Independently programmable memory segments in isolated n-wells within a pmos eeprom array

0001This invention relates generally to semiconductor devices. Specifically this invention identifies an enhancement of P-channel Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) (hereinafter memory) devices as disclosed by the prior art wherein the device is segmented into independently programmable memory sub-arrays. Thus, the present invention is an improvement on the semiconductor memory devices disclosed by the prior art.

0002The relevant prior art is identified as <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US89041597A" dnum-type="L"><text>U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 08/890,415 filed July 9, 1997</text></patcit>, entitled "Low Voltage Single Supply CMOS Electrically Erasable Read-Only Memory" which is a continuation-in-part of <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US77831597A" dnum-type="L"><text>U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 08/778,315, filed January 2, 1997</text></patcit> and issued as <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5790455A"><text>U.S. Patent 5,790,455</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US89041597A" dnum-type="L"><text>U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 08/890,415</text></patcit> (Caywood 2), filed July 9, 1997 and <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US5790455A"><text>U.S. Patent 5,790,455</text></patcit> (Caywood 1) are discussed below.

0003Before Caywood, a common practice was to produce N-channel cells over a P-well substrate because of a simpler manufacturing process and lower programming voltages. The Caywood approach produces precisely the opposite configuration, i.e. P-channel devices over an N-well, which itself resides in a P-type substrate. The novelty of the Caywood approach is the reduction in magnitude of the applied voltage required for erasing and writing to the device while maintaining a similar writing speed as found in the art prior to Caywood as well as the elimination of certain components functionally necessary in the prior art.

0004Referring to <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>, the N-channel memory device art prior to Caywood is illustrated. Each memory transistor (MEM) required a row select transistor (SEL), which controlled the data received from the bit lines (BL). Also, if byte addressing was desired, then the device included a byte select transistor (BYTE) for every eight memory transistors. The problem solved by Caywood with the advent of P-channel/N-well device was the elimination of the row select transistors. Even after Caywood, byte selection still required the presence of the byte select transistors. The elimination of the byte select transistors resulted in the undesirable effect that the entire row must be reprogrammed following an erase operation.

0005Referring to <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>, the Caywood approach is illustrated in general terms for a single memory transistor 1. The N-well 3 is created within a P-type substrate 2. The P-channel for the drain 4 and source 5 is created within the N-well 3. Poly 1 or the floating gate 6 of the memory transistor 1 is created after the active region for the drain 4 and source 5. Poly2 or the control electrode 7 of the memory transistor is fabricated over the floating gate. Various non-conductive layers 8 insulate the P-channel 4 and 5, the floating gate 6 and the control electrode 7 from each other.

0006<figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> illustrates a plurality of cell rows 100, typically connected to gate electrodes of memory transistors and a plurality of columns 200 typically connected to source and drain electrodes of memory transistors in the array, with both cell rows and cell columns existing on a single N-well 300 substrate. The limitation to the Caywood P-channel memory arrays, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">figure 3</figref>, is that all memory cells in any particular row must selected, thus written or erased, during a particular operation.

0007Alternatively stated, in the prior art as disclosed by Caywood, the cell rows are not segmented such that some memory cells in the cell row may be selected for writing while other memory cells in the row are not. Thus, in order to program the contents of a single memory cell, the entire cell row must then be programmed in order to change the data in one memory cell.

0008In many applications it is desired to change the data in the memory array, one byte at a time. In the N-channel device prior art, this feature was accomplished by the inclusion of a byte select transistor (BYTE) for each eight memory transistors as shown in <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>. The disadvantage of this approach is the increased demand for silicon area to accommodate the overhead of the byte select transistor (BYTE). For example, from solely a transistor perspective, a byte select transistor (BYTE) for every eight memory transistors requires an 11% overhead (i.e. 1/9).

0009Moreover, the capability of changing one byte at a time would give an endurance advantage over row select memory arrays because only one byte of cells would need to undergo the electrical stress of the programming cycle as opposed to the entire row. It is well known to those skilled in the art of semiconductor memory fabrication that one cause of EEPROM failure is attributable to excessive erase/write operations.

0010<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="JP11003595A"><text>JP(A) 11003595</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US5343423A"><text>US 5,343,423</text></patcit> disclose a non-volatile semiconductor memory using a plurality of independent wells.

0011Therefore a need for a memory array exists in which the advantages of P-channel/N-well EEPROM technology are maximized by providing independently programmable memory segments within the EEPROM array other than with byte select transistors.

0012This object can be achieved by a memory array as defined in the independent claim. Further enhancements are characterized in the dependent claims.

0013It is an object of the present invention to provide a P-channel/N-well electrically erasable programmable read only memory array that is divided into independently programmable memory segments.

0014It is another object of the present invention to provide a P-channel/N-well electrically erasable programmable read only memory device with independently programmable memory segments without the necessity for byte select transistors.

0015In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a memory array comprises a plurality of N-wells within a P-type substrate and a plurality of independently programmable memory segments. Each independently programmable memory segment is comprised of M memory cell columns and N memory cell rows. Each independently programmable memory segment resides within a unique and separate N-well. Thus, each N-well contains an independently programmable memory segment.

0016The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a schematic diagram of byte selectable N-channel memory cells in the prior art incorporating byte select transistors and row select transistors.</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is a cross section of a P-channel memory transistor.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is an illustration of the prior art in which the matrix of P-channel memory transistors resides in a single N-well.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref> is an illustration of the present invention illustrating a P-channel memory array comprising two N-wells with each N-well having an independently programmable memory segment.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref> is a schematic diagram for a write operation.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 6</figref> is a schematic diagram for an erase operation.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref> is a schematic diagram for a read operation.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref> is a cross section of the implantation method of plural N-well fabrication not forming a part of but useful for understanding the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 9</figref> is a cross section of the trenching method of N-well segmentation not forming a part of but useful for understanding the present invention.</li></ul>

0017Referring to <figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref>, a P-channel memory array 10 comprising a plurality of N-wells within a P-type substrate and a plurality of independently programmable memory segments is shown. Each independently programmable memory segment is comprised of a matrix of memory cell transistors shown as cell rows 100 and cell columns 200. The embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref> segments the 16 cell columns 200 and the plurality of cell rows 100 of the memory array 10 into two independently programmable memory segments residing within N-wells 301 and 302, respectively and shown in dashed lines. N-wells 301 and 302 are electrically separated from each other.

0018In the preferred embodiment, there are eight memory transistor columns within each N-well segment, thereby comprising byte segments. There are a common number of cell rows 100 within each N-well and the total number of rows 100 is determined by the desired size of the memory array 10. In <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref>, N rows of memory transistors are illustrated. Not shown in <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref>, but discussed below and shown in subsequent diagrams, are select transistors for assisting in control of the operation of the array 10.

0019In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref> only two N-wells and two independently programmable memory segments are shown in byte format, i.e. 8 cell columns per memory segment, or a total of 16 cell columns. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that additional N-well segmentations are possible thus yielding additional independently programmable memory segments in byte format. Thus, for a byte format memory array 10, the number independently programmable memory segments multiplied by eight, i.e. the number of cell columns 200 per memory segment, equals the total number of cell columns 200 in the array 10.

0020Furthermore, each of the independently programmable memory segments which may be comprised of M cell columns, where M is either smaller or larger than a byte. The number of cell columns M 200, alternative to the byte format, include, but are not limited to: 2, 4, 16, 32 and 64 cell columns 200 for each independently programmable memory segment. These various memory array 10 geometries are easily implemented by the methods discussed below.

0021Each independently programmable memory segment is comprised of a plurality of independently programmable memory units. An independently programmable memory unit is defined as those cell columns 200 which are common to a given cell row 100 and within a single independently programmable memory segment. The intersection of a cell column 200 and a cell row 100 defines a memory cell which may be a single memory transistor as illustrated in <figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005">figures 5-7</figref>. Thus, for the geometry defined by <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref>, each independently programmable memory unit is comprised of eight memory cells. Furthermore, the total number of independently programmable memory units for a given independently programmable memory segment is equal to the total number (N) of cell rows 100.

0022The functional relevance of the independently programmable memory unit is as follows. A single independently programmable memory unit defines the smallest or most narrow portion of the memory array 10 that may be addressed by the write and erase memory operations described below. Additionally, all independently programmable memory units within a common cell row 100 may be simultaneously addressed by the write and erase memory operations.

0023Referring to <figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref>, a write operation within an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated for the two byte segmentation embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref>. Note that the present invention as illustrated in <figref idref="f0003">figure 5</figref>, eliminates the byte select transistors which were necessary in the NMOS prior art. The row select circuity is outside of the memory array 10. The "pass gate," sometimes referred to as the "select gate" transistor is merged into the memory cell, which is referred to as a "split cell."

0024In this application, as in the prior art, the IEEE standard 1005 will be followed for consistent nomenclature. Writing or programming a device is defined as placing electrons, i.e. a charge, onto the floating gate of the memory transistor. Erasing is defined as removing electrons from the floating gate.

0025The memory array 10 is comprised of a plurality of P-channel memory transistors 401-1 to 416-n which are laid out in a typical column/row matrix. Also shown are a row of P-channel source select transistors 501-516. Only one source select transistor 501-516 is necessary for each bit line BL1-BL16.

0026Two separate N-wells with accompanying, independently programmable memory segments are shown in dashed lines drawn around a group of cells. Contained within N-well 301 are 8 memory transistor columns (only three are shown for clarity) and N memory transistor rows. N-well 302 is identical to N-well 301, however, N-well 302 is electrically isolated from N-well 301. Note that each independently programmable memory segment corresponds to an N-well and thus, the quantity of N-wells is equal to the quantity of independently programmable memory segments. The upper left independently programmable memory unit in N-well 301 is enclosed in a solid line box to indicate that this is the target independently programmable memory unit (i.e. target byte) for the write, erase, and read operations described below.

0027The control electrodes of the P-channel memory transistors 401-1 to 416-n for each row are connected to a common word line (WL). For a write operation, the word line may be either at ground potential, i.e. zero volts, or at some relatively high programming voltage V_PP i.e. typically 12-20 volts. For writing to the target independently programmable memory unit (i.e. target byte), the control electrodes of memory transistors 401-1 to 416-1 are driven to V_PP via WL1. The electric field resulting from a relatively high Vpp, voltage, in combination with the N-well 301 biased to ground potential as described below, causes electrons to tunnel from the N-well across the dielectric layer and onto the floating gate of the transistor, thus programming, i.e. writing, the transistor.

0028Conversely, using WL2 as an example, the N-well 301 and the control electrodes of memory transistors 401-2 to 408-2 are set to ground potential or zero volts, under these conditions, no tunneling occurs because of an absence of an electric field. Thus, memory transistors 401-2 to 408-2 are not programmed, i.e. written to.

0029With respect to memory transistors 409-2 to 416-2, the N-well 302 is at Vpp and the control electrodes are ground potential which results in a P-type inversion layer under the poly2 layer of each of the memory cells 409-2 to 416-2. With BL9-16 set to zero volts and the drain electrodes of memory transistors 409-2 to 416-2 tied to the inversion layer, there is no voltage potential between the control electrode and the inversion layer at the surface of the N-well 302. Thus, even with the N-well biased to V_PP, no tunneling occurs thereby precluding a write operation for memory transistors 409-2 to 416-2.

0030The drain electrodes of the memory transistors of any particular column are connected to a common bit, line (BL) . For a write operation, the bit line to each of the columns BL1:8 and BL9:16 are set a zero volts.

0031The source electrodes of each memory transistor in a particular column are commonly connected to a source select transistor 501-516. The source select transistors 501-516 are controlled by two select lines, SL1 and SL2. For a write operation, SL1 is set to V_PP, and SL2 is set to ground potential.

0032In the write operation as illustrated in <figref idref="f0003">figure 5</figref>, the N-well 301 is biased to ground potential. This permits a sufficient voltage potential between the floating gate of the memory transistors 401-1 to 408-1, controlled by WL1 and the N-well 301. Electrons tunnel from the N-well 301 across the dielectric layer to the floating gate where a charge is deposited, thus effecting the write cycle (refer to <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>). Conversely, N-well 302 is biased to V_PP, thereby failing to create the sufficient voltage potential between the control electrodes of the memory transistors 409-1 to 416-1 that are within N-well 302. Without a sufficient voltage differential, tunneling cannot occur and the write cycle is not accomplished. Thus, by providing for separate and isolated N-wells, the P-channel memory transistors in any row may be organized in byte selectable segments where byte selection is effected, at least in part, by the application of, or biasing at, different voltage potentials, the plurality of the N-wells themselves.

0033Referring to <figref idref="f0004">figure 6</figref>, a erase operation within an embodiment is described for a byte selectable memory array 10. In this example, word line WL1 is set to ground potential, which capacitively couples the floating gate of memory transistors 401-1 to 416-1 to a low voltage and turns the transistors on hard, thereby creating an inversion layer. The remainder of the word lines WL2:n, the select lines SL1:2 and N-wells 301 and 302 are biased to V_PP. Bit lines BL1:8 for N-well 301 are set to Vpp which biases the inversion layer under the floating gate to Vpp. This causes electron tunneling from the floating gate to the inversion region in the N-well 301 and serves to remove the charge from the floating gate of the memory transistors 401-1 to 408-1 (refer to <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>).

0034Conversely, with WL1 and BL9:16 set to ground potential, the inversion layer for memory transistors 409-1 to 416-1 is biased to zero volts which results in electron tunneling not occurring. Thus, there the erase operation is not accomplished for memory transistors 409-1 to 416-1. In the target independently programmable memory unit (i.e. target byte) of <figref idref="f0004">Figure 6</figref>, identified by the bolded rectangle, a binary pattern may be entered in to the memory cells 401-1 through 408-1 by setting bit lines BL1-BL8 to either zero volts or Vpp. Bit lines set to V_PP will erase the memory cell. Bit lines set to zero volts will remain in the write or programming state.

0035Referring to <figref idref="f0005">figure 7</figref>, a read operation within an embodiment is described for a byte selectable memory array 10. In this example, WL1 is set to V_GR, a voltage between V_DD and ground, sufficient to turn on memory transistors 401-1 to 416-1. Word lines WL2:n are set to V_DD (typically 5 volts) which turn off the remainder of the memory transistors. The N-wells 301 and 302 are also set to V_DD which is a normal "body bias" for a P-channel transistor in CMOS technology. SL1 is set to ground potential, thereby turning on the source select transistors. SL2 is set to V_DD which permits the select transistors to source current. With the above conditions set, the bit lines BL1:16 are left to control the read operation. To read the target independently programmable memory unit, BL1:BL8 are set to V_DD V_R (V_R is a range 1.0 to 1.5 volts) which creates a voltage potential between the source and drain of the memory transistors resulting a current which is read by the sense amplifiers (not shown) . BL9:16 are set to V_DD, thereby not creating the requisite voltage potential between source and drain and thus, inhibiting the memory read of that byte.

0036There are various processing methods not forming a part of but useful for understanding the present invention which can be used to create a plurality of N-wells or to segment the N-well into sub-wells. Two such methods include p-n junction isolation and dielectric isolation. An example of each of these methods is provided below.

0037One form of p-n junction isolation makes use of a photoresist mask to implant separate N-well regions located within the P-type substrate at the time well formation occurs. <figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref> illustrates the result of this process before the photoresist 20 is removed. The process begins with a P-substrate 2 upon which an implant buffer oxide 22 is grown. Next the photoresist 20 is applied and etched to form the channels for the implant. Following the etching of the photoresist 20, the formation of the two N-wells 301 and 302 by implantation occurs. The photoresist 20 is then removed and the remainder of the device is fabricated.

0038The N-wells 301 and 302 are isolated from one another due to the p-n junction formed with the P-substrate in which they are implanted. To allow closer spacing of N-wells with the implantation process, P-type material may be implanted between the N-wells to increase the doping concentration between the implants. This will reduce the extent of the lateral N-well diffusion and decrease the width of depletion regions into the P-type material. Typically, a thick field oxide would be formed between active regions in the N-wells and would exist over the P-type region between the N-wells.

0039Referring to <figref idref="f0006">figure 9</figref>, trench etch and dielectric fill is an example of the dielectric isolation method for creating multiple sub-wells 301a and 302a from an original, single N-well and minimizing the spacing between the sub-wells. In this case, the sub-wells 301a and 302a are separated by first forming one large N-well and then etching a deep trench 30 into the silicon substrate 2 to divide the N-well into the requisite number and size sub-wells. The side walls of the trenches may require implants and oxidation, or other passivation steps, to achieve good electrical characteristics for the junctions which abut them. The trenches are then filled with insulating material 32 or a combination of materials that prevent electrical conduction between the various N-wells.