Word line arrangement having multi-layer word line segments for three-dimensional memory array
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit comprising a three-dimensional passive element memory cell array, said memory array comprising a plurality of segmented word lines, each segmented word line comprising at least one word line segment on each of at least two word line layers that are connected together, said memory array comprising memory cells respectively formed between a word line segment disposed on a word line layer and respective bit lines disposed on each of two associated bit line layers, each bit line layer being associated with at most one word line layer.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) passive element memory cell array provides short word lines while still maintaining a small support circuit area for efficiency. Short, low resistance word line segments on two or more word line layers are connected together in parallel to form a given word line without use of segment switch devices between the word line segments. A shared vertical connection preferably connects the word line segments together and connects to a word line driver circuit disposed generally below the array near the word line. Each word line driver circuit preferably couples its word line either to an associated one of a plurality of selected bias lines or to an unselected bias line associated with the driver circuit, which selected bias lines are themselves decoded to provide for an efficient multi-headed word line decoder.
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Citations
47 Claims
- 1. An integrated circuit comprising a three-dimensional passive element memory cell array, said memory array comprising a plurality of segmented word lines, each segmented word line comprising at least one word line segment on each of at least two word line layers that are connected together, said memory array comprising memory cells respectively formed between a word line segment disposed on a word line layer and respective bit lines disposed on each of two associated bit line layers, each bit line layer being associated with at most one word line layer.
- 24. An integrated circuit comprising a three-dimensional programmable memory array having at least two word line layers, said memory array comprising a plurality of segmented word lines, each segmented word line comprising at least one word line segment on every word line layer.
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35. A method for programming a three-dimensional passive element memory cell array, said memory array comprising a plurality of segmented word lines, each segmented word line comprising at least one word line segment on each of at least two word line layers that are connected together, said memory array comprising memory cells respectively formed between a word line segment disposed on a word line layer and respective bit lines disposed on each of two associated bit line layers, each bit line layer being associated with at most one word line layer, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a word line in the array;
selecting at least two bit lines associated with the selected word line;
coupling the selected word line to a source of a suitable programming bias level;
coupling each of the selected bit lines to either a suitable programming bias level or an inhibit bias level in accordance with a respective data bit to be programmed, to thereby simultaneously program multiple memory cells coupled to the selected word line. - View Dependent Claims (36, 43, 45, 46, 47)
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- 37. A computer readable medium encoding an integrated circuit, said encoded integrated circuit comprising a three-dimensional passive element memory cell array, said memory array comprising a plurality of segmented word lines, each segmented word line comprising at least one word line segment on each of at least two word line layers that are connected together, said memory array comprising memory cells respectively formed between a word line segment disposed on a word line layer and respective bit lines disposed on each of two associated bit line layers, each bit line layer being associated with at most one word line layer.
Specification