Patent ID: 7439574

Claim:
A silicon/oxide/nitride/oxide/silicon (SONOS) memory with vertical channels, the SONOS memory comprising: a substrate; a first insulating layer stacked on the substrate; a semiconductor layer, which is patterned on the first insulating layer in a predetermined shape, the semiconductor layer including source and drain electrodes separated by a predetermined interval and lying substantially parallel to the substrate, such that a portion of the semiconductor layer is positioned between the source and drain electrodes, the semiconductor layer being continuous; a second insulating layer located on the semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes; a memory layer, which is deposited on sides of the portion of the semiconductor layer positioned between the source and drain electrodes and on sides and an upper surface of the second insulating layer, the memory layer in direct contact with the sides and including vertical electron transferring channels and an electron storing layer; and a gate electrode, which is deposited on a surface of the memory layer, for controlling transfer of electrons in the memory layer.