THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) MEMORY CELL SEPARATION AMONG 3D INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) TIERS, AND RELATED 3D INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (3DICs), 3DIC PROCESSOR CORES, AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional (3D) memory block, comprising:
- a memory cell disposed in a first tier of a 3D integrated circuit (IC) (3DIC);
at least one read access port disposed in a second tier of the 3DIC, the at least one read access port configured to provide read access to the memory cell, wherein each read access port of the at least one read access port comprises a read transistor coupled to the memory cell; and
at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV) coupling the at least one read access port to the memory cell.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) memory cell separation among 3D integrated circuit (IC) (3DIC) tiers is disclosed. Related 3DICs, 3DIC processor cores, and methods are also disclosed. In embodiments disclosed herein, memory read access ports of a memory block are separated from a memory cell in different tiers of a 3DIC. 3DICs achieve higher device packing density, lower interconnect delays, and lower costs. In this manner, different supply voltages can be provided for the read access ports and the memory cell to be able to lower supply voltage for the read access ports. Static noise margins and read/write noise margins in the memory cell may be provided as a result. Providing multiple power supply rails inside a non-separated memory block that increases area can also be avoided.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional (3D) memory block, comprising:
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a memory cell disposed in a first tier of a 3D integrated circuit (IC) (3DIC); at least one read access port disposed in a second tier of the 3DIC, the at least one read access port configured to provide read access to the memory cell, wherein each read access port of the at least one read access port comprises a read transistor coupled to the memory cell; and at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV) coupling the at least one read access port to the memory cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A three-dimensional (3D) memory block, comprising:
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a memory cell disposed in a first tier of a 3D integrated circuit (IC) (3DIC); a first voltage rail supplied with a first voltage disposed in the first tier of the 3DIC, the first voltage rail configured to supply the first voltage to the memory cell; at least one read access port disposed in a second tier of the 3DIC, the at least one read access port configured to provide read access to the memory cell; a second voltage rail supplied with a second voltage lower than the first voltage supplied to the first voltage rail, the second voltage rail disposed in the second tier of the 3DIC and configured to supply the second voltage to the at least one read access port; and at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV) coupling the at least one read access port to the memory cell. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of forming a three-dimensional (3D) memory block, comprising:
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forming a first tier of a 3D integrated circuit (IC) (3DIC); forming a memory cell within the first tier of the 3DIC; forming a second tier of the 3DIC; forming at least one read access port within the second tier of the 3DIC, the at least one read access port configured to provide read access to the memory cell, wherein forming the at least one read access port comprises forming a read transistor coupled to the memory cell; and coupling the at least one read access port to the memory cell with at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification