US5889302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multilayer floating gate field effect transistor structure for use in integrated circuit devices
Assignee: Monterey Research LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-21
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Granted: 1999-03-30
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Expires: 2017-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A floating gate field effect transistor (FET) is provided on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) or silicon-on-insulator structure. The silicon substrate is etched to form stepped structures upon which the transistors are formed. Layers of silicon substrate can be stacked upon each other to form a multi-layer system. Interlayer vias can be provided to connect each layer of the two-layer structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Yowjuang William Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:27
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B41/00; H10B41/20; H10B69/00; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/01; H10D84/02; H10D84/03; H10D84/038; H10D88/00; H10D88/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A flash memory integrated circuit, comprising: a first semiconductor-on-insulator layer including a first insulating layer above a first conductive layer above a first semiconductor substrate above a first floating gate above a first control gate above a second insulating layer, the first semiconductor substrate containing a first channel region situated above the first floating gate; and a second semiconductor-on-insulator layer including a third insulating layer above a second conductive layer above a second semiconductor substrate above a second floating gate, above a second control gate above a fourth insulating layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region situated above the second floating gate, the fourth insulating layer being in contact with the first insulating layer, wherein the first semiconductor substrate is stacked below the second semiconductor substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A flash memory integrated circuit, comprising: a first semiconductor-on-insulator layer including a first insulating layer above a first conductive layer above a first semiconductor substrate above a first floating gate above a first control gate above a second insulating layer, the first semiconductor substrate containing a first channel region situated above the first floating gate; and a second semiconductor-on-insulator layer including a third insulating layer above a second conductive layer above a second semiconductor substrate above a second floating gate, above a second control gate above a fourth insulating layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region situated above the second floating gate, the fourth insulating layer being in contact with the first insulating layer, wherein the first semiconductor substrate is stacked below the second semiconductor substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the first control gate is disposed over three sides of the first floating gate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the first control gate is coupled to the second control gate by an interlayer via extending through the first semiconductor substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the fourth insulating layer and the first insulating layer are bonded by an adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The integrated circuit of claim 3 wherein the first conductive layer is a silicide layer and the interlayer via is coupled to the silicide layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the first substrate is coupled to a substrate via to receive a substrate bias signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The integrated circuit of claim 3 wherein the interlayer via is separated from the first channel region by a doped region isolating the interlayer via from the first channel region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A multilayer structure for containing a plurality of floating gate transistors, the multilayer structure comprising: a first layer including a first insulative layer above a first conductive layer above a first semiconductor substrate above a first floating gate above a first control gate above a second insulative layer, the first semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded on three sides by the first control gate; and a second layer including a third insulative layer above a second conductive layer, above a second semiconductor substrate, above a second floating gate above a second control gate above a fourth insulative layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region, the second semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded on three sides by the second control gate, wherein the first semiconductor substrate is stacked below the second semiconductor substrate and the first insulative layer is bonded to the fourth insulative layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A multilayer structure for containing a plurality of floating gate transistors, the multilayer structure comprising: a first layer including a first insulative layer above a first conductive layer above a first semiconductor substrate above a first floating gate above a first control gate above a second insulative layer, the first semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded on three sides by the first control gate; and a second layer including a third insulative layer above a second conductive layer, above a second semiconductor substrate, above a second floating gate above a second control gate above a fourth insulative layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region, the second semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded on three sides by the second control gate, wherein the first semiconductor substrate is stacked below the second semiconductor substrate and the first insulative layer is bonded to the fourth insulative layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The multilayer structure of claim 8 wherein a conductive via is disposed through the second layer into the first layer, the conductive via being electrically coupled to the first substrate and the second substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multilayer structure of claim 9 wherein the conductive via is disposed through the second substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The multilayer structure of claim 10 wherein the first control gate and the second control gate are coupled by a control via, the control via extending at least partially through the first layer and the second layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multilayer structure of claim 8 wherein the first layer and the second layer are bonded by an adhesive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multilayer structure of claim 11 wherein the first control gate is a silicide material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multilayer structure of claim 12 wherein the first floating gate is a polysilicon material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The multilayer structure of claim 13 wherein the first floating gate and the first control gate are separated by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being an oxide-nitride-oxide material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
186 words
A multilayer structure for containing a plurality of floating gate transistors, the multilayer structure being fabricated by a method comprising: providing a first layer including a first insulative layer above a first conductive layer, above a first semiconductor substrate, above a first floating gate, above a first control gate, above a second insulative layer, the first semiconductor substrate containing a first channel region situated adjacent the first floating gate, the first semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded by the first control gate, the first control gate being electrically coupled to a first via; providing a second layer including a third insulative layer above a second conductive layer, above a second semiconductor substrate, above a second floating gate, above a second control gate, above a fourth insulative layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region situated adjacent the second floating gate, the second semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded by the second control gate, the second control gate being electrically coupled to a second via; attaching the first layer to the second layer; and electrically coupling the first via to the second via.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
186 words
A multilayer structure for containing a plurality of floating gate transistors, the multilayer structure being fabricated by a method comprising: providing a first layer including a first insulative layer above a first conductive layer, above a first semiconductor substrate, above a first floating gate, above a first control gate, above a second insulative layer, the first semiconductor substrate containing a first channel region situated adjacent the first floating gate, the first semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded by the first control gate, the first control gate being electrically coupled to a first via; providing a second layer including a third insulative layer above a second conductive layer, above a second semiconductor substrate, above a second floating gate, above a second control gate, above a fourth insulative layer, the second semiconductor substrate containing a second channel region situated adjacent the second floating gate, the second semiconductor substrate being at least partially surrounded by the second control gate, the second control gate being electrically coupled to a second via; attaching the first layer to the second layer; and electrically coupling the first via to the second via.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The multilayer structure of claim 16 wherein the first layer includes a first support substrate and the second layer includes a second support substrate, wherein the second support substrate is attached to the second layer by a temporary bond and the second support substrate is removed prior to the attaching step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multilayer structure of claim 16 wherein the first via is coupled to a first suicide layer and the second via is coupled to a second silicide layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The multilayer structure of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises: providing an interlevel conductive via, the interlevel conductive via being coupled to the first silicide layer and the second silicide layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multilayer structure of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises: depositing an insulating layer over the second layer; and providing a metal layer over the insulating layer.
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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) | 2002-03-29 | 2002-09-28 | 2003-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-09-28 | 2007-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-29 | 2010-09-28 | 2011-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |