IP Library Granted Patent US 9,343,473
Granted Patent B2
US 9,343,473 · App. 14/935,483 · Granted May 17, 2016

Structure and method for manufacture of memory device with thin silicon body

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,343,473
App. No.
14/935,483
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein is a structure and method of manufacturing for a memory device with a thin silicon body. The memory device may be a semiconductor comprising: a first dielectric of a first width; a second dielectric of a second width, the second width less than the first width; and a thin film polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) on sidewalls of the second dielectric.

Claims (31)

1. A method for forming a first memory stack in fabrication of a nonvolatile memory device, the method comprising:

depositing a first dielectric layer above an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate;

depositing a second dielectric layer of a material different from the first dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer;

carrying out anisotropic etching of the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer sequentially, so as to create a first dielectric pattern and a second dielectric pattern above the first dielectric pattern;

carrying out isotropic etching of the first and second dielectric patterns, and the isotropic etching for the first dielectric pattern is at a higher etch rate than the isotropic etching for the second dielectric layer, and the isotropic etching removing at least a portion of the first dielectric pattern and forming at least one undercut space under the second dielectric pattern;

depositing a first film of a conducting or a semiconducting material at least on a sidewall of the second dielectric pattern and in the at least one undercut space;

carrying out dry etching in a manner so as to remove the first film from the sidewall of the second dielectric pattern and to leave the first film in the at least one undercut space;

depositing a third dielectric layer over at least a sidewall of the first film; and

depositing a second film of a conducting or a semiconducting material over the third dielectric layer, so that a topmost portion of the second film is at a location higher than a topmost portion of the second dielectric pattern and a bottom-most portion of the second film is at a lower location that the first film.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second memory stack adjacent to the first memory stack is formed at same actions as for forming of the first memory stack, and the second memory stack having a structure at least substantially identical to the first memory stack.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second film is deposited to fill a space between the first and the second memory stack.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the carrying out of the isotropic etching does not remove the first dielectric pattern entirely, so that a part of the first dielectric pattern remains under the second dielectric pattern after the carrying out of the isotropic etching.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first film is comprised of polysilicon.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first film extends continuously in a first direction horizontal to an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second film extends continuously in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first dielectric layer is made of a material with a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first dielectric layer is made of silicon oxide, and the second dielectric layer is made of silicon nitride.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein before the depositing of the first film:

i) a third dielectric pattern is formed on the second dielectric pattern; and

ii) a fourth dielectric pattern is formed on the third dielectric pattern, and the third dielectric pattern being of a same material as the first dielectric pattern, and the fourth dielectric pattern being of a same material as the second dielectric pattern.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first film left in the at least one undercut space has a thickness in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate which is smaller than a height in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrying out of the isotropic etching does not remove the first dielectric pattern entirely, so that a part of the first dielectric pattern remains under the second dielectric pattern after the carrying out of the isotropic etching.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first film is comprised of polysilicon.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first film extends continuously in a first direction horizontal to an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second film extends continuously in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric layer is made of a material with a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first dielectric layer is made of silicon oxide, and the second dielectric layer is made of silicon nitride.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein before the depositing of the first film:

i) a third dielectric pattern is formed on the second dielectric pattern; and

ii) a fourth dielectric pattern is formed on the third dielectric pattern, and the third dielectric pattern being of a same material as the first dielectric pattern, and the fourth dielectric pattern being of a same material as the second dielectric pattern.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first film left in the at least one undercut space has a thickness in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate which is smaller than a height in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054445/0390 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046900/0136 →