Process for forming an electronic device including discontinuous storage elements
First Claim
1. A process for forming an electronic device, the process comprising:
- forming a first trench within a substrate, wherein the first trench includes a wall and a bottom and extends from a primary surface of the substrate;
forming discontinuous storage elements over the primary surface and within the first trench, wherein a first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies within the first trench;
forming a first gate electrode within the first trench after forming the discontinuous storage elements, wherein;
the first gate electrode has an upper surface that lies below the primary surface of the substrate; and
at least part of the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies between the first gate electrode and the wall of the first trench;
forming a second gate electrode that overlies the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate, wherein after forming the second gate electrode, at least a part of the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies along the wall of the first trench at an elevation between an upper surface of the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process for forming an electronic device can include forming a trench within a substrate, wherein the trench includes a wall and a bottom. The process can also include including forming a portion of discontinuous storage elements that lie within the trench, and forming a first gate electrode within the trench after forming the discontinuous storage elements. At least one discontinuous storage element lies along the wall of the trench at an elevation between an upper surface of the first gate electrode and a primary surface of the substrate. The process can also include forming a second gate electrode overlying the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for forming an electronic device, the process comprising:
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forming a first trench within a substrate, wherein the first trench includes a wall and a bottom and extends from a primary surface of the substrate; forming discontinuous storage elements over the primary surface and within the first trench, wherein a first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies within the first trench; forming a first gate electrode within the first trench after forming the discontinuous storage elements, wherein; the first gate electrode has an upper surface that lies below the primary surface of the substrate; and at least part of the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies between the first gate electrode and the wall of the first trench; forming a second gate electrode that overlies the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate, wherein after forming the second gate electrode, at least a part of the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies along the wall of the first trench at an elevation between an upper surface of the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for forming an electronic device, the process comprising:
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forming a first trench and a second trench within a substrate, wherein; the first trench is spaced apart from the second trench; and each of the first and second trenches includes a wall and a bottom and extends from a primary surface of the substrate; forming a first dielectric layer within the first and second trenches; forming discontinuous storage elements over the primary surface, over and separate from the first dielectric layer, and within the first and second trenches, wherein; a first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies within the first trench; and a second portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies within the second trench; forming a first conductive layer after forming the discontinuous storage elements; removing a portion of the first conductive layer that overlies the primary surface of the substrate to form a first gate electrode within the first trench and a second gate electrode within the second trench, wherein; the first gate electrode has an upper surface that lies below the primary surface of the substrate; a first discontinuous storage element within the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies between the first gate electrode and the wall of the first trench; the second gate electrode has an upper surface that lies below the primary surface of the substrate; and a second discontinuous storage element within the second portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies between the second gate electrode and the wall of the first trench; forming a second dielectric layer over the first and second gate electrodes, wherein the second dielectric layer has a first portion with an upper surface within the first trench and a second portion with an upper surface within the second trench; forming a second conductive layer after removing the portion of the first conductive layer that overlies the primary surface of the substrate; and patterning the second conductive layer to form a third gate electrode that overlies the first gate electrode and the primary surface of the substrate, wherein after patterning the second conductive layer; at least a part of the first portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies along the wall of the first trench at an elevation between the upper surface of the first portion of the second dielectric layer and the primary surface of the substrate; and at least a part of the second portion of the discontinuous storage elements lies along the wall of the second trench at an elevation between the upper surface of the second portion of the second dielectric layer and the primary surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification