Dynamic Random Access Memory, Dram, Structure (epo) Patents (Class 257/E27.084)
  • Publication number: 20100276742
    Abstract: A memory structure has a vertically oriented access transistor with an annular gate region. A transistor is fabricated such that the channel of the transistor extends outward with respect to the surface of the substrate. An annular gate is fabricated around the vertical channel such that it partially or completely surrounds the channel. A buried annular bitline may also be implemented. After the vertically oriented transistor is fabricated with the annular gate, a storage device may be fabricated over the transistor to provide a memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas W. Voshell, Lucien J. Bissey, Kevin G. Duesman
  • Publication number: 20100270601
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a FeRAM semiconductor device having reduce single bit fails. This aspect includes forming an electrical contact within a dielectric layer located over a semiconductor substrate and forming a first barrier layer over the dielectric layer and the electrical contact. The first barrier layer is formed by depositing multiple barrier layers and densifying each of the barrier layers after its deposition. This forms a stack of multiple barrier layers of a same elemental composition. The method further includes forming a second barrier layer over the first barrier layer and forming a lower capacitor electrode, a ferroelectric dielectric layer over the lower capacitor, and forming an upper capacitor electrode over the ferroelectric dielectric layer. A device made by this method is also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Ted S. Moise, Qi-Du Jiang
  • Publication number: 20100270602
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, which reduce parasitic capacitance generated between a storage node contact and a bit line of a high-integration semiconductor device. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming a buried word line in an active region of a cell region, forming an insulation layer in the cell region and a lower electrode layer of a gate in a peripheral region so that a height of the insulation layer is substantially equal to that of the lower electrode layer, and providing a first conductive layer over the cell region and the peripheral region to form a bit line layer and an upper electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Woong CHOI
  • Patent number: 7821058
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory including: a columnar semiconductor; a charge storage insulating film including: a first insulating film formed around the columnar semiconductor, a charge storage film formed around the first insulating film, and a second insulating film formed around the charge storage film; an electrode extending two-dimensionally to surround the charge storage insulating film, the electrode having a groove; and a metal silicide formed on a sidewall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kidoh, Ryota Katsumata, Masaru Kito, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Hideaki Aochi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yasuyuki Matsuoka, Yoshio Ozawa, Mitsuru Sato
  • Publication number: 20100264478
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes forming a trench isolation structure in a dynamic random memory region (DRAM) of a substrate and patterning an etch mask over the trench structure to expose a portion of the trench structure. A portion of the exposed trench structure is removed to form a gate trench that includes a first corner formed by the substrate and a second corner formed by the trench structure. The etch mask is removed and the first corner of the gate trench is rounded to form a rounded corner. This is followed by the formation of an oxide layer over a sidewall of the gate trench, the first rounded corner, and the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate trench. The trench is filled with a gate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Nace M. Rossi, Ranbir Singh, Xiaojun Yuan
  • Publication number: 20100264476
    Abstract: To securely prevent hydrogen from entering a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric memory. A first hydrogen barrier layer 5 is formed on the lower side of ferroelectric capacitors 7. Upper surfaces and side surfaces of the ferroelectric capacitors 7 are covered by a second hydrogen barrier layer. All upper electrodes 7c of the plural ferroelectric capacitors 7 to be connected to a common plate line P are connected to one another by an upper wiring layer 91. The upper wiring layer 91 is connected to the plate line P through a lower wiring 32 provided below the ferroelectric capacitors 7. A third hydrogen barrier layer 92 is formed on the upper wiring layer 91 such that all edge sections 92a of the third hydrogen barrier layer 92 come in contact with the first hydrogen barrier layer 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Fukada
  • Patent number: 7816721
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device which is non-volatile, easily manufactured, and can be additionally written. A semiconductor device of the invention includes a plurality of transistors, a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the transistors, and a memory element which overlaps one of the plurality of transistors, and a conductive layer which functions as an antenna. The memory element includes a first conductive layer, an organic compound layer and a phase change layer, and a second conductive layer stacked in this order. The conductive layer which functions as an antenna and a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the plurality of transistors are provided on the same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hiroko Abe, Yukie Nemoto, Ryoji Nomura, Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7807989
    Abstract: Provided is a phase-change memory using a single-element semimetallic thin film. The device includes a storage node having a phase-change material layer and a switching element connected to the storage node, wherein the storage node includes a single-element semimetallic thin film which is formed between an upper electrode and a lower electrode. Thus, the write speed of the phase-change memory can be increased compared with the case of a Ge—Sb—Te (GST) based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-yon Lee, Ki-joon Kim, Jun-ho Lee, Cheol-kyu Kim
  • Publication number: 20100244112
    Abstract: Disclosed are integrated circuit structures each having a silicon germanium film incorporated as a local interconnect and/or an electrical contact. These integrated circuit structures provide improved local interconnects between devices and/or increased capacitance to devices without significantly increasing structure surface area or power requirements. Specifically, disclosed are integrated circuit structures that incorporate a silicon germanium film as one or more of the following features: as a local interconnect between devices; as an electrical contact to a device (e.g., a deep trench capacitor, a source/drain region of a transistor, etc.); as both an electrical contact to a deep trench capacitor and a local interconnect between the deep trench capacitor and another device; and as both an electrical contact to a deep trench capacitor and as a local interconnect between the deep trench capacitor and other devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Steven H. Voldman
  • Publication number: 20100237396
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors. A first capacitor storage node may be formed within a first opening in a first sacrificial material. A second sacrificial material may be formed over the first capacitor storage node and over the first sacrificial material, and a retaining structure may be formed over the second sacrificial material. A second opening may be formed through the retaining structure and the second sacrificial material, and a second capacitor storage node may be formed within the second opening and against the first storage node. The first and second sacrificial materials may be removed, and then capacitor dielectric material may be formed along the first and second storage nodes. Capacitor electrode material may then be formed along the capacitor dielectric material. Some embodiments include methods of forming DRAM unit cells, and some embodiments include DRAM unit cell constructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: John Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20100237394
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes unit active regions, word lines extending in a first direction over the unit active region, bit lines extending on the word lines in a second direction substantially perpendicularly to the first direction, first pad contacts in contact with central portions of the unit active regions, the first pad contacts being arranged between the word lines, direct contacts electrically connected between the first pad contacts and the bit lines, second pad contacts in contact with edge portions of the unit active regions, the second pad contacts being arranged between the word lines and between the bit lines, buried contacts electrically connected to the second pad contacts, and capacitors electrically connected to the buried contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jai-Kyun Park, Hyeong-Sun Hong, Jong-Seop Lee, Yong-Il Kim, Yun-Sung Lee, Nam-Jung Kang, Jae-Hoon Song, Gil-Sub Kim
  • Patent number: 7800111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trench silicon-on-insulator (SOI) dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell and a method for making the same. A source and a drain are utilized to each connect to one of two semiconductor conductive units on an external side of a main body having a plurality of semiconductor conductive units, and the semiconductor conductive units are utilized to accumulate electric charges generated from the drain so as to decrease a threshold voltage. In addition, the DRAM cell only uses one field effect transistor (FET) device (1T), has characteristics of the conventional 1T-DRAM, and has higher integration density. Moreover, the process of the invention is simple, so the production cost can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-Sen University
    Inventors: Jyi-Tsong Lin, Kuo-Dong Huang, Kao-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 7800157
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including: sequentially forming a first insulating film, a first electrode film, a second insulating film, and a second electrode film on a substrate; forming a groove that separates the second electrode film, the second insulating film and the first electrode film; forming an insulating film inside the groove so that an upper surface thereof is positioned between upper surfaces of the second electrode film and the second insulating film; forming an overhung portion on the second electrode film so as to overhang on the insulating film by performing a selective growth process; and forming a low resistance layer at the overhung portion and the second electrode film by performing an alloying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihiro Ryusenji, Minori Kajimoto, Yugo Ide
  • Publication number: 20100232212
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure of an array of dynamic random access memory cells. The structure includes: a first fin of a first split-gate fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) device on a substrate; a second fin of a second split-gate fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) device on the substrate; and a back-gate associated with the first fin and the second fin. The back-gate influences a threshold voltage of the first fin and a threshold voltage of the second fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Publication number: 20100230737
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a first layer on an impurity diffusion region in a semiconductor substrate by a selective epitaxial growth method, forming a second layer on the first layer by the selective epitaxial growth method, forming a contact hole penetrating an interlayer insulating film in a thickness direction thereof and reaching the second layer, and filling a conductive material into the contact hole to form a contact plug including the first and second layers and the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Keiji Kuroki
  • Patent number: 7795731
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device has a topmost or highest conductive layer with at least one opening. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and an interlayer insulating layer covering the substrate having the cell array region. The topmost conductive layer is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer in the cell array region. The topmost conductive layer has at least one opening. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided. The openings penetrating the topmost metal layer help hydrogen atoms reach the interfaces of gate insulating layers of cell MOS transistors and/or peripheral MOS transistors during a metal alloy process, thereby improve a performance (production yield and/or refresh characteristics) of a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Sung Park, Ae-Ran Hong
  • Patent number: 7795651
    Abstract: A one transistor DRAM device includes: a substrate with an insulating layer, a first semiconductor layer provided on the insulating layer and including a first source region and a first region which are in contact with the insulating layer and a first floating body between the first source region and the first drain region, a first gate pattern to cover the first floating body, a first interlayer dielectric to cover the first gate pattern, a second semiconductor layer provided on the first interlayer dielectric and including a second source region and a second drain region which are in contact with the first interlayer dielectric and a second floating body between the second source region and the second drain region, and a second gate pattern to cover the second floating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hun Jeong, Ki-Nam Kim, Soon-Moon Jung, Jae-Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 7795661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that contains at least one trench capacitor and at least one vertical transistor, and methods for forming such a semiconductor device. Specifically, the trench capacitor is located in a semiconductor substrate and comprises an outer electrode, an inner electrode, and a node dielectric layer located between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The vertical transistor is located over the trench capacitor and comprises a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a gate dielectric, and a gate electrode. The channel region of the vertical transistor is located in a tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer that is oriented perpendicularly to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, the tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer is embedded in an insulator structure, so that the vertical transistor has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Jack A. Mandelman
  • Patent number: 7795620
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory structure is disclosed, in which, the active area is a donut-type pillar at which a novel vertical transistor is disposed and has a gate filled in the central cavity of the pillar and upper and lower sources/drains located in the upper and the lower portions of the pillar respectively. A buried bit line is formed in the substrate beneath the transistor. A word line is horizontally disposed above the gate. A capacitor is disposed above the word line as well as the gate and electrically connected to the upper source/drain through a node contact. The node contact has a reverse-trench shape with the top surface electrically connected to the capacitor and with the bottom of the sidewalls electrically connected to the upper source/drain. The word line passes through the space confined by the reverse-trench shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuei Huang
  • Publication number: 20100224923
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor memory device may include a plurality of active pillars projecting from a semiconductor substrate, a gate pattern disposed on at least a portion of each of the active pillars with a gate insulator interposed therebetween, and a conductive line disposed on each of the active pillars and below the corresponding gate pattern, the conductive line may be insulated from the semiconductor substrate and the gate pattern, wherein each of the active pillars may include a drain region above the corresponding gate pattern, a body region adjacent to the corresponding gate pattern, and a source region that is in contact with the conductive line below the gate pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Yong-Hoon Son, Jongwook Lee, Jung Ho Kim, SungWoo Hyun
  • Publication number: 20100224925
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure formed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive layer formed over the isolation structure, and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor formed over the isolation structure. The MIM capacitor has a crown shape that includes a top electrode, a first bottom electrode, and a dielectric disposed between the top electrode and the first bottom electrode, the first bottom electrode extending at least to a top surface of the conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Kuo-Chi Tu, Chun-Yao Chen
  • Publication number: 20100224921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a ferroelectric capacitor formed above the lower interlevel insulating film covering a MOS transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, including lamination of a lower electrode, an oxide ferroelectric film, a first upper electrode made of conductive oxide having a stoichiometric composition AOx1 and an actual composition AOx2, a second upper electrode made of conductive oxide having a stoichiometric composition BOy1 and an actual composition BOy2, where y2/y1>x2/x1, and a third upper electrode having a composition containing metal of the platinum group; and a multilayer wiring structure formed above the lower ferroelectric capacitor, and including interlevel insulating films and wirings. Abnormal growth and oxygen vacancies can be prevented which may occur when the upper electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor is made of a conductive oxide film having a low oxidation degree and a conductive oxide film having a high oxidation degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wensheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20100213523
    Abstract: A deep trench structure process for forming a deep trench in a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate has a bulk silicon layer, a buried oxide (BOX) layer and an SOI layer. In the process, the trench fill is recessed only to a level within the SOI layer so as to avoid lateral etching of the BOX layer. The buried strap is then formed followed by the STI oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Byeong Yeol Kim, James Patrick Norum
  • Publication number: 20100213520
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a capacitor element with an improved TDDB life. A semiconductor integrated circuit device (1) includes: a first electrode (4) including a first semiconductor layer which protrudes with respect to a plane of a substrate; a side surface insulating film (5) formed on at least a part of a side surface of the first electrode (4); an upper surface insulating film (6) formed on the first electrode (4) and the side surface insulating film (5); and a second electrode (7) which covers the side surface insulating film (5) and the upper surface insulating film (6). The first electrode (4), the side surface insulating film (5), and the second electrode (7) constitute a capacitor element. A thickness of the upper surface insulating film (6) between the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (7) is larger than a thickness of the side surface insulating film (5) between the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furuta, Takayuki Shirai, Shunsaku Naga
  • Publication number: 20100213522
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor structure in a substrate having a bulk semiconductor layer, a buried oxide (BOX) layer and an SOI layer. During the formation of a trench in the structure, the BOX layer is undercut. The method includes forming a dielectric material on the upper wall of the trench adjacent to the undercutting of the BOX layer and then etching the dielectric material to form a spacer. The spacer fixes the BOX layer undercut and protects it during subsequent steps of forming a bottle-shaped portion of the trench, forming a buried plate in the deep trench; and then forming a trench capacitor. There is also a semiconductor structure, preferably an SOI eDRAM structure, having a spacer which fixes the undercutting in the BOX layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Naftali Eliahu Lustig, Daewon Yang
  • Publication number: 20100213524
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of active pillars protruding from a semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode disposed on at least one sidewall of the active pillar, a first gate insulating layer being disposed between the active pillar and the first gate electrode, a second gate electrode disposed on at least one sidewall of the active pillar over the first gate electrode, a second gate insulating layer being disposed between the active pillar and the second gate electrode, first and second body regions in the active pillar adjacent to respective first and second respective electrodes, and first through third source/drain regions in the active pillar arranged alternately with the first and second body regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Sanghun Jeon, Jongwook Lee, Jong-Hyuk Kang, Heungkyu Park
  • Publication number: 20100213525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor storage device having a memory cell section and a peripheral circuit section each formed using one or more MOS transistors, comprising: a substrate; a dielectric film on the substrate; and a planar semiconductor layer formed on the on-substrate dielectric layer, wherein: the at least one MOS transistor in the memory cell section comprises a selection transistor, the at least one MOS transistor in the peripheral circuit section comprises a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor which are different in conductivity type from each other, the first MOS transistor includes a first lower drain or source region formed in the planar semiconductor layer, a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer formed on the planar semiconductor layer, a first upper source or drain region formed in an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a first gate electrode formed such that the first gate electrode surrounds a sidewall of the first pillar-shaped s
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Unisantis Electronics (Japan) Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Shintaro Arai
  • Patent number: 7781773
    Abstract: A transistor array for semiconductor memory devices is provided. A plurality of semiconductor pillars extending outwardly from a bulk section of a semiconductor substrate is arranged in rows and columns. Each pillar forms an active area of a vertical channel access transistor. Insulating trenches are formed between the rows of pillars. Buried word lines extend within the insulating trenches along the rows of pillars. Bit line trenches are formed between columns of pillars. Bit lines extend perpendicular to the word lines in lower portions of the bit line trenches. A first and a second column of pillars face adjacent each bit line. Each bit line is coupled to the active areas in the pillars of the first column of pillars via a single sided bit line contact formed from polycrystalline silicon and is insulated from the active areas of the pillars of the second column of pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Andreas Thies, Klaus Muemmler
  • Publication number: 20100207181
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a HfSiON film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The HfSiON film may be structured as one or more monolayers. Electrodes to a dielectric containing a HfSiON may be structured as one or more monolayers of titanium nitride, tantalum, or combinations of titanium nitride and tantalum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20100207180
    Abstract: Provided is a one-transistor (1T) floating-body DRAM cell device including a substrate; a gate stack which is formed on the substrate; a control electrode which is disposed on the substrate and of which some or entire portion is surrounded by the gate stack; a semiconductor layer which is formed on the gate stack; a source and a drain which are formed in the surface of the semiconductor layer and of which lower surfaces are not in contact with the gate stack; a gate insulating layer which is formed on the semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode which is formed on the gate insulating layer, wherein the remaining portion of the semiconductor layer excluding the source and the drain is configured as a floating body. The miniaturization characteristic and performance of a MOS-based DRAM cell device can be improved, and a memory capacity can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: KYUNGPOOK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Jong-Ho LEE
  • Publication number: 20100207179
    Abstract: A semiconductor fin having a doping of the first conductivity type and a semiconductor column are formed on a substrate. The semiconductor column and an adjoined end portion of the semiconductor fin are doped with dopants of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. The doped semiconductor column constitutes an inner electrode of a capacitor. A dielectric layer and a conductive material layer are formed on the semiconductor fin and the semiconductor column. The conductive material layer is patterned to form an outer electrode for the capacitor and a gate electrode. A single-sided halo implantation may be performed. Source and drain regions are formed in the semiconductor fin to form an access transistor. The source region is electrically connected to the inner electrode of the capacitor. The access transistor and the capacitor collectively constitute a DRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, JR., Kangguo Cheng, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 7776707
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of: forming a first insulation film on a substrate; forming a hole in the first insulation film; forming a lower electrode on a bottom surface and a sidewall surface of the hole; forming a capacitor insulation film on the lower electrode; forming a second conductive layer on the capacitor insulation film; forming a second insulation film on the second conductive layer so that the second insulation film fills a recess corresponding to the hole; forming a resist mask on the second insulation film so that the resist mask covers the recess; patterning the second insulation film by using the resist mask; and patterning the second conductive layer and the capacitor insulation film by using the patterned second insulation film as a hard mask. By dry etching using a hard mask, a dielectric capacitor having a three-dimensionally stacked structure can be formed with a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Toyoji Ito, Yoshihisa Nagano
  • Publication number: 20100200901
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of supports extending parallel to each other in a first direction on a semiconductor substrate, and capacitor lower electrode rows including a plurality of capacitor lower electrodes arranged in a line along the first direction between two adjacent supports from among the plurality of supports, each capacitor lower electrode including outside walls, wherein each of the capacitor lower electrodes includes two support contact surfaces on the outside walls of the capacitor lower electrode, the support contact surfaces respectively contacting the two adjacent supports from among the plurality of supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Gil-sub Kim
  • Patent number: 7772065
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes diffusion regions formed in an active region; cell contacts connected to the diffusion regions, respectively; pillars connected to the cell contacts, respectively; a bit line connected to the pillar; capacitor contacts connected to the pillars, respectively; and storage capacitors connected to the capacitor contacts, respectively. Accordingly, the pillars exist between the cell contacts and the capacitor contacts, and thus, depths of the capacitor contacts are made correspondingly shorter. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of shorting defects while decreasing resistance values of the capacitor contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiko Ohuchi
  • Publication number: 20100195392
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures including a plurality of conductive structures having a dielectric material therebetween are disclosed. The thickness of the dielectric material spacing apart the conductive structures may be adjusted to provide optimization of capacitance and voltage threshold. The semiconductor structures may be used as capacitors, for example, in memory devices. Various methods may be used to form such semiconductor structures and capacitors including such semiconductor structures. Memory devices including such capacitors are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric H. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20100193849
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device having a ferroelectric film, includes a semiconductor substrate, a field effect transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate, an inter-layer insulating film formed on the field effect transistor and the semiconductor substrate, a plug constituted with a single-crystalline structure, the plug being formed in the inter-layer insulating film and being connected with a source or a drain of the field effect transistor, a lower electrode constituted with a single-crystalline structure formed on the plug, a ferroelectric film formed on the lower electrode an upper electrode formed on the ferroelectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Jun NISHIMURA, Yoshinori KUMURA, Hiroyuki KANAYA, Tohru OZAKI
  • Publication number: 20100193852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a structure and method for forming memory cells in a semiconductor device using a patterning layer and etch sequence. The method includes forming trenches in a layered semiconductor structure, each trench having an inner sidewall adjacent a section of the layered semiconductor structure between the trenches and an outer sidewall opposite the inner sidewall. The trenches are filled with polysilicon and the patterning layer is formed over the layered semiconductor structure. An opening is then patterned through the patterning layer, the opening exposing the section of the layered semiconductor structure between the trenches and only a vertical portion of the polysilicon along the inner sidewall of each trench. The layered semiconductor structure is then etched. The patterning layer prevents a second vertical portion of the polysilicon along the outer sidewall of each trench from being removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, David M. Dobuzinsky, Byeong Y. Kim, Munir D. Naeem
  • Publication number: 20100195431
    Abstract: A plurality of contact plugs to be connected to a drain region or a source region of each of transistors constituting a sub-word line driver that drives a sub-word line are formed, by using a SAC line technique of selectively etching an insulation layer that covers each of the transistors by using a mask having line-shaped openings provided across a portion in which the contact plugs of each of the transistors are to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi OHGAMI
  • Patent number: 7768053
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with an asymmetric transistor and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate having a plurality of first active regions, at least one second active region, and a plurality of device isolation regions; gate patterns formed in a step structure over a border region between individual first active regions and second active region, wherein one side of the individual gate pattern is formed over a portion of the individual first active region, and the other side of the individual gate pattern is formed over a portion of the second active region; spacers formed on lateral walls of the gate patterns; first cell junction regions formed in the first active regions, for connecting to storage nodes; and a second cell junction region formed in the second active region, for connecting to a bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae-Woo Jung, Sang-Won Oh
  • Publication number: 20100187589
    Abstract: Devices and methods for preventing capacitor leakage caused by sharp tip. The formation of sharp tip is avoided by a thicker bottom electrode which fully fills a micro-trench that induces formation of the sharp tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Kuo-Chi TU
  • Publication number: 20100187588
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory device including cylinder type storage nodes and a method of fabricating the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate including switching devices; a recessed insulating layer including storage contact plugs therein, wherein the storage contact plugs are electrically connected to the switching devices and the recessed insulating layer exposes at least some portions of upper surfaces and side surfaces of the storage contact plugs. The semiconductor device further includes cylinder type storage nodes each having a lower electrode. The lower electrode contacting the at least some portions of the exposed upper surfaces and side surfaces of the storage node contact plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Gil-Sub KIM, Won Mo PARK, Seong Ho KIM, Dong Kwan YANG
  • Publication number: 20100187584
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating film having an opening, an adhesion layer formed on at least a side wall of the opening, a lower electrode formed on a bottom surface of the opening and at least a side surface of the adhesion layer, a capacitor insulating film made of a ferroelectric formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the capacitor insulating film. The lower electrode, the capacitor insulating film and the upper electrode constitute a capacitor, and the capacitor has a cross-section having a recessed shape in the opening. The lower electrode has a protruding portion protruding from the opening. The capacitor insulating film is formed, covering at least the protruding portion of the lower electrode, of the lower electrode and the adhesion layer. The upper electrode is formed, covering the capacitor insulating film formed on the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Takayuki MATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20100181607
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to increase a surface area of a memory cell capacitor are described. An opening in a second insulating layer deposited over a first insulating layer on a substrate is formed. The substrate has a fin. A first insulating layer is deposited over the substrate adjacent to the fin. The opening in the second insulating layer is formed over the fin. A first conducting layer is deposited over the second insulating layer and the fin. A third insulating layer is deposited on the first conducting layer. A second conducting layer is deposited on the third insulating layer. The second conducting layer fills the opening. The second conducting layer is to provide an interconnect to an upper metal layer. Portions of the second conducting layer, third insulating layer, and the first conducting layer are removed from a top surface of the second insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Brian S. Doyle, Robert S. Chau, Vivek De, Suman Datta, Dinesh Somasekhar
  • Patent number: 7759714
    Abstract: A high-speed and low-voltage DRAM memory cell capable of operating at 1 V or less and an array peripheral circuit are provided. A DRAM cell is comprised of a memory cell transistor and planar capacitor which utilize a FD-SOI MOST structure. Since there is no junction leakage current, loss of stored charge is eliminated, and the low-voltage operation can be realized. Further, a gate and a well in a cross-coupled type sense amplifier using FD-SOI MOSTs are connected. By this means, a threshold value dynamically changes and high-speed sensing operation can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Itoh, Riichiro Takemura
  • Patent number: 7759704
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a memory cell array comprises transistors being arranged along parallel active area lines, bitlines, the bitlines being arranged so that an individual one intersects a plurality of the active area lines to form bitline-contacts, respectively, the bitlines being formed as wiggled lines, wordlines being arranged so that an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the active area lines, and an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the bitlines, wherein neighboring bitline-contacts, each of which is connected to one of the active area lines, are connected with different bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Martin Popp, Till Schloesser
  • Patent number: 7754564
    Abstract: A capacitor for a single-poly floating gate device is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate along with low and high voltage transistors. Each transistor has a gate width greater than or equal to a minimum gate width of the associated process. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, and a patterned polysilicon structure is formed over the dielectric layer. The patterned polysilicon structure includes one or more narrow polysilicon lines, each having a width less than the minimum gate width. The LDD implants for low and high voltage transistors of the same conductivity type are allowed to enter the substrate, using the patterned polysilicon structure as a mask. A thermal drive-in cycle results in a continuous diffusion region that merges under the narrow polysilicon lines. Contacts formed adjacent to the narrow polysilicon lines and a metal-1 trace connected to the contacts may increase the resulting capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Amos Fenigstein, Zohar Kuritsky, Assaf Lahav, Ira Naot, Yakov Roizin
  • Publication number: 20100171160
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes a DRAM having, as seen in planar view, a first bit line and a second bit line formed on a first active area, a first cell contact formed on the first active area, and a first capacitor contact formed on the first cell contact and which is connected to a capacitor. As seen in planar view, the first cell contact is positioned closer to the second bit line than to the first bit line, and the first capacitor contact is formed offset in a direction approaching the first bit line with respect to the first cell contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki KATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20100171159
    Abstract: A layout of a semiconductor device is disclosed, which forms one transistor in one active region to reduce the number of occurrences of a bridge encountered between neighboring layers, thereby improving characteristics of the semiconductor device. Specifically, the landing plug connected to the bit line contact is reduced in size, so that a process margin of word lines is increased to increase a channel length, thereby reducing the number of occurrences of a bridge encountered between the landing plug and the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Heon KIM
  • Patent number: 7750383
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor apparatus including a semiconductor substrate, a transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating film disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a ferroelectric capacitor and an upper mask. The ferroelectric capacitor includes a lower electrode disposed on the insulating film, a ferroelectric film disposed on the lower electrode and an upper electrode disposed on the ferroelectric film. The upper mask includes a hard mask disposed on the upper electrode and a sidewall mask disposed on at least part of a sidewall of the hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kanaya
  • Publication number: 20100165757
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor layer; a source layer and a drain layer in the semiconductor layer; an electrically floating body region in the semiconductor layer between the source layer and the drain layer, accumulating or discharging charges for storing logical data; a gate dielectric film on the body region; and a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode on one body region via the gate dielectric film, the first and the second gate electrodes separated from each other in a channel length direction of a memory cell comprising the drain layer, the source layer, and the body region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hironobu FURUHASHI