IP Library Granted Patent US 8,357,965
Granted Patent B2
US 8,357,965 · App. 12/005,869 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Semiconductor device having multiple storage regions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,357,965
App. No.
12/005,869
Granted
Jan 22, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a semiconductor device that includes: a groove that is formed in a semiconductor substrate; bottom oxide films that are formed on both side faces of the groove; two charge storage layers that are formed on side faces of the bottom oxide films; top oxide films that are formed on side faces of the two charge storage layers; and a silicon oxide layer that is formed on the bottom face of the groove, and has a smaller film thickness than the top oxide films.

Claims (45)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a groove that is formed in a semiconductor substrate;

bottom oxide films that are formed on both side faces of the groove;

two charge storage layers that are formed on side faces of the bottom oxide films;

top oxide films that are formed on side faces of the two charge storage layers, wherein said top oxide films physically contact said bottom oxide films in the groove;

a silicon oxide layer that is formed on a bottom face of the groove, and has a smaller film thickness than one of the top oxide films, wherein said silicon oxide layer has a smaller film thickness than a film thickness of one of the bottom oxide films located below said two charge storage layers; and

a word line that is formed on side faces of the top oxide films and on the silicon oxide layer, wherein said word line extends below said two charge storage layers.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein said word line is a gate electrode corresponding to the two charge storage layers.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising

a bit line that is provided on either side of the groove and in the semiconductor substrate.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the charge storage layers include silicon nitride films.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the charge storage layers include floating gates.

6. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

an input component coupled to the processor;

an output component coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising:

a groove that is formed in a semiconductor substrate;

bottom oxide films that are formed on both side faces of the groove;

two charge storage layers that are formed on side faces of the bottom oxide films;

top oxide films that are formed on side faces of the two charge storage layers, wherein said top oxide films physically contact said bottom oxide films in the groove;

a silicon oxide layer that is formed on a bottom face of the groove, and has a smaller film thickness than one of the top oxide films, wherein said silicon oxide layer has a smaller film thickness than a film thickness of one of the bottom oxide films located below said two charge storage layers; and

a word line that is formed on side faces of the top oxide films and on the silicon oxide layer, wherein said word line extends below said two charge storage layers.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a codec coupled to the processor.

8. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said computing device is a personal digital assistant.

9. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said computing device is a gaming system.

10. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said computing device is portable notebook computer.

11. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said memory is flash memory.

12. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said memory is NAND flash memory.

13. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein said memory is NOR flash memory.

14. A semiconductor device comprising:

a groove that is formed in a semiconductor substrate;

bottom oxide films that are formed on both side faces of the groove;

two charge storage layers that are formed on side faces of the bottom oxide films;

top oxide films that are formed on side faces of the two charge storage layers;

a silicon oxide layer that is formed on a bottom face of the groove, and has a smaller film thickness than one of the top oxide films, wherein said silicon oxide layer has a smaller film thickness than a film thickness of one of the bottom oxide films located below said two charge storage layers, wherein said silicon oxide layer directly contacts said top oxide films and said bottom oxide films in the groove; and

a word line that is formed on side faces of the top oxide films and on the silicon oxide layer, wherein said word line extends below said two charge storage layers.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein said word line is a gate electrode corresponding to the two charge storage layers.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , further comprising

a bit line that is provided on either side of the groove and in the semiconductor substrate.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein the charge storage layers include silicon nitride films.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein the charge storage layers include floating gates.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein said silicon oxide layer has a smaller film thickness than said top oxide films.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein said silicon oxide layer has a smaller film thickness than said bottom oxide films.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036051/0786 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2008
From: NANSEI, HIROYUKI
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 020685/0378 →