The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1996
Katsuyoshi Andoh, Tokyo, JP;
Yoichi Miyai, Ibaraki, JP;
Masayuki Moroi, Ibaraki, JP;
Katsushi Boku, Ibaraki, JP;
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A DRAM uses arcuate moats 18 and wavy bit lines 28, 30 for the array of memory cells. A bit line contact 20 occurs at the apex of the moat and storage node contacts 22, 24 occur at the ends of legs 40, 42 extending from the apex. The wavy bit lines have alternating crests 32, 36 and troughs 34, 38. The bit lines are arranged over the moats with the troughs of each bit line overlying and contacting the apexes of each moat and the crests avoiding any moat. The crests and troughs of the bit lines are offset from one another. In a half-pitch pattern, the troughs of one bit line lie adjacent to the crests of the next bit line. The moats are concave between the legs and the angle between the legs is between about 140 and 170 degrees. The angle between the crests and troughs of the bit lines is between about 110 and 160 degrees. In one embodiment, the central portion 70 between the areas surrounding the storage node contacts is about 10% wider than the areas surrounding the storage node contacts.