摘要:
A memory cell includes a memory cell layer with a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and a top electrode over the second dielectric layer. The dielectric layers define a via having a first part bounded by the first electrode layer and the bottom electrode and a second part bounded by the second dielectric layer and the top electrode. A memory element is within the via and is in electrical contact with the top and bottom electrodes. The first and second parts of the via may comprise a constricted, energy-concentrating region and an enlarged region respectively. The constricted region may have a width smaller than the minimum feature size of the process used to form the enlarged region of the via. A method for manufacturing a memory cell is also disclosed.
摘要:
Programmable resistive memory cells are accessed by semiconductor diode structures. Manufacturing methods and integrated circuits for programmable resistive elements with such diode structures are also disclosed.
摘要:
An array of “mushroom” style phase change memory cells is manufactured by forming a separation layer over an array of contacts, forming an isolation layer on the separation layer and forming an array of memory element openings in the isolation layer using a lithographic process. Etch masks are formed within the memory element openings by a process that compensates for variation in the size of the memory element openings that results from the lithographic process. The etch masks are used to etch through the separation layer to define an array of electrode openings. Electrode material is deposited within the electrode openings; and memory elements are formed within the memory element openings. The memory elements and bottom electrodes are self-aligned.
摘要:
An embodiment of our invention includes a method of programming at least one phase change memory block, the at least one block comprising at least one phase change memory cell, the at least one cell comprising at least one phase change material. The method includes the steps of transitioning all cells within the at least one block to a first state and, after all cells within the at least one block have been transitioned to the first state, transitioning at least one cell within the at least one block to at least a second state. Transitioning a cell to the at least second state is faster than transitioning a cell to the first state. At least the step of transitioning all cells within the at least one block to a first state may include transitioning all cells within the at least one block in a substantially simultaneous manner.
摘要:
A block of phase change material located in a semiconductor chip is reset to an amorphous state. The block of phase change material may be connected to an internal resistance measurement circuit that can transmit the measured resistance data to input/output pads either in an analog output format or in a digital output format. Depending on the ambient temperature, the resistance of the block of phase change material changes. By measuring a fractional resistance change compared to the resistance of the phase change material at a calibration temperature, the temperature of the region around the phase change material can be accurately measured. A logic decoder and an input/output circuit may be employed between the internal resistance measurement circuit and the input/output pads. A plurality of temperature sensing circuits containing phase change material blocks may be employed in the semiconductor chip to enable an accurate temperature profiling during chip operation.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell includes a bipolar programmable storage element operative to store a logic state of the memory cell, and a metal-oxide-semiconductor device including first and second source/drains and a gate. A first terminal of the bipolar programmable storage element is adapted for connection to a first bit line. The first source/drain is connected to a second terminal of the bipolar programmable storage element, the second source/drain is adapted for connection to a second bit line, and the gate is adapted for connection to a word line.
摘要:
An integrated circuit and method for fabrication includes first and second structures, each including a set of sub-lithographic lines, and contact landing segments connected to at least one of the sub-lithographic lines at an end portion. The first and second structures are nested such that the sub-lithographic lines are disposed in a parallel manner within a width, and the contact landing segments of the first structure are disposed on an opposite side of a length of the sub-lithographic lines relative to the contact landing segments of the second structure. The contact landing segments for the first and second structures are included within the width dimension, wherein the width includes a dimension four times a minimum feature size achievable by lithography.
摘要:
A method for reactive ion etching of SiO2 and an etch stop barrier for use in such an etching is provided. A silicon nitride (SixNy) barrier having a Six to Ny ratio (x:y) of less than about 0.8 and preferably the stoichiometric amount of 0.75 provides excellent resilience to positive mobile ion contamination, but poor etch selectivity. However, a silicon nitride barrier having a ratio of Six to Nx (x:y) of 1.0 or greater has excellent etch selectivity with respect to SiO2 but a poor barrier to positive mobile ion contamination. A barrier of silicon nitride is formed on a doped silicon substrate which barrier has two sections. One section has a greater etch selectivity with respect to silicon dioxide than the second section and the second section has a greater resistance to transmission of positive mobile ions than the first section. One section adjacent the silicon substrate has a silicon to nitrogen ratio of less than about 0.8. The second section, formed on top of the first section is formed with the ratio of the silicon to nitrogen of greater than about 0.8. Preferably the two sections together are from about 50 to about 100 nanometers thick.
摘要:
Transistors having self-aligned dielectric layers under the source/drain contacts are formed by constructing transistors up to the LDD implant; etching STI oxide selective to Si and nitride to form a self-aligned contact recess; depositing an insulating layer in the bottom of the contact recess; recessing the insulating layer to leave room for a conductive contact layer; depositing the contact layer to make contact on a vertical surface to the Si underneath the gate sidewalls; recessing the contact layer; forming interlayer dielectric and interconnect to complete the circuit.
摘要:
A semiconductor device memory array formed on a semiconductor substrate comprising a multiplicity of field effect transistor DRAM devices disposed in array is disclosed. Each of the DRAM devices is paired with a non-volatile EEPROM cell and the EEPROM cells are disposed in a shallow trench in the semiconductor substrate running between the DRAM devices such that each DRAM-EEPROM pair shares a common drain diffusion. The EEPROM cells are arranged in the trench such that there are discontinuous laterally disposed floating gate polysilicon electrodes and continuous horizontally disposed program and recall gate polysilicon electrodes. The floating gate is separated from the program and recall gates by a silicon rich nitride. The array of the invention provides high density shadow RAMs. Also disclosed are methods for the fabrication of devices of the invention.