IP Library Granted Patent US 8,860,226
Granted Patent B2
US 8,860,226 · App. 13/346,910 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,860,226
App. No.
13/346,910
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a storage node contact plug, a bit line in communication with to the storage node contact plug, and an expansion unit formed on a sidewall of the bit line. Thermal expansion of the expansion unit serves to increase capacitance by ensuring a distance between the bit line and the storage node contact plug, thereby improving a sensing margin. A cell characteristic such as a record recovery time (tWR) may be enhanced.

Claims (25)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a bit line contact plug formed over a semiconductor substrate;

a bit line coupled to the bit line contact plug, the bit line including a bit line conductive layer and a hard mask layer; and

an expansion unit disposed on a sidewall of the bit line conductive layer and the bit line contact plug,

wherein a width of a central portion of the expansion unit is greater than a width of an upper portion of the expansion unit and a width of a lower portion of the expansion unit.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a buried gate disposed within the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the bit line.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the bit line contact plug includes a polysilicon layer.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the bit line includes a barrier metal layer, a bit line conductive layer, and a hard mask layer.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the barrier metal layer includes any one selected from the group consisting of a titanium (Ti) layer, a titanium nitride (TiN) layer, and a combination thereof.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the bit line conductive layer includes tungsten (W).

7. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , further comprising an insulating layer disposed on a sidewall and an upper surface of the hard mask layer.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 7 , wherein the insulating layer includes low pressure tetra ethyl ortho silicate (LP-TEOS).

9. The semiconductor device of claim 7 , wherein a linewidth of the expansion unit is larger than a linewidth of the insulating layer.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 7 , wherein the expansion unit is configured to have a first volume when it is originally formed, a second volume when thermal energy is applied to the expansion unit, and a third volume after the thermal energy that induced the second volume is no longer applied, and wherein the second and third volumes are larger than the first volume.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the expansion unit includes plasma enhanced tetra ethyl ortho silicate (PE-TEOS).

12. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the expansion unit is a unit that permanently expands its size.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the expansion unit is disposed in a bit line contact hole.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising first and second trenches disposed on opposing sides of the bit line;

wherein the expansion unit extends from the sidewalls of the conductive layer of the bit line to a first insulation layer filling an upper portion of the first and second trenches.

15. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a bit line contact plug formed over a semiconductor substrate;

a bit line coupled to the bit line contact plug, the bit line including a bit line conductive layer and a hard mask layer;

an expansion unit disposed on a sidewall of the bit line conductive layer and the bit line contact plug; and

first and second trenches disposed on opposing sides of the bit line,

wherein the expansion unit extends from the sidewalls of the conductive layer of the bit line to a first insulation layer filling an upper portion of the first and second trenches.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE IS HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC. NOT HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC. THERE IS NO HYPHEN IN THE NAME. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67328 FRAME 814. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 14, 2024
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067412/0482 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067369/0832 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 6, 2024
From: HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067328/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: SEO, YONG WON
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 027506/0844 →