Contact strap for memory array

1. A method for forming a device comprising:

providing a substrate having a memory array region;

performing front end of line (FEOL) processing, wherein the FEOL processing forms a row of memory cell pairs having a plurality of memory cell pairs, each of the memory cell pairs includes first and second memory cells, wherein each of the memory cells includes

an access gate and a storage gate adjacent to the access gate, wherein the access gate and storage gate are gate conductors which extend a length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as common access and storage gates for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

an erase gate disposed adjacent to the storage gate and between the first and second memory cells, wherein the erase gate is a common erase gate of the first and second memory cells, the erase gate is a gate conductor which extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as a common erase gate for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed within the substrate, the first S/D region is adjacent to the access gate, the second S/D region is adjacent to the storage gate and underlaps the erase gate, wherein the second S/D region is a common second S/D region of the first and second memory cells,

a source line isolation dielectric disposed on the substrate and between the first and second memory cells, wherein the source line isolation dielectric extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and separates the erase gate from the second S/D region, the source line isolation dielectric is a common source line isolation dielectric of the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

an array isolation region in the memory array region, the array isolation region isolates the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the array isolation region does not extend to isolate the second S/D region of each memory cell pair, and

wherein the second S/D region extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and serves as a common second S/D region for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs;

forming a source line (SL) strap opening within a portion of the erase gate to expose a portion of the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein

forming the source line strap opening comprises forming a first concentric SL strap opening and forming a second concentric SL strap opening within the first concentric SL strap opening, and

the source line strap opening is formed between a first memory cell pair and a second memory cell pair of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the source line strap opening does not overlap the storage gates of the memory cells; and

performing back-end-of-line (BEOL) processing, wherein the BEOL processing couples a source line to the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the second S/D region serves as a common buried source line for the row of memory cell pairs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the storage gates comprises a control gate over a floating gate and a hard mask is formed over the control gate, wherein the control gate and floating gate are gate conductors which extend the length of the row of memory cell pairs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the SL strap opening exposes the common second S/D region for silicidation process.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising performing a first mask and etch process to form the first concentric SL strap opening.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first mask and etch process removes a portion of the erase gate and exposes a top portion of the common source line isolation dielectric without exposing the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising performing a second mask and etch process to form the second concentric SL strap opening.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second mask and etch process removes a portion of the exposed common source line isolation dielectric and exposes a top portion of the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising performing a metal silicidation process to form a metal silicide contact on the exposed top portion of the common second S/D region.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the control gates includes a bended and expanded region adjacent to the SL strap opening.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each of the access gates includes a bended region adjacent to the bended and expanded region of the control gates.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the control gates includes a same width throughout its length.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the control gates includes different widths throughout its length.

13. A method for forming a device comprising:

providing a substrate having a memory array region;

performing front end of line (FEOL) processing, wherein the FEOL processing forms a row of memory pairs having a plurality of memory cell pairs, each of the memory cell pairs includes first and second memory cells, wherein each of the memory cells includes

a cell transistor having a split gate, wherein the split gate comprises an access gate and a storage gate adjacent to the access gate, wherein the storage gate is a gate conductor which extends a length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as common storage gate for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs, the storage gate comprises a control gate over a floating gate, wherein the control gate is a gate conductor which extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and the control gate includes different widths throughout its length,

an erase gate disposed adjacent to the split gate and between the first and second memory cells, wherein the erase gate is a common erase gate of the first and second memory cells, the erase gate is a gate conductor which extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as a common erase gate for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed within the substrate, the first S/D region is adjacent to a first side of the split gate, the second S/D region is adjacent to a second side of the split gate and underlaps the erase gate, wherein the second S/D region is a common second S/D region of the first and second memory cells,

an array isolation region in the memory array region, the array isolation region isolates the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs, and

wherein the second S/D region extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and serves as a common second S/D region for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs;

forming a source line (SL) strap opening within a portion of the erase gate to expose a portion of the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the source line strap opening is formed between a first memory cell pair and a second memory cell pair of the row of memory cell pairs; and

forming a metal silicide contact on the exposed portion of the common second S/D region.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising performing back-end-of-line (BEOL) processing, wherein the BEOL processing couples a source line to the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the second S/D region serves as a common buried source line for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising forming a hard mask disposed on the gate conductor of each control gate of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the hard mask extends along the length of the row of memory cell pairs.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the gate conductor of each control gate of the row of memory cell pairs comprises an expanded region adjacent to the SL strap opening.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising forming a control gate (CG) strap opening within a portion of the hard mask, wherein the CG strap opening exposes a top portion of the expanded region of the control gate.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein forming the source line strap opening comprises forming a first concentric SL strap opening and forming a second concentric SL strap opening within the first concentric SL strap opening.

19. A method for forming a device comprising:

providing a substrate having a memory array region;

performing front end of line (FEOL) processing, wherein the FEOL processing forms a row of memory cell pairs having a plurality of memory cell pairs, each of the memory cell pairs includes first and second memory cells, wherein each of the memory cells includes

an access gate and a storage gate adjacent to the access gate, wherein the storage gate extends a length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as a common storage gate for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

an erase gate disposed adjacent to the storage gate and between the first and second memory cells, wherein the erase gate is a common erase gate of the first and second memory cells, wherein the erase gate extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs to serve as a common erase gate for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs,

first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed within the substrate, the first S/D region is adjacent to the access gate, the second S/D region is adjacent to the storage gate and underlaps the erase gate, wherein the second S/D region is a common second S/D region of the first and second memory cells, wherein the second S/D region extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and serves as a common second S/D region for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs, and

a source line isolation dielectric disposed on the substrate and between the first and second memory cells, wherein the source line isolation dielectric extends the length of the row of memory cell pairs and separates the erase gate from the second S/D region, the source line isolation dielectric is a common source line isolation dielectric of the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs; and

forming a source line (SL) strap opening to expose a portion of the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein forming the SL strap opening comprises

forming a first concentric SL strap opening within a portion of the erase gate to expose a top portion of the source line isolation dielectric, wherein the first concentric SL strap opening does not overlap the storage gates of the memory cells, and

forming a second concentric SL strap opening within the exposed top portion of the source line isolation dielectric to expose the portion of the common second S/D region.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising performing back-end-of-line (BEOL) processing, wherein the BEOL processing couples a source line to the common second S/D region of the row of memory cell pairs, wherein the second S/D region serves as a common buried source line for the memory cells of the row of memory cell pairs.