IP Library Granted Patent US 8,587,049
Granted Patent B2
US 8,587,049 · App. 11/458,046 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Memory cell system with charge trap

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,587,049
App. No.
11/458,046
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory cell system is provided forming a first insulator layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a charge trap layer over the first insulator layer, forming an intermediate layer over the charge trap layer, and forming a second insulator layer with the intermediate layer.

Claims (22)

1. A memory cell manufacturing method comprising:

forming a first insulator layer over a semiconductor substrate;

forming a charge trap layer over the first insulator layer;

forming an intermediate layer over the charge trap layer; and

forming a second insulator layer from an upper portion of the intermediate layer;

wherein the charge trap layer comprises a first material and the intermediate layer comprises a second material, wherein the first material is situated adjacent to the first insulator layer and the second material is situated adjacent to the second insulator layer so as to cause a charge-storage bi-layer formed by the charge trap layer and the intermediate layer to have increased data retention.

2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein forming the charge trap layer includes forming a silicon rich nitride.

3. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein forming the intermediate layer includes forming a stoichiometric silicon nitride.

4. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein forming the second insulator layer includes steam oxidizing the upper portion of the intermediate layer.

5. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

forming a memory system with memory cell systems; and

forming a device or an electronic system with the memory system.

6. A memory cell manufacturing method comprising:

forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate;

forming a silicon rich nitride layer over the first dielectric layer;

forming an intermediate layer with a nitride over the silicon rich nitride layer; and

forming a second dielectric layer by steam oxidizing the intermediate layer;

wherein the silicon rich nitride layer is situated adjacent to the first dielectric layer and the nitride in the intermediate layer is situated adjacent to the second dielectric layer so as to cause a charge-storage bi-layer formed by the silicon rich nitride layer and the intermediate layer to have increased data retention.

7. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein forming the second dielectric layer by steam oxidizing the intermediate layer includes filling a pinhole in the intermediate layer.

8. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein forming the second dielectric layer by steam oxidizing the intermediate layer includes oxidizing the entire thickness of the intermediate layer.

9. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein forming the intermediate layer includes forming a gradient concentration of the silicon rich nitride layer.

10. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising connecting a gate contact over the second dielectric layer.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →