IP Library Granted Patent US 7,382,018
Granted Patent B2
US 7,382,018 · App. 11/349,287 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

3-Dimensional flash memory device and method of fabricating the same

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,382,018
App. No.
11/349,287
Granted
Jun 3, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an embodiment, a 3-dimensional flash memory device includes: a gate extending in a vertical direction on a semiconductor substrate; a charge storing layer surrounding the gate; a silicon layer surrounding the charge storing layer; a channel region vertically formed in the silicon layer; and source/drain regions vertically formed on both sides of the channel region in the silicon layer. Integration can be improved by storing data in a 3-dimensional manner; a 2-bit operation can be performed by providing transistors on both sides of the gate.

Claims (37)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a gate extending above a semiconductor substrate along a first direction, wherein the gate includes a sidewall extending along the first direction;

a charge storing layer surrounding the gate;

a silicon layer surrounding the charge storing layer;

a channel region formed in the silicon layer;

source/drain regions formed on both sides of the channel region in the silicon layer along the first direction; and

bit lines connected to the source/drain regions, wherein

at least one of the source/drain regions is disposed between at least one of the bit lines and the sidewall of the gate along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a word line connected to the gate.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the charge storing layer sequentially includes a first oxide layer, a nitride layer, and a second oxide layer.

4. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a back bias line connected to the channel region.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the channel region is formed in portions of the silicon layer outside the source/drain regions.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a substantially vertical direction or a vertical direction relative to a surface of the semiconductor substrate.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the channel region is located between the source/drain regions along the first direction.

8. A 3-dimensional flash memory device comprising:

a gate extending above a semiconductor substrate along a first direction, wherein the first direction is a substantially vertical direction or a vertical direction relative to a surface of the semiconductor substrate;

a charge storing layer surrounding the gate;

a semiconductor layer surrounding the charge storing layer;

channel regions symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the gate in the semiconductor layer and isolated from one another along the first direction; and

source/drain regions symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the gate in the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from one another along the first direction-by the channel regions.

9. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising a word line connected to the gate.

10. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , wherein the charge storing layer sequentially includes a first oxide layer, a nitride layer, and a second oxide layer.

11. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising bit lines that extend perpendicular to the gate and that connect to the source/drain regions.

12. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 11 , wherein

the gate includes a sidewall extending along the first direction, and

at least one of the source/drain regions is disposed between at least one of the bit lines and the sidewall of the gate along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

13. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising back bias lines connected to the channel regions.

14. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , wherein the semiconductor layer is a single crystalline silicon layer.

15. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , wherein the channel regions are interposed between the source/drain regions along the first direction.

16. The 3-dimensional flash memory device according to claim 8 , wherein the source/drain regions are spaced apart so as to be isolated from one another along the first direction.

17. A semiconductor device comprising:

a cylindrical gate that extends from a semiconductor substrate along a first direction, wherein the first direction is a substantially vertical direction or a vertical direction relative to a surface of the semiconductor substrate;

a charge storing layer concentrically surrounding the cylindrical gate;

a semiconductor layer concentrically surrounding the charge storing layer;

channel regions disposed in the semiconductor layer; and

source/drain regions disposed in the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from one another along the first direction by the channel regions, wherein the source/drain regions are spaced apart so as to be isolated from one another along the first direction.

18. The semiconductor device according to claim 17 , wherein the channel regions are interposed between the source/drain regions along the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2006
From: KIM, SUNG-MIN; YUN, EUN-JUNG; KIM, DONG-WON; YOON, JAE-MAN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017625/0554 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2005-0011008 · Feb 5, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060186446A1 · Aug 24, 2006