A split-gate non-volatile memory cell is described, including a substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the substrate, a split gate on the charge-trapping layer, and a source/drain in the substrate beside the split gate. The split gate includes at least one split region directly over the charge-trapping layer, and the charge-trapping layer around the split region serves as a coding region. A NAND non-volatile memory array is also described including the above-mentioned split-gate non-volatile memory cells that are arranged in a NAND-type configuration.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to structures of a split-gate non-volatile memory cell and a split-gate non-volatile memory array, and the methods for operating the same.

2. Description of Related Art

In the family of non-volatile memory devices, various electrically erasable programmable memory (E2PROM/Flash EPROM) devices have been widely used in personal computers and electronic apparatuses since they can be programmed and erased repeatedly, and can retain data even if disconnected from electrical power. A conventional E2PROM/Flash EPROM device has a stacked gate structure consisting of a floating gate for storing carriers and a control gate that is separated from the floating gate by a dielectric layer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,368 discloses a flash memory cell structure that has two spacer floating gates under a control gate, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,793 discloses another flash memory cell structure that has a spacer floating gate surrounding a control gate.

Recently, however, a new category of E2PROM/Flash EPROM devices utilizing charge-trapping mechanism are provided to avoid the leakage problem of the conventional E2PROM/Flash EPROM devices. A trapping-type E2PROM/Flash EPROM usually includes a composite ONO charge-trapping layer disposed between a substrate and a silicon gate, and is therefore called a “SONOS memory”. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,603 discloses a SONOS memory that stores two bits per cell (2 bits/cell). The SONOS memory is programmed with channel hot electrons and erased with hot holes, wherein hot electrons or hot holes are injected into two coding regions in the charge-trapping layer near the source/drain of a memory cell. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,789,776 and 5,774,400 both disclose a SONOS memory cell structure that has a polysilicon gate connected to an upper metal line.

To operate a SONOS memory, however, relatively high voltages from 15V to 18V are required for injecting carriers into or ejecting carriers from the nitride trapping layer since the energy barrier of the bottom oxide layer is quite high (≈9 eV for electrons). Therefore, the power consumption of the conventional SONOS memory device is high, and the circuit design is difficult. For example, some devices in the periphery circuit have to be specially designed to fit with the high voltages, and more voltage-boosting circuit units may be required to achieve the high voltages starting from a relatively low input voltage. In view of this, lowering the required operating voltages is an important issue in the design of trapping-type E2PROM/Flash EPROM devices.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, this invention provides a split-gate non-volatile memory cell that allows low-voltage operations.

This invention also provides a split-gate non-volatile memory array based on the split-gate non-volatile memory cell of this invention.

This invention further provides a word line structure that can be adopted in the non-volatile memory array of this invention. The word line structure allows separate pieces of a split gate to be electrically connected to the same voltage source.

This invention also provides a method for operating a split-gate non-volatile memory cell of this invention.

This invention further provides a method for operating the split-gate non-volatile memory array of this invention.

The split-gate non-volatile memory cell of this invention comprises a substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the substrate, a split gate on the charge-trapping layer, and a source/drain in the substrate beside the split gate. The split gate includes at least one split region directly over the charge-trapping layer that defines a pair of opposite edge portions, and the charge-trapping layer around the split region serves as a coding region.

The split-gate non-volatile memory array of this invention comprises at least the split-gate non-volatile memory cells of this invention, and the accompanying word lines and bit lines for controlling the split-gate non-volatile memory cells. The non-volatile memory array can be a NAND-type, NOR-type or AND-type memory array.

A word line in the split-gate non-volatile memory array of this invention may include a boundary conductor at a boundary of the memory array and a split-gate line crossing the array region that has at least two separate linear conductors. The two linear conductors consists of a first and a second linear conductors separated by a dielectric layer, wherein the second linear conductor is completely or partially covered by the first linear conductor, and is directly connected with the boundary conductor. The first linear conductor and the boundary conductor are also separated by the dielectric layer, but are simultaneously connected with an upper contact. With the boundary conductor directly connected with the second linear conductor, the first and the second linear conductors can be connected to the same voltage source via a contact.

An embodiment of the split-gate non-volatile memory array of this invention is a NAND (NOT AND) non-volatile memory array. The NAND non-volatile memory array includes plural split-gate non-volatile memory cells of this invention on the substrate, word lines, bit lines and source regions. Each memory cell includes a charge-trapping layer and a split gate thereon, and shares a diffusion with an adjacent memory cell in the same row. The split gate includes at least one split region directly over the charge-trapping layer, and the charge-trapping layer around the split region serves as a coding region. In a column of memory cells, the split gate of each memory cell is coupled to the same word line. In a row of memory cells, a diffusion of one terminal memory cell is coupled to a bit line, and a diffusion of the other terminal memory cell is coupled to a source region.

A method for operating a split-gate non-volatile memory cell of this invention is described below. In a programming operation, the split gate is applied with a first negative voltage, and the source/drain and the substrate are applied with 0V. The first negative voltage is sufficiently high for injecting electrons into the coding region via the edge portions of the split gate. In an erasing operation, the substrate is applied with a second negative voltage, the split gate is applied with 0V, and the source/drain is floated. The second negative voltage is sufficiently high for ejecting electrons from the coding region.

A method for operating a NAND non-volatile memory array of this invention is described below. In a programming operation, the selected word line coupled to the selected memory cell is applied with a first negative voltage, the unselected word lines are applied with a first positive voltage to turn on the unselected memory cells. The selected bit line coupled to the selected memory cell, the substrate and the source are applied with 0V. The unselected bit lines are applied with a second negative voltage to inhibit programming of the unselected memory cells that are coupled to the selected word line together with the selected memory cell. The first negative voltage is sufficiently high for injecting electrons into the charge-trapping layer of the select memory cell. In an erasing operation, the substrate are applied with a third negative voltage, the word lines are applied with 0V, and the bit lines and the source are floated. The third negative voltage is sufficiently high for ejecting electrons from the charge-trapping layers of the memory cells.

As mentioned above, a split gate including at least one split region is disposed on the charge-trapping layer in the non-volatile memory cell of this invention. Since a stronger electric field can be established between the p-well and the edge portions of the separate pieces of the split gate, the voltages for programming and erasing the non-volatile memory cell are lower than those for programming and erasing a conventional NROM device. Therefore, the power consumption of the split-gate non-volatile memory device of this invention is lower, and the circuit design is easier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Split-Gate Non-Volatile Memory Cell:FIG. 1illustrates a cross-sectional view of a split-gate non-volatile memory cell according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the split-gate non-volatile memory cell of this invention includes a substrate100, a charge-trapping layer110on the substrate100, an insulator120beside the charge-trapping layer110, a split gate150on the charge-trapping layer110, and a source/drain160in the substrate100beside the split gate150. The substrate100is, for example, a p-substrate or a p-well formed in an n-substrate. The charge-trapping layer110includes, for example, an ONO (oxide/nitride/oxide) composite layer or an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer. The insulator120is disposed on the source/drain160, and comprises a material such as BPSG (boron phosphorous silicate glass). The split gate150includes a pair of conductive spacers130, and a conductive layer140between the two conductive spacers130but separated from the latter by a dielectric layer133. The conductive spacers130are disposed on the sidewalls of the insulator120, so the non-vertical sidewall of each conductive spacer130faces the conductive layer140. The conductive layer140has a top portion almost completely covering the two conductive spacers130. The conductive layer140and the two conductive spacers130comprise a material such as polysilicon. The dielectric layer133comprises a material such as silicon oxide, and may be formed with thermal oxidation. The source/drain160is, for example, an n+ doped region formed in a p-substrate100.

A shown inFIG. 1, the split gate150includes two split regions152between the conductive layer140and the two conductive spacers130and right over the charge-trapping layer110. Thus, totally two pairs of edge portions are defined in the conductive layer140and the two conductive spacers130right over the charge-trapping layer110. Since an edge portion can create a larger electric field with the same voltage difference as compared with a conventional planar gate layer, carriers are injected into or ejected from the charge-trapping layer via the edge portions, and the operation voltages required for programming or erasing can be lowered.

Operating Method of Split-Gate Non-Volatile Memory Cell:FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate a programming operation and an erasing operation, respectively, of the split-gate non-volatile memory cell inFIG. 1, wherein the charge-trapping layer110consists of a bottom oxide layer102, a silicon nitride layer104for trapping carriers, and a top oxide layer106.

Refer toFIG. 2Afor understanding the programming operation. The split gate150, including the two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140, is applied with a negative voltage Vgp, such as 10V. The p-substrate100and the n+-source/drain160are applied with 0V. Since the electric field at the internal edge portions of the two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140is stronger, electrons are injected into the charge-trapping layer110via the edge portions and trapped in the silicon nitride layer104. The two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140may be biased via the same contact (not shown), which will be explained later.

With the injected electrons in the silicon nitride layer104, the threshold voltage of the split-gate non-volatile memory cell is raised. Thus, by applying a voltage between the threshold voltage of the written state and that of the erased state to the split gate150in a reading operation, the state (data) of the memory cell can be easily identified.

Referring toFIG. 2B, in the erasing operation, the p-substrate100is applied with a negative voltage Vbe, such as 10V. The split gate150, including the two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140, is applied with 0V, and the source/drain160is floated. Since the electric field under the internal edge portions of the two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140is stronger, electrons are ejected from the silicon nitride layer104of the charge-trapping layer110via the edge portions. The two conductive spacers130and the conductive layer140may be biased via the same contact (not shown), which will be explained later.

NAND Non-Volatile Memory Array:FIG. 3illustrates a layout of a NAND non-volatile memory array according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.FIG. 4illustrates a word line structure at the boundary of the NAND non-volatile memory array illustrated inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 3, the NAND non-volatile memory array300includes a substrate (not shown), shallow trench isolation (STI) layers307in the substrate, word lines350crossing over the STI layers307, charge-trapping layers (not shown) between the word lines350and the substrate, and diffusions360in the substrate between the word lines350and between the STI layers307. In the memory array300, a memory cell302includes two diffusions360and the charge-trapping layer and the word line350between the two diffusions360. A diffusion of one terminal memory cell in a row of memory cells302is coupled to a bit line370, and a diffusion of the other terminal memory cell302in the same row is coupled to a source375.

Referring toFIG. 4, each word line350comprises a boundary conductor338, a pair of linear conductive spacers330, and a linear conductor340between the two linear conductive spacers330, wherein the non-vertical sidewall of each linear conductive spacer330faces the linear conductor340. The two linear conductive spacers330are directly connected with the boundary conductor338, and the linear conductor340is separated from the boundary conductor338and the two linear conductive spacers330by a dielectric layer333. The boundary conductor338and the linear conductor340are electrically connected to an operating line390via a contact380that has one portion on the boundary conductor338and the other portion on the linear conductor340. In addition, the cross-sectional view of the two linear conductive spacers330, the dielectric layer333and the linear conductor340along line I-I″ is the same as that illustrated inFIG. 1, wherein the reference characters330,333and340correspond to130,133and140, respectively. Moreover, the charge-trapping layer under the word line350is not shown inFIG. 4. With the boundary conductor338directly connected with the two linear conductive spacers330, the two linear conductive spacers330and the linear conductor340that are separated by the dielectric layer333can be connected to the same voltage source via the contact380.

In the aforementioned word line structure, the boundary conductor338, the two linear conductive spacers330and the linear conductor340preferably comprises polysilicon, and the dielectric layer comprises a material such as thermal oxide. On the other hand, the contact380and the operating line390may be made from metal.

FIG. 5illustrates a circuit diagram of a NAND non-volatile memory array according to another preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring toFIG. 5, the NAND non-volatile memory array500includes an n-substrate (N-Sub), a p-well in the n-substrate, memory cells502, word lines (WL), bit lines (BL), a source, select transistors506and508, and select lines (SL). Each memory cell502has a split-gate504and a charge-trapping layer510disposed as described above. The memory cells502in one row are coupled to one word line via their split-gates504, and those in one column coupled to one bit line. The memory cells502are partitioned with 8×2 (row×column) cells as a unit, wherein one terminal memory cell in a column of memory cells502is coupled to a bit line via a select transistor506, and the other terminal memory cell502in the same column to the source via a select transistor508. The two columns of memory cells inFIG. 5share a source. The select transistor506coupled to the bit line BL1and the select transistor508in the same column coupled to the source are used to select the unit from all of the units aligned along and coupled to BL1.

Operating Method of NAND Non-Volatile Memory Array: The operating method of the aforementioned NAND non-volatile memory array of this invention, especially the programming operation and the erasing operation, are described below with a selected memory cell C in the NAND non-volatile memory array500illustrated inFIG. 5as an example. The exemplary bias configurations for programming, erasing and reading, respectively, are listed in Table 1.

Referring to Table 1 andFIG. 5for understanding the programming operation. The selected word line WL2coupled to the split gate504of the selected memory cell C is applied with a first negative voltage, such as 10V. The unselected word lines WL1,3-8are applied with a first positive voltage, such as 3V, to turn on the unselected memory cells502in the same unit. The selected bit line BL1coupled to the selected memory cell C, the n-substrate and the p-well are applied with 0V, and the unselected bit line BL2coupled to the other column of memory cells in the same unit is applied with a second negative voltage, such as 4V. The select line SL1is applied with a positive voltage, such as 10V, to turn on the two select transistors506in the same unit in order to select the unit, i.e., to establish an electrical connection between the unit and the two bit lines BL1and BL2.

Since only the voltage difference between the p-well and the split gate504of the selected memory cell C is sufficiently high (10V), the charge-trapping layer510of the selected memory cell C is selectively injected with electrons, i.e., selectively programmed. The voltage difference between the p-well and the split gates504of the unselected memory cells is merely 3V, which is insufficient for electron injection. Meanwhile, the second negative voltage (4V) applied to the unselected bit line BL2has an effect of lowering the local potential of the p-well under the other column of memory cells502, so that the voltage difference between the split gate504of the unselected memory cell502coupled to the selected word line WL2is not sufficiently large for electron injection.

In the above programming operation, the negative voltage (10V) applied to the selected word line WL2/split gate504is lower than that applied to a conventional NROM device since a stronger electric field can be established between the edge portions of the split gate504and the p-well with the same voltage difference.

Referring to Table 1 andFIG. 5again for understanding the reading operation. The selected word line WL2coupled to the split gate504of the selected memory cell C is applied with 0V. The unselected word lines WL1,3-8are applied with a positive voltage higher than the threshold voltage of the written state, such as 3V, to turn on the unselected memory cells502in the same unit. The selected bit line BL1is applied with a low voltage, such as 1V, and the unselected bit line BL2, the n-substrate, the p-well and the source with 0V. The select lines SL1and SL2are applied with a positive voltage, such as 3V, to turn on the select transistors506and508in order to select the unit, i.e., to establish an electrical connection between the unit and the bit lines BL1and BL2. Since a voltage difference exists between the selected line BL1and the source, and the unselected memory cells are all turned on, the magnitude of the current flowing through the unit is dependent on the state of the selected memory cell C. If electrons are present in the its charge-trapping layer510, the current is extremely small; if electrons are absent, a current of several magnitudes larger can be measured. Therefore, by measuring the electric current flowing through the unit, the state/data (0 or 1) of the memory cell can be identified.

Referring to Table 1 andFIG. 5again for understanding the erasing operation. The word lines WL1-8are applied with 0V, the n-substrate and the p-well both are applied with a negative voltage, such as 10V, and the bit lines BL1and BL2and the source are all floated. The select lines SL1and SL2are applied with a negative voltage comparable to that applied to the p-well, such as 10V. With the voltage difference (10V) between the p-well and the split gates504of all memory cells502, the electrons trapped in the charge-trapping layers510of them are ejected via the edge portions of the split gates504. The negative voltage (10V) for erasing the non-volatile memory of this invention is lower than that for erasing a conventional NROM device since a stronger electric field can be established between the edge portions of the split gates504and the p-well with the same voltage difference.

According to the aforementioned, the voltages for programming and erasing the split-gate non-volatile memory of this invention is lower than that for a conventional NROM device since a stronger electric field can be established between the edge portions of the split gate and the p-well. Therefore, the power consumption of the split-gate non-volatile memory device of this invention is lower, and the circuit design is easier.