Design and scaling of a SONOS multidielectric device for nonvolatile memory applications

The evolution of high-density EEPROM´s continually imposes a demand on reducing power consumption while improving data retention and endurance. To meet these demands, we propose a scalable multidielectric nonvolatile memory technology where the data storage is in the form of charge trapping within the oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) gate dielectric. This technology, called SONGS (polysilicon-blocking oxide-silicon nitride-tunnel oxide-silicon), has demonstrated remarkable scalability in programming voltage. To determine our scaling guidelines, we have developed an analytical model for the transient characteristics that examines the influence of the dielectric composition and programming voltage on programming speed. These guidelines have resulted in a scaled SONGS nonvolatile memory device that has demonstrated 8-9 V programmability with an extension towards 5 V and can be used as an ideal candidate for semiconductor disk, NVRAM, and neural network applications