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US5336913A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method for fabricating the same

Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1992-07-17
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2012-07-17
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Abstract

Abstract A long-life, electrically writable and erasable non-volatile semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The memory device is fabricated in the following steps. After forming a first gate insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, a window is opened in the first gate insulating film to expose a portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate, using a two-step etching technique in which dry etching and wet etching are performed successively. The exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate not over-etched is selectively oxidized to form a tunnel insulating film (second gate insulating film) having edge portions resistant to dielectric breakdown. Thereafter, a floating gate, a third gate insulating film, and a control gate are formed sequentially. The floating gate is patterned in such a way as to cover the entire tunnel insulating film or cross only a portion of an edge of the tunnel insulating film. The stress caused to the tunnel insulating film as a result of the oxidation process for forming the third gate insulating film is relieved, providing the tunnel insulating film with resistance to dielectric strength.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takao Kakiuchi
  • 👤 Kazuo Sato

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D30/00; H10D30/01; H10D30/021; H10D30/0411; H10D30/60; H10D30/68; H10D30/681; H10D30/683; H10B; H10B69/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having a window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (100) plane, and said side faces each having a (110) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having a window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (100) plane, and said side faces each having a (110) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 133 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having a window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (100) plane, and said side faces each having a (111) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 133 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having a window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (100) plane, and said side faces each having a (111) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 132 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (110) plane, and said side faces each having a (111) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 132 words
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon substrate having a source region and a drain region each formed by a diffusion layer; a first gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate, said first gate insulating film having window; a recess formed on said silicon substrate within said window, said recess having a bottom face and a plurality of side faces, said bottom face having a (110) plane, and said side faces each having a (111) plane; a second gate insulating film formed on said silicon substrate within said window; a floating gate formed on said first gate insulating film, said floating gate covering fully said second gate insulating film; a third gate insulating film formed on said floating gate; and a control gate formed on said third gate insulating film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH01207978A Cited
US5210597A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-08-08 1998-02-07 1998-08-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-08-08 2002-02-07 2002-08-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-08-08 2006-02-07 2006-08-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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