IP Library Granted Patent US 9,659,946
Granted Patent B2
US 9,659,946 · App. 15/287,672 · Granted May 23, 2017

Self-aligned source for split-gate non-volatile memory cell

Inventors: Chien-Sheng Su (Saratoga, CA); Jeng-Wei Yang (Zhubei, TW); Yueh-Hsin Chen (Pleasanton, CA)
Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
H01L27/11521H01L29/1608H01L29/42328H01L29/66825
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,659,946
App. No.
15/287,672
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device having a pair of conductive floating gates with inner sidewalls facing each other, and disposed over and insulated from a substrate of first conductivity type. A pair of spaced apart conductive control gates each disposed over and insulated from one of the floating gates, and each including inner sidewalls facing each other. A pair of first spacers of insulation material extending along control gate inner sidewalls and over the floating gates. The floating gate inner sidewalls are aligned with side surfaces of the first spacers. A pair of second spacers of insulation material each extend along one of the first spacers and along one of the floating gate inner sidewalls. A trench formed into the substrate having sidewalls aligned with side surfaces of the second spacers. Silicon carbon disposed in the trench. Material implanted into the silicon carbon forming a first region having a second conductivity type.

Claims (16)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a pair of spaced apart conductive floating gates that include inner sidewalls that face each other, wherein the floating gates are disposed over and insulated from a substrate of first conductivity type;

a pair of spaced apart conductive control gates each disposed over and insulated from one of the floating gates, wherein each of the control gates includes opposing inner and outer sidewalls, and wherein the inner sidewalls of the control gates face each other;

a pair of first spacers of insulation material extending along the inner sidewalls of the control gates and disposed over the floating gates, wherein the inner sidewalls of the floating gates are aligned with side surfaces of the pair of first spacers;

a pair of second spacers of insulation material each extending along one of the first spacers and along the inner sidewall of one of the floating gates;

a trench formed into the substrate having sidewalls that are aligned with side surfaces of the pair of second spacers;

silicon carbon disposed in the trench; and

material implanted into the silicon carbon forming a first region therein having a second conductivity type.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pair of blocks of insulation material each disposed over one of the control gates, wherein each of the first and second spacers extend at least partially along one of the blocks of insulation material.

3. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

silicon dioxide and silicon nitride disposed between each of the control gates and one of the pair of first spacers.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an erase gate of conductive material disposed over and insulated from the first region.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pair of wordline gates each disposed adjacent to and insulated from one of the outer sidewalls and the substrate.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059687/0344 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041675/0316 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14319893 · Jun 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61843189 · Jul 5, 2013
Related Publication 20170025424A1 · Jan 26, 2017