IP Library Granted Patent US 8,476,708
Granted Patent B2
US 8,476,708 · App. 13/346,888 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Semiconductor memory device having a circuit formed on a single crystal semiconductor layer with varied germanium concentration

Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi (Yokohama, JP); Hideaki Aochi (Kawasaki, JP); Masaru Kito (Kuwana, JP); Kiyotaka Miyano (Tokyo, JP); Shinji Mori (Yokohama, JP); Ichiro Mizushima (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,476,708
App. No.
13/346,888
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cell array portion, single-crystal semiconductor layer, and circuit portion. The memory cell array portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and includes memory cells. The semiconductor layer is formed on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the memory cell array portion. The circuit portion is formed on the semiconductor layer. The Ge concentration in the lower portion of the semiconductor layer is higher than that in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer.

Claims (26)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a memory cell array portion formed on the semiconductor substrate, and including memory cells for storing data;

a single-crystal semiconductor layer formed on an insulating layer on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the insulating layer and the memory cell array portion; and

a circuit portion formed on the single-crystal semiconductor layer,

wherein a germanium (Ge) concentration in a lower portion of the single-crystal semiconductor layer is higher than that in an upper portion thereof on the memory cell array portion.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory cell array portion includes the memory cells three-dimensionally stacked in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein

the memory cell array portion comprises memory cell strings arranged in a matrix, and

each memory cell string comprises:

a silicon pillar including a pair of columnar portions extending in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate and juxtaposed in a column direction, and a connecting portion formed to connect lower ends of the pair of columnar portions;

control gates extending in a row direction to perpendicularly intersect the columnar portions, and stacked in the direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate; and

memory cell transistors formed at intersections of each columnar portion and the control gates, and having current paths connected in series in the direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the single-crystal semiconductor layer comprises a single-crystal SiGe layer formed on the insulating layer on the memory cell array portion and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in the hole, and a single-crystal Si layer formed on the single-crystal SiGe layer.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein a Ge concentration in the SiGe layer is not less than 50 atm%.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the SiGe layer contains a dopant impurity.

7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the semiconductor substrate is an Si substrate.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein an interconnection in the memory cell array portion and an interconnection in the circuit portion are connected via a contact plug formed immediately above the interconnection in the memory cell array portion.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a sidewall insulating film is formed on a side surface of the contact plug.

10. The device of claim 8 , further comprising STI formed in the single-crystal semiconductor layer, and extending from a first surface of the single-crystal semiconductor layer to a second surface thereof opposing the first surface,

wherein the contact plug is formed in the STI.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the interconnection in the circuit portion is made of one of Al and Cu.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein an Si concentration in an upper portion of the single-crystal semiconductor layer is higher than that in a lower portion thereof.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein a C concentration in an upper portion of the single-crystal semiconductor layer is higher than that in a lower portion thereof.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the hole is not more than half a depth thereof.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the single-crystal semiconductor layer is a gradation layer in which the Ge concentration gradually decreases from the lower portion toward the upper portion.

Assignments (5)
MERGER Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: K.K. PANGEA
Reel/Frame 055659/0471 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: K.K. PANGEA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0401 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043709/0035 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2012
From: FUKUZUMI, YOSHIAKI; AOCHI, HIDEAKI; KITO, MASARU; MIYANO, KIYOTAKA; MORI, SHINJI; MIZUSHIMA, ICHIRO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 027849/0713 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-004954 · Jan 13, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120181602A1 · Jul 19, 2012