Patent ID: 7176083

Claim:
A method of forming a flash cell, comprising: providing a structure; forming a floating gate portion over the structure, the floating gate portion having corners; rounding the corners of the floating gate portion to form rounded corners by etching; forming a first pair of spacers over the floating gate portion, the first pair of spacers exposing a central portion of the floating gate portion; removing a portion of the floating gate portion to form a first and second floating gate, each having an exposed side wall; forming a second pair of spacers at least over the respective exposed side walls of the first and second floating gates; forming a source area into the structure between the second pair of spacers; forming a plug over the source area; forming an oxide layer at least over the plug; forming an outer conductive layer over the oxide layer; patterning the outer conductive layer and the oxide layer to form first and second control gates outboard of the first pair of spacers and exposing outboard portions of the structure; and forming drain areas into the exposed outboard portions of the structure to form the flash cell.