Abstract:
A phase change memory device (10) having a heater element (2) and memory region (3) of chalcogenic material. The memory region has a phase changing portion (5) in electrical and thermal contact with the heater element and forms a first current path between the heater element and a rest portion (4) of the memory element. The phase changing portion (5) has a dimension correlated to information stored in the memory region and a higher resistivity than the rest portion (4). A parallel current path (11) extends between the heater element (2) and the rest portion (4) of said memory element and has a resistance depending upon the dimension of the phase changing portion (5) and lower than the phase changing portion (5), thus modulating the overall resistance of phase change memory device.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing an array of cells in a body (1) of semiconductor material wherein a common conduction region (11) of a first conductivity type and a plurality of shared control regions (12), of a second conductivity type, are formed in the body. The shared control regions (12) extend on the common conduction region (11) and are laterally delimited by insulating regions (32). Then, a grid-like layer (36) is formed on the body (1) to delimit a first plurality of empty regions (38) directly overlying the body and conductive regions of semiconductor material and the first conductivity type (44) are formed by filling the first plurality of empty regions (38), each conductive region forming, together with the common conduction region and an own shared control region (12), a bipolar junction transistor (20).
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing an array of bipolar transistors, wherein deep field insulation regions (26) of dielectric material are formed in a semiconductor body (21), thereby defining a plurality of active areas (22), insulated from each other and a plurality of bipolar transistors are formed in each active area. In particular, in each active area, a first conduction region (24) is formed at a distance from the surface of the semiconductor body (21); a control region (25) is formed on the first conduction region (24); and, in each control region, at least two second conduction regions (31) and at least one control contact region (36) are formed. The control contact region (36) is interposed between the second conduction regions (31) and at least two surface field insulation regions (29) are thermally grown in each active area (22) between the control contact region (36) and the second conduction regions (31).
Abstract:
A phase change memory cell includes a phase change region of a phase change material, a heating element (30) of a resistive material, arranged in contact with the phase change region (33') and a memory element (35) formed in said phase change region at a contact area with the heating element (30). The contact area is in the form of a frame that has a width of sublithographic extent (S) and, preferably, a sublithographic maximum external dimension. The heating element (30) includes a hollow elongated portion which is arranged in contact with the phase change region (33').
Abstract:
A memory device (20) of a phase change type, wherein a memory cell (2) has a memory element (3) of calcogenic material switcheable between at least two phases associated with two different states of the memory cell. A write stage (24) is connected to the memory cell and has a capacitive circuit (35) configured to generate a discharge current used as write current having no constant portion and causing the memory cell (2) to change state.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a memory device having selector bipolar transistors (25) for storage elements (65), includes the steps of: in a semiconductor body (20), forming at least a selector transistor (25), having at least an embedded conductive region (26), and forming at least a storage element (65), stacked on and electrically connected to the selector transistor (25); moreover, the step of forming at least a selector transistor (25) includes forming at least a raised conductive region (35, 36) located on and electrically connected to the embedded conductive region (26).
Abstract:
A contact structure (30) in an electronic semiconductor device, including a first conducting region (31) having a first thin portion with a first sublithographic dimension in a first direction; a second conducting region (32) having a second thin portion (32a) with a second sublithographic dimension in a second direction transverse to said first direction; the first and second conducting regions being in direct electrical contact at the first and second thin portions and defining a contact area (33) having a sublithografic extension, lower than 100 nm, preferably about 20 nm. The thin sublithographic portions are obtained using deposition instead of lithography: the first thin portion is deposed on a wall of an opening in a first dielectric layer (34); the second thin portion is obtained by deposing a sacrificial region on vertical wall of a first delimitation layer, deposing a second delimitation layer on the free side of the sacrificial region, removing the sacrificial region to form a sublithographic hard mask opening that is used to etch a mold opening (40) in a mold layer (38) and filling the mold opening.