Patent ID: 7211878
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor nonvolatile memory including memory cells, comprising: a transistor including a control electrode provided on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type with a first insulating film therebetween, and a pair of a first main electrode region and a second main electrode region which include diffused impurities of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type and which are in a surface layer region of the semiconductor substrate at positions with the control electrode interposed therebetween; a resistance-varying portion of the second conductivity type in the surface layer region of the semiconductor substrate at a portion sandwiched between at least either one of the first main electrode region or the second main electrode region and a channel-forming region under the control electrode, the resistance-varying portion trapping electrons therein and having an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the at least either one of the first main electrode region or the second main electrode region; and an electric charge-accumulating portion formed on the resistance-varying portion, the electric charge-accumulating portion including an insulating layer that accumulates an electric charge from the trapped electrons in the resistance varying portion, the trapped electrons injected into the electric charge-accumulating portion by hot carriers.