IP Library Granted Patent US 8,748,959
Granted Patent B2
US 8,748,959 · App. 12/751,245 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,748,959
App. No.
12/751,245
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.

Claims (29)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, each memory cell having:

a first region electrically connected to a source line;

a second region electrically connected to a bit line; and

a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region;

a first barrier wall continuously extending in a first orientation of the array directly adjacent to a first side of the first region of the plurality of memory cells; and

a second barrier wall extending in a second orientation of the array directly adjacent to a second side of the first region of the plurality of memory cells; wherein the second barrier wall intersects with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells;

wherein the bit line is electrically connected to respective second regions of immediately adjacent memory cells.

2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the first region and the second region are N-doped regions.

3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 2 , wherein the body region is an P-doped region.

4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 2 , wherein the body region is an undoped region.

5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall are formed of an insulating oxide material.

6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall are formed on a P-type substrate.

7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region.

8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the word line is similar to a height of the body region.

9. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is disposed adjacent to a side of the body region and at least a portion of a side of the first region.

10. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region and at least a portion of a side of the second region.

11. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region, at least a portion of a side of the first region, and at least a portion of a side of the second region.

12. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the word line is shorter than a height of the body region.

13. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

14. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line has a U cross-sectional shape.

15. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line has an L cross-sectional shape.

16. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is capacitively coupled to a plurality of the body regions.

17. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is coupled to a constant voltage potential.

18. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the word line is coupled to a ground voltage potential.

19. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the array of memory cells comprises a dummy row of memory cells separating adjacent rows of the memory cells.

20. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 19 , wherein the bit line is connected to the second region via a bit line contact.

21. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the source line extends in the first orientation configured in a plane below the first region.

22. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the bit line extends in the second orientation configured in a plane above the second region.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2011
From: INNOVATIVE SILICON ISI S.A.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 025850/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2010
From: VAN BUSKIRK, MICHAEL A.; CAILLAT, CHRISTIAN; KOLDIAEV, VIKTOR I.; KWON, JUNGTAE; FAZAN, PIERRE C.
To: INNOVATIVE SILICON ISI SA
Reel/Frame 024167/0904 →