Patents Assigned to Crossbar, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8796658
    Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a first metallic layer comprising a source of positive metallic ions, a switching media having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is adjacent to the first metallic layer, wherein the switching media comprises conductive filaments comprising positive metallic ions from the source of positive metallic ions formed from the upper surface towards the lower surface, a semiconductor substrate, a second metallic layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate, a non-metallic conductive layer disposed above the second metallic layer, and an interface region between the non-metallic conductive layer and the switching media having a negative ionic charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Hagop Nazarian, Sung Hyun Jo
  • Patent number: 8791010
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device. A first thickness of dielectric material overlies a surface region of a substrate. A first wiring material including a first lining material and a silver material are formed overlying the dielectric material. A first adhesion material and an amorphous silicon switching material including a contact material are deposited overlying the first wiring material. The method forms one or more first structures configured to spatially extend in a first direction from the amorphous silicon switching material, the contact material, and the first wiring material. A thickness of second dielectric material is deposited overlying the one or more first structures. The method forms a second wiring structure comprising at least a second silver material and a second lining material spatially extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction overlying the second dielectric material and in electrical contact with the switching material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 8787069
    Abstract: A method for programming a two terminal resistive memory device, the method includes applying a bias voltage to a first electrode of a resistive memory cell of the device; measuring a current flowing through the cell; and stopping the applying of the bias voltage if the measured current is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Hagop Nazarian, Sung Hyun Jo
  • Publication number: 20140192589
    Abstract: Providing for two-terminal memory that mitigates diffusion of external material therein is described herein. In some embodiments, a two-terminal memory cell can comprise an electrode layer. The electrode layer can be at least in part permeable to ionically or chemically reactive material, such as oxygen or the like. The two-terminal memory can further comprise a diffusion mitigation material disposed between the electrode layer and external material. This diffusion mitigation material can be selected to mitigate or prevent diffusion of the undesired element(s) or compound(s), to mitigate or avoid exposure of such element(s) or compound(s) to the electrode layer. Accordingly, degradation of the two-terminal memory as a result of contact with the undesired element(s) or compound(s) can be mitigated by various disclosed embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Patrick MAXWELL, Sung-Hyun JO
  • Publication number: 20140191180
    Abstract: A method of forming a non-volatile memory device. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming a first dielectric material overlying the surface region of the substrate. A first electrode structure is formed overlying the first dielectric material and a p+ polycrystalline silicon germanium material is formed overlying the first electrode structure. A p+ polycrystalline silicon material is formed overlying the first electrode structure using the polycrystalline silicon germanium material as a seed layer at a deposition temperature ranging from about 430 Degree Celsius to about 475 Degree Celsius without further anneal. The method forms a resistive switching material overlying the polycrystalline silicon material, and a second electrode structure including an active metal material overlying the resistive switching material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin SUN, Sung Hyun JO, Tanmay KUMAR
  • Publication number: 20140185358
    Abstract: Providing for fabrication, construction, and/or assembly of a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell is described herein. The RRAM cell can exhibit a non-linear current-voltage relationship. When arranged in a memory array architecture, these cells can significantly mitigate sneak path issues associated with conventional RRAM arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc
    Inventor: Crossbar, Inc
  • Patent number: 8767441
    Abstract: Method for a memory including a first, second, third and fourth cells include applying a read, program, or erase voltage, the first and second cells coupled to a first top interconnect, the third and fourth cells coupled to a second top interconnect, the first and third cells coupled to a first bottom interconnect, the second and fourth cells are to a second bottom interconnect, each cell includes a switching material overlying a non-linear element (NLE), the resistive switching material is associated with a first conductive threshold voltage, the NLE is associated with a lower, second conductive threshold voltage, comprising applying the read voltage between the first top and the first bottom electrode to switch the NLE of the first cell to conductive, while the NLEs of the second, third, and the fourth cells remain non-conductive, and detecting a read current across the first cell in response to the read voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu, Sung Hyun Jo, Hagop Nazarian
  • Patent number: 8765566
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes first wiring structures elongated in a first direction and separated by a first gap region in a second direction, the first gap region comprising first dielectric material formed in a first process, second wiring structures elongated in a second direction and separated by a second gap region in a first direction, the second gap region comprising second dielectric material formed in a second process, and a resistive switching devices comprising active conductive material, resistive switching material, and a junction material, wherein resistive switching devices are formed at intersections of the first wiring structures and the second wiring structures, wherein the junction material comprising p+ polysilicon material overlying the first wiring material, wherein some resistive switching devices are separated by the first gap region and some resistive switching devices separated by the second gap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Patrick Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8754671
    Abstract: Providing for a field programmable gate array (FPGA) utilizing resistive random access memory (RRAM) technology is described herein. By way of example, the FPGA can comprise a switching block interconnect having parallel signal input lines crossed by perpendicular signal output lines. RRAM memory cells can be formed at respective intersections of the signal input lines and signal output lines. The RRAM memory cell can include a voltage divider comprising multiple programmable resistive elements arranged electrically in series across a VCC and VSS of the FPGA. A common node of the voltage divider drives a gate of a pass gate transistor configured to activate or deactivate the intersection. The disclosed RRAM memory can provide high transistor density, high logic utilization, fast programming speed, radiation immunity, fast power up and significant benefits for FPGA technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Hagop Nazarian, Sang Thanh Nguyen, Tanmay Kumar
  • Publication number: 20140158968
    Abstract: A method for forming a non-volatile memory device includes disposing a junction layer comprising a doped silicon-bearing material in electrical contact with a first conductive material, forming a switching layer comprising an undoped amorphous silicon-bearing material upon at least a portion of the junction layer, disposing a layer comprising a non-noble metal material upon at least a portion of the switching layer, disposing an active metal layer comprising a noble metal material upon at least a portion of the layer, and forming a second conductive material in electrical contact with the active metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun JO, Kuk-Hwan KIM, Tanmay KUMAR
  • Patent number: 8750019
    Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a first electrode; a second electrode having a polycrystalline semiconductor layer that includes silicon; a non-crystalline silicon structure provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode, second electrode and non-crystalline silicon structure define a two-terminal resistive memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu
  • Publication number: 20140146595
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes an array of memory units, each having resistive memory cells and a local word line. Each memory cell has a first and a second end, the second ends are coupled to the local word line of the corresponding memory unit. Bit lines are provided, each coupled to the first end of each resistive memory cell. A plurality of select transistors is provided, each associated with one memory unit and having a drain terminal coupled to the local word line of the associated memory unit. First and second global word lines are provided, each coupled to a control terminal of at least one select transistor. First and second source lines are provided, each coupled to a source terminal of at least one select transistor. The memory device is configured to concurrently read out all resistive memory cells in one selected memory unit in a read operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry KUO, Hagop NAZARIAN
  • Publication number: 20140145135
    Abstract: Provision of fabrication, construction, and/or assembly of a two-terminal memory device is described herein. The two-terminal memory device can include an active region with a silicon bearing layer, an interface layer, and an active metal layer. The interface layer can created comprising a non-stoichimetric sub-oxide that can be a combination of multiple silicon and/or silicon oxide layers with an aggregate chemical formula of SiOX, where X can be a non-integer greater than zero and less than 2. The sub-oxide can be created in a variety of ways, including various techniques related to growing the sub-oxide, depositing the sub-oxide, or transforming an extant film into the sub-oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Yue GEE, Mark Harold CLARK, Steven Patrick MAXWELL, Sung Hyun JO, Natividad VASQUEZ, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140133211
    Abstract: Providing for a two-terminal memory architecture that can mitigate sneak path current in conjunction with memory operations is described herein. By way of example, a voltage mimicking mechanism can be employed to dynamically drive un-selected bitlines of the memory architecture at a voltage observed by a selected bitline. According to these aspects, changes observed by the selected bitline can be applied to the un-selected bitlines as well. This can help reduce or avoid voltage differences between the selected bitline and the un-selected bitlines, thereby reducing or avoiding sneak path currents between respective bitlines of the memory architecture. Additionally, an input/output based configuration is provided to facilitate reduced sneak path current according to additional aspects of the subject disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Crossbar, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140136852
    Abstract: A secure integrated circuit comprises a lower logic layer, and one or more memory layers disposed above the lower logic layer. A security key is provided in one or more of the memory layers for unlocking the logic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Crossbar, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8723154
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. A gate dielectric layer overlies the surface region of the substrate. The device includes a MOS device having a p+ active region. The p+ active region forms a first electrode for a resistive switching device. The resistive switching device includes an amorphous silicon switching material overlying the p+ active region and a metal electrode overlies the first metal conductor structure. The metal electrode includes a metal material, upon application of a positive bias to the metal electrode, forms a metal region in the amorphous silicon switching material. The MOS device provides for a select transistor for the integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Jo, Hagop Nazarian
  • Publication number: 20140127876
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device. The method provides a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. A first dielectric layer is formed overlying the surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A bottom wiring structure is formed overlying the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric material is formed overlying the top wiring structure. A bottom metal barrier material is formed to provide a metal-to-metal contact with the bottom wiring structure. The method forms a pillar structure by patterning and etching a material stack including the bottom metal barrier material, a contact material, a switching material, a conductive material, and a top barrier material. The pillar structure maintains a metal-to-metal contact with the bottom wiring structure regardless of the alignment of the pillar structure with the bottom wiring structure during etching. A top wiring structure is formed overlying the pillar structure at an angle to the bottom wiring structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Brad HERNER
  • Patent number: 8716098
    Abstract: A method for forming a non-volatile memory device includes providing a substrate having a surface region, forming a first wiring structure overlying the surface region, depositing a first dielectric material overlying the first wiring structure, forming a via opening in the first dielectric material to expose a portion of the first wiring structure, while maintaining a portion of the first dielectric material, forming a layer of resistive switching material comprising silicon, within the via opening, forming a silver material overlying the layer of resistive switching material and the portion of the first dielectric material, forming a diffusion barrier layer overlying the silver material, and selectively removing a portion of the silver material and a portion of the diffusion barrier layer overlying the portion of the first dielectric material while maintaining a portion of the silver material and a portion of the diffusion barrier material overlying the layer of silicon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Brad Herner, Natividad Vasquez
  • Patent number: 8697533
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device including a resistive memory cell includes providing a substrate having an upper surface. A first conductive layer is formed over the upper surface of the substrate. An amorphous silicon layer is formed over the first conductive layer. A surface of the amorphous silicon layer is cleaned to remove native oxide formed on the surface of the amorphous silicon layer. A silver layer is deposited over the amorphous silicon layer after removing the native oxide by performing the cleaning step. The resistive memory cell includes the first conductive layer, the amorphous silicon layer, and the second conductive layer. The surface of the amorphous silicon layer is cleaned to prevent silver agglomeration on the native oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Brad Herner
  • Publication number: 20140098619
    Abstract: Providing for a non-volatile memory architecture having write and overwrite capabilities providing low write amplification to a storage system is described herein. By way of example, a memory array is disclosed comprising blocks and sub-blocks of two-terminal memory cells. The two-terminal memory cells can be directly overwritten in some embodiments, facilitating a write amplification value as low as one. Furthermore, the memory array can have an input-output multiplexer configuration, reducing sneak path currents of the memory architecture during memory operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Hagop NAZARIAN, Sang NGUYEN