IP Library Granted Patent US 11,018,132
Granted Patent B2
US 11,018,132 · App. 16/380,953 · Granted May 25, 2021

Method of fabricating semiconductor device

Inventors: Tzu-Ping Chen (Hsinchu County, TW); Chien-Hung Chen (Hsin-Chu, TW)
Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
H01L27/0629H01L21/28518H01L21/31144H01L27/11541H01L27/11543H01L29/40114H01L29/42324H01L29/66825H01L29/7881
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,018,132
App. No.
16/380,953
Granted
May 25, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a tunnel dielectric on the semiconductor substrate; forming a floating gate on the tunnel dielectric; forming an insulation layer conformally disposed on the top surface and the sidewall surface of the floating gate; forming a control gate disposed on the insulation layer and the floating gate; and forming a spacer continuously distributed on the sidewall surfaces of the floating gate and the control gate, where the spacer overlaps portions of the top surface of the floating gate.

Claims (22)

1. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a tunnel dielectric on the semiconductor substrate;

forming a floating gate on the tunnel dielectric, wherein the floating gate comprises a top surface and a sidewall surface;

forming an insulation layer, conformally disposed on the top surface and the sidewall surface of the floating gate;

forming a control gate, disposed on the insulation layer and the floating gate, wherein the control gate comprises a sidewall surface; and

forming a spacer, continuously distributed on the sidewall surfaces of the floating gate and the control gate,

wherein the spacer overlaps portions of the top surface of the floating gate, wherein a side surface of the spacer comprises a recess, and a totality of the recess is vertically aligned with a totality of the control gate, and the totality of the recess is vertically above a totality of the floating gate.

2. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the floating gate and the control gate respectively comprise a width, the widths are parallel to an orientation, the width of the floating gate is greater than the width of the control gate.

3. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a cell region and a peripheral region, the method further comprises:

depositing a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer is disposed in the cell region and the peripheral region; and

patterning the semiconductor layer to fabricate a plurality of patterned structures, the patterned structures are respectively disposed in the cell region and the peripheral region, wherein the patterned structure in the cell region is a floating gate, the patterned structures in the peripheral region are respectively a gate electrode and a resistor layer.

4. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 3 , further comprising forming the insulation layer to conformally cover the gate electrode and the resistor layer.

5. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 3 , after forming the control gate, the method further comprising:

forming a spacer layer, covering the control gate, the gate electrode and the resistor layer; and

etching the spacer layer by an anisotropic etching process so as to concurrently fabricate the spacer and a plurality of further spacers, wherein the further spacers are respectively disposed on a sidewall surfaces of the gate electrode and the resistor layer.

6. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 5 , after forming the spacer, the method further comprising:

forming a dielectric layer, covering the control gate, the gate electrode and the resistor layer;

forming an etch mask to cover the dielectric layer disposed on the resistor layer and to cover the resistor layer; and

performing an anisotropic etching process to completely remove the dielectric layer covering disposed over the gate electrode, wherein the dielectric layer disposed on the resistor layer and the resistor layer are covered with the etch mask during the anisotropic etching process.

7. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device of claim 6 , further comprising:

removing the etch mask; and

performing a self-aligned silicidation process under the protection of the dielectric layer to concurrently form silicides on portions of a surface of the semiconductor substrate and on the top surface of the control gate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: MARLIN SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056991/0292 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 106111597 · Apr 6, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 15591031 · May 9, 2017
Related Publication 20190237460A1 · Aug 1, 2019