IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,695,001
Granted Patent B2
US 11,695,001 · App. 17/964,888 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Discrete three-dimensional processor

Inventor: Guobiao Zhang (Corvallis, OR)
Assignees: HangZhou HaiCun Information Technology Co., Ltd.; Guobiao Zhang
H01L25/18G06F9/3001G06F15/803G06F18/21G06F21/561G10L15/183G10L15/22H01L25/0657G06F2221/034H01L2225/06506H01L2225/06513H01L2225/06524H01L2225/06541
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,695,001
App. No.
17/964,888
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor comprises first and second dice. The first die comprises 3-D memory (3D-M) arrays, whereas the second die comprises logic circuits and at least an off-die peripheral-circuit component of the 3D-M array(s). Typical off-die peripheral-circuit component could be an address decoder, a sense amplifier, a programming circuit, a read-voltage generator, a write-voltage generator, a data buffer, or a portion thereof.

Claims (240)

1. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of an address decoder of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said address decoder; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

2. The 3-D processor according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

3. The 3-D processor according to claim 1 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

4. The 3-D processor according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

5. The 3-D processor according to claim 1 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

6. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of a sense amplifier of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said sense amplifier; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

7. The 3-D processor according to claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

8. The 3-D processor according to claim 6 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

9. The 3-D processor according to claim 6 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

10. The 3-D processor according to claim 6 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

11. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of a programming circuit of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said programming circuit; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

12. The 3-D processor according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

13. The 3-D processor according to claim 11 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

14. The 3-D processor according to claim 11 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

15. The 3-D processor according to claim 11 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

16. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of a read-voltage generator of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said read-voltage generator; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

17. The 3-D processor according to claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

18. The 3-D processor according to claim 16 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

19. The 3-D processor according to claim 16 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

20. The 3-D processor according to claim 16 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

21. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of a write-voltage generator of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said write-voltage generator; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

22. The 3-D processor according to claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

23. The 3-D processor according to claim 21 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

24. The 3-D processor according to claim 21 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

25. The 3-D processor according to claim 21 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

26. A discrete three-dimensional (3-D) processor, comprising:

a first die on a first semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a 3D-M array including a plurality of memory cells stacked above said first semiconductor substrate;

a second die on a second semiconductor substrate, comprising at least a logic circuit and at least a portion of a data buffer of said 3D-M array disposed on said second semiconductor substrate;

wherein, said logic circuit processes data stored in said 3D-M array; said logic circuit is not a portion of a peripheral circuit of said 3D-M array; said first die does not comprise said portion of said data buffer; said first and second dice are communicatively coupled by a plurality of inter-die connections; said first and second semiconductor substrates are separate substrates.

27. The 3-D processor according to claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of storage-processing units (SPU's)

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and one 3D-M array; or,

each of said SPU's comprising one logic circuit and more than one 3D-M arrays;

wherein, said logic circuit is said one logic circuit in a selected one of said plurality of SPU's; and, said 3D-M array is said one 3D-M array or another selected one of said more than one 3D-M arrays in said selected one of said plurality of SPU's.

28. The 3-D processor according to claim 26 , wherein:

said logic circuit is a processing circuit; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function/model; said logic circuit comprises an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) for performing arithmetic operations on selected data from said LUT; whereby said 3-D processor computes said non-arithmetic function/model, wherein said non-arithmetic function/model includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said ALC; or,

said 3D-M array is a portion of a configurable computing element (CCE) and stores at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) of a non-arithmetic function; said logic circuit comprises at least a configurable logic element (CLE) and/or a configurable interconnect (CIT); whereby said 3-D processor customizes said non-arithmetic function by programming said CCE and said CLE/CIT, wherein said non-arithmetic function includes more operations than the arithmetic operations provided by said CLE; or,

said 3-D processor further comprises an input for transferring at least a first portion of a first pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a second portion of a second pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for performing pattern processing for said first and second patterns; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D processor with embedded search-pattern library, further comprising an input for transferring at least a target pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a search pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3-D processor is a discrete 3-D storage with in-situ pattern-processing capabilities, further comprising an input for transferring at least a search pattern; said 3D-M array stores at least a target pattern; said logic circuit comprises a pattern-processing circuit for searching said target pattern for said search pattern; or,

said 3D-M array stores at least a portion of a synaptic weight; said logic circuit comprises a neuro-processing circuit for performing neural processing with said synaptic weight.

29. The 3-D processor according to claim 26 , wherein:

said first and second dice are vertically stacked; or,

said first and second dice are face-to-face bonded; or,

said first and second dice have a same die size; or,

a first edge of said first die is aligned with a second edge of said second die; or,

the projection of said 3D-M array on said second die at least partially overlaps said logic circuit; or,

each 3D-M array is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with a logic circuit; or,

each logic circuit is vertically aligned and communicatively coupled with at least a 3D-M array; or,

the pitch of said logic circuit is an integer multiple of the pitch of said 3D-M array; or,

said inter-die connections include bond wires, micro-bumps, through-silicon-vias (TSV's), and/or vertical interconnect access (VIA's).

30. The 3-D processor according to claim 26 , wherein:

said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells without any semiconductor substrate therebetween; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D random-access memory (3D-RAM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D read-only memory (3D-ROM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a non-volatile memory (NVM) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D writable memory (3D-W) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a 3-D printed memory (3D-P) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a horizontal 3D-M (3D-M H ) array; or,

said 3D-M array is a vertical 3D-M (3D-M V ) array; or,

a first number of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers of said first die is larger than a second number of the BEOL layers of said second die; or,

a third number of the address-line layers of said first die is at least twice as much as a fourth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a fifth number of the memory cells on each memory string in said first die is at least twice as much as a sixth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

a seventh number of the interconnect layers in the substrate circuit of said first die is smaller than an eighth number of the interconnect layers of said second die; or,

at least a portion of the interconnect material used in said second die has a lower resistivity than at least another portion of the interconnect material used in said first die.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2025
From: ZHANG, GUOBIAO, DR.
To: HANGZHOU HAICUN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 070720/0916 →
Priority Claims (10)
CN 201811506212.1 · Dec 10, 2018 · national
CN 201811508130.0 · Dec 11, 2018 · national
CN 201811520357.7 · Dec 12, 2018 · national
CN 201811527885.5 · Dec 13, 2018 · national
CN 201811527911.4 · Dec 13, 2018 · national
CN 201811528014.5 · Dec 14, 2018 · national
CN 201811546476.X · Dec 15, 2018 · national
CN 201811546592.1 · Dec 15, 2018 · national
CN 201910002944.5 · Jan 2, 2019 · national
CN 201910029523.1 · Jan 13, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 16249021 · Jan 16, 2019
Related Publication 20230039565A1 · Feb 9, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,626,114