Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric structure for a flash memory cell includes forming a first layer of silicon dioxide, forming a layer of silicon nitride on the first layer of silicon dioxide, and pretreating the silicon nitride layer. Pretreatment of the silicon nitride layer includes nitridation. The method further includes depositing a second layer of silicon dioxide on the pretreated silicon nitride layer. Nitridation of the silicon nitride can occur in a batch process or in a single wafer tool, such as a single wafer rapid thermal anneal (RTA) tool. The nitriding pretreatment of the nitride layer improves the integrity of the ONO structure and enables the second layer of silicon dioxide to be deposited rather than thermally grown. Because the nitride layer undergoes less change after deposition of the second layer of silicon dioxide, the present method improves the overall reliability of the ONO structure.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a MirrorBit® Flash memory includes providing a semiconductor substrate and depositing a charge-trapping dielectric material. First and second bitlines are implanted and a wordline material is deposited. A hard mask material is deposited over the wordline material. The hard mask material is of a material having the characteristic of being deposited rather than grown. A photoresist material is deposited over the wordline material and is patterned to form a patterned hard mask. The patterned photoresist material is removed. The wordline material is processed using the patterned hard mask to form a wordline. The patterned hard mask material is removed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; a metal gate electrode; and a silicon oxynitride spacer formed on a surface of the metal gate electrode, wherein an interface of the silicon oxynitride spacer and the metal gate electrode is substantially free of metal silicide. In one embodiment, the silicon oxynitride spacer includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is formed under starving silicon conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling a thin film formation process using a corona discharge measurement technique. The system includes a thin film formation system operative to form a thin film based on one or more process parameters, a corona discharge measurement system operable to measure one or more properties of the thin film, and a processor operatively coupled to the thin film formation system and the corona discharge measurement system, wherein the processor analyzes the data from the corona discharge measurement system and a set of target data and controls the one or more process parameters via the thin film formation system based on the analysis. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a thin film formation using a corona discharge technique.

Abstract: A system for regulating ON and/or ONO dielectric formation is provided. The system includes one or more light sources, each light source directing light to one or more oxide and/or nitride layers being deposited and/or formed on a wafer. Light reflected from the oxide and/or nitride layers is collected by a measuring system, which processes the collected light. The collected light is indicative of the thickness and/or uniformity of the respective oxide and/or nitride layers on the wafer. The measuring system provides thickness and/or uniformity related data to a processor that determines the thickness and/or uniformity of the respective oxide and/or nitride layers on the wafer. The system also includes a plurality of oxide/nitride formers; each oxide/nitride former corresponding to a respective portion of the wafer and providing for ON and/or ONO formation thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, and to a semiconductor device, the method including providing a semiconductor substrate; depositing on the semiconductor substrate a composite dielectric material layer including elements of at least two dielectric materials, in which the step of depositing includes providing a first precursor for a first dielectric material at a first rate and providing a second precursor for a second dielectric material at a second rate, in which at least a portion of the at least two dielectric materials are deposited simultaneously. The semiconductor device includes a composite dielectric material layer having a thickness, and including elements of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, in which the composite dielectric material layer includes a varying concentration ratio of the first dielectric material to the second dielectric material through the thickness.

Abstract: A MONOS device and method for making the device has a charge trapping dielectric layer, such as an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer, formed on a substrate. A recess is created through the ONO layer and in the substrate. A metal silicide bit line is formed in the recess and bit line oxide is formed on top of the metal silicide. A word line is formed over the ONO layer and the bit line oxide, and a low resistance silicide is provided on top of the word line. The silicide is formed by laser thermal annealing, for example.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; a metal gate electrode; and a silicon oxynitride spacer formed on a surface of the metal gate electrode, wherein an interface of the silicon oxynitride spacer and the metal gate electrode is substantially free of metal silicide. In one embodiment, the silicon oxynitride spacer includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is formed under starving silicon conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated circuit fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit comprises a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor. The first field effect transistor comprises a first polysilicon gate positioned above a first channel region of the substrate and isolated from the first channel region by a first dielectric layer extending the entire length of the first polysilicon gate. The first dielectric layer comprises a first dielectric material with a first dielectric constant. The second field effect transistor comprises a second polysilicon gate positioned above a second channel region on the substrate and isolated from the second channel region by a second dielectric layer extending the entire length of the second polysilicon gate. The second dielectric layer comprises a second dielectric material with a second dielectric constant.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing in-situ monitoring of thin film thickness, such as by employing a non-destructive optical measurement technique. The monitored film thickness may be employed to help achieve a desired feature film thickness and uniformity across a surface of a substrate. By monitoring film thickness during semiconductor processing, for example, one or more process control parameters may be adjusted to help achieve a desired film thickness and/or uniformity thereof.

Abstract: Reliable Cu interconnects are formed by filling an opening in a dielectric layer with Cu and then laser thermal annealing in NH3 to reduce copper oxide and to reflow the deposited Cu, thereby eliminating voids and reducing contact resistance. Embodiments include laser thermal annealing employing an NH3 flow rate of about 200 to about 2,000 sccn.

Abstract: A flash memory structure and its fabrication process, whereby stacks, of a first poly-crystalline silicon material or an amorphous silicon material (polysilicon), are processed for formation of a pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer over the first polysilicon material. The pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer being a solid material formed by a chemical reaction formed for purposes of improving the reliability of an interpoly dielectric member and results in changing the capacitor coupling ratio of the flash memory element and allows the use of new power supply and programming voltages. The pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer is formed by exposing the polysilicon stacks to a selected one of at least three ambient reagent gases. The selected gaseous ambient and exposure of the polysilicon stacks being performed in a fabrication tool such as a batch furnace, a single wafer rapid thermal anneal tool, or a plasma chamber.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device for retention of data when electrical power is terminated. The non-volatile memory device includes at least one memory cell and a charge pump for stepping up the incoming voltage supply. The charge pump includes at least one capacitor, wherein the dielectric of the charge pump capacitor and the dielectric of the memory cell are formed during the same processing step.

Abstract: A dielectric memory cell comprises a substrate which includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region positioned there between. A multilevel charge trapping dielectric is positioned on the surface of the substrate and a control gate is positioned on the surface of the dielectric and is positioned over the channel region. The multilevel charge trapping dielectric includes a tunneling dielectric adjacent to the substrate, a high dielectric constant capacitive coupling dielectric adjacent to the control gate, and a charge trapping dielectric positioned there between.

Abstract: A flash memory structure and its fabrication process, whereby stacks, of a first poly-crystalline silicon material or an amorphous silicon material (polysilicon), are processed for formation of a pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer over the first polysilicon material. The pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer being a solid material formed by a chemical reaction formed for purposes of improving the reliability of an interpoly dielectric member and results in changing the capacitor coupling ratio of the flash memory element and allows the use of new power supply and programming voltages. The pre-interpoly dielectric treatment layer is formed by exposing the polysilicon stacks to a selected one of at least three ambient reagent gases. The selected gaseous ambient and exposure of the polysilicon stacks being performed in a fabrication tool such as a batch furnace, a single wafer rapid thermal anneal tool, or a plasma chamber.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device including a metal gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate with a silicon oxynitride spacer formed on a surface of the metal gate electrode, wherein an interface of the silicon oxynitride spacer and the metal gate electrode is substantially free of metal silicide. The process includes steps of forming a metal gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate; forming by PECVD on a surface of the metal gate electrode a silicon oxynitride spacer, wherein the silicon oxynitride spacer is formed under initially silicon-starved conditions in which a first quantity of at least one silicon-containing material is provided to a PECVD apparatus which is reduced relative to an amount of at least one other reactant, as a result of which substantially no silicide is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a buried bit in line in MONOS cell implants dopant into a substrate through a charge trapping dielectric layer, such as an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer. The implantation process damages the ONO layer. A laser thermal annealing process repairs the damage to the ONO layer, so that leakage between the buried bit line formed during the implantation process and a control gate formed after the laser thermal annealing is complete is avoided.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing in-situ monitoring of thin film thickness, such as by employing a non-destructive optical measurement technique. The monitored film thickness may be employed to help achieve a desired feature film thickness and uniformity across a surface of a substrate. By monitoring film thickness during semiconductor processing, for example, one or more process control parameters may be adjusted to help achieve a desired film thickness and/or uniformity thereof.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device, including providing a semiconductor substrate; depositing on the semiconductor substrate a layer of a high-K gate dielectric material; depositing on the gate dielectric material layer a polysilicon or polysilicon-germanium gate electrode layer, in which the step of depositing the polysilicon or polysilicon-germanium gate electrode layer includes providing non-reducing conditions in a CVD apparatus.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a memory cell in a two-bit EEPROM device, includes forming an ONO layer overlying a semiconductor substrate, depositing a resist mask overlying the ONO layer, patterning the resist mask, implanting the semiconductor substrate with a p-type dopant, wherein the resist mask is used as an ion implant mask, and annealing the semiconductor substrate before implanting the semiconductor substrate with an n-type dopant. In one preferred embodiment, the annealing of the semiconductor substrate laterally diffuses the p-type dopants to form pocket regions on either side of the EEPROM device.