Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Chih-Pin Huang

Meng-Han Lin

Chih-Ren Hsieh

Chen-Chin Liu

Ming Chyi Liu

Yong-Sheng Huang

Wei Cheng Wu

Ya-Chen Kao

Ching-Wen Chan

Chien-Hung Chen

Hsin-Ju Yang

Chi-Chang Hu

Wei-Chieh Lin

An integrated circuit device includes a substrate, an isolation feature, a memory cell, and a semiconductor device. The substrate has a cell region, a peripheral region, and a transition region between the cell region and the peripheral region. The isolation feature is in the transition region. A top surface of the isolation feature has a first portion and a second portion lower than the first portion, the second portion of the top surface of the isolation feature is between the cell region and the first portion of the top surface of the isolation feature, and a bottom surface of the isolation feature has a step height directly below the second portion of the top surface of the isolation feature. The is memory cell over the cell region of the substrate. The semiconductor device is over the peripheral region of the substrate.

Integrated circuit device

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for opening a source line in a memory device. An erase gate line (EGL) and the source line are formed elongated in parallel. The source line underlies the EGL and is separated from the EGL by a dielectric layer. A first etch is performed to form a first opening through the EGL and stops on the dielectric layer. A second etch is performed to thin the dielectric layer at the first opening, wherein the first and second etches are performed with a common mask in place. A silicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the source line at the first opening, wherein the silicide process comprises a third etch with a second mask in place and extends the first opening through the dielectric layer. A via is formed extending through the EGL to the silicide layer.

Etch method for opening a source line in flash memory

Some embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC). The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a peripheral region and a memory cell region separated by an isolation structure. The isolation structure extends into a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprises dielectric material. A logic device is arranged on the peripheral region. A memory device is arranged on the memory region. The memory device includes a gate electrode and a memory hardmask over the gate electrode. An anti-dishing structure is disposed on the isolation structure. An upper surface of the anti-dishing structure and an upper surface of the memory hardmask have equal heights as measured from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Anti-dishing structure for embedded memory

An integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a first isolation feature, a memory cell, and a semiconductor device. The substrate has a cell region, a peripheral region, and a transition region between the cell region and the peripheral region. The first isolation feature is in the transition region. The substrate includes a protrusion portion between a first portion and a second portion of the first isolation feature, the second portion is between the first portion and the cell region, and a top surface of the first portion of the first isolation feature has a first part and a second part lower than the first part, and the second part is between the first part and the second portion of the first isolation feature. The memory cell is over the cell region of the substrate. The semiconductor device is over the peripheral region of the substrate.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.

Cell-like floating-gate test structure

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method of forming an integrated circuit (IC). An isolation structure is formed between a logic region and a memory region of a substrate. A dummy structure is formed on the isolation structure and defines a dummy sidewall of the dummy structure facing the logic region. A boundary sidewall spacer is formed covering the dummy structure and at least partially defines a boundary sidewall of the boundary sidewall spacer facing the logic region. A protecting dielectric layer is formed on a top surface of the boundary sidewall spacer by converting an uppermost portion of the boundary sidewall spacer to the protecting dielectric layer. The protecting dielectric layer is removed, and a logic device structure is formed on the logic region.

Cell boundary structure for embedded memory

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a first isolation feature in a peripheral region of a substrate; recessing the cell region of the substrate after forming the first isolation feature; forming a second isolation feature in a cell region of the substrate after recessing the cell region of the substrate; forming a plurality of control gates over the cell region of the substrate; and forming a gate stack over the peripheral region of the substrate.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an embedded memory boundary structure with a boundary sidewall spacer, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, an isolation structure is disposed in a semiconductor substrate to separate a memory region from a logic region. A memory cell structure is disposed on the memory region and a cell boundary structure is formed on the isolation structure including a boundary sidewall spacer. A protecting dielectric layer is disposed on a top surface of the boundary sidewall spacer. The boundary sidewall spacer and the protecting dielectric layer provide a smooth boundary sidewall that is not subject to damage during formation of the logic device structure and, hence, is not subject to trapping high &#x3ba; etch residue during formation of the logic device structure with HKMG technology.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an embedded memory boundary structure with a boundary sidewall spacer, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, an isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate to separate a memory region from a logic region. A memory cell structure is formed on the memory region and a dummy structure is formed on the isolation structure. A boundary sidewall spacer is formed covering the dummy structure. A protecting dielectric layer is formed on a top surface of the boundary sidewall spacer. The boundary sidewall spacer and the protecting dielectric layer provide a smooth boundary sidewall that is not subject to damage during formation of the logic device structure and, hence, is not subject to trapping high &#x3ba; etch residue during formation of the logic device structure with HKMG technology.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Chih-Pin Huang