IP Library Granted Patent US 8,053,749
Granted Patent B2
US 8,053,749 · App. 12/389,817 · Granted Nov 8, 2011

Mirrored-gate cell for non-volatile memory

Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,053,749
App. No.
12/389,817
Granted
Nov 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory comprising at least one memory cell operationally connected to a bit line, a source line and a word line. The memory cell comprises a substrate having a first source contact, a second source contact, and a bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact, a first transistor gate electrically connecting the first source contact and the bit contact and a second transistor gate electrically connecting the bit contact and the second source contact. The word line electrically connects the first transistor gate to the second transistor gate.

Claims (54)

1. A memory cell comprising:

a substrate having a first source contact, a second source contact, and a bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact;

a first transistor gate electrically connecting the first source contact and the bit contact;

a second transistor gate electrically connecting the bit contact and the second source contact; and

a word line electrically connecting the first transistor gate to the second transistor gate.

2. The memory cell of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises p-doped silicon and the first source contact, second source contact, and bit contact comprise n-doped silicon.

3. The memory cell of claim 1 wherein the word line comprises a first arm connected to a second arm, the first arm electrically connected to the first transistor gate and the second arm electrically connected to the second transistor gate.

4. The memory cell of claim 1 further comprising an insulation element spanning at least the first source contact, the second source contact and the bit contact and separating them from an adjacent memory cell.

5. A memory comprising:

a first source contact, a second source contact, and a third source contact;

a first bit contact and a second bit contact, the first bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact and the second bit contact between the second source contact and the third source contact;

a first transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the first bit contact and the first source contact;

a second transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the first bit contact and the second source contact;

a third transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the second source contact;

a fourth transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the third source contact;

a first word line electrically connecting the first transistor gate to the second transistor gate; and

a second word line electrically connecting the third transistor gate to the fourth transistor gate.

6. The memory of claim 5 wherein the first source contact, second source contact, third source contact, first bit contact and second bit contact each comprise n-doped silicon.

7. The memory of claim 5 , wherein the memory has one more source contact than it has bit contacts.

8. The memory of claim 5 further comprising a field oxide insulator spanning at least the first source contact, second source contact, third source contact, first bit contact, and second bit contact; and separating them from an adjacent memory cell column.

9. A memory comprising:

a first source contact, a second source contact, and a third source contact;

a first bit contact and a second bit contact, the first bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact and the second bit contact between the second source contact and the third source contact;

a first transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the first bit contact and the first source contact;

a second transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the first bit contact and the second source contact;

a third transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the second source contact;

a fourth transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the third source contact; and

a field oxide insulator spanning at least the first source contact, second source contact, third source contact, first bit contact and second bit contact and separating them from an adjacent memory cell column.

10. The memory of claim 9 wherein the first source contact, second source contact, third source contact, first bit contact and second bit contact each comprise n-doped silicon.

11. The memory of claim 9 further comprising a first word line electrically connecting the first transistor gate to the second transistor gate and a second word line electrically connecting the third transistor gate to the fourth transistor gate.

12. The memory of claim 9 , wherein the memory has one more source contact than it has bit contacts.

13. A memory comprising:

at least one column having at least one memory cell;

at least one row having at least the one memory cell, the at least one memory cell comprising:

a first source contact, a second source contact, and a bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact;

a first transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the first source contact and the bit contact; and

a second transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the bit contact and the second source contact;

a source line electrically connected to the first source contact and the second source contact of the at least one memory cell;

a bit line electrically connected to the bit contact of the at least one memory cell; and

a word line electrically connecting the first transistor gate and the second transistor gate.

14. The memory of claim 13 further comprising a second column and an insulation element between the first column and the second column, the second column having at least one memory cell.

15. The memory cell of claim 14 wherein the insulation element is a field oxide insulator.

16. The memory of claim 13 further comprising a memory element electrically connecting the bit contact and the bit line.

17. The memory of claim 16 wherein the memory is ST RAM and the memory element is a spin torque element.

18. The memory of claim 16 wherein the memory is RRAM and the memory element is a resistive element.

19. The memory of claim 13 wherein the word line comprises a first arm connected to a second arm, the first arm electrically connected to the first transistor gate and the second arm electrically connected to the second transistor gate.

20. The memory of claim 13 , the at least one memory cell being a first memory cell, with the column further comprising a second memory cell adjacent the first memory cell, the second memory cell comprising:

the second source contact, a third source contact, and a second bit contact between the second source contact and the third source contact;

a third transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the second source contact; and

a fourth transistor gate spanning and electrically connecting the second bit contact and the third source contact;

with a second word line electrically connecting the third transistor gate and the fourth transistor gate.

21. The memory of claim 20 wherein the word line comprises a first arm connected to a second arm, the first arm electrically connected to the first transistor gate and the second arm electrically connected to the second transistor gate, and wherein the second word line comprises a third arm connected to a fourth arm, the third arm electrically connected to the third transistor gate and the fourth arm electrically connected to the fourth transistor gate.

22. The memory of claim 20 , the column further comprising a third memory cell adjacent the second memory cell and a fourth memory cell adjacent the third memory cell.

23. The memory of claim 20 , wherein each memory cell has one more source contact than it has bit contacts.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; I365 INC.; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE HDD CAYMAN; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072193/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 070363/0903 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2024
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC
Reel/Frame 068457/0076 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2024
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067471/0955 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030833/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2012
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 029127/0527 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2012
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029253/0585 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 24, 2011
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026010/0350 →
RELEASE Recorded Jan 19, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 025662/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2009
From: MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND FIRST PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
Reel/Frame 022757/0017 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2009
From: ROLBIECKI, ROGER GLENN; CARTER, ANDREW; LU, YONG
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 022324/0479 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61112264 · Nov 7, 2008
Related Publication 20100117121A1 · May 13, 2010