Patent ID: 8647946
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: B82Y,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a semiconductor device comprising: providing a substrate prepared with a second gate structure; forming an inter-gate dielectric on the substrate and over the second gate; forming a first gate, wherein the first gate is adjacent to and separated from the second gate by the inter-gate dielectric; patterning the substrate to form a split gate structure with the first and second adjacent gates, wherein the inter-gate dielectric layer below the first gate and between the first and second gates forms a charge storage layer, the first and second gates include first and second adjacent sidewalls which are adjacent to the first and second gates and first and second non-adjacent sidewalls; forming a first diffusion region adjacent to the first non-adjacent sidewall of the first gate and a second diffusion region adjacent to the second non-adjacent sidewall of the second gate; and providing the split gate structure with an e-field equalizer which at least extends from the first non-adjacent sidewall to below the first gate, wherein the e-field equalizer improves uniformity of e-field across the first gate during operation, thereby improving charge trapping capabilities of the charge storage layer.