Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
373 words
A method for manufacturing a nonvolatile memory on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate dielectric layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer on said gate dielectric; forming a silicon nitride layer on said first polysilicon layer; patterning said silicon nitride layer, said first polysilicon layer and said gate dielectric layer to form a gate structure on said semiconductor substrate; performed a first thermal oxidation to form a first oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate exposed by said gate structure and simultaneously form a polyoxide layer on side walls of said gate structure; forming an isolating spacers on side walls of said gate structure; performing an ion implantation to form source and drain of said nonvolatile memory in said semiconductor substrate; performing a second thermal oxidation to form a second oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate exposed by said gate structure and said isolating spacers, wherein the dopants of said first ion implantation being driven into said semiconductor substrate; removing said silicon nitride layer, said isolating spacers, then removing said polyoxide layer and said gate dielectric that is uncovered by said gate structure; forming an undoped silicon layer along a surface of said gate structure and said second oxide layer; performing a third thermal oxidation to convert said undoped silicon layer into a third oxide layer having textured interface between said semiconductor substrate and said third oxide layer; forming a second polysilicon layer on said third oxide layer; performing a chemical mechanical polishing to polish a portion of said second polysilicon layer and the top of said third oxide on said gate structure thereby exposing said gate structure, wherein said second polysilicon is separated into two parts adjacent to said gate structure in a cross-sectional view; forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure on said polished second polysilicon layer and on said gate structure, wherein said metal-insulator-metal structure includes a first conductive layer on said polished second polysilicon layer and on said gate structure, an insulator layer on said first conductive layer, a second conductive layer on said insulator layer, said polished polysilicon layer and said gate structure and said first conductive layer are used as a floating gate, wherein said second conductive layer as control gate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
373 words
A method for manufacturing a nonvolatile memory on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate dielectric layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer on said gate dielectric; forming a silicon nitride layer on said first polysilicon layer; patterning said silicon nitride layer, said first polysilicon layer and said gate dielectric layer to form a gate structure on said semiconductor substrate; performed a first thermal oxidation to form a first oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate exposed by said gate structure and simultaneously form a polyoxide layer on side walls of said gate structure; forming an isolating spacers on side walls of said gate structure; performing an ion implantation to form source and drain of said nonvolatile memory in said semiconductor substrate; performing a second thermal oxidation to form a second oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate exposed by said gate structure and said isolating spacers, wherein the dopants of said first ion implantation being driven into said semiconductor substrate; removing said silicon nitride layer, said isolating spacers, then removing said polyoxide layer and said gate dielectric that is uncovered by said gate structure; forming an undoped silicon layer along a surface of said gate structure and said second oxide layer; performing a third thermal oxidation to convert said undoped silicon layer into a third oxide layer having textured interface between said semiconductor substrate and said third oxide layer; forming a second polysilicon layer on said third oxide layer; performing a chemical mechanical polishing to polish a portion of said second polysilicon layer and the top of said third oxide on said gate structure thereby exposing said gate structure, wherein said second polysilicon is separated into two parts adjacent to said gate structure in a cross-sectional view; forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure on said polished second polysilicon layer and on said gate structure, wherein said metal-insulator-metal structure includes a first conductive layer on said polished second polysilicon layer and on said gate structure, an insulator layer on said first conductive layer, a second conductive layer on said insulator layer, said polished polysilicon layer and said gate structure and said first conductive layer are used as a floating gate, wherein said second conductive layer as control gate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming said insulating layer: forming a barrier on said first conductive layer; and forming a dielectric layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said barrier layer comprises a silicon nitride formed by jet vapor deposition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said dielectric layer comprises the material selected from TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , Al 2 O 3 , BST Y 2 O 3 , or PZT.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first conductive layer comprises the material selected from TiN, WN, TaN or n+ doped silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second conductive layer comprises the material selected from TiN, WN, TaN, Ti, W, Pt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said isolating spacers are composed of silicon nitride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first thermal oxidation is performed in N 2 O ambient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first thermal oxidation is performed in NO ambient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first thermal oxidation is performed in N 2 and O 2 ambient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first thermal oxidation is performed at a temperature about 700 to 1150 degrees centigrade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said isolating spacers are removed by using hot phosphorus acid solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said silicon nitride layer is removed by using hot phosphorus acid solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polyoxide layer is removed by using HF solution or BOE solution.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said gate dielectric is removed by using HF solution or BOE solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said third thermal oxidation comprises dry oxidation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said third thermal oxidation is performed in O 2 ambient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said third thermal oxidation is performed at a temperature about 700 to 1000 degrees centigrade.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said undoped silicon layer comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said undoped silicon layer comprises hemispherical grained silicon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said amorphous silicon is formed at a temperature about 400 to 600 degrees centigrade.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said amorphous silicon is formed in an ambient containing SiH 4 /N 2 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said amorphous silicon is formed to have a thickness about 20 to 100 angstroms.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said gate dielectric layer comprises oxide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said gate dielectric layer comprises silicon nitride formed by jet vapor deposition.