IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,232,335
Granted Patent B2
US 12,232,335 · App. 17/890,837 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

RRAM process integration scheme and cell structure with reduced masking operations

Inventors: Zhichao Lu (San Jose, CA); Brent Steven Haukness (Monte Sereno, CA)
Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
H10B63/80G11C7/12G11C13/0007G11C13/003H10B63/82H10N70/021H10N70/063H10N70/24H10N70/801H10N70/826H10N70/841H10N70/8833G11C2213/52G11C2213/77
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 12,232,335
App. No.
17/890,837
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a resistive random access memory (RRAM). The RRAM includes a bottom electrode made of tungsten and a switching layer made of hafnium oxide disposed above the bottom electrode, wherein the switching layer includes a switchable filament. The RRAM further includes a resistive layer disposed above the switching layer and a bit line disposed above the resistive layer, wherein the resistive layer extends laterally to connect two or more memory cells along the bit line.

Claims (31)

1. A resistive random access memory (RRAM) comprising:

one or more bottom electrodes comprised of tungsten;

one or more switching layers comprised of hafnium oxide disposed above the one or more bottom electrodes, the one or more switching layers comprising a switchable filament;

one or more resistive layers disposed above the one or more switching layers, wherein the one or more resistive layers are comprised of a conductive metal oxide; and

wherein each bottom electrode comprises a via disposed below the one or more switching layers, wherein the via is directly in contact with the switching layer and the via is comprised of tungsten.

2. The RRAM of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more bit lines disposed above the one or more resistive layers.

3. The RRAM of claim 2 , wherein the one or more resistive layers extend laterally to connect two or more RRAM cells along the one or more bit lines.

4. The RRAM of claim 2 , further comprising:

one or more non-linear device layers disposed below the one or more bit lines and above the one or more resistive layers.

5. The RRAM of claim 4 , wherein the one or more non-linear device layers comprise a metal-insulator-metal structure.

6. The RRAM of claim 2 , wherein the one or more bottom electrodes comprise one or more word lines that are orthogonal to the one or more bit lines.

7. The RRAM of claim 6 , further comprising:

one or more non-linear device layers disposed above the one or more word lines and below the one or more switching layers.

8. The RRAM of claim 7 , wherein the one or more non-linear device layers comprise a metal-insulator-metal structure.

9. A resistive random access memory (RRAM) comprising:

one or more switching layers;

one or more resistive layers disposed above the one or more switching layers, wherein the one or more resistive layers extend laterally to connect two or more memory cells, and the one or more resistive layers are comprised of a conductive metal oxide;

one or more top electrodes disposed above the one or more resistive layers; and

a via disposed below the one or more switching layers, wherein the via is directly in contact with the one or more switching layers, and wherein the via is comprised of tungsten.

10. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein the one or more switching layers comprise a switchable filament.

11. The RRAM of claim 9 , further comprising one or more bottom electrodes disposed below the one or more switching layers, wherein the one or more bottom electrodes comprise the via.

12. The RRAM of claim 11 , wherein the one or more bottom electrodes are comprised of tungsten.

13. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein a material of the one or more switching layers comprises a transition metal oxide.

14. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein a material of the one or more switching layers comprises tantalum oxide.

15. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein a material of the one or more switching layers comprises titanium oxide or hafnium oxide.

16. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein the one or more top electrodes correspond to a metallization layer used for connections on a semiconductor device.

17. The RRAM of claim 9 , wherein the one or more switching layers have a resistance that changes upon application of a voltage.

18. The RRAM of claim 9 , further comprising:

one or more bit lines disposed above the one or more resistive layers, wherein the one or more resistive layers extend laterally to connect the two or more RRAM cells along the one or more bit lines.

19. The RRAM of claim 1 , wherein the via serves as a conductive path between the one or more switching layers and a semiconductor component underlying the switching layer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2022
From: LU, ZHICHAO; HAUKNESS, BRENT
To: RAMBUS INC.
Reel/Frame 060847/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2022
From: RAMBUS INC.
To: HEFEI RELIANCE MEMORY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061207/0724 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16994993 · Aug 17, 2020
Continuation 16349255
Provisional Application 62490222 · Apr 26, 2017
Provisional Application 62421779 · Nov 14, 2016
Related Publication 20220406845A1 · Dec 22, 2022
References Cited (40)
US 7919774B2 · Kawashima et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8222071B2 · Lung · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 10608178B2 · Sills · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10777608B2 · Lu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10862029B2 · Chen et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11050021B2 · Hsu et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11430956B2 · Liu et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11462585B2 · Lu · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20040159867A1 · Kinney et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20060215445A1 · Baek et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070086235A1 · Kim et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20110147696A1 · Lee et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110175053A1 · Fukumizu et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130001501A1 · Sills · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130064002A1 · Terai · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130140515A1 · Kawashima et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130221307A1 · Wang et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140091272A1 · Liao et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140104932A1 · Srinivasan et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140153318A1 · Perner · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140246641A1 · Jameson, III et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150144859A1 · Chen et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150194602A1 · Liao et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150364679A1 · Molas et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160111637A1 · Molas et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 101395716A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101419940A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 103733339A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104659050A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 104900804A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Oct. 25, 2019, issued in related European Application No. 17870192.6 (12 pages). [cited by applicant]
PCT International Search Report and the Written Opinion mailed Jan. 17, 2018, issued in related International Application No. PCT/US2017/061393 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability mailed May 23, 2019, issued in related International Application No. PCT/US2017/061393 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed May 13, 2020, issued in related U.S. Appl. No. 16/349,255 (12 pages). [cited by applicant]
Examination Report dated May 19, 2021, issued in related European Patent Application No. 17870192.6 (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Mar. 4, 2022, issued in related U.S. Appl. No. 16/994,993 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
Supplementary Search dated Jan. 3, 2023, issued in related Chinese Application No. 201780080601.X (2 pages). [cited by applicant]
First Search dated Aug. 12, 2022, issued in related Chinese Application No. 201780080601.X (2 pages). [cited by applicant]
First Office Action dated Aug. 22, 2022, issued in related Chinese Application No. 201780080601.X, with English machine translation (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
Examination Report dated Oct. 12, 2023, issued in related European Patent Application No. 17870192.6 (7 pages). [cited by applicant]