IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,550,325
Granted Patent B2
US 12,550,325 · App. 17/776,696 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Semiconductor device and electronic device

Inventors: Hiromichi Godo (Kanagawa, JP); Hitoshi Kunitake (Kanagawa, JP); Kazuki Tsuda (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
H10B43/27
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,550,325
App. No.
17/776,696
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A novel semiconductor device is provided. A memory string extends in a Z direction. The memory string achieves high-speed operation by using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer. The memory string includes a MONOS memory cell. A tunnel layer is provided on a control gate side, and a block layer is provided on a semiconductor side. During erase operation, a hole is injected into a charge accumulation layer from the control gate side.

Claims (48)

1 . A semiconductor device comprising a structure body extending in a first direction and a conductor extending in a second direction,

wherein the structure body includes an oxide semiconductor, a first insulator, a second insulator, and a third insulator,

wherein the oxide semiconductor extends in the first direction,

wherein the first insulator is adjacent to the oxide semiconductor,

wherein the second insulator is adjacent to the first insulator,

wherein the third insulator is adjacent to the second insulator,

wherein, in an intersection portion where the structure body intersects with the conductor, the oxide semiconductor, the first insulator, the second insulator, and the third insulator are concentrically provided,

wherein, in the intersection portion, the conductor is adjacent to the third insulator and the first insulator is thicker than the third insulator, and

wherein the oxide semiconductor has a thickness of larger than or equal to 30 nm and smaller than or equal to 50 nm.

2 . A semiconductor device comprising a structure body extending in a first direction and n layers of conductors extending in a second direction, where nis an integer greater than or equal to 2,

wherein the structure body includes an oxide semiconductor, a first insulator, a second insulator, and a third insulator,

wherein the oxide semiconductor extends in the first direction,

wherein the first insulator is adjacent to the oxide semiconductor,

wherein the second insulator is adjacent to the first insulator,

wherein the third insulator is adjacent to the second insulator,

wherein, in each of n intersection portions where the structure body intersects with the n layers of the conductors, the oxide semiconductor, the first insulator, the second insulator, and the third insulator are concentrically provided,

wherein, in each of the n intersection portions, the n layers of conductors are adjacent to the third insulator and the first insulator is thicker than the third insulator, and

wherein the oxide semiconductor has a thickness of larger than or equal to 30 nm and smaller than or equal to 50 nm.

3 . The semiconductor device according to claim 2 functions as a NAND memory device.

4 . The semiconductor device according to claim 2 functions as a RAM.

5 . The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

6 . The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first insulator functions as a block layer,

wherein the second insulator functions as a charge accumulation layer, and

wherein the third insulator functions as a tunnel layer.

7 . The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the intersection portion functions as a memory cell.

8 . The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the oxide semiconductor contains at least one of indium and zinc.

9 . An electronic device comprising:

the semiconductor device according to claim 1 ; and

at least one of an operation switch, a battery, and a display portion.

10 . A semiconductor device comprising a structure body, a first conductor, and a second conductor,

wherein the structure body includes a first portion extending in a first direction, a second portion extending in the first direction, and a third portion extending in a second direction,

wherein the first conductor and the second conductor extend in a third direction,

wherein the structure body includes an oxide semiconductor, a first insulator, a second insulator, and a third insulator,

wherein, in a first intersection portion where the first portion intersects with the first conductor, the oxide semiconductor, the first insulator, the second insulator, and the third insulator are provided concentrically and the first conductor is adjacent to the third insulator,

wherein, in a second intersection portion where the second portion intersects with the second conductor, the oxide semiconductor, the first insulator, the second insulator, and the third insulator are provided concentrically and the second conductor is adjacent to the third insulator,

wherein, in each of the first intersection portion and the second intersection portion, the first insulator is thicker than the third insulator, and

wherein the oxide semiconductor has a thickness of larger than or equal to 30 nm and smaller than or equal to 50 nm.

11 . The semiconductor device according to claim 10 , wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other.

12 . The semiconductor device according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first insulator functions as a block layer,

wherein the second insulator functions as a charge accumulation layer, and

wherein the third insulator functions as a tunnel layer.

13 . The semiconductor device according to claim 10 , wherein each of the first intersection portion and the second intersection portion functions as a memory cell.

14 . The semiconductor device according to claim 10 , wherein the oxide semiconductor contains at least one of indium and zinc.

15 . An electronic device comprising:

the semiconductor device according to according to claim 10 ; and

at least one of an operation switch, a battery, and a display portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: GODO, HIROMICHI; KUNITAKE, HITOSHI; TSUDA, KAZUKI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059899/0871 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2019-210330 · Nov 21, 2019 · national
JP 2019-237925 · Dec 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230065351A1 · Mar 2, 2023
References Cited (49)
US 8178919B2 · Fujiwara et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8569823B2 · Ino et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9972641B1 · Zhang · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10043918B2 · Yamazaki et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10211219B2 · Kito et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10312239B2 · Tezuka et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10374097B2 · Yamazaki et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10553601B2 · Tezuka et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10593693B2 · Yamazaki et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10693013B2 · Toriumi et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11011542B2 · Yamazaki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11985827B2 · Godo et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20110019480A1 · Kito · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120068250A1 · Ino et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120319114A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140014947A1 · Yamazaki · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140027762A1 · Tsurume et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140264525A1 · Takahashi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150069498A1 · Konno et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150255139A1 · Atsumi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160149004A1 · Rabkin · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160204117A1 · Liu · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160247927A1 · Nomura et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160351576A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170040416A1 · Ota et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180122814A1 · Baraskar et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180269210A1 · Tezuka et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180350829A1 · Tezuka et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180374529A1 · Kimura et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190006386A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190027493A1 · Kimura et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190304996A1 · Economy · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200091166A1 · Zhang · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200161309A1 · Asami · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210104608A1 · Yamazaki · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210242220A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210366926A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210383881A1 · Onuki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20240298447A1 · Godo et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007266143A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011023688A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015056443A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016225614A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018157205A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019012822A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019201214A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010106922 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (Application No. PCT/IB2020/060547) Dated Dec. 28, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion (Application No. PCT/IB2020/060547) Dated Dec. 28, 2020. [cited by applicant]