IP Library Granted Patent US 10,079,235
Granted Patent B2
US 10,079,235 · App. 15/664,183 · Granted Sep 18, 2018

Memory cells and memory arrays

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,079,235
App. No.
15/664,183
Granted
Sep 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include a memory cell having first, second and third transistors, with the second and third transistors being vertically displaced relative to one another. The memory cell has a semiconductor pillar extending along the second and third transistors, with the semiconductor pillar containing channel regions and source/drain regions of the second and third transistors. A capacitor may be electrically coupled between a source/drain region of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor.

Claims (18)

1. A memory cell comprising:

a three-transistor-one-capacitor (3T-1C) configuration; the three transistors of the 3T-1C configuration being a first transistor, a second transistor and a third transistor;

a semiconductor pillar extending along the second and third transistors and comprising channel regions and source/drain regions of the second and third transistors;

wherein all of the first, second and third transistors are vertically displaced relative to one another;

wherein the capacitor of the 3T-1C configuration has an inner node, an outer node, and a dielectric material between the inner and outer nodes; the inner node being electrically coupled with a source/drain region of the first transistor and with a gate of the second transistor;

wherein the first transistor is between the capacitor and a bitline; and

wherein the outer node of the capacitor is against an electrically conductive structure at a common plate voltage, and wherein the semiconductor pillar has an end against said electrically conductive structure.

2. A memory cell comprising:

a three-transistor-one-capacitor (3T-1C) configuration; the three transistors of the 3T-1C configuration being a first transistor, a second transistor and a third transistor;

a write bitline;

the first transistor being under the write bitline and comprising a first channel region between first and second source/drain regions; the first source/drain region being electrically coupled with the write bitline; the first transistor having a first transistor gate along the first channel region;

the capacitor of the 3T-1C configuration being under the first transistor; the capacitor having an inner node, an outer node, and a capacitor dielectric material between the inner and outer nodes; the second source/drain region being electrically coupled with the inner node;

the second transistor having a second transistor gate electrically coupled with the inner node and having a second channel region;

the third transistor being under the second transistor and having a third transistor gate along a third channel region;

a semiconductor pillar extending along the second and third gates; the second and third channel regions being within semiconductor material of the semiconductor pillar;

a read bitline under the third transistor and directly against the semiconductor pillar; and

wherein the second transistor has third and fourth source/drain regions on opposing sides of the second channel region, and the third transistor has fifth and sixth source/drain regions on opposing sides of the third channel region; wherein the fourth and fifth source/drain regions overlap one another within semiconductor material of the semiconductor pillar; wherein the outer node of the capacitor contacts an electrically conductive structure at a common plate voltage; wherein the semiconductor pillar contacts the electrically conductive structure; and wherein the third source/drain region is within the semiconductor pillar and extends to the electrically conductive structure.

3. The memory cell of claim 2 wherein the sixth source/drain region extends to the read bitline.

Assignments (6)
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 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050709/0838 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046597/0333 →
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 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044348/0253 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044653/0333 →