Abstract: A method is used with an IC device including a stack of dielectric/conductive layers to form interlayer connectors extending from a surface of the device to the conductive layers. Contact openings are created through a dielectric layer to a first conductive layer. N etch masks, with 2N?1 being less than W, 2N being greater than or equal to W, have spaced apart open etch regions and mask regions elsewhere. The stack of layers are etched only through W?1 contact openings to create extended contact openings extending to W?1 conductive layers; 2n?1 conductive layers are etched for up to half of the contact openings for each etch mask n=1, 2 . . . N. The contact openings are etched with different combinations of the etch masks' open etch regions. Interlayer connectors are formed in the contact openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a trench type power transistor device including a semiconductor substrate, at least one transistor cell, a gate metal layer, a source metal layer, and a second gate conductive layer. The semiconductor substrate has at least one trench. The transistor cell includes a first gate conductive layer disposed in the trench. The gate metal layer and the source metal layer are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The second gate conductive layer is disposed between the first gate conductive layer and the source metal layer. The second gate conductive layer electrically connects the first gate conductive layer to the gate metal layer, and the second gate conductive layer is electrically insulated from the source metal layer and the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a trench type power transistor device including a semiconductor substrate, at least one transistor cell, a gate metal layer, a source metal layer, and a second gate conductive layer. The semiconductor substrate has at least one trench. The transistor cell includes a first gate conductive layer disposed in the trench. The gate metal layer and the source metal layer are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The second gate conductive layer is disposed between the first gate conductive layer and the source metal layer. The second gate conductive layer electrically connects the first gate conductive layer to the gate metal layer, and the second gate conductive layer is electrically insulated from the source metal layer and the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell is provided. The memory cell has first, second, third and fourth storage regions in a charge-storage layer between a substrate and a word line. The first and second storage regions are respectively adjacent to lower and upper portions at one side of the protruding part of the substrate, and the third and fourth storage regions are respectively adjacent to lower and upper portions at the other side of the same. The second and third storage regions are regarded as a top storage region. When the top storage region is programmed, a first positive voltage is applied to the word line, a second positive voltage is applied to a top bit line in a top portion of the protruding part, and a bottom voltage is applied to first and second bottom bit lines in the substrate beside the protruding part respectively.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact opening in a semiconductor substrate is presented. A plurality of trench gates each having a projecting portion are formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a stop layer is deposited over the semiconductor substrate extending over the projecting portions, wherein each portion of the stop layer along each of the sidewalls of the projecting portions is covered by a spacer. By removing the portions of the stop layer not covered by the spacers by utilizing a relatively higher etching selectivity of the stop layer to the spacers, the openings between adjacent projecting portions with an L-type shape on each sidewall can be formed, and a lithography process can be performed to form self-aligned contact openings thereafter.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell is provided. The memory cell has first, second, third and fourth storage regions in a charge-storage layer between a substrate and a word line. The first and second storage regions are respectively adjacent to lower and upper portions at one side of the protruding part of the substrate, and the third and fourth storage regions are respectively adjacent to lower and upper portions at the other side of the same. The second and third storage regions are regarded as a top storage region. When the top storage region is programmed, a first positive voltage is applied to the word line, a second positive voltage is applied to a top bit line in a top portion of the protruding part, and a bottom voltage is applied to first and second bottom bit lines in the substrate beside the protruding part respectively.

Abstract: A memory array comprises a semiconductor body having a plurality of trenches aligned generally in parallel. The trenches contain semiconductor material, such as doped amorphous silicon, and act as source/drain lines for the memory array. Insulating liners lie between the semiconductor material within the trenches and the semiconductor body. A plurality of word lines overlie the plurality of trenches and channel regions in the semiconductor body in an array of cross points. Charge trapping structures lie between the word lines and the channel regions at the cross points, providing an array of flash memory cells. The charge trapping structures comprise dielectric charge trapping structures adapted to be programmed and erased to store data. A method for manufacturing such devices includes patterning and forming the sources/drain lines with insulating liners prior to formation of the charge trapping structure over the channel regions.