Grounded body SOI SRAM cell

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor memory devices; more specifically, it relates to a static random access memory (SRAM) formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and the method of fabricating the SRAM.

NFET and PFET devices fabricated in SOI technology offer advantages over bulk devices. The advantages include reduced junction capacitance, reduced junction leakage current, and for fully depleted devices, reduced short channel effect, increased transconductance and reduced threshold voltage (V T ) sensitivity. However, SOI FETs have a “floating body.” The body or channel region of the FET is formed in an insulated pocket of silicon and is therefore not electrically connected to a fixed potential. One effect of the “floating body” is to lower the V T of the device when the body “floats up”. This is a particular problem in a SRAM cell as lowering the V T of the devices can cause the relative strengths of devices to change such that the cell flips when the state of the latch is read.

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a CMOS SOI SRAM cell. In FIG. 1, an SRAM cell 100 comprises a first input/output (I/O) NFET 105 and a second I/O NFET 110 . SRAM cell 100 further comprises a first latch NFET 115 , a second latch NFET 120 , a first latch PFET 125 and a second latch PFET 130 . The gate of first I/O NFET 105 is coupled to a wordline 135 , the source of the first I/O NFET to a bitline 140 and the drain of the first I/O NFET to a first common node 145 . The gate of second I/O NFET 110 is coupled to a wordline 135 , the source of the second I/O NFET to a bitline-not 155 and the drain of the second I/O NFET to a second common node 160 . The gates of first latch NFET 115 and first latch PFET 125 are coupled to second node 160 . The gates of second latch NFET 120 and second latch PFET 130 are coupled to first node 145 . The source of first latch NFET 115 is coupled to ground (GND) and the drain of the first latch NFET is coupled to first node 145 . The source of second latch NFET 120 is coupled to GND and the drain of the first latch NFET is coupled to second node 160 . Similarly, the source of first latch PFET 125 is coupled to V DD and the drain of the first latch PFET is coupled to first node 145 . The source of second latch PFET 130 is coupled to V DD and the drain of the first latch PFET is coupled to second node 160 . The bodies of all four NFETs 105 , 110 , 115 , and 120 and both PFETs 125 and 130 are floating.

SRAM cell 100 is written to by writing bitline 140 high and bitline-not 155 low (or vice versa). SRAM cell 100 is read by activating either first I/O NFET 105 (or second I/O NFET 110 ) and sensing the current flow from bitline 140 (or bitline-not 155 ) to GND. If first I/O NFET 105 “floats up” such that the V T of the first I/O NFET becomes lower than the V T of first latch NFET 115 (or second I/O NFET 110 “floats up” such that the V T Of the second I/O NFET becomes lower than the V T of second latch NFET 120 ) SRAM cell 100 will become unstable and liable to flip states when read. A device with a low V T is a strong device.

In FIG. 1, first NFET 105 is designated as T 1 , second I/O NFET 110 as T 2 , first latch NFET 115 as T 3 , second latch NFET 120 as T 4 , first latch PFET 125 as T 5 and second latch PFET 130 as T 6 . This convention is used in all subsequent figures as an aid to reading and comparing the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a portion of the SRAM cell of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 specifically shows the structure and wiring of second I/O NFET 110 and second latch NFET 120 . Formed in a substrate 165 is a buried oxide layer 170 Formed on top of buried oxide layer 170 is a thin silicon layer 175 . Formed in thin silicon layer 175 is an STI 180 . STI 180 extends from a top surface 185 of thin silicon layer 175 , through the thin silicon layer, to buried oxide layer 170 . Formed in thin silicon layer is a source 190 of second latch NFET 120 , a source 195 of second I/O NFET 110 and a common drain 200 . Both second latch NFET 120 and second I/O NFET 110 share common drain 200 . In silicon layer 175 and under a gate 205 of second latch NFET 120 is a second latch NFET body 210 . In silicon layer 175 and under a gate 215 of second I/O NFET 110 is a second I/O NFET body 220 . Source 190 of second latch NFET 120 is coupled to GND and gate 205 is coupled to first node 145 . Source 195 of second I/O NFET 110 is coupled to bitline-not 155 and gate 215 is coupled to wordline 135 . Common drain 200 is coupled to second node 160 .

In FIG. 2, second I/O NFET 110 and second latch NFET 120 are illustrated as fully depleted devices. Thus, second latch NFET body 210 and second I/O NFET body 220 are co-extensive with what might otherwise be termed the channel regions of the respective devices. The actual channels themselves are formed in the respective bodies under their respective gates near top surface 185 of thin silicon layer 175 .

FIG. 3 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first wiring levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell of FIG. 1 . In FIG. 3, the shallow trench isolation (STI) level of SRAM cell 100 is defined by a first thin silicon region 225 A and a second thin silicon region 225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell 100 are set by first and second silicon regions 225 A and 225 B. The gate level is defined by a first gate conductor 240 A, a second gate conductor 240 B, a third gate conductor 240 C and a fourth gate conductor 240 D. First silicon region 225 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region 250 except where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D also overlap the first silicon region. The overlap of first silicon region 225 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D defines a first body region 250 A, a second body region 250 B, a third body region 250 C and a fourth body region 250 D respectively. Body regions 250 A, 250 B, 250 C and 250 D are doped P. First body region 250 A divides first silicon region 225 A into a first source region 255 A and a first drain region 255 B. Second body region 250 B divides first silicon region 225 A into a second source region 255 C and a second drain region 255 D. Third and fourth body region 250 C and 250 D further divide first silicon region 225 A into a third source region 255 E.

Second silicon region 225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by a P+ region 260 except where third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region 225 B by third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D defines a fifth body region 250 E and a sixth body region 250 F respectively. Body regions 250 E and 250 F are doped N. Fifth body region 250 E divides second silicon region 225 B into a third drain region 255 F and a fourth source region 255 G. Sixth body region 250 F further divides second silicon region 225 B into an fourth drain region 255 H.

With reference to FIG. 1, first I/O NFET 105 comprises first source region 255 A, first body region 250 A, and first drain region 255 B. Second I/O NFET 110 comprises second source region 255 C, second body region 250 B, and second drain region 255 D. First latch NFET 115 comprises second source region 255 C, third body region 250 C, and third source region 255 E. Second latch NFET 120 comprises third source region 255 E, fourth body region 250 D, and second drain region 255 D. First latch PFET 125 comprises third drain region 255 F, fifth body region 250 E, and fourth source region 255 G. Second latch PFET 130 comprises fourth source region 255 G, sixth body region 250 F, and fourth drain region 255 H.

Also illustrated in FIG. 3 are a bitline contact 265 contacting first source region 255 A, a ground contact 270 contacting third source region 255 E, a bitline-not contact 275 contacting second source region 255 C, a V DD contact 280 , a first wordline contact 285 A and a second wordline contact 285 B. Wordline contacts 285 A and 285 B connect first gate conductor 240 A and second gate conductor 240 B, respectively, to a wordline 290 . V DD contact 280 connects fourth source region 255 G to a V DD power rail 295 . A first node contact 300 A connects first drain region 255 B to first node conductor 305 A. A second node contact 300 B connects third drain region 255 F to first node conductor 305 A. A third node contact 300 C connects gate conductor 240 C to first node conductor 305 A. A fourth node contact 300 D connects second drain region 255 D to second node conductor 305 B. A fifth node contact 300 E connects fourth drain region 255 H to second node conductor 305 B. A sixth node contact 300 F connects gate conductor 240 D to second node conductor 305 B.

Because first body region 250 A, second body region 250 B, third body region 250 C and fourth body region 250 D, fifth body region 250 E and sixth body region 250 F are floating in FIG. 3, SRAM cell 100 is subject to random flips of state. Therefore, a technique of electrically connecting the bodies of SRAM FETs to a fixed potential, especially connecting all the NFETs to one fixed potential and all the PFETs to another, different potential, is needed to retain the advantages of SRAMs fabricated in SOI technology.

A first aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; and an SRAM comprising four NFETs and two PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the NFET and PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region, wherein the bodies of two of the NFETs are electrically connected to ground.

A second aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; and a first connecting region in the thin silicon layer abutting the body regions of the I/O NFETS, the first connecting region electrically connected to ground.

A third aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; a first connecting region in the thin silicon layer, the first connecting region electrically connected to ground; and a pair of second connecting regions in the thin silicon layer, each second connecting region co-extensive with one of the body regions of the I/O NFETs and between the body regions and the first connecting region.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device comprising: providing an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; forming an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between source region and a drain region; forming a P+ doped first connecting region in the thin silicon layer abutting the body regions of the I/O NFETS; and forming a ground contact to the first connecting region.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device comprising: providing an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; forming an SRAM comprising two I/O NFETs, two latch NFETs and two latch PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the I/O NFET, latch NFET and latch PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region; forming a P+ doped first connecting region in the thin silicon layer; forming a pair of second connecting regions in the thin silicon layer, each second connecting region co-extensive with one of the body regions of the I/O NFETs and between the body regions and the first connecting region; and forming a ground contact to the first connecting region.

The features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a CMOS SOI SRAM cell;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a portion of the SRAM cell of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 4 according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 5 according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 6 according to the present invention;

FIGS. 10A through 10E are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of I/O NFETs taken along line 10 — 10 of FIG. 6 in SOI technology;

FIGS. 11A through 11E are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of latch PFETs taken along line 11 — 11 of FIG. 6 in SOI technology; and

FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view of latch NFETs taken along line 12 — 12 of FIG. 6 fabricated in SOI technology.

The invention will be described below, with reference to the drawings, as a series of modifications to SRAM cell 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 and described above. In the drawings the same reference numbers indicate the same or corresponding regions.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs are tied to ground.

In FIG. 4, the STI level of an SRAM cell 101 is defined by a first thin silicon region 310 A and second thin silicon region 225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell 101 are set by first and second silicon regions 310 A and 225 B. First silicon region 310 A differs from first silicon region 225 A of FIG. 3 . First silicon region 310 A includes a first connecting region 315 A and a second connecting region 315 B. First connecting region 315 A is co-extensive with said first body region 250 A and said second connecting region is co-extensive with said second body region 250 B. First silicon region 310 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region 320 except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D overlap the first silicon region and (2) where a second P+ region 325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines a third (P+ doped) connecting region 330 . Third connecting region 330 abuts first connecting region 315 A, second connecting region 315 B and third source region 255 E. Ground contact 270 contacts third connecting region 330 . The overlap of first silicon region 310 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D defines first body region 250 A, second body region 250 B, third body region 250 C and fourth body region 250 D respectively.

Second silicon region 225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by a P+ region 325 A except where third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D also overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region 225 B by third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D defines a fifth body region 250 E and a sixth body region 250 F.

First connecting region 315 A connects first body region 250 A to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET 105 . Second connecting region 315 B connects second body region 250 B to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET 110 .

Turning to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 4 according to the present invention. SRAM cell 101 of FIG. 7 differs from SRAM cell 100 of FIG. 1 in that a body 340 A of first I/O NFET 105 and a body 340 B of second I/O NFET 110 are coupled to GND.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs and the latch NFETS are tied to ground.

In FIG. 5, the STI level of an SRAM cell 102 is defined by a first thin silicon region 335 A and second thin silicon region 225 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell 102 are set by a first silicon region 335 A and second silicon region 225 B. First silicon region 335 A differs from first silicon region 225 A of FIG. 3 . First silicon region 335 A includes first connecting region 315 A and second connecting region 315 B. First silicon region 335 A is doped N+ where overlapped by N+ region 320 except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D overlap the first silicon region and (2) where second P+ region 325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines a third (P+ doped) connecting region 330 . The overlap of first silicon region 335 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D defines first body region 250 A, second body region 250 B, third body region 250 C and fourth body region 250 D respectively.

First silicon region 335 A further differs from first silicon region 225 A of FIG. 3 in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for a fourth connecting region 350 and a fifth connecting region 355 as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the first silicon region. A first portion 360 A of fourth connecting region 350 is co-extensive with third connecting region 330 and a second portion 360 B of the fourth connecting region is co-extensive with third body region 250 C. First portion 360 A is doped P+. A first portion 365 A of fifth connecting region 355 is co-extensive with third connecting region 330 and a second portion 365 B of the fifth connecting region is co-extensive with fourth body region 250 D. First portion 365 A is doped P+. Third connecting region 330 abuts first connecting region 315 A, second connecting region 315 B and third source region 255 E, second portion 360 B of fourth connecting region 350 and second portion 365 B of fifth connecting region 355 . Ground contact 270 contacts third connecting region 330 .

Second silicon region 225 B is doped P+ where overlapped by P+ region 325 A except where third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D overlap the second silicon region. The overlap of second silicon region 225 B by third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D defines fifth body region 250 E and sixth body region 250 F.

First connecting region 315 A connects first body region 250 A to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET 105 . Second connecting region 315 B connects second body region 250 B to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET 110 . Fourth connecting region 350 connects third body region 250 C to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first latch NFET 115 . Fifth connecting region 355 connects fourth body region 250 D to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second latch NFET 120 .

Turning to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 5 according to the present invention. SRAM cell 102 of FIG. 8 differs from SRAM cell 100 of FIG. 1 in that body 340 A of first I/O NFET 105 , body 340 B of second I/O NFET 110 , a body 370 A of first latch NFET 115 and a body 370 A of second latch NFET 120 are coupled to GND.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of STI, gate, source/drain, contact and first metal levels of a unit cell of the SRAM cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment of the invention, the bodies of the I/O NFETs and the latch NFETs are tied to ground and the bodies of the latch PFETs are tied to V DD .

In FIG. 6, the STI level of an SRAM cell 103 is defined by first thin silicon region 335 A and a second thin silicon region 335 B. The extents of the silicon portions and the STI portions of SRAM cell 103 are set by first silicon region 335 A and second silicon region 335 B. First silicon region 335 A differs from first silicon region 225 A of FIG. 3 . First silicon region 335 A includes first connecting region 315 A and second connecting region 315 B. First silicon region 335 A is doped N+ where overlapped by an N+ region 375 A except (1) where first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D also overlap the first silicon region and (2) where second P+ region 325 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines third (P+ doped) connecting region 330 . The overlap of first silicon region 335 A by first, second, third and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D defines first body region 250 A, second body region 250 B, third body region 250 C and fourth body region 250 D respectively.

First silicon region 335 A further differs from first silicon region 225 A of FIG. 3 in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for fourth connecting region 350 and fifth connecting region 355 as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the first silicon region. First portion 360 A of fourth connecting region 350 is co-extensive with third connecting region 330 and second portion 360 B of the fourth connecting region abuts third body region 250 C. First portion 360 A is doped P+. First portion 365 A of fifth connecting region 355 is co-extensive with third connecting region 330 and second portion 365 B of the fifth connecting region abuts fourth body region 250 D. First portion 365 A is doped P+. Third connecting region 330 abuts first connecting region 315 A, second connecting region 315 B and third source region 255 E, second portion 360 B of fourth connecting region 350 and second portion 365 B of fifth connecting region 355 . Ground contact 270 contacts third connecting region 330 .

Second silicon region 335 B is doped P+ where overlapped by P+ region 325 A except where (1) third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D also overlap the first silicon region and (2) where a second N+ region 375 B overlaps the first silicon region, which overlap defines sixth (P+ doped) connecting region 380 . The overlap of second silicon region 375 B by third and fourth gate conductors 240 C and 240 D defines first body region 250 A, second body region 250 B, third body region 250 C and fourth body region 250 D respectively.

Second silicon region 335 B differs from second silicon region 225 B of FIG. 3 in that the first silicon region boundary is adjusted to provide for a seventh connecting region 385 and an eighth connecting region 390 as indicated by the heavy dashed lines adjacent to the second silicon region. A first portion 395 A of seventh connecting region 385 is co-extensive with sixth connecting region 380 and a second portion 395 B of the seventh connecting region is co-extensive with fifth body region 250 E. First portion 395 A is doped N+. A first portion 400 A of eighth connecting region 390 is co-extensive with sixth connecting region 380 and a second portion 400 B of the eighth connecting region is co-extensive with sixth body region 250 F. Sixth connecting region 380 abuts second portion 395 B of seventh connecting region 385 , second portion 400 B of eighth connecting region 390 and fourth source region 255 G. As drawn in FIG. 6, first portion 395 A of seventh connecting region 385 is not required for the invention to function as second portion 395 B of the seventh connecting region abuts sixth connecting region 380 . Similarly, first portion 400 A of eight connecting region 390 is not required for the invention to function as second portion 400 B of the seventh connecting region abuts sixth connecting region 380 . V DD contact 280 contacts sixth connecting region 380 .

First connecting region 315 A connects first body region 250 A to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first I/O NFET 105 . Second connecting region 315 B connects second body region 250 B to third connecting region 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second I/O NFET 110 . Fourth connecting region 350 connects third body region 250 C to third conducting channel 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of first latch NFET 115 . Fifth connecting region 355 connects fourth body region 250 D to third conducting channel 330 thereby providing a path to ground for the body of second latch NFET 120 . Seventh conducting channel 385 connects fifth body region 250 E to sixth connecting region 380 thereby providing a path to V DD for the body of first latch PFET 125 . Eighth conducting channel 390 connects sixth body region 250 F to sixth connecting region 380 thereby providing a path to V DD for the body of second latch PFET 130 .

Turning to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the SRAM cell of FIG. 6 according to the present invention. SRAM cell 103 of FIG. 9 differs from SRAM cell 100 of FIG. 1 in that body 340 A of first I/O NFET 105 , body 340 B of second I/O NFET 110 , a body 370 A of first latch NFET 115 and a body 370 A of second latch NFET 120 are coupled to GND and in that body 405 A of first latch PFET 125 and body 405 B of second latch PFET 130 are tied to V DD .

Other combinations of grounded body NFETs and VDD tied body PFETs are possible using the method described above. In a first example, bodies of the I/O NFETs 105 and 110 are tied to ground while the bodies of latch PFETs 125 and 130 are tied to V DD by replacing second silicon region 225 B in FIG. 4 with second silicon region 335 B from FIG. 6 and also adding second N+ region 375 B to FIG. 4 . In a second example, the bodies of latch NFETs 115 and 120 are tied to ground while the bodies of latch PFETs 125 and 130 are tied to V DD by eliminating the portions first and second connecting region that abut first source region 255 A and first drain region 255 B in FIG. 6 . In a third example, only the bodies of latch PFETs 125 and 130 are tied to V DD by eliminating first and second channels 315 A and 315 B, second P+ implant region 325 B and third connecting region 330 from FIG. 6 . In a fourth example, only the bodies of latch NFETs 115 and 120 are tied to V DD by eliminating the portions first and second connecting region that abut first source region 255 A and first drain region 255 B in FIG. 4 . Non-symmetrical combinations are also possible. In a fifth example, the bodies of I/O NFET 105 and latch NFET 115 are tied to ground while the body of latch PFET 125 is tied to V DD . In a sixth example, the bodies of I/O NFET 110 and latch NFET 120 are tied to ground while the body of latch PFET 130 is tied to V DD .

Turning to the fabrication of the present invention, FIGS. 10A through 10E are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of I/O NFETs taken along line 10 — 10 of FIG. 6 in SOI technology and FIGS. 11A through 11E are partial cross sectional views illustrating fabrication of latch PFETs taken along line 11 — 11 of FIG. 6 in SOI technology. The operations illustrated in FIGS. 10 A through 10 E may be performed simultaneously with the operations illustrated in FIGS. 11A through 11E and will so be described.

In both FIGS. 10A and 11A, formed on top of a silicon substrate 405 is a buried insulator 410 . Formed on top of buried insulator 410 is a thin silicon layer 415 . In one example, buried insulator 410 is formed simultaneously with thin silicon layer 415 by an SIMOX method in which oxygen is implanted into a bulk silicon substrate. Substrate 405 , buried insulator 410 , and thin silicon layer 415 comprise an SOI substrate. Extending from a top surface 420 of thin silicon layer 415 through the thin silicon layer to buried insulator 410 is STI 425 . In one example, STI 425 is fabricated by reactive ion etching a trench into thin silicon layer 415 down to buried insulator 410 , filling the trench with chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) insulator, such as silicon dioxide, and chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) the deposited insulator co-planar with top surface 420 of the thin silicon layer.

In FIG. 10A, thin silicon layer 415 has been doped P type to form P− region 430 , while in FIG. 11A, thin silicon layer 415 has been doped N type to form—region 435 . In one example, doping of thin silicon layer 415 , either N or P type, is accomplished using an ion implantation process. In FIG. 10A, first gate conductor 240 A and second gate conductor 240 B are formed on top surface 420 of thin silicon layer 415 . In FIG. 11A, third gate conductor 240 C and fourth gate conductor 240 D are formed on top surface 420 of thin silicon layer 415 . In one example, first, second, third, and fourth gate conductors 240 A, 240 B, 240 C and 240 D are polysilicon, formed by a CVD process.

In FIGS. 10B and 11B, a first resist mask 440 is formed and an N type ion implantation performed. This N type implant may be the same implant as is used to form the source/drains all the NFETs in the SRAM cell. In FIG. 10B, the N type implantation results in formation of a first N+ doped region 445 A in first gate conductor 240 A and a second N+ doped region 445 B in second gate conductor 240 B. In FIG. 11B, the N type implantation results in formation of a third N+ doped region 445 C in third gate conductor 240 C and a fourth N+ doped region 445 D in fourth gate conductor 240 D. The N type implant also forms sixth connecting region 380 . Also shown in FIG. 11B, is second portion 395 B of seventh connecting region 395 and second portion 400 B of fifth connecting region 400 .

In FIGS. 10C and 11C, a second resist mask 450 is formed and a P type ion implantation performed. This P type implant may be the same implant as is used to form the source/drains all the PFETs in the SRAM cell. In FIG. 10C, the P type implantation results in formation of a first P+ doped region 455 A in first gate conductor 240 A and a second P+ doped region 445 B in second gate conductor 240 B. The P type implant also forms third connecting region 330 . In FIG. 11B, the P type implantation results in formation of a third P+ doped region 455 C in third gate conductor 240 C and a fourth P+ doped region 455 D in fourth gate conductor 240 D.

In FIG. 10D, a silicide layer 460 is formed on a top surface 465 A of first gate conductor 240 A, on a top surface 465 B of second gate conductor 240 B, and on top surface 420 of thin silicon layer 415 in third connecting region 330 . Silicide later 460 spans first N+ doped region 445 A and first P+ doped region 455 A of first gate conductor 240 A. Silicide layer 460 also spans second N+ doped region 445 B and second P+ doped region 455 B of second gate conductor 240 B. Third connecting region 330 must be doped P+ in order to be able to form an ohmic contact to the third connecting region. Silicide layer 460 also provides conduction paths across the diodes formed at the interfaces of first N+ doped region 445 A and first P+ doped region 455 A of first gate conductor 240 A and second N+ doped region 445 B and second P+ doped region 455 B of second gate conductor 240 B.

In FIG. 11D, a silicide layer 460 is formed on a top surface 465 C of third gate conductor 240 C, on a top surface 465 D of fourth gate conductor 240 D, and on top surface 420 of thin silicon layer 415 in sixth connecting region 380 . Silicide later 460 spans third N+ doped region 445 C and third P+ doped region 455 C of third gate conductor 240 C. Silicide layer 460 also spans fourth N+ doped region 445 D and fourth P+ doped region 455 D of fourth gate conductor 240 D. Third connecting region 380 is doped N+ in order to be able to form an improved ohmic contact to the sixth connecting region. Silicide layer 460 also provides conduction paths across the diodes formed at the interfaces of third N+ doped region 445 C and third P+ doped region 455 C of third gate conductor 240 C and fourth N+ doped region 445 D and fourth P+ doped region 455 D of fourth gate conductor 240 D.

In one example silicide layer 460 is cobalt silicide or titanium silicide formed by depositing or evaporating cobalt or titanium on exposed silicon and polysilicon surfaces and then performing a sintering process, to react the metal with silicon, followed by an etch process to remove unreacted metal. Subsequently thermal anneals may be performed. N and P doped regions will diffuse during heat cycles. Consequently, third conducting region 330 in FIG. 10 D and sixth conducting region 380 in FIG. 11D are shown in positions relative to the respective gate conductors after such heat cycles.

In FIGS. 10E and 11E, interlevel dielectric 470 is deposited. In one example, interlevel dielectric 470 is silicon oxide. In FIG. 10E, ground contact 270 is shown contacting silicide layer 460 on third channel region 330 . Ground contact 270 is actually below the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes. In FIG. 11E, V DD contact 280 is shown contacting silicide layer 460 on third channel region 330 . V DD contact 280 is actually above the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view of latch NFETs taken along line 12 — 12 of FIG. 6 fabricated in SOI technology. In thin silicon layer 415 are first drain region 255 B, second portion 360 B of fourth connecting region 350 , third channel region 330 , second portion 365 A of fifth connecting region 360 , and second drain region 255 D. Third gate conductor 240 C is divided into a fifth N+ doped region 445 E and fifth P+ doped region 455 E. Fourth gate conductor 240 D is divided into a sixth N+ doped region 445 F and sixth P+ doped region 455 F. Ground contact 270 is actually below the plane of the drawing sheet and is indicated for reference purposes.

The description of the embodiments of the present invention is given above for the understanding of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, SRAM cells 101 , 102 and 103 may be mirrored in the vertical and/or horizontal direction to produce a cell combinations containing 2, 4, 8 and sixteen cells.

If SRAM cell 101 is mirrored vertically through bitline contact 265 , GND contact 270 and bitline-not contact 275 a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of four latch NFETs are tied together through a shared ground contact. SRAM cell 101 may also be mirrored vertically through V DD contact 280 . SRAM cell 101 may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact 285 A or second wordline contact 285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well.

If SRAM cell 102 is mirrored vertically through bitline contact 265 , GND contact 270 and bitline-not contact 275 a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of eight NFETs (four being latch NFETS) are tied together through a shared ground contact. SRAM cell 102 may also be mirrored vertically through V DD contact 280 . SRAM cell 102 may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact 285 A or second wordline contact 285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well.

If SRAM cell 103 is mirrored vertically through bitline contact 265 , GND contact 270 and bitline-not contact 275 a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of eight NFETs (four latch NFETs) are tied together through a shared ground contact. IF SRAM cell 103 is mirrored vertically through V DD contact 280 a 2 cell combination is produced where the bodies of four latch PFETs are tied together through a shared V DD contact. SRAM cell 101 may also be mirrored vertically through first wordline contact 285 A or second wordline contact 285 B. Multiple mirroring may be performed as well.

Therefore it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.