IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,581,336
Granted Patent B2
US 11,581,336 · App. 16/892,038 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

Semiconductor memory structure and device

Inventors: Yu-Ming Lin (Hsinchu, TW); Chun-Chieh Lu (Taipei, TW); Bo-Feng Young (Taipei, TW); Han-Jong Chia (Hsinchu, TW); Chenchen Jacob Wang (Hsinchu, TW); Sai-Hooi Yeong (Hsinchu County, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
H01L27/11597G11C7/18G11C8/14H01L27/1159H01L27/11587
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,581,336
App. No.
16/892,038
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory structure includes a semiconductor layer, a conductive layer disposed over the semiconductor layer, a gate penetrating through the conductive layer and the semiconductor layer, and an interposing layer disposed between the gate and the conductive layer and between the gate and the semiconductor layer, wherein a pair of channel regions is formed in the semiconductor layer at two sides of the gate.

Claims (53)

1. A semiconductor memory structure comprising a stack of alternating insulating layers, semiconductor layers and conductive layers, the stack comprising:

a memory array region comprising:

a plurality of gates arranged in an array configuration of rows and columns and penetrating through the stack;

an interposing layer surrounding each of the gates; and

a plurality of word line connectors disposed on the gates;

a plurality of first connection regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along a column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the first connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of bit line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of second connection regions spaced apart from the first connection regions, adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the second connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of source line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers,

wherein the bit line connectors arranged along the column direction have different heights, and the source line connectors arranged along the column direction have different heights.

2. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the gates are arranged in a staggered array configuration.

3. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the first connection regions and the second connection regions are disposed at a same side of the memory array region.

4. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the memory array region is disposed between the first connection regions and the second connection regions.

5. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the gates arranged along the column direction are disposed between one of the first connection regions and an adjacent second connection region, between two adjacent first connection regions, or between two adjacent second connection regions.

6. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of isolation regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, wherein each of the isolation regions is disposed between one of the first connection regions and an adjacent second connection region, between two adjacent first connection regions, or between two adjacent second connection regions.

7. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the word line connectors, the bit line connectors and the source line connectors are disposed over the memory array.

8. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the word line connectors are disposed under the memory array, and the bit line connectors and the source line connectors are disposed over the memory array.

9. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 1 , wherein the interposing layer comprises a dielectric structure or a ferroelectric layer.

10. A semiconductor memory structure comprising a stack of alternating insulating layers, semiconductor layers and conductive layers, the stack comprising:

a memory array region comprising:

a plurality of gates arranged in an array configuration of rows and columns and penetrating through the stack;

an interposing layer surrounding each of the gates; and

a plurality of word line connectors disposed on the gates;

a plurality of first connection regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along a column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the first connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of bit line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of second connection regions spaced apart from the first connection regions, adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the second connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of source line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers,

wherein the gates arranged along the column direction are disposed between one of the first connection regions and an adjacent second connection region, between two adjacent first connection regions, or between two adjacent second connection regions.

11. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 10 , wherein the interposing layer comprises a dielectric structure or a ferroelectric layer.

12. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 10 , wherein the gates are arranged in a staggered array configuration.

13. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 10 , wherein the first connection regions and the second connection regions are disposed at a same side of the memory array region.

14. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 10 , wherein the memory array region is disposed between the first connection regions and the second connection regions.

15. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of isolation regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, wherein each of the isolation regions is disposed between one of the first connection regions and an adjacent second connection region, between two adjacent first connection regions, or between two adjacent second connection regions.

16. A semiconductor memory structure comprising a stack of alternating insulating layers, semiconductor layers and conductive layers, the stack comprising:

a memory array region comprising:

a plurality of gates arranged in an array configuration of rows and columns and penetrating through the stack;

an interposing layer surrounding each of the gates; and

a plurality of word line connectors disposed on the gates;

a plurality of first connection regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along a column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the first connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of bit line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers;

a plurality of second connection regions spaced apart from the first connection regions, adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, each of the second connection regions comprising:

a plurality of stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of source line connectors disposed on the stepped surfaces of the conductive layers; and

a plurality of isolation regions adjoined to the memory array region, extending along the column direction and configured in a staircase structure, wherein each of the isolation regions is disposed between one of the first connection regions and an adjacent second connection region, between two adjacent first connection regions, or between two adjacent second connection regions.

17. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 16 , wherein the interposing layer comprises a dielectric structure or a ferroelectric layer.

18. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 16 , wherein the gates are arranged in a staggered array configuration.

19. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 16 , wherein the first connection regions and the second connection regions are disposed at a same side of the memory array region.

20. The semiconductor memory structure of claim 16 , wherein the memory array region is disposed between the first connection regions and the second connection regions.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TITLE OF THE APPLICATION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 052830 FRAME 0080. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE OF ITS ENTIRE INTEREST. Recorded Jun 11, 2020
From: LIN, YU-MING; LU, CHUN-CHIEH; YOUNG, BO-FENG; CHIA, HAN-JONG; WANG, CHENCHEN JACOB; YEONG, SAI-HOOI
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Reel/Frame 053217/0592 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: LIN, YU-MING; LU, CHUN-CHIEH; YOUNG, BO-FENG; CHIA, HAN-JONG; WANG, CHENCHEN JACOB; YEONG, SAI-HOOI
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Reel/Frame 052830/0080 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62968003 · Jan 30, 2020
Related Publication 20210242239A1 · Aug 5, 2021