Three-dimensional array of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements having vertical bit lines
First Claim
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1. A re-programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory, comprising:
- a plurality of planes stacked on top of one another over a semiconductor substrate, in each one of the planes, a plurality of word lines elongated in a x-direction and spaced apart in a y-direction across the plane;
a plurality of local bit lines extending from the substrate in a z-direction through the plurality of planes, arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular array in the x and y-directions and positioned through the planes between the word lines in the y-direction, the word line and the local bit lines therefore crossing adjacent each other at a plurality of crossings in the plurality of planes, wherein the x, y and z-directions are orthogonal with each other as three-dimensional rectangular coordinates;
a plurality of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements, each non-volatile memory element connected between a corresponding word line and corresponding local bit lines adjacent corresponding crossings, each non-volatile memory elements having a detectable electrical characteristic that reversibly changes between at least two stable states in response to electrical stimuli applied thereto;
a plurality of select devices formed in the substrates, each select device able to connect a corresponding one of the local bit lines to a corresponding one of global bines formed in the substrate;
word line select circuits for addressing one or more word line of one or more groups of the plurality of non-volatile memory elements to be reset; and
a control circuit formed in the substrate to connect, wherein in response to control signals, including addresses of one or more groups of the plurality of memory elements to be reset, selected ones of the plurality of local bit lines to the plurality of global bit lines in a manner that for each global bit line at least two local bit lines adjacent to each other are connected to said global bit line at a same time, said two local bit lines connected each via a single memory element to a same corresponding selected word line.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional array especially adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes.
106 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A re-programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory, comprising:
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a plurality of planes stacked on top of one another over a semiconductor substrate, in each one of the planes, a plurality of word lines elongated in a x-direction and spaced apart in a y-direction across the plane; a plurality of local bit lines extending from the substrate in a z-direction through the plurality of planes, arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular array in the x and y-directions and positioned through the planes between the word lines in the y-direction, the word line and the local bit lines therefore crossing adjacent each other at a plurality of crossings in the plurality of planes, wherein the x, y and z-directions are orthogonal with each other as three-dimensional rectangular coordinates; a plurality of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements, each non-volatile memory element connected between a corresponding word line and corresponding local bit lines adjacent corresponding crossings, each non-volatile memory elements having a detectable electrical characteristic that reversibly changes between at least two stable states in response to electrical stimuli applied thereto; a plurality of select devices formed in the substrates, each select device able to connect a corresponding one of the local bit lines to a corresponding one of global bines formed in the substrate; word line select circuits for addressing one or more word line of one or more groups of the plurality of non-volatile memory elements to be reset; and a control circuit formed in the substrate to connect, wherein in response to control signals, including addresses of one or more groups of the plurality of memory elements to be reset, selected ones of the plurality of local bit lines to the plurality of global bit lines in a manner that for each global bit line at least two local bit lines adjacent to each other are connected to said global bit line at a same time, said two local bit lines connected each via a single memory element to a same corresponding selected word line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a re-programmable non-volatile memory system, comprising:
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utilizing at least one integrated circuit that includes a three-dimensional pattern of memory elements defined by rectangular coordinates having orthogonal x, y and z-directions and which includes; a plurality of parallel planes stacked in the z-direction on top of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of conductive local bit lines elongated in the z-direction through the plurality of planes and arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular array in the x and y-directions, in each plane a plurality of word lines elongated in the x-direction across the planes and spaced apart in the y-direction between and separated from the plurality of local bit lines in the planes, wherein the local bit lines and word lines cross adjacent each other at a plurality of crossing across the planes, a plurality of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements, each non-volatile memory element connected between a corresponding local bit lines and a corresponding word line crossing adjacent each other at an associated crossing of the plurality of locations, the memory elements being individually switchable between at least first and second stable electrically detectable states such that application of a first electrical stimuli thereto causes the memory element to switch from the first state to the second state and application of a second electrical stimuli thereto causes the memory element to switch from the second state to the first state, and a plurality of select devices formed in the substrate, each select device connecting a corresponding one of the of the plurality of local bit lines to a corresponding one of a plurality of global bit lines in response to a corresponding one of selected control signals; applying the select control signal to the plurality of select devices in order to connect corresponding local bit lines to corresponding global bit lines; and causing a selected one or more of the plurality of memory elements to simultaneously change between their at least first and second states by applying one of the first and second stimuli through the word lines and global bit lines between which the selected one or more of the plurality of memory elements are operably connected; wherein applying the select control signals includes applying the select control signals to the plurality of select devices in order to connect a row of local bit lines to the global bit lines, said row being selected and extending in the x-direction; and wherein causing a selected one or more of the plurality of memory elements to simultaneously change between their at least first and second states includes simultaneously resetting to the first state two rows of memory elements associated with and connected to the selected row of local bit lines and along opposite sides thereof in the y-direction by applying the second electrical stimulus to the global bit lines and to two of the word lines adjacent the selected row of local bit lines on said opposite sides thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification