IP Library Granted Patent US 10,903,223
Granted Patent B2
US 10,903,223 · App. 16/248,248 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

Driver placement in memories having stacked memory arrays

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,903,223
App. No.
16/248,248
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory can have a stacked memory array that can have a plurality of levels of memory cells. Each respective level of memory cells can be commonly coupled to a respective access line. A plurality of drivers can be above the stacked memory array. Each respective driver can have a monocrystalline semiconductor with a conductive region coupled to a respective access line.

Claims (47)

1. A memory, comprising:

a stacked memory array comprising a plurality of levels of memory cells, each respective level of memory cells commonly coupled to a respective access line; and

a plurality of drivers above the stacked memory array;

wherein each respective driver comprises a monocrystalline semiconductor fin comprising a conductive region coupled to a respective access line; and

wherein:

the conductive region is a first source/drain in a first portion of the monocrystalline semiconductor fin;

the monocrystalline semiconductor fin further comprises:

a second source/drain in a second portion of the monocrystalline semiconductor fin; and

a channel region in a third portion of the monocrystalline semiconductor fin between first and second portions; and

each respective driver comprises a gate that wraps around the channel region.

2. The memory of claim 1 , wherein each respective access line forms a respective step of a stairstep structure and the plurality of drivers is directly above the stairstep structure.

3. The memory of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric between the stacked memory array and the monocrystalline semiconductor fin.

4. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the gate is common to the plurality of drivers.

5. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the second source/drain is coupled to receive an access signal to access the memory cells commonly coupled to the respective access line.

6. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the second source/drain is coupled to logic circuitry below the stacked memory array.

7. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the second source/drain is coupled to logic circuitry above the stacked memory array.

8. The memory of claim 1 , wherein each respective driver comprises a gate dielectric between the gate and the channel region.

9. The memory of claim 1 , wherein the gate comprises at least one of polysilicon and metal.

10. A memory comprising:

a stacked memory array comprising a stairstep structure comprising respective access line steps respectively commonly coupled to respective levels of memory cells of a plurality of levels of memory cells;

a plurality of monocrystalline semiconductor fins at a level above the stairstep structure, each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin directly above a respective step, each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin comprising:

a first source/drain coupled to the respective step;

a second source/drain coupled to receive a signal for accessing the respective level of memory cells; and

a channel region between the first and second source/drains; and

a gate commonly coupled to the channel regions.

11. The memory of claim 10 , further comprising a gate dielectric between each channel region and the gate that couples the gate to each channel region.

12. The memory of claim 11 , wherein the gate and the gate dielectric wrap around portions of the fins.

13. The memory of claim 10 , wherein

the first and second source/drains have a first conductivity level; and

each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin further comprises a conductive region, having a second conductivity level lower that the first conductivity level, between the first source/drain and the channel region and between the second source/drain and the channel region.

14. A memory comprising:

a stacked memory array comprising a plurality of blocks, each respective block comprising a plurality of levels of memory cells, each respective level of memory cells commonly coupled to a respective access line of a plurality of access lines, each access line forming a respective step of a stairstep structure of the respective block such that the stairstep structures of the respective blocks respectively have steps at common levels;

a plurality of monocrystalline semiconductors at a level above the stairstep structures such that there is a respective monocrystalline semiconductor structure common to the steps at each of the common levels;

wherein each respective monocrystalline semiconductor comprises a first source/drain coupled to each of the steps at the common level, a second source/drain between the steps at the common level, and a channel region above each of the steps at the common level between the second source/drain and the first source/drain such that there is a channel region above each respective step of each respective block; and

a respective gate commonly coupled to the channel regions above each respective step of each respective block.

15. The memory of claim 14 , further comprising a dielectric between the stairstep structures and the plurality monocrystalline semiconductors.

16. The memory of claim 15 , wherein the dielectric comprises oxide.

17. A memory, comprising:

a stacked memory array comprising a plurality of levels of memory cells, each respective level of memory cells commonly coupled to a respective access line; and

a plurality of drivers above the stacked memory array;

wherein each respective driver comprises a plurality of monocrystalline semiconductor fins, with each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin comprises a conductive region coupled to a respective access line; and

wherein:

the conductive region is a first source/drain in a first portion of each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin;

each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin further comprises:

a second source/drain in a second portion of each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin; and

a channel region in a third portion of each respective monocrystalline semiconductor fin between first and second portions; and

each respective driver comprises a gate that wraps around the channel region.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 051041/0317 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050724/0392 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 12 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048948/0677 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048951/0902 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2019
From: LIU, HAITAO; KARDA, KAMAL M.; SANDHU, GURTEJ S.; TANG, SANH D.; GODA, AKIRA; XU, LIFANG
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 048014/0502 →