Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosures relate generally to semiconductor memories, and more particularly, to semiconductor memories with recessed devices. 
     As bitcell size for static random access memories (SRAMs) continues to scale to smaller sizes, the bitcell current (I cell ) performance degrades. In addition, static noise margin (SNM) variation of the bitcell increases. Together, the degradation of I cell  performance and the increase in SNM variation limits the low supply voltage (V dd ) operation of the bitcell. 
     Some SRAM devices have been known to achieve a higher bitcell current, however, the SRAM&#39;s beta ratio (i.e., the ratio of strength of the pull-down device to the pass device) suffers negatively. As a result, the adverse impact on the SRAM beta ratio degrades the SNM and makes the bitcell unstable at low V dd  operation. Still further, the bitcell may be unstable even at nominal V dd  operation. Furthermore, with scaling to smaller and smaller sizes, transistor threshold voltage (V t ) variation increases due to dopant fluctuations and variations in gate length. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved memory for overcoming the problems in the art, as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, a memory cell includes devices having associated isolation recesses of differing magnitudes. The effective channel width of a corresponding transistor is substantially equal to a channel top surface width plus twice a sidewall width formed by the isolation recesses. In an SRAM cell, a latch transistor has a larger effective channel width than an associated pass transistor by forming larger recesses, and therefore larger sidewalls in isolation layers surrounding the latch transistor, while limiting such recesses for pass transistors. During manufacture of the memory cell, a mask is used to mask an area of the pass transistor while exposing an area of the latch transistor. Accordingly, recesses in an isolation layer around the latch transistor are formed without affecting a corresponding area around the pass transistor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram view of a memory with recessed devices according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a layout diagram view of a portion of the memory of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the layout of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 — 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the layout of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  4 — 4 ; and 
         FIGS. 5–14  are cross-sectional views of the portions of the layout shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, after further processing according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve an understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram view of a memory  100  with recessed devices according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, memory  100  includes an SRAM cell for use in a memory application, the SRAM cell including four transistors to form a storage latch, and two transistors used as pass devices. In particular, memory  100  includes a word line  102 , bit line  104 , and complementary bit line  106 . Memory  100  also includes an NFET  108 , PFET  110 , and NFET  112  on a true side portion of memory  100 . Pass transistor  108  couples bit line  104  to storage node  114 . Memory  100  further includes an NFET  116 , PFET  118 , and NFET  120  on a complementary side portion of memory  100 . Pass transistor  116  couples complementary bit line  106  to complementary storage node  122 . According to one embodiment, pass transistors  108  and  116  have a gate width W, whereas latch transistors  112  and  120  have a segmented gate width W*, wherein W*=W LS +W LR1 +W LR2 , as discussed further herein below. 
     In addition, load transistors  110  and  118  couple to voltage source V DD , generally indicated by reference numeral  124 . Furthermore, latch transistors  112  and  120  couple to voltage source V SS , generally indicated by reference numeral  126 . Storage node  114  couples to the gate electrodes of transistors  118  and  120 . Complementary storage node  122  couples to the gate electrodes of transistors  110  and  112 . Moreover, PFET devices  110  and  118  and NFET devices  112  and  120  form a storage latch used to store data in the SRAM cell  100 . NFET devices  108  and  116  serve as pass devices to get data to and from the storage latch. 
       FIG. 2  is a layout diagram view of a portion  101  of the memory  100  of  FIG. 1 . Portion  101  includes regions corresponding to pass transistor  108 , latch transistor  112 , load transistor  110 , and storage node  114 , generally shown on the left side of the figure. In addition, portion  101  includes regions corresponding to pass transistor  116 , latch transistor  120 , load transistor  118 , and complementary storage node  122 , generally shown on the right portion of the figure. Referring again to the left side of the figure, portion  101  includes active semiconductor regions  200  and  202 . Active semiconductor material region  200  is shared between pass transistor  108  and latch transistor  112 . In addition, in one embodiment, a width of the active semiconductor material  200  is greater in the region of latch transistor  112  than in the region of pass transistor  108 , as discussed further herein below. Furthermore, in one embodiment, semiconductor material region  200  is appropriately doped to render pass transistor  108  and latch transistor  112  as NMOS devices. Moreover, in one embodiment, active semiconductor material region  202  is appropriately doped to render transistor  110  as a PMOS device. 
     Reference numeral  203  generally refers to a recessed region of memory  100 , the recessed region including an area around part of the active semiconductor material  200 . In particular, during formation of the recessed region  203 , sidewall portions  205  of the semiconductor material  200  are exposed within the recessed region  203 , to be discussed further herein below with respect to the subsequent figures. 
     Subsequent to formation of the recess region  203 , a gate dielectric (not shown) is formed overlying a channel region of respective transistors  108 ,  110 , and  112  of corresponding active semiconductor regions  200  and  202 . A gate electrode  204  is also formed overlying the gate dielectric (not shown) of pass transistor device  108 . In addition, a gate electrode  206  is formed overlying transistor devices  110  and  112 . With respect to latch transistor  112 , the gate dielectric and gate electrode overlie sidewall portions  205  in an area of the gate dielectric and gate electrode. Gate electrodes  204  and  206  comprise any suitable electrode material for a particular memory application. For example, electrode material can include any suitable conductive layer such as doped polysilicon, doped silicon germanium (SiGe), doped silicon carbide (SiC), silicides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, and the like, or combinations thereof. 
     Referring again to the right side of  FIG. 2 , portion  101  includes active semiconductor regions  208  and  210 . Active semiconductor material region  208  is shared between pass transistor  116  and latch transistor  120  of the complementary storage node portion of memory  100 . In addition, in one embodiment, a width of the active semiconductor material  208  is greater in the region of latch transistor  120  than in the region of pass transistor  116 , similarly with respect to semiconductor material region  200  as discussed herein. Furthermore, in one embodiment, semiconductor material region  208  is appropriately doped to render pass transistor  116  and latch transistor  120  as NMOS devices. Moreover, in one embodiment, active semiconductor material region  210  is appropriately doped to render load transistor  118  as a PMOS device. 
     Reference numeral  211  generally refers to a recessed region of memory  100 , the recessed region including an area around part of the active semiconductor material  208 . In particular, during formation of the recessed region  211 , sidewall portions  213  of the semiconductor material  208  are exposed within the recessed region  211 , similarly with respect to sidewall portions  205  of semiconductor material  200  in recessed region  203 . 
     Subsequent to formation of the recess region  211 , a gate dielectric (not shown) is formed overlying a channel region of respective transistors  116 ,  118 , and  120  of corresponding active semiconductor regions  208  and  210 . A gate electrode  212  is also formed overlying the gate dielectric (not shown) of transistor device  116 . In addition, a gate electrode  214  is formed overlying transistor devices  118  and  120 . With respect to latch transistor  120 , the gate dielectric and gate electrode  212  overlie sidewall portions  213  in an area of the gate dielectric and gate electrode  212 . Gate electrodes  212  and  214  comprise any suitable electrode material for a particular memory application, similarly with respect to gate electrodes  204  and  206 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 2 , regions not occupied by the active semiconductor material or gate electrode material, are generally indicated by reference numerals  702  and  906 , and can include, for example, any suitable insulation material for a particular memory application. Still further, semiconductor material  200 ,  202 ,  208 , and  210  can include any suitable semiconductor material, for example, including but not limited to silicon, germanium, silicon-germanium, or other semiconductor material, furthermore, in the form of a bulk semiconductor, semiconductor on insulator, or other. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion  300  of the layout of  FIG. 2  during a process step in the method of making memory  100 , taken along line  3 — 3 . Portion  300  includes a semiconductor material  302  having a mask stack  304  of a given width, the mask stack  304  having been formed overlying a desired portion of semiconductor material  302 . In one embodiment, mask stack  304  of  FIG. 3  is made to have a width on the order of W LS , corresponding to a surface width of one segment of semiconductor material of the latch transistor  112 . In other words, the width W LS  of mask stack  304  corresponds to a first surface width of active semiconductor material  200  within the recess region  203  for latch transistor  112 . Furthermore, mask stack  304  includes any suitable isolation mask layer or stack of layers, having been patterned by well known resist patterning and etch techniques. In addition, in one embodiment, the mask stack includes an oxide layer  306  and an overlying nitride layer  308 , wherein the nitride layer  308  serves as a planarization etch stop, as discussed further herein. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion  400  of the layout of  FIG. 2  during a process step in the method of making memory  100 , taken along line  4 — 4 . Portion  400  also includes semiconductor material  302  having mask stack  304  of a second width formed overlying a desired portion thereof. In one embodiment, mask stack  304  of  FIG. 4  is made to have a width on the order of W PS , corresponding to a surface width of the semiconductor material of the pass transistor  108 . In other words, the second width W PS  of mask stack  304  corresponds to a surface width of active semiconductor material  200  for pass transistor  108 . 
       FIGS. 5–13  are cross-sectional views of the portions of the layout shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, after further processing in the method of making memory  100  according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , respective portions of semiconductor material  302  are selectively removed with respect to the isolation mask layer  304 . Selective removal of the semiconductor material  302  forms trench regions  502 . In one embodiment, for a bulk semiconductor material substrate, the trench region  502  can be formed to a depth on the order of 1500–3500 Angstroms. In another embodiment, for a semiconductor on insulator substrate, the trench region  502  can be formed to a depth on the order of 500–1500 Angstroms. 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respective trench regions  502  of  FIGS. 5 and 6  are filled with blanket deposition of an isolation material  702  and then planarized. In one embodiment, the isolation material includes any suitable oxide. Other examples of isolation materials include semiconductive materials such as polysilicon, silicon, silicon germanium, germanium, other insulating films such as silicon nitride, the like and combinations of the above. Further, the isolation material can have other layers together with an insulating material. Moreover, planarization can be carried out using any suitable planarization technique known in the art, for example, chemical mechanical polishing or other suitable method. In one embodiment, nitride layer  308  of mask  304  is used as a planarization stop. 
     Subsequent to the planarization, portion  400  is masked (not shown) to protect the same, whereas portion  300  is left unmasked. In  FIG. 9 , a portion of the isolation material  702  is selectively removed using a removal process suitable with respect to the particular isolation material  702 . In one embodiment, the removal process includes a dry etch. In particular, subjecting the unmasked portion  300  to the removal process selectively removes isolation material  702 , and wherein controlling the removal process enables the obtaining of a desired amount of exposed sidewall portion  205  of semiconductor material  302 . A portion of isolation material that remains after the selective removal of isolation material is generally indicated by reference numeral  906 , wherein a recess created by the removal of isolation material  702  is generally indicated by reference numeral  908 . In  FIG. 10 , the protective mask (used during partial removal of isolation  702  in region  300  of  FIG. 9 ) is shown removed and the portion  400  remains substantially the same as in that of  FIG. 8 . 
     In  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the mask stack  304  is removed, using any suitable techniques for removal of the same. In one embodiment, the removal of mask stack  304  is generally selective with respect to the semiconductor material ( 302 ) and isolation material ( 702 , 906 ). In one example, mask stack  304  includes nitride  308 . Prior to removal of the nitride  308 , a thin sacrificial oxide can be grown if needed. After stripping the pad/sacrificial oxide, the gate oxide can be grown. 
     In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a gate dielectric  1302  is formed overlying exposed portions of semiconductor material  302 . Subsequent to formation of the gate dielectric, a gate electrode material  1304  is deposited, patterned and etched, to form respective gate electrodes, corresponding to respective gate electrodes  206  and  204  of  FIG. 2 . 
     With respect to the portion  300  of  FIG. 13 , the effective channel width (W*) of the latch transistor  112  equals the sum of widths of the segments indicated by reference numerals  1306 ,  1308 , and  1310 . In other words, the effective channel width of latch transistor  112  can be represented by the expression W*=W LR1 +W LS +W LR2 . In one embodiment, W LR1  is substantially equal to W LR2 , wherein the effective channel width of latch transistor  112  can then be represented by the expression W*=W LS +2W LR1 . In addition, the channel of latch transistor  112  is generally indicated by reference numeral  1312 . 
     With respect to the portion  400  of  FIG. 14 , the effective channel width (W) of the pass transistor  108  is generally represented by the width of the surface indicated by reference numeral  1402 . In other words, the effective channel width of pass transistor  108  can be represented by the expression W=W PS . In addition, the channel of pass transistor  108  is generally indicated by reference numeral  1404 . 
     Accordingly, for an SRAM cell, beta ratio (β ratio ) equals (W Latch /L Latch )/(W Pass /L Pass ). With the present embodiments, the beta ratio (β ratio ) equals (W*/L Latch )/(W Pass /L Pass ) or ((W LR1 +W LS +W LR2 )/L Latch )/(W Pass /L Pass ). 
     In alternate embodiments, prior to selective formation of the gate dielectric layer(s), additional steps can be included for rounding of corners of the exposed semiconductor material  302  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     As discussed herein, a surface width shall be defined as a width (or widths) that is (are) substantially parallel with a principal surface of the wafer. In addition, a recess width shall be defined as a width (or widths) that is (are) not substantially parallel with the principal surface of the wafer. For example, latch transistor  112  has a segmented gate width, the segmented gate width including the sum of a surface width and two sidewall widths. 
     Accordingly, with the segmented channel width W t  of the latch transistor that includes recessed sidewall portions as discussed herein, the latch transistor provides a higher SNM and has less SNM variation as V t  scales with 1/(square root of W L ). In addition, the change in SNM increases with a corresponding change in V t  of the latch transistor. 
     Simulations of SNM exhibit significant improvement with a bitcell having a recess on the latch transistor over that of the same bitcell with no recess. In addition, with improved SNM due to the recess of the latch transistor, the pass transistor gate width can be made wider, allowing for an estimated 35% improvement in bitcell drive current (I cell ) while still meeting low V dd  requirements. 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a memory cell includes a first device having a first isolation recess amount. The memory cell further includes a second device coupled to the first device, the second device having a second isolation recess amount different from the first isolation recess amount. In one embodiment, the memory cell is a static random access memory cell, the first device is a pass transistor, and the second device is a latch transistor. The pass transistor has a first effective channel width that is substantially equal to a top surface width of the channel of the pass transistor. In addition, the latch transistor has a second effective channel width greater than a top surface width of the channel of the latch transistor. 
     The apparatus further comprises a substrate under the first and second devices. The top surfaces of the channels of the pass and latch transistors are substantially parallel with a principle surface of the substrate. In particular, the second effective channel is substantially equal to the top surface width of the channel of the latch transistor plus a first sidewall surface width of the channel of the latch transistor plus a second sidewall surface width of the channel of the latch transistor. The sidewall surface widths are measured in a plane which is not substantially parallel with the principle surface of the substrate. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the second effective channel width is substantially equal to a top surface width of the latch transistor plus twice the second isolation recess amount. In another embodiment, the first isolation recess amount is designed to be substantially zero. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a memory cell includes a first transistor having a first effective channel width, and a second transistor coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor has a device area substantially equal to the first transistor. In addition, the second transistor has a second effective channel width not substantially equal to the first effective channel width. In one embodiment, the first effective channel width is substantially equal to a top surface width of the channel of the pass transistor and the second effective channel width is greater than a top surface width of the channel of the latch transistor. The second effective channel width is substantially equal to a channel width of a top surface of the channel plus two times a channel width of a side surface of the channel, the top surface of the channel being proximate to a gate of the latch transistor substantially in parallel with a first plane, the side surface being proximate to the gate of the latch transistor and being not substantially parallel with the first plane. 
     In still another embodiment, the memory cell is a static random access memory cell, the first device is a pass transistor, and the second device is a latch transistor. The memory cell can represent a part of a memory, wherein the memory includes a word line and a bit line, the first transistor having a first current handling electrode coupled to the bit line, a second current handling electrode coupled to a current handling electrode of the second transistor, and a control electrode coupled to the word line. Still further, the memory cell can include a load device, the load device having a first terminal coupled to a first power rail, and a second terminal coupled to the second current handling electrode of the first transistor and the current handling electrode of the second transistor. In another embodiment, the load device is a PMOS FET and the first and second transistors are NMOS FETs. In addition, the memory cell can represent a part of an integrated circuit. 
     The apparatus further includes an SRAM, the SRAM comprising a plurality of SRAM cells. Each SRAM cell includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters. Each cross-coupled inverter includes a latch transistor having the second effective channel width and a pass transistor having the first effective channel width. The first effective channel width is substantially dependent upon a non-segmented surface of the channel of the pass transistor. In addition, the second effective channel width is dependent upon a segmented surface of the channel of the latch transistor. 
     In another embodiment, a method of making a memory cell having first and second devices at first and second locations, the method includes forming the first device of the memory cell to have a first isolation recess amount associated therewith. In addition, the method includes forming the second device of the memory cell having a second isolation recess amount associated therewith, the second isolation recess amount being different from the first isolation recess amount. 
     In one embodiment, the first device and the second device are formed using the shared steps of providing a substrate, forming an isolation mask layer over the substrate, removing portions of the isolation mask layer at locations other than the first and second locations, removing portions of the substrate selective to the isolation mask layer, depositing an insulating layer over remaining portions of the isolation mask layer and the substrate, and planarizing down to the remaining portions of the isolation mask layer. The step of removing portions of the substrate can include performing a dry etch of the substrate and/or performing a wet etch of the substrate. 
     The step of forming the second device further includes removing portions of the insulating layer selective to the isolation mask layer at the second location but not at the first location. For example, the step of forming the second device can include masking the first location and etching the second location with an etch that is selective to silicon and nitride. 
     Furthermore, the first device and the second device can be further formed using the shared steps of: removing remaining portions of the isolation masking layer, forming a gate dielectric layer, and forming a gate electrode layer. The method still further includes coupling the first device as a pass transistor of an SRAM memory cell and coupling the second device as a latch transistor of the SRAM memory cell. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of making a memory cell includes designing a pass transistor of the memory cell to have an effective channel width substantially dependent upon a top surface of a channel of the pass transistor. The method further includes designing a latch transistor of the memory cell to have an effective channel width substantially dependent upon a top surface of the channel of the latch transistor and upon a sidewall surface of the latch transistor. Still further, the method further includes designing the latch transistor to have an effective channel width larger than the effective channel width of the pass transistor, but to have a substantially similar top surface channel width as the pass transistor. 
     Accordingly, in the present embodiments, trench recess is only applied to the latch (i.e., pull-down) device such that the Beta ratio of the bitcell is greatly enhanced to provide robust SNM (Static-Noise Margin) and enable low Vdd operation. This can be achieved by using a mask that only opens the area around the pull-down devices after trench oxide CMP and then etch the field oxide with a dry etch selective to silicon and nitride (or a wet etch could be employed as well). As mentioned above, with the recessing of the pull-down device alone, the SNM will be robust enough to enable low Vdd operation. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present disclosure will allow modifications to the cell layout such that a wider pass gate width can be utilized to enhance the Icell while preserving adequate SNM for low Vdd operation. Simulations indicate that an improvement of approximately thirty-five percent (˜35%) in Icell can be achieved over that of a planar 65 nm cell while still meeting the low Vdd SNM requirement. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to memory products that use 6T SRAM and 4T SRAM, and either on SOI or bulk. Still further, in one embodiment, the SRAM includes an embedded memory. 
     In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present embodiments as set forth in the claims below. For example, the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to benefit current and future generation microprocessors and/or advanced memory devices. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present embodiments. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the term “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements by may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Technology Category: h