Abstract: The invention describes a semiconductor cell including a gate, a dielectric layer, a channel layer, a source region, a drain region and an oxide region. The dielectric layer is adjacent to the gate. The channel layer is adjacent to the dielectric layer and is formed above a source region, a drain region, and an oxide region.

Abstract: A memory device includes a driver comprising a pn-junction in the form of a multilayer stack including a first doped semiconductor region having a first conductivity type, and a second doped semiconductor plug having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, the first and second doped semiconductors defining a pn junction therebetween, in which the first doped semiconductor region is formed in a single-crystalline semiconductor, and the second doped semiconductor region includes a polycrystalline semiconductor. Also, a method for making a memory device includes forming a first doped semiconductor region of a first conductivity type in a single-crystal semiconductor, such as on a semiconductor wafer; and forming a second doped polycrystalline semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, defining a pn junction between the first and second regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with improved capacitance of bit lines includes a substrate, a stacked memory structure, a plurality of bit lines, a first stair contact structure, a first group of transistor structures and a first conductive line. The first stair contact structure is formed on the substrate and includes conductive planes and insulating planes stacked alternately. The conductive planes are separated from each other by the insulating planes for connecting the bit lines to the stacked memory structure by stairs. The first group of transistor structures is formed in a first bulk area where the bit lines pass through and then connect to the conductive planes. The first group of transistor structures has a first gate around the first bulk area. The first conductive line is connected to the first gate to control the voltage applied to the first gate.

Abstract: A semiconducting multi-layer structure comprising a plurality of first conductive layers, a plurality of first insulating layers and a second conductive layer is disclosed. The first conductive layers are separately disposed. Each of the first conductive layers has an upper surface, a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface and a lateral surface. The first insulating layers surround the peripherals of the first conductive layers. Each of the first insulating layers covers at least a part of the upper surface of each of the first conductive layers, at least a part of the bottom surface of each of the first conductive layers and the two lateral surface of each of the first conductive layers. The second conductive layer covers the first conductive layers and the first insulating layers.

Abstract: A method is used with an IC device including a stack of dielectric/conductive layers to form interlayer connectors extending from a surface of the device to the conductive layers. Contact openings are created through a dielectric layer to a first conductive layer. N etch masks, with 2N?1 being less than W, 2N being greater than or equal to W, have spaced apart open etch regions and mask regions elsewhere. The stack of layers are etched only through W?1 contact openings to create extended contact openings extending to W?1 conductive layers; 2n?1 conductive layers are etched for up to half of the contact openings for each etch mask n=1, 2 . . . N. The contact openings are etched with different combinations of the etch masks' open etch regions. Interlayer connectors are formed in the contact openings.

Abstract: An integrated circuit phase change memory can be pre-coded by inducing a first resistance state in some cells and the memory, and a second resistance state and some other cells in the memory to represent a data set. The integrated circuit phase change memory is mounted on a substrate after coding the data set. After mounting the integrated circuit phase change memory, the data set is read by sensing the first and second resistance states, and changing cells in the first resistance state to a third resistance state and changing cells in the second resistance state to a fourth resistance state. The first and second resistance states maintain a sensing margin after solder bonding or other thermal cycling process. The third and fourth resistance states are characterized by the ability to cause a transition using higher speed and lower power, suitable for a mission function of a circuit.

Abstract: A method is used with an IC device including a stack of dielectric/conductive layers to form interlayer connectors extending from a surface of the device to the conductive layers. Contact openings are created through a dielectric layer to a first conductive layer. N etch masks, with 2N?1 being less than W, 2N being greater than or equal to W, have spaced apart open etch regions and mask regions elsewhere. The stack of layers are etched only through W?1 contact openings to create extended contact openings extending to W?1 conductive layers; 2n?1 conductive layers are etched for up to half of the contact openings for each etch mask n=1, 2 . . . N. The contact openings are etched with different combinations of the etch masks' open etch regions. Interlayer connectors are formed in the contact openings.

Abstract: The technology relates to a damascene word line for a three dimensional array of nonvolatile memory cells. Partly oxidized lines of material such as silicon are made over a plurality of stacked nonvolatile memory structures. Word line trenches are made in the partly oxidized lines, by removing the unoxidized lines from the intermediate parts of the partly oxidized lines, leaving the plurality of oxidized lines at the outer parts of the plurality of partly oxidized lines. Word lines are made in the word line trenches over the plurality of stacked nonvolatile memory structures.

Abstract: A memory having isolated dual memory cells is provided. A first isolation wall and a second isolation wall are separately disposed between a source and a drain on a substrate. An isolation bottom layer and a polysilicon layer are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first and the second isolation walls. A first charge storage structure and a first gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first isolation wall and the source. A second charge storage structure and a second gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the second isolation wall and the drain. A word line disposed on the polysilicon layer, the first gate, the second gate, the first isolation wall and the second isolation wall is electrically connected to the first gate, the second gate and the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A vertical interconnect architecture for a three-dimensional (3D) memory device suitable for low cost, high yield manufacturing is described. Conductive lines (e.g. word lines) for the 3D memory array, and contact pads for vertical connectors used for couple the array to decoding circuitry and the like, are formed as parts of the same patterned level of material. The same material layer can be used to form the contact pads and the conductive access lines by an etch process using a single mask. By forming the contact pads concurrently with the conductive lines, the patterned material of the contact pads can protect underlying circuit elements which could otherwise be damaged during patterning of the conductive lines.

Abstract: A layer of phase change material with silicon or another semiconductor, or a silicon-based or other semiconductor-based additive, is formed using a composite sputter target including the silicon or other semiconductor, and the phase change material. The concentration of silicon or other semiconductor is more than five times greater than the specified concentration of silicon or other semiconductor in the layer being formed. For silicon-based additive in GST-type phase change materials, sputter target may comprise more than 40 at % silicon. Silicon-based or other semiconductor-based additives can be formed using the composite sputter target with a flow of reactive gases, such as oxygen or nitrogen, in the sputter chamber during the deposition.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal silicide is disclosed below. A substrate having a first region and a second region is proviced. A silicon layer is formed on the substrate. A planarization process is performed to make the silicon layer having a planar surface. A part of the silicon layer is removed to form a plurality of first gates on the first region and to form a plurality of second gates on the second region. The height of the first gates is greater than the height of the second gates, and top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates have the same height level. A dielectric layer covering the first gates and the second gates is formed and exposes the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates. A metal silicide is formed on the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first stacked structure, and a first conductive layer. The first stacked structure is formed on the substrate and includes a conductive structure and an insulating structure, and the conductive structure is disposed adjacent to the insulating structure. The first conductive layer is formed on the substrate and surrounds two side walls and a part of the top portion of the first stacked structure for exposing a portion of the first stacked structure.

Abstract: The technology relates to a damascene word line for a three dimensional array of nonvolatile memory cells. Conductive lines such as silicon are formed over stacked nonvolatile memory structures. Word line trenches separate neighboring ones of the silicon lines. The silicon lines separated by the word line trenches are oxidized, making insulating surfaces in the word line trenches. Word lines are made in the word line trenches.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a memory array includes first forming a multilayer stack of dielectric material on a plurality of semiconductor strips, and then exposing the multilayer stack in switch transistor regions. The multilayer stacks exposed in the switch transistor regions are processed to form gate dielectric structures that are different than the dielectric charge trapping structures. Word lines and select lines are then formed. A 3D array of dielectric charge trapping memory cells includes stacks of NAND strings of memory cells. A plurality of switch transistors are coupled to the NAND strings, the switch transistors including gate dielectric structures wherein the gate dielectric structures are different than the dielectric charge trapping structures.

Abstract: A 3D memory device includes bottom and top memory cubes having respective arrays of vertical NAND string structures. A common source plane comprising a layer of conductive material is between the top and bottom memory cubes. The source plane is supplied a bias voltage such as ground, and is selectively coupled to an end of the vertical NAND string structures of the bottom and top memory cubes. Memory cells in a particular memory cube are read using current through the particular vertical NAND string between the source plane and a corresponding bit line coupled to another end of the particular vertical NAND string.

Abstract: A layer of phase change material with silicon or another semiconductor, or a silicon-based or other semiconductor-based additive, is formed using a composite sputter target including the silicon or other semiconductor, and the phase change material. The concentration of silicon or other semiconductor is more than five times greater than the specified concentration of silicon or other semiconductor in the layer being formed. For silicon-based additive in GST-type phase change materials, sputter target may comprise more than 40 at % silicon. Silicon-based or other semiconductor-based additives can be formed using the composite sputter target with a flow of reactive gases, such as oxygen or nitrogen, in the sputter chamber during the deposition.

Abstract: A 3D memory device includes an array of semiconductor body pillars and bit line pillars, dielectric charge trapping structures, and a plurality of levels of word line structures arranged orthogonally to the array of semiconductor body pillars and bit line pillars. The semiconductor body pillars have corresponding bit line pillars on opposing first and second sides, providing source and drain terminals. The semiconductor body pillars have first and second channel surfaces on opposing third and fourth sides. Dielectric charge trapping structures overlie the first and second channel surfaces, providing data storage sites on two sides of each semiconductor body pillar in each level of the 3D array. The device can be operated as a 3D AND-decoded flash memory.

Abstract: A vertical interconnect architecture for a three-dimensional (3D) memory device suitable for low cost, high yield manufacturing is described. Conductive lines (e.g. word lines) for the 3D memory array, and contact pads for vertical connectors used for couple the array to decoding circuitry and the like, are formed as parts of the same patterned level of material. The same material layer can be used to form the contact pads and the conductive access lines by an etch process using a single mask. By forming the contact pads concurrently with the conductive lines, the patterned material of the contact pads can protect underlying circuit elements which could otherwise be damaged during patterning of the conductive lines.

Abstract: A programmable resistance memory device with a margin cell detection and refresh resources. Margin cell detection and refresh can include reading a selected cell, measuring a time interval which correlates with resistance of the selected cell during said reading, and enabling a refresh process if the measured time falls within a pre-specified range. The refresh process includes determining a data value stored in the selected cell, using for example a destructive read process, and refreshing the data value in the selected cell. The time interval can be measured by detecting timing within the sensing interval of a transition of voltage or current on a bit line across a threshold.