Abstract:
A method employing a test structure (10) identical to the memory array whose gate oxide or interpoly dielectric quality is to be determined, except for the fact that the cells are connected electrically (13-15, 17, 18, 19-21) parallel to one another. The test structure is subjected to electrical stress of such a value and polarity as to extract electrons from the floating gate of the defective-gate-oxide or defective-interpoly-dielectric cells and so modify the characteristic of the cell while leaving the charge of the non-defective cells unchanged. In this way, only the threshold of the defective cells is altered. A subthreshold voltage is then applied to the test structure, and the drain current through the cells, which is related to the presence of at least one defective cell in the structure, is measured. Measurement and analysis of the current-voltage characteristic provides for determining the number of defective cells. The method is suitable for in-line quality control of the gate oxide or interpoly dielectric of EPROM, EEPROM and flash-EEPROM memories.
Abstract:
The cell is formed of a selection transistor (1), a detection transistor (2) and a tunnel condenser (3). The detection transistor (2) has its own control gate (20) formed with an n⁺ diffusion (15) which is closed and isolated from those of the other cells of the same memory.
Abstract:
This method for making twin tub CMOS devices with a self-aligned separation trench uses only two masking steps for forming the tubs and the trench of the CMOS, thereby saving manufacture time and lowering production costs. In particular, the trench mask is obtained by at least one masking layer deposited on the substrate and having a window at the trench region obtained in a self-aligned manner employing the tub masks which are dimensioned so as to mutually and ideally overlap at the trench region and to delimit the trench mask window.
Abstract:
The method for ion implant programing NMOS read-only memories comprises the step of increasing the concentration of boron in the channel only proximate to the source junction of the NMOS devices of the memory which are to be programed 'off'. In this manner it is possible to increase the threshold voltage of these devices without reducing the breakdown voltage thereof, so as to obtain a reliable operation of the device or memory element even for very-large-scale-integration circuits, with a reduced thickness of oxide.
Abstract:
To protect the thin tunnel oxide layer (8a) interposed between the floating gate region (6) of memory cells (1) and the substrate (2) and subject to in-process damage when the wafer is subjected to radiation, provision is made for a diode (D) connected between the control gate region (7) of the cells and the substrate (1). The diode (D) defines a conductive path which, when normal operating voltage is applied to the control gate regions (7), is turned off and has no effect on normal operation of the memory (15), and which is turned on to permit the passage of charges between the control gate region (7) and the substrate (2) when the control gate potential exceeds normal operating potential but is less than the breakdown voltage of the tunnel oxide (8a) divided by the coupling factor of the control and floating gate regions of the cells. The diode (D) is appropriately formed prior to patterning the control gate regions of the cells.
Abstract:
A method employing a test structure (10) identical to the memory array whose gate oxide quality is to be determined, except for the fact that the cells are connected electrically (13-15, 17, 18, 19-21) parallel to one another. The test structure is so stressed electrically as to extract electrons from the floating gate of the defective-gate-oxide cells and so modify the characteristic of the cell while leaving the charge of the non-defective cells unchanged. In this way, only the threshold of the defective cells is altered. A subthreshold voltage is then applied to the test structure, and the drain current through the cells, which is related to the presence of at least one defective cell in the structure, is measured. Measurement and analysis of the current-voltage characteristic provides for determining the number of defective cells. The method is suitable for in-line quality control of the gate oxide of EPROM, EEPROM and flash-EEPROM memories.
Abstract:
A monolithic integrated circuit of either the MOS or CMOS type comprises an intermediate layer (8) of polycrystalline silicon, a layer (9) of a silicide of a refractory metal overlying said polycrystalline silicon layer (8), and regions (8a) of preset area and preset paths (9a) formed in the polycrystalline silicon layer (8) and the silicide layer (9); the preset area regions (8a) and preset paths (9a) forming respectively high resistivity resistances and low resistivity interconnection lines for an intermediate connection level.