1048 results about "Ferroelectric capacitor" patented technology

Various logic elements such as SR flip-flops, JK flip-flops, D-type flip-flops, master-slave flip-flops, parallel and serial shift registers, and the like are converted into non-volatile logic elements capable of retaining a current output logic state even though external power is removed or interrupted through the strategic addition of ferroelectric capacitors and supporting circuitry. In each case, the building blocks of a cross-coupled sense amplifier are identified within the logic element and the basic cell is modified and/or optimized for sensing performance.

A ferroelectric memory with interleaved pairs of ferroelectric memory cells of the two-transistor, two-capacitor (2T2C) type. Each memory cell in a given pair is constructed as first and second portions, each portion including a transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor. Within each pair, a first portion of a second memory cell is physically located between the first and second portions of the first memory cell. As a result, complementary bit lines for adjacent columns are interleaved with one another. Each sense amplifier is associated with a multiplexer, so that the adjacent columns of the interleaved memory cells are supported by a single sense amplifier. Noise coupling among the bit lines is reduced, and the sense amplifiers can be placed along one side of the array, reducing the number of dummy cells required to eliminate edge cell effects.

A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a plurality of first memory cells each of which includes a cell transistor whose gate terminal is connected to a word line and a ferroelectric capacitor which is connected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor. The drain terminals of the cell transistors of are used as a first local bit line, the other end of each of the ferroelectric capacitors are used as a first plate line. A first reset transistor has a source terminal connected to the first plate line and a drain terminal connected to the first local bit line. A first block selection transistor has a source terminal connected to the first local bit line and a drain terminal connected to a first bit line.

Ferroelectric memory cells (3) are presented, in which a cell resistor (R) is integrated into the cell capacitor (C) to inhibit charge accumulation or charge loss at the cell storage node (SN) when the cell (3) is not being accessed while avoiding significant disruption of memory cell access operations. Methods (100, 200) are provided for fabricating ferroelectric memory cells (3) and ferroelectric capacitors (C), in which a parallel resistance (R) is integrated in the capacitor ferroelectric material (20) or in an encapsulation layer (46) formed over the patterned capacitor structure (C).

Methods (100) are provided for fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor structure including methods (128) for etching and cleaning patterned ferroelectric capacitor structures in a semiconductor device. The methods comprise etching (140, 200) portions of an upper electrode, etching (141, 201) ferroelectric material, and etching (142, 202) a lower electrode to define a patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure, and etching (143, 206) a portion of a lower electrode diffusion barrier structure. The methods further comprise ashing (144, 203) the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a first ashing process, performing (145, 204) a wet clean process after the first ashing process, and ashing (146, 205) the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a second ashing process directly after the wet clean process at a high temperature in an oxidizing ambient.

The present invention provides a design of three-dimensional non-volatile ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) devices for increasing the storage density. The key components include: (1) FeRAM device structures with (i) field-effect-transistors electrically connected either in series or in parallel as a basic memory group and (ii) a double-gate structure for implementing read/write schemes with full random access to individual memory cells, where one type of gates employs ferroelectrics layers as the gate dielectrics while the other type of gates employs conventional dielectric materials as the gate dielectrics; and (2) FeRAM device structures with stacked ferroelectric-capacitors and field-effect-transistors electrically connected in series as a basic NAND memory group. Example fabrication processes for implementing such three-dimensional FeRAM devices are also provided.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory, including a ferroelectric capacitor composed of a ferroelectric film sandwiched by capacitor electrodes made of a conductive material, a cell capacitor block stacked a plurality of the capacitor electrodes and the ferroelectric film of the ferroelectric capacitor perpendicular to a main surface of a silicon substrate in layer, a cell transistor having a drain electrode and a source electrode, the drain electrode and the source electrode are electrically connected to the ferroelectric capacitor in parallel, a memory cell composed of the ferroelectric capacitor and the cell transistor, a cell block having the plurality of memory cells electrically connected in series, the drain electrode and the source electrode being as a terminals, a word line, a bit line connected to one end of the cell block, the bit line being arranged along orthogonal direction to the word line and a plate line connected to the other end of the cell block, the plate line arranged along the word line.

An integrated circuit capacitor in which a first conductive plate, a layer of ferroelectric material, and a second conductive plate are deposited and formed in sequence. Thereafter a diffusion barrier material and an insulative material are deposited either as a layered dielectric stack with alternating layers of the diffusion barrier material and the insulative material with tensile and compressive stresses in the alternating layers offsetting one another, or as a graded diffusion barrier material varying from a binary oxide of Ta, Nb, or Zr at the surface of the ferroelectric material to SiO2 at a distance above the surface of the ferroelectric material.

An embedded LSI includes a FeRAM macro block and an associated logic circuit section. A hydrogen barrier layer covers the FeRAM macro block as a whole and exposes the logic circuit section. The edge of the hydrogen barrier layer overlies the peripheral circuit of the FeRAM macro block and the boundary separating the FeRAM macro block from the logic circuit section. The ferroelectric capacitor is protected by the hydrogen barrier layer against hydrogen during a hydrogen-annealing process.

Non-volatile latch circuit 10 of the present invention comprises ferroelectric capacitor 1 provided with a first electrode 1a, second electrode 1b, and ferroelectric film 1c that lies between these electrodes; reset terminal Tre that is connected to first electrode 1a and a CMOS inverter element 2 that is connected to second electrode 1b of ferroelectric capacitor 1; voltage switching terminal Tpl that applies a voltage to second electrode 1b; switching element 5 that is connected between second electrode 1b and second input terminal Tpl and switches a voltage applied to second electrode 1b; and set terminal Tse that applies a voltage for switching on or off switching element 5, wherein the voltage generated in second electrode 1b caused by polarization retained by ferroelectric film 1c is higher than the threshold voltage Vtn of NMISFET 4 of CMOS inverter element 2.

A ferroelectric memory having a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells, each ferroelectric memory cell including a ferroelectric capacitor is disclosed. The ferroelectric memory includes read and write lines and a plurality of ferroelectric memory cell select buses, one select bus corresponding to each of the ferroelectric memory cells. Each of the ferroelectric memory cells includes first and second gates for connecting the ferroelectric memory cell to the read line and the write line, respectively, in response to signals on the ferroelectric memory cell select bus corresponding to that ferroelectric memory cell. A write circuit causes a charge to be stored in the ferroelectric capacitor of the ferroelectric memory cell currently connected to the write line, the charge having a value determined by a data value having at least three states. A read circuit measures the charge stored in the ferroelectric capacitor of the ferroelectric memory cell currently connected to the read line to generate an output value, the output value corresponding to one of the states.

Disclosed is a triple metal line 1T/1C ferroelectric memory device and a method to make the same. A ferroelectric capacitor is connected to the transistor through a buried contact plug. An oxidation barrier layer lies between the contact plug and the lower electrode of the capacitor. A diffusion barrier layer covers the ferroelectric capacitor to prevent diffusion of material into or out of capacitor. As a result of forming the oxidation barrier layer, the contact plug is not exposed to the ambient oxygen atmosphere thereby providing a reliable ohmic contact between the contact plug and the lower electrode. Also, the memory device provides a triple interconnection structure made of metal, which improves device operation characteristics.

A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array of memory cells each including a cell transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor; a sense amp circuit operative to sense/amplify a signal read out of the ferroelectric capacitor through a pair of bit lines; a pair of decoupling transistors provided on the pair of bit lines to decouple the bit lines; a control circuit operative to provide a control signal to the gates of the decoupling transistors to control conduction of the decoupling transistors; and a dummy capacitor provided in connection with at least either one of the pair of bit lines between the decoupling transistors and the sense amp circuit. The control circuit is configured to be capable of turning the decoupling transistors from on to off when a certain period of time elapsed after the beginning of reading.

A semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film formed on said semiconductor substrate; a ferroelectric capacitor having a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film and an upper electrode which are stacked sequentially on the insulating film; a first hydrogen barrier film; a first inter-layer insulating film covering said ferroelectric capacitor; and a second inter-layer insulating film stacked on the first inter-layer insulating film, the first hydrogen barrier film being interposed between the first and second interlayer insulating films is proposed.

A reference voltage supply apparatus and a driving method thereof in a ferroelectric memory device provide a reference voltage stabilized against the imprint effect thus maintaining reading reliability of the device. In the reference voltage supply apparatus (e.g., using a non-switching capacitance of a ferroelectric capacitor), a reference cell is constructed of a ferroelectric capacitor and an access switch, and provides a reference voltage to read data from a memory cell. In an active mode, the reference cell stores data of a first logic state (e.g., corresponding to the non-switching capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor), in the reference cell, and then supplies, as a reference voltage, the voltage corresponding to the data of the first logic state to a bit line; and in a stand-by mode, a reference voltage controller stores (writes) data of a second logic state (opposite to the first logic state), into the reference cell.

A data holding device is provided that is capable of holding data even if the power supply is shut off and reliability in holding data is high. The data holding device 1 is provided with a data latch circuit 3 and a ferroelectric memory section 5. Ferroelectric capacitors 17 and 19 are capable of storing data in non-volatile manner. One end of the ferroelectric capacitor 17 is connected to the input node 7a of an inverter circuit 7 through a transfer gate 11. The transfer gate 11 is in the off state when data are passed. Therefore, even if input data D changes when data are passed, the change is quickly transmitted to the input node 7a, so that reliability of latching operation does not lower even if the operation is made at usual speeds.

A method is provided for fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor structure including a method for etching and cleaning patterned ferroelectric capacitor structures in a semiconductor device. The method comprises etching portions of an upper electrode, etching ferroelectric material, and etching a lower electrode to define a patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure, and etching a portion of a lower electrode diffusion barrier structure. The method further comprises ashing the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a first ashing process, where the ash comprises an oxygen/nitrogen/water-containing ash, performing a wet clean process after the first ashing process, and ashing the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a second ashing process.

A memory cell includes a capacitor that includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The capacitor includes a ferroelectric layer disposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The ferroelectric layer is a single layer of a bi-stable asymmetric crystalline material.

Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are presented, in which a hydrogen barrier is provided above a ferroelectric capacitor to prevent degradation of the ferroelectric material during back-end manufacturing processes employing hydrogen. The hydrogen barrier comprises silicon rich silicon oxide or amorphous silicon, which can be used in combination with an aluminum oxide layer to inhibit diffusion of process-related hydrogen into the ferroelectric capacitor layer.

In a ferroelectric memory, there are provided a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines crossing there-with, a plurality of memory cells having ferroelectric capacitors arranged at the positions of these crossovers and a plurality of correction capacitors connectable with the bit lines. At least some of the plurality of correction capacitors are connected with a bit line so as to be capable of increasing bit line capacitance by a prescribed amount.

A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof improving moisture resistance of a FeRAM. After a probe test using a pad, a metal film is formed to cover the pad in an opening of a protective film and a region from the pad to an opening outer periphery of the protective film. On the metal film, a metal bump is formed. The metal film is formed to have a two-layer structure of the first and second metal films. Materials of the lower and upper layers are selected mainly in consideration of adhesion to the protective film and adhesion to the metal bump, respectively. Film formation conditions thereof are set to provide metal films with a desired quality and thickness. Thus, penetration of moisture from the pad or the periphery into a ferroelectric capacitor can be prevented and therefore, occurrence of potential inversion abnormalities due to penetrated moisture can be effectively suppressed.

The present invention forms sidewall diffusion barrier layer(s) that mitigate hydrogen contamination of ferroelectric capacitors. Sidewall diffusion barrier layer(s) of the present invention are formed via a physical vapor deposition process at a low temperature. By so doing, the sidewall diffusion barrier layer(s) are substantially amorphous and provide superior protection against hydrogen diffusion than conventional and/or crystalline sidewall diffusion barrier layers.

A method for manufacturing a ferroelectric capacitor includes the steps of: forming a base dielectric film on a substrate, and forming a first plug conductive section in the base dielectric film at a predetermined position; forming, on the base dielectric film, a charge storage section formed from a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film and an upper electrode; forming a stopper film from an insulation material that covers the charge storage section; forming a hydrogen barrier film that covers the stopper film; forming an interlayer dielectric film on the base dielectric film including the hydrogen barrier film; forming, in the interlayer dielectric film, a first contact hole that exposes the first plug conductive section; forming a second contact hole that exposes the upper electrode of the charge storage section by successively etching the interlayer dielectric film, the hydrogen barrier film and the stopper film by using a resist pattern as a mask, and then removing the resist pattern by a wet cleaning treatment; forming an adhesion layer from a conductive material having hydrogen barrier property inside the second contact hole in a manner to cover an upper surface of the upper electrode; forming a second plug conductive section inside the first contact hole; and forming a third plug conductive section inside the second contact hole, wherein the stopper film is formed from a material having a lower etching rate for a cleaning liquid used for the wet cleaning treatment to remove the resist pattern than an etching rate of the hydrogen barrier film for the cleaning liquid.

A voltage generating circuit comprising a capacitor (4), a ferroelectric capacitor (6) serially connected to the capacitor (4), an output terminal (11), a capacitor (10) which grounds the output terminal (11), a supply voltage supplying terminal (13), a switch (1) which connects the supply voltage supplying terminal (13) and the connecting node (N1) of the two capacitors (4, 6), and a switch (9) which connects the connecting node (N1) and output terminal (11); wherein during a first period, with the two switches (1) and (9) placed in the OFF state, a terminal (3) is grounded and a terminal (7) is provided with a supply voltage; wherein during a second period, the terminal (3) is provided with the supply voltage and the switch (9) is placed in the ON state; wherein during a third period, the switch (9) is placed in the OFF state, the switch (1) is placed in the ON state, and the terminal (7) is grounded; wherein during a fourth period, the terminal (7) is provided with the supply voltage; and wherein thereafter the first through fourth periods are repeated.

There is formed a gate electrode (word line) via a gate insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, the gate electrode extending in the direction inclining at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the extending direction of an element region. The element region is divided into three portions by the two gate electrodes. In each element region portion, two MOS transistors are provided. A bit line is connected to a W plug provided in the central region portion and lower electrodes of two ferroelectric capacitors are connected to other W plugs provided in both end region portions. The extending direction of the bit line inclines approximately 45 degrees to the extending direction of the element region.

An integrated circuit memory contains a memory cell connected to a bit line that does not float during a portion or all of the read sensing part of the read cycle. The memory cell includes a data storage device. The data storage device may be a ferroelectric capacitor, a linear capacitor, a floating gate transistor, a magnetic device, a resistive device or other type of data storage device capable of placing a charge on the bit line corresponding to a specific data state of the memory cell. The bit line and a reference bit line are connected to a differential amplifier and precharged to specified voltages. Preferably, a self-nulling sense amplifier circuit is connected to the bit lines that compensates for sense amplifier offset by applying additional charges on the bit lines. Alternatively, charge sources may be connected to the bit lines to provide additional charges on the bit lines during the read cycle. Memory cells according to this invention can be configured to provide a reference cell for the reference bit line.