Electrically Programmable (eprom), I.e., Floating Gate Memory Structures (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.68)
  • Publication number: 20090072295
    Abstract: In a flash EEPROM device, and method for fabricating the same, no bit line contact is made, thereby minimizing a design rule between a contact and a gate. Thus, cell size may be reduced. The flash EEPROM device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active area defined in a bit line direction and a word line direction, a plurality of floating gates formed in the word line direction, an interlayer polysilicon oxide film formed on a floating gate, a control gate formed on the interlayer polysilicon oxide film, source and drain electrodes disposed between adjacent floating gates in the word line direction, a buried N+ region formed in the semiconductor substrate under the source and drain electrodes, and a metal silicide film formed on an upper surface of the control gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Heung Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20090075443
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a flash memory includes providing a substrate with a mask layer thereon, forming pluralities of shallow trenches in the substrate, forming a first oxide layer on the substrate and in the shallow trenches, removing a portion of the first oxide layer above the mask layer, forming a second oxide layer on the mask layer and the first oxide layer, wherein the first and second oxide layers have different etching ratios, removing a portion of the second oxide layer positioned above the mask layer so that an STI is formed with the first and the second oxide layers in each shallow trench, removing the mask layer to form recess portions between adjacent STIs, and filling the recess portions with a conductive layer to form floating gates in the recess portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Chia-Che Hsu, Rex Young, Pin-Yao Wang
  • Patent number: 7504280
    Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a source, a drain, and a channel region are formed, a tunneling oxide film formed on the channel region, a floating gate formed of a fullerene material on the tunneling oxide, a blocking oxide film formed on the floating gate, and a gate electrode formed on the blocking oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-ho Khang, Kyo-yeol Lee, Eun-hye Lee, Joo-hyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20090067234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flash memory device and a fabrication method thereof. A trench may be formed within a junction region between word lines by etching a semiconductor substrate between not only a word line and a select line, but also between adjacent word lines. Accordingly, the occurrence of a program disturbance phenomenon can be prevented as the injection of hot carriers into a program-inhibited cell is minimized in a program operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Yoo Nam Jeon, Ki Seog Kim
  • Patent number: 7494860
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory using floating gates to store charge, individual floating gates are L-shaped. Orientations of L-shaped floating gates may alternate in the bit line direction and may also alternate in the word line direction. L-shaped floating gates are formed by etching conductive portions using etch masks of different patterns to obtain floating gates of different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Nima Mokhlesi
  • Publication number: 20090047762
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for a non-volatile memory comprising at least one array of memory cells with shallow trench isolation (STI) regions between bit lines for increased process margins. Specifically, in one embodiment, each of the memory cells in the array of memory cells includes a source, a control gate, and a drain, and is capable of storing at least one bit. The array of memory cells further includes word lines that are coupled to control gates of memory cells. The word lines are arranged in rows in the array. In addition, the array comprises bit lines coupled to source and drains of memory cells. The bit lines are arranged in columns in the array. Also, the array comprises at least one row of bit line contacts for providing electrical conductivity to the bit lines. Further, the array comprises shallow trench isolation (STI) regions separating each of the bit lines along the row of bit line contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Satoshi TORII
  • Publication number: 20090045445
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor for use as a charge pump with flash memory, comprising: (a) concurrently forming polysilicon gates on a semiconductor body in a core region and a polysilicon middle capacitor plate in a peripheral region, (b) forming a first dielectric layer over the polysilicon gates and the middle capacitor plate, (c) planarizing the first dielectric layer to expose a top portion of the polysilicon gates and a top portion of the middle capacitor plate, (d) forming a second dielectric layer over the top portion of the middle capacitor layer, (e) concurrently forming patterning a second polysilicon layer in the core region and a third capacitor plate in the periphery region and (f) connecting the third capacitor plate to the source/drain well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Nian Yang, Yonggang Wu, David Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 7491998
    Abstract: A one time programmable memory including a substrate, a plurality of isolation structures, a first transistor, and a second transistor is provided. The isolation structures are disposed in the substrate for defining an active area. A recess is formed on each of the isolation structures so that the top surface of the isolation structure is lower than that of the substrate. The first transistor is disposed on the active area of the substrate and is extended to the sidewall of the recess. The gate of the first transistor is a select gate. The second transistor is disposed on the active area of the substrate and is connected to the first transistor in series. The gate of the second transistor is a floating gate which is disposed across the substrate between the isolation structures in blocks and is extended to the sidewall of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ko-Hsing Chang, Tsung-Cheng Huang, Yan-Hung Huang
  • Publication number: 20090040829
    Abstract: A charge trapping memory cell is described, having pocket implants along the sides of the channel and having the same conductivity type as the channel, and which implants have a concentration of dopants higher than in the central region of the channel. This effectively disables the channel in the region of non-uniform charge trapping caused by a bird's beak or other anomaly in the charge trapping structure on the side of the channel. The pocket implant can be formed using a process compatible with standard shallow trench isolation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hang-Ting Lue
  • Patent number: 7485529
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory is described. A substrate having stacked gate structures thereon is provided. Each stacked gate structure includes a select gate dielectric layer, a select gate and a cap layer. A source region and a drain region are formed in the substrate. The source region and the drain region are separated from each other by at least two stacked gate structures. A tunneling dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and then a first conductive layer is formed over the tunneling dielectric layer. The first conductive layer is patterned to form floating gates in the gaps between the stacked gate structures. After forming an inter-gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a second conductive layer is formed over the substrate. The second conductive layer is patterned to form mutually linked control gates in the gaps between neighboring stacked gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Hung, Cheng-Yuan Hsu, Da Sung
  • Patent number: 7485530
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multiple-gate memory cell which comprises a semiconductor body and a plurality of gates arranged in series and the semiconductor body includes first forming a plurality of gates spaced apart by about a gate width, forming an isolation layer on the sidewalls, and filling between the first plurality of gates to form a second plurality of gates. A charge storage structure is formed on the semiconductor body beneath each of all or some of the gates in the plurality of gates. Circuitry is formed to conduct source and drain bias voltages to the semiconductor body near a first gate and a last gate in the series, and circuitry to conduct gate bias voltages to the plurality of gates is included. The multiple-gate memory cell includes a continuous, multiple-gate channel region beneath the plurality of gates in the series, with charge storage locations between some or all of the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih Chieh Yeh
  • Patent number: 7485917
    Abstract: A split gate flash memory cell comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first insulating layer thereon and a floating gate with a first width is disclosed. The cell further comprises a second insulating layer, a control gate and a cap on the floating gate in sequence. The cap layer, the control gate and the second insulating layer have a same second width less than the first width. The cell also comprises a third insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate, the sidewalls of the control gate, the second insulating layer, the floating gate, and the first insulating layer. In addition, an erase gate formed on the third insulating layer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Promos Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Fu, Hung-Kwei Liao, Chien-Chung Lu
  • Publication number: 20090029512
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory having charge trapping memory cells and fabrication method thereof. The direction of current flow of each channel region of the memory transistors runs transversely with respect to the relevant word line, the bit lines are arranged on the top side of the word lines and in a manner electrically insulated from the latter, and electrically conductive local interconnects of source-drain regions are present, which are arranged in sections in interspaces between the word lines and in a manner electrically insulated from the latter and connected to the bit lines, wherein gate electrodes are arranged in trenches at least partly formed in the memory substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Thomas Mikolajick, Christoph Ludwig, Norbert Schulze, Karl Heinz Kuesters
  • Patent number: 7476586
    Abstract: Structures and methods for NOR flash memory cells, arrays and systems are provided. The NOR flash memory cell includes a vertical floating gate transistor extending outwardly from a substrate. The floating gate transistor having a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, a channel region between the first and the second source/drain regions, a floating gate separated from the channel region by a gate insulator, and a control gate separated from the floating gate by a gate dielectric. A sourceline is formed in a trench adjacent to the vertical floating gate transistor and coupled to the first source/drain region. A transmission line coupled to the second source/drain region. And, a wordline is coupled to the control gate perpendicular to the sourceline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20090008695
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate. A lamination structure is on the substrate along a first direction. The lamination structure comprises a plurality of conductive layers arranged from bottom to top and separated from each other, and each of the conductive layers has a channel region and an adjacent source/drain doped region along the first direction. A first gate structure is on a sidewall of the channel region of each conductive layer. The first gate structure comprises an inner first gate insulating layer and an outer first gate conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei-Su Chen, Ming-Jinn Tsai
  • Patent number: 7470949
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell has a charge trapping layer for the storage of charges thereon. The cell is a bidirectional cell in a substrate of a first conductivity. The cell has two spaced apart trenches. Within each trench, at the bottom thereof is a region of a second conductivity. A channel extends from one of the region at the bottom of one of the trenches along the side wall of that trench to the top planar surface of the substrate, and along the sidewall of the adjacent trench to the region at the bottom of the adjacent trench. The trapping layer is along the sidewall of each of the two trenches. A control gate is in each of the trenches capacitively coupled to the trapping layer along the sidewall and to the region at the bottom of the trench. Each of the trenches can stored a plurality of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bomy Chen, Yuniarto Widjaja, Jack Edward Frayer, Felix (Ying-Kit) Tsui
  • Patent number: 7465985
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device and a method of forming the same are provided. The non-volatile memory device may include a cell isolation pattern and a semiconductor pattern sequentially stacked on a predetermined or given region of a semiconductor substrate, a cell gate line on the semiconductor pattern and on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate on one side of the cell isolation pattern, a multi-layered trap insulation layer between the cell gate line and the semiconductor substrate, and the cell gate line and the semiconductor pattern, a first impurity diffusion layer in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the cell gate line and a second impurity diffusion layer in the semiconductor pattern on both sides of the cell gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Yong Choi, Choong-Ho Lee, Dong-Gun Park
  • Patent number: 7462903
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating semiconductor structures and contacts to semiconductor structures are provided. A method comprises providing a substrate and forming a gate stack on the substrate. The gate stack is formed having a first axis. An impurity doped region is formed within the substrate adjacent to the gate stack and a dielectric layer is deposited overlying the impurity doped region. A via is etched through the dielectric layer to the impurity doped region. The via has a major axis and a minor axis that is perpendicular to and shorter than the major axis. The via is etched such that the major axis is disposed at an angle greater than zero and no greater than 90 degrees from the first axis. A conductive contact is formed within the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventor: Joseph William Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20080290391
    Abstract: The invention provides a memory cell. The memory cell is disposed on a substrate and comprises a plurality of isolation structures defining at least a fin structure in the substrate. Further, the surface of the fin structure is higher than the surface of the isolation structure. The memory cell comprises a doped region, a gate, a charge trapping structure and a source/drain region. The doped region is located in a top of the fin structure and near a surface of the top of the fin structure and the doped region has a first conductive type. The gate is disposed on the substrate and straddled the fin structure. The charge trapping structure is disposed between the gate and the fin structure. The source/drain region with a second conductive type is disposed in the fin structures exposed by the gate and the first conductive type is different from the second conductive type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Hang-Ting Lue
  • Patent number: 7456060
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a floating gate formed on a tunnel oxide layer that is on a semiconductor substrate. The device also includes a drain region formed in the substrate adjacent to one side of the floating gate, a source region formed adjacent to another side of the floating gate. The source region is apart from the floating gate, and an inter-gate insulating layer formed on a portion of an active region between the source region and the floating gate and on a sidewall of the floating gate directing toward the source region, and on a sidewall of the floating gate directing toward the drain region. The device includes a word line formed over the floating gate and being across the substrate in one direction, and a field oxide layer interposing between the word line and the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heong Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20080272434
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In the non-volatile memory device, first gate structures and first impurity diffusion regions are formed on a substrate. A first insulating interlayer is formed on the substrate. A semiconductor layer including second gate structures and second impurity diffusion regions is formed on the first insulating interlayer. A second insulating interlayer is formed on the semiconductor layer. A contact plug connecting the first impurity diffusion regions to the second impurity diffusion regions is formed. A common source line connected to the contact plug is formed on the second insulating interlayer. The common source line connected to the first and second impurity diffusion regions is formed over a top semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-Beom PARK, Ki-Nam KIM, Soon-Moon JUNG, Jae-Hoon JANG
  • Patent number: 7445992
    Abstract: A cell structure of a non-volatile memory device, which uses a nitride layer as a floating gate spacer, includes a gate stack and a floating gate transistor formed over a semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes a first portion of a floating gate, a control gate formed over the first portion of the floating gate, and a non-nitride spacer adjacent to sidewalls of the first portion of floating gate. The floating gate transistor includes a second portion of the floating gate, which substantially overlaps a source and/or drain formed in the substrate. The application of ultraviolet rays to the non-nitride spacer of a programmed cell can causes the second portion of the floating gate to discharge, thereby easily erasing the programmed cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Jung Lee, Byung-Sun Kim, Joon-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 7442606
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate in which a floating gate pattern is formed. A dielectric layer, a conductive layer for a control gate, a tungsten silicide layer, a first silicon oxynitride layer, a hard mask layer, a second silicon oxynitride layer and an Organic Bottom Anti-Reflective Coating (BARC) layer are formed over the semiconductor substrate including the floating gate pattern. The BARC layer, the second silicon oxynitride layer, the hard mask layer and the first silicon oxynitride layer are removed. The tungsten silicide layer and the conductive layer for the control gate are removed. The dielectric layer is removed to form spacers on sides of the floating gate. The floating gate is then removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: In No Lee
  • Patent number: 7439157
    Abstract: A method includes removing a portion of a substrate to define an isolation trench; forming a first dielectric layer on exposed surfaces of the substrate in the trench; forming a second dielectric layer on at least the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer containing a different dielectric material than the first dielectric layer; depositing a third dielectric layer to fill the trench; removing an upper portion of the third dielectric layer from the trench and leaving a lower portion covering a portion of the second dielectric layer; oxidizing the lower portion of the third dielectric layer after removing the upper portion; removing an exposed portion of the second dielectric layer from the trench, thereby exposing a portion of the first dielectric layer; and forming a fourth dielectric layer in the trench covering the exposed portion of the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zailong Bian, John Smythe, Janos Fucsko, Michael Violette
  • Patent number: 7439121
    Abstract: In a film formation method of a semiconductor device including a plurality of silicon-based transistors or capacitors, there exist hydrogen at least in a part of the silicon surface in advance, and the film formation method removes the hydrogen by exposing the silicon surface to a first inert gas plasma. Thereafter a silicon compound layer is formed on the surface of the silicon gas by generating plasma while using a mixed gas of a second inert gas and one or more gaseous molecules, such that there is formed a silicon compound layer containing at least a pat of the elements constituting the gaseous molecules, on the surface of the silicon gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Masaki Hirayama, Yasuyuki Shirai
  • Patent number: 7435646
    Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming a semiconductor device by depositing a layer of nitride (20) over a semiconductor structure (10), patterning and etching the nitride layer to form a patterned nitride layer (42, 44), depositing a layer of polysilicon (62), planarizing the polysilicon layer with a CMP process to remove any portion of the polysilicon layer (62) above the patterned dielectric layer (42, 44), and then removing the patterned nitride layer (42, 44), thereby defining one or more polysilicon features (72, 74, 76) that can be used as floating gates, transistors gates, bit lines or any other semiconductor device feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Thomas, Olubunmi O. Adetutu
  • Publication number: 20080246073
    Abstract: Methods of forming a memory device include forming a device isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate including a cell array region and a resistor region, the device isolation layer extending into the resistor region and defining an active region in the semiconductor substrate. A first conductive layer is formed on the device isolation layer in the resistor region. The semiconductor substrate is exposed in the cell array region. A cell insulation layer is formed on a portion of the semiconductor substrate including the exposed cell array region, the active region and the device isolation layer in the resistor region. A second conductive layer is formed on the cell insulation layer in the portion of the semiconductor substrate including the exposed cell array region, the active region and the device isolation layer in the resistor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Jung-Dal Choi, Chang-Seok Kang, Yoo-Cheol Shin, Jong-Sun Sel
  • Patent number: 7429511
    Abstract: A method of forming a tunneling insulating layer having a size smaller than the size obtained by the resolution of a photolithography process is provided. The method includes the steps of forming a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer on a substrate, forming a re-flowable material layer pattern to re-flow the re-flowable material layer pattern, removing the second insulating layer and the first insulating layer to expose the substrate, and forming a tunneling insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weon-Ho Park, Tea-Kwang Yu, Kyoung-Hwan Kim, Kwang-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7410871
    Abstract: A split gate type flash memory device and a method of manufacturing the split gate type flash memory device are disclosed. The split gate type flash memory device includes a silicon epitaxial layer formed in an active region of a bulk silicon substrate and a disturbance-preventing insulating film formed in the bulk silicon substrate between a source region and a drain region of the device. According to selected embodiments of the invention, the disturbance-preventing insulating film is formed using a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-kuk Chung
  • Patent number: 7410869
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a flash memory device, an insulating pattern having an opening is formed to partially expose a surface of a substrate. A first silicon layer is formed on the exposed surface portion of the substrate and the insulating pattern. The first silicon layer has an opened seam overlying the previously exposed portion of the substrate. A heat treatment on the substrate is performed at a temperature sufficient to induce silicon migration so as to cause the opened seam to be closed via the silicon migration. A second silicon layer is then formed on the first silicon layer. Thus, surface profile of a floating gate electrode obtained from the first and second silicon layers may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun-Hyeoung Leam, Hyeon-Deok Lee, Young-Sub You, Won-Jun Jang, Woong Lee, Jung-Hyun Park, Sang-Kyoung Lee, Jung-Geun Jee, Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7411244
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory cells having 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, 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. Apparatus on cell architecture are provided for the nonvolatile memory cells. Additionally, apparatus on array architectures are provided for constructing the nonvolatile memory cells in memory array. Method on manufacturing such memory cells and array architectures are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Chih-Hsin Wang
  • Publication number: 20080186772
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a NVM device may include a substrate, and a field-effect transistor (FET). The FET may include a first doped region in the substrate and a second doped region in the substrate. The first and the second doped regions may define a channel region of the substrate between them. An insulating layer may overlie the channel region. A floating gate may overlie the insulating layer. Charge of an amount that encodes a value may be stored on the floating gate. The floating gate and the first and the second doped regions may be shaped such that the floating gate defines with the first doped region a first border of a first length, and the floating gate defines with the second doped region a second border of a second length that is less than 90% of the first length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Publication number: 20080182374
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to the present invention has a semiconductor substrate and a memory cell having a floating gate provided through a tunnel insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, and a control gate provided through an inter-layer insulting layer on said floating gate. The inter-insulating layer includes a silicon oxide layer contiguous to said floating gate, a first silicon nitride layer provided by a CVD method on the silicon oxide layer and a second silicon nitride layer provided on said first silicon nitride layer and having a lower trap density than that of the first silicon nitride layer. The inter-insulating layer may includes a silicon oxide layer contiguous to said floating gate and a silicon oxide layer deposited on said silicon oxide layer and having a quantity of hydrogen content on the order of 1019/cm3 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Seiichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7399672
    Abstract: Methods of forming a memory device include forming a device isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate including a cell array region and a resistor region, the device isolation layer extending into the resistor region and defining an active region in the semiconductor substrate. A first conductive layer is formed on the device isolation layer in the resistor region. The semiconductor substrate is exposed in the cell array region. A cell insulation layer is formed on a portion of the semiconductor substrate including the exposed cell array region, the active region and the device isolation layer in the resistor region. A second conductive layer is formed on the cell insulation layer in the portion of the semiconductor substrate including the exposed cell array region, the active region and the device isolation layer in the resistor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Jung-Dal Choi, Chang-Seok Kang, Yoo-Cheol Shin, Jong-Sun Sel
  • Patent number: 7396723
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an EEPROM device can reduce the cell area. The method of manufacturing an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) includes forming a mask pattern over a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate oxide layer over a top of the semiconductor substrate exposed through the mask pattern; forming access gates which are self-aligned with both side walls of the mask pattern, over a top of the gate oxide layer; removing the mask pattern; forming first dielectric spacers to be attached to side walls of the access gates; forming an insulating layer adapted to cover the access gates and the first dielectric spacers; and forming two cell gates, which are self-aligned with opposite side walls of the two access gates, respectively, each first dielectric spacer being interposed between a corresponding cell gate and a corresponding access gate, the cell gates separately arranged over a top of the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Oog Kim
  • Patent number: 7397079
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a control gate electrode disposed on a substrate with a first insulation layer interposed therebetween and a floating gate disposed in a hole exposing substrate through the control gate electrode and the first insulation layer. A second insulation layer is interposed between the floating gate and the substrate, and between the floating gate and the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Suk Choi, Seung-Beom Yoon, Yong-Tae Kim, Jin-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7396722
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a memory device comprising a bulk substrate. A first lightly doped region is formed in the bulk substrate. A first active region is formed in the first lightly doped region. A second lightly doped region is formed in the bulk substrate. A second active region is formed in the second lightly doped region. A third active region is formed in the bulk substrate. An oxide layer is disposed outwardly from the bulk substrate and a floating gate layer is disposed outwardly from the oxide layer. In a particular aspect, a memory device is provided that is a single poly electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) with a drain or source electrode configured to remove negative charge from the gate and erase the EEPROM, without a separate erase region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jozef Mitros, Victor Ivanov
  • Patent number: 7393745
    Abstract: A nanocrystal memory element and a method for fabricating the same are proposed. The fabricating method involves selectively oxidizing polysilicon not disposed beneath and not covered with a plurality of metal nanocrystals, and leaving intact the polysilicon disposed beneath and thereby covered with the plurality of metal nanocrystals, with a view to forming double layered silicon-metal nanocrystals by self-alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Pei-Ren Jeng
  • Publication number: 20080144377
    Abstract: A diffusion layer (102) is formed in the surface region of a semiconductor substrate (101). A control gate electrode (103) is formed on the substrate. An interlayer dielectric film (108) covers the entire surface of the substrate. A drain leader line (104) made of a semiconductor such as n-type polysilicon is led from the drain region, and a source leader line (107) is led from the source region through the interlayer dielectric film. The drain leader line is surrounded by an annular floating gate (105). In erase, for example, the control gate is set to a ground potential, and a positive voltage is applied to the drain leader line to remove electrons in the floating gate to the drain leader line. In write, positive voltages are applied to the control gate electrode and drain leader line to generate CHE and inject hot electrons into the floating gate. This allows to thin the gate insulating film of a flash memory, increase the degree of integration of a nonvolatile memory, and lower the driving voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Hirohito Watanabe, Motofumi Saitou, Hiroshi Sunamura
  • Patent number: 7387933
    Abstract: A memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type, a memory transistor, a select transistor, a floating junction region, a common source region, and a bit line junction region. The floating junction region is formed of a second conductive type on the semiconductor substrate below a tunnel insulating film. The common source region of a second conductive type is formed on the semiconductor substrate adjacent a memory transistor gate and separated from the floating junction region. A bit line junction region of a second conductive type is formed on the semiconductor substrate adjacent a select transistor gate and is separated from the floating junction region, wherein the common source region includes a single junction region with a first doping concentration, and a depth of the common source region is shallower than a depth of the floating junction region and the bit line junction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weon-Ho Park, Hyun-Khe Yoo
  • Publication number: 20080135912
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory including a plurality of memory transistors in series, wherein source/drain and channel regions therebetween are of a first type and a select transistor, at each end of the plurality of memory transistors in series, wherein channels regions of each of the select transistors is of the first type. The first type may be n-type or p-type. The nonvolatile memory may further include a first dummy select transistor at one end of the plurality of memory transistors in series between one of the select transistors and the plurality of memory transistors in series and a second dummy select transistor at the other end of the plurality of memory transistors in series between the other select transistor and the plurality of memory transistors in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Lee, Jung-dal Choi
  • Publication number: 20080123404
    Abstract: A reference voltage generator for a matrix of non-volatile memory cells of the EEPROM type, comprises at least one array enabled by an access transistor. The array comprises at least one reference cell associated with a relative select transistor, the transistors and the cell being realized on a semiconductor substrate and having active regions delimited by suitable field oxide regions and covered by a tunnel oxide layer and comprising at least one floating gate realized by a first polysilicon layer and covered by a dielectric layer and by a second polysilicon layer. Advantageously, the floating gate of the reference cells is contacted by a first contact terminal connected to a discharge transistor for the periodical discharge of possibly present charges. A process manufactures such a voltage generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Elisabetta Palumbo, Paola Zuliani, Roberto Annunziata, Daniele Zompi
  • Publication number: 20080121940
    Abstract: A flash memory device with a system in package (SIP) structure and a fabricating method thereof are provided. In the semiconductor device of an embodiment, a flash memory device is formed by forming cell transistors and high voltage transistors on different wafers, and connecting each of vertically stacked chips in a via pattern. According to an embodiment, a device isolating layer and a device can be fabricated to be met with the features of the cell transistor which is not affected by the high voltage transistor, a gap fill margin of the device isolating device in forming the cell transistor is large, and the degree of integration is increased to improve yield. Also, the high voltage transistors in a driving circuit unit can be designed and fabricated without suffering from the effect of the cell transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: JIN HA PARK
  • Patent number: 7375393
    Abstract: An electrical shield is provided in a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell structure to protect the cell's floating gate from any influence resulting from charge redistribution in the vicinity of the floating gate during a programming operation. The shield may be created from the second polysilicon layer or other conductive material covering the floating gate. The shield may be grounded. Alternately, it may be connected to the cell's control gate electrode resulting in better coupling between the floating gate and the control gate. It is not necessary that the shield cover the floating gate completely, the necessary protective effect is achieved if the coupling to the dielectric layers surrounding the floating gate is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Mirgorodski, Peter J. Hopper, Vladislav Vashchenko
  • Patent number: 7374995
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a memory cell and a selection transistor, and the memory cell includes a floating gate formed on a semiconductor substrate via a first gate insulation film, a pair of first diffusion layers positioned on the opposite sides of the floating gate and formed in the substrate, first and second control gates formed on the opposite sides of the floating gate to drive the floating gate, and an inter-gate insulation film formed between the first and second control gates and the floating gate. The selection transistor includes a selection gate formed on the substrate via a second gate insulation film, and a pair of second diffusion layers formed in the substrate positioned on the opposite sides of the selection gate and one of which is electrically connected to one of the pair of first diffusion layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Kikuko Sugimae
  • Patent number: 7374997
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing flash memory devices includes depositing a nitride film over a semiconductor substrate and forming an oxide film below the nitride film using an oxidization process involving an anneal process. A tunnel oxide film or an ONO2 oxide film having a thin thickness and a good film quality is formed and the operating performance of memory cells is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Chul Joo
  • Patent number: 7372098
    Abstract: A buried bipolar junction is provided in a floating gate transistor flash memory device. During a write operation electrons are injected into a surface depletion region of the memory cell transistors. These electrons are accelerated in a vertical electric field and injected over a barrier to a floating gate of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7371640
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a semiconductor device having a floating trap type nonvolatile memory cell and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a nonvolatile memory region, a first region, and a second region. A triple layer composed of a tunnel oxide layer, a charge storing layer and a first deposited oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate is formed sequentially. The triple layer on the semiconductor substrate except the nonvolatile memory region is then removed. A second deposited oxide layer is formed on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the first and second regions from which the triple layer is removed. The second deposited oxide layer on the second region is removed, and a first thermal oxide layer is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the second region from which the second deposited oxide layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Su Kim, Kwang-Wook Koh, Geum-Jong Bae, Ki-Chul Kim, Sung-Ho Kim, Jin-Hee Kim, In-Wook Cho
  • Patent number: 7361553
    Abstract: A memory transistor and a high breakdown voltage MOS transistor are easily formed on the same semiconductor substrate without changing the operational characteristics of the memory transistor. The process of forming the tunnel insulation film of the memory transistor and the process of forming the gate insulation film of the MOS transistor are performed separately. Concretely, an insulation film to be a part of the tunnel insulation film and a silicon nitride film are formed on the whole surface, and then the silicon nitride film in a MOS transistor formation region is selectively removed using a photoresist layer. Then, the MOS transistor formation region is selectively oxidized using the remaining silicon nitride film as an anti-oxidation mask to form the gate insulation film of the MOS transistor having a selected thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Izuo Iida
  • Patent number: 7358561
    Abstract: A NAND memory device has a source line connected to two or more columns of serially-connected floating-gate transistors. The source line includes a first conductive layer formed on a substrate and coupled to source select gates associated with the two or more columns of serially-connected floating-gate transistors. The source line also includes a second conductive layer formed on the first conductive layer, where the second layer has a greater electrical conductivity than the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Helm, Roger W. Lindsay