Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Ken Tanpairoj

Darlene G Hamilton

Mark W Randolph

Binh Quang Le

Wei Zheng

Yi He

Zhizheng Liu

Edward Hsia

Eric M Ajimine

An erase methodology of flash memory cells in a multi-bit memory array with bits disposed in normal and complimentary locations. An erase verify of bits in the normal locations is performed and if a bit in the normal location fails and if the maximum erase pulse count has not been reached, erase pulses are applied to both the normal bit and the complimentary bit. An erase verify of bits in the complimentary locations is performed and if a bit in the complimentary location fails and if the maximum erase pulse count has not been reached, erase pulses are applied to both the complimentary and the normal bit locations. If the bits pass the erase verify, the bits are subjected to a soft programming verify. If the bits are overerased and if the soft programming pulse count has not been reached a soft programming pulse is applied to the overerased bit.

Erase method for a dual bit memory cell

A method of fabricating a memory array, while protecting it from charge damage. Bitlines that may have source/drain regions of memory cells are formed in a substrate. Wordlines are formed above the bitlines and may have gate regions. Next, a first metal region that is coupled to one of the bitlines is formed above the bitlines. A second metal region that is not electrically coupled to the first metal region is formed. Then, the first metal region is electrically coupled to the second metal region. Charge damage is reduced by keeping the antenna ratio between the first metal region and the bitline low. For further protection, a diode or fuse may also be formed between the substrate and the portion of the metal region that is coupled to the bitline. Also, fuse may be formed between a bitline and a wordline to protect the wordline.

Method of protecting a memory array from charge damage during fabrication

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Ken Tanpairoj