IP Library Granted Patent US 10,847,540
Granted Patent B2
US 10,847,540 · App. 16/526,763 · Granted Nov 24, 2020

3D semiconductor memory device and structure

Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach (San Jose, CA); Jin-Woo Han (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Monolithic 3D Inc.
H01L27/11582G11C11/5671G11C16/10G11C16/14G11C16/26G11C16/3418H01L21/02532H01L21/02636H01L21/02675H01L21/0332H01L21/31116H01L21/3212H01L23/528H01L27/10802H01L27/11565H01L27/11573H01L27/2481H01L29/1037H01L29/40117H01L29/7923H01L29/7926G11C11/5628G11C11/5635G11C11/5642H01L27/11519H01L27/11526H01L27/11556H01L29/40114H01L29/7883H01L29/7889
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,847,540
App. No.
16/526,763
Granted
Nov 24, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A 3D memory device, the device including: a first horizontal bit-line; a second horizontal bit-line disposed above the first horizontal bit-line, where the first horizontal bit-line and the second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors, where the first horizontal bit-line and the second horizontal bit-line are self-aligned being formed following the same lithography step; and conductive memory control lines, where a first portion of the conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly underneath the plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors, and where a second portion of the conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly above the plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

Claims (85)

1. A 3D memory device, the device comprising:

a first horizontal bit-line;

a second horizontal bit-line disposed above said first horizontal bit-line,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line are self-aligned being formed following the same lithography step; and

conductive memory control lines,

wherein a first portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly underneath said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors, and

wherein a second portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly above said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

2. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors each comprise a tunneling oxide region and a charge trap region, and

wherein said tunneling oxide region is thinner than 1 nm or does not exist.

3. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third horizontal bit-line disposed above said second horizontal bit-line,

wherein said third horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a second plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

4. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits are structured to provide a periodic memory refresh operation to said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

5. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line comprises metal.

6. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprise first memory transistors and second memory transistors,

wherein between a pair of said first memory transistors is disposed at least one of said second memory transistors,

wherein said pair of said first memory transistors are controlled by a first gate-line and said second memory transistors are controlled by second gate-lines,

wherein said first gate-line is isolated from said second gate-lines by isolation structures, and

wherein said isolation structures each comprise two oxide layers and a nitride layer, said nitride layer is disposed between said two oxide layers.

7. The 3D memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprises a unique channel region, and

wherein said channel regions are isolated from each other.

8. A 3D memory device, the device comprising:

a first horizontal bit-line; and

a second horizontal bit-line disposed above said first horizontal bit-line,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line are self-aligned being formed following the same lithography step; and

conductive memory control lines,

wherein a first portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly underneath said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein a second portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly above said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors each comprise a tunneling oxide region and a charge trap region, and

wherein said tunneling oxide region is thinner than 1 nm or does not exist.

9. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a third horizontal bit-line disposed above said second horizontal bit-line,

wherein said third horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a second plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

10. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits are structured to provide a periodic memory refresh operation to said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

11. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 ,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line comprises metal.

12. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 ,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprise first memory transistors and second memory transistors,

wherein between a pair of said first memory transistors is disposed at least one of said second memory transistors,

wherein said pair of said first memory transistors are controlled by a first gate-line and said second memory transistors are controlled by second gate-lines,

wherein said first gate-line is isolated from said second gate-lines by isolation structures, and

wherein said isolation structures each comprise two oxide layers and a nitride layer, said nitride layer is disposed between said two oxide layers.

13. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 ,

wherein each of said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprises a unique channel region, and

wherein said channel regions are isolated from each other.

14. The 3D memory device according to claim 8 ,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors each comprise a tunneling oxide region and a charge trap region, and

wherein said tunneling oxide region is thinner than 1 nm or does not exist.

15. A 3D memory device, the device comprising:

a first horizontal bit-line;

a second horizontal bit-line disposed above said first horizontal bit-line,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line are self-aligned being formed following the same lithography step; and

conductive memory control lines,

wherein a first portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly underneath said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein a second portion of said conductive memory control lines are disposed at least partially directly above said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprise first memory transistors and second memory transistors,

wherein between a pair of said first memory transistors is disposed at least one of said second memory transistors,

wherein said pair of said first memory transistors are controlled by a first gate-line and said second memory transistors are controlled by second gate-lines,

wherein said first gate-line is isolated from said second gate-lines by isolation structures, and

wherein said isolation structures each comprise two oxide layers and a nitride layer, said nitride layer is disposed between said two oxide layers.

16. The 3D memory device according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a third horizontal bit-line disposed above said second horizontal bit-line,

wherein said third horizontal bit-line and said second horizontal bit-line function as a source or a drain for a second plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

17. The 3D memory device according to claim 15 , further comprising:

memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits are structured to provide a periodic memory refresh operation to said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors.

18. The 3D memory device according to claim 15 ,

wherein said first horizontal bit-line comprises metal.

19. The 3D memory device according to claim 15 ,

wherein each of said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors comprises a unique channel region, and

wherein said channel regions are isolated from each other.

20. The 3D memory device according to claim 15 ,

wherein said plurality of parallel vertically-oriented memory transistors each comprise a tunneling oxide region and a charge trap region, and

wherein said tunneling oxide region is thinner than 1 nm or does not exist.

Continuity (9)
Continuation In Part 15990611 · May 26, 2018
Continuation In Part 15333138 · Oct 24, 2016
Provisional Application 62307568 · Mar 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62286362 · Jan 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62276953 · Jan 10, 2016
Provisional Application 62271521 · Dec 27, 2015
Provisional Application 62266610 · Dec 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62246054 · Oct 24, 2015
Related Publication 20200013800A1 · Jan 9, 2020
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