Patent US6338992B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6338992B1
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Programmable read only memory in CMOS process flow
Assignee: Broadcom International Pte Ltd
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Filing: 2000-11-29
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Granted: 2002-01-15
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Expires: 2020-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An improvement to a process for manufacturing complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices on a monolithic substrate, where the improved process forms nonvolatile memory devices and programmable logic devices. The improvement includes exposing gate electrodes of a selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices at a point in the process where the gate electrodes have been previously covered by a protective material layer. A capacitive material layer is deposited on the monolithic substrate, such that it contacts the exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. A top electrode material layer is deposited on the monolithic substrate, such that the top electrode material layer contacts the capacitive material layer in a region overlying the exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. The top electrode material layer and the capacitive material layer are removed to substantially the level of the upper surface of the protective material layer, thereby leaving the top electrode layer and the capacitive material layer overlying the gate electrodes for the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. In this manner, capacitors are formed from the top electrode material layer, the capacitive material layer, and the gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. The improved process further includes forming nonvolatile memory devices from the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, and forming logic devices of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices that are not included in the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. Fuses are formed in associated with a portion of the nonvolatile memory devices to form read only memory devices of the fused portion of the nonvolatile memory devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Shafqat Ahmed
- 👤 Hemanshu D. Bhatt
- 👤 Charles E. May
- 👤 Robindranath Banerjee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:55
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B20/00; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/01; H10D84/0123; H10D84/0126; H10D84/0165; H10D84/02; H10D84/03; H10D84/038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
In a process for manufacturing complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices on a monolithic substrate, where the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices each have a gate electrode, the improvement comprising: (a) exposing the gate electrodes of a selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices at a point in the process where the gate electrodes have been previously covered by a protective material layer, where the protective material layer has an upper surface at a level, (b) depositing a capacitive material layer on the monolithic substrate, the capacitive material layer thereby contacting exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (c) depositing a top electrode material layer on the monolithic substrate, the top electrode material layer thereby contacting the capacitive material layer in a region overlying the exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (d) removing the top electrode material layer and the capacitive material layer to substantially the level of the upper surface of the protective material layer, thereby leaving the top electrode layer and the capacitive material layer overlying the gate electrodes for the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, and thereby forming capacitors comprising the top electrode material layer, the capacitive material layer, and the gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, and (e) forming nonvolatile memory devices from the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (f) forming fuses associated with a portion of the nonvolatile memory devices to form programmable read only memory of the fused portion of the nonvolatile memory devices, and (g) forming logic devices of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices not included in the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
In a process for manufacturing complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices on a monolithic substrate, where the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices each have a gate electrode, the improvement comprising: (a) exposing the gate electrodes of a selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices at a point in the process where the gate electrodes have been previously covered by a protective material layer, where the protective material layer has an upper surface at a level, (b) depositing a capacitive material layer on the monolithic substrate, the capacitive material layer thereby contacting exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (c) depositing a top electrode material layer on the monolithic substrate, the top electrode material layer thereby contacting the capacitive material layer in a region overlying the exposed gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (d) removing the top electrode material layer and the capacitive material layer to substantially the level of the upper surface of the protective material layer, thereby leaving the top electrode layer and the capacitive material layer overlying the gate electrodes for the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, and thereby forming capacitors comprising the top electrode material layer, the capacitive material layer, and the gate electrodes of the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, and (e) forming nonvolatile memory devices from the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices, (f) forming fuses associated with a portion of the nonvolatile memory devices to form programmable read only memory of the fused portion of the nonvolatile memory devices, and (g) forming logic devices of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices not included in the selected portion of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises masking the protective material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer down to the second gate electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises depositing the capacitive material layer selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, phosphosilicate glass, and borophosphosilicate glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises depositing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, titanium, and titanium nitride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises selectively removing the top electrode material layer by chemical mechanical polishing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises selectively removing the top electrode material layer by masking and selectively etching the top electrode material layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
A process for manufacturing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor monolithic circuit having a programmable read only memory device and a logic device, where the logic device includes a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode, where the programmable read only memory device includes at least a second gate electrode, and where the first and second gate electrodes, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode are covered by a protective material layer, the process comprising: (a) exposing the second gate electrode by removing a portion of the protective material layer overlying the second gate electrode, (b) forming a capacitive material layer adjacent and overlying the second gate electrode, (c) forming a top electrode material layer adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer, (d) exposing the first source and first drain electrodes by removing portions of at least the protective material layer overlying the first source and first drain electrodes, (e) forming electrical connections through the protective material layer, the electrical connections making electrical connection with the first source and first drain electrodes, (f) forming electrical contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections, and (g) forming a fuse associated with the programmable read only memory device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
A process for manufacturing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor monolithic circuit having a programmable read only memory device and a logic device, where the logic device includes a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode, where the programmable read only memory device includes at least a second gate electrode, and where the first and second gate electrodes, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode are covered by a protective material layer, the process comprising: (a) exposing the second gate electrode by removing a portion of the protective material layer overlying the second gate electrode, (b) forming a capacitive material layer adjacent and overlying the second gate electrode, (c) forming a top electrode material layer adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer, (d) exposing the first source and first drain electrodes by removing portions of at least the protective material layer overlying the first source and first drain electrodes, (e) forming electrical connections through the protective material layer, the electrical connections making electrical connection with the first source and first drain electrodes, (f) forming electrical contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections, and (g) forming a fuse associated with the programmable read only memory device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (a) further comprises masking the protective material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer down to the second gate electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (b) further comprises forming the capacitive material layer by depositing a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, phosphosilicate glass, and borophosphosilicate glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (c) further comprises forming the top electrode material layer by depositing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, titanium, and titanium nitride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (d) further comprises masking the protective material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer down to the first source and first drain electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (f) further comprises: (f1) depositing a metal stack based on one of aluminum technology and copper technology to form a contact material layer overlying and adjacent the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections, and (f2) masking and selectively etching the contact material layer to form the contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7 wherein step (b) further comprises forming the capacitive material layer adjacent and overlying the protective material layer and the second gate electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises: (c1) forming the top electrode material layer adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer, and (c2) selectively removing the top electrode material layer except where the top electrode material layer overlies the second gate electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 14 wherein step (c2) further comprises selectively removing the top electrode material layer by chemical mechanical polishing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 14 wherein step (c2) further comprises selectively removing the top electrode material layer by masking and selectively etching the top electrode material layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process of claim 14 wherein: step (d) further comprises masking the capacitive material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer and the capacitive material layer down to the first source and first drain electrodes, and step (e) further comprises forming the electrical connections through the protective material layer and the capacitive material layer, the electrical connections making electrical connection with the first source and first drain electrodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
353 words
A process for manufacturing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor monolithic circuit having a programmable read only memory device and a logic device, where the logic device includes a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode, where the programmable read only memory device includes at least a second gate electrode, and where the first and second gate electrodes, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode are covered by a protective material layer, the process comprising: (a) exposing the second gate electrode by masking the protective material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer down to the second gate electrode, (b) depositing a capacitive material layer adjacent and overlying the protective material layer and the second gate electrode, the capacitive material layer selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, phosphosilicate glass, and borophosphosilicate glass, (c) forming a top electrode material layer adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer by: (c1) depositing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, titanium, and titanium nitride adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer, and (c2) selectively removing the top electrode material layer except where the top electrode material layer overlies the second gate electrode, (d) exposing the first source and first drain electrodes by masking the capacitive material layer and selectively etching through the capacitive material layer and the protective material layer down to the first source and first drain electrodes, (e) forming electrical connections through the protective material layer and the capacitive material layer, the electrical connections making electrical connection with the first source and first drain electrodes, (f) forming electrical contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections by: (f1) depositing a metal stack based on one of aluminum technology and copper technology to form a contact material layer overlying and adjacent the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections, and (f2) masking and selectively etching the contact material layer to form the contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections. (h) forming a fuse associated with the programmable read only memory device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
353 words
A process for manufacturing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor monolithic circuit having a programmable read only memory device and a logic device, where the logic device includes a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode, where the programmable read only memory device includes at least a second gate electrode, and where the first and second gate electrodes, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode are covered by a protective material layer, the process comprising: (a) exposing the second gate electrode by masking the protective material layer and selectively etching through the protective material layer down to the second gate electrode, (b) depositing a capacitive material layer adjacent and overlying the protective material layer and the second gate electrode, the capacitive material layer selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, phosphosilicate glass, and borophosphosilicate glass, (c) forming a top electrode material layer adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer by: (c1) depositing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, titanium, and titanium nitride adjacent and overlying the capacitive material layer, and (c2) selectively removing the top electrode material layer except where the top electrode material layer overlies the second gate electrode, (d) exposing the first source and first drain electrodes by masking the capacitive material layer and selectively etching through the capacitive material layer and the protective material layer down to the first source and first drain electrodes, (e) forming electrical connections through the protective material layer and the capacitive material layer, the electrical connections making electrical connection with the first source and first drain electrodes, (f) forming electrical contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections by: (f1) depositing a metal stack based on one of aluminum technology and copper technology to form a contact material layer overlying and adjacent the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections, and (f2) masking and selectively etching the contact material layer to form the contacts adjacent and overlying the top electrode material layer and the electrical connections. (h) forming a fuse associated with the programmable read only memory device.
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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) | 2005-01-14 | 2005-07-16 | 2006-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-14 | 2009-07-16 | 2010-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-14 | 2013-07-16 | 2014-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |