Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the substrate, the gate structure including a dummy gate, removing the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a trench, forming a work function metal layer partially filling the trench, forming a fill metal layer filling a remainder of the trench, performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove portions of the metal layers outside the trench, and implanting Si, C, or Ge into a remaining portion of the fill metal layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes performing a first pre-amorphous implantation process on a substrate, where the substrate has a gate stack. The method further includes forming a first stress film over the substrate. The method also includes performing a first annealing process on the substrate and the first stress film. The method further includes performing a second pre-amorphous implantation process on the annealed substrate, forming a second stress film over the substrate, and performing a second annealing process on the substrate and the second stress film.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods of manufacturing charge-trapping memory by patterning the high voltage gates before other gates are formed. One advantage of such an approach is that a thin poly layer may be used to form memory and low voltage gates while protecting high voltage gates from implant penetration. One approach to accomplishing this is to dispose the layer of poly, and then dispose a mask and a thick resist to pattern the high voltage gates. In this manner, the high voltage gates are formed before either the low voltage gates or the memory cells.

Abstract: A method for fabricating vertical surround gates in a semiconductor device array structure such that the processes are compatible with CMOS fabrication. The array structure includes a CMOS region and an array region. The method includes forming a polish stop layer, a plurality of patterning layers, a CMOS layer over a substrate, array pillars and array trenches. Forming the array pillars and trenches includes removing the CMOS cover layer and patterning layers. The method further includes doping portions of the substrate within the array trenches. The method includes forming vertical surround gates in the array trenches, an array filler layer to fill in the array trenches, and a CMOS photoresist pattern over the array filler layer. The method includes etching the CMOS trenches down through a portion of the substrate, such that the array pillars under the shared trench are etched to form contact holes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of making such device is presented herein. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of p-n junctions, and a metal trace of a first metal layer. Each of the plurality of memory cells includes a first gate disposed over a first dielectric, a second gate disposed over a second dielectric and adjacent to a sidewall of the first gate, a first doped region in the substrate adjacent to the first gate, and a second doped region in the substrate adjacent to the second gate. The plurality of p-n junctions are electrically isolated from the doped regions of each memory cell. The metal trace extends along a single plane between a via to the second gate of at least one memory cell in the plurality of memory cells, and a via to a p-n junction within the plurality of p-n junctions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for gate dimension control in multi-gate structures for integrated circuit devices. Processing steps for formation of one or more subsequent gate structures are adjusted based upon dimensions determined for one or more previously formed gate structures. In this way, one or more features of the resulting multi-gate structures can be controlled with greater accuracy, and variations between a plurality of multi-gate structures can be reduced. Example multi-gate features and/or dimensions that can be controlled include overall gate length, overlap of gate structures, and/or any other desired features and/or dimensions of the multi-gate structures. Example multi-gate structures include multi-gate NVM (non-volatile memory) cells for NVM systems, such as for example, split-gate NVM cells having select gates (SGs) and control gates (CGs).

Abstract: The flash memory cell comprises a sense transistor that has a pair of source/drain lines and a control gate. A coupling metal-insulator-metal capacitor is created between the floating gate and a read wordline. A tunneling metal-insulator-metal capacitor is created between the floating gate and a write/erase bit line. In one embodiment, the insulator is a metal oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple-gate transistor that includes a channel region and source and drain regions at ends of the channel region. A gate oxide is positioned between a logic gate and the channel region and a first insulator is formed between a floating gate and the channel region. The first insulator is thicker than the gate oxide. The floating gate is electrically insulated from other structures. Also, a second insulator is positioned between a programming gate and the floating gate. Voltage in the logic gate causes the transistor to switch on and off, while stored charge in the floating gate adjusts the threshold voltage of the transistor. The transistor can comprise a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET), where the channel region comprises the middle portion of a fin structure and the source and drain regions comprise end portions of the fin structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device which includes a semiconductor substrate, a first gate structure disposed over the substrate, the first gate structure including a first gate electrode of a first conductivity type, a second gate structure disposed over the substrate and proximate the first gate structure, the second gate structure including a second gate electrode of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a first doped region of the first conductivity type disposed in the substrate, the first doped region including a first lightly doped region aligned with a side of the first gate structure, and a second doped region of the second conductivity type disposed in the substrate, the second doped region including a second lightly doped region aligned with a side of the second gate structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided which overcomes a problem of penetration of implanted ions due to the difference of an optimal gate height in simultaneous formation of a self-align split gate type memory cell utilizing a side wall structure and a scaled MOS transistor. A select gate electrode to form a side wall in a memory area is formed to be higher than that of the gate electrode in a logic area so that the height of the side wall gate electrode of the self-align split gate memory cell is greater than that of the gate electrode in the logic area. Height reduction for the gate electrode is performed in the logic area before gate electrode formation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an integrated circuit, an interconnect layer within said integrated circuit, and one or more connections. The integrated circuit may be configured to provide an electrically measurable interconnect pattern by enabling one or more of a plurality of components. The one or more connections may each configured to enable a respective one of the components. The connections may be programmable while the apparatus is part of a wafer. The interconnect pattern may be configured to identify the apparatus after the apparatus has been manufactured.

Abstract: The gate electrode of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) comprises a source side gate electrode and a drain side gate electrode that abut each other near the middle of the channel. In one embodiment, the source side gate electrode comprises a silicon oxide based gate dielectric and the drain side gate electrode comprises a high-k gate dielectric. The source side gate electrode provides high carrier mobility, while the drain side gate electrode provides good short channel effect and reduced gate leakage. In another embodiment, the source gate electrode and drain gate electrode comprises different high-k gate dielectric stacks and different gate conductor materials, wherein the source side gate electrode has a first work function a quarter band gap away from a band gap edge and the drain side gate electrode has a second work function near the band gap edge.

Abstract: A method of processing a semiconductor structure may include preparing a vertical channel memory structure for filling of a physical isolation trench formed therein. The physical isolation trench may be formed between active structures adjacent to each other and extending in a first direction. The active structures may have channels adjacent to sides of the active structures that are opposite to sides of the active structures that are adjacent to the physical isolation trench. The method may further include filling the physical isolation trench in connection with application of a multi-dielectric layer (ex. an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer), a polysilicon liner and/or an oxide film. A corresponding apparatus and method for integrating such a structure with a planar periphery are also provided.

Abstract: A method to form a LDMOS transistor includes forming a gate/source/body opening and a drain opening in a field oxide on a substrate structure, forming a gate oxide in the gate/source/body opening, and forming a polysilicon layer over the substrate structure. The polysilicon layer is anisotropically etched to form polysilicon spacer gates separated by a space in the gate/source/body opening and a polysilicon drain contact in the drain opening. A body region is formed self-aligned about outer edges of the polysilicon spacer gates, a source region is formed self-aligned about inner edges of the polysilicon spacer gates, and a drain region is formed under the polysilicon drain contact and self-aligned with respect to the polysilicon spacer gates. A drift region forms in the substrate structure between the body region and the drain region, and a channel region forms in the body region between the source region and the drift region.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell of a high operation speed and a high rewrite cycle and a nonvolatile memory cell of high reliability. In a split gate type nonvolatile memory in which memory gate electrodes are formed in the shape of sidewalls of control gate electrodes, it is possible to produce a memory chip having a memory of a high operation speed and a high rewrite cycle and a memory of high reliability at a low cost by jointly loading memory cells having different memory gate lengths in an identical chip.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps. At first, a semiconductor substrate is provided. A gate stack layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the gate stack layer further includes a cap layer disposed thereon. Furthermore, two first spacers surrounding sidewalls of the gate stack layer is further formed. Subsequently, the cap layer is removed, and two second spacers are formed on a part of the gate stack layer. Afterwards, a part of the first spacers and the gate stack layer not overlapped with the two second spacers are removed to form two gate stack structures.

Abstract: A structure and a method of making the structure. The structure includes first and second semiconductor regions in a semiconductor substrate and separated by a region of trench isolation in the semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode extending over the first semiconductor region; a second gate electrode extending over the second semiconductor region; a trench contained in the region of trench isolation and between and abutting the first and second semiconductor regions; and an electrically conductive strap in the trench, the strap electrically connecting the first and second semiconductor regions.

Abstract: A flash memory cell is provided. The flash memory cell includes: a substrate with a source line thereon; a word line and a word line dielectric layer on each side of the source line; an isolating dielectric layer which isolates the source line from the word line and the word line dielectric layer on each side of the source line; a gate stack on an outer side of each word line dielectric layer, including a floating gate dielectric layer, a floating gate, a control gate dielectric layer and a control gate; a first spacer, disposed on an outer sidewall of each word line dielectric layer and on each control gate; and a source region in the substrate and in contact with the source line. The space may be saved and the costs may be reduced.

Abstract: A method for forming a device is presented. A substrate prepared with a feature having first and second adjacent surfaces is provided. A device layer is formed on the first and second adjacent surfaces of the feature. A first portion of the device layer over the first adjacent surface includes nano-crystals, whereas a second portion of the device layer over the second adjacent surface is devoid of nano-crystals.

Abstract: A method for defining patterns in an integrated circuit comprises defining a plurality of features in a first photoresist layer using photolithography over a first region of a substrate. The method further comprises using pitch multiplication to produce at least two features in a lower masking layer for each feature in the photoresist layer. The features in the lower masking layer include looped ends. The method further comprises covering with a second photoresist layer a second region of the substrate including the looped ends in the lower masking layer. The method further comprises etching a pattern of trenches in the substrate through the features in the lower masking layer without etching in the second region. The trenches have a trench width.

Abstract: A method forms a metal high dielectric constant (MHK) transistor and includes: providing a MHK stack disposed on a substrate, the MHK stack including a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second overlying layer, and a third overlying layer, selectively removing only the second and third layers, without removing the first layer, to form an upstanding portion of a MHK gate structure; forming a first sidewall layer on sidewalls of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure; forming a second sidewall layer on sidewalls of the first sidewall layer; removing a portion of the first layer to form exposed surfaces; forming an offset spacer layer over the second sidewall layer and over the first layer, and forming in the substrate extensions that underlie the first and second sidewall layers and that extend under a portion but not all of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure.

Abstract: One or more embodiments may relate to a method for making a semiconductor device, including: a method for making a semiconductor device, comprising: providing a substrate; forming a charge storage layer over the substrate; forming a control gate layer over the charge storage layer; forming a mask over the control gate layer; using the mask, etching the control gate layer and the charge storage layer; forming a select gate layer over the etched control gate layer and the etched charge storage layer; forming an additional layer over the select gate layer; etching the additional layer to form sidewall spacers over the select gate layer; and etching the select gate layer.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: forming a stacked body by alternately stacking a plurality of interlayer insulating films and a plurality of control gate electrodes; forming a through-hole extending in a stacking direction in the stacked body; etching a portion of the interlayer insulating film facing the through-hole via the through-hole to remove the portion; forming a removed portion; forming a first insulating film on inner faces of the through-hole and the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a floating gate electrode in the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a second insulating film so as to cover a portion of the floating gate electrode facing the through-hole; and burying a semiconductor pillar in the through-hole.

Abstract: A plurality of metal interconnects incorporating dielectric spacers and a method to form such dielectric spacers are described. In one embodiment, the dielectric spacers adjacent to neighboring metal interconnects are discontiguous from one another. In another embodiment, the dielectric spacers may provide a region upon which un-landed vias may effectively land.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell, of a nonvolatile memory array. The first memory cell includes a body region, a gate structure, a source region, and a drain region. The second memory cell includes a body region, a gate structure, a source region, and a drain region. In one embodiment, the body of the second memory cell is physically isolated from the body region of the first memory cell. A bitline segment is electrically connected to the drain region of the first memory cell and to the drain region of the second memory cell.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer over the first semiconductor layer, and using only a first single mask patterning the first photoresist layer to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes using the first patterned photoresist layer etching the first semiconductor layer to form a select gate and forming a charge storage layer over the select gate and a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer over the charge storage layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second semiconductor layer, and using only a second single mask patterning the second photoresist layer to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes forming a control gate by anisotropically etching the second semiconductor layer and then subsequently isotropically etching the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure having U-shaped transistors includes source/drain regions at the tops of pairs of pillars defined by crossing trenches in the substrate. One pillar is connected to the other pillar in the pair by a ridge that extends above the surrounding trenches. The ridge and lower portions of the pillars define U-shaped channels on opposite sides of the U-shaped structure, facing a gate structure in the trenches on those opposite sides, forming a two sided surround transistor. Optionally, the space between the pillars of a pair is also filled with gate electrode material to define a three-sided surround gate transistor. One of the source/drain regions of each pair extending to a digit line and the other extending to a memory storage device, such as a capacitor. Methods of forming semiconductor structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory transistor includes an island-shaped semiconductor having a source region, a channel region, and a drain region formed in this order from the Si substrate side, a floating gate surrounding the outer periphery of the channel region with a tunnel insulating film interposed therebetween, a control gate surrounding the outer periphery of the floating gate with an inter-polysilicon insulating film interposed therebetween, and a control gate line connected to the control gate and extending in a predetermined direction. The floating gate extends to regions below and above the control gate and to a region below the control gate line. The inter-polysilicon insulating film is interposed between the floating gate and the upper surface, lower surface, and inner side surface of the control gate and between the control gate line and a portion of the floating gate that extends to the region below the control gate line.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory devices are provided including a control gate electrode on a substrate; a charge storage insulation layer between the control gate electrode and the substrate; a tunnel insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the substrate; a blocking insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the control gate electrode; and a material layer between the tunnel insulation layer and the blocking insulation layer, the material layer having an energy level constituting a bottom of a potential well.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a gate electrode having different portions with different conductivity types. In an embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer has a particular conductivity type. The process can also include selectively doping a region of the semiconductor layer to form a first doped region having an opposite conductivity type. The process can further include patterning the semiconductor layer to form a gate electrode that includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a portion of the first doped region, and the second region includes a portion of the semiconductor layer outside of the first doped region. In a particular embodiment, the electronic device can have a gate electrode having edge portions of one conductivity type and a central portion having an opposite conductivity type.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first floating gate on the semiconductor substrate, the floating gate having a concave side surface; a first control gate on the first floating gate; a first spacer adjacent to the first control gate; a first word line adjacent a first side of the first floating gate with a first distance; and an erase gate adjacent a second side of the first floating gate with a second distance less than the first distance, the second side being opposite the first side.

Abstract: One embodiment of inventive concepts exemplarily described herein may be generally characterized as a semiconductor device including an isolation region within a substrate. The isolation region may define an active region. The active region may include an edge portion that is adjacent to an interface of the isolation region and the active region and a center region that is surrounded by the edge portion. The semiconductor device may further include a gate electrode on the active region and the isolation region. The gate electrode may include a center gate portion overlapping a center portion of the active region, an edge gate portion overlapping the edge portion of the active region, and a first impurity region of a first conductivity type within the center gate portion and outside the edge portion. The semiconductor device may further include a gate insulating layer disposed between the active region and the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is provided including: a spacer shaped floating gate formed on a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer spacer formed at one side wall of the floating gate; a third oxide layer formed over the floating gate and the dielectric layer; and a control gate formed over the third oxide layer. According to an embodiment, the structure of the floating gate in a plate shape whose center is concave is improved to the spacer structure, making it possible to minimize the size of the semiconductor memory device and to improve density. Moreover, a LOCOS process can be excluded while forming the floating gate, making it possible to more efficiently fabricate the device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device includes forming first and second mask structures on respective first and second regions of a feature layer. Each of the first and second mask structures includes a dual mask pattern and an etch mask pattern thereon having an etch selectivity relative to the dual mask pattern. The etch mask patterns of the first and second mask structures are isotropically etched to remove the etch mask pattern from the first mask structure while maintaining at least a portion of the etch mask pattern on the second mask structure. Spacers are formed on opposing sidewalls of the first and second mask structures.

Abstract: A method forms a metal high dielectric constant (MHK) transistor and includes: providing a MHK stack disposed on a substrate, the MHK stack including a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second overlying layer, and a third overlying layer; selectively removing only the second and third layers, without removing the first layer, to form an upstanding portion of a MHK gate structure; forming a first sidewall layer on sidewalls of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure; forming a second sidewall layer on sidewalls of the first sidewall layer; removing a portion of the first layer to form exposed surfaces; forming an offset spacer layer over the second sidewall layer and over the first layer, and forming in the substrate extensions that underlie the first and second sidewall layers and that extend under a portion but not all of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure.

Abstract: Forming a gate stack of a non-volatile memory (NVM) over a substrate having an NVM region and non-NVM region which does not overlap the NVM region includes forming a select gate layer over the substrate in the NVM and non-NVM regions; simultaneously etching the select gate layer in the NVM and non-NVM regions; forming a charge storage layer over the substrate in the NVM and non-NVM regions; forming a control gate layer over the charge storage layer in the NVM and non-NVM regions; and simultaneously etching the charge storage layer in the NVM and the non-NVM regions. Etching the select gate layer in the NVM region results in a portion of the charge storage layer over a portion of the select gate layer and overlapping a sidewall of the select gate layer and results in a portion of the control gate layer over the portion of the charge storage layer.

Abstract: In various embodiments, semiconductor structures and methods to manufacture these structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a portion of the unidirectional transistor and a portion of a bidirectional transistor in or over a semiconductor material simultaneously. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An array substrate is disclosed. The array substrate comprises a substrate, a gate metal layer, a gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, a patterned metal layer, a flat layer, and a pixel electrode. The patterned metal layer is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor layer comprising a source and a drain, and on the surface of the gate insulation layer comprising a storage capacitor line and a data line. The storage capacitor line has an extending portion parallel to a scan line. The pixel electrode overlaps parts of the scan line, parts of the data line, parts of the storage capacitor line, and parts of the extending portion. A method for manufacturing the array substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a nonvolatile memory device which includes forming a first gate electrode on a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate. The first gate electrode having a lower portion formed on the gate insulating film and an upper portion having a gate length less than that of the lower portion formed on the lower portion. A spacer is formed contacting surfaces of the upper and lower portions, wherein a length of the spacer and the upper portion equals the length of the lower portion. An electric charge trapping film covers a portion of the semiconductor substrate, a surface of the lower portion, and a surface of the spacer. A second gate electrode is then formed in a side direction of the first gate electrode and electrically insulated from the first gate electrode by the electric charge trapping film.

Abstract: The gate electrode of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) comprises a source side gate electrode and a drain side gate electrode that abut each other near the middle of the channel. In one embodiment, the source side gate electrode comprises a silicon oxide based gate dielectric and the drain side gate electrode comprises a high-k gate dielectric. The source side gate electrode provides high carrier mobility, while the drain side gate electrode provides good short channel effect and reduced gate leakage. In another embodiment, the source gate electrode and drain gate electrode comprises different high-k gate dielectric stacks and different gate conductor materials, wherein the source side gate electrode has a first work function a quarter band gap away from a band gap edge and the drain side gate electrode has a second work function near the band gap edge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory device with cell and peripheral circuit regions confined on a substrate. Cell gate electrodes are arranged in the cell region while peripheral gate electrodes are arranged in the peripheral-circuit region. Each cell gate electrode includes stacked conductive and semiconductor layers, but the peripheral gate electrode includes stacked semiconductor layers. The conductive layer of the cell gate electrode is different from the lowest semiconductor layer of the peripheral gate electrode in material, which can improve characteristics of memory cells and peripheral transistors without causing mutual interference with each other.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device with a three-dimensional structure includes alternately stacking first and second material layers in two or more layers on a semiconductor substrate, forming trenches penetrating the stacked first and second material layers by performing a first etching process, and removing the second material layers exposed in the trenches by performing a second etching process. The first and second material layers are formed of materials that have the same main component but have different impurity contents, respectively.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory device according to an embodiment includes forming a second oxide layer pattern having a mask pattern buried therein on a first nitride layer pattern and a first oxide layer stack on a semiconductor substrate; forming first polysilicon patterns at sidewalls of the buried mask pattern; removing portions of the first oxide layer, the first nitride layer pattern, and the second oxide layer pattern to form a third oxide layer pattern, a second nitride layer pattern, and a fourth oxide layer pattern at lower portions of the first polysilicon patterns and the mask pattern; forming a fifth oxide layer pattern surrounding each of the first polysilicon patterns; forming second polysilicon patterns on sidewalls of the fifth oxide layer pattern; and removing the mask pattern and parts of the third oxide layer pattern and the second nitride layer pattern between the first polysilicon patterns.

Abstract: In a transistor region, a source interconnect layer and a gate electrode are buried in trenches. A source extending region is provided adjacent to the transistor region or in the transistor region, and a source interconnect layer is designed to protrude from the upper end of a trench. This source interconnect layer is connected to a source electrode formed in the transistor region immediately above the trench. A gate extending region is provided outside the source extending region, and the gate electrode and a gate interconnect layer are connected. The gate electrode is formed by performing etchback without forming a resist pattern, after a polysilicon film is formed. Here, the polysilicon film remains like a side-wall on the sidewall of the portion of the source interconnect layer protruding from the upper end of the trench.

Abstract: According to yet another embodiment, a method for forming a non-volatile memory device includes etching a substrate to form first and second trenches. The first and second trenches are filled with an insulating material to form first and second isolation structures. A conductive layer is formed over the first and second isolation structures and between the first and second isolation structures to form a floating gate. The conductive layer and the first isolation structure are etched to form a third trench having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having vertical sidewalls and the lower portion having sloping sidewalls. The third trench is filled with a conductive material to form a control gate.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method further includes forming a select gate layer over the dielectric layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a first etch rate to form a first portion of a sidewall of a select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the first etch rate includes using an oxidizing agent to oxidize at least a top portion of the substrate underlying the dielectric layer to form an oxide layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a second etch rate lower than the first etch rate to form a second portion of the sidewall of the select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the second etch rate includes removing only a top portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a cell transistor formed on a cell array area of a semiconductor substrate employs a structure in which an electrode in the shape of spacers is used to form a gate and a multi-bit operation is possible using localized bits, and transistors having structures optimized to satisfy different requirements depending upon functions of the transistors can be formed on a peripheral circuit area which is the residual area of the semiconductor substrate. In this method, a cell transistor is formed on the cell array area.

Abstract: A step is provided between a substrate surface of a select gate and a substrate surface of a memory gate. When the substrate surface of the select gate is lower than the substrate surface of the memory gate, electrons in a channel upon writing obliquely flow in the step portion. Even if the electrons obtain the energy required for passing a barrier during the oblique flow, the electron injection does not occur because electrons are away from the substrate surface. The injection can occur only on a drain region side from a position where the electrons reach the substrate surface. As a result, the injection of the electrons into a gap region is suppressed, so that the electron distribution comes close to the hole distribution. Therefore, variation in a threshold value upon information retention is suppressed, and information-retaining characteristics of a memory cell are improved.

Abstract: Crisscrossing spacers formed by pitch multiplication are used as a mask to form isolated features, such as contacts vias. A first plurality of mandrels are formed on a first level and a first plurality of spacers are formed around each of the mandrels. A second plurality of mandrels is formed on a second level above the first level. The second plurality of mandrels is formed so that they cross, e.g., are orthogonal to, the first plurality of mandrels, when viewed in a top down view. A second plurality of spacers is formed around each of the second plurality of mandrels. The first and the second mandrels are selectively removed to leave a pattern of voids defined by the crisscrossing first and second pluralities of spacers. These spacers can be used as a mask to transfer the pattern of voids to a substrate. The voids can be filled with material, e.g., conductive material, to form conductive contacts.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive spacer on a semiconductor device. The method includes depositing a polysilicon layer on the semiconductor device, selectively implanting dopant ions in the polysilicon layer on a first side of a transistor region of the semiconductor device to define a conductive spacer area, and removing the polysilicon layer except for the conductive spacer area. Optionally, a silicidation process can be performed on the conductive spacer area so that the conductive spacer is made up of metal silicide.