Patent US5973347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5973347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Semiconductor memory cell having storage electrodes with inclined portions
Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-03-04
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2016-03-04
Abstract
Abstract An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor memory cell capable of ensuring a large surface area of each of a plurality of storage electrodes thereby to increase the capacity of a capacitive portion (capacitor) formed between the storage electrode and a cell plate electrode, in other words, greatly increasing the capacity of the memory cell and to provide a method of manufacturing the semiconductor memory cell. The storage electrode is structured so as to have oblique inclinations. A semiconductor memory cell is normally selected by applying a voltage to a word line so as to start up the word line. Thus, the reading of information from or writing of it into the selected semiconductor memory cell is performed. The information is transferred to the corresponding memory cell from the outside of the memory cell through its corresponding bit line. Alternatively, the information is transferred to the outside. The retention of the information in the memory cell is carried out by electric charges stored in the capacitor formed between the storage electrode and the cell plate electrode. Therefore, the greater the capacity of the capacitor, the higher the performance of the memory cell is made.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiki Nagatomo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/30; H10B12/31; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A semiconductor memory cell device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a principle surface; an interlayer insulation layer formed on the substrate above the principle surface, the interlayer insulation layer having spaced-apart insulation portions which are triangular in cross section, the interlayer insulation layer having an upper surface contour which includes upper side surfaces of the spaced-apart insulation portions, the upper side surfaces of each spaced-apart insulation portion extending away from the principle surface and in opposite lateral directions to an intersection therebetween; a storage electrode layer formed on the interlayer insulation layer so as to conform to the contour thereof, the storage electrode layer including a plurality of storage electrodes, each storage electrode including spaced-apart first and second electrode layer portions both inclined diagonally upwardly with respect to the principle surface and extending away from each other on respective upper side surfaces of adjacent ones of the spaced-apart insulation portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A semiconductor memory cell device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a principle surface; an interlayer insulation layer formed on the substrate above the principle surface, the interlayer insulation layer having spaced-apart insulation portions which are triangular in cross section, the interlayer insulation layer having an upper surface contour which includes upper side surfaces of the spaced-apart insulation portions, the upper side surfaces of each spaced-apart insulation portion extending away from the principle surface and in opposite lateral directions to an intersection therebetween; a storage electrode layer formed on the interlayer insulation layer so as to conform to the contour thereof, the storage electrode layer including a plurality of storage electrodes, each storage electrode including spaced-apart first and second electrode layer portions both inclined diagonally upwardly with respect to the principle surface and extending away from each other on respective upper side surfaces of adjacent ones of the spaced-apart insulation portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor memory cell device according to claim 1, further comprising: word lines for selecting the storage electrodes; and bit lines formed directly below the spaced-apart insulation portions of triangular cross section, for transferring charge representing information to and from the storage electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
226 words
A semiconductor memory cell device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a principle surface; an interlayer insulation layer disposed over the substrate above the principle surface, the interlayer insulation layer having spaced-apart insulation portions which are triangular in cross section, the interlayer insulation layer having an upper surface contour which includes upper side surfaces of the spaced-apart insulation portions, the upper side surfaces of each spaced-apart insulation portion extending away from the principle surface and in opposite lateral directions to an intersection therebetween; a storage electrode layer having a surface portion disposed on the interlayer insulation layer so as to conform to the upper surface contour thereof, and a stem portion, the storage electrode layer including a plurality of storage electrodes, each storage electrode including spaced-apart first and second electrode layer portions of the surface portion, both inclined diagonally upwardly with respect to the principle surface and extending away from each other on respective upper side surfaces of adjacent ones of the spaced-apart insulation portions, a central layer portion of the surface portion connecting the first and second electrode layer portions, and a solid stem of the stem portion, extending through the interlayer insulation layer and connecting the central layer portion with a first diffusion layer; an electrode insulating layer disposed on the storage electrode layer; and a cell plate electrode disposed on the electrode insulating layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
A semiconductor memory cell device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a principle surface; an interlayer insulation layer disposed over the substrate above the principle surface, the interlayer insulation layer having spaced-apart insulation portions which are triangular in cross section, the interlayer insulation layer having an upper surface contour which includes upper side surfaces of the spaced-apart insulation portions, the upper side surfaces of each spaced-apart insulation portion extending away from the principle surface and in opposite lateral directions to an intersection therebetween; a storage electrode layer having a surface portion disposed on the interlayer insulation layer so as to conform to the upper surface contour thereof, and a stem portion, the storage electrode layer including a plurality of storage electrodes, each storage electrode including spaced-apart first and second electrode layer portions of the surface portion, both inclined diagonally upwardly with respect to the principle surface and extending away from each other on respective upper side surfaces of adjacent ones of the spaced-apart insulation portions, a central layer portion of the surface portion connecting the first and second electrode layer portions, and a solid stem of the stem portion, extending through the interlayer insulation layer and connecting the central layer portion with a first diffusion layer; an electrode insulating layer disposed on the storage electrode layer; and a cell plate electrode disposed on the electrode insulating layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The memory cell device according to claim 3, wherein the upper side surfaces extend in a direction away from the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate at an angle that is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees with respect to the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The memory cell device according to claim 4, wherein the upper side surfaces extend in a direction away from the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate at an angle of forty-five degrees with respect to the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The memory cell device according to claim 3, further comprising: a substrate insulating layer disposed on the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate and having openings disposed above and extending to a second diffusion layer; bit lines disposed on the substrate insulating layer and directly below the spaced-apart insulation portions of triangular cross section, and being electrically connected to the second diffusion layer through the openings in the substrate insulating layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The memory cell device according to claim 3, wherein the spaced-apart insulation portions of triangular cross section of the interlayer insulation layer are substantially centered symmetrically over the bit lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The memory cell device according to claim 7, wherein the upper side surfaces extend in a direction away from the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate at an angle that is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees with respect to the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The memory cell device according to claim 8, wherein the upper side surfaces extend in a direction away from the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate at an angle of forty-five degrees with respect to the principle surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor memory cell device according to claim 3, further comprising: word lines for selecting the storage electrodes; and bit lines formed directly below the spaced-apart insulation portions of triangular cross section, for transferring charge representing information to and from the storage electrodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |