The improvement of the reliability of a semiconductor device having a split gate type MONOS memory is implemented. An ONO film and a second polysilicon film are sequentially formed so as to fill between a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Then, the dummy gate electrode is removed. Then, the top surfaces of the first and second polysilicon films are polished, thereby to form a memory gate electrode formed of the second polysilicon film at the sidewall of a control gate electrode formed of the first polysilicon film via the ONO film. As a result, the memory gate electrode high in perpendicularity of the sidewall, and uniform in film thickness is formed.

The present disclosure relates to a memory cell, a memory array, and methods for writing a memory cell. In an example embodiment, a memory cell comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a differential sense amplifier. The first transistor is a Vt-modifiable n-channel transistor and the second transistor is a Vt-modifiable p-channel transistor, each transistor having first and second main electrodes. The first main electrodes of the first and second transistors are connected together. The differential sense amplifier is connected to the second main electrodes of the first and the second transistor. The differential sense amplifier is adapted for sensing the current difference between the first transistor and the second transistor.

A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET) memory array, including a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) cell including an n-type MOSFET having a modified gate dielectric; and an n-type or p-type MOSFET having an unmodified gate dielectric layer, where the modified gate dielectric layer incorporates an oxygen scavenging species.

A memory is described. Generally, the memory includes a number of non-planar multigate transistors, each including a channel of semiconducting material overlying a surface of a substrate and electrically connecting a source and a drain, a tunnel dielectric layer overlying the channel on at least three sides thereof, and a multi-layer charge-trapping region overlying the tunnel dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the multi-layer charge-trapping region includes a first deuterated layer overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a first nitride-containing layer overlying the first deuterated layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Deterioration in reliability is prevented regarding a semiconductor device. The deterioration is caused when an insulating film for formation of a sidewall is embedded between gate electrodes at the time of forming sidewalls having two kinds of different widths on a substrate. A sidewall-shaped silicon oxide film is formed over each sidewall of a gate electrode of a low breakdown voltage MISFET and a pattern including a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode. Then, a silicon oxide film beside the gate electrode is removed, and a silicon oxide film is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and then etchback is performed. Accordingly, a sidewall, formed of a silicon nitride film and the silicon oxide film, is formed beside the gate electrode, and a sidewall, formed of the silicon nitride film and the silicon oxide films, is formed beside the pattern.

Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The three-dimensional semiconductor devices include an electrode structure with sequentially-stacked electrodes disposed on a substrate, semiconductor patterns penetrating the electrode structure, and memory elements including a first pattern and a second pattern interposed between the semiconductor patterns and the electrode structure, the first pattern vertically extending to cross the electrodes and the second pattern horizontally extending to cross the semiconductor patterns.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation film, and a fin having side surfaces facing each other in a first direction of an upper surface and a main surface connecting the facing side surfaces and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The device further includes a control gate electrode arranged over the side surface via a gate insulation film and extending in the first direction, and a memory gate electrode arranged over the side surface via another gate insulation film having a charge accumulation layer and extending in the first direction. Furthermore, an overlap length by which the memory gate electrode overlaps with the side surface is smaller than an overlap length by which the control gate electrode overlaps with the side surface in the direction orthogonal to the upper surface.

Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. Over a semiconductor substrate, a dummy control gate electrode is formed via a first insulating film. Over the semiconductor substrate, a memory gate electrode for a memory cell is formed via a second insulating film having an internal charge storage portion so as to be adjacent to the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the height of the memory gate electrode is adjusted to be lower than the height of the dummy control gate electrode. Then, a third insulating film is formed so as to cover the dummy control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Then, the third insulating film is polished to expose the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the memory gate electrode is not exposed. Then, the dummy control gate electrode is removed and replaced with a metal gate electrode.

A fin includes a first region and a second region arranged on a positive side in an X-axis direction with respect to the first region. A control gate electrode covers an upper surface of the first region, and a side surface of the first region on the positive side in a Y-axis direction. A memory gate electrode covers an upper surface of the second region, and a side surface of the second region on the positive side in the Y-axis direction. The upper surface of the second region is lower than the upper surface of the first region. The side surface of the second region is arranged on the negative side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the side surface of the first region in the Y-axis direction.

In a semiconductor device, a memory cell is formed of a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode adjacent to each other, a gate insulating film formed below the control gate electrode and an insulating film formed below the memory gate electrode and having a charge accumulating part therein. Also, in this semiconductor device, a capacitive element is formed of a lower electrode, an upper electrode and a capacitive insulating film formed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. A thickness of the lower electrode is smaller than a thickness of the control gate electrode.