The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1990
Stefan K Lai, Belmont, CA (US);
Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A method for fabricating floating gate memory arrays with improved electrical erase characteristics and a reduced gate oxide defect density is described. According to the invented method, a protective polysilicon layer is deposited immediately following growth of the tunnel or gate oxide. The polysilicon layer caps the gate oxide--protecting it from exposure to defect-causing contaminants and to insure that a uniform tunnel oxide thickness is maintained across the entire length of the channel; especially over the electron tunneling regions. Following application of the protective polysilicon layer, a second polysilicon layer is deposited and merges with the first polysilicon layer to form the floating gate for the device. Erase speed is improved for flash EEPROM devices fabricated according to the present invention by about 5-100 times.