Field Effect Transistor Constructions And Methods Of Programming Field Effect Transistors To One Of At Least Three Different Programmed States
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsKamal M. Karda, Chandra Mouli, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, F. Daniel Gealy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A field effect transistor construction includes a semiconductive channel core. A source/drain region is at opposite ends of the channel core. A gate is proximate a periphery of the channel core. A gate insulator is between the gate and the channel core. The gate insulator has local regions radially there-through that have different capacitance at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery. Additional constructions, and methods, are disclosed.
Claims28
A field effect transistor construction comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate proximate a periphery of the channel core;
- and
- a gate insulator between the gate and the channel core, the gate insulator having local regions radially there-through that have different capacitance at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery.
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate proximate a periphery of the channel core;
- and
- a ferroelectric gate insulator between the gate and the channel core, the ferroelectric gate insulator having local regions radially there-through of different radial thickness at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery.
(canceled)
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate proximate a periphery of the channel core;
- and
- a ferroelectric gate insulator between the gate and the channel core, the ferroelectric gate insulator being of constant radial thickness about the channel core, the ferroelectric gate insulator having local regions of different composition at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery.
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate construction proximate a periphery of the channel core, the gate construction comprising:
- outer conductive material proximate the channel core periphery;
- outer ferroelectric material proximate the channel core periphery radially inward of the outer conductive material;
- inner conductive material proximate the channel core periphery radially inward of the outer ferroelectric material;
- and
- inner dielectric radially between the inner conductive material and the channel core, the inner dielectric having local regions radially there-through of different radial thickness at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery.
(canceled)
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate construction proximate a periphery of the channel core, the gate construction comprising:
- outer conductive material proximate the channel core periphery;
- outer ferroelectric material proximate the channel core periphery radially inward of the outer conductive material, the outer ferroelectric material having local regions radially there-through of different radial thickness at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery;
- inner conductive material proximate the channel core periphery radially inward of the outer ferroelectric material;
- and
- inner dielectric radially between the inner conductive material and the channel core.
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate proximate a periphery of the channel core;
- and
- a gate insulator between the gate and the channel core, the gate insulator comprising at least two pairs of two diametrically opposed local regions extending radially through the gate insulator at different circumferential locations relative to the channel core periphery, the at least two pairs having different collective capacitance.
22-26. (canceled)
A field effect transistor construction, comprising:
- a semiconductive channel core having four radially outermost surfaces that are straight along at least a majority of their respective circumferential lengths;
- a source/drain region at opposite ends of the channel core;
- a gate proximate a periphery of the channel core;
- and
- a gate insulator between the gate and the channel core over each of the four surfaces, the gate insulator over a first two of diametrically opposed of the four surfaces being radially thinner than over a second two of diametrically opposed of the four surfaces.
A method of programming a ferroelectric field effect transistor to one of at least three available different programmed states characterized by different Vt relative one another;
- the transistor comprising a semiconductive channel core, ferroelectric material proximate a periphery of the channel core, and a gate proximate a periphery of the ferroelectric material;
- the method comprising:
- applying a programming voltage to the gate that reverses polarization direction within the ferroelectric material at some circumferential location and not at another circumferential location to change Vt of the transistor from what it was prior to said applying.
30-32. (canceled)
A method of programming a ferroelectric field effect transistor to one of at least four available different programmed states characterized by different Vt relative one another;
- the transistor comprising a semiconductive channel core having at least four radially outermost surfaces that are straight along at least a majority of their respective circumferential lengths, ferroelectric material proximate the outermost surfaces, and a gate proximate a periphery of the ferroelectric material;
- the method comprising:
- applying a programming voltage to the gate that reverses polarization direction within the ferroelectric material that is over a first two of diametrically opposed of the at least four surfaces but not reversing polarization direction within the ferroelectric material that is over a second two of diametrically opposed of the at least four surfaces.
A method of programming a field effect transistor to one of at least three available different programmed states characterized by different Vt relative one another;
- the transistor comprising a semiconductive channel core, tunnel dielectric proximate a periphery of the channel core, charge trapping material proximate a periphery of the tunnel dielectric, outer dielectric proximate a periphery of the charge trapping material, and conductive control gate material proximate a periphery of the outer dielectric;
- the method comprising:
- applying a programming voltage to the control gate that injects different quanta of electrons into the charge trapping material at different circumferential locations to change Vt of the transistor from what it was prior to said applying.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.