Spansion Llc.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

Chungho Lee

Hiroyuki Kinoshita

Kuo-Tung Chang

Huaqiang Wu

Chi K Chang

Wei Zheng

Ashot Melik-Martirosian

Minghao Shen

Amol Ramesh Joshi

Fred Cheung

Angela Tai Hui

Ning Cheng

Unsoon Kim

Chih-Yuh Yang

Lei Xue

Yu Nan Sun

Timothy J Thurgate

Meng Ding

Hiro Kinoshita

Kyunghoon Min

Wai Lo

Shenqing Fang

Rinji Sugino

Fred T K Cheung

Christie R K Marrian

Aimin Xing

Sugimo Rinji

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first charge storage element and a second charge storage element, wherein the first and second charge storage elements include nitrides. The memory cell further includes an insulating layer formed between the first and second charge storage elements. The insulating layer provides insulation between the first and second charge storage elements.

Dual storage node memory

Memory devices having improved TPD characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain two or more memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and bit line openings containing a bit line dielectric between the memory cells. The memory cell contains a charge storage layer and a first poly gate. The bit line opening extends into the semiconductor substrate. By containing the bit line dielectric in the bit line openings that extend into the semiconductor substrate, the memory device can improve the electrical isolation between memory cells, thereby preventing and/or mitigating TPD.

Oro and orpro with bit line trench to suppress transport program disturb

Memory cells having split charge storage nodes and methods for fabricating memory cells having split charge storage nodes are disclosed. A disclosed method includes forming a first trench and an adjacent second trench in a semiconductor substrate, the first trench and the second trench each defining a first sidewall and a second sidewall respectively and forming a first source/drain region in the substrate and a second source/drain region in the substrate, where the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region are formed substantially under the first trench and the second trench in the semiconductor substrate respectively. Moreover, a method includes forming a bit line punch through barrier in the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source drain region and forming a first storage element on the first sidewall of the first trench and a second storage element on the second sidewall of the second element. A word line is formed in contact with the first storage element and the second storage element.

Method for fabricating memory cells having split charge storage nodes

Methods of replacing/reforming a top oxide around a charge storage element of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage element of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve removing a first poly over a first top oxide from the memory cell; removing the first top oxide from the memory cell; and forming a second top oxide around the charge storage element. The second top oxide can be formed by oxidizing a portion of the charge storage element or by forming a sacrificial layer over the charge storage element and oxidizing the sacrificial layer to a second top oxide.

Gate replacement with top oxide regrowth for the top oxide improvement

Methods of forming a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve providing a charge storage layer on a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer on the charge storage layer, and a first poly layer on the nitride layer, and converting at least a portion of the nitride layer to a top oxide. By converting at least a portion of a nitride layer to a top oxide layer, the quality of the resultant top oxide layer can be improved.

Sacrificial nitride and gate replacement

A dual node memory device and methods for fabricating the device are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises forming a layered structure with an insulator layer, a charge storage layer, a buffer layer, and a sacrificial layer on a semiconductor substrate. The layers are patterned to form two spaced apart stacks and an exposed substrate portion between the stacks. A gate insulator and a gate electrode are formed on the exposed substrate, and the sacrificial layer and buffer layer are removed. An additional insulator layer is deposited overlying the charge storage layer to form insulator-storage layer-insulator memory storage areas on each side of the gate electrode. Sidewall spacers are formed at the sidewalls of the gate electrode overlying the storage areas. Bit lines are formed in the substrate spaced apart from the gate electrode, and a word line is formed that contacts the gate electrode and the sidewall spacers.

Dual charge storage node memory device and methods for fabricating such device

A dual charge storage node memory device and methods for its fabrication are provided. In one embodiment a dielectric plug is formed comprising a first portion recessed into a semiconductor substrate and a second portion extending above the substrate. A layer of semiconductor material is formed overlying the second portion. A first layered structure is formed overlying a first side of the second portion of the dielectric plug, and a second layered structure is formed overlying a second side, each of the layered structures overlying the layer of semiconductor material and comprising a charge storage layer between first and second dielectric layers. Ions are implanted into the substrate to form a first bit line and second bit line, and a layer of conductive material is deposited and patterned to form a control gate overlying the dielectric plug and the first and second layered structures.

Semiconductor memory comprising dual charge storage nodes and methods for its fabrication

Memory cells containing two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes on a semiconductor substrate and methods for making the memory cells are provided. The methods can involve forming two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes by using spacer formation techniques. By removing an exposed portion of a fist poly layer between sloping side surfaces or outer surfaces of spacers while leaving portions of the first poly layer protected by the spacers, the method can provide two split sub-lithographic first poly gates. Further, by removing an exposed portion of a charge storage layer between sloping side surfaces or outer surfaces of spacers, the method can provide two split, narrow portions of the charge storage layer, which subsequently form two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes.

Split charge storage node outer spacer process

ORO and ORPRO with bit line trench to suppress transport program disturb

Memory devices having improved BVdss characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain bitline dielectrics on bitlines of a semiconductor substrate; first spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the bitline dielectrics and on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a trench in the semiconductor substrate between the first spacers; and second spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the trench. By containing the trench and the first and second spacers between the bitlines, the memory device can improve the electrical isolation between the bitlines, thereby preventing and/or mitigating bitline-to-bitline current leakage and increasing BVdss.

SI trench between bitline HDP for BVDSS improvement

Methods of forming a memory cell containing two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes on a semiconductor substrate are provided. The methods can involve forming two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes by using spacer formation techniques. By removing exposed portions of a first poly layer while leaving portions of the first poly layer protected by the spacers, the method can provide two split sub-lithographic first poly gates. Further, by removing exposed portions of a charge storage layer while leaving portions of the charge storage layer protected by the two split sub-lithographic first poly gates, the method can provide two split, narrow portions of the charge storage layer, which subsequently form two split sub-lithographic charge storage nodes.

Split charge storage node inner spacer process

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Chungho Lee