Exel Microelectronics, Inc.

Other

Thomas Tong Chang

Satyen Mukherjee

Chun Ho

Liang Choo Hsia

Arun K Malhotra

The surface of an integrated circuit, which uses reactive ion etching to pattern metal interconnection, is protected with two insulating layers on the surface. The first layer is a conventional silicon dioxide. The second layer is a photosensitive polymer which is the same as the material used for subsequent metalization of interconnection using the reactive ion etching technique. When the second layer is used, the reactive ion etching cannot attack the silicon dioxide. A trench can be cut through the two insulating layers, using a window in the photosensitive polymer as a mask, to serve as a via hole for metal to contact the substrate

Additive metalization using photosensitive polymer as RIE mask and part

An electrically erasable programmable memory device which is programmable in the manner of an EPROM and erasable in the manner of an EEPROM. A dielectric layer between the control gate and the floating gate is provided having a high dielectric constant. A thin, uniform gate dielectric layer is provided which demonstrates minimal trapping. Finally, an asymmetrical source/drain junction is provided wherein the source includes a shallow portion and a deeper portion, which deeper portion defines the overlap between the source and the floating gate. In the preferred embodiment the dielectric between the control gate and the floating gate comprises tantalum pentoxide, the thin dielectric layer comprises oxynitride, and the deep diffusion portion of the source comprises phosphorous.

Single transistor electrically programmable memory device and method

In the present invention, asperity in the floating gate of an EPROM or EEPROM device is reduced. An improved process for fabricating ultrahigh coupling interpoly isolation dielectrics comprising a structure of oxide-nitride-oxide is disclosed. The first oxide is grown on undoped LPCVD polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) to reduce the grain boundary-oxidation enhancement effect at the interface of floating gate polysilicon and interpoly oxide. This results in much higher breakdown capability of interpoly dielectrics. As a consequence, the shrinkage of the interpoly electrical thickness to an extent far beyond current limitation becomes possible. Implanted dopants through interpoly oxide into the floating gate polysilicon also eliminate the oxidation enhanced diffusion from conventional POCl.sub.3 doped polysilicon into tunnel oxide. The phosphorus induced trap in the tunnel oxide region are reduced. The EEPROM threshold window can remain open beyond 10.sup.6 cycles.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Thomas Tong Chang