IP Library Granted Patent US 12,190,941
Granted Patent B2
US 12,190,941 · App. 18/147,015 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Memory cell and memory device thereof

Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng (Taichung, TW); Feng-Min Lee (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
G11C11/4091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,190,941
App. No.
18/147,015
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory cell and a memory device are provided. The memory cell comprises: a write transistor; and a read transistor coupled to the write transistor, the write transistor and the read transistor coupled at a storage node, the storage node being for storing data; wherein, at least one among the write transistor and the read transistor includes a threshold voltage adjusting layer, and a threshold voltage of the write transistor and/or the read transistor is adjustable.

Claims (56)

1. A memory cell comprising:

a write transistor; and

a read transistor coupled to the write transistor, the write transistor and the read transistor coupled at a storage node, the storage node being for storing data;

wherein, at least one among the write transistor and the read transistor includes a threshold voltage adjusting layer, and a threshold voltage of the write transistor and/or the read transistor is adjustable, and the storage node is connected to a control terminal of the read transistor.

2. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the threshold voltage adjusting layer includes a charge storage layer or a ferroelectric layer; and

the charge storage layer is a Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS) or a floating gate or a floating dot.

3. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

in a read operation, a 0V voltage is applied to a control terminal of the write transistor to turn off the write transistor.

4. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

a channel material of the write transistor includes any one of the following: IGZO, poly-Si, amorphous silicon (a-Si), poly-Ge, a-Ge; and

a channel material of the read transistor includes any one of the following: single crystal Si, single crystal Ge, III-V materials and IGZO.

5. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the memory cell is a two-dimension monolithic structure,

the write transistor and the read transistor are formed on the same active layer, and

a first terminal of the write transistor is connected to the storage node via a conductive line.

6. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the memory cell is a three-dimension monolithic stacking structure,

the write transistor is formed on a first tier,

the read transistor is formed on a second tier, and

a conductive line connects between the first tier and the second tier.

7. The memory cell according to claim 1 , wherein

a control terminal of the write transistor and/or the control terminal of the read transistor includes the threshold voltage adjusting layer; and

the threshold voltage of the write transistor is lower than a gate voltage of the write transistor during a write operation; and the threshold voltage of the write transistor is higher than the gate voltage of the write transistor during a read operation or a retention operation.

8. The memory cell according to claim 7 , wherein

the threshold voltage of the read transistor is set that, in the read operation, a first read current in reading logic 1 is higher than a reference current, and a second read current in reading logic 0 is higher than the reference current.

9. A memory device including:

a memory array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of third signal lines and a plurality of fourth signal lines, the memory cells coupled to the first, the second, the third and the fourth signal lines;

a plurality of driving circuits coupled to the memory array, for applying a plurality of driving voltages to the memory cells via the first, the second, the third and the fourth signal lines to write or read the memory cells; and

a plurality of sensing amplifiers coupled to the memory array, for sensing a plurality of read currents from the memory cells,

wherein each of the memory cells comprising:

a write transistor; and

a read transistor coupled to the write transistor, the write transistor and the read transistor coupled at a storage node, the storage node being for storing data;

wherein, at least one among the write transistor and the read transistor includes a threshold voltage adjusting layer, and a threshold voltage of the write transistor and/or the read transistor is adjustable, and the storage node is connected to a control terminal of the read transistor.

10. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

the threshold voltage adjusting layer includes a charge storage layer or a ferroelectric layer; and

the charge storage layer is a Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS) or a floating gate or a floating dot.

11. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

in a read operation, a 0V voltage is applied to a control terminal of the write transistor to turn off the write transistor.

12. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

a channel material of the write transistor includes any one of the following: IGZO, poly-Si, amorphous silicon (a-Si), poly-Ge, a-Ge; and

a channel material of the read transistor includes any one of the following: single crystal Si, single crystal Ge, III-V materials and IGZO.

13. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

the memory cell is a two-dimension monolithic structure,

the write transistor and the read transistor are formed on the same active layer, and

a first terminal of the write transistor is connected to the storage node via a conductive line.

14. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

the memory cell is a three-dimension monolithic stacking structure,

the write transistor is formed on a first tier,

the read transistor is formed on a second tier, and

a conductive line connects between the first tier and the second tier.

15. The memory device according to claim 9 , wherein

a control terminal of the write transistor and/or the control terminal of the read transistor includes the threshold voltage adjusting layer; and

the threshold voltage of the write transistor is lower than a gate voltage of the write transistor during a write operation; and the threshold voltage of the write transistor is higher than the gate voltage of the write transistor during a read operation or a retention operation.

16. The memory device according to claim 15 , wherein

the threshold voltage of the read transistor is set that, in the read operation, a first read current in reading logic 1 is higher than a reference current, and a second read current in reading logic 0 is higher than the reference current.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2022
From: TSENG, PO-HAO; LEE, FENG-MIN
To: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062218/0865 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240221822A1 · Jul 4, 2024
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