IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,581,919
Granted Patent B2
US 12,581,919 · App. 18/322,714 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Nonvolatile memory devices and memory systems including the same

Inventors: Do Hyung Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Ji Young Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Ji Won Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Suk Kang Sung (Suwon-si, KR); Woo Sung Yang (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H01L22/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,581,919
App. No.
18/322,714
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a nonvolatile memory device having improved crack detection reliability. The nonvolatile memory device comprises word lines that extend in a first direction, cell contact plugs that are electrically connected to the word lines and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a net crack detection circuit that is on the word lines and is not in contact with the word lines, and a ring crack detection circuit that is on the word lines and is not in contact with the word lines, wherein the net crack detection circuit is electrically connected to a crack detection transistor in a peripheral circuit region, the ring crack detection circuit includes a first crack detection metal wiring that extends in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and a second crack detection metal wiring that extends in the third direction.

Claims (82)

1 . A nonvolatile memory device comprising:

a plurality of word lines that extend in a first direction;

a plurality of cell contact plugs that are electrically connected to the plurality of word lines and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

a net crack detection circuit that is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines; and

a ring crack detection circuit that is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines,

wherein the net crack detection circuit is electrically connected to a crack detection transistor in a peripheral circuit region,

the ring crack detection circuit includes a first crack detection metal wiring that extends in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and a second crack detection metal wiring that extends in the third direction, and

the first crack detection metal wiring is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines, and the second crack detection metal wiring is in the peripheral circuit region.

2 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of word lines and the plurality of cell contact plugs are in a cell region,

wherein the peripheral circuit region and the cell region are connected to each other in the second direction,

wherein a contact portion between the peripheral circuit region and the cell region is defined as a bonding region, and

wherein the bonding region includes an uppermost end of the peripheral circuit region and an uppermost end of the cell region.

3 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 2 , wherein the net crack detection circuit comprises:

a first crack detection upper bonding metal at the uppermost end of the peripheral circuit region; and

a second crack detection upper bonding metal at the uppermost end of the cell region, and

wherein the first crack detection upper bonding metal and the second crack detection upper bonding metal are electrically connected to each other.

4 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the plurality of cell contact plugs and stacked in the second direction,

wherein the first crack detection metal wiring is between respective ones of the plurality of metal wirings.

5 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral circuit region comprises:

a plurality of circuit elements; and

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the plurality of circuit elements and stacked in the second direction, and

wherein the second crack detection metal wiring is between respective ones of the plurality of metal wirings.

6 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first crack detection metal wiring and the second crack detection metal wiring are not electrically connected to each other.

7 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the net crack detection circuit comprises:

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the crack detection transistor and stacked in the second direction; and

a first crack detection upper bonding metal electrically connected to the plurality of metal wirings.

8 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 7 , wherein the net crack detection circuit further comprises a second crack detection upper bonding metal that is in a cell region,

wherein the cell region includes the plurality of word lines and the plurality of cell contact plugs, and

wherein the first crack detection upper bonding metal and the second crack detection upper bonding metal are electrically connected.

9 . A nonvolatile memory device comprising:

a substrate that extends in a first direction;

a plurality of lower metal patterns spaced apart from the substrate in the first direction;

a plurality of I/O contact plugs that are electrically connected to the plurality of lower metal patterns and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and

a net crack detection circuit and a ring crack detection circuit between respective ones of the plurality of I/O contact plugs,

wherein the net crack detection circuit is electrically connected to a crack detection transistor in a peripheral circuit region, and

wherein the ring crack detection circuit includes:

a first crack detection metal wiring that extends in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and

a second crack detection metal wiring that extends in the third direction.

10 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 9 , wherein the first crack detection metal wiring and the second crack detection metal wiring are not electrically connected to each other.

11 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 9 , wherein the net crack detection circuit comprises:

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the crack detection transistor and stacked in the second direction; and

a first crack detection upper bonding metal electrically connected to the plurality of metal wirings.

12 . The nonvolatile memory device of claim 11 , wherein the net crack detection circuit further comprises a second crack detection upper bonding metal in a cell region,

wherein the cell region includes the substrate, the plurality of lower metal patterns, and the plurality of I/O contact plugs, and

wherein the first crack detection upper bonding metal and the second crack detection upper bonding metal are electrically connected.

13 . A memory system comprising:

a nonvolatile memory device; and

a controller that is configured to control the nonvolatile memory device,

wherein the nonvolatile memory device comprises:

a plurality of word lines that extend in a first direction;

a plurality of cell contact plugs that are electrically connected to the plurality of word lines and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

a net crack detection circuit that is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines; and

a ring crack detection circuit that is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines,

wherein the net crack detection circuit is electrically connected to a crack detection transistor in a peripheral circuit region,

wherein the ring crack detection circuit includes:

a first crack detection metal wiring that extends in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and

a second crack detection metal wiring that extends in the third direction,

wherein the first crack detection metal wiring is on the plurality of word lines and is not in contact with the plurality of word lines, and

wherein the second crack detection metal wiring is in the peripheral circuit region.

14 . The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of word lines and the plurality of cell contact plugs are in a cell region,

wherein the peripheral circuit region and the cell region are connected to each other in the second direction,

wherein a contact portion between the peripheral circuit region and the cell region is defined as a bonding region, and

wherein the bonding region includes an uppermost end of the peripheral circuit region and an uppermost end of the cell region.

15 . The memory system of claim 14 , wherein the net crack detection circuit comprises:

a first crack detection upper bonding metal at the uppermost end of the peripheral circuit region; and

a second crack detection upper bonding metal at the uppermost end of the cell region, and

wherein the first crack detection upper bonding metal and the second crack detection upper bonding metal are electrically connected to each other.

16 . The memory system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the plurality of cell contact plugs and stacked in the second direction,

wherein the first crack detection metal wiring is between respective ones of the plurality of metal wirings.

17 . The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the peripheral circuit region comprises:

a plurality of circuit elements; and

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the plurality of circuit elements and stacked in the second direction, and

wherein the second crack detection metal wiring is between respective ones of the plurality of metal wirings.

18 . The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the first crack detection metal wiring and the second crack detection metal wiring are not electrically connected to each other.

19 . The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the net crack detection circuit comprises:

a plurality of metal wirings electrically connected to the crack detection transistor and stacked in the second direction; and

a first crack detection upper bonding metal electrically connected to the plurality of metal wirings.

20 . The memory system of claim 19 , wherein the net crack detection circuit further comprises a second crack detection upper bonding metal that is in a cell region,

wherein the cell region includes the plurality of word lines and the plurality of cell contact plugs, and

wherein the first crack detection upper bonding metal and the second crack detection upper bonding metal are electrically connected.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: KIM, DO HYUNG; KIM, JI YOUNG; KIM, JI WON; SUNG, SUK KANG; YANG, WOO SUNG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064197/0076 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0112690 · Sep 6, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240079280A1 · Mar 7, 2024
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