# US 2025/0098157 A1 · Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0098157 A1 - Document ID: US20250098157A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/966,554 - Filed: 2024-12-03 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-10 - Assignees: Kioxia Corporation - Applicants: Kioxia Corporation - Inventors: Keiichi Sawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250098157A1 ## CPC - H10B 41/27: the channels comprising vertical portions, e.g. U-shaped channels - H10B 41/10: characterised by the top-view layout - H10B 41/35: with a cell select transistor, e.g. NAND - H10D 30/0411: {of FETs having floating gates} - H10D 30/68: Floating-gate IGFETs - H10D 30/689: {Vertical floating-gate IGFETs} - H10B: ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICES - H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of U-shaped memory strings, each of the plurality of U-shaped memory strings including a first columnar body, a second columnar body, and a conductive connection body. The conductive connection body connects the first columnar body and the second columnar body. A plurality of first memory cells are connected in series in the first columnar body and are composed of a plurality of first conductive layers, a first inter-gate insulating film, a plurality of first floating electrodes, a first tunnel insulating film, and a first memory channel layer. The plurality of first floating electrodes are separated from the plurality of first conductive layers by the first inter-gate insulating film. A plurality of second memory cells are connected in series in the second columnar body, similarly to the plurality of first memory cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprising: an underlying insulating layer provided above a substrate; a connection member provided above the underlying insulating layer; a stacked body including a plurality of conductive layers separately stacked from each other in a first direction above the connection member; a first channel layer extending in the first direction inside the conductive layers of the stacked body via a first gate insulating layer, the first channel layer including a first lower channel layer having a first tubular structure extending inside a part of the conductive layers and a first upper channel layer extending inside another part of the conductive layers including an uppermost conductive layer of the conductive layers, a lower end of the first lower channel layer being electrically connected to the connection member and an upper end of the first lower channel layer being electrically connected to the first upper channel layer; a first core member provided inside the first tubular structure of the first lower channel layer, an upper surface of the first core member facing to a lower surface of the first upper channel layer; a second channel layer extending in the first direction inside the conductive layers of the stacked body via a second gate insulating layer, the second channel layer including a second lower channel layer having a second tubular structure extending inside the part of the conductive layers and a second upper channel layer extending inside another part of the conductive layers including the uppermost conductive layer, a lower end of the second lower channel layer being electrically connected to the connection member and an upper end of the second lower channel layer being electrically connected to the second upper channel layer; and a second core member provided inside the second tubular structure of the second lower channel layer, an upper surface of the second core member facing to a lower surface of the second upper channel layer, a core of the first upper channel layer being formed of a first semiconductor and a core of the second upper channel layer being formed of a second semiconductor, and the first channel layer and the second channel layer being arranged apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first core member and the second core member being disconnected from each other in an intermediate region between the lower end of the first lower channel layer and the lower end of the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the first core member and the second core member include silicon oxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the connection member includes metal element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the connection member includes tungsten. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the connection member includes metal silicide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the first lower channel layer and the second lower channel layer include silicon, and the first semiconductor and the second semiconductor respectively disposed in cores of the first upper channel layer and the second upper channel layer include silicon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the connection member is formed as a body different from the first lower channel layer and the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the lower surface of the first upper channel layer and the lower surface of the second upper channel layer are not higher than a lower surface of the uppermost conductive layer in the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the connection member extends outside an outer periphery of the first channel layer in the second direction on both sides of the second direction below the lower end of the first lower channel layer and extends outside an outer periphery of the second channel layer in the second direction on both sides of the second direction below the lower end of the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein an upper end of the first upper channel layer is electrically connected to a bit line. ### Claim 12 A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprising: an underlying insulating layer provided above a substrate; a connection member provided above the underlying insulating layer; a stacked body including a plurality of control gate layers separately stacked from each other in a first direction above the connection member and an uppermost select gate layer provided above the control gate layers; a first channel layer extending in the first direction inside the control gate layers and the uppermost select gate layer of the stacked body, the first channel layer including a first lower channel layer having a first tubular structure extending inside the control gate layers and a first upper channel layer extending inside the uppermost select gate layer, a lower end of the first lower channel layer being electrically connected to the connection member and an upper end of the first lower channel layer being electrically connected to the first upper channel layer, intersecting portions of the first lower channel layer and the control gate layers functioning as first memory cells and an intersecting portion of the first upper channel layer and the uppermost select gate layer functioning as a first selection transistor; a first core member provided inside the first tubular structure of the first lower channel layer, an upper surface of the first core member facing to a lower surface of the first upper channel layer; a second channel layer extending in the first direction inside the control gate layers and the uppermost select gate layer of the stacked body, the second channel layer including a second lower channel layer having a second tubular structure extending inside the control gate layers and a second upper channel layer extending inside the uppermost select gate layer, a lower end of the second lower channel layer being electrically connected to the connection member and an upper end of the second lower channel layer being electrically connected to the second upper channel layer, intersecting portions of the second lower channel layer and the control gate layers functioning as second memory cells and an intersecting portion of the second upper channel layer and the uppermost select gate layer functioning as a second selection transistor; and a second core member provided inside the second tubular structure of the second lower channel layer, an upper surface of the second core member facing to a lower surface of the second upper channel layer, a core of the first upper channel layer being formed of a first semiconductor and a core of the second upper channel layer being formed of a second semiconductor, and the first channel layer and the second channel layer being arranged apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first core member and the second core member being disconnected from each other in an intermediate region between the lower end of the first lower channel layer and the lower end of the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the first core member and the second core member include silicon oxide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the connection member includes metal element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the connection member includes tungsten. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the connection member includes metal silicide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the first lower channel layer and the second lower channel layer include silicon, and the first semiconductor and the second semiconductor respectively disposed in cores of the first upper channel layer and the second upper channel layer include silicon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the connection member is formed as a body different from the first lower channel layer and the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the lower surface of the first upper channel layer and the lower surface of the second upper channel layer are not higher than a lower surface of the uppermost select gate layer in the first direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the connection member extends outside an outer periphery of the first channel layer in the second direction on both sides of the second direction below the lower end of the first lower channel layer and extends outside an outer periphery of the second channel layer in the second direction on both sides of the second direction below the lower end of the second lower channel layer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein an upper end of the first upper channel layer is electrically connected to a bit line.