Non-volatile memory cell arrays with a sectioned active region and methods of manufacturing thereof

US11538815B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-11538815-B2
Application numberUS-202016935691-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateJul 22, 2020
Priority dateJul 22, 2020
Publication dateDec 27, 2022
Grant dateDec 27, 2022

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

Structures for an array of non-volatile memory cells and methods of forming a structure for an array of non-volatile memory cells. An active region of a substrate includes a first section having a side edge and a second section extending laterally from the side edge. The first section of the active region has a first length dimension in a direction parallel to the first side edge. The second section has a second length dimension in the direction parallel to the first side edge. The second length dimension is less than the first length dimension. A fin is positioned on the substrate in the second section of the active region. A gate structure extends over the fin and the second section of the active region.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. A structure comprising: a substrate including an active region, the active region including a first section having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge, a second section extending laterally from the first side edge, and a third section extending laterally from the second side edge, the second section of the active region centered along the first side edge of the first section of the active region, the first section having a first length dimension in a direction parallel to the first side edge, the second section having a second length dimension in the direction parallel to the first side edge, and the second length dimension less than the first length dimension; a first fin positioned on the substrate in the first section of the active region, the second section of the active region, and the third section of the active region; and a first gate structure that extends over the first fin and the second section of the active region. 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the third section of the active region has a third length dimension in a direction parallel to the second side edge, and the third length dimension is less than the first length dimension. 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the third section of the active region is centered along the second side edge of the first section of the active region. 4. The structure of claim 1 further comprising: a second gate structure that extends across the first fin and the third section of the active region. 5. The structure of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of second fins positioned on the substrate in the first section of the active region, wherein the first fin has a first length, and the plurality of second fins have a second length that is less than the first length. 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein the first fin has a longitudinal axis, and the first fin extends along the longitudinal axis fully beneath the first gate structure. 7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the first fin extends along the longitudinal axis beyond the first gate structure. 8. The structure of claim 1 further comprising: a trench isolation region in the substrate, the trench isolation region defining a boundary for the active region. 9. A structure comprising: a substrate including an active region, the active region including a first section having a first side edge and a second section extending laterally from the first side edge, the first section having a first length dimension in a direction parallel to the first side edge, the second section having a second length dimension in the direction parallel to the first side edge, and the second length dimension less than the first length dimension; a first fin positioned on the substrate in the second section of the active region; a plurality of second fins on the substrate in the first section of the active region; and a first gate structure that extends over the first fin, the plurality of second fins, and the second section of the active region; a semiconductor layer on the first fin and the plurality of second fins; and a contact coupled with the semiconductor layer, wherein the contact is positioned over the plurality of second fins and not over the first fin. 10. The structure of claim 9 wherein the active region has a second side edge opposite to the first side edge and a third section extending laterally from the second side edge, the third section has a third length dimension in a direction parallel to the second side edge, and the third length dimension is less than the first length dimension. 11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the second section of the active region is centered along the first side edge of the first section of the active region, and the third section of the active region is centered along the second side edge of the first section of the active region. 12. The structure of claim 10 further comprising: a third fin positioned on the substrate in the third section of the active region, wherein the plurality of second fins are laterally arranged between the first fin and the third fin. 13. The structure of claim 12 wherein the first gate structure extends across the third section of the active region and the third fin. 14. The structure of claim 9 wherein the first fin has a first length, and the plurality of second fins have a second length that is greater than the first length. 15. The structure of claim 9 wherein the second section of the active region is centered along the first side edge of the first section of the active region. 16. The structure of claim 9 further comprising: a trench isolation region in the substrate, the trench isolation region defining a boundary for the active region. 17. The structure of claim 9 further comprising: a second gate structure that extends across the first section of the active region and the plurality of second fins. 18. A method comprising: forming a trench isolation region in a substrate to define a boundary for an active region, wherein the active region includes a first section having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge, a second section extending laterally from the first side edge, and a third section extending laterally from the second side edge, the second section of the active region is centered along the first side edge of the first section of the active region, the first section has a first length dimension in a direction parallel to the first side edge, the second section has a second length dimension in the direction parallel to the first side edge, and the second length dimension is less than the first length dimension; forming a first fin positioned on the substrate in the first section of the active region, the second section of the active region, and the third section of the active region; and forming a first gate structure that extends over the first fin and the second section of the active region. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the third section of the active region has a third length dimension in a direction parallel to the second side edge, and the third length dimension is less than the first length dimension. 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising: forming a second gate structure that extends over the first fin and the third section of the active region.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US11538815B2 cover?
Structures for an array of non-volatile memory cells and methods of forming a structure for an array of non-volatile memory cells. An active region of a substrate includes a first section having a side edge and a second section extending laterally from the side edge. The first section of the active region has a first length dimension in a direction parallel to the first side edge. The second se…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Globalfoundries Us Inc
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification H01L27/11206. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Dec 27 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 9 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).