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Patent US5445983A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5445983A
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Method of manufacturing EEPROM memory device with a select gate
Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-11
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Granted: 1995-08-29
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Expires: 2014-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for fabricating an MOSFET device on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric layer on the substrate is patterned with a select gate channel opening therein. Sacrificial spacer structures are formed adjacent to the edges of the channel opening in the first dielectric layer. A gate oxide layer is formed at the base of the opening, followed by a select gate for a select transistor over the gate oxide layer between the spacer structures in the channel opening. The sacrificial spacer structures are removed exposing the substrate to form trenches between the first dielectric layer and the select gate. A pair of select transistor doped source/drain regions in the substrate are formed to define the select transistor channel using the select gate and the first dielectric layer as a self-aligned mask. Removal of the first dielectric layer exposes the substrate surrounding the select gate, followed by forming a thin silicon dioxide layer over the select gate and the substrate, and a floating gate conductor over the select gate and a portion thereof in contact with one of the thin silicon dioxide layers, an interconductor dielectric layer over the floating gate conductor, a control gate structure over the interconductor dielectric layer, and ion implanting a pair of stacked gate doped source/drain regions in the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Hong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:25
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B41/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/981
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of fabricating an EEPROM on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate, patterning said first dielectric layer with a select gate channel opening therein, forming sacrificial spacer structures adjacent to the edges of said channel opening in said first dielectric layer so that said substrate is exposed between said sacrificial spacer structures, forming a gate oxide on the exposed substrate of said channel opening, forming a select gate for a select transistor over said gate oxide between said spacer structures in said channel opening, removing said sacrificial spacer structures exposing the surface of said substrate thereby forming trenches between said first dielectric layer and said select gate, ion implanting source/drain regions for said select transistor in said substrate to define the select transistor channel using said select gate and said first dielectric layer as a mask, removing said first dielectric layer exposing the surface of said substrate surrounding said select gate, forming a silicon dioxide layer over said select gate and said substrate, forming a floating gate over said silicon dioxide layer so that said floating gate is over a portion of said select gate and over a portion of said substrate, forming an interconductor dielectric layer over said floating gate, forming a control gate over said interconductor dielectric layer so that a stacked gate is formed from said floating gate, said interconductor dielectric layer and said control gate, and ion implanting source/drain regions for said stacked gate in said substrate using said stacked gate and said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate as a mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of fabricating an EEPROM on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate, patterning said first dielectric layer with a select gate channel opening therein, forming sacrificial spacer structures adjacent to the edges of said channel opening in said first dielectric layer so that said substrate is exposed between said sacrificial spacer structures, forming a gate oxide on the exposed substrate of said channel opening, forming a select gate for a select transistor over said gate oxide between said spacer structures in said channel opening, removing said sacrificial spacer structures exposing the surface of said substrate thereby forming trenches between said first dielectric layer and said select gate, ion implanting source/drain regions for said select transistor in said substrate to define the select transistor channel using said select gate and said first dielectric layer as a mask, removing said first dielectric layer exposing the surface of said substrate surrounding said select gate, forming a silicon dioxide layer over said select gate and said substrate, forming a floating gate over said silicon dioxide layer so that said floating gate is over a portion of said select gate and over a portion of said substrate, forming an interconductor dielectric layer over said floating gate, forming a control gate over said interconductor dielectric layer so that a stacked gate is formed from said floating gate, said interconductor dielectric layer and said control gate, and ion implanting source/drain regions for said stacked gate in said substrate using said stacked gate and said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate as a mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first dielectric layer comprises silicon dioxide having a thickness within a range between about 1,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said interconductor dielectric layer comprises ONO.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said select gate, floating gate and control gate comprise polysilicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sacrificial spacer structures are formed from a silicon nitride layer having a thickness of about 1000 Å by an etch back process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gate oxide has a thickness of about 200 Å.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate comprises polysilicon oxide and said silicon dioxide layer over said substrate comprises a tunnel oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer comprises silicon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source/drain regions for said select transistor are formed by implantation of arsenic ions at an energy between about 30 keV and about 100 keV and a dose between about 1 E 13 cm -2 and about 1 E 15 cm -2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source/drain regions for said stacked gate are formed by implantation of arsenic ions at an energy between about 30 keV and about 80 keV and a dose between about 1 E 15 cm -2 and about 5 E 15 cm -2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said source/drain regions for said select transistor are formed by implantation of arsenic ions at an energy between about 30 keV and about 100 keV and a dose between about 1 E 13 cm -2 and about 1 E 15 cm -2 .
Claim 13
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of fabricating an EEPROM on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a sacrificial silicon dioxide layer on said substrate, patterning said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer with a mask with a select gate channel opening therein and then etching said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer to form a select gate channel opening in said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer, forming sacrificial spacer structures adjacent to the edges of said channel opening in said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer so that said substrate is exposed between said sacrificial spacer structures, forming a gate oxide on the exposed substrate of said channel opening, forming a select gate for a select transistor over said gate oxide between said spacer structures in said channel opening, removing said sacrificial spacer structures exposing the surface of said substrate thereby forming trenches between said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer and said select gate, ion implanting source/drain regions for said select transistor in said substrate to define the select transistor channel using said select gate and said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer as a mask, removing said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer exposing the surface of said substrate surrounding said select gate, forming a silicon dioxide layer over said select gate and said substrate, forming a floating gate over said silicon dioxide layer so that said floating gate is over a portion of said select gate and over a portion of said substrate, forming an interconductor dielectric layer over said floating gate, forming a control gate over said interconductor dielectric layer so that a stacked gate is formed from said floating gate, said interconductor dielectric layer and said control gate, and ion implanting source/drain regions for said stacked gate in said substrate using said stacked gate and said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate as a mask.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of fabricating an EEPROM on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a sacrificial silicon dioxide layer on said substrate, patterning said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer with a mask with a select gate channel opening therein and then etching said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer to form a select gate channel opening in said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer, forming sacrificial spacer structures adjacent to the edges of said channel opening in said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer so that said substrate is exposed between said sacrificial spacer structures, forming a gate oxide on the exposed substrate of said channel opening, forming a select gate for a select transistor over said gate oxide between said spacer structures in said channel opening, removing said sacrificial spacer structures exposing the surface of said substrate thereby forming trenches between said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer and said select gate, ion implanting source/drain regions for said select transistor in said substrate to define the select transistor channel using said select gate and said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer as a mask, removing said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer exposing the surface of said substrate surrounding said select gate, forming a silicon dioxide layer over said select gate and said substrate, forming a floating gate over said silicon dioxide layer so that said floating gate is over a portion of said select gate and over a portion of said substrate, forming an interconductor dielectric layer over said floating gate, forming a control gate over said interconductor dielectric layer so that a stacked gate is formed from said floating gate, said interconductor dielectric layer and said control gate, and ion implanting source/drain regions for said stacked gate in said substrate using said stacked gate and said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate as a mask.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said sacrificial silicon dioxide layer has a thickness within a range between about 1,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said interconductor dielectric layer comprises ONO.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said select gate, floating gate and control gate comprise polysilicon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said sacrificial spacer structures are formed from a silicon nitride layer having a thickness of about 1000 Å by an etch back process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said gate oxide has a thickness of about 200 Å.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said silicon dioxide layer over said select gate comprises polysilicon oxide and said silicon dioxide layer over said substrate comprises a tunnel oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said source/drain regions for said select transistor are formed by implantation of arsenic ions at an energy between about 30 keV and about 100 keV and a dose between about 1 E 13 cm -2 and about 1 E 15 cm -2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said source/drain regions for said stacked gate are formed by implantation of arsenic ions at an energy between about 30 keV and about 80 keV and a dose between about 1 E 15 cm -2 and about 5 E 15 cm -2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-28 | 1999-02-27 | 1999-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-28 | 2003-02-27 | 2003-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-28 | 2007-02-27 | 2007-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |