Abstract: Methods of managing gate coupling for semiconductor devices, e.g., non-volatile memory devices, are provided. The methods include: providing a conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate, the conductive layer including a lower conductive layer and an upper conductive layer, the lower conductive layer including a first material and the upper conductive layer including a second material having at least one property different from the first material, forming a protective pattern on the conductive layer, and etching through the conductive layer to obtain individual separated gates by controlling an etching process such that the first material has a higher etching rate than the second material during the etching process, each of the gates including an upper gate and a lower gate, the lower gate having a smaller width than the upper gate after the etching process.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices having patterns with different feature sizes are provided. An example method includes: etching a first film layer below a patterned mask to form first and second features on a second film layer, forming respective first and second spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the first and second features on the second film layer, removing the first and second features to expose respective first and second portion of the second film layer, the second portion having a larger CD than the first portion, controlling an etching process such that the first portion is etched through and the second portion is protected from etching by a protective film formed during the etching process, and patterning a thin film masked by the first spacer, the second spacer, and the second portion to form smaller features and larger features in respective first and second regions of the thin film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a memory region and a capacitance region is provided. A plurality of word line structures are formed on the memory region of the substrate. A capacitance structure is formed on the capacitance region of the substrate. The word line structures and the capacitance structure each include a first dielectric layer on the substrate, a first conductive layer on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer on the second dielectric layer. The second conductive layers of the word line structures close to an edge of the memory region and a portion of the second conductive layer of the capacitance structure are removed at the same time to form a trench exposing a portion of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, a memory device, and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a floating gate, a gate insulation layer, an inter-gate dielectric layer, and a control gate. The control gate is a multi-layer structure with three or more layers, and at least one layer of the multi-layer structure is a metal silicide layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a first trench and a wider second trench in a substrate and a material layer formed thereon, forming a flowable isolation material covering the material layer and filling in the first and second trenches, removing a portion of the flowable isolation material in the second trench so that the thickness of the remaining flowable isolation material on the sidewall of the second trench is 200 ? to 1000 ?, and forming a non-flowable isolation material on the flowable isolation material.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a self-merged profile (SMP) method for fabricating a semiconductor device and a device fabricated using an SMP method. In an example embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The example semiconductor device comprises (a) a plurality of conductive lines; (b) a plurality of conductive pads; (c) a plurality of dummy tails; and (d) a plurality of closed loops. Each of the plurality of conductive pads is associated with one of the plurality of conductive lines, one of the plurality of dummy tails, and one of the plurality of closed loops. In example embodiments, the plurality of dummy tails and the plurality of closed loops are formed as residuals of the process used to create the plurality of conductive lines and the plurality of conductive pads.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a self-merged profile (SMP) method for fabricating a semiconductor device and a device fabricated using an SMP method. In an example embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The example semiconductor device comprises (a) a plurality of conductive lines; (b) a plurality of conductive pads; (c) a plurality of dummy tails; and (d) a plurality of closed loops. Each of the plurality of conductive pads is associated with one of the plurality of conductive lines, one of the plurality of dummy tails, and one of the plurality of closed loops. In example embodiments, the plurality of dummy tails and the plurality of closed loops are formed as residuals of the process used to create the plurality of conductive lines and the plurality of conductive pads.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, multiple memory cells on the semiconductor substrate arranged along a first dimension and along a second dimension that is orthogonal to the first dimension, in which each memory cell of the multiple memory cells includes a channel region in the semiconductor substrate, a tunnel dielectric layer on the channel region, and a first electrode layer on the tunnel dielectric layer. Along the first dimension, the channel region of each memory cell of the multiple memory cells is separated from the channel region of an adjacent memory cell of the multiple memory cells by a corresponding first air gap, each first air gap extending from below an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate up to an inter-electrode dielectric layer.

Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the patterning of the array and periphery regions in self-aligned quadruple patterning and provide semiconductor devices resulting from the combined patterning.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a gate structure, the gate structure having a plurality of gates defined by a network of spaces. The word line (WL) spaces within a dense WL region having airgaps and those spaces outside of the dense WL being substantially free of airgaps. A gate structure having a silicide layer dispose across the plurality of gates is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the patterning of the array and periphery regions in self-aligned double patterning and provide semiconductor devices resulting from the combined patterning.

Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the patterning of the array and periphery regions in self-aligned quadruple patterning and provide semiconductor devices resulting from the combined patterning.

Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the formation of a first dielectric layer over buried oxide regions and the removal of such dielectric layer to prepare a substantially planar substrate for subsequent formation of word lines. The method may allow for the production of semiconductor memory devices of reduced size with reduced word line stringer residual material.

Abstract: A memory device is provided having a plurality of floating gates and control gates, which at least one control gate has been removed after applying a flowable material to the semiconductor which prevents damage to the substrate when the control gate is removed. Methods of manufacturing such a memory device are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a memory device. A stack layer, including a storage layer, a first conductive layer and a first mask layer, is formed on the substrate in a first region and a second region. The stack layer is patterned to form a plurality of first patterned stack layers extending along a first direction and from the first region to the second region. Two sides of each first patterned stack layers have openings respectively. A filling layer is formed on the substrate, and filled in the openings. A second mask layer is formed on the second region, and does not cover the filling layer in the second region. Then, using the second mask layer and the filling layer as mask, the first patterned stack layers and part of the substrate are removed, and a plurality of trenches are formed in the substrate in the second region.

Abstract: A one-time programmable memory array includes a first row conductor extending in a first row direction and disposed at a first elevation, a second row conductor extending in a second row direction and disposed at a second elevation and a column conductor extending in a column direction and disposed adjacent to the first row conductor and adjacent to the second row conductor. The array also includes a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the column conductor, a fuse link coupled between the dielectric layer on the column conductor and the second row conductor.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a gate structure, the gate structure having a plurality of gates defined by a network of spaces. The word line (WL) spaces within a dense WL region having airgaps and those spaces outside of the dense WL being substantially free of airgaps. A gate structure having a silicide layer dispose across the plurality of gates is also provided.

Abstract: A memory structure having a memory cell region and a non-memory cell region is provided. The memory structure includes a plurality of memory cells and a conductive material. The plurality of memory cells are disposed in the memory cell region, wherein a plurality of first concave portions are present in the plurality of memory cells. The conductive material extends across the memory cell region and the non-memory cell region, covers the plurality of memory cells, and extends into the plurality of first concave portions.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a gate structure, the gate structure having a plurality of gates defined by a network of spaces. The word line (WL) spaces within a dense WL region having airgaps and those spaces outside of the dense WL being substantially free of airgaps. A gate structure having a silicide layer dispose across the plurality of gates is also provided.

Abstract: A one-time programmable memory array includes a first row conductor extending in a first row direction and disposed at a first elevation, a second row conductor extending in a second row direction and disposed at a second elevation and a column conductor extending in a column direction and disposed adjacent to the first row conductor and adjacent to the second row conductor. The array also includes a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the column conductor, a fuse link coupled between the dielectric layer on the column conductor and the second row conductor.