Abstract:
A contact structure (98) for a PCM device is formed by an elongated formation (102) having a longitudinal extension parallel to the upper surface (92) of the body (91) and an end face (110) extending in a vertical plane. The end face (110) is in contact with a bottom portion of an active region (103) of chalcogenic material so that the dimensions of the contact area defined by the end face (110) are determined by the thickness (S) of the elongated formation and by the width (W) thereof.
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:
Integrated transistor device (10) formed in a chip of semiconductor material (15) having an electrical-insulation region (31) delimiting an active area (30) accommodating a bipolar transistor (11) of vertical type and a MOSFET (12) of planar type, contiguous to one another. The active area accommodates a collector region (18); a bipolar base region (19) contiguous to the collector region; an emitter region (20) within the bipolar base region; a source region (23), arranged at a distance from the bipolar base region; a drain region (24); a channel region (22) arranged between the source region and the drain region; and a well region (35). The drain region (24) and the bipolar base region (19) are contiguous and form a common base structure (19, 24, 37) shared by the bipolar transistor and the MOSFET. Thereby, the integrated transistor device (10) has a high input impedance and is capable of driving high currents, while only requiring a small integration area.
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).