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US 8,711,597 B2Granted
3D solid-state arrangement for solid state memory
AssigneeHGST Netherlands B.V.
InventorLuiz M. Franca-Neto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to the three-dimensional arrangement of memory cells. This 3D arrangement and orientation is made with macro cells that enable the programming, reading and/or querying of any memory cell in the 3D array without the need for overhead wiring or by utilizing a minimal amount of overhead wiring. The individual macro cells are electrically coupled together such that a single transistor on the substrate can be utilized to address multiple macro cells. In such an arrangement, all the auxiliary circuits for addressing memory elements are simplified thereby diminishing their integrated circuit area.
Claims20
A three-dimensional memory array, comprising:
- a first macro cell comprising:
- a first three-terminal device;
- a first electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal device, the first electrical connector extending along a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- a second electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal device;
- a first memory cell coupled to a second electrical connector, the first memory cell disposed along the second axis;
- and
- a third electrical connector coupled to the first memory cell, the third electrical connector extending along the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to both the second axis and the first axis;
- a second macro cell comprising:
- a second three-terminal device;
- a fourth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal device, the fourth electrical connector extending along a fourth axis that is parallel to the first axis, the fourth electrical connector also extending along the second axis, the fourth electrical connector is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector;
- a fifth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal device;
- a second memory cell coupled to the fifth electrical connector, the second memory cell disposed along the second axis;
- and
- a sixth electrical connector coupled to the second memory cell, the sixth electrical connector extending along the second axis and a fifth axis that is parallel to the third axis, the sixth electrical connector is electrically coupled to the third electrical connector;
- and
- an electrically insulating spacer coupled between the third electrical connector and the fourth electrical connector.
13 more elements
A three-dimensional memory array, comprising:
- a first macro cell comprising:
- a first three-terminal selecting device;
- a first electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal selecting device, the first electrical connector extending along a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- a second electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal selecting device;
- a first memory cell coupled to second electrical connector, the first memory cell disposed along the second axis;
- and
- a third electrical connector coupled to the first memory cell, the third electrical connector extending along the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to both the second axis and the first axis;
- and
- a second macro cell comprising:
- a second three-terminal selecting device;
- a fourth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal selecting device, the fourth electrical connector extending along the first axis and a fourth axis that is parallel to the second axis and the fourth electrical connector is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector;
- a fifth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal selecting device;
- a second memory cell coupled to the fifth electrical connector, the second memory cell disposed along the fourth axis;
- and
- a sixth electrical connector coupled to the second memory cell, the sixth electrical connector extending along the fourth axis and a fifth axis that is parallel to the third axis.
12 more elements
A three-dimensional memory array, comprising:
- a first macro cell comprising:
- a first three-terminal selecting device;
- a first electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal selecting device, the first electrical connector extending along a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- a second electrical connector coupled to the first three-terminal selecting device;
- a first memory cell coupled to second electrical connector, the first memory cell disposed along the second axis;
- and
- a third electrical connector coupled to the first memory cell, the third electrical connector extending along the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to both the second direction and the first direction;
- a second macro cell comprising:
- a second three-terminal selecting device;
- a fourth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal selecting device, the fourth electrical connector extending along the second axis and a fourth axis parallel to the first axis, the fourth electrical connector is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector;
- a fifth electrical connector coupled to the second three-terminal selecting device;
- a second memory cell coupled to the fifth electrical connector, the second memory cell disposed along the second axis;
- and
- a sixth electrical connector coupled to the second memory cell, the sixth electrical connector extending along the second axis and a fifth axis parallel to the third axis, the sixth electrical connector is electrically coupled to the third electrical connector;
- a first electrically insulating spacer coupled between the third electrical connector and the fourth electrical connector;
- and
- a third macro cell comprising:
- a third three-terminal selecting device;
- a seventh electrical connector coupled to the third three-terminal selecting device, the seventh electrical connector extending along the first axis and a sixth axis parallel to the second axis, the seventh electrical connector is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector;
- an eighth electrical connector coupled to the third three-terminal selecting device;
- a third memory cell coupled to the eighth electrical connector, the third memory cell disposed along the sixth axis;
- and
- a ninth electrical connector coupled to the third memory cell, the ninth electrical connector extending along the sixth axis and a seventh axis parallel to the third axis.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.