A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of memory cells and at least one strap cell between the plurality of memory cells disposed along a first direction, a plurality of bit line (BL) contacts electrically connected to a plurality of drain doped regions of the plurality of memory cells, respectively, and at least one source line contact electrically connected to a diffusion region of the strap cell. The at least one source line contact is aligned with the plurality of BL contacts in the first direction.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a first oxide layer on a wafer; forming a silicon nitride layer on the first oxide layer; forming a plurality of trenches; filling an oxide material in the trenches to form a plurality of shallow trench isolation regions; removing the silicon nitride layer without removing the first oxide layer; using a photomask to apply a photoresist for covering a first part of the first oxide layer on a first area and exposing a second part of the first oxide layer on a second area; and removing the second part of the first oxide layer while remaining the first part of the first oxide layer.

A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device includes stacked structures, vertical semiconductor patterns, common source regions, and well pickup regions. The stacked structures are disposed on a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type. Each stacked structure includes electrodes vertically stacked on each other and is extended in a first direction. The vertical semiconductor patterns penetrate the stacked structures. The common source regions of a second conductivity type are disposed in the semiconductor layer. At least one common source region is disposed between two adjacent stacked structures. The at least one common source region is extended in the first direction. The well pickup regions of the first conductivity type are disposed in the semiconductor layer. At least one well pickup region is adjacent to both ends of at least one stacked structure.

A flash includes a substrate. Two gate structures are disposed on the substrate. Each of the gate structures includes a floating gate and a control gate. The control gate is disposed on the floating gate. An erase gate is disposed between the gate structures. Two word lines are respectively disposed at a side of each of the gate structures. A top surface of each of the word lines includes a first concave surface and a sharp angle. The sharp angle is closed to a sidewall of the word line which the sharp angle resided. The sidewall is away from each of the gate structures. The sharp angle connects to the first concave surface.

A semiconductor structure includes a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first electrically conductive layers having first stepped surfaces and located over a substrate, a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second electrically conductive layers having second stepped surfaces, and memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stacks. A contact via assembly is provided, which includes a first conductive via structure vertically extending from a top surface of one of the first electrically conductive layers through a subset of layers within the second alternating stack and through the second retro-stepped dielectric material portion, an insulating spacer located within an opening through the subset of layers, and a second conductive via structure laterally surrounding the insulating spacer and contacting a second electrically conductive layer.

A control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode of a memory cell of a non-volatile memory are formed in a memory cell region of a semiconductor substrate, and a dummy gate electrode is formed in a peripheral circuit region. Then, n.sup.+-type semiconductor regions for a source or a drain of the memory cell are formed in the memory cell region and n.sup.+-type semiconductor regions for a source or a drain of MISFET are formed in the peripheral circuit region. Then, a metal silicide layer is formed over the n.sup.+-type semiconductor regions but the metal silicide layer is not formed over the control gate electrode, the memory gate electrode, and the gate electrode. Subsequently, the gate electrode is removed and replaced with the gate electrode for MISFET. Then, after removing the gate electrode and replacing it with a gate electrode for MISFET, a metal silicide layer is formed over the memory gate electrode and the control gate electrode.

A method of forming a non-volatile memory cell on a substrate having memory cell and logic circuit regions by forming a pair of conductive floating gates in the memory cell region, forming a first source region in the substrate between the pair of floating gates, forming a polysilicon layer in both regions, forming an oxide layer over the polysilicon layer in the logic circuit region, performing a chemical-mechanical polish of the polysilicon layer in the memory cell area leaving a first block of the polysilicon layer between the floating gates that is separated from remaining portions of the polysilicon layer, and selectively etching portions of the polysilicon layer to result in: second and third blocks of the polysilicon layer disposed in outer regions of the memory cell area, and a fourth block of the polysilicon layer in the logic circuit region.

A method of fabricating a memory device includes forming an etching object layer and a lower sacrificial layer on a substrate, and forming an upper sacrificial pattern structure on the lower sacrificial layer. The upper sacrificial pattern structure includes a pad portion and a line portion on the lower sacrificial layer. An upper spacer is formed by covering a side wall of the upper sacrificial pattern structure. A lower sacrificial pattern structure including a lower sacrificial pad portion and a lower sacrificial line portion is formed by etching the lower sacrificial layer, by using the upper sacrificial pad portion and the upper spacer as a mask. A lower spacer layer is formed by covering the lower sacrificial pattern structure. A lower mask pattern including at least one line mask, bridge mask, and pad mask, is formed by etching the lower spacer layer and the lower sacrificial pattern structure.

A memory device and method including a semiconductor substrate with memory and logic device areas. A plurality of memory cells are formed in the memory area, each including first source and drain regions with a first channel region therebetween, a floating gate disposed over a first portion of the first channel region, a control gate disposed over the floating gate, a select gate disposed over a second portion of the first channel region, and an erase gate disposed over the source region. A plurality of logic devices formed in the logic device area, each including second source and drain regions with a second channel region therebetween, and a logic gate disposed over the second channel region. The substrate upper surface is recessed lower in the memory area than in the logic device area, so that the taller memory cells have an upper height similar to that of the logic devices.

A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first transistor provided at an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a first capacitor provided above the first transistor and connected to a gate of the first transistor. A tunnel current is able to flow between the gate and the semiconductor substrate.