Patent Abstract:
A semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; and an SRAM comprising four NFETs and two PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the NFET and PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region, wherein the bodies of two of the NFETs are electrically connected to ground. Additionally, the bodies of the two PFETs are electrically connected to V DD .

Full Description:
This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/915,061; filed on Jul. 25, 2001now U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,305. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor memory devices; more specifically, it relates to a static random access memory (SRAM) formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and the method of fabricating the SRAM. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     NFET and PFET devices fabricated in SOI technology offer advantages over bulk devices. The advantages include reduced junction capacitance, reduced junction leakage current, and for fully depleted devices, reduced short channel effect, increased transconductance and reduced threshold voltage (V T ) sensitivity. However, SOI FETs have a “floating body.” The body or channel region of the FET is formed in an insulated pocket of silicon and is therefore not electrically connected to a fixed potential. One effect of the “floating body” is to lower the V T  of the device when the body “floats up”. This is a particular problem in a SRAM cell as lowering the V T  of the devices can cause the relative strengths of devices to change such that the cell flips when the state of the latch is read. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic circuit diagram of a CMOS SOI SRAM cell. In  FIG. 1 , an SRAM cell  100  comprises a first input/output (I/O) NFET  105  and a second I/O NFET  110 . SRAM cell  100  further comprises a first latch NFET  115 , a second latch NFET  120 , a first latch PFET  125  and a second latch PFET  130 . The gate of first I/O NFET  105  is coupled to a wordline  135 , the source of the first I/O NFET to a bitline  140  and the drain of the first I/O NFET to a first common node  145 . The gate of second I/O NFET  110  is coupled to a wordline  135 , the source of the second I/O NFET to a bitline-not  155  and the drain of the second I/O NFET to a second common node  160 . The gates of first latch NFET  115  and first latch PFET  125  are coupled to second node  160 . The gates of second latch NFET  120  and second latch PFET  130  are coupled to first node  145 . The source of first latch NFET  115  is coupled to ground (GND) and the drain of the first latch NFET is coupled to first node  145 . The source of second latch NFET  120  is coupled to GND and the drain of the first latch NFET is coupled to second node  160 . Similarly, the source of first latch PFET  125  is coupled to V DD  and the drain of the first latch PFET is coupled to first node  145 . The source of second latch PFET  130  is coupled to V DD  and the drain of the first latch PFET is coupled to second node  160 . The bodies of all four NFETs  105 ,  110 ,  115 , and  120  and both PFETs  125  and  130  are floating. 
     SRAM cell  100  is written to by writing bitline  140  high and bitline-not  155  low (or vice versa). SRAM cell  100  is read by activating either first I/O NFET  105  (or second I/O NFET  110 ) and sensing the current flow from bitline  140  (or bitline-not  155 ) to GND. If first I/O NFET  105  “floats up” such that the V T  of the first I/O NFET becomes lower than the V T  of first latch NFET  115  (or second I/O NFET  110  “floats up” such that the V T  of the second I/O NFET becomes lower than the V T  of second latch NFET  120 ) SRAM cell  100  will become unstable and liable to flip states when read. A device with a low V T  is a strong device. 
     In  FIG. 1 , first NFET  105  is designated as T 1 , second I/O NFET  110  as T 2 , first latch NFET  115  as T 3 , second latch NFET  120  as T 4 , first latch PFET  125  as T 5  and second latch PFET  130  as T 6 . This convention is used in all subsequent figures as an aid to reading and comparing the drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of a portion of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  specifically shows the structure and wiring of second I/O NFET  110  and second latch NFET  120 . Formed in a substrate  165  is a buried oxide layer  170  Formed on top of buried oxide layer  170  is a thin silicon layer  175 . Formed in thin silicon layer  175  is an STI  180 . STI  180  extends from a top surface  185  of thin silicon layer  175 , through the thin silicon layer, to buried oxide layer  170 . Formed in thin silicon layer is a source  190  of second latch NFET  120 , a source  195  of second I/O NFET  110  and a common drain  200 . Both second latch NFET  120  and second I/O NFET  110  share common drain  200 . In silicon layer  175  and under a gate  205  of second latch NFET  120  is a second latch NFET body  210 . In silicon layer  175  and under a gate  215  of second I/O NFET  110  is a second I/O NFET body  220 . Source  190  of second latch NFET  120  is coupled to GND and gate  205  is coupled to first node  145 . Source  195  of second I/O NFET  110  is coupled to bitline-not  155  and gate  215  is coupled to wordline  135 . Common drain  200  is coupled to second node  160 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , second I/O NFET  110  and second latch NFET  120  are illustrated as fully depleted devices. Thus, second latch NFET body  210  and second I/O NFET body  220  are co-extensive with what might otherwise be termed the channel regions of the respective devices. The actual channels themselves are formed in the respective bodies under their respective gates near top surface  185  of thin silicon layer  175 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first wiring levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , the shallow trench isolation (STI) level of SRAM cell  100  is defined by a first thin silicon region  225 A and a second thin silicon region  225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell  100  are set by first and second silicon regions  225 A and  225 B. The gate level is defined by a first gate conductor  240 A, a second gate conductor  240 B, a third gate conductor  240 C and a fourth gate conductor  240 D. First silicon region  225 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region  250  except where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D also overlap the first silicon region. The overlap of first silicon region  225 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D defines a first body region  250 A, a second body region  250 B, a third body region  250 C and a fourth body region  250 D respectively. Body regions  250 A,  250 B,  250 C and  250 D are doped P. First body region  250 A divides first silicon region  225 A into a first source region  255 A and a first drain region  255 B. Second body region  250 B divides first silicon region  225 A into a second source region  255 C and a second drain region  255 D. Third and fourth body region  250 C and  250 D further divide first silicon region  225 A into a third source region  255 E. 
     Second silicon region  225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by a P+ region  260  except where third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region  225 B by third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D defines a fifth body region  250 E and a sixth body region  250 F respectively. Body regions  250 E and  250 F are doped N. Fifth body region  250 E divides second silicon region  225 B into a third drain region  255 F and a fourth source region  255 G. Sixth body region  250 F further divides second silicon region  225 B into an fourth drain region  255 H. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , first I/O NFET  105  comprises first source region  255 A, first body region  250 A, and first drain region  255 B. Second I/O NFET  110  comprises second source region  255 C, second body region  250 B, and second drain region  255 D. First latch NFET  115  comprises second source region  255 C, third body region  250 C, and third source region  255 E. Second latch NFET  120  comprises third source region  255 E, fourth body region  250 D, and second drain region  255 D. First latch PFET  125  comprises third drain region  255 F, fifth body region  250 E, and fourth source region  255 G. Second latch PFET  130  comprises fourth source region  255 G, sixth body region  250 F, and fourth drain region  255 H. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 3  are a bitline contact  265  contacting first source region  255 A, a ground contact  270  contacting third source region  255 E, a bitline-not contact  275  contacting second source region  255 C, a V DD  contact  280 , a first wordline contact  285 A and a second wordline contact  285 B. Wordline contacts  285 A and  285 B connect first gate conductor  240 A and second gate conductor  240 B, respectively, to a wordline  290 . V DD  contact  280  connects fourth source region  255 G to a V DD  power rail  295 . A first node contact  300 A connects first drain region  255 B to first node conductor  305 A. A second node contact  300 B connects third drain region  255 F to first node conductor  305 A. A third node contact  300 C connects gate conductor  240 C to first node conductor  305 A. A fourth node contact  300 D connects second drain region  255 D to second node conductor  305 B. A fifth node contact  300 E connects fourth drain region  255 H to second node conductor  305 B. A sixth node contact  300 F connects gate conductor  240 D to second node conductor  305 B. 
     Because first body region  250 A, second body region  250 B, third body region  250 C and fourth body region  250 D, fifth body region  250 E and sixth body region  250 F are floating in  FIG. 3 , SRAM cell  100  is subject to random flips of state. Therefore, a technique of electrically connecting the bodies of SRAM FETs to a fixed potential, especially connecting all the NFETs to one fixed potential and all the PFETs to another, different potential, is needed to retain the advantages of SRAMs fabricated in SOI technology. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; and an SRAM comprising four NFETs and two PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the NFET and PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region, wherein the bodies of two of the NFETs are electrically connected to ground. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; and a first connecting region in the thin silicon layer abutting the body regions of the I/O NFETS, the first connecting region electrically connected to ground. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; a first connecting region in the thin silicon layer, the first connecting region electrically connected to ground; and a pair of second connecting regions in the thin silicon layer, each second connecting region co-extensive with one of the body regions of the I/O NFETs and between the body regions and the first connecting region. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device comprising: providing an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; forming an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between source region and a drain region; forming a P+ doped first connecting region in the thin silicon layer abutting the body regions of the I/O NFETS; and forming a ground contact to the first connecting region. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device comprising: providing an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; forming an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; forming a P+ doped first connecting region in the thin silicon layer; forming a pair of second connecting regions in the thin silicon layer, each second connecting region co-extensive with one of the body regions of the I/O NFETs and between the body regions and the first connecting region; and forming a ground contact to the first connecting region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic circuit diagram of a CMOS SOI SRAM cell; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of a portion of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 4  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 5  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 6  according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10A through 10E  are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of I/O NFETs taken along line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 6  in SOI technology; 
         FIGS. 11A through 11E  are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of latch PFETs taken along line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 6  in SOI technology; and 
         FIG. 12  is a partial cross sectional view of latch NFETs taken along line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 6  fabricated in SOI technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will be described below, with reference to the drawings, as a series of modifications to SRAM cell  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and described above. In the drawings the same reference numbers indicate the same or corresponding regions. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs are tied to ground. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the STI level of an SRAM cell  101  is defined by a first thin silicon region  310 A and second thin silicon region  225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell  101  are set by first and second silicon regions  310 A and  225 B. First silicon region  310 A differs from first silicon region  225 A of  FIG. 3 . First silicon region  310 A includes a first connecting region  315 A and a second connecting region  315 B. First connecting region  315 A is co-extensive with said first body region  250 A and said second connecting region is co-extensive with said second body region  250 B. First silicon region  310 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region  320  except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D overlap the first silicon region and (2) where a second P+ region  325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines a third (P+ doped) connecting region  330 . Third connecting region  330  abuts first connecting region  315 A, second connecting region  315 B and third source region  255 E. Ground contact  270  contacts third connecting region  330 . The overlap of first silicon region  310 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D defines first body region  250 A, second body region  250 B, third body region  250 C and fourth body region  250 D respectively. 
     Second silicon region  225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by a P+ region  325 A except where third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D also overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region  225 B by third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D defines a fifth body region  250 E and a sixth body region  250 F. 
     First connecting region  315 A connects first body region  250 A to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET  105 . Second connecting region  315 B connects second body region  250 B to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET  110 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 4  according to the present invention. SRAM cell  101  of  FIG. 7  differs from SRAM cell  100  of  FIG. 1  in that a body  340 A of first I/O NFET  105  and a body  340 B of second I/O NFET  110  are coupled to GND. 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs and the latch NFETS are tied to ground. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the STI level of an SRAM cell  102  is defined by a first thin silicon region  335 A and second thin silicon region  225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell  102  are set by a first silicon region  335 A and second silicon region  225 B. First silicon region  335 A differs from first silicon region  225 A of  FIG. 3 . First silicon region  335 A includes first connecting region  315 A and second connecting region  315 B. First silicon region  335 A is doped N+ where overlapped by N+ region  320  except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D overlap the first silicon region and (2) where second P+ region  325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines a third (P+ doped) connecting region  330 . The overlap of first silicon region  335 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D defines first body region  250 A, second body region  250 B, third body region  250 C and fourth body region  250 D respectively. 
     First silicon region  335 A further differs from first silicon region  225 A of  FIG. 3  in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for a fourth connecting region  350  and a fifth connecting region  355  as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the first silicon region. A first portion  360 A of fourth connecting region  350  is co-extensive with third connecting region  330  and a second portion  360 B of the fourth connecting region is co-extensive with third body region  250 C. First portion  360 A is doped P+. A first portion  365 A of fifth connecting region  355  is co-extensive with third connecting region  330  and a second portion  365 B of the fifth connecting region is co-extensive with fourth body region  250 D. First portion  365 A is doped P+. Third connecting region  330  abuts first connecting region  315 A, second connecting region  315 B and third source region  255 E, second portion  360 B of fourth connecting region.  350  and second portion  365 B of fifth connecting region  355 . Ground contact  270  contacts third connecting region  330 . 
     Second silicon region  225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by P+ region  325 A except where third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region  225 B by third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D defines fifth body region  250 E and sixth body region  250 F. 
     First connecting region  315 A connects first body region  250 A to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET  105 . Second connecting region  315 B connects second body region  250 B to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET  110 . Fourth connecting region  350  connects third body region  250 C to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first latch NFET  115 . Fifth connecting region  355  connects fourth body region  250 D to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second latch NFET  120 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 5  according to the present invention. SRAM cell  102  of  FIG. 8  differs from SRAM cell  100  of  FIG. 1  in that body  340 A of first I/O NFET  105 , body  340 B of second I/O NFET  110 , a body  370 A of first latch NFET  115  and a body  370 A of second latch NFET  120  are coupled to GND. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs and the latch NFETs are tied to ground and the bodies of the latch PFETS are tied to V DD . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the STI level of an SRAM cell  103  is defined by first thin silicon region  335 A and a second thin silicon region  335 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell  103  are set by first silicon region  335 A and second silicon region  335 B. First silicon region.  335 A differs from first silicon region  225 A of  FIG. 3 . First silicon region  335 A includes first connecting region  315 A and second connecting region  315 B. First silicon region  335 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region  375 A except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D also overlap the first silicon region and (2) where second P+ region  325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines third (P+ doped) connecting region  330 . The overlap of first silicon region  335 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D defines first body region  250 A, second body region  250 B, third body region  250 C and fourth body region  250 D respectively. 
     First silicon region  335 A further differs from first silicon region  225 A of  FIG. 3  in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for fourth connecting region  350  and fifth connecting region  355  as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the first silicon region. First portion  360 A of fourth connecting region  350  is co-extensive with third connecting region  330  and second portion  360 B of the fourth connecting region abuts third body region  250 C. First portion  360 A is doped P+. First portion  365 A of fifth connecting region  355  is co-extensive with third connecting region  330  and second portion  365 B of the fifth connecting region abuts fourth body region  250 D. First portion  365 A is doped P+. Third connecting region  330  abuts first connecting region  315 A, second connecting region  315 B and third source region  255 E, second portion  360 B of fourth connecting region  350  and second portion  365 B of fifth connecting region  355 . Ground contact  270  contacts third connecting region  330 . 
     Second silicon region  335 B is doped P+ where overlapped by P+ region  325 A except where (1) third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D also overlap the first silicon region and (2) where a second N+ region  375 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines sixth (P+ doped) connecting region  380 . The overlap of second silicon region  375 B by third and fourth gate conductors  240 C and  240 D defines first body region  250 A, second body region  250 B, third body region  250 C and fourth body region  250 D respectively 
     Second silicon region  335 B differs from second silicon region  225 B of  FIG. 3  in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for a seventh connecting region  385  and an eighth connecting region  390  as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the second silicon region. A first portion  395 A of seventh connecting region  385  is co-extensive with sixth connecting region  380  and a second portion  395 B of the seventh connecting region is co-extensive with fifth body region  250 E. First portion  395 A is doped N+. A first portion  400 A of eighth connecting region  390  is co-extensive with sixth connecting region  380  and a second portion  400 B of the eighth connecting region is co-extensive with sixth body region  250 F. Sixth connecting region  380  abuts second portion  395 B of seventh connecting region  385 , second portion  400 B of eighth connecting region  390  and fourth source region  255 G. As drawn in  FIG. 6 , first portion  395 A of seventh connecting region  385  is not required for the invention to function as second portion  395 B of the seventh connecting region abuts sixth connecting region  380 . Similarly, first portion  400 A of eight connecting region  390  is not required for the invention to function as second portion  400 B of the seventh connecting region abuts sixth connecting region  380 . V DD  contact  280  contacts sixth connecting region  380 . 
     First connecting region  315 A connects first body region  250 A to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET  105 . Second connecting region  315 B connects second body region  250 B to third connecting region  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET  110 . Fourth connecting region  350  connects third body region  250 C to third conducting channel  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first latch NFET  115 . Fifth connecting region  355  connects fourth body region  250 D to third conducting channel  330  thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second latch NFET  120 . Seventh conducting channel  385  connects fifth body region  250 E to sixth connecting region  380  thereby providing a path to V DD  for the body of first latch PFET  125 . Eighth conducting channel  390  connects sixth body region  250 F to sixth connecting region  380  thereby providing a path to V DD  for the body of second latch PFET  130 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of  FIG. 6  according to the present invention. SRAM cell  103  of  FIG. 9  differs from SRAM cell  100  of  FIG. 1  in that body  340 A of first I/O NFET  105 , body  340 B of second I/O NFET  110 , a body  370 A of first latch NFET  115  and a body  370 A of second latch NFET  120  are coupled to GND and in that body  405 A of first latch PFET  125  and body  405 B of second latch PFET  130  are tied to V DD . 
     Other combinations of grounded body NFETs and V DD  tied body PFETs are possible using the method described above. In a first example, bodies of the I/O NFETs  105  and  110  are tied to ground while the bodies of latch PFETs  125  and  130  are tied to V DD  by replacing second silicon region  225 B in  FIG. 4  with second silicon region  335 B from  FIG. 6  and also adding second N+ region  375 B to  FIG. 4 . In a second example, the bodies of latch NFETs  115  and  120  are tied to ground while the bodies of latch PFETs  125  and  130  are tied to V DD  by eliminating the portions first and second connecting region that abut first source region  255 A and first drain region  255 B in  FIG. 6 . In a third example, only the bodies of latch PFETs  125  and  130  are tied to V DD  by eliminating first and second channels  315 A and  315 B, second P+ implant region  325 B and third connecting region  330  from  FIG. 6 . In a fourth example, only the bodies of latch NFETs  115  and  120  are tied to V DD  by eliminating the portions first and second connecting region that abut first source region  255 A and first drain region  255 B in  FIG. 4 . Non-symmetrical combinations are also possible. In a fifth example, the bodies of I/O NFET  105  and latch NFET  115  are tied to ground while the body of latch PFET  125  is tied to V DD . In a sixth example, the bodies of I/O NFET  110  and latch NFET  120  are tied to ground while the body of latch PFET  130  is tied to V DD . 
     Turning to the fabrication of the present invention,  FIGS. 10A through 10E  are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of I/O NFETs taken along line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 6  in SOI technology and  FIGS. 11A through 11E  are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of latch PFETs taken along line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 6  in SOI technology. The operations illustrated in  FIGS. 10A  through  10 E may be performed simultaneously with the operations illustrated in  FIGS. 11A through 11E  and will so be described. 
     In both  FIGS. 10A and 11A , formed on top of a silicon substrate  405  is a buried insulator  410 . Formed on top of buried insulator  410  is a thin silicon layer  415 . In one example, buried insulator  410  is formed simultaneously with thin silicon layer  415  by an SIMOX method in which oxygen is implanted into a bulk silicon substrate. Substrate  405 , buried insulator  410 , and thin silicon layer  415  comprise an SOI substrate. Extending from a top surface  420  of thin silicon layer  415  through the thin silicon layer to buried insulator  410  is STI  425 . In one example, STI  425  is fabricated by reactive ion etching a trench into thin silicon layer  415  down to buried insulator  410 , filling the trench with chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) insulator, such as silicon dioxide, and chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) the deposited insulator co-planar with top surface  420  of the thin silicon layer. 
     In  FIG. 10A , thin silicon layer  415  has been doped P type to form P− region  430 , while in  FIG. 11A , thin silicon layer  415  has been doped N type to form—region  435 . In one example, doping of thin silicon layer  415 , either N or P type, is accomplished using an ion implantation process. In  FIG. 10A , first gate conductor  240 A and second gate conductor  240 B are formed on top surface  420  of thin silicon layer  415 . In  FIG. 11A , third gate conductor  240 C and fourth gate conductor  240 D are formed on top surface  420  of thin silicon layer  415 . In one example, first, second, third, and fourth gate conductors  240 A,  240 B,  240 C and  240 D are polysilicon, formed by a CVD process. 
     In  FIGS. 10B and 11B , a first resist mask  440  is formed and an N type ion implantation performed. This N type implant may be the same implant as is used to form the source/drains all the NFETs in the SRAM cell. In  FIG. 10B , the N type implantation results in formation of a first N+ doped region  445 A in first gate conductor  240 A and a second N+ doped region  445 B in second gate conductor  240 B. In  FIG. 11B , the N type implantation results in formation of a third N+ doped region  445 C in third gate conductor  240 C and a fourth N+ doped region  445 D in fourth gate conductor  240 D. The N type implant also forms sixth connecting region  380 . Also shown in  FIG. 11B , is second portion  395 B of seventh connecting region  395  and second portion  400 B of fifth connecting region  400 . 
     In  FIGS. 10C and 11C , a second resist mask  450  is formed and a P type ion implantation performed. This P type implant may be the same implant as is used to form the source/drains all the PFETs in the SRAM cell. In  FIG. 10C , the P type implantation results in formation of a first P+ doped region  455 A in first gate conductor  240 A and a second P+ doped region  445 B in second gate conductor  240 B. The P type implant also forms third connecting region  330 . In  FIG. 11B , the P type implantation results in formation of a third P+ doped region  455 C in third gate conductor  240 C and a fourth P+ doped region  455 D in fourth gate conductor  240 D. 
     In  FIG. 10D , a silicide layer  460  is formed on a top surface  465 A of first gate conductor  240 A, on a top surface  465 B of second gate conductor  240 B, and on top surface  420  of thin silicon layer  415  in third connecting region  330 . Silicide later  460  spans first N+ doped region  445 A and first P+ doped region  455 A of first gate conductor  240 A. Silicide layer  460  also spans second N+ doped region  445 B and second P+ doped region  455 B of second gate conductor  240 B. Third connecting region  330  must be doped P+ in order to be able to form an ohmic contact to the third connecting region. Silicide layer  460  also provides conduction paths across the diodes formed at the interfaces of first N+ doped region  445 A and first P+ doped region  455 A of first gate conductor  240 A and second N+ doped region  445 B and second P+ doped region  455 B of second gate conductor  240 B. 
     In  FIG. 11D , a silicide layer  460  is formed on a top surface  465 C of third gate conductor  240 C, on a top surface  465 D of fourth gate conductor  240 D, and on top surface  420  of thin silicon layer  415  in sixth connecting region  380 . Silicide later  460  spans third N+ doped region  445 C and third P+ doped region  455 C of third gate conductor  240 C. Silicide layer  460  also spans fourth N+ doped region  445 D and fourth P+ doped region  455 D of fourth gate conductor  240 D. Third connecting region  380  is doped N+ in order to be able to form an improved ohmic contact to the sixth connecting region. Silicide layer  460  also provides conduction paths across the diodes formed at the interfaces of third N+ doped region  445 C and third P+ doped region  455 C of third gate conductor  240 C and fourth N+ doped region  445 D and fourth P+ doped region  455 D of fourth gate conductor  240 D. 
     In one example silicide layer  460  is cobalt silicide or titanium silicide formed by depositing or evaporating cobalt or titanium on exposed silicon and polysilicon surfaces and then performing a sintering process, to react the metal with silicon, followed by an etch process to remove unreacted metal. Subsequently thermal anneals may be performed. N and P doped regions will diffuse during heat cycles. Consequently, third conducting region  330  in  FIG. 10D  and sixth conducting region  380  in  FIG. 11D  are shown in positions relative to the respective gate conductors after such heat cycles. 
     In  FIGS. 10E and 11E , interlevel dielectric  470  is deposited. In one example, interlevel dielectric  470  is silicon oxide. In  FIG. 10E , ground contact  270  is shown contacting silicide layer  460  on third channel region  330 . Ground contact  270  is actually below the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes. In  FIG. 1E , V DD  contact  280  is shown contacting silicide layer  460  on third channel region  330 . V DD  contact  280  is actually above the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes. 
       FIG. 12  is a partial cross sectional view of latch NFETs taken along line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 6  fabricated in SOI technology. In thin silicon layer  415  are first drain region  255 B, second portion  360 B of fourth connecting region  350 , third channel region  330 , second portion  365 A of fifth connecting region  360 , and second drain region  255 D. Third gate conductor  240 C is divided into a fifth N+ doped region  445 E and fifth P+ doped region  455 E. Fourth gate conductor  240 D is divided into a sixth N+ doped region  445 F and sixth P+ doped region  455 F. Ground contact  270  is actually below the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes. 
     The description of the embodiments of the present invention is given above for the understanding of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, SRAM cells  101 ,  102  and  103  may be mirrored in the vertical and/or horizontal direction to produce a cell combinations containing 2, 4, 8 and sixteen cells. 
     If SRAM cell  101  is mirrored vertically through bitline contact  265 , GND contact  270  and bitline-not contact  275  a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of four latch NFETS are tied together through a shared ground contact. SRAM cell  101  may also be mirrored vertically through V DD  contact  280 . SRAM cell  101  may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact  285 A or second wordline contact  285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well. 
     If SRAM cell  102  is mirrored vertically through bitline contact  265 , GND contact  270  and bitline-not contact  275  a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of eight NFETs (four being latch NFETS) are tied together through a shared ground contact. SRAM cell  102  may also be mirrored vertically through V DD  contact  280 . SRAM cell  102  may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact  285 A or second wordline contact  285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well. 
     If SRAM cell  103  is mirrored vertically through bitline contact  265 , GND contact  270  and bitline-not contact  275  a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of eight NFETs (four latch NFETs) are tied together through a shared ground contact. IF SRAM cell  103  is mirrored vertically through V DD  contact  280  a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of four latch PFETs are tied together through a shared V DD  contact. SRAM cell  101  may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact  285 A or second wordline contact  285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well. 
     Therefore it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7