Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080237683 | HIGH-K TRILAYER DIELECTRIC DEVICE AND METHODS - Methods and structures are described for reducing a gate leakage current and increasing gate coupling ratio in a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, nitride layers are used to limit the oxidation of adjacent silicon gate regions due to oxygen in an intermediate insulator. In various embodiments, the intermediate insulator includes a high-κ dielectric material. Apparatus according to embodiments of the invention are also disclosed. | 10-02-2008 |
20090001443 | NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CELL WITH MULTI-LAYER BLOCKING DIELECTRIC - Disclosed is a non-volatile memory cell. The non-volatile memory cell includes a substrate having an active area. A bottom dielectric layer is disposed over the active area of the substrate which provides tunneling migration to the charge carriers towards the active area. A charge storage node is disposed above the bottom dielectric layer. Further, the non-volatile memory cell includes a plurality of top dielectric layers disposed above the charge storage node. Each of the plurality of top dielectric layers can be tuned with a set of attributes for reducing a leakage current through the plurality of top dielectric layers. Over the plurality of top dielectric layers, a control gate is disposed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090097320 | Memory Cells, Electronic Systems, Methods Of Forming Memory Cells, And Methods of Programming Memory Cells - Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones. | 04-16-2009 |
20090283817 | FLOATING GATE STRUCTURES - Floating gate structures are generally described. In one example, an electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate, a tunnel dielectric coupled with the semiconductor substrate, and a floating gate structure comprising at least a first region having a first electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency coupled with the tunnel dielectric and a second region having a second electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency coupled with the first region wherein the first electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency is less than the second electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency. Such electronic device may reduce the thickness of the floating gate structure or reduce leakage current through an inter-gate dielectric, or combinations thereof, compared with a floating gate structure that comprises only polysilicon. | 11-19-2009 |
20090321809 | GRADED OXY-NITRIDE TUNNEL BARRIER - Briefly, a tunnel barrier for a non-volatile memory device comprising a graded oxy-nitride layer is disclosed. | 12-31-2009 |
20100105186 | Methods For Forming Semiconductor Constructions, And Methods For Selectively Etching Silicon Nitride Relative To Conductive Material - The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl | 04-29-2010 |
20100320566 | Semiconductor constructions - The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices. | 12-23-2010 |
20110133268 | Memory Cells - Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones. | 06-09-2011 |
20110147827 | Flash memory with partially removed blocking dielectric in the wordline direction - The present disclosure relates generally to the fabrication of non-volatile memory. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming a layered blocking dielectric which has a portion thereof removed in the wordline direction. | 06-23-2011 |
20120168903 | Semiconductor Constructions Containing Tubular Capacitor Storage Nodes, And Retaining Structures Along Portions Of The Tubular Capacitor Storage Nodes - The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices. | 07-05-2012 |
20130252398 | Methods for Forming Semiconductor Constructions, and Methods for Selectively Etching Silicon Nitride Relative to Conductive Material - The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl | 09-26-2013 |
20130264628 | USE OF ETCH PROCESS POST WORDLINE DEFINITION TO IMPROVE DATA RETENTION IN A FLASH MEMORY DEVICE - Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques and configurations relating to use of an etch process post wordline definition to improve data retention in a flash memory device. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a plurality of wordline structures on a substrate, wherein individual wordline structures of the plurality of wordline structures include a control gate having an electrically conductive material and a cap having an electrically insulative material formed on the control gate, depositing an electrically insulative material to form a liner on a surface of the individual wordline structures, and etching the liner to remove at least a portion of the liner. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. | 10-10-2013 |
20140162430 | Methods for Forming Semiconductor Constructions, and Methods for Selectively Etching Silicon Nitride Relative to Conductive Material - The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl | 06-12-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090057744 | THICKENED SIDEWALL DIELECTRIC FOR MEMORY CELL - Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area. | 03-05-2009 |
20100197131 | THICKENED SIDEWALL DIELECTRIC FOR MEMORY CELL - Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area. | 08-05-2010 |
20120032252 | THICKENED SIDEWALL DIELECTRIC FOR MEMORY CELL - Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area. | 02-09-2012 |
20140159136 | THICKENED SIDEWALL DIELECTRIC FOR MEMORY CELL - Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area. | 06-12-2014 |