Three dimensional memory and methods of forming the same
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsSanh D. Tang, john K. Zahurak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
Claims21
(canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- conductive regions formed over a substrate;
- memory cell strings, each of the memory cell strings formed over a respective conductive region of the conductive regions;
- a first control gate formed in a first device level, the memory cell strings including a memory cell string, the memory cell string including a first memory cell having a memory element formed in a cavity of the first control gate;
- a second control gate formed in a second device level, the memory cell string including a second memory cell having a memory element formed in a cavity of the second control gate;
- and
- a polysilicon material extending between the first memory cell and the second memory cell and coupled to a conductive region of the conductive regions.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first conductive region and a second conductive region formed over a substrate;
- a first data line coupled to the first and second conductive regions, the first data line located between the first and second conductive regions and the substrate;
- a third conductive region and a fourth conductive regions formed over the substrate;
- a second data line coupled to the third and fourth conductive regions, the second data line located between the third and fourth conductive regions and the substrate;
- a first memory cell string formed over the first conductive region;
- a second memory cell string formed over the second conductive region;
- a third memory cell string formed over the third conductive region;
- a fourth memory cell string formed over the fourth conductive region;
- a first control gate formed in a first device level;
- a second control gate formed in a second device level, wherein,
- the first memory cell string includes a first memory cell having a memory element formed in a first cavity of the first control gate, and a second memory cell having a memory element formed in a first cavity of the second control gate;
- the second memory cell string includes a third memory cell having a memory element formed in a second cavity of the first control gate, and a fourth memory cell having a memory element formed in a second cavity of the second control gate;
- the third memory cell string includes a fifth memory cell having a memory element formed in a third cavity of the first control gate, and a sixth memory cell having a memory element formed in a third cavity of the second control gate;
- and
- the fourth memory cell string includes a seventh memory cell having a memory element formed in a fourth cavity of the first control gate, and an eighth memory cell having a memory element formed in a fourth cavity of the second control gate.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first conductive region and a second conductive region formed over a substrate;
- a third conductive region and a fourth conductive regions formed over the substrate;
- a region including a conductive material, the region coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth conductive regions, the region located between substrate and the first, second, third, and fourth conductive regions;
- a first memory cell string formed over the first conductive region;
- a second memory cell string formed over the second conductive region;
- a third memory cell string formed over the third conductive region;
- a fourth memory cell string formed over the fourth conductive region;
- a first data line coupled to the first and second memory cell strings, the first and second memory cell strings located between the first data line and the substrate;
- a second data line coupled to the third and fourth memory cell strings, the third and fourth memory cell strings located between the second data line and the substrate;
- a first control gate formed in a first device level;
- a second control gate formed in a second device level, wherein,
- the first memory cell string includes a first memory cell having a memory element formed in a first cavity of the first control gate, and a second memory cell having a memory element formed in a first cavity of the second control gate;
- the second memory cell string includes a third memory cell having a memory element formed in a second cavity of the first control gate, and a fourth memory cell having a memory element formed in a second cavity of the second control gate;
- the third memory cell string includes a fifth memory cell having a memory element formed in a third cavity of the first control gate, and a sixth memory cell having a memory element formed in a third cavity of the second control gate;
- and
- the fourth memory cell string includes a seventh memory cell having a memory element formed in a fourth cavity of the first control gate, and an eighth memory cell having a memory element formed in a fourth cavity of the second control gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.