IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,881,971
Granted Patent B2
US 9,881,971 · App. 14/242,588 · Granted Jan 30, 2018

Memory arrays

Inventor: Tony M. Lindenberg (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L27/2463H01L27/2481H01L45/06H01L45/126H01L45/1253H01L45/141H01L45/144H01L45/1675
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,881,971
App. No.
14/242,588
Granted
Jan 30, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include a memory array which has a first series of access/sense lines extending along a first direction, and a second series of access/sense lines over the first series of access/sense lines and extending along a second direction which crosses the first direction. Memory cells are vertically between the first and second series of access/sense lines. Each memory cell is uniquely addressed by a combination of an access/sense line from the first series and an access/sense line from the second series. Resistance-increasing material is adjacent to and coextensive with the access/sense lines of one of the first and second series, and is between the adjacent access/sense lines and programmable material of the memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays.

Claims (23)

1. A memory array, comprising:

a first series of lines extending along a first direction, the first series of lines comprising one of wordlines and bitlines;

a second series of lines over the first series of lines and extending along a second direction which crosses the first direction, the second series of lines comprising the other of wordlines and bitlines;

memory cells vertically between the first and second series of lines; the memory cells comprising programmable material; each memory cell being uniquely addressed by a combination of a line from the first series and a line from the second series;

a first resistance-increasing material coextensive the lines of the first series such that the resistance-increasing material covers an entirety of an upper surface of the lines of the first series, the resistance-increasing material being more resistive than the lines of said first series; the resistance-increasing material being between the lines of said first series and the programmable material and being directly against the lines of the first series;

a second resistance-increasing material linearly coextensive across the memory array with the lines of the second series; and

wherein the programmable material comprises phase change material.

2. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

3. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material comprises carbon.

4. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material consists essentially of carbon.

5. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material consists of carbon.

6. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material comprises titanium and nitrogen in combination with one or both of silicon and aluminum.

7. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material is a first resistance-increasing material, and further comprising a second resistance-increasing material linearly coextensive across the memory array with the lines of the second series and disposed directly against the programmable material of the memory cells.

8. The memory array of claim 7 wherein the first and second resistance-increasing materials comprise carbon.

9. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the resistance-increasing material is a first resistance-increasing material, and further comprising a second resistance-increasing material linearly coextensive across the memory array with the lines of the second series and spaced from the programmable material of the memory cells by one or more metal-containing materials.

10. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the programmable material comprises chalcogenide.

11. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the lines of the first series are wordlines and the lines of the second series are bitlines.

12. The memory array of claim 1 further comprising select devices between the lines of the first series and the memory cells.

13. The memory array of claim 1 further comprising:

select devices over the first resistance-increasing material; and

third resistance-increasing material between the select devices and the memory cells.

14. The memory array of claim 13 wherein at least two of the first, second and third resistance-increasing materials are a same composition as one another.

15. The memory array of claim 13 wherein all of the first, second and third resistance-increasing materials are a same composition as one another.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2014
From: LINDENBERG, TONY M.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032576/0583 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150279906A1 · Oct 1, 2015