Having Additional, Nonmemory Control Electrode Or Channel Portion (e.g., For Accessing Field Effect Transistor Structure, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/266)
  • Patent number: 7341914
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first gate electrode comprises silicon and forming a second gate electrode over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the first gate electrode, wherein the second gate electrode comprises silicon. Nanoclusters are present in the first gate electrode. A peripheral transistor area is formed devoid of nanoclusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin J. Prinz, Ko-Min Chang, Robert F. Steimle
  • Patent number: 7338861
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device is provided which includes a floating gate having a lower portion formed in a trench defined in a surface of a substrate and an upper portion protruding above the surface of the substrate from the lower portion. A gate insulating layer is formed along an inner wall of the trench and interposed between the trench and the lower portion of the floating gate. A source region is formed in the substrate adjacent a first sidewall of the trench. A control gate having a first portion is formed over the surface of the substrate adjacent a second sidewall of the trench, and a second portion is formed over the upper portion of the floating gate and extending from the first portion. The first sidewall of the trench is opposite the second sidewall of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-chul Kim, Young-cheon Jeong, Hyok-ki Kwon
  • Publication number: 20080048249
    Abstract: An interface between a bottom oxide film and a silicon nitride film in a neighborhood of a bottom part of a select gate is located at a position as high as or higher than that of an interface between a silicon substrate (p-type well) and a gate insulating film (d?0) Further, the gate insulating film and the bottom oxide film are successively and smoothly jointed in the neighborhood of the bottom part of the select gate. By this configuration, localization in a distribution of electrons injected into the silicon nitride film in the writing is mitigated and electrons to be left unerased by hot-hole erasing are reduced. Therefore, not only the increase ratio of the electrons left unerased in the writing can be reduced, but also the problem in which the threshold voltage does not decrease to the predetermined voltage in the deletion can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: NAOKI TEGA, Hiroshi Miki, Yasuhiro Shimamoto, Digh Hisamoto, Tetsuya Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7335559
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. A substrate has at least two isolation structures therein to define an active area. A well is located in the substrate. A shallow doped region is located in the well. At least two stacked gate structures are located on the substrate. Pocket doped regions are located in the substrate at the peripheries of the stacked gate structures; each of the pocket doped regions extends under the stacked gate structure. Drain regions are located in the pocket doped regions at the peripheries of the stacked gate structures. An auxiliary gate layer is located on the substrate between the stacked gate structures. A gate dielectric layer is located between the auxiliary gate layer and the substrate and between the auxiliary gate layer and the stacked gate structure. Plugs are located on the substrate and extended to connect with the pocket doped region and the drain regions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Zhe Wong, Ching-Sung Yang, Chih-Chen Cho
  • Patent number: 7335557
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory semiconductor device includes a first insulation layer, two diffusion regions, a memory gate oxide layer, a first control gate, a second insulation layer, a floating gate of polysilicon, a third insulation layer and a second control gate. The first insulation layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The two diffusion regions are formed on a surface of the substrate. The memory gate oxide layer is formed over the two diffusion regions on the substrate. The first control gate including a diffusion region is formed on the surface of the substrate. The second insulation layer is formed on the first control gate. The floating gate of polysilicon is formed over the memory gate oxide layer, the first insulation layer, and the second insulation layer. The third insulation layer is formed on the floating gate. The second control gate is disposed on the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7335558
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a NAND flash memory device, including the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate in which a cell region and a select transistor region are defined; simultaneously forming a plurality of cell gates on the semiconductor substrate of the cell region and forming selection gates on the semiconductor substrate of the select transistor region; forming an oxide film on the entire structure and then forming a nitride film; etching the nitride film so that the nitride film remains only between the selection gates and adjacent edge cell gates; and, blanket etching the oxide film to form spacers on sidewalls of the selection gates. Accordingly, uniform threshold voltage distributions can be secured, and process margins for a spacer etch target can be secured when etching the spacers. Furthermore, the nitride film partially remains between the edge cell gates and the selection gates even after the gate spacers are etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Sun Hyun
  • Patent number: 7332408
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided. 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: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Violette
  • Publication number: 20080035983
    Abstract: A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 7329580
    Abstract: A semiconductor device such as a flash memory device having a self-aligned floating gate and a method of fabricating the same is provided. An embodiment of the device includes an isolation layer defining a fin body is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The fin body has a portion protruding above the isolation layer. A sacrificial pattern is formed on the isolation layer. The sacrificial pattern has an opening self-aligned with the protruding portion of the fin body. The protruding fin body is exposed in the opening. An insulated floating gate pattern is formed to fill the opening. The sacrificial pattern is then removed. An inter-gate dielectric layer covering the floating gate pattern is formed. A control gate conductive layer is formed over the inter-gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Yong Choi, Choong-Ho Lee, Tae-Yong Kim, Dong-Gun Park
  • Patent number: 7326616
    Abstract: Manufacturing technique for an IC device which includes forming the first conductor film over a memory cell forming region and over a peripheral circuit forming region of a semiconductor substrate, patterning the first conductive film lying over the memory cell forming region to form a first conductive pattern which serves as a first or control gate electrode of a memory cell and leaving the first conductive film over the peripheral circuit forming region, forming a second conductive film over both the memory cell forming region and the first conductive film in the peripheral circuit forming region, etching the second conductive film to form a second or memory gate electrode of the memory cell on at least a side wall of the first conductive pattern, and followed by the formation of a gate electrode of a peripheral circuit transistor by etching the first conductive film in the peripheral circuit forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Shoji Shukuri
  • Publication number: 20080026527
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a floating gate memory device comprises using self-aligned process for formation of a fourth poly layer over a partial gate structure that does not require an additional photolithographic step. Accordingly, enhanced device reliability can be achieved because a higher GCR can be maintained with lower gate bias levels. In addition, process complexity can be reduced, which can increase throughput and reduce device failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan Fu Chen, Yin Jen Chen, Meng Hsuan Weng, Tzung Ting Han, Ming Shang Chen, Chun Pei Wu
  • Patent number: 7319058
    Abstract: A fabrication method for a non-volatile memory is provided. To fabricate the non-volatile memory, a plurality of first trenches and second trenches are formed in a substrate, wherein the second trenches are disposed above the first trenches and cross over the first trenches. Then, a tunneling layer and a charge storage layer are sequentially formed on both sidewalls of each second trench. An isolation layer is filled into the first trench. Furthermore, a charge barrier layer is formed on the sidewall of the second trench, and a gate dielectric layer is formed at the bottom of the second trench. A control gate layer is filled into the second trench. Finally, two first doping regions are formed in the substrate at both sides of the control gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-Sing Wang
  • Publication number: 20080001208
    Abstract: Formation techniques are utilized to increase the space or distance between floating gates of a memory array of floating gate transistors. In at least some embodiments, floating gates are first formed over the substrate and then portions of the floating gates are removed to increase the spacing between the floating gates. An interlayer dielectric layer is then formed over the substrate and a control gate layer is formed thereover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Chao, Krishna Parat
  • Publication number: 20080003750
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes providing a floating gate layer over a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate layer and the semiconductor substrate are etched to form a trench. An isolation structure is formed in the trench. An upper portion of the isolation structure is etched, wherein an upper sidewall of the floating gate layer is exposed by the etching of the upper portion of the isolation structure. An oxide layer is formed on the floating gate layer to round an upper corner of the floating gate layer. A control gate layer is formed over the floating gate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Jum Soo Kim, Hee Hyun Chang
  • Patent number: 7314797
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is capable of being applied with both a positive and a negative voltage to its control gate, and writing to its memory requires a low voltage. A control gate is formed on a memory unit region of a field oxide film, and an inter-layer silicon oxide film is formed on its surface. A gate oxide film for a non-volatile memory is formed on a P substrate between N type diffusion layers. The floating gate is formed on the inter-layer silicon oxide film, the field oxide film, and the gate oxide film for the non-volatile memory. Since a large coupling ratio between the control gate and the floating gate is available on the field oxide film, memory rewriting requires only a low voltage. Further, since the control gate is formed by a poly silicon film, both a positive voltage and a negative voltage can be applied to the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriya Iwai, Masaaki Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7309629
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor memory element having an ONO film and a CMOS part are formed on a single semiconductor substrate, a CMOS gate-oxidation step is performed several times. Thereafter, a bit line diffusion layer and a bit line oxide film are formed in the semiconductor memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7306990
    Abstract: An information memory device capable of reading and writing of information by mechanical operation of a floating gate layer, in which a gate insulation film has a cavity (6), and a floating gate layer (5) having two stable deflection states in the cavity (6), the state stabilized by deflecting toward the channel side of transistor, and the state stabilized by deflecting toward the gate (7) side, writing and reading of information can be made by changing the stable deflection state of the floating gate layer (5) by Coulomb interactive force between the electrons (or positive holes 8) accumulated in the floating gate layer (5) and external electric field, and by reading the channel current change based on the state of the floating gate layer (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Japan Science & Technology Agency
    Inventors: Shinya Yamaguchi, Masahiko Ando, Toshikazu Shimada, Natsuki Yokoyama, Shunri Oda, Nobuyoshi Koshida
  • Patent number: 7307308
    Abstract: A buried bit line read/program non-volatile memory cell and array is capable of achieving high density. The cell and array is made in a semiconductor substrate which has a plurality of spaced apart trenches, with a planar surface between the trenches. Each trench has a side wall and a bottom wall. Each memory cell has a floating gate for storage of charges thereon. The cell has spaced apart source/drain regions with a channel therebetween, with the channel having two portions. One of the source/drain regions is in the bottom wall of the trench. The floating gate is in the trench and is is over a first portion of the channel and is spaced apart from the side wall of the trench. A gate electrode controls the conduction of the channel in the second portion, which is in the planar surface of the substrate. The other source/drain region is in the substrate in the planar surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Lee, Bomy Chen, Sohrab Kianian
  • Patent number: 7303958
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same. A step between a memory cell formed in a cell region and a transistor formed in a peripheral circuit region is minimized, and the height of a gate in the memory cell is minimized. Accordingly, subsequent processes are facilitated and the electrical property of the device is thus improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Cheol Mo Jeong
  • Publication number: 20070267685
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes memory cell transistors and resistors. Each memory cell transistor has source/drain diffusion layers provided in a semiconductor substrate, a first gate insulating film located between the source/drain diffusion layers, a floating gate electrode layer located on the first gate insulating film, a first inter-gate insulating film located on the floating gate electrode layer, a control gate electrode layer located on the first inter-gate insulating layer, and a first low-resistance layer located on the control gate electrode layer. Each resistor has a second gate insulating film located on the semiconductor substrate, a first electrode layer located on the second gate insulating film, a second inter-gate insulating film located on the first electrode layer, a second electrode layer located on the second inter-gate insulating film, a second low-resistance layer located on the second electrode layer, and a contact plug connected to the second low-resistance layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Shigeru ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 7297598
    Abstract: A method of making embedded non-volatile memory devices includes forming a first mask layer overlying a polycrystalline silicon layer in a cell region and a peripheral region on a semiconductor substrate wherein the first mask layer has a plurality of openings in the cell region. Portions of the polycrystalline silicon layer exposed in the plurality of openings can be oxidized to form a plurality of poly-oxide regions, and the first mask layer can then be removed. The polycrystalline silicon layer not covered by the plurality of poly-oxide regions can be etched to form a plurality of floating gates, wherein etching the polycrystalline silicon layer is accompanied by a sputtering. A dielectric layer can then be formed, as well as a second mask layer in both the cell region and the peripheral region. The second mask layer in the cell region is partially etched back after a photoresist layer is formed over the second mask layer in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Liu, Chi-Hsin Lo, Shih-Chi Fu, Chia-Ta Hsieh, Wen-Ting Chu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20070254437
    Abstract: By consuming a surface portion of polysilicon material or silicon material after implantation and prior to activation of dopants, contaminants may be efficiently removed, thereby significantly enhancing the process uniformity during a subsequent silicidation process. Hence, the defect rate during the silicidation process, for instance “missing silicide” defects, may be significantly reduced, thereby also enhancing the reliability of static RAM cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Markus Lenski, Ralf Van Bentum, Ekkehard Pruefer
  • Patent number: 7282401
    Abstract: A method used in fabrication of a recessed access device transistor gate has increased tolerance for mask misalignment. One embodiment of the invention comprises forming a vertical spacing layer over a semiconductor wafer, then etching the vertical spacing layer and the semiconductor wafer to form a recess in the wafer. A conductive transistor gate layer is then formed within the trench and over the vertical spacing layer. The transistor gate layer is etched, which exposes the vertical spacing layer. A spacer layer is formed over the etched conductive gate layer and over the vertical spacing layer, then the spacer layer and the vertical spacing layer are anisotropically etched. Subsequent to anisotropically etching the vertical spacing layer, a portion of the vertical spacing layer is interposed between the semiconductor wafer and the etched conductive transistor gate layer in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a major surface of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Patent number: 7279385
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory device is provided. Multiple stack structures each comprising a tunneling oxide layer and a first conductive layer are formed over a substrate. Thereafter, multiple embedded doping regions is formed in the substrate between the stack structures. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate to cover the stack structures and then the dielectric layer is etched back and a portion of dielectric layer is remained on the stack structures. Using a portion of the remaining dielectric layer as a mask, a portion of the first conductive layer is removed. An inter-layer dielectric layer and a second conductive layer are sequentially formed over the first conductive layer. Because a self-aligned process is used to define the floating gate and the floating gate has a narrow-top/wide-bottom configuration, the fabrication process is simplified and the coupling ratio of the stack gate is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Patent number: 7273782
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing and operating a nonvolatile memory in which a floating gate is formed on a silicon substrate to reduce the difference in heights between a memory region and a logic region so that a process margin is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hak Yun Kim
  • Patent number: 7274062
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. A substrate has at least two isolation structures therein to define an active area. A well is located in the substrate. A shallow doped region is located in the well. At least two stacked gate structures are located on the substrate. Pocket doped regions are located in the substrate at the peripheries of the stacked gate structures; each of the pocket doped regions extends under the stacked gate structure. Drain regions are located in the pocket doped regions at the peripheries of the stacked gate structures. An auxiliary gate layer is located on the substrate between the stacked gate structures. A gate dielectric layer is located between the auxiliary gate layer and the substrate and between the auxiliary gate layer and the stacked gate structure. Plugs are located on the substrate and extended to connect with the pocket doped region and the drain regions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Zhe Wong, Ching-Sung Yang, Chih-Chen Cho
  • Patent number: 7268041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a source contact of a flash memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 7265012
    Abstract: Wells are formed in a substrate where standard Vt and low Vt devices of both a first and second type are to be fabricated. Wells defining the locations of first type standard Vt devices are masked, and a first voltage threshold implant adjustment is performed within wells defining the second type standard Vt devices, and each of the first and second type low Vt devices. Wells that define the locations of second type standard Vt devices are masked, and a second voltage threshold implant adjustment is performed to the wells defining the first type standard Vt devices, and each of the first and second type low Vt devices. Doped polysilicon gate stacks are then formed over the wells. Performance characteristics and control of each device Vt is controlled by regulating at least one of the first and second voltage threshold implant adjustments, and the polysilicon gate stack doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Helm, Xianfeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 7262096
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory cell row includes first and second stacked gate structures, control and floating gates, inter-gate dielectric layer, a tunnel oxide layer, doping regions and source/drain regions. The first stacked gate structures has an erase gate dielectric layer, an erase gate and a first cap layer. Each of the second stacked gate structure has a select gate dielectric layer, a select gate and a second cap layer. The control gate is between each of the first stacked gate structures, and between each of the second stacked gate structures and the adjacent first stacked gate structure. The floating gate is between the control gate and substrate. The inter-gate dielectric layer is disposed between the control and floating gates. The tunnel oxide is between the floating gate and substrate. The doping regions are disposed under the first stacked gate structure, and the source/drain regions are in the exposed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Chen, Cheng-Yuan Hsu, Chih-Wei Hung
  • Patent number: 7259066
    Abstract: One-transistor memory devices facilitate nonvolatile data storage through the manipulation of oxygen vacancies within a trapping layer of a field-effect transistor (FET), thereby providing control and variation of threshold voltages of the transistor. Various threshold voltages may be assigned a data value, providing the ability to store one or more bits of data in a single memory cell. To control the threshold voltage, the oxygen vacancies may be manipulated by trapping electrons within the vacancies, freeing trapped electrons from the vacancies, moving the vacancies within the trapping layer and annihilating the vacancies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7259422
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a selective gate and a memory gate arranged on one side surface of the selective gate. The memory gate includes one part formed on one side surface of the selective gate and the other part electrically isolated from the selective gate and a p-well through an ONO layer formed below the memory gate. A sidewall-shaped silicon oxide is formed on side surfaces of the selective gate, and a sidewall-shaped silicon dioxide layer and a silicon dioxide layer are formed on side surfaces of the memory gate. The ONO layer formed below the memory gate is terminated below the silicon oxide, and prevents generation of a low breakdown voltage region in the silicon oxide near an end of the memory gate during deposition of the silicon dioxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Digh Hisamoto, Kan Yasui, Shinichiro Kimura, Daisuke Okada
  • Patent number: 7259098
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating a semiconductor devices are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises: forming a first gate electrode functioning as a flash memory; forming first spacers on sidewalls of the first gate electrode; forming a second gate electrode functioning as a normal gate electrode; forming a source/drain region with a shallow junction by performing a first ion implantation process using at least one of the first spacers as a mask; forming second spacers on a sidewall of the first spacer and on sidewalls of the second gate electrode; forming a source/drain region with a deep junction by performing a second ion implantation process using the second spacers as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Su Kim, Chee Hong Choi
  • Patent number: 7256446
    Abstract: This invention discloses a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell. The OTP memory cell includes a dielectric layer disposed between two conductive polysilicon segments wherein the dielectric layer is ready to change from a non-conductive state to a conductive state through an induced voltage breakdown. In a preferred embodiment, one of the conductive polysilicon segments further includes an etch undercut configuration for conveniently inducing the voltage breakdown in the dielectric layer. In a preferred embodiment, the dielectric layer is further formed as sidewalls covering the edges and corners of a first polysilicon segments to conveniently induce a voltage breakdown in the dielectric layer by the edge and corner electrical field effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongzhong Hu, Sung-Shan Tai
  • Publication number: 20070184616
    Abstract: In a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device, and in devices formed according to the method, a hard mask used in patterning a stacked structure constituting a memory cell is simultaneously removed when a device isolation region is removed from a region of the substrate where a common source line is to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-Bae Yoo, Hyun-Chul Shin
  • Patent number: 7253470
    Abstract: A split-gate flash memory device has a floating gate with a lateral recess at its bottom sidewall by adding an undercutting step. The split-gate flash memory device has a floating gate with a lateral recess on a substrate, an integrated dielectric layer lining the substrate, the sidewall and the lateral recess of the floating gate; a control gate on the integrated dielectric layer and covering at least part of the floating gate; and a dielectric spacer in the lateral recess between the integrated dielectric layer and the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Liu, Chi-Hsin Lo, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chi-Wei Ho
  • Patent number: 7250338
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided with respect to a gate stack for a nonvolatile structure. According to one aspect, a gate stack is provided. One embodiment of the gate stack includes a tunnel medium, a high K charge blocking and charge storing medium, and an injector medium. The high K charge blocking and charge storing medium is disposed on the tunnel medium. The injector medium is operably disposed with respect to the tunnel medium and the high K charge blocking and charge storing medium to provide charge transport by enhanced tunneling. According to one embodiment, the injector medium is disposed on the high K charge blocking and charge storing medium. According to one embodiment, the tunnel medium is disposed on the injector medium. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7247538
    Abstract: Floating trap non-volatile memory devices and methods are provided. The memory devices include a semiconductor substrate and an adjacent gate electrode. Between the substrate and the gate electrode may be a tunneling insulating layer having a first dielectric constant, a blocking insulating layer having a second dielectric constant that is greater than the first dielectric constant, and a charge storage layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Jung-Dal Choi, Byoung-Woo Ye
  • Patent number: 7247539
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device disclosed herein, comprises: forming a first member to be patterned on a semiconductor substrate; patterning the first member to be patterned to form a plurality of parallel linear patterns and a connecting portion which connects the linear patterns on at least one end side of the linear patterns; and etching a region between the linear patterns and the connecting portion to separate the linear patterns and the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20070158737
    Abstract: A mask read only memory (ROM) device includes a plurality of isolation patterns disposed at predetermined regions of a semiconductor substrate to define a plurality of active regions. The semiconductor substrate includes a mask ROM region where a plurality of on cells and a plurality of off-cells are disposed. The mask ROM further includes a plurality of gate lines disposed over the active regions, and which cross over the isolation patterns, a plurality of gate insulating layers interposed between the gate lines and the active regions and a floating conductive pattern and a inter-gate dielectric pattern located between the gate line and the gate insulating layer of the off-cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Seung-Jin Yang, Jeong-Uk Han
  • Patent number: 7238575
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory, the select gates (144S) are formed from one conductive layer (e.g. polysilicon or polyside), and the wordlines (144) interconnecting the select gates are made from a different conductive layer (e.g. metal). The wordlines overlie an interlevel dielectric (310) formed over control gates (134). The dielectric thickness can be controlled to reduce the capacitance between the wordlines and the control gates. In some embodiments, the floating gates (120) are fabricated in a self-aligned manner using an isotropic etch of the floating gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ProMOS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi Ding
  • Patent number: 7233046
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof restrains an amplified current between input voltage Vin and ground voltage Vss, and first and second n-wells are biased into internal voltage sources, whereby the current-voltage characteristic of the input pad becomes stabilized during an open/short checkup of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of device isolation regions, first and second n-wells horizontally spaced from either of the plurality of device isolation regions, a p-channel transistor formed in the second n-well, an input protection transistor horizontally spaced from the first n-well and the device isolation region, on a symmetrical portion by the first n-well to the second n-well, and a guard ring formed between the first n-well and the input protection transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7232722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a multibit non-volatile memory and especially to a method of making a flash memory such as a fast-programmable Flash EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) device relying on hot-electron injection for programming which is particularly suited for high density low-voltage low-power applications and employs only two polysilicon layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw, Infineon AG
    Inventors: Jan Van Houdt, Luc Haspeslagh
  • Patent number: 7232717
    Abstract: A method of forming a non-volatile DRAM includes, in part: forming p-well and an n-well between two trench isolation regions formed in a semiconductor substrate, forming a polysilicon control gate of the non-volatile device disposed in the non-volatile DRAM, forming a first oxide spacer above portions of the body region and adjacent said first control gate, forming gate oxide layers of varying thicknesses above the body region, forming the guiding gate of the non-volatile device and the gate of an associated passgate transistor, forming LDD implant regions of the non-volatile device and the associated pass-gate transistor, forming source/drain regions of the non-volatile device and the associated pass-gate transistor, depositing a dielectric layer over the polysilicon guiding gate of the non-volatile device and the polysilicon gate of the associated passgate transistor, forming polysilicon landing pads, and forming polysilicon vertical walls defining capacitor plates of the non-volatile DRAM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: O2IC, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyu Hyun Choi, Sheau-suey Li
  • Patent number: 7229883
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a memory device is provided. The method includes forming an electrode over a substrate. The method also includes forming an opening in the electrode to provide a tapered electrode contact surface proximate the opening. The method further includes forming a phase change feature over the electrode and on the tapered electrode contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Hsiung Wang, Li-Shyue Lai, Denny Tang, Wen-Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 7217620
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of forming a silicon quantum dots for application in a semiconductor memory device. One example method includes sequentially forming a pad oxide film and a sacrificial insulation film on a silicon substrate; forming a wall layer by selectively etching the sacrificial insulation film; forming a spacer at the side wall of the wall layer; etching the silicon substrate as much as a predetermined thickness using the spacer as a mask, thereby forming a silicon pattern; forming a barrier film for burying the upper surface and the side surface of the silicon pattern; applying isotropic etching to the substrate using the barrier film as a mask; and oxidizing the isotropic etched substrate with thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Ju Koh
  • Patent number: 7217621
    Abstract: Self-aligned split-gate NAND flash memory cell array and process of fabrication in which rows of self-aligned split-gate cells are formed between a bit line diffusion and a common source diffusion in the active area of a substrate. Each cell has control and floating gates which are stacked and self-aligned with each other, and erase and select gates which are split from and self-aligned with the stacked gates, with select gates at both ends of each row which partially overlap the bit line the source diffusions. The channel regions beneath the erase gates are heavily doped to reduce the resistance of the channel between the bit line and source diffusions, and the floating gates are surrounded by the other gates in a manner which provides significantly enhanced high voltage coupling to the floating gates from the other gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Chiou-Feng Chen, Caleb Yu-Sheng Cho, Ming-Jer Chen, Der-Tsyr Fan, Prateep Tuntasood
  • Patent number: 7205198
    Abstract: A bi-directional read/program non-volatile memory cell and array is capable of achieving high density. Each memory cell has two spaced floating gates for storage of charges thereon. The cell has spaced apart source/drain regions with a channel therebetween, with the channel having three portions. One of the floating gate is over a first portion; another floating gate is over a second portion, and a gate electrode controls the conduction of the channel in the third portion between the first and second portions. An independently controllable control gate is insulated from each of the source/drain regions, and is also capacitively coupled to the floating gate. The cell programs by hot channel electron injection, and erases by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons from the floating gate to the gate electrode. Bi-directional read permits the cell to be programmed to store bits, with one bit in each floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bomy Chen, Sohrab Kianian, Jack Frayer
  • Patent number: 7195967
    Abstract: In a channel region between the source/drain diffusion layers, impurities of the same conductivity type as the well are doped in an area apart from the diffusion regions. By using as a mask the gate formed in advance, tilted ion implantation in opposite directions is performed to form the diffusion layers and heavily impurity doped region of the same conductivity type as the well in a self-alignment manner relative to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasago, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7195968
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a resist pattern so that an opening between select gates of a select gate transistor is formed in a memory cell region, implanting threshold-adjusting ions under the select gate with the resist pattern serving as a mask and removing an oxide film, forming a nitride film and an interlayer insulation film after the resist pattern has been removed, forming a resist pattern used to form a contact hole between the select gates and a contact hole for a transistor to be formed in the peripheral circuit region, the transistor having a higher breakdown voltage than a memory cell transistor and etching the interlayer insulation film, the nitride film and the gate insulation film individually with the resist pattern serving as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Eiji Kamiya, Hirohisa Iizuka, Hiroaki Hazama, Kazuhito Narita, Norio Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7192833
    Abstract: A flash memory device including a tunnel dielectric layer, a floating gate layer, an interlayer dielectric layer and at least two mold layers formed on a semiconductor substrate and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. By sequentially patterning the layers, a first mold layer pattern and a floating gate layer pattern aligned with each other are formed. Exposed portions of side surfaces of the first mold layer pattern are selectively lateral etched, thereby forming a first mold layer second pattern having grooves in its sidewalls. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the floating gate layer pattern. A control gate having a width that is determined by the grooves in the second mold layer pattern is formed on the gate dielectric layer. By removing the first mold layer second pattern, spacers are formed on sidewalls of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hwang Kim, Yong-Suk Choi, Seung-Beom Yoon, Yong-Tae Kim, Young-Sam Park