Abstract:
A process for manufacturing an array of cells, including: implanting, in a body (10) of semiconductor material of a first conductivity type, a common conduction region (11) of the first conductivity type; forming, in the body, above the common conduction region, a plurality of active area regions (12) of a second conductivity type and a first doping level; forming, on top of the body, an insulating layer (21) having first and second openings (27a, 27b); implanting first portions of the active area regions through the first openings (27a) with a doping agent of the first conductivity type, thereby forming, in the active area regions, second conduction regions (14) of the first conductivity type; implanting second portions of the active area regions through the second openings (27b) with a doping agent of the second conductivity type, thereby forming control contact regions (15) of the second conductivity type and a second doping level, higher than the first doping level; forming, on top of the body, a plurality of storage components (3), each storage component having a terminal connected to a respective second conduction region (14).
Abstract:
A content addressable memory cell (105) for a non-volatile Content Addressable Memory (100), including non-volatile storage means (S1,S2,S) for storing a content digit, a selection input (WL i ;WL i ,BLP j ) for selecting the memory cell, a search input for receiving a search digit (BLR j ,BLL j ), and a comparison circuit arrangement for comparing the search digit to the content digit and for driving a match output (ML i ) of the memory cell so as to signal a match between the content digit and the search digit. The non-volatile storage means include at least one Phase-Change Memory element (S1,S2,S) for storing in a non-volatile way the respective content digit.
Abstract:
A process wherein an insulating region (13) is formed in a body at least around an array portion (51) of a semiconductor body (10); a gate region (16) of semiconductor material is formed on top of a circuitry portion (51) of the semiconductor body (10); a first silicide protection mask (52) is formed on top of the array portion; the gate region (16) and the active areas (43) of the circuitry portion (51) are silicided and the first silicide protection mask (52) is removed. The first silicide protection mask (52) is of polysilicon and is formed simultaneously with the gate region (16). A second silicide protection mask (53) of dielectric material covering the first silicide protection mask (52) is formed before silicidation of the gate region (16). The second silicide protection mask (53) is formed simultaneously with spacers (41) formed laterally to the gate region (16).
Abstract:
A cell array (1) is formed by a plurality of cells (2) including each a selection bipolar transistor (4) and a storage component (3). The cell array is formed in a body (10) including a common collector region (11) of P type; a plurality of base regions (12) of N type, overlying the common collector region (11); a plurality of emitter regions (14) of P type formed in the base regions; and a plurality of base contact regions (15) of N type and a higher doping level than the base regions, formed in the base regions (12; 42), wherein each base region (12) is shared by at least two adjacent bipolar transistors (20).
Abstract:
The phase change memory cell (5) is formed by a resistive element (22) and by a memory region (38) of a phase change material. The resistive element has a first thin portion having a first sublithographic dimension in a first direction (Y) ; and the memory region (38) has a second thin portion (38a) having a second sublithographic dimension in a second direction (X) transverse to the first dimension. The first thin portion (22) and the second thin portion (38a) are in direct electrical contact and define a contact area (58) of sublithographic extension. The second thin portion (38a) is delimited laterally by oxide spacer portions (55a) surrounded by a mold layer (49) which defines a lithographic opening (51). The spacer portions (55a) are formed after forming the lithographic opening, by a spacer formation technique.
Abstract:
The phase change memory cell (5) is formed by a resistive element (22) and by a memory region (38) of a phase change material. The resistive element has a first thin portion having a first sublithographic dimension in a first direction (Y); and the memory region (38) has a second thin portion (38a) having a second sublithographic dimension in a second direction (X) which is transverse to said first direction. The first and second thin portions (22, 38a) are in direct electrical contact and define a contact area (58) having sublithographic extent. The second thin portion (38a) is formed in a slit of sublithograhic dimensions. According to a first solution, oxide spacer portions (55a) are formed in a lithographic opening (51), delimited by a mold layer (49). According to a different solution, a sacrificial region is formed on top of a mold layer and is used for forming the sublithographic slit in the mold layer.