Patent Document

[0001]     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/024,210, filed Dec. 27, 2004, pending. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates to a nonvolatile memory and, more particularly, to nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating and driving the same.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Generally, semiconductor memory devices are divided into volatile memories and nonvolatile memories. The volatile memories, including chiefly random access memories (RAM) such as dynamic random access memories (DRAM) and static random access memories (SRM), retain their memory data when the power is turned on, but lose the stored data when the power is turned off. In contrast, the nonvolatile memories, including chiefly read only memories (ROM), retain their memory data even after the power is turned off.  
         [0004]     The nonvolatile memories may be subdivided into ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), and electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM).  
         [0005]     From the view point of process technology, the nonvolatile memories may be divided into a floating gate family and a metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) family comprising a multi-layer of two or more dielectrics. The memory devices of the floating gate family use potential wells to achieve memory characteristics. For instance, EPROM tunnel oxide (ETOX) structure and split gate structure are widely applied to flash EEPROM. The split gate structure comprises two transistors in one cell. On the other hand, the memory devices of the MIS family perform memory functions by using traps positioned on a dielectric bulk, the interface between dielectrics, and the interface between the dielectric and the semiconductor. At present, the MONOS (metal oxide nitride oxide semiconductor)/SONON (semiconductor oxide nitride oxide semiconductor) structure is chiefly being employed for flash EEPROM.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a flash memory cell structure formed by a conventional technology. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a gate oxide layer  12  is deposited on a semiconductor substrate  10  having at least one device isolation layer  11 . A first polysilicon layer  13  is deposited on the gate oxide layer  12 . The first polysilicon layer  13  is used as a floating gate. A dielectric layer  15  and a second polysilicon layer  16  are sequentially deposited on the first polysilicon layer  13 . The second polysilicon layer  16  is used as a control gate. A metal layer  17  and a nitride layer  18  are sequentially deposited on the second polysilicon layer  16 . A cell structure is patterned to complete a flash memory cell by removing some portion of the gate oxide layer  12 , the first polysilicon layer  13 , the dielectric layer  15 , the second polysilicon layer  16 , the metal layer  17 , and the nitride layer  18 .  
         [0007]     The above-mentioned flash memory cell has flat-plate type floating gate and control gate. Generally, in a flash memory, an electric potential of a control gate has to be thoroughly transferred into a floating gate to enhance the erase and program characteristics of a device. In detail, when a flash memory performs a program function using hot carriers, the voltages of 0 V, 5 V, and 9V are applied to a source, a drain, and a control gate, respectively. Here, if the voltage applied to the control gate is thoroughly transferred in a gate oxide via a floating gate and forms an electric field, hot electrons are more rapidly inpoured into the floating gate. Contrarily, when the flash memory performs an erase function, the voltages of −7 V and 5 V are applied to the control gate and the source, respectively. In this case, electrons in the floating gate move toward the source by Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling. Here, if the capacitance between the control gate and the floating gate is high and the capacitance between the floating gate and a substrate is low, the voltage of the floating gate is maintained at a much lower value and, therefore, the more electrons move toward the source to increase the erase speed. In conclusion, in performing program or erase function, the smaller the voltage difference between the floating gate and the control gate becomes, the faster the operation speed of a flash memory becomes.  
         [0008]     To improve program and erase characteristics of a semiconductor device, a method of using a material with high dielectric constant as a dielectric layer between a floating gate and a control gate has been suggested. However, the suggested method is being developed at present and requires more technical development.  
         [0009]     Additionally, as the conventional nonvolatile memory continuously performs program operations by hot electron injection, the hot electrons may generate trap sites in the interface between the tunnel oxide layer and the substrate, the interface between tunnel oxide layer and the floating gates, and the inside of the tunnel oxide layer. The trap sites can change the threshold voltage of the memory device and be used as an exit of the electrons which causes the rapid loss of the charge, thereby detrimentally affecting the characteristics of the memory device such as endurance and retention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a nonvolatile memory device and methods of fabricating and driving the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0011]     An object of the present invention is to provide a NOR flash cell array comprising injection gates in the floating gates, effectively performing program/erase/read operations, and obviating various problems such as over-erase and drain turn-on and drain disturb.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a driving method of a NOR flash memory device for performing program/erase/read operations stably.  
         [0013]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fabrication method of a NOR flash device comprising injection gates in the floating gates, effectively performing program/erase/read operations, and obviating various problems such as over-erase and drain turn-on and drain disturb.  
         [0014]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a method of fabricating a flash memory device comprising: growing an oxide layer on a substrate and depositing a nitride layer on the oxide layer; patterning the nitride layer; forming injection gates on the lateral faces of the nitride layer; depositing a first polysilicon, a dielectric layer and a second polysilicon on the surface of the resulting structure, sequentially; patterning the second polysilicon, the dielectric layer and the second polysilicon to form gate electrodes; removing the nitride layer between the injection gates; forming source and drain extension regions around each of the gate electrodes by performing an ion implantation process; forming sidewall spacers on the lateral faces of the gate electrodes; and forming source and drain regions in the substrate by performing an ion implantation process with the sidewall spacers as an ion implantation mask.  
         [0015]     In addition, the objects is achieved by a nonvolatile memory device comprising: a plurality of active regions on a semiconductor device, the active regions being defined by a plurality device isolation layers; a tunnel oxide layer on the active regions; gate structures including floating gates, the floating gates facing each other at a distance on the tunnel oxide layer, ONO layers on each of the floating gates, control gates on each of the ONO layers and injection gates in one side of the lateral faces of each of the floating gates; a drain region in the semiconductor substrate, between the gates electrodes; and source regions in the semiconductor substrate, opposite to the drain region.  
         [0016]     In addition, the object is achieve by a method for driving a nonvolatile memory device comprising: performing a program operation by applying a first data voltage to the first control line and applying a second data voltage to the second control line; performing a read operation by applying a first read voltage to the first control line and applying a second read voltage to the second control line; and performing an erase operation by applying a first erase voltage to the first control line, floating the second control line, applying a second erase voltage to the third control line, and applying a third erase voltage to the fourth control line.  
         [0017]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a flash memory cell structure formed by a conventional technology;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 2 through 6  are cross-sectional views illustrating an example process of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device performed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the NOR flash array in the non-volatile memory device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cell layout of the NOR flash array in the non-volatile memory device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cell layout of the NOR flash array having a select transistor in the non-volatile memory device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cell layout of the NOR flash memory device having the select transistor in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 2 through 6  are cross-sectional views illustrating an example process of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device performed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a pad oxide layer  102  is grown on a p-type silicon substrate  101 . Subsequently, a nitride layer  103  is deposited on the pad oxide layer  102 . After a mask pattern for a drain region is formed on the nitride layer  103 , the nitride layer  103  is etched by using the mask pattern. The nitride layer  103  can be replaced with an oxide layer or other insulating layers. In addition, the nitride layer  103  preferably has a thickness between 500 Å and 2500 Å.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pad oxide layer  102  is removed except the area under the nitride layer  103 . Subsequently, a tunnel oxide layer  105  is grown through an oxidation process with a thickness between 60 Å and 120 Å. A material for injection gates whose band gap is greater than that of the substrate  101  and less than that of the tunnel oxide layer  105  is deposited on the entire surface of the resulting structure with a thickness between 100 Å and 1000 Å. Subsequently, an anisotropic blanket etch is performed to form sidewall shaped injection gates  104  on the lateral faces of the nitride layer  103 . Any material whose band gap is between 1.1 eV and 9.0 eV can be used for the injection gates. Preferably, the material for the injection gates is an oxide material selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , BaZrO 2 , BaTiO 3 , Ta 2 O 5 , CaO, SrO, BaO, La 2 O 3 , Ce 2 O 3 , Pr 2 O 3 , Nd 2 O 3 , Pm 2 O 3 , Sm 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , Tb 2 O 3 , Dy 2 O 3 , Ho 2 O 3 , Er 2 O 3 , Tm 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3  and Lu 2 O 3 . In addition, the material for the injection gates is preferably a compound semiconductor selected from the group consisting of SiC, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaP, GaAs, InP, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe and CdTe.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first polysilicon  106  for floating gates is deposited on the entire surface of the resulting structure. Subsequently, an ONO (Oxide-Nitride-Oxide) layer  107  is deposited on the first polysilicon  106  to increase a coupling ratio. A second polysilicon  108  for a control gate is then deposited on the ONO layer  107 . The first polysilicon  106  and the second polysilicon  108  are polysilicon doped with N-type impurities or have to be doped with N-type impurities after the deposition of the polysilicon. Because the tunnel oxide layer  105  can be damaged during the formation of the injection gates  104 , the tunnel oxide layer  105  may be removed and then re-deposited before the deposition of the first polysilcion  106 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , after a photoresist pattern is formed on the second polysilicon  108  through a well-known photolithography process, the second polysilicon  108 , the ONO layer  107  and the first polysilicon  106  are etched to form the floating gates and the control gates by using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask. Subsequently, the nitride layer  103  between the injection gates is removed by an wet etch using phosphoric acid or a dry etch. Subsequently, source and drain extension regions  109  are formed by an N-type impurity implantation.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an oxide layer  110  and a nitride layer are sequentially deposited on the surface of the resulting structure. Subsequently, an anisotropic etch is performed to form sidewall spacers  111  on the oxide layer  110 . Source and drain regions  112  are formed in the substrate by implanting N-type impurities with the sidewall spacers as an ion implantation mask.  
         [0036]     When program operation is performed in the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with the present invention, hot electron injection arises in the tunnel oxide layer under the injection gates. In detail, first, electrons are injected into the conduction band of the injection gates. The electrons in the conduction band of the injection gates are then moved to the conduction band of the floating gates which has a low and stable energy level. Thus, while the tunnel oxide layer under the injection gates functions as a tunnel oxide layer during the program operation, the tunnel oxide layer under the floating gates determines the real threshold voltage of the floating gate device. Consequently, even if the hot electron injection generates trap sites in the tunnel oxide layer under the injection gates or the interface between the tunnel oxide layer and the injection gates, the threshold voltage of the floating gate device will not be affected and, therefore, the endurance of the memory device is greatly improved. In addition, the hot electron injection cannot make trap sites in the tunnel oxide layer under the floating gates which have injected electrons and, thereby, the degradation of the retention characteristic due to the trap site can be effectively prevented.  
         [0037]     For this nonvolatile memory device, an erase operation is performed by moving the electrons by various tunneling ways such as the FN-tunneling, the direct tunneling, and trap assisted tunneling so that the electrons are withdrawn from the silicon substrate, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage. And a read operation is performed by applying a middle voltage between the highest threshold voltage during the erase operation and the lowest threshold voltage during the program operation, and the state of the operations such as a program and erase is then detected.  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the NOR flash array in the non-volatile memory device in accordance with the present invention.  
                                                                                                         TABLE 1                                   WL1   WL2   WL3   WL4   BL1   BL2   BL3   BL4   Source   Body                                    Program   0   Vwlp   0   0   0   0   Vblp   0   0   0       Erase1   −Vwle   −Vwle   −Vwle   −Vwle   F   F   F   F   F   0/Vb       Erase2   −Vwle   −Vwle   −Vwle   −Vwle   F   F   F   F   0/Vs   F       Read   0   Vref   0   0   0   0   Vblr   0   0   0                    
         [0039]     Table 1 illustrates the voltage applied to a control gate through a first control line (that is, a control gate line), a drain through a second control line (that is, a word line), a source through a third control line and a body through a fourth control line of a cell  201  selectively performing program, read, and erase operations in a block level.  
         [0040]     The selective program operation is performed under a bias condition where Vwlp[V] is applied to just WL 2  in the word lines, 0[V] is applied to the rest of the word lines(WL 1 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), Vblp[V] is applied to the BL 3 , 0[V] is applied to the rest of the bit lines(BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 4 ) and 0[V] is applied to the source and the body.  
         [0041]     Under the bias condition described above, the bias is simultaneously applied to just the cell  201  whose the control gate is connected to the WL 2  and the drain is connected to the BL 3 . Current flows from the drain region toward the source region and the hot electrons are then injected into the injection gate  103 . As a result, the injected hot electrons move to the potential well of the floating gate, thereby increasing the threshold voltage and achieving the program operation.  
         [0042]     Here, optimum conditions for the Vblp[V] and the Vwlp[V] which are respectively applied to the bit line and the word line are determined in consideration of several factors such as hot electron injection efficiency, drain junction breakdowns, gate disturbance, program current, and drain disturbance.  
         [0043]     The erase operation in the block level can be performed by two ways. One is to move electrons from the floating gate toward the channel by F/N-tunneling the electrons. The other is to carry electrons from the floating gate toward the source regions by the F/N-tunneling.  
         [0044]     In Table 1, Erase  1  is performed under a bias condition where electrons are moved from the floating gate toward the channel by the F/N-tunneling. In detail, −Vwle [V] is applied to the word lines (WL 1 , WL 2 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), and 0[V] or Vb[V] are applied to the body, and the bit lines (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 3 , BL 4 ) and the source are floated to perform the Erase  1 .  
         [0045]     Therefore, a strong electric field is applied from the channel toward the control gate, leading to moving the electrons contained in the potential well of the floating gate toward the substrate by the F/N-tunneling, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage and achieving the erase operation.  
         [0046]     Erase  2  is conducted under a bias condition where electrons are moved from the sidewall floating gate toward the source by the F/N-tunneling. In detail, −Vwle[V] is applied to the word lines (WL 1 , WL 2 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), and 0[V] or Vs[V] is applied to the source, and the bit lines (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 3 , and BL 4 ) and the body are floated to perform the Erase  2 .  
         [0047]     Therefore, a strong electric field is applied from the source region toward the control gates, leading to moving electrons contained in the potential well of the floating gates toward the source region by the FIN tunneling, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage and then achieving the erase operation.  
         [0048]     The read operation is performed under a bias condition where Vref[V] is applied to the WL 2 , Vblr[V] is applied to the BL 3 , and 0[V] is applied to the rest of the word lines (WL 1 , WL 2 , WL 3 ), the rest of the bit line (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 4 ), the source and the body.  
         [0049]     Under the condition described above, if the cell  201  in  FIG. 7  is in erased state, current flows from the BL 3  to the source region. If the cell  201  is in programmed state, a current does not flow from the BL 3  to the source region. So, the program/erase state can be detected by the current flow.  
         [0050]     Here, the Vref applied to the control gate during the read operation is generally determined as a middle voltage between the highest threshold voltage during the erase operation and the lowest threshold voltage during the program operation. In addition, a high voltage applied to the bit line during the read operation may induce an unintentional program operation. Thus, a sufficiently low voltage has to be applied to prevent the unintentional program operation.  
         [0051]      FIG. 8  is a cell layout of the NOR flash memory device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0052]     Reference number  308  in  FIG. 8  depicts a unit cell of the flash memory device.  
         [0053]     The source region of each unit cell is a common source region and the drain region of each unit cell is a common drain region shared by adjacent unit cell. The drain regions  302  are connected to the bit lines  306  through the contacts  307 . Word lines and control gates  303  are placed over the floating gates  305 . Injection gates are parallel to the word lines and positioned in one side of the floating gates toward the drain regions. The bit lines are insulated from each other by STI structures  310 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a tunnel oxide layer  311 , a floating gate  305 , an injection gate  304 , an ONO layer  313  and a control gate  303  are placed on a silicon substrate  401 . A common source and drain regions  302  are placed around the tunnel oxide layer  311 . A bit line contact  307  is placed on the common drain region  302 . The metal bit line  306  interconnects all bit line contacts  307 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0057]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , tunnel oxide layers  311  and floating gates  305  are placed on a silicon substrate  320 . The tunnel oxide layers  311  and the floating gates  305  are separated by the STI structures  310 . ONO layers  313  are placed on the floating gates  305  and the tunnel oxide layer  311 , and word line  303  is positioned on the ONO layers  313  covering the floating gates  305 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the NOR flash array having a select transistor in the non-volatile memory device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0059]     Table 2 lists the voltages respectively applied to a control gate through a first control line (that is, a control gate line), a select gate through a second control line (that is, a word line), a drain through a third control line (that is, a bit line), a source through a fourth control line and a body through a fifth control line of a cell  201  selectively performing program, read, and erase operations in a block level.  
                                                                                                                                         TABLE 2                                   CG1   CG2   CG3   CG4   WL1   WL2   WL3   WL4   BL1   BL2   BL3   BL4   Source   Body                                    Program   Vp   Vp   Vp   Vp   0   Vwlp   0   0   0   0   Vblp   0   0   0       Erase1   −Ve   −Ve   −Ve   −Ve   F   F   F   F   F   F   F   F   F   0/Vb       Erase2   −Ve   −Ve   −Ve   −Ve   F   F   F   F   F   F   F   F   0/Vs   F       Read   Vref   Vref   Vref   Vref   0   Vwlr   0   0   0   0   Vwlr   0   0   0                  
 
         [0060]     Referring to Table 2, the selective program operation is performed under a bias condition where Vp[V] is applied to control gates (CG 1 , CG 2 , CG 3 , CG 4 ), Vwlp[V] is applied to just WL 2  in the word lines, 0[V] is applied to the rest of the word lines (WL 1 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), Vblp[V] is applied to just BL 3  in the bit lines and, 0[V] is applied to the rest of the bit lines (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 4 ), the source and the body.  
         [0061]     Under the condition described above, because a voltage is applied to the drain region only for the cell  201  through the bit line, a current flows from the source region toward the drain region only for the cell  201 . Thus, hot electrons are injected into the conduction band of the injection gates and the injected electrons are then moved to the potential well of the floating gates, thereby resulting in the increase of the threshold voltage and achieving a program operation.  
         [0062]     Here, optimum conditions for the Vp, Vblp and the Vwlp which are respectively applied to the control gate, the bit line and the word line are determined in consideration of several factors such as hot electron injection efficiency, drain junction breakdowns, gate disturbance, program current, and the threshold voltage of the select transistor.  
         [0063]     The erase operation in the block level can be performed by two ways. One is to move electrons from the floating gate toward the channel by F/N-tunneling the electrons. The other is to carry electrons from the floating gate toward the source regions by the F/N-tunneling. In Table 1, Erase  1  is performed under a bias condition where electrons are moved from the floating gate toward the channel by the F/N-tunneling. In detail, −Ve[V] is applied to the control gates (CG 1 , CG 2 , CG 3 , CG 4 ), and 0[V] or Vb[V] is applied to the body, and the word lines (WL 1 , WL 2 , WL 3 , WL 4 ) and the bit lines (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 3 , BL 4 ) and the source are floated. Therefore, a strong electric field is applied from the channel toward the control gate, leading to moving the electrons contained in the potential well toward the substrate by the F/N-tunneling, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage and achieving a erase operation.  
         [0064]     Erase  2  is conducted under a bias condition where electrons are moved from the floating gate toward the source by the F/N-tunneling. In detail, −Ve[V] is applied to the control gates (CG 1 , CG 2 , CG 3 , CG 4 ), and 0[V] or Vs[V] is applied to the source, and the word lines (WL 1 , WL 2 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), the bit lines (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 3 , BL 4 ) and the body are floated. Therefore, a strong electric field is applied from the source toward the control gate, leading to moving electrons contained in the potential well toward the source region by the F/N tunneling, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage and achieving an erase operation.  
         [0065]     The read operation is performed under a bias condition where Vref[V] is applied to the control gates (CG 1 , CG 2 , CG 3 , CG 4 ), Vwlr[V] is applied to the WL 2 , Vblr[V] is applied to the BL 3 , and 0[V] is applied to the rest of the word lines (WL 1 , WL 3 , WL 4 ), the rest of the bit line (BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 4 ), and the source and the body.  
         [0066]     Under the condition described above, if the cell  201  is in erased state, a current flows from the BL 3  to the source region. If the cell is in programmed state, a current does not flow from the BL 3  to the source region. Thus, the program/erase state can be detected by the current flow. Here, the Vref applied to the control gate during the read operation is generally determined as a middle voltage between the highest threshold voltage during the erase operation and the lowest threshold voltage during the program operation. In addition, a high voltage applied to the bit line during the read operation may induce an unintentional program operation. Thus, a sufficiently low voltage has to be applied to prevent the unintentional program operation.  
         [0067]      FIG. 12  is a cell layout of the NOR flash memory device having the select transistor in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0068]     A pair of active regions  301 , at least, are vertically placed on a semiconductor substrate. The active regions  301  are separated by device isolation structures  302 . Several control gates  303  are horizontally positioned across the top of the vertically placed active regions  301 . Select gates  304  parallel to the control gates  303  at a distance are placed across the top of the active regions. Floating gates  306  are positioned between the active regions  301  and each control gates  303 . Injection gates  305  are placed between one lateral face of the floating gates  306  and the active regions  301 . The injection gates  305  are placed adjacent to the select gates  304 . Drain regions are placed between the select gates  304  and bit line contacts  307  are placed on the predetermined area of the drain regions. Bit lines  308  are placed over the active regions  301  at a distance. ONO layers are positioned between the floating gates  306  and the control gates  303 . Tunneling layers are placed between the floating gates  306  and the active regions  301 . The resulting structure is symmetric against the drain region.  
         [0069]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a tunnel oxide layer  404 , a floating gate  405 , an injection gate  406 , an ONO layer  407  and a control gate  408  are placed on a silicon substrate  401 . A select gate  403  is positioned away from one side of the control gate  408 . A drain region  409  is placed in the substrate adjacent to one side of the select gate  403 . A source region  410  is placed in the substrate opposite to the drain region  409 . A source and drain extension region  413  doped with highly concentrated impurities is placed between the source region  410  and the drain region  409 . A bit line contact  411  is placed on the drain region  409 . A metal bit line  412  interconnects all the bit line contacts.  
         [0071]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit cell  309  along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0072]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , tunnel oxide layers  503  and floating gates  504  are placed on active regions  501 . Floating gates  504  are separated from each other by device isolation structures  502 . ONO layers  505  are placed on the floating gates  504  and the tunnel oxide layers  503  and word line  506  is positioned on the ONO layers  505  covering the floating gates  504 .  
         [0073]     Accordingly, the present invention provides a NOR flash cell array comprising injection gates in the floating gates, effectively performing program/erase/read operations, and obviating various problems such as over-erase and drain turn-on and drain disturbance.  
         [0074]     From the foregoing, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the illustrated example process can reduce a cell size by constructing a NOR type array with mirror type symmetrical structure.  
         [0075]     It is noted that this patent claims priority from Korean Patent Application Number 10-2003-0101073 and 10-2003-0101074, which were filed on Dec. 31, 2003, and Korean Patent Application Number 10-2003-0097915, which was filed on Dec. 26, 2003 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0076]     Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturing fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Technology Category: 5