Electronic device including trenches and discontinuous storage elements
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a substrate having a primary surface and including a trench having a bottom and a first wall;
a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench, wherein the first gate electrode includes a portion that extends to an elevation higher than an elevation of the primary surface of the substrate;
a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench;
a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench; and
discontinuous storage elements including a first set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements lies adjacent to the first wall of the trench, and wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements include silicon nanocrystals or metal nanoclusters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device can include a substrate including a trench having a bottom and a first wall. The electronic device can also include a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench, a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench, and a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench. The electronic device can also include discontinuous storage elements including a first set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements lies adjacent to the first wall of the trench. Processes of forming and using the electronic device are also described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a substrate having a primary surface and including a trench having a bottom and a first wall; a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench, wherein the first gate electrode includes a portion that extends to an elevation higher than an elevation of the primary surface of the substrate; a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench; a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench; and discontinuous storage elements including a first set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements lies adjacent to the first wall of the trench, and wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements include silicon nanocrystals or metal nanoclusters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic device comprising:
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a substrate having primary surface and including a trench having a bottom and a first wall; a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench, wherein the first gate electrode includes a portion that extends to an elevation higher than an elevation of the primary surface of the substrate; a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench; a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench; and discontinuous storage elements including a first set and a second set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein; within a first memory cell, the discontinuous storage elements include individual discontinuous storage elements that are substantially physically separated from each other; the first set of discontinuous storage elements lies between the second gate electrode and the substrate; and the second set of discontinuous storage elements lies between the third gate electrode and the bottom of the trench. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic device comprising:
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a substrate including a trench having a bottom and a first wall; a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench; a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench; a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench; a first source/drain region lying within the substrate below the bottom of the trench and adjacent to the third gate electrode; and a second source/drain region lying within the substrate outside of the trench and adjacent to the second gate electrode; and discontinuous storage elements including a first set and a second set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein; the first set of discontinuous storage elements lies between the second gate electrode and the substrate; the second set of discontinuous storage elements lies between the third gate electrode and the bottom of the trench; the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, the third gate electrode the first and second sets of discontinuous storage elements, the first source/drain region and the second ion are arts of a first memory cell; and each of the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, and third gate electrode has an arc-shaped edge.
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Specification