US5445984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making a split gate flash memory cell
Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp
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Filing: 1994-11-28
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Granted: 1995-08-29
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Expires: 2014-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for fabricating a split gate flash EPROM device. A stack is formed of a first dielectric layer on the lightly doped semiconductor substrate followd by a floating gate, a first intergate dielectric layer, an intermediate control gate layer, an isolating layer over the intermediate control gate layer, and a floating gate mask on the device. The stack is formed by etching in the pattern of the floating gate. A split gate mask is formed followed by ion implanting dopant into source/drain regions in the substrate adjacent to the mask with one source/drain region self aligned with the stack and the other spaced away from the other side of the stack. After mask removal, a second intergate dielectric layer blanket is formed with an etch back forming sidewalls next to the stack by etching away exposed portions of the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on the substrate and the source/drain regions. Removal of the isolating layer over the intermediate control gate layer follows. Then a blanket control gate layer over the device and a control gate mask are formed, patterning the control gate layer by etching portions of the control gate layer unprotected by the control gate mask, and removal of the control gate mask.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Hong
- 👤 Hwi-Huang Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:18
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B41/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
A method of fabricating an EPROM device on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate, forming a floating gate layer over said first dielectric layer, forming a first intergate dielectric layer over said floating gate layer, forming an intermediate control gate layer over said intergate dielectric layer, forming an isolating layer over said intermediate control gate layer, forming a floating gate mask on said isolating layer, etching, by using said floating gate mask, said floating gate layer, said first intergate dielectric layer, said intermediate control gate layer and said isolating layer to form a stacked structure, removing said floating gate mask, forming a split gate mask on a portion of said isolating layer and on a portion of said first dielectric layer, ion implanting dopant into source/drain regions in said substrate adjacent to said split gate mask with one of said source/drain regions being self aligned with said stacked structure and the other source/drain region being spaced away from the other side of said stacked structure by said split gate mask, removing said split gate mask, forming a second intergate dielectric layer on the resultant structure after removing said split gate mask, performing an etch back of said second intergate dielectric layer to form sidewalls adjacent to said stack thereby exposing portions of said first dielectric layer, etching away said exposed portions of said first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on said substrate and said source/drain regions, removing said isolating layer over said intermediate control gate layer, forming a blanket top control gate layer over the resultant structure after removing said isolating layer, forming a control gate mask on said top control gate layer whereby portions of said top control gate layer are unprotected, patterning top control gate layer by etching portions of said top control gate layer unprotected by said control gate mask, and removing said control gate mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
319 words
A method of fabricating an EPROM device on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate, forming a floating gate layer over said first dielectric layer, forming a first intergate dielectric layer over said floating gate layer, forming an intermediate control gate layer over said intergate dielectric layer, forming an isolating layer over said intermediate control gate layer, forming a floating gate mask on said isolating layer, etching, by using said floating gate mask, said floating gate layer, said first intergate dielectric layer, said intermediate control gate layer and said isolating layer to form a stacked structure, removing said floating gate mask, forming a split gate mask on a portion of said isolating layer and on a portion of said first dielectric layer, ion implanting dopant into source/drain regions in said substrate adjacent to said split gate mask with one of said source/drain regions being self aligned with said stacked structure and the other source/drain region being spaced away from the other side of said stacked structure by said split gate mask, removing said split gate mask, forming a second intergate dielectric layer on the resultant structure after removing said split gate mask, performing an etch back of said second intergate dielectric layer to form sidewalls adjacent to said stack thereby exposing portions of said first dielectric layer, etching away said exposed portions of said first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on said substrate and said source/drain regions, removing said isolating layer over said intermediate control gate layer, forming a blanket top control gate layer over the resultant structure after removing said isolating layer, forming a control gate mask on said top control gate layer whereby portions of said top control gate layer are unprotected, patterning top control gate layer by etching portions of said top control gate layer unprotected by said control gate mask, and removing said control gate mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 where said second dielectric layer comprises a gate oxide having a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 400 Å over said substrate and a thick, field oxide layer having a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 1,000 Å over said source/drain regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 where said second dielectric layer is grown by thermal oxidation at a temperature between about 900° C. and about 1000° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source/drain regions are formed by implanting arsenic into said substrate with an energy between about 30 keV and about 100 KeV and a dose between about 1×10 15 /cm 2 and about 6×10 15 /cm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said intermediate control gate layer has a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 800 Å.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said isolating layer has a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 1,000 Å.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top control gate layer has a thickness of between about 2,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said source/drain regions are formed by implanting arsenic into said substrate with an energy of about 50 KeV, and a dose of about 2×10 15 /cm 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said intermediate control gate layer has a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 800 Å.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said isolating layer has a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 1,000 Å.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said top control gate layer has a thickness of between about 2,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
319 words
A method of fabricating an EPROM device on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a tunnel oxide layer on said substrate, forming a first polysilicon layer over said tunnel oxide layer, said first polysilicon layer comprising a floating gate layer, forming a first ONO layer over said first polysilicon layer, forming a second polysilicon layer over said ONO layer, forming a silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer, forming a floating gate mask on said silicon nitride layer, by using said floating gate mask, said first polysilicon layer, said ONO layer, said second polysilicon layer and said silicon nitride layer to form a stacked structure, removing said floating gate mask, forming a split gate mask on a portion of said silicon nitride layer and on a portion of said tunnel oxide layer, ion implanting dopant into source/drain regions in said substrate adjacent to said split gate mask with one of said source/drain regions being self aligned with said stacked structure and the other source/drain region being spaced away from the other side of said stacked structure by said split gate mask, removing said split gate mask, forming a second ONO layer on the resultant structure after removing said split gate mask, performing an etch back of said second ONO layer to form sidewalls adjacent to said stack thereby exposing portions of said tunnel oxide layer, etching away said exposed portions of said tunnel oxide layer, forming a second dielectric layer on said substrate and said source/drain regions, removing said silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer, forming a blanket third polysilicon layer over the resultant structure after removing said silicon nitride layer, forming a control gate mask on said third polysilicon layer whereby portions of said third polysilicon layer are unprotected, patterning said third polysilicon layer by etchig portions of said third polysilicon layer unprotected by said control gate mask, and removing said control gate mask.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
319 words
A method of fabricating an EPROM device on a lightly doped semiconductor substrate comprising, forming a tunnel oxide layer on said substrate, forming a first polysilicon layer over said tunnel oxide layer, said first polysilicon layer comprising a floating gate layer, forming a first ONO layer over said first polysilicon layer, forming a second polysilicon layer over said ONO layer, forming a silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer, forming a floating gate mask on said silicon nitride layer, by using said floating gate mask, said first polysilicon layer, said ONO layer, said second polysilicon layer and said silicon nitride layer to form a stacked structure, removing said floating gate mask, forming a split gate mask on a portion of said silicon nitride layer and on a portion of said tunnel oxide layer, ion implanting dopant into source/drain regions in said substrate adjacent to said split gate mask with one of said source/drain regions being self aligned with said stacked structure and the other source/drain region being spaced away from the other side of said stacked structure by said split gate mask, removing said split gate mask, forming a second ONO layer on the resultant structure after removing said split gate mask, performing an etch back of said second ONO layer to form sidewalls adjacent to said stack thereby exposing portions of said tunnel oxide layer, etching away said exposed portions of said tunnel oxide layer, forming a second dielectric layer on said substrate and said source/drain regions, removing said silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer, forming a blanket third polysilicon layer over the resultant structure after removing said silicon nitride layer, forming a control gate mask on said third polysilicon layer whereby portions of said third polysilicon layer are unprotected, patterning said third polysilicon layer by etchig portions of said third polysilicon layer unprotected by said control gate mask, and removing said control gate mask.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 where said second dielectric layer comprises a gate oxide having a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 400 Å over said substrate and a thick, field oxide layer having a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 1,000 Å over said source/drain regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 13 where said second dielectric layer is grown by thermal oxidation at a temperature between about 900° C. and about 1000° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said source/drain regions are turned by implanting arsenic into said substrate with an energy between about 30 keV and about 100 keV, and a dose between about 1×10 15 /cm 2 and about 6×10 15 /cm 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said second polysilicon layer has a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 800 Å.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said silicon nitride layer has a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 1,000 Å.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said third polysilicon layer has a thickness of between about 2,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said source/drain regions are formed by implanting arsenic into said substrate with an energy of about 50 keV, and a dose of about 2×10 15 /cm 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said second polysilicon layer has a thickness of between about 500 Å and about 800 Å.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said silicon nitride layer has a thickness of between about 200 Å and about 1,000 Å.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said third polysilicon layer has a thickness of between about 2,000 Å and about 4,000 Å.
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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 |