IP Library Granted Patent US 9,287,260
Granted Patent B1
US 9,287,260 · App. 14/478,220 · Granted Mar 15, 2016

Transistors having one or more dummy lines with different collective widths coupled thereto

Inventors: Michael A. Smith (Boise, ID); Vladimir Mikhalev (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L27/088H01L23/528H01L27/0207H01L27/11526H01L27/11551H01L27/11573H01L27/11578
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,287,260
App. No.
14/478,220
Granted
Mar 15, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

In an embodiment, an array of transistors has a first line coupled to a first transistor. The first line extends over a second transistor that is successively adjacent to the first transistor and over a third transistor that is successively adjacent to the second transistor. A second line is coupled to the second transistor and extends over the third transistor. One or more first dummy lines are coupled to the first line and extend from the first transistor to the second transistor. One or more second dummy lines are coupled to the second line and extend from the second transistor to the third transistor. A collective width of the one or more first dummy lines is greater than a collective width of the one or more second dummy lines.

Claims (39)

1. An array of transistors, comprising:

a first line coupled to a first transistor, the first line extending over a second transistor that is successively adjacent to the first transistor and over a third transistor that is successively adjacent to the second transistor;

a second line coupled to the second transistor and extending over the third transistor;

one or more first dummy lines coupled to the first line and extending from the first transistor to the second transistor; and

one or more second dummy lines coupled to the second line and extending from the second transistor to the third transistor;

wherein a collective width of the one or more first dummy lines is greater than a collective width of the one or more second dummy lines.

2. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first dummy lines comprise only a single first dummy line and the one or more second dummy lines comprise only a single second dummy line, and wherein the collective width of the one or more first dummy lines comprises a width of the first dummy line and the collective width of the one or more second dummy lines comprises a width of the second dummy line.

3. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third transistors are commonly coupled to a control line.

4. The array of transistors of claim 3 , wherein the collective width of the one or more first dummy lines and the collective width of the one or more second dummy lines is in a direction perpendicular to the control line.

5. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the collective width of the one or more first dummy lines being greater than the collective width of the one or more second dummy lines comprises the one or more first dummy lines comprising two or more first dummy lines and the two or more first dummy lines comprising more dummy lines than the one or more second dummy lines.

6. The array of transistors of claim 5 , wherein the two or more first dummy lines comprise one more dummy line than the one or more second dummy lines.

7. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first dummy lines are electrically isolated from the second and third transistors and the one or more second dummy lines are electrically isolated from the first and third transistors.

8. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first dummy lines are parallel to at least a portion of each of the first and second lines and the one or more second dummy lines are parallel to at least a portion of each of the first and second lines.

9. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first dummy lines terminate at the second transistor and the one or more second dummy lines terminate at the third transistor.

10. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the array of transistors is under a stacked memory array.

11. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transistors are configured to selectively couple a voltage source to access lines in a memory array that are coupled to the first and second lines.

12. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the first line is coupled to a source/drain of the first transistor and the second line is coupled to a source/drain of the second transistor.

13. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more first dummy lines is immediately adjacent to the first line and is aligned with the second line.

14. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first dummy lines comprise a plurality of first dummy lines and the one or more second dummy lines comprise a plurality of second dummy lines, and wherein a distance comprising the collective width of the plurality of first dummy lines and a collective width of spaces between the plurality of first dummy lines is greater than a distance comprising the collective width of the plurality of second dummy lines and a collective width of spaces between the plurality of second dummy lines.

15. The array of transistors of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third transistors are double-gate transistors.

16. An array of transistors, comprising:

a plurality of successively adjacent transistors commonly coupled to a control line, each of the plurality of successively adjacent transistors coupled to a respective runner by a respective line that is transverse to its respective runner, the respective runners being successively adjacent to each other; and

different numbers of dummy runners respectively between different respective pairs of the respective lines, the respective lines of each of the different respective pairs respectively coupled to successively adjacent transistors of a respective pair of successively adjacent transistors;

wherein the number of dummy runners between each pair of the different respective pairs of the respective lines is coupled to one of the respective lines of that respective pair and is electrically isolated from the other one of the respective lines of that respective pair.

17. The array of transistors of claim 16 , wherein the different numbers of dummy runners respectively between the different respective pairs of the respective lines comprise a first number of dummy runners between a first pair of lines of the respective pairs of the respective lines respectively coupled to successively adjacent transistors of a first pair of successively adjacent transistors and a second number of dummy runners between a second pair of lines of the respective pairs of the respective lines respectively coupled to successively adjacent transistors of a second pair of successively adjacent transistors, wherein one of the respective lines of the first pair of lines and one of the respective lines of the second pair of lines is a same line common to first and second pairs of lines.

18. The array of transistors of claim 17 , wherein the first number of dummy runners is one dummy runner greater than the second number of dummy runners.

19. The array of transistors of claim 18 , wherein the first number of dummy runners is electrically isolated from the same line common to the first and second pairs of lines and the second number of dummy runners is coupled to the same line common to the first and second pairs of lines.

20. The array of transistors of claim 19 , wherein the respective runner that is coupled to the same line common to the first and second pairs of lines is aligned with one of the dummy runners of the first number of dummy runners.

21. An array of transistors, comprising:

a first line comprising a first portion coupled to a source/drain of a first transistor and a second portion that extends from the first transistor and over a second transistor that is successively adjacent to the first transistor and over a third transistor that is successively adjacent to the second transistor;

a second line comprising a first portion coupled to a source/drain of the second transistor and a second portion adjacent and parallel to the second portion of the first line, the second portion of the second line extending from the second transistor and over the third transistor;

a third line comprising a first portion coupled to a source/drain of the third transistor and a second portion adjacent and parallel to the second portion of the second line;

a first number of dummy lines between the first portions of the first and second lines and coupled to the first portion of the first line; and

a second number dummy lines between the first portions of the second and third lines and coupled to the first portion of the second line;

wherein the first number is greater than the second number.

22. The array of transistors of claim 21 , wherein the first number of dummy lines between the first portions of the first and second lines is electrically isolated from the first portion of the second line and the second number dummy lines between the first portions of the second and third lines is electrically isolated from the first portion of the third line.

23. The array of transistors of claim 21 , wherein the first portions of the first, second, and third lines are perpendicular to the second portions of the first, second, and third lines.

24. The array of transistors of claim 21 , wherein the first number of dummy lines is one dummy line greater than the second number of dummy lines.

25. The array of transistors of claim 24 , wherein the first number of dummy lines and the second number dummy lines have the same pitch as the first, second and third lines.

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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
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 Sep 5, 2014
From: SMITH, MICHAEL A.; MIKHALEV, VLADIMIR
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 033676/0466 →