U.S. patent application number 15/857430 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-04 for cylindrical vertical si etched channel 3d switching devices.
The applicant listed for this patent is Spin Memory, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dafna Beery, Kuk-Hwan Kim, Amitay Levi, Gian Sharma, Andrew J. Walker.
Application Number | 20190206461 15/857430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67058399 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190206461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sharma; Gian ; et
al. |
July 4, 2019 |
CYLINDRICAL VERTICAL SI ETCHED CHANNEL 3D SWITCHING DEVICES
Abstract
A switching device, according to one embodiment, includes: a
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical oxide layer which
encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical gate contact which encircles a portion of the annular
cylindrical oxide layer; and a source contact which encircles a
portion of the cylindrical pillar toward a first end of the
cylindrical pillar. Other systems are also described in additional
embodiments herein which provide various different switching
devices having improved components including improved cylindrical
gate contacts, improved source contacts, and/or improved drain
contacts. These improved systems and components thereof may be
implemented in vertical transistor structures which also include
the aforementioned cylindrical pillar and cylindrical gate contact
in comparison to conventional surface transistor structures.
Inventors: |
Sharma; Gian; (Fremont,
CA) ; Levi; Amitay; (Cupertino, CA) ; Walker;
Andrew J.; (Mountain View, CA) ; Kim; Kuk-Hwan;
(San Jose, CA) ; Beery; Dafna; (Palo Alto,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Spin Memory, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Family ID: |
67058399 |
Appl. No.: |
15/857430 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 29/66666 20130101;
H01L 29/41741 20130101; G11C 11/161 20130101; H01L 27/228 20130101;
H01L 29/7827 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G11C 11/16 20060101
G11C011/16; H01L 27/22 20060101 H01L027/22; H01L 29/66 20060101
H01L029/66; H01L 29/78 20060101 H01L029/78 |
Claims
1. A switching device, comprising: a cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical oxide layer which encircles a portion of the
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical gate contact which
encircles a portion of the annular cylindrical oxide layer; and a
source contact which encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar
toward a first end of the cylindrical pillar; wherein a first end
of the vertical cylindrical pillar serves as a source terminal,
wherein a second end of the vertical cylindrical pillar serves as a
drain terminal, wherein the first end of the vertical cylindrical
pillar is opposite the second end of the vertical cylindrical
pillar.
2. (canceled)
3. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein the
cylindrical pillar includes silicon.
4. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein the source
contact includes a silicided material.
5. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein the annular
cylindrical gate contact includes n+ and/or p+ doped material.
6. The switching device as recited in claim 5, wherein the doped
material includes doped polysilicon.
7. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein a deposition
thickness of the annular cylindrical gate contact is between about
200 angstroms (.ANG.) and about 300 .ANG..
8. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein the source
contact includes a silicide material.
9. The switching device as recited in claim 1, comprising: a
magnetic tunnel junction sensor stack electrically coupled to a
second end of the cylindrical pillar.
10. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein cylindrical
pillar includes an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material,
wherein the annular cylindrical gate contact includes an
electrically conductive, non-magnetic material.
11. The switching device as recited in claim 1, wherein an
effective cell size of the switching device is 4F.sup.2, wherein F
is the minimum feature size associated with technology used to
fabricate the switching device.
12. A magnetic device, comprising: a plurality of switching
devices, each of the switching devices comprising: a cylindrical
pillar; an annular cylindrical oxide layer which encircles a
portion of the cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical gate
contact which encircles a portion of the annular cylindrical oxide
layer; and a source contact which encircles a portion of the
cylindrical pillar toward a first end of the cylindrical
pillar.
13. The magnetic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the source
contact of each of the plurality of switching devices is
electrically coupled to a common source line.
14. The magnetic device as recited in claim 12, wherein an
effective cell size of each of the plurality of switching devices
is 4F.sup.2, wherein F is the minimum feature size associated with
technology used to fabricate the plurality of switching
devices.
15. The magnetic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the
cylindrical pillar of each of the plurality of switching devices
includes silicon.
16. The magnetic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the annular
cylindrical gate contact of each of the plurality of switching
devices includes a doped material.
17. The magnetic device as recited in claim 16, wherein the doped
material includes doped polysilicon.
18. The magnetic device as recited in claim 12, each of the
switching devices comprising: a magnetic tunnel junction sensor
stack electrically coupled to a second end of the cylindrical
pillar.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to magnetoresistive
random-access memory (MRAM), and more particularly, this invention
relates to increasing the effective storage density of MRAM, as
well as enhancing the operational range of performance, ease,
speed, capabilities, etc., of MRAM devices and also various other
switching and storage devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] MRAM is a non-volatile memory technology that stores data
through magnetic storage elements. Because MRAM is non-volatile,
memory written thereto may be retained even when the power supply
of the MRAM is turned off. The magnetic storage elements used to
actually store the data include two ferromagnetic plates, or
electrodes, that can hold a magnetic field and are separated by a
non-magnetic material, such as a non-magnetic metal or insulator.
In general, one of the plates is referred to as the reference layer
and has a magnetization which is pinned. In other words, the
reference layer has a higher coercivity than the other plate and
requires a larger magnetic field or spin-polarized current to
change the orientation of its magnetization. The second plate is
typically referred to as the free layer whose magnetization
direction which can be changed by relatively smaller magnetic
fields or a spin-polarized current relative to the reference
layer.
[0003] MRAM devices store information by storing the orientation of
the magnetization of the free layer. In particular, based on
whether the free layer is in a parallel or anti-parallel alignment
relative to the reference layer, either a logical "1" or a logical
"0" can be stored in each respective MRAM cell. Due to the
spin-polarized electron tunneling effect, the electrical resistance
of a memory element changes due to the orientation of the magnetic
fields of the two layers. The resistance of a cell will be
different for the parallel and anti-parallel states and thus the
cell's resistance can be used to distinguish between a logical "1"
and a logical "0".
[0004] An important and continuing goal in the data storage
industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a
medium. For storage devices which implement MRAM, that goal has led
to decreasing the footprint of individual MRAM cells in an attempt
to further increase the storage capacity per unit area. However,
the development of smaller MRAM cells has reached a limit which has
effectively restricted conventional MRAM storage from further
increasing storage density. Moreover, other types of random access
memory are unable to achieve a storage density which rivals that of
MRAM. For example, looking to FIGS. 1A-1B, a conventional
transistor dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell 100 is shown.
Various components included in the DRAM cell are called out in
FIGS. 1A-1B as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
SUMMARY
[0005] A switching device, according to one embodiment, includes: a
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical oxide layer which
encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical gate contact which encircles a portion of the annular
cylindrical oxide layer; and a source contact which encircles a
portion of the cylindrical pillar toward a first end of the
cylindrical pillar.
[0006] A magnetic device, according to another embodiment,
includes: a plurality of switching devices. Moreover, each of the
switching devices includes: a cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical oxide layer which encircles a portion of the
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical gate contact which
encircles a portion of the annular cylindrical oxide layer; and a
source contact which encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar
toward a first end of the cylindrical pillar.
[0007] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, which,
when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of
example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1A-1B are representational views of one transistor
DRAM cell according to the prior art.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a representational view of a sensor stack for a
MRAM memory element according to one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a perpendicular magnetic
tunnel junction cell according to one embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4A is a partial perspective view of a vertical channel
transistor structure according to one embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view of the vertical
channel transistor structure in FIG. 4A according to one
embodiment.
[0013] FIGS. 5A-5R are partial perspective views of a method for
forming a vertical channel transistor structure according to one
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a fabrication configuration according to one
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a partial representational layout view of a MRAM
array according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following description is made for the purpose of
illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is
not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further,
particular features described herein can be used in combination
with other described features in each of the various possible
combinations and permutations.
[0017] Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are
to be given their broadest possible interpretation including
meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings
understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in
dictionaries, treatises, etc.
[0018] It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and
the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless otherwise specified.
[0019] The following description discloses several preferred
embodiments of MRAM having improved data storage density and
capabilities and/or related systems and methods.
[0020] In one general embodiment, a switching device includes: a
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical oxide layer which
encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical gate contact which encircles a portion of the annular
cylindrical oxide layer; and a source contact which encircles a
portion of the cylindrical pillar toward a first end of the
cylindrical pillar.
[0021] According to another general embodiment, a magnetic device
includes: a plurality of switching devices. Moreover, each of the
switching devices includes: a cylindrical pillar; an annular
cylindrical oxide layer which encircles a portion of the
cylindrical pillar; an annular cylindrical gate contact which
encircles a portion of the annular cylindrical oxide layer; and a
source contact which encircles a portion of the cylindrical pillar
toward a first end of the cylindrical pillar.
[0022] As previously mentioned, MRAM devices store information by
changing the orientation of the magnetization of the free layer. In
particular, based on whether the free layer is in a parallel or
anti-parallel alignment relative to the reference layer, either a
logical "1" or a logical "0" can be stored in each respective MRAM
cell. Due to the spin-polarized electron tunneling effect, the
electrical resistance of a cell changes due to the orientation of
the magnetic fields of the two layers. The resistance of a cell
will be different for the parallel and anti-parallel states and
thus the cell's resistance can be used to distinguish between a
logical "1" and a logical "0".
[0023] Spin transfer torque or spin transfer switching, uses
spin-aligned (polarized) electrons to change the magnetization
orientation of the free layer in the MTJ. In general, electrons
possess a spin, which is a quantized amount of angular momentum
intrinsic to the electron. An electrical current is generally not
polarized, in that it generally includes of 50% spin up and 50%
spin down electrons. However, passing a current though a magnetic
layer polarizes electrons in the current with the spin orientation
corresponding to the magnetization direction of the magnetic layer.
Thus, the magnetic layer acts as a polarizer and produces a
spin-polarized current as a result. Moreover, if a spin-polarized
current is passed to the magnetic region of a free layer in the MTJ
device, the electrons will transfer a portion of their spin-angular
momentum to the target magnetization layer to produce a torque on
the magnetization of the target free layer. Thus, this spin
transfer torque can switch the magnetization of the free layer,
thereby effectively writing either a logical "1" or a logical "0"
based on whether the free layer is in the parallel or anti-parallel
states relative to the reference layer.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, an illustrative sensor stack for a MTJ
memory element 200 is shown according to one embodiment. The MTJ
memory element 200 may be used in a p-MTJ memory element, as
described in various embodiments herein. The MTJ memory element 200
may include a MTJ 202 that may include a magnetic reference layer
204, a magnetic free layer 206, and a thin, non-magnetic,
electrically-insulating magnetic tunnel barrier layer 208
positioned between the reference layer 204 and the free layer 206
in a layer thickness direction 240. The tunnel barrier layer 208
may include an oxide, such as MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, etc., or some
other suitable material known in the art. The reference layer 204
has a magnetization 210 that is fixed in a direction that is
perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the layer, as indicated by
the arrow. The horizontal plane is sometimes referred to as a plane
of formation in the embodiments described herein. The free layer
206 has a magnetization 212 that may be in either of two directions
perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the free layer 206, as
indicated by the two arrows. While the magnetization 212 of the
free layer 206 remains in either of two directions perpendicular to
the plane of the free layer 206 in a quiescent state, it may be
selectable switched between these two directions, as is described
in greater detail herein. When the magnetization 212 of the free
layer 206 is in the same direction as the magnetization 210 of the
reference layer 204, the electrical resistance across the MTJ 202
is at a low resistance state. Conversely, when the magnetization
212 of the free layer 206 is opposite to the magnetization 210 of
the reference layer 204, the electrical resistance across the MTJ
202 is in a high resistance state.
[0025] The reference layer 204 may be part of an anti-parallel
magnetic pinning structure 214 that may include a magnetic keeper
layer 216 and a non-magnetic, antiparallel coupling layer 218
positioned between the keeper layer 216 and the reference layer 204
in the thickness direction 240. The antiparallel coupling layer 218
may include any suitable material known in the art, such as Ru, and
may be constructed to have a thickness that causes ferromagnetic
antiparallel coupling of the keeper layer 216 and the reference
layer 204.
[0026] In one approach, the keeper layer 216 may be exchange
coupled with an antiferromagnetic layer 220, which may include any
suitable material known in the art, such as IrMn. Exchange coupling
between the antiferromagnetic layer 220 and the keeper layer 216
strongly pins the magnetization 222 of the keeper layer 216 in a
first direction. The antiparallel coupling between the keeper layer
216 and the reference layer 204 pins the magnetization 210 of the
reference layer 204 in a second direction opposite to the direction
of magnetization 222 of the keeper layer 216.
[0027] According to one approach, a seed layer 224 may be
positioned below the keeper layer 216 in the thickness direction
240 to initiate a desired crystalline structure in the layers
deposited thereabove.
[0028] In another approach, a capping layer 226 may be positioned
above the free layer 206 to protect the underlying layers during
manufacture, such as during high temperature annealing.
[0029] A lower electrode 228 and an upper electrode 230 may be
positioned near a bottom and a top of the MTJ memory element 200,
respectively, in one approach. The lower electrode 228 and the
upper electrode 230 may be constructed of a non-magnetic,
electrically conductive material of a type known in the art, such
as Au, Ag, Cu, etc., and may provide an electrical connection with
a circuit 232. The circuit 232 may include a current source, and
may further include circuitry for reading an electrical resistance
across the MTJ memory element 200.
[0030] The magnetic free layer 206 has a magnetic anisotropy that
causes the magnetization 212 of the free layer 206 to remain stable
in one of two directions perpendicular to the horizontal plane of
the free layer 206. In a write mode of use for the MTJ memory
element 200, the orientation of the magnetization 212 of the free
layer 206 may be switched between these two directions by applying
an electrical current through the MTJ memory element 200 via the
circuit 232. A current in a first direction causes the
magnetization 212 of the free layer 206 of the MTJ memory element
200 to flip to a first orientation, and a current in a second
direction opposite to the first direction causes the magnetization
212 of the free layer 206 of the MTJ memory element 200 to flip to
a second, opposite direction.
[0031] For example, if the magnetization 212 is initially oriented
in an upward direction in FIG. 2, applying a current in a downward
direction through the MTJ memory element 200 cause electrons to
flow in an opposite direction upward through the MTJ memory element
200. Electrons travelling through the reference layer 204 become
spin polarized as a result of the magnetization 210 of the
reference layer 204. These spin-polarized electrons cause a spin
torque on the magnetization 212 of the free layer 206, which causes
the magnetization 212 to flip directions, from the upward direction
to a downward direction.
[0032] On the other hand, if the magnetization 212 of the free
layer 206 is initially in a downward direction in FIG. 2, applying
an electrical current through the MTJ memory element 200 in an
upward direction in FIG. 2 causes electrons to flow in an opposite
direction, downward through the MTJ memory element 200. However,
because the magnetization 212 of the free layer 206 is opposite to
the magnetization 210 of the reference layer 204, the electrons
will not be able to pass through the tunnel barrier layer 208. As a
result, the electrons (which have been spin polarized by the
magnetization 212 of the free layer 206) will accumulate at the
junction between the free layer 206 and the tunnel barrier layer
208. This accumulation of spin polarized electrons causes a spin
torque that causes the magnetization 212 of the free layer 206 to
flip from the downward direction to an upward direction.
[0033] In order to assist the switching of the magnetization 212 of
the free layer 206, the MTJ memory element 200 may include a spin
polarization layer 234 positioned above the free layer 206. The
spin polarization layer 234 may be separated from the free layer
206 by an exchange coupling layer 236. The spin polarization layer
234 has a magnetic anisotropy that causes it to have a
magnetization 238 with a primary component oriented in the in plane
direction (e.g., perpendicular to the magnetization 212 of the free
layer and the magnetization 210 of the reference layer 204). The
magnetization 238 of the spin polarization layer 234 may be fixed
in one approach, or may move in a processional manner as shown in
FIG. 2. The magnetization 238 of the spin polarization layer 234
causes a spin torque on the free layer 206 that assists in moving
its magnetization 212 away from its quiescent state perpendicular
to the plane of the free layer 206. This allows the magnetization
212 of the free layer 206 to more easily flip with less energy
being utilized to flip the magnetization 212 in response to
applying a write current to the MTJ memory element 200.
[0034] The MTJ memory element 200 described in FIG. 2 is intended
to provide context to the various embodiments described herein. The
structures and methods described herein in accordance with various
embodiments may include a portion of the MTJ memory element 200
described in FIG. 2 and/or used in conjunction with the MTJ memory
element 200, in various approaches.
[0035] It should be noted that the MTJ sensor stack configuration
illustrated in FIG. 2 is in no way intended to limit the invention.
Rather, the sensor stack included in MTJ memory element 200 of FIG.
2 is presented by way of example only. Accordingly, any of the
embodiments described herein which include reference to a MTJ
structure (e.g., sensor stack) may implement a MTJ sensor structure
similar to or the same as that shown in FIG. 2, or any other MTJ
sensor structure which would be apparent to one skilled in the art
after reading the present description.
[0036] A MTJ sensor stack, e.g., such as that illustrated in FIG.
2, may be electrically coupled with a transistor in order to write
information to the MTJ sensor stack such that the information is
stored in the sensor stack itself. As previously mentioned,
information may be written (or overwritten) to a MTJ sensor stack
by causing the magnetic orientation of the free layer to flip.
Moreover, flipping the magnetic orientation of the free layer may
be achieved by selectively passing a current through the sensor
stack, e.g., as will be described in further detail below.
[0037] Looking now to FIG. 3, a portion of a MRAM cell 300 that
includes a magnetoresistive sensor stack 302 is shown according to
one embodiment. The MRAM cell 300 may be operated and utilized as
understood by those of skill in the art, with any special use cases
being specified in accordance with an embodiment herein. The memory
element 200 described in FIG. 2 may be used as the magnetoresistive
sensor stack 302 of FIG. 3 in accordance with embodiments that
store data in MRAM. In one embodiment, an MTJ element may be used
as the magnetoresistive sensor stack 302.
[0038] The MRAM cell 300 also includes a bit line 304 that supplies
current across the magnetoresistive sensor stack 302 from a current
source 318. The bit line 304 may include any suitable material
known in the art, such as TaN, W, TiN, Au, Ag, Cu, etc. An
extension layer 306 electrically connects the magnetoresistive
sensor stack 302 with the bit line 304. The extension layer 306 may
include any suitable material known in the art, such as Ru, Ta,
etc. A source line 305 is coupled between the magnetoresistive
sensor stack 302 and a channel layer 308, the channel layer 308
further being in electrical contact with an n+ source layer 310.
The channel layer 308 may include any suitable semiconductor
material known in the art, such as Si, Ge, GaAs-compounds, etc. The
n+ source layer 310 may include any suitable material known in the
art, such as TaN, W, TiN, Au, Ag, Cu, etc., and is electrically
connected to the current source 318 via a source line 318, which
may include any suitable material known in the art, such as TaN, W,
TiN, Au, Ag, Cu, etc. Positioned across the channel layer 308 is a
word line 314 which may include any suitable material known in the
art, such as TaN, W, TiN, Au, Ag, Cu, etc. On either side of the n+
source layer 310 are shallow trench isolation (STI) layers 316
which provide electrical insulation of the n+ source layer 310.
Moreover, although not specifically shown, electrically insulative
material may be positioned around the various layers shown in FIG.
3, as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
[0039] As previously mentioned, an important and continuing goal in
the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data
stored on a medium. For storage devices which implement MRAM, that
goal has led to decreasing the footprint of individual MRAM cells
in an attempt to further increase the storage capacity per unit
area. However, the development of smaller MRAM cells has reached a
limit which has effectively restricted conventional MRAM storage
from further increasing storage density. For instance, in
semiconductor manufacturing processes, mostly planar metal oxide
semiconductor (MOS) metal gate technologies are used. However, this
technology offers a limited amount of achievable transistor drive
current depending on the photo-lithographically defined gate width,
gate length and/or other materials properties. Moreover, other
types of random access memory are unable to achieve a storage
density which rivals that of MRAM.
[0040] In sharp contrast, various ones of the approaches included
herein are able to successfully improve the drive currents for the
MRAM devices. This significant improvement to drive currents in
MRAM devices may be achieved by flowing the operating current for
MRAM cells in the vertical direction while using the same
photolithography capability, e.g., as will be described in further
detail below.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 4A, a partial perspective view of a
vertical channel transistor structure 400 (e.g., a switching
device) is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment. As an
option, the present transistor structure 400 may be implemented in
conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein,
such as those described with reference to the other FIGS., e.g.,
such as FIGS. 2-3. Of course, however, such transistor structure
400 and others presented herein may be used in various applications
and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically
described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further,
the transistor structure 400 presented herein may be used in any
desired environment.
[0042] The vertical channel transistor structure 400, or "switching
device", is preferably formed from a solid block of material.
Accordingly, the substrate 402 shown in FIG. 4A may actually be the
remainder of a block of material used to form an underlying layer
used to form the general resulting cylindrical pillar structure of
the vertical channel transistor structure 400, e.g., according to
the various processes described in method 500 of FIGS. 5A-5R
below.
[0043] With continued reference to FIG. 4A, the substrate 402
preferably includes silicon. For example, in some approaches the
substrate 402 may be a remaining portion of a <110>
crystalline silicon wafer (or any other desired type of wafer
material) used to form the vertical channel transistor structure
400. However, the substrate 402 may be a remaining portion of a
different type of silicon and/or a different material altogether
depending on the desired approach.
[0044] The transistor structure 400 also includes a source contact
tab 404 which is directly coupled to the substrate 402. A portion
406 of the source contact tab 404 is shown as extending away from
the general cylindrical vertical pillar 410 channel structure of
the transistor structure 400, while a base 408 of the source
contact tab 404 encircles the general cylindrical vertical pillar
410 channel structure at a bottom (e.g., base) of the vertical
cylindrical pillar 410. Moreover, according to preferred
approaches, the source contact includes a silicided material (e.g.,
metal), as will be described in further detail below.
[0045] As alluded to above, the cylindrical vertical pillar 410
serves as the channel of the transistor structure 400. Accordingly,
a first end (e.g., "top") of the vertical cylindrical pillar 410
may serve as a source terminal, while a second end (e.g., "bottom")
of the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 serves as a drain terminal.
It should be noted that the first and second ends of the vertical
cylindrical pillar 410 are on opposite ends of the vertical
cylindrical pillar 410 along the deposition direction 450.
Moreover, depending on the voltage applied to each of the ends of
the vertical cylindrical pillar 410, the first end of the vertical
cylindrical pillar 410 may actually serve as a drain terminal,
while the second end of the vertical cylindrical pillar 410
actually serves as a source terminal.
[0046] Accordingly, the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel may
include an electrically conductive material which extends through
the center of the transistor structure 400. In preferred
approaches, the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel is actually
formed from an original block of material as mentioned above, and
therefore is actually a defined extension of the substrate 402
material. In other words, although the substrate 402 and vertical
cylindrical pillar 410 channel are labeled differently, they are
preferably portions of the same original block of material, e.g.,
as will be described in further detail below.
[0047] Although the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel
preferably extends through the center of the transistor structure
400, it should be noted that only portions of the vertical
cylindrical pillar 410 channel are shown in FIG. 4A because of the
frame of reference afforded by the partial perspective view.
Accordingly, the channel is shown between the base 408 of the
source contact tab 404 and an oxide layer 412. Moreover, the
vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel is also shown as extending
to a top surface of the transistor structure 400. It follows that a
top portion of the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel along
the deposition direction 450 may also be used to couple the
transistor structure 400 to a MTJ sensor stack in order to form a
complete MRAM cell, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4B.
[0048] With continued reference to FIG. 4A, the oxide layer 412 has
an annular cylindrical profile and encircles a majority (e.g., a
portion) of the vertical sides of the vertical cylindrical pillar
410 channel. The oxide layer 412 extends from a top surface of the
vertical cylindrical pillar 410 down almost to the source contact
tab 404. Moreover, an annular cylindrical gate contact 414
encircles a portion of the annular cylindrical oxide layer 412. A
gate tab 416 is also electrically coupled to the annular
cylindrical gate contact 414. The gate tab 416 is shown as
extending away from the transistor structure 400, e.g., such that
an electrical connection may be formed with the annular cylindrical
gate contact 414 by drilling down to the gate tab 416 and forming
an electrical connection therewith. It follows that the gate tab
416 and the annular cylindrical gate contact 414 may include the
same or similar materials. Moreover, in order to allow for a
connection to also be formed to the source contact tab 404 by
drilling from above, the gate tab 416 is shown as not extending
away from the base 408 as far as the source contact tab 404
does.
[0049] In preferred approaches, the annular cylindrical gate
contact 414 includes a doped polysilicon material. However, in
other approaches the doped material may include different base
materials. Moreover, the material used to dope the silicon material
may vary, e.g., depending on whether it is desired that the
resulting transistor structure 400 is a p-type transistor or an
n-type transistor. Accordingly, in some approaches the annular
cylindrical gate contact 414 may be doped with p-type materials,
such as boron, gallium, indium, etc., while in other approaches the
annular cylindrical gate contact 414 may be doped with n-type
materials, such as phosphorus, Arsenide, bismuth, etc. Moreover,
according to some approaches the doped material included in the
annular cylindrical gate contact 414 may include an n+ and p+ doped
material.
[0050] Furthermore, the deposition thickness of the annular
cylindrical gate contact 414 may vary depending on the desired
approach. For instance, in some approaches a deposition thickness
of the annular cylindrical gate contact 414 may be between about
200 angstroms (.ANG.) and about 300 .ANG., but could be thinner or
thicker.
[0051] It follows that both the vertical cylindrical pillar 410
channel and the annular cylindrical gate contact 414 preferably
include an electrically conductive material such that a current may
pass therethrough as a result of applying a voltage to each of the
respective layers. Thus, because the annular cylindrical gate
contact 414 and the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 channel (drain
and/or source contact) may both include an electrically conductive
material and are only separated by the annular cylindrical oxide
layer 412, it follows that the oxide layer 412 preferably serves as
an electrical insulator. Accordingly, the oxide layer 412 may
include electrically insulative materials in order to prevent the
gate contact 414 and the vertical cylindrical pillar 410 from
shorting. However, it is also preferred that the various layers
included in the transistor structure 400 are also non-magnetic
despite also being electrically conductive as the transistor
structure 400 may be coupled to, and operate in combination with, a
MTJ sensor stack, e.g. as will soon become apparent.
[0052] Looking now to FIG. 4B, a non-cross-sectional side view of
the vertical channel transistor structure 400 in FIG. 4A is shown
having a MTJ sensor stack coupled thereto, in accordance with one
embodiment. In other words, FIG. 4B illustrates an
application-based variation of the embodiment of FIG. 4A.
Accordingly, various components of FIG. 4B have common numbering
with those of FIG. 4A. Moreover, it should be noted that the
resulting structure illustrated in FIG. 4B may be implemented in
conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein,
such as those described with reference to the other FIGS.
[0053] As described above, the source contact tab 404 is directly
coupled to the substrate 402. Moreover, although not shown in the
present frame of reference in FIG. 4B, the channel 410 is
preferably an extension of the substrate 402. As mentioned above,
the channel 410 and substrate 402 may be effectively sculpted from
an original solid block of material, and therefore are portions of
the same original block of material despite having different
reference numbers.
[0054] The cylindrical oxide layer 412 encircles a portion of the
channel 410, thereby separating the channel 410 from the circular
gate contact 414. As mentioned above, the cylindrical oxide layer
412 may include an electrically insulative later such that the
channel 410 and circular gate contact 414 do not experience an
electrical short therebetween. Furthermore, the gate tab 416 is
coupled to the circular gate contact 414 and extends away from the
transistor structure 400 in a lateral direction.
[0055] The thickness of the circular gate contact 414 may vary
depending on desired performance characteristics of the vertical
channel transistor structure 400 and/or threshold voltage
requirements thereof. For example, the threshold voltage for n-type
and p-type devices may be individually tailored by adjusting (e.g.,
selectively tuning) the dopant level used of the vertical channel
transistor structure 400, the thickness of the circular gate
contact 414, the dielectric constant of the circular gate contact
414, etc.
[0056] Again, the top portion of the channel 410 may serve as the
drain contact for the transistor structure 400. Accordingly, the
channel 410 is shown as extending in a vertical direction to meet
(e.g., electrically couple to) a MTJ sensor stack 418. The MTJ
sensor stack 418 may include any of the approaches described
herein, e.g., such as those included in FIGS. 2-3. Thus, the MTJ
sensor stack 418 may include at least a reference layer 420, a
tunnel barrier layer 422, and a free layer 424 included therein. As
described above, the magnetic orientation of the free layer 424 may
be selectively set by applying a current to the MTJ sensor stack
418 in one of two directions through the layers thereof. By
selectively setting the magnetic orientation of the free layer 424,
a bit of data (logical "1" or logical "0") is written to the MTJ
sensor stack 418 and stored therein. Accordingly, the various
layers included in the transistor structure 400 are again
preferably non-magnetic, such that the MTJ sensor stack 418 is able
to operate properly without being negatively effected by
undesirable magnetic fields which may otherwise be formed.
[0057] The functional performance which the structural
characteristics of the vertical channel transistor 400 illustrated
in FIGS. 4A-4B provides are significant improvements compared to
conventional products. Not only are the vertical transistor
structures described herein able to successfully increase the drive
currents used in the MRAM devices, but they are also able to
increase the achievable storage density of the MRAM itself. As
mentioned above, the increase in drive current is achieved by
flowing the operating current in the vertical direction while using
the same photolithography capability which increases the width of
the channel from a lateral size "x" to a size of .pi.(x). Moreover,
by vertically arranging and constructing the various components of
these transistors, the effective footprint of each MRAM cell is
significantly reduced, thereby producing the increased storage
density. Specifically, an effective cell size of the vertical
channel transistor 400 switching device may be about 4F.sup.2,
wherein F is the minimum feature size defined by the lithography
limits associated with technology used to fabricate the vertical
channel transistor 400. Moreover, a plurality of these vertical
channel transistor 400 may be arranged in a grid-like fashion such
that an array of memory cells are created, e.g., as will be
described in further detail below.
[0058] These significant improvements to performance of MRAM
provide concrete evidence that the various approaches included
herein overcome the shortcomings associated with conventional
products. Moreover, these improvements are the result of the
different components and resulting structures implemented in the
vertical channel transistors included herein. Accordingly, the
processes implemented to form these vertical channel transistors
differ greatly from conventional surface transistor formation
processes as well, e.g., as will soon become apparent.
[0059] Looking now to FIGS. 5A-5R, various processes of an
exemplary fabrication method 500 for forming a vertical channel
transistor is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment. The
method 500 may be performed in accordance with the present
invention in any of the environments depicted in FIGS. 2-4B, among
others, in various embodiments. Of course, more or less operations
than those specifically described in FIGS. 5A-5R may be included in
method 500, as would be understood by one of skill in the art upon
reading the present descriptions.
[0060] Each of the steps of the method 500 may be performed by any
suitable component of the operating environment. For example, in
various embodiments, the method 500 may be partially or entirely
performed by a controller, a processor, etc., or some other device
having one or more processors therein which is able to communicate
with (e.g., send commands to and/or receive information from)
various fabrication components which would be apparent to one
skilled in the art after reading the present description. The
processor, e.g., processing circuit(s), chip(s), and/or module(s)
implemented in hardware and/or software, and preferably having at
least one hardware component may be utilized in any device to
perform one or more steps of the method 500. Illustrative
processors include, but are not limited to, a central processing
unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a
field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc., combinations thereof,
or any other suitable computing device known in the art. Moreover,
it should be noted that the various approaches described in
relation to method 500 may be used to form any desired type of
complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor CMOS and/or MOS devices
and/or Bipolar junction devices.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 5A, method 500 begins with a solid block of
substrate material 502. As described above, the solid block of
substrate material 502 preferably includes silicon, e.g., such as
crystalline silicon, but may include any desired material depending
on the approach.
[0062] A thin oxide layer 512 is preferably formed on the exposed
surfaces of the substrate material 502. The oxide layer 512 may be
formed using any desired process, e.g., such as thermal oxidation.
Thus, depending on the specific substrate material 502 used, the
oxide layer 512 may have an effect on the material characteristics
of the substrate material 502. For example, at least a portion of a
silicon substrate material 502 may be turned into silicon dioxide
by the formation of the oxide layer 512.
[0063] Progressing to FIG. 5B, the substrate material 502 is shown
as having recessed portions which define a shallow trench isolation
(STI) region 506 and a vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508,
also referred to herein as a "vertical cylinder 508". As mentioned
above, because the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 is
formed from a solid block of material (e.g., silicon), the vertical
cylinder 508 may actually be an extension of the remainder of the
substrate material 502. In other words, the vertical cylinder 508
may actually be the same layer as the substrate material 502. It
should be noted that the top portion of the vertical cylinder 508
will eventually serve as the drain contact (or channel 410 as seen
in FIGS. 4A-4B).
[0064] The vertical cylinder 508 may be formed from the substrate
material 502 by applying a mask to an upper surface of the block of
substrate material 502. The mask preferably defines the outer
extents of the STI region 506, the outer extents of the recessed
region 510 in which the vertical cylinder 508 located, and the
vertical cylinder 508 itself. After applying the mask, an etching
process may be employed to form the recessed regions 506, 510 of
the substrate material 502, thereby defining the insulating STI
region 506 and the vertical cylinder active region 508. Depending
on the desired approach, any desired form of etching may be
performed. Moreover, it should be noted that forming the STI region
506 may involve performing additional etching compared to the
recessed region 510 in which the vertical cylinder 508 located, or
vice versa depending on the approach. However, in some approaches
which implement low voltage devices (e.g., such as MRAM devices),
additional etching of region 506 may not be performed. In other
words, only high voltage devices may include forming the additional
depth of STI 506 regions of the substrate.
[0065] The dimensions of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508 formed may have an effect on the performance of the resulting
transistor structure created. For instance, increasing the
thickness (or cross-sectional diameter D measured in a plane
perpendicular to the height of the vertical cylindrical pillar
structure) of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508, may
cause an increase in the amount of current the resulting transistor
is able to pass therethrough. Thus, the amount of current the
vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 is able to pass to a MTJ
sensor structure coupled thereto, may be adjusted by tuning the
diameter of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure. Similarly,
the height H of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 may
have a direct effect on the speed at which the resulting transistor
structure is able to pass current therethrough. Specifically, the
shorter the height H of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508, the quicker the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 is
able to pass a current therethrough. Thus, the height H of the
cylindrical pillar structure 508 may be selectively tuned to adjust
a performance speed of the resulting memory array in which the
final transistor structure (e.g., see FIG. 5R below) is
implemented. According to an illustrative approach, which is in no
way intended to limit the invention, by selectively adjusting the
diameter and/or height of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508, the resulting transistor structure may be able to pass more
than 3.25 times the current therethrough compared to conventional
surface MOS transistor structures, e.g., as would be appreciated by
one skilled in the art after reading the present description.
[0066] Moving to FIG. 5C, once the STI region 506 and vertical
cylinder 508 are crafted, another thin layer of oxide 514 is
preferably formed over all exposed surfaces of the resulting
structure. Moreover, the oxide layer may be formed using any of the
processes described above. In order to achieve a smoother
horizontal, vertical and annular surfaces of the resulting
structure shown in FIG. 5C, a short oxidation followed by etching
of dielectric SiO2 processes may be implemented to remove any
asperities that may have occurred when etching the substrate Si.
Once the short wet etching process has concluded, another thin
oxide layer may be formed by thermal oxidation, which may again be
followed by a short etching process. These oxide growth and etching
processes may be repeated any desired number of times such that a
smooth, uniform layer of oxide is ultimately formed on the surface
of the resulting structure shown in FIG. 5C. The repeated small
(e.g., slight) thermal oxidation of particularly Si substrates and
wet etching back causes the resulting Si surfaces to be clear of
Silicon surface imperfections, thereby causing the resulting layer
to have faster mobility and/or speed of current carrier electrons
and/or holes, e.g., as would be appreciated by one skilled in the
art after reading the present description.
[0067] A gate oxide layer 516 is also preferably formed above the
silicon layer (see 512 in FIG. 5B above). Referring momentarily
back to FIGS. 4A-4B, the oxide layer 412 desirably insulates the
channel 410 from the cylindrical gate contact 414. Thus, returning
to FIG. 5C, forming a gate dielectric layer 516 at least over the
exposed surfaces of the vertical cylinder 508 is preferred.
Depending on the approach, the final gate dielectric layer 516 may
be formed by depositing and/or growing the layer on the exposed
surfaces of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508. As a
result, the thermally oxidized outer silicon surface of the
vertical cylindrical pillar silicon structure 508 may improve the
gate dielectric characteristics of the resulting structure, e.g.,
as will be described in further detail below. However, it should be
noted that a silicon substrate induces (e.g. allows) the growth of
an overlying SiO2 layer. Accordingly different dielectric materials
may be deposited which include materials other than silicon
dioxide.
[0068] Moving on to FIG. 5D, a spin-on-glass (SOG) 518 material is
preferably coated on the exposed surfaces of the resulting
structure illustrated in FIG. 5C above. Thus, the SOG 518 material
may be coated over the thin oxide layer 512 and/or the gate oxide
layer 516 seen in FIG. 5C. Returning to FIG. 5D, the SOG 518
coating may be applied using any desired process(es), e.g., such as
spin coating. Moreover, the SOG 518 coating may include any desired
type of SOG material, e.g., such as glass titanate, glass silica,
compound SOG materials, etc. Moreover the SOG 518 base material may
be doped in some approaches with additional materials, e.g., such
as boron, phosphorus, zinc, silica, etc., depending on the desired
approach.
[0069] Looking to FIG. 5E, the fabrication method 500 further
includes depositing a source mask (not shown) over a majority of
the SOG 518 coating. As suggested, the mask may cover (e.g.,
protect) a majority of the resulting structure shown in FIG. 5D
above, except for a select area at the base of the vertical
cylindrical pillar structure 508. Thus, after the source masking
process has been executed, an etching process may be performed,
e.g., according to any of the approaches described above. The
etching process preferably removes a portion of the aforementioned
SOG coating and underlying oxide layer such that the underlying
substrate material 502 is exposed in the select area not covered by
the source mask. Accordingly, the recesses removing the portion of
the SOG coating and underlying oxide layer effectively forms a
source contact recess 520 which abuts a base of the vertical
cylindrical pillar structure 508 and extends to the substrate
material 502.
[0070] An ion-implanting process is also preferably performed on
the exposed portion of the substrate material 502 (which is
preferably silicon) at a base of the source contact recess 520. As
would be appreciated by one skilled in the art, ion implantation is
a processes which inserts a smattering of atoms into a material to
effect the characteristics thereof. For example, in approaches
where the substrate material 502 is silicon, ion implanting may
insert a smattering of boron and/or phosphorus atoms into the
silicon crystal lattice structure of the substrate material 502,
thereby providing control of the flow of electricity through the
silicon substrate material 502.
[0071] Moving to FIG. 5F, a silicide material 522 (e.g., metal) is
deposited into the source contact recess 520, thereby forming a
source contact 524 at the base of the cylindrical pillar 508. Any
desired type of silicide material 522 may be used to form the
source contact 524, thereby resulting in a Moreover, any desired
process of depositing the silicide material 522 in the source
contact recess 520 may be implemented.
[0072] After the silicide material 522 has been deposited in the
source contact recess 520, the ion implant process performed above
in correspondence with FIG. 5E may desirably be activated. In other
words, the effects of the ion implanting may be transposed into the
respective materials. This activation of the ion implant process
may be performed by conducting a rapid thermal anneal of the
structure shown in FIG. 5E. Any desired type of rapid thermal
anneal processes may be employed (e.g., conducted) depending on the
desired approach.
[0073] Looking now to FIG. 5G, a second silicide material 526
(e.g., metal) is preferably deposited over the resulting structure.
In other words, the second silicide material 526 (e.g., metal) may
be deposited over the SOG 518 coating and the silicide material 522
in the source contact recess 520 seen in FIG. 5E above. The second
silicide material 526 may be the same, similar, or different than
the previous silicide material 522, e.g., depending on the desired
approach.
[0074] Moreover, after the second silicide material 526 has been
deposited, another rapid thermal anneal process is preferably
performed on the structure shown in FIG. 5G. By performing another
rapid thermal anneal process on the structure, the desirable
properties of the second silicide material 526 may be translated to
the underlying layers, such as the top of the cylinder thereby
resulting in easy flow of current through the cylinder's top and/or
easy contact of the top of the cylinder to any other metallic layer
deposited thereon. Furthermore, depending on the approach, any
desired type of rapid thermal anneal processes may be
conducted.
[0075] Proceeding to FIG. 5H, method 500 may next include stripping
off the second silicide material (526 in FIG. 5G) as well as the
SOG coating (518 in FIG. 5F). As a result, the thin layer of oxide
514 (previously seen in FIG. 5C) and the silicide material 522 in
the source contact recess 520 are exposed again. Furthermore, as
shown in FIG. 5I, a second SOG layer 528 is coated over the thin
layer of oxide 514 and the silicide material 522 of FIG. 5H.
Looking to the base of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508, the process of coating the second SOG layer 528 causes an
angled collar 530 of the SOG material to form at the base of the
vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508. This angled collar 530
may form as a result of the coating processes implemented to apply
the second SOG layer 528 and/or the material used in the second SOG
layer 528.
[0076] Referring now to FIG. 5J, a reactive-ion etching process is
preferably performed to remove the second SOG layer 528 from the
vertical sides and top surface of the vertical cylindrical pillar
structure 508. Accordingly, the underlying the thin layer of oxide
514 (previously seen in FIG. 5H) is exposed again on the vertical
sides and top surface of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508. Although a reactive-ion etching process is preferably
performed to remove the second SOG layer 528 from the vertical
sides and top surface of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure
508, any desired processes may be used to remove the second SOG
layer 528. Moreover, this etching processes performed to remove the
second SOG layer 528 from the vertical sides and top surface of the
vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 may further define the
angled collar 530 at the base of the vertical cylindrical pillar
structure 508.
[0077] Looking to FIG. 5K, a poly gate oxidation process is
performed. This process may include forming a gate oxide dielectric
layer 532 on the exposed surfaces of the vertical silicon
cylindrical pillar structure 508, preferably at least on the
vertical sides of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508.
Moreover, an oxidization layer 533 is also formed on the top
surface of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508. The gate
oxidation layer 532 may be formed by depositing and/or growing the
dielectric SiO2 layer on the exposed surfaces of the vertical
cylindrical silicon pillar structure 508, e.g., as would be
appreciated by one skilled in the art. This gate oxidation layer
532 may serve to isolate the electrically conductive layers on the
vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508 from a gate contact
formed later in the processing step, e.g., as will soon become
apparent.
[0078] Moving to FIG. 5L, a doped polysilicon layer 534 is
deposited over all exposed surfaces of the resulting structure
shown. In other words, the doped polysilicon layer 534 is deposited
over the second SOG layer 528 in the STI region 506 and the general
recessed region 510, as well as over the surfaces of the vertical
cylindrical pillar structure 508. Thus, the doped polysilicon layer
534 may be deposited over the exposed oxide layers 532, 533 on the
vertical sides and the top of the cylindrical pillar, respectively.
This doped polysilicon layer 534 may eventually serve as the gate
contact material for the resulting transistor structure.
Accordingly, an electrically conductive material (e.g.,
non-magnetic metal) may be used to connect the doped polysilicon
534 gate contact to a common drain line, e.g., as will be described
in further detail below.
[0079] The polysilicon layer 534 may be doped differently depending
on the type of transistor structure is desired. For example, in
some approaches the polysilicon layer 534 may be an n-type doped
material which may result in the transistor structure formed by
method 500 to be an n-type transistor. In other approaches the
polysilicon layer 534 may be a p-type doped material which may
result in the transistor structure formed by method 500 to be a
p-type transistor. Moreover, the polysilicon layer 534 may be doped
using diffusion doping, ion implantation, in-situ doping, etc.,
which preferably occurs after actually depositing the polysilicon
layer 534 on the structure.
[0080] According to preferred approaches, the polysilicon layer 534
may be deposited using a chemical vapor deposition process.
However, any desired type of deposition process may be implemented
to form the polysilicon layer 534. Moreover, the polysilicon layer
534 may have an exemplary deposition thickness of between about 200
angstroms (.ANG.) and about 300 .ANG..
[0081] Method 500 further includes performing a removal process to
remove the polysilicon layer 534 from all unneeded surfaces of the
resulting structure shown in FIG. 5M except for the vertical sides
of the vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508. Accordingly, the
polysilicon layer 534 may only remain on the vertical sides of the
vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508, thereby exposing the
oxide layer 533 on the top surface of the vertical cylindrical
pillar structure 508, and the second SOG layer 528 everywhere else.
In order to ensure that the polysilicon layer 534 is selectively
kept on the vertical sides of the vertical cylindrical pillar
structure 508, but removed from the remaining surfaces of the
structure, a removal process such as a maskless reactive-ion
etching process may be implemented which etches off polysilicon
from flat and somewhat sloped surfaces. The maskless reactive-ion
etching process may only etch in the vertical direction 536, and
not in an isotropic direction relative thereto at all, thereby
desirably not effecting the vertical sides of the vertical
cylindrical pillar structure 508.
[0082] As a result, the polysilicon layer 534 may have a resulting
cylindrical, annular structure having poly characteristics of lower
resistivity and texture. The remaining portion of the polysilicon
layer 534 on the vertical sides of the vertical cylindrical pillar
structure 508 will eventually serve as the circular gate material
414 seen in FIGS. 4A-4B. Accordingly, the performance
characteristics of the polysilicon layer 534 in FIG. 5M may also be
tuned to achieve further improved performance of the resulting
transistor structure formed by method 500, e.g., as will soon
become apparent.
[0083] Next, a poly silicide material 538 (e.g., metal) may be
deposited over all exposed surfaces of the resulting structure,
e.g., as shown FIG. 5N. Thus, the poly silicide material 538 may be
deposited over remaining exposed portions of the second SOG coating
528, the oxide layer 533 on the top of the cylindrical pillar
structure, and the doped polysilicon layer 534 on the vertical
sides of the cylindrical pillar structure 508. The silicide
material 538 may include any of the silicide materials described
herein. Moreover, the silicide material 538 may be "poly" in that
the material may actually be a polymetal, or polymetallic,
substance which includes a combination of different metals and/or
other materials, e.g., as would be appreciated by one skilled in
the art. The poly silicide material 538 may also be deposited
according to any desired process(es). According to one approach,
the poly silicide material 538 may be deposited by a chemical vapor
deposition process, an atomic layer deposition method, a sputtering
technique, etc.
[0084] A rapid temperature anneal process is preferably performed
on the structure in FIG. 5N having the poly silicide material 538
deposited thereon. The rapid temperature anneal process may
desirably cause silicidation of the poly silicide material 538.
Moreover, the properties of the poly silicide material 538 itself
may be improved by the rapid temperature anneal process.
Specifically, the resistance of portions of the resulting structure
shown in FIG. 5N which have a polysilicon composition may
effectively be reduced. Thus, the amount of current that may be
passed through the transistor structure formed as a result of
method 500 may be increased, thereby improving performance of the
transistor as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art after
reading the present description.
[0085] After the rapid temperature anneal process has been
performed, portions of the poly silicide material 538 which did not
react may be removed using an wet etching process, as would be
appreciated by one skilled in the art after reading the present
description.
[0086] Moving to FIG. 5O, method 500 also includes depositing a
thin layer of silicon dioxide (not shown in the present frame of
reference) before filling the STI and general recessed regions 506,
510 with another SOG material 540 over (e.g., directly onto) the
silicon dioxide.
[0087] The SOG material 540 itself may be deposited into the STI
and general recessed regions 506, 510 using any desired
process(es). For example, in some approaches the SOG material 540
may be spin coated into the recessed regions 506, 510. Moreover, in
the interest of achieving a smoother surface of the resulting
structure shown in FIG. 5O, a short chemical-mechanical
planarization (CMP) process may be implemented to remove any
asperities that may have occurred when forming the SOG material
540, e.g., such as the extended region 524. Once the short CMP
process has concluded, another thin layer of SOG material may be
formed on the exposed surface of the resulting structure, which may
again be followed by a short CMP process. These SOG deposition and
CMP processes may be repeated any desired number of times such that
a smooth, uniform layer of SOG material is ultimately formed on the
surface of the resulting structure shown in FIG. 5O. In other words
an upper surface of the SOG material 540 may be defined by one or
more CMP processes. In some approaches, the one or more CMP
processes may even expose an upper surface of the drain contact,
e.g., as will soon become apparent.
[0088] Although only one transistor structure is shown as being
formed in FIGS. 5A-5R, it should be noted that in other approaches,
multiple transistor structures may be made simultaneously (e.g., at
least somewhat in parallel). For instance, referring momentarily to
FIG. 6, two different transistor structures 602, 604 are shown as
being formed adjacent each other between a same pair of STI regions
606, e.g., as will be described in further detail below.
[0089] Referring now to FIG. 5P, the SOG material 540 has been
removed in a controlled fashion (e.g., using one or more CMP
processes) such that an upper surface of a drain contact 542 and a
portion of the cylindrical oxide layer 514 which encircles the
drain contact 542. This combination of having an oxide layer 514
which encircles the resulting drain contact 542 mimics the general
structure shown above in reference to transistor structure 400.
Specifically, referring momentarily back to FIGS. 4A-4B, the oxide
layer 412 illustrated has a general cylindrical shape, and
separates the vertical cylindrical channel 410 from the cylindrical
gate contact 414 which encircles the oxide layer 412. Thus, the
cylindrical oxide layer 514 which encircles the drain contact 542
as shown in FIG. 5P may desirably serve to insulate the drain
contact 542 from the underlying polysilicon gate contact layer 534.
As a result, a cylindrical drain contact and cylindrical gate
contact may be formed such that the cylindrical gate contact
encircles the cylindrical drain contact while maintaining
functionality of the resulting transistor structure. As alluded to
above, this achieves a reduced overall footprint of the resulting
transistor structure, which in turn reduces the minimum achievable
memory cell size. Furthermore, by reducing the minimum achievable
memory cell size, the approaches described herein are able to
increase data storage density significantly in comparison what is
conventionally achievable.
[0090] Referring still to FIG. 5P, it should be noted that the
drain contact 542 may actually be a top surface of the previously
underlying vertical cylindrical pillar structure 508. However, the
various processes included in method 500 may actually have
desirably improved the performance of the original material from
which the cylindrical pillar structure 508 was formed. For
instance, although the block of material 502 originally used to
form the cylindrical pillar structure 508 may have been silicon,
the various polysilicon metals, oxide, etc. layers formed
thereover, in combination with the various processing steps (e.g.,
such as rapid temperature anneal processes) may have actually
caused the silicon to become doped with different materials As a
result, the performance of the drain contact 542 may actually be
improved compared to the properties of the original block of
material 502 originally used to form the cylindrical pillar
structure 508. Thus, the drain contact 542 may be able to pass more
current through, and therefore operate more efficiently, causing an
MRAM array in which it is implemented to operate more efficiently
as well.
[0091] A source and gate masks individually or combined may be used
to form vias 544, 546 which extend down to the underlying source
and gate contacts 524, 534 respectively. In some instances, the
vias 544, 546 may be formed using an etching processes, however the
specific type of etching process may vary depending on the desired
approach.
[0092] Moving on to FIG. 5Q, the vias 544, 546 are preferably
filled with an electrically conductive material (e.g., metal) 548.
It is also preferred that the material used to form the vias 544,
546 is a non-magnetic material such that the operability of a
corresponding MTJ sensor stack is not compromised during use in a
memory array. While in some approaches the conductive material 548
used to fill each of the vias 544, 546 may be the same, in other
approaches each of the vias may be filled with a different
electrically conductive material, e.g., to facilitate different
performance thereof. The electrically conductive material 548 may
be formed in the vias 544, 546 using a damascene process in some
approaches. Moreover a CMP process may be used to define the upper
surface of the electrically conductive materials 548 once they have
been filled into the vias 544, 546 seen in FIG. 5P.
[0093] By filling the vias 544, 546 are preferably filled with an
electrically conductive material (e.g., metal) 548, an electrically
conductive connection is formed between each of the source and gate
contacts 524, 534 respectively. Thus, the electrically conductive
material 548 may effectively be considered an extension of the
source and gate contacts 524, 534. Thus, although a majority of the
formed vertical transistor structure is submerged in the SOG
material 540, the transistor may be operated (e.g., activated) by
applying voltages to each of the electrically conductive materials
548.
[0094] Furthermore, FIG. 5R illustrates a MTJ sensor stack 550
formed above the drain contact 542. Thus, a bottom layer of the MTJ
sensor stack 550 is electrically coupled to the drain contact 542.
Moreover, a voltage source (e.g., drain line) may be coupled to a
top surface of the MTJ sensor stack 550. Thus, a voltage may be
applied to the MTJ sensor stack 550 to cause a current to pass
therethrough when the transistor structure is activated, e.g., as
would be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reading the
present description.
[0095] As shown, the MTJ sensor stack 550 may include at least a
reference layer 552, a tunnel barrier layer 554, and a free layer
556 included therein. According to an illustrative approach, each
of the reference layer 552, the tunnel barrier layer 554, and the
free layer 556 may be formed full film, after which a selective
removal processes (e.g., etching process) may be used to define the
resulting structure of the MTJ sensor stack 550 shown in FIG.
5R.
[0096] As described above, the magnetic orientation of the free
layer 556 may be selectively set by applying a current to the MTJ
sensor stack 550 in one of two directions through the layers
thereof. By selectively setting the magnetic orientation of the
free layer 556, a bit of data (logical "1" or logical "0") is
written to the MTJ sensor stack 550 and stored therein. Moreover,
the MTJ sensor stack 550 may include any of the approaches
described herein depending on the desired approach, e.g., such as
those described in correspondence with FIGS. 2-3 above.
[0097] It should be noted that, although not specified in a number
of the steps included in FIGS. 5A-5R, the same material(s), removal
processes, material processing procedures, etc. that are performed
in the general recessed region 510 may be performed in the STI
region 506 as well. Moreover, it should also be noted that
additional layers may be present. Moreover, unless otherwise
specified, the various layers formed in method 500 and/or other
embodiments included herein may be formed using known processes
which would be apparent to one skilled in the art after reading the
present description.
[0098] Referring now to FIG. 6, a fabrication configuration 600
having two adjacent transistor structures 602, 604 is shown
according to one embodiment. As an option, the present fabrication
configuration 600 may be implemented in conjunction with features
from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described
with reference to the other FIGS., such as FIGS. 5A-5R. However,
such fabrication configuration 600 and others presented herein may
be used in various applications and/or in permutations which may or
may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodiments
listed herein. Further, the fabrication configuration 600 presented
herein may be used in any desired environment. Thus FIG. 6 (and the
other FIGS.) may be deemed to include any possible permutation.
[0099] As mentioned above, the fabrication configuration 600
includes two adjacent transistor structures 602, 604 which are
positioned between a pair of STI regions 606. It follows that in
some approaches, multiple transistor structures may be formed
simultaneously (e.g., at least somewhat in parallel) and adjacent
one another from a single block of substrate material 608 which
preferably includes silicon. Thus, various ones of the fabrication
processes used to form the two adjacent transistor structures 602,
604 (e.g., see processes included in FIGS. 5A-5R above) may be
performed on both structures at the same time (in parallel) from a
single block of substrate material 608. However other ones of the
processes used to form the two adjacent transistor structures 602,
604 may be performed on each of the structures individually. For
example, one of the transistor structures 602 may be doped with
n-type materials to form a resulting n-type transistor structure,
while the other of the transistor structures 604 may be doped with
p-type materials to form a resulting p-type transistor structure,
e.g., as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art after
reading the present description. Moreover, the block of substrate
material used to form various components (submerged from view)
included in the adjacent transistor structures 602, 604 is
preferably silicon, but may include any desired material.
[0100] Referring now to FIG. 7, a MRAM array 700, is shown
according to one embodiment. As an option, the present MRAM array
700 may be implemented in conjunction with features from any other
embodiment listed herein, such as those described with reference to
the other FIGS., such as FIGS. 2-6. However, such MRAM array 700
and others presented herein may be used in various applications
and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically
described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further,
the MRAM array 700 presented herein may be used in any desired
environment. Thus FIG. 7 (and the other FIGS.) may be deemed to
include any possible permutation.
[0101] The MRAM array 700 includes a plurality of common word lines
702, a plurality of common source lines 704 and a plurality of
common drain lines 706. As shown, each of the common word lines 702
extend in a direction 750 which is generally perpendicular to the
direction 752 in which the common source lines 704 extend.
Moreover, although only a cross-sectional portion of the common
drain lines 706 are visible in the frame of reference depicted in
FIG. 7, each of the common drain line 706 portions shown may extend
out of the page (represented by each "X") and connect to a main
portion of the common drain lines 706 which extend in a direction
parallel to the direction 752 in which the common source lines 704
extend. However, in some approaches the main portion of the common
drain lines 706 may extend in a direction parallel to the direction
750 in which the common word lines 702 extend.
[0102] Although not shown in FIG. 7, a vertical channel transistor
having a cylindrical vertical pillar structure, e.g., according to
any of the approaches described herein, may be positioned at each
of the intersections of the common word lines 702, common source
lines 704 and common drain lines 706. Accordingly, each of the
cylindrical vertical pillar channel transistors (e.g., switching
devices) may have a gate contact which is electrically coupled to
one of the common word lines 702, a source contact which is
electrically coupled to one of the common source lines 704, and a
drain contact which is electrically coupled to a MTJ sensor stack
which is in turn coupled to one of the common drain lines 706,
e.g., according to any of the approaches described here. Thus, by
selectively applying voltages to the various common word lines 702,
common source lines 704 and/or common drain lines 706, any one or
more of the vertical channel transistors coupled thereto may be
activated and accordingly, data may be written to (and/or read
from) a MTJ sensor stack coupled to the activated vertical channel
transistors.
[0103] Moreover, as mentioned above, the reduced footprint achieved
by each of the vertical channel transistors results in the data
storage density of the overall MRAM array 700 to increase
significantly. Looking to one specific cell 708 of the MRAM array
700, the cell 708 may have an effective width W of 2F, thereby
resulting in the effective area of each of the cells in the MRAM
array 700 2F.times.2F, or equivalently about 4F.sup.2. According to
the present description, "F" represents the minimum feature size
width defined by the lithography limits associated with the
technology used to fabricate each of the cells. Thus, depending on
the actual process(es) used to form the various cells 708, their
effective size may vary depending on the value of F. This effective
cell size of each of the cells 708 is significantly smaller than
conventionally achievable which also results in the MRAM array 700
having performance characteristics which are improved significantly
from conventional products, e.g., pertaining to processing speeds,
storage density, efficiency, capability, etc.
[0104] With continued reference to FIG. 7, the various different
memory cells 708 are arranged in a grid-like fashion. In other
words, the different memory cells 708 are oriented in rows and
columns which are substantially perpendicular to each other. This
grid-like organization of the different memory cells 708 provides
an efficient use of space and allows for the memory density of the
resulting MRAM array 700 to be maximized. However, it should be
noted that this grid-like arrangement of the memory cells 708 shown
in FIG. 7 is in no way intended to limit the invention. Rather, the
memory cells 708 and/or any of the lines 702, 704, 706 may be
arranged differently depending on the desired approach.
[0105] The grid-like arrangement of the cells 708 (and transistors
included therein) forms distinct columns and rows which extend
throughout the MRAM array 700. Moreover, the columns and rows are
interleaved such that each of the cells 708 are part of a defined
row as well as a defined column. Thus, a specific one of the cells
708 may be individually identified given the row and column which
it is located in. Although a specific number of columns and rows
are illustrated in the present embodiment, any desired number of
rows and/or columns may be implemented in order to scale the size
of (e.g., the number of memory cells in) the MRAM array 700, and
thus the storage capacity of the MRAM array 700. According to an
example, hundreds, thousands, millions, etc. of cells 708 (each
having a transistor and MTJ sensor stack pairing) may be organized
in various rows and columns which extend perpendicularly relative
to each other.
[0106] Furthermore, although not shown in the present embodiment,
each of the common word lines 702, the common source lines 704 and
the common drain lines 706 may be coupled to (e.g., in electrical
communication with) a respective multiplexer. Moreover, each of the
respective multiplexers may be coupled to a central controller.
However, it should be noted that any one or more of these lines
702, 704, 706 may extend to any desired electrical component. The
multiplexers may serve as an electrical circuit which is used to
control a voltage that is applied to each of the respective lines
702, 704, 706, e.g., using logic gates for instance. Similarly, the
controller may be configured to perform various processes which
effect the voltages applied by the multiplexers to each of the
respective lines 702, 704, 706, and in turn, the different
terminals of the various transistors in each of the cells 708.
[0107] Moreover, by acting as a voltage generator, the multiplexers
may be configured to counteract signal dampening experienced in the
respective lines 702, 704, 706 coupled thereto. In other
approaches, one or more of the multiplexers may serve as a sense
amplifier in addition to a voltage generator. As a result, each of
the multiplexers may be able to perform a read operation by
receiving a signal from various ones of the transistors in the
various cells 708, as well as perform write operations by applying
a desired voltage to the respective lines 702, 704, 706 coupled
thereto.
[0108] It follows that various ones of the approaches described
herein are able to significantly increase the performance of
transistor structures while also reducing the effective footprint
thereof. As a result MRAM arrays implementing these transistor
structures in combination with MTJ sensor stacks may desirably be
able to achieve a resulting data storage density, performance
efficiency, transistor reliability, etc. which are greater than
what has been conventionally achievable. Moreover, specific
characteristics of the transistor structures may be selectively
tuned by adjusting the dimensions of vertical cylindrical pillar
structures used therein, materials included in the transistor
structure, fabrication processes used when forming the transistor
structures, etc.
[0109] The description herein is presented to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in
the context of particular applications of the invention and their
requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the
general principles defined herein may be applied to other
embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not
intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be
accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and
features disclosed herein.
[0110] In particular, various embodiments of the invention
discussed herein are implemented using the Internet as a means of
communicating among a plurality of computer systems. One skilled in
the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to
the use of the Internet as a communication medium and that
alternative methods of the invention may accommodate the use of a
private intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network
(WAN) or other means of communication. In addition, various
combinations of wired, wireless (e.g., radio frequency) and optical
communication links may be utilized.
[0111] The program environment in which one embodiment of the
invention may be executed illustratively incorporates one or more
general-purpose computers or special-purpose devices such hand-held
computers. Details of such devices (e.g., processor, memory, data
storage, input and output devices) are well known and are omitted
for the sake of clarity.
[0112] It should also be understood that the techniques of the
present invention might be implemented using a variety of
technologies. For example, the methods described herein may be
implemented in software running on a computer system, or
implemented in hardware utilizing one or more processors and logic
(hardware and/or software) for performing operations of the method,
application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic
devices such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or
various combinations thereof. In one illustrative approach, methods
described herein may be implemented by a series of
computer-executable instructions residing on a storage medium such
as a physical (e.g., non-transitory) computer-readable medium. In
addition, although specific embodiments of the invention may employ
object-oriented software programming concepts, the invention is not
so limited and is easily adapted to employ other forms of directing
the operation of a computer.
[0113] The invention can also be provided in the form of a computer
program product including a computer readable storage or signal
medium having computer code thereon, which may be executed by a
computing device (e.g., a processor) and/or system. A computer
readable storage medium can include any medium capable of storing
computer code thereon for use by a computing device or system,
including optical media such as read only and writeable CD and DVD,
magnetic memory or medium (e.g., hard disk drive, tape),
semiconductor memory (e.g., FLASH memory and other portable memory
cards, etc.), firmware encoded in a chip, etc.
[0114] A computer readable signal medium is one that does not fit
within the aforementioned storage medium class. For example,
illustrative computer readable signal media communicate or
otherwise transfer transitory signals within a system, between
systems e.g., via a physical or virtual network, etc.
[0115] The inventive concepts disclosed herein have been presented
by way of example to illustrate the myriad features thereof in a
plurality of illustrative scenarios, embodiments, and/or
implementations. It should be appreciated that the concepts
generally disclosed are to be considered as modular, and may be
implemented in any combination, permutation, or synthesis thereof.
In addition, any modification, alteration, or equivalent of the
presently disclosed features, functions, and concepts that would be
appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art upon
reading the instant descriptions should also be considered within
the scope of this disclosure.
[0116] While various embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of an
embodiment of the present invention should not be limited by any of
the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined
only in accordance with the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *