Abstract: Different types of transistors, such as memory cells, higher voltage, and higher performance transistors, may be formed on the same substrate. A transistor may be formed with a first polysilicon layer covered by a dielectric. A second polysilicon layer over the dielectric may be etched to form a sidewall spacer on the gate of the transistor. The sidewall spacer may be used to form sources and drains and to define sub-lithographic lightly doped drains. After removing the spacer, the underlying dielectric may protect the lightly doped drains.

Abstract: An embodiment of a process is disclosed herein for fabricating a memory device integrated on a semiconductor substrate and comprising at least a nanocrystal memory cell and CMOS transistors respectively formed in a memory area and in a circuitry area. According to an embodiment, a process includes forming a nitride layer having an initial thickness, placed above a nanocrystal layer, in the memory area and the formation in the circuitry area of at least one submicron gate oxide. The process also provides that the initial thickness is such as to allow a complete transformation of the nitride layer into an oxide layer at upon formation of said at least one submicron gate oxide.

Abstract: Different types of transistors, such as memory cells, higher voltage, and higher performance transistors, may be formed on the same substrate. A transistor may be formed with a first polysilicon layer covered by a dielectric. A second polysilicon layer over the dielectric may be etched to form a sidewall spacer on the gate of the transistor. The sidewall spacer may be used to form sources and drains and to define sub-lithographic lightly doped drains. After removing the spacer, the underlying dielectric may protect the lightly doped drains.

Abstract: An embodiment of a process is disclosed herein for fabricating a memory device integrated on a semiconductor substrate and comprising at least a nanocrystal memory cell and CMOS transistors respectively formed in a memory area and in a circuitry area. According to an embodiment, a process includes forming a nitride layer having an initial thickness, placed above a nanocrystal layer, in the memory area and the formation in the circuitry area of at least one submicron gate oxide. The process also provides that the initial thickness is such as to allow a complete transformation of the nitride layer into an oxide layer at upon formation of said at least one submicron gate oxide.

Abstract: A method for sealing electronic devices formed on a semiconductor substrate includes forming a plurality of first electronic devices adjacent a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, with each first electronic device including a first region comprising at least one first conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate. A first sealing layer is formed adjacent the first regions for sealing the plurality of first electronic devices. A protective layer is formed adjacent the first sealing layer. The protective layer is etched to form protective spacers adjacent sidewalls of the first regions. The method further includes forming a plurality of second electronic devices adjacent a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, with each second electronic device including a second region comprising a second conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrically non-active structures for an electronic circuit integrated on a semiconductor substrate is provided, with the electronic circuit including first and second electrically active structures. The method includes inserting the electrically non-active structures in the electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above the semiconductor substrate. The inserting includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures to be adjacent the first and second electrically active structures, and identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not adjacent to the first and second electrically active structures. The method further includes defining, on the semiconductor substrate, the first and second groups of electrically non-active structures through different photolithographic steps.

Abstract: Electrically non-active structures are formed for an electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above a semiconductor substrate. The electronic circuit includes first electrically active structures comprising conductive elements of a first height projecting from the semiconductor substrate, and second electrically active structures comprising conductive elements of a second height projecting from the semiconductor substrate. The first height is different from the second height. The electrically non-active structures are formed by identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures formed within areas that substantially extend for a radius around each electrical component belonging to the second electrically active structures. The method further includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not belonging to the first group of electrically non-active structures.

Abstract: A test chip performs measurements to evaluate the performances of interconnects. In particular, the statistical failure distribution, the electromigration and the leakage current are measured. An algorithm detects a via failure at any of the available n metal layers. The test chip includes a ROM memory array. The vias to be measured are formed in the columns of the array. Via or contact failures are detected by forcing a predetermined current through both an array column and a reference column. The failure analysis is obtained by comparing the resulting voltage drops.

Abstract: A method for sealing electronic devices formed on a semiconductor substrate includes forming a plurality of first electronic devices adjacent a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, with each first electronic device including a first region comprising at least one first conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate. A first sealing layer is formed adjacent the first regions for sealing the plurality of first electronic devices. A protective layer is formed adjacent the first sealing layer. The protective layer is etched to form protective spacers adjacent sidewalls of the first regions. The method further includes forming a plurality of second electronic devices adjacent a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, with each second electronic device including a second region comprising a second conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate including first and second portions, with first electronic devices adjacent the first portion. Each first electronic device includes a first region comprising at least one first conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate. First protective spacers are adjacent sidewalls of the first regions of the first electronic devices. The first protective spacers are defined by first and second sealing layers adjacent one another. Second electronic devices are adjacent the second portion of the semiconductor substrate. Each second electronic device includes a second region comprising a second conductive layer projecting from the semiconductor substrate. Second protective spacers are adjacent sidewalls of the second regions of the second electronic devices. The second protective spacers are defined by other portions of the second sealing layer. The second sealing layer has a thickness less than a thickness of the first sealing layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrically non-active structures for an electronic circuit integrated on a semiconductor substrate is provided, with the electronic circuit including first and second electrically active structures. The method includes inserting the electrically non-active structures in the electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above the semiconductor substrate. The inserting includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures to be adjacent the first and second electrically active structures, and identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not adjacent to the first and second electrically active structures. The method further includes defining, on the semiconductor substrate, the first and second groups of electrically non-active structures through different photolithographic steps.

Abstract: A method for sealing electronic devices formed on a semiconductor substrate includes forming at least one first conductive layer on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate for defining electronic devices, and forming a second conductive layer on a second portion of semiconductor substrate for also defining electronic devices. First regions are formed in the at least one first conductive layer for defining electronic devices, and a first sealing layer is formed on the whole semiconductor substrate to seal the first regions. Second regions are formed in the second conductive layer for defining electronic devices, and a second sealing layer is formed on the whole semiconductor substrate to seal the second regions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrically non-active structures for an electronic circuit integrated on a semiconductor substrate is provided, with the electronic circuit including first and second electrically active structures. The method includes inserting the electrically non-active structures in the electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above the semiconductor substrate. The inserting includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures to be adjacent the first and second electrically active structures, and identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not adjacent to the first and second electrically active structures. The method further includes defining, on the semiconductor substrate, the first and second groups of electrically non-active structures through different photolithographic steps.

Abstract: A method for sealing electronic devices formed on a semiconductor substrate includes forming at least one first conductive layer on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate for defining electronic devices, and forming a second conductive layer on a second portion of semiconductor substrate for also defining electronic devices. First regions are formed in the at least one first conductive layer for defining electronic devices, and a first sealing layer is formed on the whole semiconductor substrate to seal the first regions. Second regions are formed in the second conductive layer for defining electronic devices, and a second sealing layer is formed on the whole semiconductor substrate to seal the second regions.

Abstract: An electrically erasable and programmable memory cell is provided. The memory cell includes a floating gate MOS transistor and a bipolar transistor for injecting an electric charge into the floating gate. The floating gate transistor has a source region and a drain region formed in a first well with a channel defined between the drain and source regions, a control gate region, and a floating gate extending over the channel and the control gate region. The bipolar transistor has an emitter region formed in the first well, a base region consisting of the first well, and a collector region consisting of the channel. The memory cell includes a second well that is insulated from the first well, and the control gate region is formed in the second well. Further embodiments of the present invention provide a memory including at least one such memory cell, an electronic device including such a memory, and methods of integrating a memory cell and erasing a memory cell.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrically non-active structures for an electronic circuit integrated on a semiconductor substrate is provided, with the electronic circuit including first and second electrically active structures. The method includes inserting the electrically non-active structures in the electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above the semiconductor substrate. The inserting includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures to be adjacent the first and second electrically active structures, and identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not adjacent to the first and second electrically active structures. The method further includes defining, on the semiconductor substrate, the first and second groups of electrically non-active structures through different photolithographic steps.

Abstract: A test chip performs measurements to evaluate the performances of interconnects. In particular, the statistical failure distribution, the electromigration and the leakage current are measured. An algorithm detects a via failure at any of the available n metal layers. The test chip includes a ROM memory array. The vias to be measured are formed in the columns of the array. Via or contact failures are detected by forcing a predetermined current through both an array column and a reference column. The failure analysis is obtained by comparing the resulting voltage drops.

Abstract: An electrically erasable and programmable memory cell is provided. The memory cell includes a floating gate MOS transistor and a bipolar transistor for injecting an electric charge into the floating gate. The floating gate transistor has a source region and a drain region formed in a first well with a channel defined between the drain and source regions, a control gate region, and a floating gate extending over the channel and the control gate region. The bipolar transistor has an emitter region formed in the first well, a base region consisting of the first well, and a collector region consisting of the channel. The memory cell includes a second well that is insulated from the first well, and the control gate region is formed in the second well. Further embodiments of the present invention provide a memory including at least one such memory cell, an electronic device including such a memory, and methods of integrating a memory cell and erasing a memory cell.

Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of an integrated circuit including a low operating voltage, high-performance logic circuitry and an embedded memory device having a high operating voltage higher than the low operating voltage of the logic circuitry, providing for: on first portions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate oxide layer for first transistors operating at the high operating voltage; on second portions of the semiconductor substrate, forming a second gate oxide layer for memory cells of the memory device; on the first and second gate oxide layers, forming from a first polysilicon layer gate electrodes for the first transistors, and floating-gate electrodes for the memory cells; forming over the floating-gate electrodes of the memory cells a dielectric layer; on third portions of the semiconductor substrate, forming a third gate oxide layer for second transistors operating at the low operating voltage; on the dielectric layer and on the third portions of the semiconductor substrate, formin

Abstract: The method applies to non-volatile semiconductor memories with cells arranged in rows and in columns, in which each cell has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal connected, respectively, to a row line, to a column line, and to a common node by respective connection strips. In order to form connections with low resistivity and consequently to save semiconductor area, the method provides for the formation of an oxide layer which covers the connection strips of the first terminals and of the third terminals, the formation of channels along the connection strips until the surfaces thereof are exposed, and the filling of the channels with a material having a resistivity lower than that of the connection strips.