Patent ID: 7381615
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device, comprising: forming a first dielectric layer above a substrate; forming a first conductive layer above said first dielectric layer; etching through said first conductive layer and said first dielectric layer to form a first portion of said first conductive layer and a second portion of said conductive layer, said first and second portions of said first conductive layer each include a top and two substantially vertical sidewalls; etching through at least a portion of said substrate to define a trench in said substrate between said first portion of said first conductive layer and said second portion of said conductive layer, said etching through said first conductive layer is performed before etching through at least a portion of said substrate; growing a dielectric material to fill said trench; forming a second dielectric layer over said tops and along said sidewalls of said first and second portions of said first conductive layer after growing said dielectric material; and forming a control gate layer between said first and second portions of said first conductive layer, said control gate layer extends substantially below said tops of said first and second portions and is separated from said substantially vertical sidewalls of said first and second portions by said second dielectric layer.