METHOD FOR PREVENTING TRENCHING IN FABRICATING SPLIT GATE FLASH DEVICES
A method for forming a split gate flash device is provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor substrate with a dielectric layer formed thereover is provided. A conductor layer is formed overlying the dielectric layer. A masking layer is deposited overlying the conductor layer. A light sensitive layer is formed overlying the masking layer. The light sensitive layer is patterned and etched to form a pattern of openings therein. The masking layer and the conductor layer are etched according to the pattern of openings in the light sensitive layer. The conductor layer is etched at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer to form undercuts. The dielectric layer is etched to form a notch profile at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer and portions of the substrate are etched to form a plurality of trenches. An isolation layer is filled over the plurality of trenches and the masking layer. The masking layer and portions of the conductor layer and isolation layer are etched away, wherein a portion of the isolation layer is preserved in the notch profile.
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The present invention relates to semiconductor memory devices, and, more particularly, to a structure and method of preventing trenching in the fabrication of self-aligned split gate flash devices.
A split gate flash memory device is essentially a MOS transistor with a variable threshold voltage. The threshold voltage varies with the amount of charge that is stored on a floating gate structure. The floating gate structure overlies a first part of the device channel region. A control gate structure overlies a second part of the device channel region. Voltage on the control gate controls the second part of the device channel region directly and controls the first part of the device channel indirectly, as modulated by charge on the floating gate. The control gate is formed in close proximity to the floating gate so that a capacitive coupling between the control gate and the floating gate is achieved.
Flash memories have undergone significant improvements over the years, such as dramatic reduction of device size. As devices reduce in size, however, a number of problems may occur. One such problem is the formation of trenches in the active areas of the devices during a floating gate polysilicon etching step. This problem is best explained by way of description and illustration.
In this layout, a semiconductor substrate 10 is provided. The substrate 10 is divided into two types of areas: active 10 and isolation 20. The active areas (OD) 10 are simply areas of semiconductor. The isolation areas (STI) 20 are areas where a dielectric material has been formed. The isolation areas 20 may comprise any type of dielectric material and structure suitable for isolating adjacent active devices, such as shallow trench isolation (STI) that may be formed by well-known methods. Typically, STI regions 20 comprise trenches in the substrate 10 that are filled with a dielectric material such as silicon oxide. The memory array is laid out such that the STI regions 20 and active (OD) regions 10 (active region 10 is not shown but a first patterned masking layer of silicon nitride (SiN) 50 overlying active region 10 is shown instead) are in parallel. Two cross sections “2” and “9” are analyzed in the description below. The “2” cross section bisects the parallel STI 20 and SiN 50 regions. The “9” cross section is parallel to the STI 20 and SiN regions 50.
Referring now to
A conductor layer 40 is then grown overlying the dielectric layer 30. The conductive layer may comprise any conductive material, such as a metal, a semiconductor, or a combination of both, that can be used in the formation of a MOS gate. A first masking layer 50 is then deposited overlying the conductor layer 40. A photoresist layer (not shown) is then deposited over the masking layer 50 and using a conventional photolithography process, the photoresist layer is patterned and etched to form a pattern of openings. The photoresist pattern is normally used to protect all areas on which active devices will later be formed. Thereafter, the masking layer 50, conductor layer 40, dielectric layer 30 and substrate 10 are etched according to the pattern of openings in the photoresist layer and a plurality of isolation trenches defined by masking layer 50 are formed in the substrate 10. The masking layer 50 and conductor layer 40 may be dry etched, and the dielectric layer 30 may be etched by means of either a dry- or wet-chemical process, as is well-known in the art. The etching is further carried into the substrate 10 to form trenches. The trenches are thereafter filled by an STI oxide material and may be filled by well-known methods such as high density plasma CVD (HDPCVD). The STI oxide material is thereafter planarized by conventional CMP (chemical mechanical planarization) processes. Other planarization processes could also be used. As shown in
The problem the present invention addresses is during the conventional formation of split gate flash devices where undesirable trenches are formed in the active areas of the devices during the floating gate polysilicon/conductor layer etching step.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a device and method of manufacture thereof that addresses the above-discussed issues.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to a method for forming a split gate flash device. In one embodiment, a semiconductor substrate with a dielectric layer formed thereover is provided. A conductor layer is formed overlying the dielectric layer. A masking layer is deposited overlying the conductor layer. A light sensitive layer is formed overlying the masking layer. The light sensitive layer is patterned and etched to form a pattern of openings therein. The masking layer and the conductor layer are etched according to the pattern of openings in the light sensitive layer. The conductor layer is etched at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer to form undercuts. The dielectric layer is etched to form a notch profile at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer and portions of the substrate are etched to form a plurality of trenches. An isolation layer is filled over the plurality of trenches and the masking layer. The masking layer and portions of the conductor layer and isolation layer are etched away, wherein a portion of the isolation layer is preserved in the notch profile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one having an ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and processes have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A conductor layer 40 is then grown overlying the dielectric layer 30. The conductive layer may comprise any conductive material, such as a metal, a semiconductor, or a combination of both, that can be used in the formation of a MOS gate. Preferably, the conductor layer 40 comprises a polysilicon layer that is deposited overlying the dielectric layer 30. The polysilicon layer 40 may be doped or undoped. More preferably, the polysilicon layer 40 is formed by chemical vapor deposition of polysilicon to a thickness of between about 300 Angstroms to about 1500 Angstroms.
A first masking layer 50 is then deposited overlying the conductor layer 40. First masking layer 50 serves to protect active regions 10 during the STI oxide deposition process and serves as a polish stop layer during the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) step The first masking layer 50 preferably comprises a material that can be selectively etched with respect to the conductor layer 40. More preferably, the masking layer 50 comprises silicon nitride (SiN) that is deposited by a chemical vapor deposition process and preferably deposited to a thickness of between about 500 Angstroms to about 2000 Angstroms.
A photoresist layer 75 is then deposited over the masking layer 50 and using a conventional photolithography process, the photoresist layer is patterned and etched to form a pattern of openings. The photoresist pattern is normally used to protect all areas on which active devices will later be formed. Thereafter, the masking layer 50 and the conductor layer 40 are etched according to the pattern of openings in the photoresist layer 75, the masking layer 50 and the conductor layer 40 may be etched by a dry etching process.
The etching is further carried into the substrate 10 to form trenches.
In the preceding detailed description, the present invention is described with reference to specifically exemplary embodiments thereof It will, however, be evident that various modifications, structures, processes, and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. It is understood that the present invention is capable of using various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.
Claims
1. A method for forming a split-gate flash device, comprising:
- providing a semiconductor substrate with a dielectric layer formed thereover;
- forming a conductor layer overlying the dielectric layer;
- depositing a masking layer overlying the conductor layer;
- forming a light sensitive layer overlying the masking layer;
- patterning and etching the light sensitive layer to form a pattern of openings therein;
- etching the masking layer and the conductor layer according to the pattern of openings in the light sensitive layer;
- etching the conductor layer at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer to form undercuts;
- etching the dielectric layer to form a notch profile at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer and portions of the substrate to form a plurality of trenches;
- filling an isolation layer over the plurality of trenches and the masking layer; and
- etching away the masking layer and portions of the isolation layer and the conductor layer, wherein a portion of the isolation layer is preserved in the notch profile.
2. The method of claim 1, her comprising removing the light sensitive layer.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing portions of the etched away conductor layer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises oxide.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor layer comprises polysilicon.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the masking layer comprise silicon nitride.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the light sensitive layer.
8. A method for forming a memory device, comprising:
- providing a semiconductor substrate with a dielectric layer formed thereover;
- forming a conductor layer overlying the dielectric layer;
- depositing a masking layer overlying the conductor layer;
- forming a light sensitive layer overlying the masking layer;
- patterning and etching the light sensitive layer to form a pattern of openings therein;
- etching the masking layer and the conductor layer according to the pattern of openings in the light sensitive layer;
- etching the conductor layer at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer to form undercuts;
- etching the dielectric layer to form a notch profile at the outer surface area between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer and portions of the substrate to form a plurality of trenches;
- filling an isolation layer over the plurality of trenches and the masking layer; and
- etching away the masking layer and portions of the isolation layer and the conductor layer, wherein a portion of the isolation layer is preserved in the notch profile.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing the light sensitive layer.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing portions of the etched away conductor layer.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the dielectric layer comprises oxide.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the conductor layer comprises polysilicon.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the masking layer comprise silicon nitride.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing the light sensitive layer.
15.-18. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 1, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 7, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Shih-Chang Liu (Alian Township), Chi-Hsin Lo (Zhubei City), Gwo-Yuh Shiau (Hsinchu City), Chia-Shiung Tsai (Hsin-Chu)
Application Number: 11/141,902
International Classification: H01L 21/336 (20060101); H01L 29/788 (20060101);