Abstract: A NOR string includes a number of individually addressable thin-film storage transistors sharing a bit line, with the individually addressable thin-film transistors further grouped into a predetermined number of segments. In each segment, the thin-film storage transistors of the segment share a source line segment, which is electrically isolated from other source line segments in the other segments within the NOR string. The NOR string may be formed along an active strip of semiconductor layers provided above and parallel a surface of a semiconductor substrate, with each active strip including first and second semiconductor sublayers of a first conductivity and a third semiconductor sublayer of a second conductivity, wherein the shared bit line and each source line segment are formed in the first and second semiconductor sublayers, respectively.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a 3-dimensional memory structure includes: (a) providing one or more active layers over a planar surface of a semiconductor substrate, each active layer comprising (i) first and second semiconductor layers of a first conductivity; (ii) a dielectric layer separating the first and second semiconductor layer; and (ii) one or more sacrificial layers, at least one of sacrificial layers being adjacent the first semiconductor layer; (b) etching the active layers to create a plurality of active stacks and a first set of trenches each separating and exposing sidewalls of adjacent active stacks; (c) filling the first set of trenches by a silicon oxide; (d) patterning and etching the silicon oxide to create silicon oxide columns each abutting adjacent active stacks and to expose portions of one or more sidewalls of the active stacks; (e) removing the sacrificial layers from exposed portions of the sidewalls by isotropic etching through the exposed portions of the sidewalls of the active stack

Abstract: A memory structure formed above a semiconductor substrate includes two or more modules each formed on top of each other separated by a layer of global interconnect conductors. Each memory module may include a 3-dimensional array of memory transistors organized as NOR array strings. Each 3-dimensional array of memory transistors is provided vertical local word lines as gate electrodes to the memory transistors. These vertical local word lines are connected by the layers of global interconnect conductors below and above the 3-dimensional array of memory transistors to circuitry formed in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method addresses low cost, low resistance metal interconnects and mechanical stability in a high aspect ratio structure. According to the various implementations disclosed herein, a replacement metal process, which defers the need for a metal etching step in the fabrication process until after all patterned photoresist is no longer present. Under this process, the conductive sublayers may be both thick and numerous. The present invention also provides for a strut structure which facilitates etching steps on high aspect ratio structures, which enhances mechanical stability in a high aspect ratio memory stack.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, three bits stored in one memory cell of a nonvolatile memory correspond to three pages. In first page writing, a threshold voltage becomes within a first or second region base on a bit value. In second page writing, if being within the first region, it becomes within the first or fourth region; and if being within the second region, it becomes within the second or third region. In the third page writing, if being within the first region, it becomes within the first or sixth region; if being within the second region, it becomes within the second or seventh region; if being within the third region, it becomes within the third or eighth region; and if being within the fourth region, it becomes within the fourth or fifth region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory and a controller. The semiconductor memory includes first blocks including a memory cell capable of storing data of one bit, a second block including a memory cell capable of storing data of two or more bits. The semiconductor memory stores first data in a first latch circuit, and second data in a second latch circuit, and writes the first data into one of the first blocks in page units, and the second data into one of the first blocks in page units. The semiconductor memory writes data of at least two pages into the second block, using the first data stored in the first latch circuit and the second data stored in the second latch circuit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a first memory cell; a second memory cell; a first word line; a second word line; and a first bit line. The device is configured to execute a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation to write data into the first memory cell. In the first operation, a first voltage is applied to the second word line. In the second operation, after the first operation, a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the second word line. In the third operation, after the second operation, a third voltage higher than the second voltage is applied to the first word line, and a fourth voltage lower than both the second voltage and the third voltage is applied to the second word line.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers, first and second pillars, and a first member. The first conductive layer includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion above the second portion. The second conductive layers are stacked above the first conductive layer. The first pillar includes a first semiconductor layer in contact with the first portion in a direction crossing the stacked direction. The second pillar is provided to penetrate the second conductive layers and the third portion in the stacked direction. The first member is provided between the first and second pillars and between the second and third portions.

Abstract: A system for reading stored data may include one or more Ethernet drives and a controller, both configured to communicatively connect to a host device. The controller may receive a first read command from the host device, determine a first drive among the one or more Ethernet drives using the first read command and a mapping table, translate the first read command into a second read command, and send the second read command to the first drive. Responsive to receiving the second read command, the first drive may send a first remote data transfer instruction to the host device independent of the controller. The first remote data transfer instruction may include stored data read from the first drive to cause the host device to write the stored data read from the first drive to one or more memory buffers in the host device indicated by the second read command.

Abstract: Example implementations include a method of receiving a host command identifier associated with a host command, determining a device command associated with the host command and a memory controller device, receiving a device command timestamp corresponding to a time of the determining the device command, and determining a debug record contemporaneously with the determining the device command, the debug record including the host command identifier, a device command identifier associated with the device command, and the device command timestamp.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein relate to systems and methods for managing selective erasure in a Solid-State Drive (SSD) including receiving a selective erase command corresponding to erasing valid and invalid data mapped to a logical address and in response to receiving the selective erase command, erasing blocks in which one or more pages mapped to the logical address are located based on a mapping table that maps the logical address to the one or more pages. Both valid data and invalid data may be physically stored in one or more pages.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, three bits stored in one memory cell of a nonvolatile memory correspond to three pages. In first page writing, a threshold voltage becomes within a first or second region base on a bit value. In second page writing, if being within the first region, it becomes within the first or fourth region; and if being within the second region, it becomes within the second or third region. In the third page writing, if being within the first region, it becomes within the first or sixth region; if being within the second region, it becomes within the second or seventh region; being within the third region, it becomes within the third or eighth region; and if being within the fourth region, it becomes within the fourth or fifth region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of communicating with a host apparatus includes a symbol generation unit, a coding unit, and a transmission unit. The symbol generation unit includes a random number generation circuit and generates a symbol according to a random number generated by the random number generation circuit. The coding unit performs 8b/10b coding for the symbol. The transmission unit transmits the symbol coded by the 8b/10b coding unit to the host apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system receives from a host a first write request including a first block identifier designating a first write destination block to which first write data is to be written. The memory system acquires the first write data from a write buffer temporarily holding write data corresponding to each of the write requests, and writes the first write data to a write destination page in the first write destination block. The memory system releases a region in the write buffer, storing data which is made readable from the first write destination block by writ the first write data to the write destination page. The data made readable is a data of a page in the first write destination block preceding the write destination page.

Abstract: A method of managing data storage using a management device that includes determining respective status information for a plurality of storage devices, and calculating, based on the status information, a respective cost for each of the plurality of storage devices using a cost function that includes one or more parameters including at least one of: a program/erase (P/E) parameter, a block error state parameter, a block error level parameter, and a workload parameter. The method further includes selecting a destination storage device of the plurality of storage devices based on at least some of the calculated costs, and writing data to the destination storage device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor substrate and a logic circuit provided on the first semiconductor substrate; a memory cell provided above the logic circuit and a second semiconductor substrate provided above the memory cell; a bonding pad provided above the second semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the logic circuit; and a wiring provided above the second semiconductor substrate. The wiring is electrically connected to the memory cell, and includes at least one of a data signal line, a control voltage line, and a power supply line.

Abstract: A device includes: a substrate; a first wiring layer above the substrate; a second wiring layer above the first wiring layer; a first insulating film on the first and second wiring layers; a second insulating film in the first insulating film, provided at a position overlapping with a part of the first wiring layer and a part of the second wiring layer in a first direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, and including a first portion higher than an upper surface of an end portion of the second wiring layer and a second portion lower than the upper surface of the end portion of the second wiring layer; and a plug via the second insulating film in the first insulating film, provided on the upper surface of the end portion of the second wiring layer, and electrically connected to the second wiring layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory includes: a first bit line; a first select transistor having a first terminal connected to the first bit line; a first memory cell connected to a second terminal of the first select transistor; a circuit connected to the first bit line and applying an erase voltage to be applied to the first memory cell to the bit line via the first terminal and the second terminal; and a diode connected to the first bit line and the first circuit.