# US 12,764,980 B2 · Semiconductor device having a low resistivity trench capacitor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,764,980 B2 - Document ID: US12764980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/522,740 - Filed: 2023-11-29 - Published: 2024-12-26 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-26 - Assignees: SK keyfoundry Inc. - Applicants: SK keyfoundry Inc. - Inventors: Youngryeol Kim; Hyunchul Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12764980B2 ## CPC - H10D 1/716: {having vertical extensions} - H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES ## Abstract A trench capacitor includes a trench disposed in a substrate; an inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the trench and having a top surface and a bottom surface; an outer electrode disposed symmetrically with respect to the inner electrode, the outer electrode having a depth shallower than a depth of the inner electrode with respect to a top surface of the substrate; a thick bottom insulating layer disposed below the inner electrode and the outer electrode; and a capacitor dielectric layer surrounding the outer electrode. The outer electrode protrudes above the top surface of the substrate and has a top surface that is higher than the top surface of the inner electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trench capacitor, comprising: a trench disposed in a substrate; an inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the trench and extending in a vertical direction, the inner electrode having a top surface and a bottom surface; an outer electrode disposed symmetrically with respect to the inner electrode, the outer electrode having a depth that is shallower than a depth of the inner electrode relative to a top surface of the substrate; a thick bottom insulating layer disposed below the inner electrode and the outer electrode; and a capacitor dielectric layer surrounding the outer electrode, wherein the outer electrode protrudes above the top surface of the substrate and has a top surface that is higher than the top surface of the inner electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trench capacitor of claim 1, wherein the outer electrode disposed in the trench is physically connected to another outer electrode disposed in an adjacent trench. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The trench capacitor of claim 2, wherein a connection portion is disposed between the outer electrode and the another outer electrode and is positioned above the top surface of the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The trench capacitor of claim 1, wherein the outer electrode comprises a metallic layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The trench capacitor of claim 1, wherein the capacitor dielectric has a thickness thinner than a thickness of the thick bottom insulation layer, and wherein the outer electrode has a ring shape surrounding the inner electrode in a plan view. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The trench capacitor of claim 1, wherein the capacitor dielectric layer is disposed at least along trench sidewalls of an upper portion of the trench, interfaced with the thick bottom insulation layer, and extended on the top surface of the inner electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The trench capacitor of claim 1, further comprising: a doped region disposed in the substrate; a first contact plug connected to the inner electrode; a second contact plug connected to the outer electrode; and a third contact plug connected to the doped region and electrically connected to the first contact plug by a first metal interconnection. ### Claim 8 A trench capacitor, comprising: a first trench and a second trench disposed in a substrate; a first inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the first trench; a first capacitor dielectric layer disposed on the first inner electrode; a second inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the second trench; a second capacitor dielectric layer disposed on the second inner electrode; a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode disposed in the first trench and arranged symmetrically with respect to the first inner electrode; and a third outer electrode and a fourth outer electrode disposed in the second trench and arranged symmetrically with respect to the second inner electrode, wherein each of the first to fourth outer electrodes has a depth that is shallower than a depth of each of the first and second inner electrodes relative to a top surface of the substrate, wherein the first and second outer electrodes protrude above the top surface of the substrate, and each has a top surface located higher than a top surface of the first inner electrode, and wherein the second outer electrode disposed in the first trench is physically connected to the third outer electrode disposed in the second trench. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The trench capacitor of claim 8, wherein the second and third outer electrodes are connected to each other through a connection portion disposed on the top surface of the substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The trench capacitor of claim 8, wherein each of the first to fourth outer electrodes comprises a material different from a material of the first or second inner electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The trench capacitor of claim 8, further comprising: a thick bottom insulating layer formed below the first inner electrode and the first and second outer electrodes; a doped region disposed in the substrate; a first contact plug connected to the first inner electrode; a second contact plug connected to the first and second outer electrodes; and a third contact plug connected to the doped region, wherein the third contact plug is electrically connected to the first contact plug through a first metal interconnection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The trench capacitor of claim 11, further comprising: a middle electrode disposed in a central portion of each of the first to fourth outer electrodes; a middle capacitor dielectric layer disposed under the middle electrode; and a fourth contact plug connected to the middle electrode and electrically connected to the first contact plug through the first metal interconnection. ### Claim 13 A trench capacitor, comprising: a first trench and a second trench disposed in a substrate; a first inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the first trench; a first capacitor dielectric layer disposed on the first inner electrode; a second inner electrode disposed in a central portion of the second trench; a second capacitor dielectric layer disposed on the second inner electrode; a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode disposed in the first trench and arranged symmetrically with respect to the first inner electrode; and a third outer electrode and a fourth outer electrode disposed in the second trench and arranged symmetrically with respect to the second inner electrode, wherein each of the first to fourth outer electrodes has a depth that is shallower than a depth of each of the first and second inner electrodes relative to a top surface of the substrate, wherein the second outer electrode disposed in the first trench is physically connected to the third outer electrode disposed in the second trench, and wherein the second and third outer electrodes are connected to each other through a connection portion disposed on and extending along the top surface of the substrate.