摘要:
A memory with controlled gate current injection during memory cell programming wherein programming circuitry applies a time-varying voltage to a control gate of the memory cell during a programming cycle. The time-varying voltage yields a substantially constant rate of electron flow from the channel region to the floating gate during the programming cycle.
摘要:
Methods are provided for significantly reducing electron trapping in semiconductor devices having a floating gate and an overlying dielectric layer. The methods form a nitrogen-rich region within the floating gate near the interface to an overlying dielectric layer. The methods include selectively introducing nitrogen into the floating gate prior to forming the overlying dielectric layer. This forms an initial nitrogen concentration profile within the floating gate. An initial portion of the overlying dielectric layer is then formed of a high temperature oxide (HTO). The temperature within the floating gate is purposely raised to an adequately high temperature to cause the initial nitrogen concentration profile to change due to the migration of the majority of the nitrogen towards the interface with the overlying dielectric layer and an interface with an underlying layer. Consequently, the floating gate is left with a first nitrogen-rich region near the interface to the overlying dielectric layer and a second nitrogen-rich region near the interface to the underlying layer. The first nitrogen-rich region has been found to reduce electron trapping within the floating gate, which could lead to false programming of the floating gate. Unlike a conventional thermally grown oxide film, the high temperature oxide film within the interpoly dielectric layer advantageously prevents the surface of the floating gate from becoming too granular. As such, the resulting interpoly dielectric layer, which typically includes several films, can be formed more evenly.
摘要:
Methods and arrangements are provided for introducing nitrogen into a tunnel oxide layer within a stacked gate structure of a non-volatile memory cell. The nitrogen is advantageously introduced into only a select portion of the tunnel oxide, preferably nearer the source region of the memory cell. This prevents the unwanted or residual nitrogen from detrimentally affecting other devices within the semiconductor integrated circuit.
摘要:
Methods and arrangements are provided for introducing nitrogen into a tunnel oxide layer within a stacked gate structure of a non-volatile memory cell. The nitrogen is advantageously introduced into only a select portion of the tunnel oxide, preferably nearer the source region of the memory cell. This prevents the unwanted or residual nitrogen from detrimentally affecting other devices within the semiconductor integrated circuit.
摘要:
Methods and arrangements are provided for significantly reducing electron trapping in semiconductor devices having a polysilicon feature and an overlying dielectric layer. The methods and arrangements employ a nitrogen-rich region within the polysilicon feature near the interface to the overlying dielectric layer. The methods include selectively implanting nitrogen ions through at least a portion of the overlying dielectric layer and into the polysilicon feature to form an initial nitrogen concentration profile within the polysilicon feature. Next, the temperature within the polysilicon feature is raised to an adequately high temperature, for example using rapid thermal anneal (RTA) techniques, which cause the initial nitrogen concentration profile to change due to the migration of the majority of the nitrogen towards either the interface with the overlying dielectric layer or the interface with an underlying layer. Consequently, the polysilicon feature has a first nitrogen-rich region near the interface to the overlying dielectric layer and a second nitrogen-rich region near the interface to the underlying layer. The migration of nitrogen further forms a contiguous reduced-nitrogen region located between the first nitrogen-rich region and the second nitrogen-rich region. The contiguous reduced-nitrogen region has a lower concentration of nitrogen than does the first nitrogen-rich region and the second nitrogen-rich region. The first nitrogen-rich region has been found to reduce electron trapping within the polysilicon feature. Thus, for example, in a non-volatile memory device wherein the polysilicon feature is a floating gate, false programming of the memory device can be significantly avoided by reducing the number of trapped electrons in the floating gate.
摘要:
A series select transistor and a source select transistor are connected in series at the end of a NAND string of floating gate data storage transistors. The floating gates, the series select gate, and the source select gate are all preferably formed of polysilicon. The same tunnel oxide layer is used as gate oxide for the series select transistor and source select transistor as well as for the floating gate data storage transistors. Two layers of polysilicon in the series select gate and the source select gates are tied together. The series select transistor is tied to the last transistor in the NAND string. The source select transistor is tied to the array Vss supply. In order to program inhibit a specific NAND cell during the programming of another NAND cell, the gate of the series select transistor is raised to Vcc, while the gate of the source select transistor is held to ground. The two transistors in series are able to withstand a much higher voltage at the end of the NAND string without causing gated-diode junction or oxide breakdown in either the series or the source select transistor.
摘要:
A series select transistor and a source select transistor are connected in series at the end of a NAND string of floating gate data storage transistors. The floating gates, the series select gate, and the source select gate are all preferably formed of polysilicon. The same tunnel oxide layer is used as gate oxide for the series select transistor and source select transistor as well as for the floating gate data storage transistors. Two layers of polysilicon in the series select gate and the source select gates are tied together. The series select transistor is tied to the last transistor in the NAND string. The source select transistor is tied to the array Vss supply. In order to program inhibit a specific NAND cell during the programming of another NAND cell, the gate of the series select transistor is raised to Vcc, while the gate of the source select transistor is held to ground. The two transistors in series are able to withstand a much higher voltage at the end of the NAND string without causing gated-diode junction or oxide breakdown in either the series or the source select transistor.
摘要:
One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of making a flash memory cell involving the steps of providing a substrate having a flash memory cell thereon; forming a self-aligned source mask over the substrate, the self aligned source mask having openings corresponding to source lines; implanting a source dopant of a first type in the substrate through the openings in the self-aligned source mask corresponding to source lines; removing the self-aligned source mask from the substrate; cleaning the substrate; and implanting a medium dosage drain implant of a second type to form a source region and a drain region in the substrate adjacent the flash memory cell.
摘要:
Methods of programming and soft programming short channel NOR flash memory cells that reduce the programming currents and column leakages during both programming and soft programming while maintaining fast programming speeds. During programming, a voltage of between 7 and 10 volts is applied to the control gate, a voltage of between 4 and 6 volts; is applied to the drain, a voltage of between 0.5 and 2.0 volts is applied to the source and a voltage of between minus 2 and minus 0.5 volts is applied to the substrate of the selected cell to be programmed. During soft programming, a voltage of between 0.5 and 4.5 volts is applied to the control gates, between 4 and 5.5 volts is applied to the drains, between 0.5 and 2 volts is applied to the sources and between minus 2.0 and minus 0.5 volts is applied to the substrates of the memory cells.
摘要:
A series select transistor and a source select transistor are connected in series at the end of a NAND string of floating gate data storage transistors. The floating gates, the series select gate, and the source select gate are all preferably formed of polysilicon. The same tunnel oxide layer is used as gate oxide for the series select transistor and source select transistor as well as for the floating gate data storage transistors. Two layers of polysilicon in the series select gate and the source select gates are tied together. The series select transistor is tied to the last transistor in the NAND string. The source select transistor is tied to the array Vss supply. In order to program inhibit a specific NAND cell during the programming of another NAND cell, the gate of the series select transistor is raised to Vcc, while the gate of the source select transistor is held to ground. The two transistors in series are able to withstand a much higher voltage at the end of the NAND string without causing gated-diode junction or oxide breakdown in either the series or the source select transistor.