Abstract:
A circuit and method are disclosed for operating a non-volatile memory device, comprising time sampling a reference current or voltage in a floating holding node to obtain a hold voltage and applying the hold voltage in sensing circuitry.
Abstract:
A non-volatile memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. An array of non-volatile memory cells is located in the semiconductor substrate and arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each memory cell comprises a first region on a surface of the semiconductor substrate of a second conductivity type, and a second region on the surface of the semiconductor substrate of the second conductivity type. A channel region is between the first region and the second region. A word line overlies a first portion of the channel region and is insulated therefrom, and adjacent to the first region and having little or no overlap with the first region. A floating gate overlies a second portion of the channel region, is adjacent to the first portion, and is insulated therefrom and is adjacent to the second region. A coupling gate overlies the floating gate. A bit line is connected to the first region. During the operations of program, read, or erase, a negative voltage can be applied to the word lines and/or coupling gates of the selected or unselected memory cells.
Abstract:
A method of forming a memory device on a substrate having memory, LV and HV areas, including forming pairs of spaced apart memory stacks in the memory area, forming a first conductive layer over and insulated from the substrate, forming a first insulation layer on the first conductive layer and removing it from the memory and HV areas, performing a conductive material deposition to thicken the first conductive layer in the memory and HV areas, and to form a second conductive layer on the first insulation layer in the LV area, performing an etch to thin the first conductive layer in the memory and HV areas and to remove the second conductive layer in the LV area, removing the first insulation layer from the LV area, and patterning the first conductive layer to form blocks of the first conductive layer in the memory, LV and HV areas.
Abstract:
A memory device having a pair of conductive floating gates with inner sidewalls facing each other, and disposed over and insulated from a substrate of first conductivity type. A pair of spaced apart conductive control gates each disposed over and insulated from one of the floating gates, and each including inner sidewalls facing each other. A pair of first spacers of insulation material extending along control gate inner sidewalls and over the floating gates. The floating gate inner sidewalls are aligned with side surfaces of the first spacers. A pair of second spacers of insulation material each extend along one of the first spacers and along one of the floating gate inner sidewalls. A trench formed into the substrate having sidewalls aligned with side surfaces of the second spacers. Silicon carbon disposed in the trench. Material implanted into the silicon carbon forming a first region having a second conductivity type.
Abstract:
A non-volatile memory cell including a semiconductor substrate having a fin shaped upper surface with a top surface and two side surfaces. Source and drain regions are formed in the fin shaped upper surface portion with a channel region there between. A conductive floating gate includes a first portion extending along a first portion of the top surface, and second and third portions extending along first portions of the two side surfaces, respectively. A conductive control gate includes a first portion extending along a second portion of the top surface, second and third portions extending along second portions of the two side surfaces respectively, a fourth portion extending up and over at least some of the floating gate first portion, and fifth and sixth portions extending out and over at least some of the floating gate second and third portions respectively.
Abstract:
A split gate NAND flash memory structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The NAND structure comprises a first region of a second conductivity type in the substrate with a second region of the second conductivity type in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region. A continuous first channel region is defined between the first region and the second region. A plurality of floating gates are spaced apart from one another with each positioned over a separate portion of the channel region. A plurality of control gates are provided with each associated with and adjacent to a floating gate. Each control gate has two portions: a first portion over a portion of the channel region and a second portion over the associated floating gate and capacitively coupled thereto.
Abstract:
A memory device and method including a semiconductor substrate with memory and logic device areas. A plurality of memory cells are formed in the memory area, each including first source and drain regions with a first channel region therebetween, a floating gate disposed over a first portion of the first channel region, a control gate disposed over the floating gate, a select gate disposed over a second portion of the first channel region, and an erase gate disposed over the source region. A plurality of logic devices formed in the logic device area, each including second source and drain regions with a second channel region therebetween, and a logic gate disposed over the second channel region. The substrate upper surface is recessed lower in the memory area than in the logic device area, so that the taller memory cells have an upper height similar to that of the logic devices.
Abstract:
A method of forming a memory device on a substrate having memory, LV and HV areas, including forming pairs of spaced apart memory stacks in the memory area, forming a first conductive layer over and insulated from the substrate, forming a first insulation layer on the first conductive layer and removing it from the memory and HV areas, performing a conductive material deposition to thicken the first conductive layer in the memory and HV areas, and to form a second conductive layer on the first insulation layer in the LV area, performing an etch to thin the first conductive layer in the memory and HV areas and to remove the second conductive layer in the LV area, removing the first insulation layer from the LV area, and patterning the first conductive layer to form blocks of the first conductive layer in the memory, LV and HV areas.
Abstract:
A bitline regulator for use in a high speed flash memory system is disclosed. The bitline regulator is responsive to a set of trim bits that are generated by comparing the bias voltage of a bitline to a reference voltage.