IP Library Granted Patent US 10,651,114
Granted Patent B2
US 10,651,114 · App. 16/224,159 · Granted May 12, 2020

Apparatus and method of three dimensional conductive lines

Inventors: Chih-Yu Lin (Taichung, TW); Kao-Cheng Lin (Taipei, TW); Li-Wen Wang (Taichung, TW); Yen-Huei Chen (Hsinchu County, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01L23/481G11C5/063G11C7/18H01L25/0657H01L27/0688H01L27/10H01L2225/06541H01L2924/0002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,651,114
App. No.
16/224,159
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method of three dimensional conductive lines comprising a first memory column segment in a first tier, a second memory column segment in a second tier, and conductive lines connecting the first memory column segment to the second memory column segment. In some embodiments a conductive line is disposed in the first tier on a first side of the memory column and in the second tier on a second side of the memory column.

Claims (60)

1. An inter-tier memory column, comprising:

a first bit line, comprising:

a first segment disposed within a first tier of a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC)

a second segment disposed within a second tier of said 3D IC disposed along a second axis horizontally offset from a first axis,

wherein said first segment is electrically connected to said second segment by a first conductive member extending continuously from said first segment to said second segment; and

a second bit line comprising:

a third segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC along a third axis parallel to said second axis; and

a fourth segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC along a fourth axis parallel to said first axis, wherein said third segment is electrically connected to said fourth segment by a second conductive member extending continuously from said third segment to said fourth segment.

2. The inter-tier memory column of claim 1 , wherein said first axis and said second axis are parallel.

3. The inter-tier memory column of claim 1 , further comprising an inter-tier word line connected across said first segment and said second segment.

4. The inter-tier memory column of claim 1 , comprising:

a first bit line bar comprising:

a first bar segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC; and

a second bar segment horizontally offset from said first bar segment.

5. The inter-tier memory column of claim 4 , comprising:

a second bit line bar comprising:

a third bar segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC; and

a fourth bar segment perpendicular to said third bar segment,

wherein said horizontally offset second bar segment and said perpendicular fourth bar segment are connected by a vertical bit line.

6. The inter-tier memory column of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third bit line comprising a fifth segment disposed in said first tier of said 3D IC along a fifth axis and a sixth segment connected to said fifth segment and horizontally offset from said fifth axis; and

a fourth bit line comprising a seventh segment disposed in said second tier of said 3D IC along a seventh axis and an eighth segment connected to said seventh segment and disposed perpendicular to said seventh axis.

7. The inter-tier memory column of claim 6 , wherein said third bit line is electrically connected to said fourth bit line by a conductive member extending continuously from said third bit line to said fourth bit line.

8. The inter-tier memory column of claim 1 , comprising a first conductive extender coupling said first segment to said second segment.

9. The inter-tier memory column of claim 8 , wherein said first coupling extender is disposed perpendicular to said first axis.

10. An inter-tier memory column, comprising:

a first bit line, comprising:

a first segment disposed within a first tier of a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC)

a second segment disposed within a second tier of said 3D IC disposed along a second axis horizontally offset from a first axis;

a first plurality of memory cells electrically connected to said first bit line;

a second bit line comprising:

a third segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC along a third axis parallel to said second axis; and

a fourth segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC along a fourth axis parallel to said first axis; and

a second plurality of memory cells electrically connected to said second bit line;

wherein said first segment is electrically connected to said second segment by a first conductive member extending continuously from said first segment to said second segment, and wherein said third segment is electrically connected to said fourth segment by a second conductive member extending continuously from said third segment to said fourth segment.

11. The inter-tier memory column of claim 10 , wherein said first axis and said second axis are parallel.

12. The inter-tier memory column of claim 10 , further comprising an inter-tier word line connected across said first segment and said second segment.

13. The inter-tier memory column of claim 10 , comprising:

a first bit line bar comprising:

a first bar segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC; and

a second bar segment horizontally offset from said first bar segment; and

a second bit line bar comprising:

a third bar segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC; and

a fourth bar segment perpendicular to said third bar segment,

wherein said horizontally offset second bar segment and said perpendicular fourth bar segment are connected by a vertical bit line.

14. The inter-tier memory column of claim 10 , further comprising:

a third bit line comprising a fifth segment disposed in said first tier of said 3D IC along a fifth axis and a sixth segment connected to said fifth segment and horizontally offset from said fifth axis; and

a fourth bit line comprising a seventh segment disposed in said second tier of said 3D IC along a seventh axis and an eighth segment connected to said seventh segment and disposed perpendicular to said seventh axis.

15. The inter-tier memory column of claim 14 , wherein said third bit line is electrically connected to said fourth bit line by a conductive member extending continuously from said third bit line to said fourth bit line.

16. The inter-tier memory column of claim 10 , comprising a first conductive extender coupling said first segment to said second segment, wherein said first coupling extender is disposed perpendicular to said first axis.

17. A method of forming an inter-tier memory column, comprising:

forming a first bit line comprising a first segment disposed within a first tier of a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) and a second segment disposed within a second tier of said 3D IC disposed along a second axis horizontally offset from a first axis;

forming a second bit line comprising a third segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC along a third axis parallel to said second axis and a fourth segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC along a fourth axis parallel to said first axis; and

connecting said first segment to said second segment with a first vertical conductive element.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said first vertical conductive element extends continuously from said first segment to said second segment.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

forming a first bit line bar comprising a first bar segment disposed within said first tier of said 3D IC and a second bar segment horizontally offset from said first bar segment;

forming a second bit line bar comprising a third bar segment disposed within said second tier of said 3D IC and a fourth bar segment perpendicular to said third bar segment; and

connecting said first bit line bar to said second bit line bar with a second vertical conductive element.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming an inter-tier word line which connects the first bit line and the second bit line.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 15983786 · May 18, 2018
Continuation 15379537 · Dec 15, 2016
Division 14077252 · Nov 12, 2013
Related Publication 20190122960A1 · Apr 25, 2019