Abstract:
A self aligned method of forming a semiconductor memory array of floating gate memory cells in a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of spaced apart isolation regions and active regions on the substrate substantially parallel to one another in the column direction. Floating gates are formed in trenches using a first layer of conducting material at the bottom of the trenches, and a second layer of conducting material along sidewalls of the trenches. An etch process is used to etch away portions of the first and second layers of the conductive material to form floating gate blocks of the conductive material having sloping portions that terminate in pointed edges formed along the trench sidewalls. The sharpness of the pointed edges are enhanced by the presence of the conductive material disposed along the trench sidewalls.
Abstract:
A method of forming an MOS transistor by forming a poly gate over and insulated from a substrate, forming a layer of protective insulation material on the poly gate, and then performing a first implant of dopant material into portions of the substrate adjacent the poly gate, wherein the layer of protective insulation material and the poly gate block most or all of the first implant from reaching a portion of the substrate underneath the poly gate. One or more spacers are then formed adjacent the poly gate, followed by a second implant of dopant material into portions of the substrate adjacent to the one or more spacers.
Abstract:
An improved split gate non-volatile memory cell is made in a substantially single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type, having a first region of a second conductivity type, a second region of the second conductivity type, with a channel region between the first region and the second region in the substrate. The cell has a select gate above a portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region, a control gate above the floating gate and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate. The erase gate has an overhang extending over the floating gate. The ratio of the dimension of the overhang to the dimension of the vertical separation between the floating gate and the erase gate is between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, which improves erase efficiency.
Abstract:
A non-volatile memory including a substrate of a first conductivity type with first and second spaced apart regions formed therein of a second conductivity type with a channel region therebetween. A polysilicon metal gate word line is positioned over a first portion of the channel region and spaced apart therefrom by a high K dielectric layer. The metal portion of the word line is immediately adjacent to the high K dielectric layer. A polysilicon floating gate is immediately adjacent to and spaced apart from the word line, and positioned over and insulated from another portion of the channel region. A polysilicon coupling gate is positioned over and insulated from the floating gate. A polysilicon erase gate is positioned on another side of and insulated from the floating gate, positioned over and insulated from the second region, and immediately adjacent to but spaced apart from another side of the coupling gate.
Abstract:
A stack gate structure for a non-volatile memory array has a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart active regions, with each active region having an axis in a first direction. A first insulating material is between each stack gate structure in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each stack gate structure has a second insulating material over the active region, a charge holding gate over the second insulating material, a third insulating material over the charge holding gate, and a first portion of a control gate over the third insulating material. A second portion of the control gate is over the first portion of the control gate and over the first insulating material adjacent thereto and extending in the second direction. A fourth insulating material is over the second portion of the control gate.
Abstract:
The invention is a novel erase method for erasing flash EEPROM memory devices. A memory cell of such a memory device has a first semiconductor region of one conductivity type formed in a second region of the opposite conductivity type, source and drain regions of the opposite conductivity type formed in the first semiconductor region, and a gate. The second region is formed within a substrate of the one conductivity type. The gate includes a control gate and a floating gate, which retains charge and overlies the first semiconductor region. The erase method of the invention includes the steps of: applying a first voltage of one polarity to the source region and the first and second semiconductor regions; and simultaneously applying a second voltage of the opposite polarity to the gate, whereby any charge on the floating gate tunnels through the floating gate dielectric into both the first region and the source region, thereby removing any charge retained by the floating gate.
Abstract:
A method of forming a memory cell includes forming a conductive floating gate over the substrate, forming a conductive control gate over the floating gate, forming a conductive erase gate laterally to one side of the floating gate and forming a conductive select gate laterally to an opposite side of the one side of the floating gate. After the forming of the floating and select gates, the method includes implanting a dopant into a portion of a channel region underneath the select gate using an implant process that injects the dopant at an angle with respect to a surface of the substrate that is less than ninety degrees and greater than zero degrees.
Abstract:
An improved split gate non-volatile memory cell is made in a substantially single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type, having a first region of a second conductivity type, a second region of the second conductivity type, with a channel region between the first region and the second region in the substrate. The cell has a select gate above a portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region, a control gate above the floating gate and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate. The erase gate has an overhang extending over the floating gate. The ratio of the dimension of the overhang to the dimension of the vertical separation between the floating gate and the erase gate is between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, which improves erase efficiency.
Abstract:
An improved split gate non-volatile memory cell is made in a substantially single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type, having a first region of a second conductivity type, a second region of the second conductivity type, with a channel region between the first region and the second region in the substrate. The cell has a select gate above a portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region, a control gate above the floating gate and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate. The erase gate has an overhang extending over the floating gate. The ratio of the dimension of the overhang to the dimension of the vertical separation between the floating gate and the erase gate is between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, which improves erase efficiency.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of correcting overerased memory cells in a flash EEPROM memory cell after erase so as to produce a narrow threshold voltage distribution width. A ground potential is applied to all of the sources and substrates of the cells in the array of memory cells. First positive pulse voltages are simultaneously applied to each word line in a first timed sequence on a word line by word line basis. A second positive pulse voltage is simultaneously applied to each bit line in a second timed sequence in a bit line by bit line basis when the first positive pulse voltages are being applied to a first word line and is then repeated for each subsequent word line until a last word line is applied.