IP Library Granted Patent US 8,637,918
Granted Patent B2
US 8,637,918 · App. 13/294,098 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Method and device employing polysilicon scaling

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,637,918
App. No.
13/294,098
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory and method of manufacture employing word line scaling. A layered stack, including a charge trapping component and a core polysilicon layer, is formed on a core section and a peripheral section of a substrate. A portion of the layered stack, including the core polysilicon layer is then removed from the peripheral section. A peripheral polysilicon layer, which is thicker than the core polysilicon layer of the layered stack, is next formed on the layered stack and the peripheral section. The layered stack is then isolated from the peripheral polysilicon layer by removing a portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer from the core section, and polysilicon lines are patterned in the isolated layered stack.

Claims (42)

1. A memory, comprising:

a substrate;

one or more core memory cells that each include:

a charge trapping component located on a portion of the substrate,

wherein the charge trapping component includes a charge trapping layer; and

a portion of a word line residing on a portion of the charge trapping component, wherein the word line includes a portion of a core polysilicon layer; and

one or more peripheral devices residing on another portion of the substrate,

wherein the peripheral devices include a portion of a peripheral polysilicon layer, wherein the peripheral polysilicon layer is thicker than the core polysilicon layer,

wherein the portion of the core polysilicon layer has a different line profile than the portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer, and

wherein a height of the one or more core memory cells relative to a surface of the substate is different from a height of the one or more peripheral devices relative to surface of the substrate.

2. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral devices include:

a transistor configured to at least one of select a portion of the core memory cells for read/write access or provide an electrical signal to the core memory cells for at least one of programming or erasing.

3. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the one or more core memory cells each include a barrier layer, a charge trapping layer on the tunneling barrier, and a dielectric layer on the charge trapping layer, wherein the charge trapping layer is configured to store two logic states.

4. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the core polysilicon layer is different from the portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer in with respect to a presence of silicon nitride stringers.

5. The memory of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the core polysilicon layer has a different line aspect ratio than the portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer in line aspect ratios.

6. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprise a transistor configured to provide read and write voltages in the range of 10V to 20V.

7. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the core polysilieon layer and the charge trapping component of the one or more core memory cells together form a layered stack and wherein the one or more core memory cells further comprise a dielectric spacer that seals spacings of the layered stack.

8. A memory, comprising:

a substrate;

one or more core memory cells that each include:

a charge trapping component located on a portion of the substrate, wherein the charge trapping component includes a charge trapping layer; and

a portion of a word line residing on a portion of the charge trapping component, wherein the word line includes a portion of a core polysilicon layer; and

one or more peripheral devices residing on another portion of the substrate, wherein the peripheral devices include a portion of a peripheral polysilicon layer, wherein the peripheral polysilicon layer is thicker than the core polysilicon layer, wherein the core polysilicon layer has a thickness in a range of about 300 to 900 Å, wherein the peripheral polysilicon layer has a thickness in range of about 1000 to 2000 Å, and wherein a height of the one or more core memory cells relative to a surface of the substrate is different from a height of the one or more peripheral devices relative to the surface of the substrate.

9. A memory, comprising:

a substrate;

one or more core memory cells that each include:

a charge trapping component located on a portion of the substrate, wherein the charge trapping, component includes a charge trapping layer; and

a portion of a word line residing on a portion of the charge trapping component, wherein the word line includes a portion of a core polysilicon layer; and

one or more peripheral devices residing on another portion of the substrate,

wherein the peripheral devices include a portion of a peripheral polysilicon layer, wherein the peripheral polysilicon layer is thicker than the core polysilicon layer,

wherein the memory cells are arrayed according to a first pitch,

wherein the peripheral devices are arrayed according to a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch, and

wherein a height of the one or more core memory cells relative to a surface of the substrate is different from a height of the one or more peripheral devices relative to the surface of the substrate.

10. A memory; comprising:

a substrate;

one or more core memory cells that each include:

a charge trapped component located on a portion of the substate, wherein the charge trapping component includes a charge trapping layer; and

a portion of a word line residing on a portion of the charge trapping component, wherein the word line includes a portion of a core polysilicon layer; and

one or more peripheral devices residing on another portion of the substrate, wherein the peripheral devices include a portion of a peripheral polysilicon layer,

wherein the core polysilicon layer has a thickness less than 1000 Å,

wherein the peripheral polysilicon layer has a thickness greater than 1000 Å, and

wherein a height of the one or more core memory cells relative to a surface of the substrate is different from a height of one or more peripheral devices relative to the surface of the substrate.

Assignments (7)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036052/0016 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2012
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 028837/0076 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2011
From: FANG, SHENQING; CHEN, CHUN; LI, WENMEI; KANG, INKUK; XUE, GANG; HONG, HYESOOK
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 027211/0083 →