seon Kang, Dong-seok Suh
  • Patent number: 7691717
    Abstract: A polysilicon containing resistor includes: (1) a p dopant selected from the group consisting of boron and boron difluoride; and (2) an n dopant selected from the group consisting of arsenic and phosphorus. Each of the p dopant and the n dopant has a dopant concentration from about 1e18 to about 1e21 dopant atoms per cubic centimeter. A method for forming the polysilicon resistor uses corresponding implant doses from about 1e14 to about 1e16 dopant ions per square centimeter. The p dopant and the n dopant may be provided simultaneously or sequentially. The method provides certain polysilicon resistors with a sheet resistance percentage standard deviation of less than about 1.5%, for a polysilicon resistor having a sheet resistance from about 100 to about 5000 ohms per square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anil K. Chinthakindi, Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Ebenezer E. Eshun, John E. Florkey, Robert M. Rassel, Kunal Vaed
  • Patent number: 7602044
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and groups of resistors made of polycrystalline silicon and disposed on the first insulating film. At least some of the groups of resistors include at least one dummy resistor made of polycrystalline silicon. A second insulating film is disposed on the resistors and on the at least one dummy resistor of the resistor groups. First metal portions are disposed in respective contact holes disposed in the second insulating film for connecting respective portions of the resistors in the respective resistor groups. Second metal portions are disposed on the second insulating film and over the resistors and the at least one dummy resistor in the respective resistor groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Harada