Abstract: This document discloses devices fabricated on a semiconductor substrate and methods of fabricating the same. The devices can be memory cells having a tunnel window that is defined by dry-etching oxide to expose the semiconductor substrate and growing a tunnel oxide layer on the exposed semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate can be decontaminated and/or repaired by exposing the semiconductor substrate to an optical irradiated energy source having a predefined energy that is sufficient to break molecular bonds of the contaminants and exposing the semiconductor substrate to a temperature that is sufficient to recrystallize the crystal lattice of the substrate.

Abstract: Split-gate memory cells and fabrication methods thereof. A split-gate memory cell comprises a plurality of isolation regions formed on a semiconductor substrate along a first direction, between two adjacent isolation regions defining an active region having a pair of drains and a source region. A pair of floating gates are disposed on the active regions and self-aligned with the isolation regions, wherein a top level of the floating gate is equal to a top level of the isolation regions. A pair of control gates are self-aligned with the floating gates and disposed on the floating gates along a second direction. A source line is disposed between the pair of control gates along the second direction. A pair of select gates are disposed on the outer sidewalls of the pair of control gates along the second direction.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of forming a programmable memory device. A tunnel oxide is formed to be supported by a semiconductor substrate. A stack is formed over the tunnel oxide. The stack comprises a floating gate, dielectric mass and control gate. The stack has a top, and has opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from the top. The dielectric mass includes silicon nitride. Silicon nitride spacers are formed along sidewalls of the stack, and a silicon nitride cap is formed over a top of the stack. The silicon nitride within the dielectric mass, cap and/or sidewall spacers is formed from trichlorosilane and ammonia.

Abstract: A NAND type dual bit nitride read only memory and a method for fabricating thereof are provided. Firstly, a plurality of isolation layers, which are spaced and parallel to each other are formed in the substrate. Next, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) stack structures are formed on the substrate. The word lines are spaced and parallel to each other, and also the word lines are perpendicular to the isolation layers. Each of the ONO stack structure is located between the corresponding word line and the substrate. And then a plurality of discontinuous bit lines, which are located between the word lines and between the isolation layers are formed on the substrate. The structure of the present invention of the NAND type dual bit nitride read only memory is similar to that of a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and their fabrication processes are fully compatible.

Abstract: There are provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory of a structure in which electric signals from peripheral circuits are reliably transferred to control gates via word lines even if contact holes cannot be opened accurately above the word lines, and a method of fabricating the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. Plural word lines and plural bit lines are disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and there are memory cells at intersecting portions of the word lines and the bit lines. At contact portions of the word lines and metal wires of an upper layer, polysilicon regions, which include the contact portions, are formed beneath a polysilicon forming the word lines, as an etching stop layer at a time of forming contacts.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, in which both a reduction in a resistivity of a gate electrode and stabilization of transistor characteristics is achieved, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, it is provided a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gate electrodes each including an electric charge storage layer formed on the semiconductor substrate through a first insulator, first and second conductor layers, and a second insulator disposed between the electric charge storage layer and the first conductor layer, a barrier insulator provided between the gate electrodes and being in contact with side surfaces alone of the gate electrodes, and an interlayer insulator provided in contact with an upper surface of the second conductor layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes forming a conductive layer to form a gate on a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask over the conductive layer; patterning the hard mask and the conductive layer of a cell region to form the gate; partially recessing the hard mask using a mask through which a peripheral region is opened; and patterning the recessed hard mask and the conductive layer of the peripheral region to form the gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film formed on the substrate, a first gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, source and drain regions formed in the substrate so as to sandwich the first gate electrode, an intergate insulating film formed on the first gate electrode and including an opening, a second gate electrode formed on the intergate insulating film and electrically connected to the first gate electrode through the opening, and a boost electrode formed on the intergate insulating film and electrically isolated from the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory device includes the steps of forming gate patterns for cells and gate patterns for select transistors over a semiconductor substrate, forming a buffer insulating layer on the resulting surface including the gate patterns, forming an insulating layer to form void in spaces between the gate patterns for cells, forming a nitride layer on the insulating layer, and forming a spacer on one side of each of the gate patterns for select transistors by a spacer etch process.

Abstract: Disclosed in a non-volatile (NV) memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes forming transistor and EEPROM regions by implanting first and second conductive impurity ions into a semiconductor substrate, depositing a gate oxide on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate poly on the EEPROM region, removing the gate oxide not below the first gate poly, forming a logic gate oxide, a tunnel oxide and a coupling oxide, forming a logic gate poly on the transistor region and a second gate poly on a sidewall of the first gate poly, forming source/drain extension regions by implanting first and second conductive impurity ions, forming a sidewall spacer on the logic gate poly and the second gate poly, and forming a silicide on the source, drain and logic gate poly of the transistor region.

Abstract: A semiconductor-memory device that reduces leak off due to miniaturization of memory cells, and comprises as a single unit cell: a substrate 1 having a trench section 1a; a selector gate 3 that is located via an insulating film 2 on the substrate adjacent to the trench section 1a; a first well 1b that is formed on the surface of the substrate 1 below the selector gate 3; a floating gate 6 that is located via an insulating film 8a on the surface of the bottom section and sidewall section of the trench section 1a; a second well 1c that is formed on the surface of the bottom section of the trench section 1a below the floating gate 6; a first diffusion area 7a that is formed on the surface of the bottom section of the trench section 1a; and a control gate 11 located via an insulating film 8 on top of the floating gate 6; and where the area near the sidewall surface and bottom surface of the trench section 1a forms a channel in the selector gate 3; and the impurity density of the first well 1b is not more than the

Abstract: A plug is formed by depositing a first material to partially fill an opening, leaving an unfilled portion with a lower aspect ratio than the original opening. A second material is then deposited to fill the remaining portion of the opening. The first material has good filling characteristics but has higher resistivity than the second material. The second material has low resistivity to give the plug low resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a flash memory device. Nitride film spacers are formed on sidewalls of protruded isolation films. A recess is formed in a semiconductor substrate by a self-aligned etch process using the nitride film spacers as masks. It is therefore possible to form a uniform recess over the entire wafer. Furthermore, a floating gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the recess in a self-aligned manner. Accordingly, a contact area between the floating gate and the semiconductor substrate can be increased as large as a recess surface area.

Abstract: In a method of forming a device isolation layer for minimizing a parasitic capacitor and a non-volatile memory device using the same, a trench is formed on a substrate. A first insulation layer is formed on a top surface of the substrate and on inner surfaces of the trench, so that the trench is partially filled with the first insulation layer. A second insulation layer is formed on the first insulation layer to a thickness to fill up the trench, thereby forming a preliminary isolation layer. An etching rate of the second insulation layer is different from that of the first insulation layer. A recess is formed at a central portion of the preliminary isolation layer by partially removing the first and second insulation layers, thereby forming the device isolation layer including the recess. The recess in the device isolation layer reduces a parasitic capacitance in a non-volatile memory device.

Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral devices. At least some of the individual memory cells include carbonated portions that contain SiC. At least some of the peripheral devices do not include any carbonated portions. A transistor includes a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a channel including a carbonated portion of a semiconductive substrate that contains SiC between the first and second sources/drains and a gate operationally associated with opposing sides of the channel.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a contact structure with a first stack of at least two conductive layers, and a gate electrode with a second stack of conductive layers, the second stack of layers having the same sequence of conductive layers as the first stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a flash memory device. According to a method of fabricating a flash memory device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor substrate over which a tunnel insulating layer and a first conductive layer are formed is provided. A first oxide layer is formed on the first conductive layer using a plasma oxidization process in a state where a back bias voltage is applied. A nitride layer is formed on the first oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed on the nitride layer. A second conductive layer is formed on the second oxide layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor. The semiconductor device includes trenches (11) formed in a semiconductor substrate (10), first ONO films (18) provided on both side surfaces of the trenches, and first word lines (22) provided on side surfaces of the first ONO films (18) and running in a length direction of the trenches (11). According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor, in which higher memory capacity can be achieved.

Abstract: Formation techniques are utilized to increase the space or distance between floating gates of a memory array of floating gate transistors. In at least some embodiments, floating gates are first formed over the substrate and then portions of the floating gates are removed to increase the spacing between the floating gates. An interlayer dielectric layer is then formed over the substrate and a control gate layer is formed thereover.

Abstract: A coupling oxide film is formed on a silicon substrate, a polysilicon film is further formed thereupon, and a low-temperature oxide film is deposited to a thickness of 10 nm, for example. Next, a silicon nitride film is formed on this low-temperature oxide film, and selectively removed by dry etching. At this time, the low-temperature oxide film serves as an etching stopper film, so the low-temperature oxide film and polysilicon film are not over-etched. Subsequently, the polysilicon film is dry-etched, forming a recess. A floating gate is then formed of the polysilicon film.

Abstract: An electrically programmable memory element comprising a programmable resistance material and an electrical contact. The electrical contact having at least two portion wherein the first portion has a higher resistivity than the second portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a gate in a flash memory device. The method includes: forming a oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a stacked structure including a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate, a dielectric layer, and a control gate by patterning them on the semiconductor substrate; exposing portions of the semiconductor substrate below the field oxide layer by selectively etching the field oxide layer adjacent to the source region in order to form a common source; performing subsequent etching for removing oxides between the control gates; and forming an oxide layer covering the semiconductor substrate and both sidewalls of the floating gate and control gate.

Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first gate insulator on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, a storage node on the first gate insulator, a tunnel junction barrier on the storage node and a data electrode on the layer tunnel junction barrier. The device further includes a second gate insulator layer on a sidewall of the tunnel junction barrier, a third gate insulator on a second portion of the substrate adjacent the tunnel junction barrier and a gate electrode on the second gate insulator and the third gate insulator. First and second impurity-doped regions are disposed in the substrate and are coupled by a channel through the first and second portions of the substrate. Fabrication of such a device is also describes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile (e.g., NOR type flash) memory cell array and a method for manufacturing the same. The memory cell array includes a plurality of isolation layers on a semiconductor substrate, parallel to a bit line and defining an active device area, a plurality of common source areas in the semiconductor substrate, separated from each other by the isolation layers such that the common source areas connect memory cells adjacent to each other in a bit line direction, a common source line on the semiconductor substrate, connected to each source area and extending in a word-line direction, an insulating spacer along a first sidewall of the common source line, a gate at a second sidewall of the insulating spacer including a tunnel oxide layer, a first electrode, an inter-electrode dielectric layer, and a second electrode, and a drain area in the semiconductor substrate on an opposite side of the gate from the common source area.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode formed on the first insulating layer; an interlayer dielectric formed over the first electrode; a wiring layer formed over the interlayer dielectric; a first contact hole formed through the interlayer dielectric between the first electrode and the wiring layer; and a barrier metal layer formed on an inner surface of the first contact hole. The first contact hole is formed to pass through the first electrode and reach an inside of the first insulating layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a flash memory device. With this method, the surface area of a floating gate is increased by using a buffer film or a dummy pattern, without increasing the size of the flash memory device. Therefore, a coupling ratio is increased, and as a result, programming and erasure speed can be improved.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell includes a source region and a drain region which are disposed in a semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from each other, a source selection line and a drain selection line disposed over the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region. The source selection line and the drain selection line are disposed adjacent to the source region and the drain region, respectively. The nonvolatile memory cell further includes a cell gate pattern disposed over the semiconductor substrate between the source selection line and the drain selection line, a first floating impurity region provided in the semiconductor substrate under a gap region between the source selection line and the cell gate pattern and a second floating impurity region provided in the semiconductor substrate under a gap region between the drain selection line and the cell gate pattern. Distances between the cell gate pattern and the selection lines are less than widths of the selection lines.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices may involve forming separate floating gates on a semiconductor substrate, forming control gates on the semiconductor substrate, conformally forming a buffer film on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, injecting ions into the semiconductor substrate between the pairs of the floating gates to form a common source region partially overlapping each floating gate of the respective pair of the floating gates, depositing an insulating film on the buffer film, etching the buffer film and the insulating film at side walls of the floating gates and the control gates to form spacers at the side walls of the floating gates and the control gates, and forming a drain region in the semiconductor substrate at a side of the control gate other than a side of the control gate where the common source region is formed.

Abstract: An non-volatile semiconductor memory having a linear arrangement of a plurality of memory cell transistors, includes: a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer to prevent diffusion of impurities from the first semiconductor layer to regions above the second semiconductor layer; and a third semiconductor layer provided on the second semiconductor layer, including a first source region having a second conductivity type, a first drain regions having the second conductivity type and a first channel region having the second conductivity type for each of the memory cell transistors.

Abstract: A NOR flash memory has a plurality of memory cell transistors, wherein each memory cell transistor shares the source diffusion layer with another memory cell transistor adjacent thereto on one side thereof in the column direction and shares the drain diffusion layer with another memory cell transistor adjacent thereto on the other side thereof in the column direction, and the width of the source diffusion layer in the column direction is narrower than the width of the drain diffusion layer in the column direction.

Abstract: A conductor-filter system, a conductor-insulator system, and a charge-injection system are provided. The conductor-filter system provides band-pass filtering function, charge-filtering function, voltage-divider function, and mass-filtering function to charge-carriers flows. The conductor-insulator system provides Image-Force barrier lowering effect to collect charge-carriers. The charge-injection system includes the conductor-filter system and the conductor-insulator system, wherein the filter of the conductor-filter system contacts the conductor of the conductor-insulator system. Method and apparatus on charges filtering, injection, and collection are provided for semiconductor device and nonvolatile memory device. Additionally, method and apparatus on charges injection using piezo-ballistic-charges injection mechanism are provided to the charge-injection system and devices operation. Memory cells and array architectures and manufacturing method thereof are provided.

Abstract: Different portions of a continuous loop of semiconductor material are electrically isolated from one another. In some embodiments, the end of the loop is electrically isolated from mid-portions of the loop. In some embodiments, loops of semiconductor material, having two legs connected together at their ends, are formed by a pitch multiplication process in which loops of spacers are formed on sidewalls of mandrels. The mandrels are removed and a block of masking material is overlaid on at least one end of the spacer loops. In some embodiments, the blocks of masking material overlay each end of the spacer loops. The pattern defined by the spacers and the blocks are transferred to a layer of semiconductor material. The blocks electrically connect together all the loops. A select gate is formed along each leg of the loops. The blocks serve as sources/drains.

Abstract: A method of providing a memory cell includes providing a body of a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, arranging a filter of a conductor-filter system in contact with a first conductor of the conductor-filter system, arranging at least portion of a second conductor of a conductor-insulator system in contact with the filter, arranging a first insulator of the conductor-insulator system in contact with the second conductor at an interface, arranging a first region spaced from the second conductor, arranging a channel of the body between the first region and the second conductor, arranging a second insulator adjacent to the first region, arranging a charge storage region between the first and the second insulators, arranging a first portion of a word-line adjacent to and insulated from the charge storage region, and arranging a second portion of the word-line adjacent to and insulated from the body.

Abstract: A memory cell has a trench formed into a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and spaced apart source and drain regions with a channel region formed therebetween. The source region is formed underneath the trench, and the channel region includes a first portion extending vertically along a sidewall of the trench and a second portion extending horizontally along the substrate surface. An electrically conductive floating gate is disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the channel region first portion. An electrically conductive control gate is disposed over and insulated from the channel region second portion. An erase gate is disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the floating gate. A block of conductive material has at least a lower portion thereof disposed in the trench adjacent to and insulated from the erase gate, and electrically connected to the source region.

Abstract: Floating-gate memory cells having a split floating gate facilitate decreased sensitivity to localized defects in the tunnel dielectric layer and/or the intergate dielectric layer. Such memory cells also permit storage of more than one bit per cell. Methods of the various embodiments facilitate fabrication of floating gate segments having dimensions less than the capabilities of the lithographic processed used to form the gate stacks.

Abstract: A NAND non-volatile two-bit memory cell comprises a cell stack and two select stacks disposed on an active area of a substrate. Each select stack is respectively disposed on a side of the cell stack with a sidewall between the cell stack and a respective select stack. The cell stack has four components: a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate; a charge accumulation layer capable of holding charge in a portion thereof to store information and disposed over the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer disposed over the charge accumulation layer; and a control gate disposed over the second dielectric layer. The select stack has two components: a third dielectric layer disposed over the substrate and a select gate, capable of inverting an underneath channel region to function as a source or a drain of the memory cell, disposed over the third dielectric layer.

Abstract: A self-aligned method for manufacturing an electrically alterable memory device on a semiconductor layer includes (a) forming an insulating layer on the semiconductor layer, (b) depositing a first conductive layer on the insulating layer, (c) forming trench isolation regions along and into the semiconductor layer, (d) depositing a sacrificial material on the first conductive layer, (e) etching the sacrificial material to form isolation channels, (f) forming two gate masks along lateral sides of the sacrificial material, (g) etching the first conductive layer to extend the channels to the insulating layer, (h) etching the sacrificial material to form a control channel, (i) etching the block of the first conductive layer, and (j) filling the control channel with a second conductive layer.

Abstract: A method of forming nonvolatile memory devices according to example embodiments of the present invention includes forming a device isolation layer defining active regions in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of transistors on the active regions, the plurality of transistors comprising a pair of adjacent string selection transistors, a pair of adjacent ground selection transistors, and a plurality of memory cell transistors connected in series between the string selection transistors and ground selection transistors; forming a common source line using SEG between a pair of adjacent ground selection transistors so that the common source line has a top surface lower than a top surface of the pair of adjacent ground selection transistors.

Abstract: In a memory cell array are arranged a plurality of cell units having memory cells and selection gate transistors to select the memory cell. A first selection gate line includes a control gate of the selection gate transistors. A second selection gate line is formed above the first selection gate line. The first selection gate line has a first gate electrode, a first inter-gate insulating film and a second gate electrode superimposed in this order. The first inter-gate insulating film has a first opening portion through which the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode come into contact with each other. A contact material is formed on the first selection gate line, and electrically connects the first selection gate line and the second selection gate line with each other. The contact material is arranged on the first selection gate line on which the first opening portion is not arranged.

Abstract: Electrically programmable fuse structures and methods of fabrication thereof are presented, wherein a fuse includes first and second terminal portions interconnected by an elongate fuse element. The first terminal portion has a maximum width greater than a maximum width of the fuse element, and the fuse includes a narrowed width region where the first terminal portion and fuse element interface. The narrowed width region extends at least partially into and includes part of the first terminal portion. The width of the first terminal portion in the narrowed region is less than the maximum width of the first terminal portion to enhance current crowding therein. In another implementation, the fuse element includes a restricted width region wherein width of the fuse element is less than the maximum width thereof to enhance current crowding therein, and length of the restricted width region is less than a total length of the fuse element.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory having a multitude of memory cells (21-1), the semiconductor memory having a substrate (1), at least one wordline (5-1), a first (15-1) and a second line (15-2; 16-1), wherein each of the multitude of memory cells (21-1) comprises a first doping region (6) disposed in the substrate (1), a second doping region (7) disposed in the substrate (1), a channel region (22) disposed in the substrate (1) between the first doping region (6) and the second doping region (7), a charge-trapping layer stack (2) disposed on the substrate (1), on the channel region (22), on a portion of the first doping region (6) and on a portion of the second doping region (7). Each memory cell (21-1) further comprises a conductive layer (3) disposed on the charge-trapping layer stack (2), wherein the conductive layer (3) is electrically floating. A dielectric layer (4) is disposed on a top surface of the conductive layer (3) and on sidewalls (23) of the conductive layer (3).

Abstract: A method for forming a split gate memory cell (10,11) using a semiconductor substrate (12) includes forming a select gate structure (48) and a sacrificial structure (50) over the substrate. An opening is between the select gate structure and the sacrificial structure. The opening is lined with a storage layer (56,168). The opening is further filled with select gate material (58,170). The sacrificial structure is removed after filling the opening with the select gate material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed, which includes a semiconductor substrate including a device region and an isolation region having an isolation trench, a gate electrode formed on the device region through a gate insulating film, a first isolation insulating film formed in the isolation trench, the first isolation insulating film having a recess, a second isolation insulating film formed on the first isolation insulating film to be filled in the recess, the second isolation insulating film having an upper surface higher than the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an impurity region formed in the semiconductor substrate under the first isolation insulating film, the impurity region having a conductivity type the same as a conductivity type of the semiconductor substrate, an impurity concentration higher than an impurity concentration of the semiconductor substrate, and a width of the impurity region smaller than a width of the isolation trench.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of discrete storage elements over the first dielectric layer, thermally oxidizing the plurality of discrete storage elements to form a second dielectrics over the plurality of discrete storage elements, and forming a gate electrode over the second dielectric layer, wherein a significant portion of the gate electrode is between pairs of the plurality of discrete storage elements. In one embodiment, portions of the gate electrode is in the spaces between the discrete storage elements and extends to more than half of the depth of the spaces.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes: a substrate; a control circuit layer provided on the substrate; a support layer provided on the control circuit layer; and a memory cell array layer provided on the support layer. The memory cell array layer includes: a first lamination part having first insulation layers and first conductive layers alternately laminated therein; and a second lamination part provided on either the top or bottom surface of the respective first lamination part and laminated so as to form a second conductive layer between second insulation layers. The control circuit layer includes at least any one of: a row decoder driving word lines provided in the memory cell array layer, and a sense amplifier sensing and amplifying a signal from bit lines provided in the memory cell array layer.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory has a memory cell structure with a doped semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode, a channel area disposed in the substrate below the gate electrode, a pair of variable resistance areas disposed on opposite sides of the channel area in the substrate, charge storage bodies formed above the variable resistance areas and on the sides of the gate electrode, and highly doped source and drain areas formed on opposite sides of the variable resistance areas in the substrate. The variable resistance areas are doped at a carrier concentration of 5×1017 cm?3 or less to ensure an adequate current difference between the programmed and erased states of the memory cell. The doping of the variable resistance areas differs from the lightly doped drain doping in peripheral circuit areas.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a protection target element formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a protection target element electrode, a substrate connecting part including a substrate connecting electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate and a fuse structure provided between the protection target element electrode and the substrate connecting electrode and includes a fuse film configured to be torn by applying a predetermined current thereto. The protection target element electrode, the substrate connecting electrode and the fuse film are formed of an integral conductive film as long as the fuse film is not torn.

Abstract: A plurality of non-volatile storage elements on a common active layer are offset from neighbor non-volatile storage elements. This offsetting of non-volatile storage elements helps reduce interference from neighbor non-volatile storage elements. A method of manufacture is also described for fabricating the offset non-volatile storage elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for an integrated circuit and a corresponding integrated circuit. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of first devices, each first device including a charge storage layer and a control electrode comprising a plurality of layers; and a plurality of second devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of first devices, each second device including a control electrode comprising at least one layer different from said plurality of layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device is provided. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a cell transistor on the semiconductor substrate, and forming a SiON layer with a refractive index of about 1.8 or less on the cell transistor.