IP Library Granted Patent US 10,249,631
Granted Patent B2
US 10,249,631 · App. 15/945,161 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Split gate non-volatile flash memory cell having metal gates

Inventors: Chien-Sheng Su (Saratoga, CA); Feng Zhou (Fremont, CA); Jeng-Wei Yang (Zhubei, TW); Hieu Van Tran (San Jose, CA); Nhan Do (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
H01L27/11521H01L21/28273H01L27/11524H01L29/42328H01L29/66825H01L29/788H01L29/7881
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,249,631
App. No.
15/945,161
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device including a silicon substrate having a planar upper surface in a memory cell area and an upwardly extending silicon fin in a logic device area. The silicon fin includes side surfaces extending up and terminating at a top surface. The logic device includes spaced apart source and drain regions with a channel region extending there between (along the top surface and the side surfaces), and a conductive logic gate disposed over the top surface and laterally adjacent to the side surfaces. The memory cell includes spaced apart source and drain regions with a second channel region extending there between, a conductive floating gate disposed over one portion of the second channel region, a conductive word line gate disposed over another portion of the second channel region, a conductive control gate disposed over the floating gate, and a conductive erase gate disposed over the source region.

Claims (18)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a silicon substrate having an upper surface, wherein:

the upper surface is planar in a memory cell area of the silicon substrate,

the upper surface includes an upwardly extending silicon fin in a logic device area of the silicon substrate, and

the silicon fin includes a pair of side surfaces extending up and terminating at a top surface;

a logic device in the logic device area, comprising:

spaced apart first source and first drain regions formed in the silicon substrate with a first channel region of the silicon substrate extending there between, wherein the first channel region extends along the top surface and the pair of side surfaces, and

a conductive logic gate disposed over and insulated from the top surface, and disposed laterally adjacent to and insulated from the pair of side surfaces;

a memory cell in the memory cell area, comprising:

spaced apart second source and second drain regions formed in the silicon substrate with a second channel region of the silicon substrate extending there between,

a conductive floating gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the second channel region that is adjacent the second source region,

a conductive word line gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the second channel region that is adjacent the second drain region,

a conductive control gate disposed over and insulated from the floating gate, and

a conductive erase gate disposed over and insulated from the second source region.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive logic gate is insulated from the top surface and from the pair of side surfaces by a layer of high K material.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the conductive logic gate is formed of metal.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the word line gate is insulated from the second portion of the second channel region by a layer of high K material.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the word line gate is insulated from the second portion of the second channel region by a layer of high K material and a layer of oxide.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15295022 · Oct 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62250349 · Nov 3, 2015
Related Publication 20180226420A1 · Aug 9, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,453,136