Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to non-volatile memory cell arrays, and more particularly to such arrays that include read-only memory cells. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Split gate non-volatile memory devices are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,747,310 and 7,927,994 disclose a split gate non-volatile memory (NVM) cell, which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of such conventional split gate memory cells  10  formed on a semiconductor substrate  12 . Source and drain regions  14  and  16  are formed as diffusion regions in silicon substrate  12 , and define a channel region  18  therebetween. Each memory cell  10  includes four conductive gates: a floating gate  20  disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region  18  and a portion of the source region  14 , a control gate  22  disposed over and insulated from the floating gate  20  by insulation layer  23 , an erase gate  24  disposed over and insulated from the source region  14 , and a select gate  26  (commonly referred to as the word line gate) disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region  18 . A conductive contact  28  electrically connects the drain region  16  to a conductive bit line  30 , that electrically connects to all the drain regions in the column of memory cells  10 . The memory cells  10  are formed in pairs that share a common source region  14  and erase gate  24 . Adjacent pairs of memory cells share a common drain region  16  and conductive contact  28 . Typically, the memory cell pairs are formed in an array of rows and columns of the memory cells  10 . 
     Memory cells  10  are programmed by injecting electrons onto the floating gate  20 . The negatively charged floating gate  20  causes a reduced or zero conductivity in the underlying channel region  18 , which is read as a “0” state. Memory cells  10  are erased by removing the electrons from the floating gate  20 , which allows the underlying channel region to conduct when the corresponding select gate  26  and control gate  22  are raised to their reading voltage potentials. This is read as a “1” state. Memory cells  10  can be repeatedly programmed, erased and re-programmed. 
     There are applications where read only memory (ROM) is formed on the same chip as the NVM array. ROM includes memory cells that are only programmable once, and thereafter cannot be erased or re-programmed. ROM is formed on the same chip as the NVM array to provide code that cannot be changed. For many such applications, the code needs to be secure (i.e. once programmed, the user or hacker should not be able to change it or hack it). The NVM cells are not appropriate for storing this secure code, because the user could accidentally program code over this secure code, or it could be hacked by those with malicious intentions. One solution has been to provide a dedicated ROM structure that is separate from, but on the same chip as, the NVM array. However, such a dedicated structure is easily identifiable and therefore subject to the same hacking threat. Moreover, forming dedicated ROM structures requires separate processing and masking steps relative to the NVM array, which can drive up the complexity and the cost of manufacturing the chip. 
     There is a need for implementing ROM on the same chip as NVM which is secure and which does not require excessive processing to fabricate. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problems and needs are addressed with a memory device that includes a plurality of ROM cells each having spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a substrate, with a channel region therebetween, a first gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region, a second gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region, and a conductive line extending over the plurality of ROM cells. The conductive line is electrically coupled to the drain regions of a first subgroup of the plurality of ROM cells, and is not electrically coupled to the drain regions of a second subgroup of the plurality of ROM cells. 
     A memory device includes a plurality of ROM cells each having spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a substrate, with a channel region therebetween, a first gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region, and a second gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region. For each of a first subgroup of the plurality of ROM cells, the ROM cell includes a higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region, and for each of a second subgroup of the plurality of ROM cells, the ROM cell lacks any higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent by a review of the specification, claims and appended figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side cross sectional view of a conventional non-volatile memory cell. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross sectional view of ROM cells showing ROM cells programmed with intact bit line contacts. 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross sectional view of ROM cells showing a ROM cell programmed with a missing bit line contact. 
         FIGS. 4-9  are side cross sectional views of alternate embodiments of the ROM cells of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a technique that integrates ROM within the non-volatile memory (NVM) array using the same basic structures as the NVM cells, such that the ROM is not easily distinguishable or identifiable from the NVM array by potential hackers. The technique is easily manufactured because it involves easy to implement changes to the existing memory cells within the array. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates ROM cells  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  and  40   d , which can be embedded anywhere in an array of the above described NVM cells  10 . Each ROM cell has the same components as the above described memory cells  10 , except that insulation  23  is omitted such that floating gate  20  and control gate  22  are integrally formed as a single control gate  42  (i.e. no floating gate). Additionally, each ROM cell does not share drain region  16  or contact  28  with the adjacent ROM cell, but rather each ROM cell has its own drain region  16  and contact  28 . Lastly, a dummy gate  44  is formed between the drain regions  16  of adjacent ROM cells. 
     Taking ROM cell  40   b  as an example, when gates  42  and  26  of that cell are raised to their reading voltage potentials, channel region  18   b  will always be rendered conductive between source  14  and drain  16   b , which is read as a “1” state. Therefore, ROM cell  40   b  will always read as a “1” state by detected current flow from source region  14 , through channel region  18   b , drain  16   b , drain contact  28   b  and to bit line  30 ). This “1” state is determined and fixed (i.e. not changeable later) at the time of fabrication. In contrast, if it is desired that ROM cell  40   b  always reads as a “0” state, then it would be fabricated with the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , which is the same configuration as that shown in  FIG. 2 , except that the drain contact  28   b  would be omitted during the fabrication process. When gates  42  and  26  of ROM cell  40   b  are raised to their reading voltage potentials, channel region  18   b  will always be rendered conductive between source  14  and drain  16   b , but that conductivity is broken by the lack of any contact between drain  16   b  and bit line  30 . Thus, ROM cell  40   b  with this configuration will always read as a “0” state (i.e. no detected current flow between source region  14  and bit line  30 ). To ensure there is no leakage current to the adjacent bit line  16   c  and bit line contact  28   c  for the adjacent ROM cell  40   c , dummy gate  44  is held at zero volts (or a positive or negative voltage that is less than the subthreshold voltage) to ensure that the silicon underneath gate  44  is not conductive. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , ROM cell  40   b  will always read as a “0” state, while ROM cell  40   c  (which has a bit line contact  28   c ) would always read as a “1” state. Said another way, the programming state of ROM cells  40  is dictated by including, or not including, the corresponding bit line contact  28  during fabrication. 
     There are many advantages of the ROM cell configurations of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . First, the bit state “1” or “0” for any given ROM cell is set during fabrication by forming or by not forming the bit line contacts  28  for that cell. The bit state cannot be subsequently changed. Moreover, because the ROM cell structure is so similar to the non-volatile memory cells, the ROM cells can be easily fabricated at the same time as the non-volatile memory cell array (i.e. very similar process flows, only one additional masking step). Preferably, the masking step used to form the contacts  28  for the ROM and NVM cells dictates which ROM cells will include a contact  28  and which will not. The ROM cells  40  can be formed either adjacent to or even inside the NVM array of memory cells  10 . Also, because the ROM cells  40  are so similar to the NVM cells  10 , it would be very difficult to distinguish the two types of cells when they are formed in the same array, making hacking difficult. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment, where the ROM cells  40  are even closer in design to the NVM cells  10 . Specifically, in this embodiment, the insulation layer  23  is maintained such that each ROM cell  40  includes separate floating and control gates  20  and  22 . ROM cells  40  are read in this configuration by raising control gate  22  to a high enough voltage such that, through voltage coupling to the floating gate  20 , the channel region under the floating gate  20  is conductive. As shown in  FIG. 4 , ROM cell  40   b  would read as a “0” state (because of the missing contact  28 ) and ROM cell  40   c  would read as a “1” state (because of the existing contact  28   c ). 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another alternate embodiment, which is the same as  FIG. 4  except that a hole in layer  23  is formed such that a portion of control gate  22  is in electrical contact with the floating gate  20 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another alternate embodiment, which is the same as  FIGS. 2 and 3 , except that instead of programming ROM cell  40   b  in the “0” state by omitting drain contact  28   b , a layer of insulation  48  can be formed over drain  16   b  so that contact  28   b  is not in electrical contact with drain  16   b . This same technique can be implemented in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Insulation  48  can be selective formed by forming it over all the drain regions  16 , followed by a mask and etch process that selectively removes the insulation  48  from the drain regions  16  of those ROM cells that are to be in the “1” state. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates still another alternate embodiment, where ROM cells are programmed through selective substrate implantation instead of selective bit line contact formation. This embodiment is similar to that shown in  FIG. 4 , except there is no dummy gate  44 , and adjacent memory cells share a common drain  16  and bit line contact  28  (similar to the NVM cell configuration). Instead of programming the ROM cells based upon the existence or non-existence of the bit line contact  28 , the ROM cells are programmed by the existence or non-existence of channel region implantation. Specifically, as shown, ROM cell  40   c  includes a higher threshold voltage implant region  50  in channel region  18   c . The implant region  50  has a higher threshold voltage (Vt) required to make the channel  18   c  conduct relative to the channel regions without the implant  50 . The threshold voltage Vt of implant region  50  is greater than the read voltages applied to select and control gates  26  and  46 . Therefore, during the read operation of ROM cell  40   c , when read voltages are applied to select gate  26   c  and control gate  42   c , channel region  18   c  will not conduct due to implant region  50 , indicating that ROM cell  40   c  is configured in the “0” state. In contrast, during the read operation of ROM cell  40   b , raising select gate  26   b  and control gate  42   b  to their reading potentials results in current flow through channel region  18   b , indicating that ROM cell  40   b  is configured in the “1” state. Implant region  50  can be disposed under the select gate  26 , under the control gate  42 , or at least partially under both as shown. Preferably, implant region  50  extends from source region  14  toward drain region  16 , but does not extend all the way to drain region  16  to improve the break down voltage and lower the junction capacitance. Because the ROM programming is implemented by substrate implantation, it is difficult to detect the programmed code by reverse engineering. The top view structure is identical with that of the NVM cell structure, so it is very difficult to recognize where the ROM cells are located. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates still another alternate embodiment, which is similar to that in  FIG. 7 , except the insulation layer  23  is maintained such that each ROM cell  40  includes separate floating and control gates  20  and  22 . A hole in layer  23  is formed such that a portion of control gate  22  is in electrical contact with the floating gate  20 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates still another alternate embodiment, which is similar to that in  FIG. 7 , except the insulation layer  23  is maintained such that each ROM cell  40  includes separate floating and control gates  20  and  22  which are insulated from each other. Further, the implant region  50  is formed under just the select gate  26  (and not under floating gate  20 ). In this configuration, the floating cells  20  remain unprogrammed (i.e. no electrons injected thereon) such that the channel regions under the floating gates  20  are conductive. Therefore, during the read operation of ROM cell  40   c , when a read voltage is applied to select gate  26   c , channel region  18   c  will not conduct due to implant region  50 , indicating that ROM cell  40   c  is configured in the “0” state. In contrast, during the read operation of ROM cell  40   b , raising select gate  26   b  to its reading potentials results in current flow through channel region  18   b , indicating that ROM cell  40   b  is configured in the “1” state. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described above and illustrated herein, but encompasses any and all variations falling within the scope of the appended claims. For example, references to the present invention herein are not intended to limit the scope of any claim or claim term, but instead merely make reference to one or more features that may be covered by one or more of the claims. Materials, processes and numerical examples described above are exemplary only, and should not be deemed to limit the claims. Those skilled in the art understand that the source and drain regions are interchangeable. Lastly, single layers of material could be formed as multiple layers of such or similar materials, and vice versa. 
     It should be noted that, as used herein, the terms “over” and “on” both inclusively include “directly on” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween) and “indirectly on” (intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween). Likewise, the term “adjacent” includes “directly adjacent” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween) and “indirectly adjacent” (intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between), “mounted to” includes “directly mounted to” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between) and “indirectly mounted to” (intermediate materials, elements or spaced disposed there between), and “electrically coupled” includes “directly electrically coupled to” (no intermediate materials or elements there between that electrically connect the elements together) and “indirectly electrically coupled to” (intermediate materials or elements there between that electrically connect the elements together). For example, forming an element “over a substrate” can include forming the element directly on the substrate with no intermediate materials/elements therebetween, as well as forming the element indirectly on the substrate with one or more intermediate materials/elements therebetween.

Technology Category: 5