Digit line architecture for dynamic memory

• US 6,243,311 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Keeth, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/507,170
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 365/51, 365/63, 365/206, 257/208, 257/773, 257/776
• US Class Current: 365/206
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/4097 Bit-line organisation, e.g. bit-line layout, folded bit lines
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/18 Bit line organisation; Bit line lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 12/488 Word lines

Abstract

A novel bi-level DRAM architecture is described which achieves significant reductions in die size while maintaining the noise performance of traditional folded architectures. Die size reduction results primarily by building the memory arrays with 6F² or smaller memory cells in a type of cross point memory cell layout. The memory arrays utilize stacked digitlines and vertical digitline twisting to achieve folded architecture operation and noise performance.

Claims

1. A method of reducing differential electrical noise in an integrated circuit memory device comprising:

providing an integrated circuit memory device having a plurality of at least four arrays of a plurality of memory cells, each array of memory cells being substantially equally spaced from an adjacent array of memory cells, each array of memory cells including a plurality of memory cells and at least four pairs of digitlines, each pair of digitlines including a first digitline and a second digitline, the first digitline and the second digitline being substantially vertically aligned in an upper conductive level and a lower conductive level of the memory device, the first digitline and second digitline of each pair of digitlines each connected to an equal number of the memory cells in each array of the plurality of memory cells; and

electrically balancing the first digitline and the second digitline of each digitline pair of the at least four pairs of digitlines to balance the electrical noise therebetween by twisting the first digitline and the second digitline of a pair of digitlines of the at least four pairs of digitlines between arrays of the at least four arrays of memory cells in a twist region located between each array of the plurality of at least four arrays of memory cells, the first pair and the third pair of digitlines of the at least four pairs of digitlines twisted in the twist region located between the first array of memory cells and the second array of memory cells and twisted in the twist region located between the third array of memory cells and the fourth array of memory cells while the second pair of digitlines and the fourth pair of the at least four pairs of digitlines are twisted in the twist region located between the second array of memory cells and the third array of memory cells.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electrically balancing comprises:

coupling an equal number of memory cells to the portion of one of the first digitline and the second digit line of a pair of digitlines when located in a lower conductive level of an array of the plurality of at least four arrays of memory cells.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

isolating adjacent memory cells of an array of the plurality of at least four arrays of memory cells using an isolation region comprising isolation transistors, each isolation transistor having a gate biased to predetermined voltage.