Abstract: A first potential and a second potential lower than the first potential are applied to a first end of a memory gate electrode part of the nonvolatile memory and to a second end of the memory gate electrode part, respectively, so that a current is caused to flow in a direction in which the memory gate electrode part extends, then, a hole is injected from the memory gate electrode part into a charge accumulating part below it, therefore, an electron accumulated in the charge accumulating part is eliminated. By causing the current to flow through the memory gate electrode part of a memory cell region as described above, Joule heat can be generated to heat the memory cell. Consequently, in the erasing by a FN tunneling method in which the erasing characteristics degrade at a low temperature, the erasing speed can be improved by heating the memory gate electrode part.

Abstract: A property of a semiconductor device having a non-volatile memory is improved. A semiconductor device, which has a control gate electrode part and a memory gate electrode part placed above a semiconductor substrate of a non-volatile memory, is configured as follows. A thick film portion is formed in an end portion of the control gate insulating film on the memory gate electrode part side, below the control gate electrode part. According to this configuration, even when holes are efficiently injected to a corner portion of the memory gate electrode part by an FN tunnel erasing method, electrons can be efficiently injected to the corner portion of the memory gate electrode part by an SSI injection method. Thus, a mismatch of the electron/hole distribution can be moderated, so that the retention property of the memory cell can be improved.

Abstract: A first potential and a second potential lower than the first potential are applied to a first end of a memory gate electrode part of the nonvolatile memory and to a second end of the memory gate electrode part, respectively, so that a current is caused to flow in a direction in which the memory gate electrode part extends, then, a hole is injected from the memory gate electrode part into a charge accumulating part below it, therefore, an electron accumulated in the charge accumulating part is eliminated. By causing the current to flow through the memory gate electrode part of a memory cell region as described above, Joule heat can be generated to heat the memory cell. Consequently, in the erasing by a FN tunneling method in which the erasing characteristics degrade at a low temperature, the erasing speed can be improved by heating the memory gate electrode part.

Abstract: A first potential and a second potential lower than the first potential are applied to a first end of a memory gate electrode part of the nonvolatile memory and to a second end of the memory gate electrode part, respectively, so that a current is caused to flow in a direction in which the memory gate electrode part extends, then, a hole is injected from the memory gate electrode part into a charge accumulating part below it, therefore, an electron accumulated in the charge accumulating part is eliminated. By causing the current to flow through the memory gate electrode part of a memory cell region as described above, Joule heat can be generated to heat the memory cell. Consequently, in the erasing by a FN tunneling method in which the erasing characteristics degrade at a low temperature, the erasing speed can be improved by heating the memory gate electrode part.

Abstract: A memory gate is formed of a first memory gate including a second gate insulating film made of a second insulating film and a first memory gate electrode, and a second memory gate including a third gate insulating film made of a third insulating film and a second memory gate electrode. In addition, the lower surface of the second memory gate electrode is located lower in level than the lower surface of the first memory gate electrode. As a result, during an erase operation, an electric field is concentrated on the corner portion of the first memory gate electrode which is located closer to a selection gate and a semiconductor substrate and on the corner portion of the second memory gate electrode which is located closer to the first memory gate and the semiconductor substrate. This allows easy injection of holes into each of the second and third insulating films.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory improved in characteristics. In the semiconductor device, a nonvolatile memory has a high-k insulating film (high dielectric constant film) between a control gate electrode portion and a memory gate electrode portion and a transistor of a peripheral circuit region has a high-k/metal configuration. The high-k insulating film arranged between the control gate electrode portion and the memory gate electrode portion relaxes an electric field intensity at the end portion (corner portion) of the memory gate electrode portion on the side of the control gate electrode portion. This results in reduction in uneven distribution of charges in a charge accumulation portion (silicon nitride film) and improvement in erase accuracy.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory improved in characteristics. In the semiconductor device, a nonvolatile memory has a high-k insulating film (high dielectric constant film) between a control gate electrode portion and a memory gate electrode portion and a transistor of a peripheral circuit region has a high-k/metal configuration. The high-k insulating film arranged between the control gate electrode portion and the memory gate electrode portion relaxes an electric field intensity at the end portion (corner portion) of the memory gate electrode portion on the side of the control gate electrode portion. This results in reduction in uneven distribution of charges in a charge accumulation portion (silicon nitride film) and improvement in erase accuracy.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory improved in characteristics. In the semiconductor device, a nonvolatile memory has a high-k insulating film (high dielectric constant film) between a control gate electrode portion and a memory gate electrode portion and a transistor of a peripheral circuit region has a high-k/metal configuration. The high-k insulating film arranged between the control gate electrode portion and the memory gate electrode portion relaxes an electric field intensity at the end portion (corner portion) of the memory gate electrode portion on the side of the control gate electrode portion. This results in reduction in uneven distribution of charges in a charge accumulation portion (silicon nitride film) and improvement in erase accuracy.

Abstract: A memory gate is formed of a first memory gate including a second gate insulating film made of a second insulating film and a first memory gate electrode, and a second memory gate including a third gate insulating film made of a third insulating film and a second memory gate electrode. In addition, the lower surface of the second memory gate electrode is located lower in level than the lower surface of the first memory gate electrode. As a result, during an erase operation, an electric field is concentrated on the corner portion of the first memory gate electrode which is located closer to a selection gate and a semiconductor substrate and on the corner portion of the second memory gate electrode which is located closer to the first memory gate and the semiconductor substrate. This allows easy injection of holes into each of the second and third insulating films.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming a nonvolatile semiconductor device including forming a first gate insulating film on a main surface of a first semiconductor region, forming a first gate electrode on the first gate insulating film, forming a second gate insulating film, forming a second gate electrode over a first side surface of the first gate electrode, selectively removing the second gate insulating film, etching the second gate insulating film kept between the second gate electrode and a main surface of the first semiconductor region in order to form an etched charge storage layer, introducing first impurities in the first semiconductor region in a self-aligned manner to the second gate electrode in order to form a second semiconductor region, annealing the semiconductor substrate to extend the second semiconductor region to an area under the second gate electrode.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory improved in characteristics. In the semiconductor device, a nonvolatile memory has a high-k insulating film (high dielectric constant film) between a control gate electrode portion and a memory gate electrode portion and a transistor of a peripheral circuit region has a high-k/metal configuration. The high-k insulating film arranged between the control gate electrode portion and the memory gate electrode portion relaxes an electric field intensity at the end portion (corner portion) of the memory gate electrode portion on the side of the control gate electrode portion. This results in reduction in uneven distribution of charges in a charge accumulation portion (silicon nitride film) and improvement in erase accuracy.

Abstract: A charge storage layer interposed between a memory gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate is formed shorter than a gate length of the memory gate electrode or a length of insulating films so as to make the overlapping amount of the charge storage layer and a source region to be less than 40 nm. Therefore, in the write state, since the movement in the transverse direction of the electrons and the holes locally existing in the charge storage layer decreases, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding a high temperature can be reduced. In addition, the effective channel length is made to be 30 nm or less so as to reduce an apparent amount of holes so that coupling of the electrons with the holes in the charge storage layer decreases; therefore, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding at room temperature can be reduced.

Abstract: A charge storage layer interposed between a memory gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate is formed shorter than a gate length of the memory gate electrode or a length of insulating films so as to make the overlapping amount of the charge storage layer and a source region to be less than 40 nm. Therefore, in the write state, since the movement in the transverse direction of the electrons and the holes locally existing in the charge storage layer decreases, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding a high temperature can be reduced. In addition, the effective channel length is made to be 30 nm or less so as to reduce an apparent amount of holes so that coupling of the electrons with the holes in the charge storage layer decreases; therefore, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding at room temperature can be reduced.

Abstract: In a split gate MONOS memory which carries out rewrite by hot carrier injection, retention characteristics are improved. A select gate electrode of a memory cell is connected to a select gate line, and a memory gate electrode is connected to a memory gate line. A drain region is connected to a bit line, and a source region is connected to a source line. Furthermore, a well line is connected to a p type well region in which the memory cell is formed. When write to the memory cell is to be carried out, write by a source side injection method is carried out while applying a negative voltage to the p type well region via the well line.

Abstract: When the width of an isolation region is reduced through the scaling of a memory cell to reduce the distance between the memory cell and an adjacent memory cell, the electrons or holes injected into the charge storage film of the memory cell are diffused into the portion of the charge storage film located over the isolation region to interfere with each other and possibly impair the reliability of the memory cell. In a semiconductor device, the charge storage film of the memory cell extends to the isolation region located between the adjacent memory cells. The effective length of the charge storage film in the isolation region is larger than the width of the isolation region. Here, the effective length indicates the length of the region of the charge storage film which is located over the isolation region and in which charges are not stored.

Abstract: A charge storage layer interposed between a memory gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate is formed shorter than a gate length of the memory gate electrode or a length of insulating films so as to make the overlapping amount of the charge storage layer and a source region to be less than 40 nm. Therefore, in the write state, since the movement in the transverse direction of the electrons and the holes locally existing in the charge storage layer decreases, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding a high temperature can be reduced. In addition, the effective channel length is made to be 30 nm or less so as to reduce an apparent amount of holes so that coupling of the electrons with the holes in the charge storage layer decreases; therefore, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding at room temperature can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device highly integrated and highly reliable. A plurality of memory cells are formed in a plurality of active regions sectioned by a plurality of isolations (silicon oxide films) extending in the Y direction and deeper than a well (p type semiconductor region). In each memory cell, a contact is provided in the well (p type semiconductor region) so as to penetrate through a source diffusion layer (n+ type semiconductor region), and the contact that electrically connects bit lines (metal wirings) and the source diffusion layer (n+ type semiconductor region) is also electrically connected to the well (p type semiconductor region).

Abstract: A charge storage layer interposed between a memory gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate is formed shorter than a gate length of the memory gate electrode or a length of insulating films so as to make the overlapping amount of the charge storage layer and a source region to be less than 40 nm. Therefore, in the write state, since the movement in the transverse direction of the electrons and the holes locally existing in the charge storage layer decreases, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding a high temperature can be reduced. In addition, the effective channel length is made to be 30 nm or less so as to reduce an apparent amount of holes so that coupling of the electrons with the holes in the charge storage layer decreases; therefore, the variation of the threshold voltage when holding at room temperature can be reduced.

Abstract: The semiconductor device includes the nonvolatile memory cell in the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. The nonvolatile memory cell has a first insulating film over the semiconductor substrate, a conductive film, a second insulating film, the charge storage film capable of storing therein charges, a third insulating film over the charge storage film, a first gate electrode, a fourth insulating film in contact with the set of stacked films from the first insulating film to the foregoing first gate electrode, a fifth insulating film juxtaposed with the first insulating film over the foregoing semiconductor substrate, a second gate electrode formed over the fifth insulating film to be adjacent to the foregoing first gate electrode over the side surface of the fourth insulating film, and source/drain regions with the first and second gate electrodes interposed therebetween. The conductive film and the charge storage film are formed to two-dimensionally overlap.

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.