Abstract: A 3D memory device includes a substrate, stacked structures formed on the substrate, common source line (CSL) contacts, and NOR flash memories. The substrate has CSLs and memory cell regions alternately arranged along one direction in parallel. The stacked structures are located on the memory cell regions and include a ground select line (GSL) layer and a word line (WL) layer. The CSL contacts are disposed along another direction to connect the CSLs. The NOR flash memories are disposed in the memory cell regions, and each of the NOR flash memories includes at least an epitaxial pillar through the stacked structure, a charge-trapping layer located between the epitaxial pillar and the WL layer, and a high-k layer located between the charge-trapping layer and the WL layer. The epitaxial pillar has a retracted sidewall at a position passing through the GSL layer.

Abstract: A memory device and a programming method thereof are provided. The memory device includes a memory array, a plurality of word lines and a voltage generator. During a programming procedure, one of the word lines is at a selected state and others of the word lines are at a deselected state. Some of the word lines, which are at the deselected state, are classified into a first group and a second group. The first group and the second group are respectively located at two sides of the word line, which is at the selected state. The voltage generator provides a programming voltage to the word line, which is at the select state, during a programming duration. The voltage generator provides a first two-stage voltage waveform to the word lines in the first group and provides a second two-stage voltage waveform to the word lines in the second group.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate having an upper surface; a stacked structure disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the stacked structure includes a first insulating layer; a first conductive layer, a second insulating layer; a second conductive layer and a third insulating layer sequentially stacked on the substrate; a plurality of channel structures penetrating the stacked structure and electrically connected to the substrate; wherein each of the channel structures includes an upper portion corresponding to the second conductive layer and a lower portion corresponding to the first conductive layer; a memory layer disposed between the second conductive layer and the upper portion; and a plurality of isolation structures penetrating the stacked structure to separate the stacked structure into a plurality of sub-stacks.

Abstract: Provided is an erase method for a multi-tier three-dimension (3D) memory including a plurality of tiers and a plurality of blocks, each of the tiers including a plurality of word lines. The erase method includes: in erasing a selected block among the plurality of blocks, in a current iteration, selecting at least one tier among the plurality of tiers to be erased by a first erase voltage; determining whether the at least one tier passes erase verification; and if the at least one tier passes erase verification, in a next iteration, inhibiting the at least tier which already passes erase verification from erase.

Abstract: A memory device includes a conductive strip stack structure having conductive strips and insulating layers stacked in a staggered manner and a channel opening passing through the conductive strips and the insulating layer; a memory layer disposed in the channel opening and overlying the conductive strips; a channel layer overlying the memory layer; a semiconductor pad extending upwards from a bottom of the channel opening beyond an upper surface of a bottom conductive strip, in contact with the channel layer, and electrically isolated from the conductive strips; wherein the channel layer includes a first portion having a first doping concentration and a second portion having a second doping concentration disposed on the first portion.

Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, a stacked structure, a plurality of channel structures, a plurality of memory layers, and a plurality of shallow isolation structures. The substrate has an upper surface. The stacked structure is disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein the stacked structure includes a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers alternatively stacked on the upper surface. The channel structures penetrate portions of the stacked structure and are electrically connected to the substrate. The memory layers surround the corresponding ones of the channel structures. The shallow isolation structures extend from a top surface of the stacked structure toward the substrate, wherein each of the shallow isolation structures includes a substance having a dielectric constant of less than 3.9.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cell blocks and a source voltage generator. Each of the memory cell blocks has at least one memory cell. The source voltage generator is coupled to the plurality of memory cell blocks and configured to cause a source voltage of the memory cell block to be a first voltage according to that a memory cell in each of the memory cell blocks is in a selected state and cause a source voltage of the memory cell block to be a second voltage according to that all memory cells in each of the memory cell blocks are in an unselected state, wherein an absolute value of the first voltage is less than an absolute value of the second voltage. In addition, an operating method of the memory device is also provided.

Abstract: A memory device includes a conductive strip stack structure having conductive strips and insulating layers stacked in a staggered manner and a channel opening passing through the conductive strips and the insulating layer; a memory layer disposed in the channel opening and overlying the conductive strips; a channel layer overlying the memory layer; a semiconductor pad extending upwards from a bottom of the channel opening beyond an upper surface of a bottom conductive strip, in contact with the channel layer, and electrically isolated from the conductive strips; wherein the channel layer includes a first portion having a first doping concentration and a second portion having a second doping concentration disposed on the first portion.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cell blocks and a source voltage generator. Each of the memory cell blocks has at least one memory cell. The source voltage generator is coupled to the plurality of memory cell blocks and configured to cause a source voltage of the memory cell block to be a first voltage according to that a memory cell in each of the memory cell blocks is in a selected state and cause a source voltage of the memory cell block to be a second voltage according to that all memory cells in each of the memory cell blocks are in an unselected state, wherein an absolute value of the first voltage is less than an absolute value of the second voltage. In addition, an operating method of the memory device is also provided.

Abstract: A programming operation for high density memory, like 3D NAND flash memory, modifies the waveforms applied during program operations to mitigate unwanted disturbance of memory cells not selected for programming during the operation. Generally, the method provides for applying a bias arrangement during an interval of time between program verify pass voltages and program pass voltages in a program sequence that can include a soft ramp down, and pre-turn-on voltages designed to reduce variations in the potential distribution on floating channels of unselected NAND strings during a program operation.

Abstract: A programming operation for high density memory, like 3D NAND flash memory, modifies the waveforms applied during program operations to mitigate unwanted disturbance of memory cells not selected for programming during the operation. Generally, the method provides for applying a bias arrangement during an interval of time between program verify pass voltages and program pass voltages in a program sequence that can include a soft ramp down, and pre-turn-on voltages designed to reduce variations in the potential distribution on floating channels of unselected NAND strings during a program operation.

Abstract: A method for programming a non-volatile memory and a memory system are provided. Each of multiple cells of the non-volatile memory stores data having at least 2 bits. The method includes the following steps. At least one programming pulse is provided for programming a target cell of the cells. At least one program-verify pulse is provided for verifying whether the target cell is successfully programmed. It is determined that whether a threshold voltage of the target cell is greater than or equal to a program-verify voltage. When the threshold voltage is greater than or equal to the program-verify voltage, the target cell is set as successfully programmed. Next, a post-verifying operation is performed to the successfully programmed cell. The post-verifying operation includes determining whether the threshold voltage of the target cell is greater than or equal to a post-verifying voltage.

Abstract: The method for programming a non-volatile memory includes the following steps. Perform a program and program verify operation for a memory cell in the non-volatile memory, wherein the program and program verify operation includes applying a sequence of incremental step pulses to the memory cell. Perform a post-verifying operation for the memory cell after the memory cell passes the program and program verify operation. Apply a post-programming pulse to the memory cell if the memory cell fails the post-verifying operation, wherein the amplitude of the post-programming pulse is greater than the amplitude of the last pulse in the sequence of incremental step pulses. Perform a read operation to the non-volatile memory to obtain a failed bit count corresponding to the read operation. Adjust a read reference voltage of the read operation to minimize the failed bit count.

Abstract: An erase-verify method for a three-dimensional (3D) memory and a memory system are provided. The 3D memory includes at least one memory cell string including a plurality of memory cells, and the memory cells include a first group of memory cells and a second group of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is coupled to a word line. The method comprises the following steps. A first erase-verify operation is performed on the first group of memory cells. After performing the first erase-verify operation on the first group of memory cells, a second erase-verify operation is performed on the second group of memory cells in condition that the first group of memory cells are verified as erased successfully.

Abstract: An erase-verify method for a three-dimensional (3D) memory and a memory system are provided. The 3D memory includes at least one memory cell string including a plurality of memory cells, and the memory cells include a first group of memory cells and a second group of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is coupled to a word line. The method comprises the following steps. A first erase-verify operation is performed on the first group of memory cells. After performing the first erase-verify operation on the first group of memory cells, a second erase-verify operation is performed on the second group of memory cells in condition that the first group of memory cells are verified as erased successfully.

Abstract: A method for programming a non-volatile memory and a memory system are provided. Each of multiple cells of the non-volatile memory stores data having at least 2 bits. The method includes the following steps. At least one programming pulse is provided for programming a target cell of the cells. At least one program-verify pulse is provided for verifying whether the target cell is successfully programmed. It is determined that whether a threshold voltage of the target cell is greater than or equal to a program-verify voltage. When the threshold voltage is greater than or equal to the program-verify voltage, the target cell is set as successfully programmed. Next, a post-verifying operation is performed to the successfully programmed cell. The post-verifying operation includes determining whether the threshold voltage of the target cell is greater than or equal to a post-verifying voltage.

Abstract: An operation method of a memory cell includes steps of applying a pre pulse before a read pulse is applied, wherein the pre pulse is larger than a maximum threshold voltage or less than a lowest threshold voltage.

Abstract: A memory structure includes a memory cell, and the memory cell includes following elements. A first gate is disposed on a substrate. A stacked structure includes a first dielectric structure, a channel layer, a second dielectric structure and a second gate disposed on the first gate, a first charge storage structure disposed in the first dielectric structure and a second charge storage structure disposed in the second dielectric structure. The first charge storage structure is a singular charge storage unit and the second charge storage structure comprises two charge storage units which are physically separated. A channel output line physically connected to the channel layer. A first dielectric layer is disposed on the first gate at two sides of the stacked structure. A first source or drain and a second source or drain are disposed on the first dielectric layer and located at two sides of the channel layer.

Abstract: A memory structure includes a memory cell, and the memory cell includes following elements. A first gate is disposed on a substrate. A stacked structure includes a first dielectric structure, a channel layer, a second dielectric structure and a second gate disposed on the first gate, a first charge storage structure disposed in the first dielectric structure and a second charge storage structure disposed in the second dielectric structure. The first charge storage structure is a singular charge storage unit and the second charge storage structure comprises two charge storage units which are physically separated. A channel output line physically connected to the channel layer. A first dielectric layer is disposed on the first gate at two sides of the stacked structure. A first source or drain and a second source or drain are disposed on the first dielectric layer and located at two sides of the channel layer.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor strip structures, a first doped region, a plurality of second doped regions, a plurality of first contacts, and a plurality of second contacts. Each of the semiconductor strip structures extends along a first direction. The first doped region includes a plurality of first portions and a second portion. Each of the first portions is located on a lower part of the corresponding semiconductor strip structure. The second portion is located on a surface of the substrate, and the first portions are connected to the second portion. Each of the second doped regions is located on an upper part of the corresponding semiconductor strip structure. Each of the first contacts is electrically connected to the second portion of the first doped region. Each of the second contacts is electrically connected to the corresponding second doped region.