IP Library Granted Patent US 9,293,470
Granted Patent B2
US 9,293,470 · App. 14/491,107 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,293,470
App. No.
14/491,107
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Stack structures are arranged in a first direction horizontal to a semiconductor substrate, one of which has a longitudinal direction along a second direction. One stack structure has a plurality of semiconductor layers stacked between interlayer insulating layers. A memory film is formed on side surfaces of the stack structures and includes a charge accumulation film of the memory cell. Conductive films are formed on side surfaces of the stack structures via the memory film. One stack structure has a shape increasing in width from above to below in a cross-section including the first and third directions. One conductive film has a shape increasing in width from above to below in a cross-section including the second and third directions. Predetermined portions in the semiconductor layers have different impurity concentrations between upper and lower semiconductor layers.

Claims (51)

1. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

stack structures arranged in a first direction horizontal to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, one of the stack structures having a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a second direction horizontal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and crossing the first direction, one of the stack structures having a plurality of semiconductor layers functioning as a channel of a memory cell, the semiconductor layers being stacked between interlayer insulating layers in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and the semiconductor layers having a longitudinal direction in the second direction;

a memory film provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures, the memory film comprising a charge accumulation film of the memory cell; and

conductive films provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures via the memory film, the conductive films functioning as control electrodes of the memory cell,

one of the stack structures having a shape increasing in width from a side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the first and third directions,

one of the conductive films having a shape increasing in width from the side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the second and third directions, and

predetermined portions in the semiconductor layers having different impurity concentrations between upper and lower semiconductor layers.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

in the semiconductor layers, portions forming the channel of the memory cell have an impurity concentration higher in upper semiconductor layers.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a plurality of semiconductor layers included in one stack structure, the thickness in the third direction is larger in upper semiconductor layers.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein

in a plurality of semiconductor layers included in one stack structure, the thickness in the third direction is larger in upper semiconductor layers.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

in the semiconductor layers, portions forming sources/drains of the memory cell have an impurity concentration higher in lower semiconductor layers.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a plurality of semiconductor layers included in one stack structure, the thickness in the third direction is larger in lower semiconductor layers.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein

in a plurality of semiconductor layers included in one stack structure, the thickness in the third direction is larger in lower semiconductor layers.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the conductive films have a comb-blade shape, and comb-blade portions thereof each extends in the third direction.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the semiconductor layers includes a memory string having a plurality of memory cells connected in series.

10. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

stack structures arranged in a first direction horizontal to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, one of the stack structures having a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a second direction horizontal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and crossing the first direction, one of the stack structures having a plurality of semiconductor layers functioning as a channel of a memory cell, the semiconductor layers being stacked between interlayer insulating layers in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and the semiconductor layers having a longitudinal direction in the second direction;

a memory film provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures, the memory film comprising a charge accumulation film of the memory cell; and

conductive films provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures via the memory film, the conductive films functioning as control electrodes of the memory cell,

one of the stack structures having a shape increasing in width from a side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the first and third directions,

one of the conductive films having a shape decreasing in width from the side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the second and third directions, and

in a plurality of semiconductor layers included in one stack structure, the thickness of a semiconductor layer in the third direction being larger in upper layers that are further from the semiconductor substrate.

11. The according to claim 10 , wherein

in the semiconductor layers, portions forming sources/drains of the memory cell have an impurity concentration lower in lower semiconductor layers.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein

the conductive films have a comb-blade shape, and comb-blade portions thereof each extends in the third direction.

13. The device according to claim 10 , wherein each of the semiconductor layers includes a memory string having a plurality of memory cells connected in series.

14. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

stack structures arranged in a first direction horizontal to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, one of the stack structures having a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a second direction horizontal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and crossing the first direction, one of the stack structures having a plurality of semiconductor layers functioning as a channel of a memory cell, the semiconductor layers being stacked between interlayer insulating layers in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and the semiconductor layers having a longitudinal direction in the second direction;

a memory film provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures, the memory film comprising a charge accumulation film of the memory cell; and

conductive films provided on side surfaces on the first direction of the stack structures via the memory film, the conductive films functioning as control electrodes of the memory cell,

one of the stack structures having a shape increasing in width from a side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the first and third directions,

one of the conductive films having a shape decreasing in width from the side away from the semiconductor substrate to the semiconductor substrate in a cross-section comprising the second and third directions, and

predetermined portions in the semiconductor layers having different impurity concentrations between upper and lower semiconductor layers.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein

in the semiconductor layers, portions forming the channel of the memory cell have an impurity concentration higher in lower semiconductor layers.

16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein

in the semiconductor layers, portions forming sources/drains of the memory cell have an impurity concentration higher in upper semiconductor layers.

17. The device according to claim 14 , wherein

the conductive films have a comb-blade shape, and comb-blade portions thereof each extends in the third direction.

18. The device according to claim 14 , wherein each of the semiconductor layers includes a memory string having a plurality of memory cells connected in series.

Assignments (5)
MERGER Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: K.K. PANGEA
Reel/Frame 055659/0471 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: K.K. PANGEA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0401 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043541/0381 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2014
From: SAKUMA, HARUKA; SAKUMA, KIWAMU; KIYOTOSHI, MASAHIRO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 033880/0149 →