Three-dimensional memory structures having shared pillar memory cells
First Claim
1. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
- a first set of array lines elongated in a first direction;
a second set of array lines elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the second set of array lines being vertically separated from the first set of array lines; and
a set of pillars in communication with the first set of array lines and the second set of array lines, each pillar of the set of pillars including a first end surface and a second end surface, the first end surface connecting to one array line of the first set of array lines, the second end surface having a first portion connecting to one array line of the second set of array lines and a second portion connecting to a different array line of the second set of array lines, said each pillar including a first non-volatile storage element having a state change element and a steering element and a second non-volatile storage element having a state change element and a steering element, the first portion of the second end surface of said each pillar having a dimension in the first direction that is less than a dimension of the array lines of the second set in the first direction, the second portion of the second end surface of said each pillar having a dimension in the first direction that is less than the dimension of the array lines of the second set in the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional non-volatile memory system is disclosed including a memory array utilizing shared pillar structures for memory cell formation. A shared pillar structure includes two non-volatile storage elements. A first end surface of each pillar contacts one array line from a first set of array lines and a second end surface of each pillar contacts two array lines from a second set of array lines that is vertically separated from the first set of array lines. Each pillar includes a first subset of layers that are divided into portions for the individual storage elements in the pillar. Each pillar includes a second subset of layers that is shared between both non-volatile storage elements formed in the pillar. The individual storage elements each include a steering element and a state change element.
40 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first set of array lines elongated in a first direction; a second set of array lines elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the second set of array lines being vertically separated from the first set of array lines; and a set of pillars in communication with the first set of array lines and the second set of array lines, each pillar of the set of pillars including a first end surface and a second end surface, the first end surface connecting to one array line of the first set of array lines, the second end surface having a first portion connecting to one array line of the second set of array lines and a second portion connecting to a different array line of the second set of array lines, said each pillar including a first non-volatile storage element having a state change element and a steering element and a second non-volatile storage element having a state change element and a steering element, the first portion of the second end surface of said each pillar having a dimension in the first direction that is less than a dimension of the array lines of the second set in the first direction, the second portion of the second end surface of said each pillar having a dimension in the first direction that is less than the dimension of the array lines of the second set in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 25, 26, 27)
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10. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first conductor; a second conductor vertically-separated from the first conductor; a third conductor vertically-separated from the first conductor, the third conductor being substantially parallel to the second conductor; a pillar including a first non-volatile storage element and a second non-volatile storage element, the pillar having a first end surface and a second end surface, the first end surface being in contact with the first conductor, the second end surface having a first portion in contact with the second conductor and a second portion in contact with the third conductor; a first non-volatile storage element formed in the pillar, the first non-volatile storage element including a first diode and a first state change element, the first diode having a first electrode terminating at the first end surface of the pillar and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a first semiconductor region, the first electrode having a dimension in a first direction that is less than a dimension of the first conductor in the first direction; and a second non-volatile storage element formed in the pillar, the second non-volatile storage element including a second diode and a second state change element, the second diode sharing the first electrode with the first diode and having a third electrode separated from the first electrode by the first semiconductor region. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 28, 29)
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15. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first set of conductors elongated in a first direction; a second set of conductors elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the second set of conductors vertically separated from the first set of conductors; a first pillar having a first end surface in contact with a first conductor of the first set of conductors and a second end surface in contact with a first conductor of the second set of conductors and a second conductor of the second set of conductors; a first diode formed in the first pillar having a first electrode terminating at the first end surface and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by at least a first semiconductor region; a second diode formed in the first pillar sharing the first electrode with the first diode and having a third electrode separated from the first electrode by at least the first semiconductor region; a second pillar adjacent to the first pillar in the second direction, the second pillar having a first end surface in contact with a second conductor of the first set of conductors, the second pillar having a second end surface in contact with the first conductor of the second set of conductors and the second conductor of the second set of conductors; a third diode formed in the second pillar having a fourth electrode terminating at the first end surface of the second pillar and a fifth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least a second semiconductor region, the fourth electrode of the second pillar being physically separate from the first electrode of the first pillar; and a fourth diode formed in the second pillar sharing the fourth electrode with the third diode and having a sixth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least the second semiconductor region. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first set of conductors elongated in a first direction; a second set of conductors elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the second set of conductors vertically separated from the first set of conductors; a first pillar having a first end surface in contact with a first conductor of the first set of conductors and a second end surface in contact with a first conductor of the second set of conductors and a second conductor of the second set of conductors; a first diode formed in the first pillar having a first electrode terminating at the first end surface and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by at least a first semiconductor region; a second diode formed in the first pillar sharing the first electrode with the first diode and having a third electrode separated from the first electrode by at least the first semiconductor region; a second pillar having a first end surface in contact with a second conductor of the first set of conductors, the second pillar having a second end surface in contact with the second conductor of the second set of conductors and a third conductor of the second set of conductors, the second end surface is not in contact with the first conductor of the second set of conductors; a third diode formed in the second pillar having a fourth electrode terminating at the first end surface of the second pillar and a fifth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least a second semiconductor region, the fourth electrode of the second pillar being physically separate from the first electrode of the first pillar; and a fourth diode formed in the second pillar sharing the fourth electrode with the third diode and having a sixth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least the second semiconductor region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first set of conductors elongated in a first direction; a second set of conductors elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the second set of conductors vertically separated from the first set of conductors; a first pillar having a first end surface in contact with a first conductor of the first set of conductors and a second end surface in contact with a first conductor of the second set of conductors and a second conductor of the second set of conductors; a first diode formed in the first pillar having a first electrode terminating at the first end surface and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by at least a first semiconductor region; a second diode formed in the first pillar sharing the first electrode with the first diode and having a third electrode separated from the first electrode by at least the first semiconductor region; a second pillar adjacent to the first pillar in the first direction, the second pillar having a first end surface in contact with the first conductor and a second end surface in contact with a third conductor of the second set of conductors and a fourth conductor of the second set of conductors; a third diode formed in the second pillar having a fourth electrode terminating at the first end surface of the second pillar and a fifth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least a second semiconductor region, the fourth electrode of the second pillar being physically separate from the first electrode of the first pillar; and a fourth diode formed in the second pillar sharing the fourth electrode with the third diode and having a sixth electrode separated from the fourth electrode by at least the second semiconductor region. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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a first array line elongated in a first direction over a substrate; a second array line elongated in a second direction over the substrate and vertically separated from the first array line, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction; a third array line elongated in the second direction over the substrate and vertically separated from the first array line, the second array line and the third array line being substantially coplanar and substantially parallel array lines; a pillar having a first end surface in contact with the first array line and a second end surface with a first portion in contact with the second array line and a second portion in contact with the third array line; a first state change element formed in the pillar and terminating at the first portion of the second end surface; a second state change element formed in the pillar and terminating at the second portion of the second end surface, the first state change element and the second state change element being separated in the first direction by a dielectric material; a first diode in series with the first state change element, the first diode having a first electrode terminating at the first end surface of the pillar and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a first intrinsic region and a second intrinsic region; and a second diode in series with the second state change element, the second diode sharing the first electrode with the first diode and having a third electrode separated from the first electrode by the first intrinsic region and a third intrinsic region, the second electrode and the third electrode being separated in the first direction by the dielectric material. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification