IP Library Granted Patent US 12,660,326
Granted Patent B2
US 12,660,326 · App. 19/247,934 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Methods to process 3D semiconductor devices and structures which have metal layers

Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach (Haifa, IL); Brian Cronquist (Klamath Falls, OR)
Assignee: Monolithic 3D Inc.
H10D88/00G03F9/7076G03F9/7084H10B10/00H10B10/125H10B12/053H10B12/09H10B12/50H10B20/00H10B41/20H10B43/20H10D10/051H10D10/40H10D30/0512H10D30/061H10D30/6727H10D30/6728H10D30/6733H10D30/6735H10D30/6737H10D30/6743H10D30/83H10D30/87H10D62/83H10D64/027H10D84/0186H10D84/038H10D84/85H10D84/907H10D84/998H10D86/01H10D86/201H10D88/01H10D89/10H10P90/1916H10W10/181H10W20/023H10W20/20H10W20/42H10W20/43H10W20/4405H10W20/4421H10W40/22H10W46/00H10D64/017H10D84/83H10P34/42H10W46/101H10W46/301H10W46/501H10W72/5524H10W72/5525H10W72/877H10W72/884H10W74/00H10W74/15H10W90/722H10W90/724H10W90/732H10W90/734H10W90/754
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,660,326
App. No.
19/247,934
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method to process a semiconductor device: processing the substrate forming a first level with a first single-crystal silicon-layer, first transistors, input-and-output (“IO”) circuits; forming a first metal-layer; forming a second metal-layer including a power-delivery network, where interconnection of the first transistors includes the first metal-layer and the second metal-layer; processing a second level including second transistors with metal gates and a first array of memory-cells; processing a third level including a plurality of third transistors with metal gates and a second array of memory-cells; third level disposed over the second level; forming a fourth metal-layer over a third metal-layer over the third-level; processing a fourth level including a second single-crystal silicon-layer, fourth level is disposed over the fourth metal-layer; forming a via disposed through the second and third levels, connections of the device to external devices includes the “IO”-circuits; the second level is disposed over the first level.

Claims (104)

1 . A method to process a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

processing said substrate to form a first level comprising a first single crystal silicon layer and a plurality of first transistors;

forming a first metal layer;

forming a second metal layer,

wherein interconnection of said plurality of first transistors comprises said first metal layer and said second metal layer;

processing a second level comprising a plurality of second transistors;

processing a third level comprising a plurality of third transistors,

wherein said third level is disposed over said second level;

forming a third metal layer disposed over said third level;

forming a fourth metal layer disposed over said third metal layer;

processing a fourth level comprising a second single crystal silicon layer,

wherein said fourth level is disposed over said fourth metal layer,

wherein each of said plurality of second transistors comprises a metal gate, and

wherein said second metal layer comprises a power delivery network; and

forming a via disposed through said second level and through said third level,

wherein each of said plurality of third transistors comprises a metal gate,

wherein said second level comprises a first array of memory cells,

wherein said third level comprises a second array of memory cells,

wherein said first level comprises input and output (“IO”) circuits,

wherein connections of said device to external devices comprises said input and output (“IO”) circuits, and

wherein said second level is disposed over said first level; processing a connection path from said third metal layer to said second metal layer, wherein said connection path comprises said via; processing a power delivery to at least one of said plurality of second transistors, wherein said power delivery path comprises at least a part of said second metal layer.

2 . The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of said metal gates comprises tungsten.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

processing memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of first transistors.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

processing power control circuits,

wherein said power control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of first transistors.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

processing another power delivery path to at least one of said plurality of second transistors,

wherein said another power delivery path comprises said via.

6 . A method to process a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

processing said substrate to form a first level comprising a first single crystal silicon layer and a plurality of first transistors;

forming a first metal layer;

forming a second metal layer,

wherein interconnection of said plurality of first transistors comprises said first metal layer and said second metal layer;

processing a second level comprising a plurality of second transistors;

processing a third level comprising a plurality of third transistors,

wherein said third level is disposed over said second level;

forming a third metal layer disposed over said third level;

forming a fourth metal layer disposed over said third metal layer;

processing a fourth level comprising a second single crystal silicon layer,

wherein said fourth level is disposed over said fourth metal layer,

wherein each of said plurality of second transistors comprises a metal gate, and

wherein said second metal layer comprises a power delivery network; and

forming a via disposed through said second level and through said third level,

wherein each of said plurality of third transistors comprises a metal gate,

wherein said second level comprises a first array of memory cells,

wherein said third level comprises a second array of memory cells,

wherein formation of said plurality of second transistors comprises a first lithography step,

wherein formation of said plurality of third transistors comprises a second lithography step,

wherein said first level comprises input and output (“IO”) circuits,

wherein connections of said device to external devices comprises said input and output (“IO”) circuits, and

wherein said second level is disposed over said first level; processing a connection path from said third metal layer to said second metal layer, wherein said connection path comprises said via.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

processing a power delivery path to at least one of said plurality of second transistors,

wherein said power delivery path comprises at least a part of said second metal layer.

8 . The method according to claim 6 ,

wherein at least one of said metal gates comprises tungsten.

9 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

processing memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of first transistors.

10 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

processing power control circuits,

wherein said power control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of first transistors.

11 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

processing a power delivery path to at least one of said plurality of second transistors,

wherein said power delivery path comprises said via.

12 . A method to process a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

processing said substrate to form a first level comprising a first single crystal silicon layer and a plurality of first transistors;

forming a first metal layer;

forming a second metal layer,

wherein interconnection of said plurality of first transistors comprises said first metal layer and said second metal layer;

processing a second level comprising a plurality of second transistors;

processing a third level comprising a plurality of third transistors,

wherein said third level is disposed over said second level;

forming a third metal layer disposed over said third level;

forming a fourth metal layer disposed over said third metal layer;

processing a fourth level comprising a second single crystal silicon layer,

wherein said fourth level is disposed over said fourth metal layer,

wherein each of said plurality of second transistors comprises a metal gate, and

wherein said second metal layer comprises a power delivery network; and

forming a via disposed through said second level and through said third level,

wherein each of said plurality of third transistors comprises a metal gate,

wherein said second level comprises a first array of memory cells,

wherein said third level comprises a second array of memory cells, and

wherein said first level comprises power control circuits controlling power delivery to said second transistors,

wherein said power control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of said first transistors, and

wherein said second level is disposed over said first level; processing a power delivery to at least one of said plurality of second transistors, wherein said power delivery path comprises at least a part of said second metal layer.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

processing a connection path from said third metal layer and said second metal layer,

wherein said connection path comprises said via.

14 . The method according to claim 12 ,

wherein at least one of said metal gates comprises tungsten.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

processing memory control circuits,

wherein said memory control circuits comprise a portion of said plurality of first transistors.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

processing another power delivery path to at least one of said plurality of second transistors,

wherein said another power delivery path comprises said via.

Continuity (23)
Continuation In Part 18959033 · Nov 25, 2024
Continuation In Part 18668218 · May 19, 2024
Continuation In Part 18603526 · Mar 13, 2024
Continuation In Part 18128505 · Mar 30, 2023
Continuation In Part 17827705 · May 28, 2022
Continuation In Part 16936352 · Jul 22, 2020
Continuation In Part 16242300 · Jan 8, 2019
Continuation In Part 15922913 · Mar 16, 2018
Continuation In Part 15409740 · Jan 19, 2017
Continuation In Part 15224929 · Aug 1, 2016
Continuation In Part 14514386 · Oct 15, 2014
Continuation 13492382 · Jun 8, 2012
Continuation 13246384 · Sep 27, 2011
Continuation 12900379 · Oct 7, 2010
Continuation In Part 12859665 · Aug 19, 2010
Continuation In Part 12849272 · Aug 3, 2010
Continuation In Part 12847911 · Jul 30, 2010
Continuation In Part 12797493 · Jun 9, 2010
Continuation In Part 12792673 · Jun 2, 2010
Continuation In Part 12706520 · Feb 16, 2010
Continuation In Part 12577532 · Oct 12, 2009
Continuation In Part 12577532 · Oct 12, 2009
Related Publication 20260075952A1 · Mar 12, 2026
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