A simplified method for forming pairs of non-volatile memory cells using two polysilicon depositions. A first polysilicon layer is formed on and insulated from the semiconductor substrate in a first polysilicon deposition process. A pair of spaced apart insulation blocks are formed on the first polysilicon layer. Exposed portions of the first poly silicon layer are removed while maintaining a pair of polysilicon blocks of the first polysilicon layer each disposed under one of the pair of insulation blocks. A second polysilicon layer is formed over the substrate and the pair of insulation blocks in a second polysilicon deposition process. Portions of the second polysilicon layer are removed while maintaining a first polysilicon block (disposed between the pair of insulation blocks), a second polysilicon block (disposed adjacent an outer side of one insulation block), and a third polysilicon block (disposed adjacent an outer side of the other insulation block).

A method of manufacturing a memory structure including following steps is provided. Two gate stack structures are formed on a substrate. A conductive material layer is conformally formed on the two gate stack structures. The conductive material layer includes two protrusions located on the two gate stack structures. Hard mask spacers are formed on two sides of each of the two protrusions. A first etching process is performed to remove a portion of the conductive material layer by using the hard mask spacers as a mask. A second etching process is performed to completely remove the hard mask spacers. Then, a third etching process is performed on the conductive material layer to form a first conductive spacer and a second conductive spacer located on one side and the other side of the two gate stack structures and to form a conductive layer located between the two gate stack structures.

A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate and at least one patterned dielectric layer is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a semiconductor portion, at least one first device, at least one second device and at least one first dummy ring. The at least one first device is disposed on a first region surrounded by the semiconductor portion. The at least one second device and the at least one first dummy ring are disposed on a second region, and the second region surrounds the first region. The at least one patterned dielectric layer covers the semiconductor substrate.

A method is provided in which a monitor cell is made that is substantially identical to the flash memory cells of an embedded memory array. The monitor cell is formed simultaneously with the cells of the memory array, and so in certain critical aspects, is exactly comparable. An aperture is formed that extends through the control gate and intervening dielectric to the floating gate of the monitor cell. To prevent silicide contamination during a subsequent CMP process, a silicide protection layer (SPL), such as a resist protective oxide, is formed over exposed portions of the control gate prior to formation of a silicide contact formed on the floating gate. The SPL is formed simultaneously with existing manufacturing processes to avoid additional process steps.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure over an active region. A first spacer layer is formed along sidewalls and a top surface of the sacrificial gate structure. A first protection layer is formed over the first spacer layer. A second spacer layer is formed over the first protection layer. A third spacer layer is formed over the second spacer layer. The sacrificial gate structure is replaced with a replacement gate structure. The second spacer layer is removed to form an air gap between the first protection layer and the third spacer layer.

Provided is a memory device including a plurality of stack structures disposed on a substrate; and a dielectric layer. Each stack structure includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an inter-gate dielectric layer, a metal silicide layer, and a barrier layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first conductive layer. The inter-gate dielectric layer is disposed between the first and second conductive layers. The metal silicide layer is disposed on the second conductive layer. The barrier layer is disposed between the metal silicide layer and the second conductive layer. The dielectric layer laterally surrounds a lower portion of the plurality of stack structures to expose a portion of the metal silicide layer of the plurality of stack structures.

A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a first active area and a second active area in proximity to the first active area. A trench isolation region is between the first active area and the second active area. A source line region is disposed in the first active area and adjacent to the trench isolation region. An erase gate is disposed on the source line region. A floating gate is disposed on a first side of the erase gate. A first control gate is disposed on the floating gate. A first word line is disposed adjacent to the floating gate and the first control gate and insulated therefrom. A second control gate is disposed on a second side of the erase gate and directly on the trench isolation region. A second word line is disposed adjacent to the second control gate and insulated therefrom.

A 3D semiconductor device including: a first single crystal layer with first transistors; overlaid by a first metal layer; a second metal layer overlaying the first metal layer and being overlaid by a third metal layer; a logic gates including at least the first metal layer interconnecting the first transistors; second transistors disposed atop the third metal layer; third transistors disposed atop the second transistors; a top metal layer disposed atop the third transistors; and a memory array including word-lines, and at least four memory mini arrays, where each of the memory mini arrays includes at least four rows by four columns of memory cells, where each of the memory cells includes at least one of the second transistors or third transistors, sense amplifier circuit(s) for each of the memory mini arrays, the second metal layer provides a greater current carrying capacity than the third metal layer.

An array of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) includes a first row of floating gate, a second row of floating gate, two spacers, a first row of word line and a second row of word line. The first row of floating gate and the second row of floating gate are disposed on a substrate along a first direction. The two spacers are disposed between and parallel to the first row of floating gate and the second row of floating gate. The first row of word line is sandwiched by one of the spacers and the adjacent first row of floating gate, and the second row of word line is sandwiched by the other one of the spacers and the adjacent second row of floating gate. The present invention also provides a method of forming said array of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.