Including Additional Field Effect Transistor (e.g., Sense Or Access Transistor, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/258)
  • Patent number: 7951661
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device isolation structure having a grounded conductive layer to define an active region, and a gate formed over the active region and the device isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hee Sang Kim
  • Publication number: 20110115012
    Abstract: A method of processing a flash memory device provides a semiconductor substrate including a surface region and forming a gate dielectric layer overlying the surface region. The method forms a floating gate layer having a thickness and including a first floating gate structure overlying a first portion of the gate dielectric layer and a second floating gate structure overlying a second portion of the gate dielectric layer. The method forms a trench region interposed between the first and second floating gate structures and extending through the entire thickness and through a portion of the surface region into a depth of the substrate. The method fills the entire depth of the trench region in the substrate and a portion of the trench region over the substrate using a dielectric fill material. The method forms an oxide on nitride on oxide (ONO) layer overlying the first and second floating gate structures and the dielectric material and a control gate overlying the ONO layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: LI JIANG, HONG XIU PENG, JONG WOO KIM
  • Patent number: 7943464
    Abstract: Non-volatile field effect devices and circuits using same. A non-volatile field effect device includes a source, drain and gate with a field-modulatable channel between the source and drain. Each of the source, drain, and gate have a corresponding terminal. An electromechanically-deflectable, nanotube switching element is electrically positioned between one of the source, drain and gate and its corresponding terminal. The others of the source, drain and gate are directly connected to their corresponding terminals. The nanotube switching element is electromechanically-deflectable in response to electrical stimulation at two control terminals to create one of a non-volatile open and non-volatile closed electrical communication state between the one of the source, drain and gate and its corresponding terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Berg, Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes
  • Publication number: 20110108901
    Abstract: Device isolation/insulation films each have a first height within a first area and a second height higher than the first height within a second area. At least the device isolation/insulation films adjacent to a contact diffusion region exist in the second area, and the device isolation/insulation films adjacent to memory transistors exist in the first area. The device isolation/insulation films are implanted with an impurity of a first conductivity type, and device formation regions each have a diffusion region of the first conductivity type, the diffusion region being formed by diffusion of the impurity of the first conductivity type from the device isolation/insulation films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junya MATSUNAMI, Hiroyuki Kutsukake
  • Patent number: 7935997
    Abstract: An apparatus having low resistance contacts in both the memory cell array and peripheral logic circuitry areas of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. In a buried bit line connection process flow, the present invention utilizes chemical vapor deposition of titanium to form titanium silicide in contact structures of the peripheral logic circuitry areas and physical vapor deposition to provide a metal mode (metallic) titanium layer in contact with the poly plugs in the memory cell array area of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device according to the present invention. In this manner, the present invention avoids the potential drawbacks such as voiding in the poly plugs of the memory cell array due to the present of titanium silicide, which can cause significant reduction of device drain current and in extreme cases cause electrical discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7932147
    Abstract: A flash memory device may include a device isolation layer and an active area formed over a semiconductor substrate, a memory gate formed over the active area, and a control gate formed over the semiconductor substrate including the memory gate, wherein the active area, where a source contact is to be formed, has the same interval spacing as a bit line, and a common source line area, where the source contact is to be formed, has an impurity area connecting neighboring active areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Ha Park
  • Publication number: 20110092037
    Abstract: In order to block hydrogen ions produced when forming an interlayer insulating film by HDP-CVD or the like to thereby suppress an adverse effect of the hydrogen ions on a device, in a semiconductor device including a contact layer, a metal interconnection and an interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate having a gate electrode formed thereon, the interlayer insulating film is formed on the metal interconnection by bias-applied plasma CVD using source gas containing hydrogen atoms, and a silicon oxynitride film is provided in the underlayer of the metal interconnection and the interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Yamaguchi, Koyu Asai, Mahito Sawada, Kiyoteru Kobayashi, Tatsunori Murata, Satoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7927941
    Abstract: Four regions (a narrow NMOS region, a wide NMOS region, a wide PMOS region, and a narrow PMOS region) are defined on a semiconductor substrate. Then, after a gate insulating film and a polysilicon film are sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate, n-type impurities are introduced into the polysilicon film in the wide NMOS region. Next, by patterning the polysilicon film, gate electrodes are formed in the four regions. Then, n-type impurities are introduced into the gate electrodes in the narrow NMOS region and the wide NMOS region. As a result, an impurity concentration of the gate electrode in the narrow NMOS region becomes lower than that of the gate electrode in the wide NMOS region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takashi Saiki, Tsunehisa Sakoda
  • Patent number: 7927950
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a floating trap type nonvolatile memory device includes forming a cell gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, the cell gate insulating layer being comprised of a lower insulating layer, a charge storage layer and an upper insulating layer sequentially stacked; thermally annealing the cell gate insulating Layer at a temperature of approximately 810° C. to approximately 1370° C.; and forming a gate electrode on the thermally annealed cell gate insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Mei Choi, Chang-Hyun Lee, Seung-Hwan Lee, Young-Geun Park, Sung-Jung Kim, Young-Sun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110086481
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods of forming non-volatile memory structures are provided. In one such embodiment, first and second source/drain regions are formed on a substrate so that the first and second source/drain regions define an intervening channel region. A charge blocking layer is formed over the channel region. A trapping layer is formed over the charge blocking layer. A tunnel layer of two or more sub-layers is formed over the trapping layer, where the two or more sub-layers form a crested barrier tunnel layer. A control gate is formed over the tunnel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7923327
    Abstract: Provided are a non-volatile memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device comprises: a control gate region formed by doping a semiconductor substrate with second impurities; an electron injection region formed by doping the semiconductor substrate with first impurities, where a top surface of the electron injection region includes a tip portion at an edge; a floating gate electrode covering at least a portion of the control gate region and the tip portion of the electron injection region; a first tunnel oxide layer interposed between the floating gate electrode and the control gate region; a second tunnel oxide layer interposed between the floating gate electrode and the electron injection region; a trench surrounding the electron injection region in the semiconductor substrate; and a device isolation layer pattern filled in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Kun Park
  • Publication number: 20110081755
    Abstract: Fabrication methods for gate transistors in integrated circuit devices enable the formation of recessed access device structures or FinFET structures having P-type workfunctions. The fabrication methods also provide for the formation of access transistor gates of an access device following formation of the periphery transistor gates. Access devices and systems including same are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Haller, Sanh D. Tang
  • Publication number: 20110070706
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a NAND type flash memory device includes defining a select transistor region and a memory cell region in a semiconductor substrate, forming a tunnel insulating layer, a floating gate conductive layer, and a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, etching the dielectric layer, thereby forming an opening exposing the floating gate conductive layer, forming a low resistance layer in the opening, forming a control gate conductive layer over the semiconductor substrate, and etching the control gate conductive layer, the dielectric layer, the floating gate conductive layer, and the tunnel insulating layer to form gate stacks of memory cells and source/drain select transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Nam-Kyeong Kim, Won Sic Woo
  • Patent number: 7910435
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device includes a conductive structure, first insulating layers and first conductive layer patterns. The conductive structure includes a first portion, second portions and third portions. The second portions extend in a first direction on the first portion. The second portions are spaced apart from one another in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The third portions are provided on the second portions. The third portions are spaced apart from one another in the first and second directions. The first insulating layers cover sidewalls of the second portions. The first conductive layer patterns are provided on the first insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyoung-Seub Rhie
  • Patent number: 7910431
    Abstract: On a surface of a Si substrate, a nonvolatile memory cell, an nMOS transistor, and a pMOS transistor are formed, and thereafter an interlayer insulation film covering the nonvolatile memory cell, the nMOS transistor, and the pMOS transistor is formed. Next, in the interlayer insulation film, there are formed plural contact plugs connected respectively to a control gate of the nonvolatile memory cell, a source or a drain of the nMOS transistor, and a source or a drain of the pMOS transistor. Thereafter, there is formed a single-layer wiring connecting the control gate to the sources or drains of the nMOS transistor and the pMOS transistor via the plural contact plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Shinichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7906396
    Abstract: In a method of fabricating a flash memory, a substrate with isolation structures formed therein and a dielectric layer and a floating gate formed thereon between isolation structures is provided. A mask layer is formed on the substrate, covering the isolation structures in a periphery region and the isolation structure in a cell region adjacent to the periphery region. The isolation structures in the cell region not covered by the mask layer are partially removed. Therefore, a first height difference is between surfaces of the isolation structures in the periphery region and a surface of the dielectric layer, and between a surface of the isolation structure in the cell region adjacent to the periphery region and the surface of the dielectric layer. A second height difference smaller than the first height difference is between surfaces of other isolation structures in the cell region and the surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Lu-Ping Chiang, Hsiu-Han Liao
  • Publication number: 20110057244
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: forming, on a semiconductor substrate a gate insulating film for a high-voltage transistor of a peripheral circuit; forming on the gate insulating film a gate electrode for the high-voltage transistor; removing the gate insulating film positioned on the semiconductor substrate on both side portions of the gate electrode; forming an impurity diffusion region in a surface of the semiconductor substrate; depositing a first silicon oxide film to extend over surfaces of the gate electrode and the impurity diffusion region; etching the first silicon oxide film to form a spacer such that the spacer is formed on a side wall portion of the gate electrode and also extends over the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and forming a silicon nitride film on a surface of the spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenji GOMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7897456
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a peripheral circuit region and a cell region. A method for fabricating the non-volatile memory device includes forming gate patterns over a substrate, the gate pattern including a tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate electrode, a charge blocking layer and a control gate electrode, and removing the control gate electrode and the charge blocking layer of the gate pattern formed in the peripheral circuit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Nam-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 7897457
    Abstract: Bit line diffusion layers are formed in an upper part of a semiconductor substrate with a bit line contact region being interposed between the bit line diffusion layers. A conductive film is formed over the semiconductor substrate, the bit line diffusion layers, and first gate insulating films. Then, control gate electrodes are formed from the conductive film. Thereafter, at least the first gate insulating film in the bit line contact region is removed, and a connection diffusion layer is formed in the bit line contact region so as to connect the bit line diffusion layers located on both sides of the bit line contact region. When forming the control gate electrodes, the conductive film is left so as to extend over the bit line contact region and over the bit line diffusion layers located on both sides of the bit line contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masataka Kusumi
  • Patent number: 7892943
    Abstract: A first dielectric plug is formed in a portion of a trench that extends into a substrate of a memory device so that an upper surface of the first dielectric plug is recessed below an upper surface of the substrate. The first dielectric plug has a layer of a first dielectric material and a layer of a second dielectric material formed on the layer of the first dielectric material. A second dielectric plug of a third dielectric material is formed on the upper surface of the first dielectric plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Violette
  • Patent number: 7888219
    Abstract: Methods of forming a non-volatile memory device may include forming a tunnel insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a charge-trap layer on the tunnel insulating layer. A trench may then be formed extending through the tunnel insulating layer and the charge-trap layer and into the semiconductor substrate so that portions of the charge-trap layer and the tunnel insulating layers remain on opposite sides of the trench. A device isolation layer may be formed in the trench, and a blocking insulating layer may be formed on the device isolation layer and on remaining portions of the charge-trap layer. A gate electrode may be formed on the blocking insulating layer, and the blocking insulating layer and remaining portions of the charge-trap layer may be patterned to provide a blocking insulating pattern and a charge-trap pattern between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Sung Sim, Jung-Dal Choi, Chang-Seok Kang
  • Patent number: 7888203
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of making the same are described. A nonvolatile memory device includes a string selection transistor, a plurality of memory cell transistors, and a ground selection transistor electrically connected in series to the string selection transistor and to the pluralities of memory cell transistors. Each of the transistors includes a channel region and source/drain regions. First impurity layers are formed at boundaries of the channels and the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. The first impurity layers are doped with opposite conductivity type impurities relative to the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. Second impurity layers are formed at boundaries between a channel and a drain region of the string selection transistor and between a channel and a source region of the ground selection transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Jung-Dal Choi
  • Patent number: 7888210
    Abstract: Fabricating semiconductor-based non-volatile memory that includes composite storage elements, such as those with first and second charge storage regions, can include etching more than one charge storage layer. To avoid inadvertent shorts between adjacent storage elements, a first charge storage layer for a plurality of non-volatile storage elements is formed into rows prior to depositing the second charge storage layer. Sacrificial features can be formed between the rows of the first charge storage layer that are adjacent in a column direction, before or after forming the rows of the first charge layer. After forming interleaving rows of the sacrificial features and the first charge storage layer, the second charge storage layer can be formed. The layers can then be etched into columns and the substrate etched to form isolation trenches between adjacent columns. The second charge storage layer can then be etched to form the second charge storage regions for the storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Vinod Robert Purayath, George Matamis, Takashi Orimoto, James Kai
  • Patent number: 7888205
    Abstract: Shrinking the dimensions of PMOS or NMOS thin film transistors is limited by dopant diffusion. In these devices an undoped or lightly doped channel region is interposed between heavily doped source and drain regions. When the device is built with very short gate length, source and drain dopants will diffuse into the channel, potentially shorting it and ruining the device. A suite of innovations is described which may be used in various combinations to minimize dopant diffusion during fabrication of a PMOS or NMOS polycrystalline thin film transistor, resulting in a highly scalable thin film transistor. This transistor is particularly suitable for use in a monolithic three dimensional array of stacked device levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: S. Brad Herner, Abhijit Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 7884005
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may simplify a manufacturing process and may reduce process costs. According to embodiments, the method may include simultaneously forming a first gate of a first device area and a second gate of a second device area, patterning a PMD layer to form a first contact hole exposing the first gate, depositing and planarizing a high dielectric constant material and first and second metallic materials on the semiconductor substrate to expose PMD layer, forming an insulating layer, a metal layer and a third gate in the first contact hole, patterning the PMD layer to form a second contact hole exposing the second gate, and depositing a third metallic material on the semiconductor substrate and planarizing it such that the PMD layer is exposed, thereby forming a contact in the second contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 7883958
    Abstract: A phase change memory device that has a diode with an enlarged, i.e., bulging, PN interfacial junction and a corresponding fabrication method are presented. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulation layer, a diode, and a phase change memory cell. The insulation layer is placed on the semiconductor substrate and has a contact hole which is wider in a middle portion than the lower and upper portions of the contact hole. The diode is formed within the contact hole and PN interfacial junction at the wider middle portion of the diode within the contact hole. The phase change memory cell is formed on top of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
  • Patent number: 7883964
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes: a device region and a device isolating region, which have a pattern with a striped form that extends in a first direction, and are alternately and sequentially disposed at a first pitch in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and a contact made of a first conductive material, which is connected to the device region and disposed at the first pitch in the second direction. On a cross section of the second direction, the bottom width of the contact is longer than the top width of the contact, and the bottom width is longer than the width of the device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Hiroyuki Nitta
  • Patent number: 7867782
    Abstract: Methods and structures for placing nanoscale moieties on substrates are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip W. Barth
  • Patent number: 7867844
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yongjun Jeff Hu
  • Patent number: 7863135
    Abstract: For enhancing the high performance of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having an MONOS type transistor, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided with MONOS type transistors having improved performance in which the memory cell of an MONOS non-volatile memory comprises a control transistor and a memory transistor. A control gate of the control transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is formed over a gate insulative film comprising a silicon oxide film. A memory gate of the memory transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is disposed on one of the side walls of the control gate. The memory gate comprises a doped polycrystal silicon film with a sheet resistance lower than that of the control gate comprising a polycrystal silicon film formed by ion implantation of impurities to the undoped silicon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakai, Yasushi Ishii, Tsutomu Okazaki, Masaru Nakamichi, Toshikazu Matsui, Kyoya Nitta, Satoru Machida, Munekatsu Nakagawa, Yuichi Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7858471
    Abstract: Fabrication methods for gate transistors in integrated circuit devices enable the formation of recessed access device structures or FinFET structures having P-type workfunctions. The fabrication methods also provide for the formation of access transistor gates of an access device following formation of the periphery transistor gates. Access devices and systems including same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Haller, Sanh D. Tang
  • Patent number: 7858472
    Abstract: An integrated non-volatile memory circuit is formed by first growing a thin dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate surface, followed by depositing a layer of conductive material such as doped polysilicon on this dielectric layer, the conductive material then being separated into rows and columns of individual floating gates. Cell source and drain diffusions in the substrate are continuously elongated across the rows. Field dielectric deposited between the rows of floating gates provides electrical isolation between the rows. Shallow trenches may be included between rows without interrupting the conductivity of the diffusions along their lengths. A deep dielectric filled trench is formed in the substrate between the array and peripheral circuits as electrical isolation. Various techniques are included that increase the field coupling area between the floating gates and a control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Jack H. Yuan, Eliyahou Harari, Yupin K. Fong, George Samachisa
  • Patent number: 7855114
    Abstract: A memory device may include a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate and a channel region formed in the substrate between the source and drain regions. The memory device may further include a first oxide layer formed over the channel region, the first oxide layer having a first dielectric constant, and a charge storage layer formed upon the first oxide layer. The memory device may further include a second oxide layer formed upon the charge storage layer, a layer of dielectric material formed upon the second oxide layer, the dielectric material having a second dielectric constant that is greater than the first dielectric constant, and a gate electrode formed upon the layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Wei Zheng, Mark Randolph, Hidehiko Shiraiwa
  • Patent number: 7851306
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a memory device having an array of flash memory cells with source contacts that facilitate straight word lines, and a method for producing the same. The array is comprised of a plurality of non-intersecting shallow trench isolation (STI) regions that isolate a plurality of memory cell columns. A source column is implanted with n-type dopants after the formation of a tunnel oxide layer and a first polysilicon layer. The implanted source column is coupled to a plurality of common source lines that are coupled to a plurality of source regions associated with memory cells in the array. A source contact is coupled to the implanted source column for providing electrical coupling with the plurality of source regions. The source contact is collinear with a row of drain contacts that are coupled to drain regions associated with a row of memory cells. The arrangement of source contacts collinear with the row of drain contacts allows for straight word line formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Shenqing Fang, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Kuo-Tung Chang, Pavel Fastenko, Kazuhiro Mizutani, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 7851307
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving forming a charge trap for, e.g., a memory device, which can include flash memory cells. A substrate is exposed to temporally-separated pulses of a titanium source material, a strontium source material, and an oxygen source material capable of forming an oxide with the titanium source material and the strontium source material to form the charge trapping layer on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nirmal Ramaswamy, Gurtej Sandhu, Bhaskar Srinivasan, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20100308393
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having an active region isolated by an element isolation insulating film; a floating gate electrode film formed on a gate insulating film residing on the active region; an interelectrode insulating film formed above an upper surface of the element isolation insulating film and an upper surface and sidewalls of the floating gate electrode film, the interelectrode insulating film being configured by multiple film layers including a high dielectric film having a dielectric constant equal to or greater than a silicon nitride film; a control gate electrode film formed on the interelectrode insulating film; and a silicon oxide film formed between the upper surface of the floating gate electrode film and the interelectrode insulating film; wherein the high dielectric film of the interelectrode insulating film is placed in direct contact with the sidewalls of the floating gate electrode film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Matsuo, Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7846788
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of: introducing insulation film into a trench to provide a trench isolation; planarizing the trench isolation to expose a passivation film; and removing the passivation film and depositing a second silicon layer on a first silicon layer and the trench isolation; and in the step of depositing the first silicon layer the first silicon layer is an undoped silicon layer and in the step of depositing the second silicon layer the second silicon layer is a doped silicon layer or an undoped silicon layer subsequently having an impurity introduced thereinto or the like and thermally diffused through subsequent thermal hysteresis into the first silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuki Morino, Yoshihiko Kusakabe, Ryuichi Wakahara
  • Patent number: 7847337
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell and a peripheral circuit provided on the semiconductor substrate, the memory cell having a first insulating film, a first electrode layer, a second insulating film, and a second electrode layer provided on the semiconductor substrate in order, and the peripheral circuit having the first insulating film, the first electrode layer, the second insulating film having an opening for the peripheral circuit, and the second electrode layer electrically connected to the first electrode layer through the opening for the peripheral circuit, wherein a thickness of the first electrode layer under the second insulating film of the peripheral circuit is thicker than a thickness of the first electrode layer of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masao Iwase, Tadashi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7846800
    Abstract: A circuit having a circuit control terminal, a primary circuit and a protection circuit is provided. The primary circuit includes a primary control terminal and a primary gate oxide of a thickness T1. The primary control terminal is coupled to the circuit control terminal. The protection circuit having a protection control terminal is coupled to the primary circuit. The protection circuit includes a protection gate oxide of a second thickness T2 which is less than T1. The protection gate oxide reduces plasma induced damage in the primary circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Foong Tan, Jae Gon Lee, Lee Wee Teo, Elgin Quek, Chunshan Yin
  • Publication number: 20100301405
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including first laminated bodies each having a plurality of first gate electrodes of first memory cells, second laminated bodies each having a plurality of second gate electrodes of second memory cells, gate insulating film portions located on side surfaces of the first and second laminated bodies, first semiconductor layers that are each located between the first and second laminated bodies, first select transistors connected to an uppermost one of the first memory cells, second select transistors connected to an uppermost one of the second memory cells, isolation insulating films to separate the first and second select transistors into portions on the first and second laminated body sides, and a substrate potential applying electrode located to penetrate the isolation insulating films from a front surface side to a back surface side and connected to the first semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Shigeto OOTA, Yoshimasa Mikajiri, Ryouhei Kirisawa
  • Patent number: 7842564
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, an opening is made in a part of an insulating film formed on a silicon substrate. An amorphous silicon thin film is formed on the insulating film in which the opening has been made and inside the opening. Then, a monocrystal is solid-phase-grown in the amorphous silicon thin film, with the opening as a seed, thereby forming a monocrystalline silicon layer. Then, the monocrystalline silicon layer is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereby thinning the monocrystalline silicon layer and reducing the defect density. Then, a memory cell array is formed on the monocrystalline silicon layer which has been thinned and whose defect density has been reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ichiro Mizushima, Hirokazu Ishida, Yoshio Ozawa, Takashi Suzuki, Fumiki Aiso, Makoto Mizukami
  • Patent number: 7842570
    Abstract: In methods of manufacturing a memory device, a tunnel insulation layer is formed on a substrate. A floating gate having a substantially uniform thickness is formed on the tunnel insulation layer. A dielectric layer is formed on the floating gate. A control gate is formed on the dielectric layer. A flash memory device including the floating gate may have more uniform operating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert Fayrushin, Byung-Yong Choi, Choong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7842571
    Abstract: In one embodiment a semiconductor device includes odd contacts and respective odd lines. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the odd lines and even openings for even lines are formed by performing an etching process. Even contacts are formed in the even openings and then even lines are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Hwa Kwak, Jae-Kwan Park, Jae-Hwang Sim, Jin-Ho Kim, Ki-Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 7842998
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including: a semiconductor substrate; memory cell transistors that are series-connected; and a select transistor that includes: a first diffusion region that is formed in the semiconductor substrate at one end of the memory cell transistors; a first insulating film that is formed on the semiconductor substrate at a side of the first diffusion region; a select gate electrode that is formed on the first insulating film; a semiconductor pillar that is formed to extend upward from the semiconductor substrate and to be separated from the select gate electrode; a second insulating film that is formed between the select gate electrode and the semiconductor pillar; and a second diffusion region that is formed on the semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takahisa Kanemura, Takashi Izumida, Nobutoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 7833859
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices simultaneously to implement low-voltage and high-voltage devices in a single chip. In one example embodiment, a method includes various acts. An isolation layer is formed on a wafer. A gate oxide layer and a lower gate poly are sequentially formed on a first low-voltage transistor region. A first poly oxide layer is formed. A nitride layer is formed on the first poly oxide layer. The nitride layer and the first poly oxide layer are etched. A field oxide layer is formed by selectively oxidizing portions exposed by the etching. A second poly oxide layer is formed. Gate patterns of each transistor region are completed by vapor-depositing an upper gate poly on a high-voltage transistor region, the first low-voltage transistor region and a second low-voltage transistor region. A source and drain region are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Bae Lee
  • Patent number: 7834382
    Abstract: A nitride read-only memory cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. First, a substrate is provided, and a first oxide layer is formed on the substrate. Next, a nitride layer is deposited on the first oxide layer via a first gas and a second gas. The flow ratio of the first gas to the second gas is 2:1. After that, a second oxide layer is formed on the nitride layer. Then, a bit-line region is formed at the substrate. Afterward, a gate is formed on the second oxide layer. The first oxide layer, nitride layer, the second oxide layer and the gate compose a stack structure of the cell. Further, a spacer is formed on the side-wall of the stack structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Pin Lu
  • Patent number: 7820504
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to a method for manufacturing isolation structures with different depths in a monolithically integrated semiconductor electronic device. An inventive method according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a first step of defining active areas on a semiconductor material substrate, a second step of forming isolation structures by realising trenches in said substrate and then filling them with field oxide, a third step of defining lithographically at least a first device area, and a fourth step of realising a digging in the substrate and in the field oxide of said first device area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Daniela Brazzelli, Livio Baldi, Giorgio Servalli
  • Publication number: 20100264483
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing same at a lower cost by without forming a photolithographic resist. Second impurity regions are arranged in such a manner that second impurity regions adjacent along the column direction are joined together. A select gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape so as to surround the second impurity regions, and is electrically connected to a word line. A first control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the outer peripheral side of the select gate electrode, and a second control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the inner peripheral side of the select gate electrode. A pair of first and second bit lines corresponding to every row are placed on the memory cells of the device, a first bit line is electrically connected to one of first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction, and a second bit line is electrically connected to the other of the first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki TAKESHITA
  • Patent number: 7816206
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a silicon substrate 14 having a step formed in the surface which makes the surface in a flash memory cell region 10 lower than the surface in a peripheral circuit region 12; a device isolation region 20a formed in a trench 18 in the flash memory cell region 10; a device isolation region 20c formed in a trench 24 deeper than the trench 18 in the peripheral circuit region 12; a flash memory cell 46 including a floating gate 32 and a control gate 40 formed on the device region defined by the device isolation region 20a; and transistors 62, 66 formed on the device regions defined by the device isolation region 20c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Jusuke Ogura
  • Patent number: 7816211
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is made on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a high voltage transistor in a first region of the semiconductor substrate. After the first insulating layer is formed, a second insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a non-volatile memory transistor in a second region of the substrate. After the second insulating layer is formed, a third insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate for use as a gate dielectric for a logic transistor in a third region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh A. Rao, Ramachandran Muralidhar