IP Library Granted Patent US 7,894,238
Granted Patent B2
US 7,894,238 · App. 12/253,619 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

Semiconductor memory device with stacked memory cell structure

Assignee: Spansion LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,894,238
App. No.
12/253,619
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device including: a first memory cell including a non-volatile first variable resistance element that stores data by varying a resistance value and a selection transistor that selects the first variable resistance element; a first memory layer provided with more than one such first memory cell arranged in a plane; a second memory cell including a non-volatile second variable resistance element that stores data by varying a resistance value and a selection diode that selects the second variable resistance element; and a second memory layer provided with more than one such second memory cell arranged in a plane; wherein more than one such second memory layer is stacked over the first memory layer.

Claims (36)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first memory cell comprising a non-volatile first variable resistance element that stores data by varying a resistance value and a selection transistor that selects the first variable resistance element;

a first memory layer comprising a plurality of first memory cells arranged in a plane;

a second memory cell comprising a non-volatile second variable resistance element that stores data by varying a resistance value and a selection diode that selects the second variable resistance element; and

a second memory layer provided with more than one such second memory cell arranged in a plane; wherein

a plurality of second memory layers is stacked over the first memory layer.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the second variable resistance element and the selection diode is stacked in the second memory cell in a stacking direction of the first memory layer and the second memory layer.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein an area occupied by the second memory cell is smaller than an area occupied by the first memory cell.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second memory layer comprises:

a plurality of second bit lines; and

a plurality of second word lines provided in a direction intersecting the plurality of second bit lines; wherein

the second memory cell is provided in an intersection region of the plurality of second bit lines and the plurality of second word lines, one end of the second memory cell being coupled a second bit line and the other end of the second memory cell being coupled a second word line; and

a plurality of vertically adjacent second memory layers comprised in the plurality of second memory layers share either a second bit line or a second word line.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first memory cell comprises:

a selection transistor; and

a first variable resistance element coupled to a drain terminal or a source terminal of the selection transistor.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a semiconductor substrate supporting the first memory layer and the second memory layer; wherein

at least part of the selection transistor is formed in the semiconductor substrate.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first memory layer comprises:

a selection transistor layer comprising the selection transistor; and

a first variable resistance element layer comprising the first variable resistance element, the first variable resistance element layer being formed over the selection transistor layer.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first memory layer comprises:

a plurality of first bit lines;

a plurality of first word lines provided in a direction intersecting the plurality of first bit lines; and

a plurality of source lines provided in a direction along the plurality of first bit lines; wherein

the first memory cell is provided in an intersection region of the first bit lines and the first word lines, one end of the first memory cell being coupled to a first bit line and the other end of the first memory cell being coupled to a source line; and

a plurality of adjacent first memory cells comprised in the plurality of first memory cells share a source line.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the selection diode is a Schottky diode comprising transition metal oxide and a metal electrode.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the first memory cell stores data comprising at least one of:

a boot program read when turning on the power; and

an operating system OS program.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036050/0174 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2009
From: SHINOZAKI, NAOHARU
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 022057/0912 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-270745 · Oct 17, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090262569A1 · Oct 22, 2009