IP Library Granted Patent US 11,901,005
Granted Patent B2
US 11,901,005 · App. 16/953,092 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Apparatuses and methods for memory including ferroelectric memory cells and dielectric memory cells

Inventors: Scott J. Derner (Boise, ID); Michael A. Shore (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C14/0027G11C11/005G11C11/221G11C11/2273G11C11/2275G11C11/4091G11C11/4096G11C11/4097H01L27/105H01L28/40H01L28/55H10B12/00H10B12/09H10B12/30H10B53/30H10B53/40
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,901,005
App. No.
16/953,092
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for memory including ferroelectric memory cells and dielectric memory cells are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first memory cell including first and second ferroelectric capacitors configured to store charges representing complementary logical values, a second memory cell including first and second dielectric capacitors configured to store charges representing complementary logical values, a first bit line selectably coupled to the first ferroelectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the first dielectric capacitor of the second memory cell, a second bit line selectably coupled to the second ferroelectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the second dielectric capacitor of the second memory cell, and a sense amplifier coupled to the first and second bit lines.

Claims (53)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell comprising first and second dielectric capacitors configured to store first charges that represent complementary logical values;

a second memory cell comprising first and second ferroelectric capacitors configured to store second charges that represent complementary logical values;

a first bit line selectably coupled to the first dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the first ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell;

a second bit line selectably coupled to the second dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the second ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell;

a first word line selectably coupled to the first memory cell; and

a second word line selectably coupled to the second memory cell,

wherein, when the first and second word lines are driven to a same voltage, the first memory cell is further configured store the first charges to the first and second dielectric capacitors of the first memory cell and the second memory cell is configured to restore the second charges to the first and second ferroelectric capacitors of the second memory cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sense amplifier coupled to the bit line, wherein the sense amplifier configured to transfer data between the first memory cell and the second memory cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first memory cell is vertically displaced relative to the second memory cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell includes a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric material disposed between the first and second plates, the first plate coupled to a first plate line structure.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell comprising first and second dielectric capacitors configured to store first charges representing complementary logical values;

a second memory cell comprising first and second ferroelectric capacitors configured to store second charges representing complementary logical values, both the first and second ferroelectric capacitors coupled to a first plate line;

a first bit line selectably coupled to the first ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell and to the first dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell; and

a second bit line selectably coupled to the second ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell and to the second dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell;

a first word line selectably coupled to the first memory cell; and

a second word line selectably coupled to the second memory cell,

wherein, when the first and second word lines are driven to a same voltage, the first memory cell is further configured store the first charges to the first and second dielectric capacitors of the first memory cell and the second memory cell is configured to restore the second charges to the first and second ferroelectric capacitors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

a sense amplifier coupled to the first and second bit lines.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the sense amplifier is configured to transfer data between the first memory cell and the second memory cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first memory cell is vertically displaced relative to the second memory cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the first ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell includes a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric material disposed between the first and second plates, the first plate coupled to a first plate line structure of the first plate line; and

the second ferroelectric capacitor of the second memory cell includes a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric material disposed between the first and second plates, the first plate coupled to the first plate line structure of the first plate line.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:

the first dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell includes a first plate, a second plate, and a dielectric material disposed between the first and second plates, the first plate coupled to a second plate line structure; and

the second dielectric capacitor of the first memory cell includes a first plate, a second plate, and a dielectric material disposed between the first and second plates, the first plate coupled to the second plate line structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first plate line structure coupled to a voltage driver that is configured to toggle the voltage on the first plate line structure when data is written to the first memory cell, and wherein the second plate line structure is coupled to a constant voltage.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to process memory access operations, the processor including a memory controller integrated therein; and

a memory comprising:

a first memory cell comprising first and second ferroelectric capacitors configured to store first charges that represent complementary logical values;

a second memory cell comprising first and second dielectric capacitors configured to store second charges that represent complementary logical values;

a first word line selectably coupled to the first memory cell;

a second word line selectably coupled to the second memory cell;

a first bit line selectably coupled to the first ferroelectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the first dielectric capacitor of the second memory cell; and

a second bit line selectably coupled to the second ferroelectric capacitor of the first memory cell and to the second dielectric capacitor of the second memory cell,

wherein, when the first and second word lines are driven to a same voltage, the first memory cell is further configured store the first charges to the first and second ferroelectric capacitors of the first memory cell and the second memory cell is configured to restore the second charges to the first and second dielectric capacitors; and

wherein the memory controller is configured to select the first and second bit lines.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory controller comprises a biasing component configured to apply voltages to the first and second bit lines.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 ,

wherein the biasing component is further configured to apply voltages to the first and second word lines to activate the first and second memory cells, respectively.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a computer, notebook computer, laptop, tablet computer, or a mobile phone, the apparatus further comprising an input/output control component configured to manage data communication including the memory access operations.

16. A method, comprising:

reading a data bit from a first memory cell that includes first and second dielectric capacitors configured to store first charges that represent complementary logical values;

latching the data bit at a sense amplifier;

writing the data bit from the sense amplifier back to the first memory cell, via a first bit line, to restore the charge that represents the data bit through the logical value; and

while maintaining the charge that represents the data bit through the logical value at the first memory cell, writing the data bit from the sense amplifier to a second memory cell, via the first bit line, that includes first and second ferroelectric capacitors configured to store second charges that represent complementary logical values.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second memory cell includes a capacitor plate line structure and writing the data bit to the second memory cell includes toggling a voltage of the capacitor plate line structure between a first voltage and a second voltage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2020
From: DERNER, SCOTT J.; SHORE, MICHAEL A.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054423/0885 →