A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.
The subject of an example of the present invention is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which a memory cell array is composed of a plurality of blocks. The respective blocks have block addresses different from one another, and a row address of the word line within one block is the same as a row address of the word line within another block.
In such a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, there are provided two or more signal lines for supplying the transfer voltage to a plurality of word lines disposed in different blocks and having the same row address.
There is adopted a constitution in which, specifically, a plurality of word lines having the same row address are not connected to common one signal line via the respective transfer transistors, but first and second word lines having the same row address are connected to a first signal line and a second signal line, respectively.
According to such constitution, even if a pitch in the column direction of the transfer transistor becomes larger than a pitch of the block (NAND string), a layout of the conductive lines within the word line driver does not become complicated, and therefore it is possible to avoid increase of the parasitic capacitance.
Embodiments will be described with the NAND type flash memory as an example.
A memory cell array 11 is composed of a plurality of blocks BK1, BK2, . . . BLj. Each of the plurality of blocks BK1, BK2, . . . BLj has a plurality of cell units, and each of the plurality of cell units is composed of a NAND string composed of a plurality of memory cells connected in series, and two select gate transistors connected to both ends of the NAND string one by one.
A data latch circuit 12 has a function to latch data temporarily at the time of read/write, and is composed of, for example, a flip-flop circuit. An I/O (input/output) buffer 13 functions as an interface circuit of the data, and an address buffer 14 functions as an interface circuit of an address signal.
The address signals include a block address signal, a row address signal and a column address signal.
A row decoder 15 selects one of the plurality of blocks BK1, BK2, . . . BLj based on the block address signal, and then selects one of the plurality of word lines within the selected block based on the row address signal. A word line driver 17 drives the plurality of word lines within the selected block.
A column decoder 16 selects one of a plurality of bit lines based on the column address signal.
A substrate voltage control circuit 18 controls voltage of a semiconductor substrate. Specifically, a double well region composed of an n-type well region and a p-type well region is formed within a p-type semiconductor substrate. When the memory cell is formed within the p-type well region, the substrate voltage control circuit 18 controls the voltage of the p-type well region in accordance with an operation mode.
For example, the substrate voltage control circuit 18, at the time of read/write, sets the p-type well region to 0V, while at the time of erase, sets the p-type well region to voltage of 15V or more and 40V or less.
A voltage generating circuit 19 generates voltage for controlling the word line driver 17, and further generates the transfer voltage supplied to the plurality of word lines within the selected block.
A transfer voltage selector 24 selects values of the transfer voltage supplied to each of the plurality of word lines within the selected block based on information such as an operation mode and a position of the selected word line.
For example, at the time of write, a write voltage as the transfer voltage is supplied to the selected word line within the selected block, while a pass voltage lower than the write voltage as the transfer voltage is supplied to a non-selected word line within the selected block.
Further, at the time of read, a read voltage as the transfer voltage is supplied to the selected word line within the selected block, while voltage higher than the read voltage as the transfer voltage is supplied to a non-selected word line within the selected block.
A control circuit 20 controls, for example, operations of the substrate voltage control circuit 18 and the voltage generating circuit 19.
The memory cell array 11 is composed of a plurality of blocks BK1, BK2 . . . arranged in the column direction.
The respective blocks have a plurality of cell units arranged in the row direction. Each of the plurality of cell units is composed of a NAND string composed of a plurality of memory cells MC connected in series, and two select gate transistors ST connected to both ends of the NAND string one by one.
The cell unit has, for example, a layout as shown in
One end of the cell unit is connected to bit lines BL1, BL2, . . . BLm, and the other end thereof is connected to a source line SL.
A plurality of word lines WL1, . . . WLn and a plurality of select gate lines SGS1, SGD1, . . . are arranged on the memory cell array 11.
For example, n (n is plural number) word lines WL1, . . . WLn and two select gate lines SGS1 and SGD1 are arranged within the block BK1. The word lines WL1, . . . WLn and the select gate lines SGS1 and SGD1 extend in the row direction, and each of them is connected to signal lines (control gate line) CG1, . . . CGn and signal lines SGSV1 and SGDV1 via a transfer transistor unit 21 (BK1) within the word line driver 17 (DRV1).
The signal lines CG1, . . . CGn, SGSV1 and SGDV1 extend in the column direction crossing the row direction respectively, and are connected to a transfer voltage selector 24.
A transfer transistor unit 21 (BK1) is composed of a high voltage type MISFET so as to transfer the transfer voltage higher than source voltage Vcc.
A booster 22 within the word line driver 17 (DRV1) receives a decode signal outputted from the row decoder 15. The booster 22 turns the transfer transistor unit 21 (BK1) ON when the block BK1 is selected, while the booster 22 turns the transfer transistor unit 21 (BK1) OFF when the block BK1 is not selected.
A NAND string 23 within the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . is composed of a plurality of memory cells connected in series. In the present example, the NAND string 23 is assumed to be constituted from six memory cells. In this case, six word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are arranged within one block.
The word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are formed, for example, on a wiring layer M0 on the semiconductor substrate.
The transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . corresponding to the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . are arranged at one end side of the memory cell array 11. Further, the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . are composed of MISFETs, and all of them are oriented in the same direction. That is, a transfer transistor Tr is arranged with the layout in which a transfer channel direction (channel length direction) of the transfer voltage is the column direction.
Signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 are arranged on the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), Further, the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 and the transfer transistor Tr are connected to one another by the conductive line 25.
The conductive line 25 is, for example, formed on the wiring layer M1 on the wiring layer M0, and the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 are, for example, formed on the wiring layer M2 on the wiring layer M1.
Here, the size Ly in the column direction of the transfer transistor Tr is the same as or smaller than the size Ln in the column direction of the NAND string 23.
For this reason, in the present example, six transfer transistors Tr corresponding to six word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within one block are simply laid out in one line within width Ln in the column direction of the NAND string 23.
In this case, the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 can be arranged just above the six transfer transistors Tr within the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . . In other words, it is possible to adopt the layout in which one of the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 is arranged just above one transfer transistor Tr within the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2),
Therefore, the conductive line 25 for connecting the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 and the transfer transistor Tr has a short and simple layout.
Development of shrinkage of the transfer transistor accompanied with the advanced micro-fabrication technology is slower than development of shrinkage of the memory cell, so that, in most of the existing NAND type flash memories, the size Ly in the column direction of the transfer transistor Tr becomes larger than the size Ln in the column direction of the NAND string 23.
For this reason, it is not possible to simply lay out the six transfer transistors Tr corresponding to the six word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within one block in one line within the width Ln in the column direction of the NAND string 23.
Consequently, in the present example, the size Ly in the column direction of the transfer transistor Tr multiplied by 3 is the same as or smaller than the size Ln in the column direction of the NAND string 23 multiplied by 4.
In this case, the array of the transfer transistor Tr becomes 3 (column direction)×8 (row direction) with respect to four NAND strings 23 in the column direction. Further, the layout of the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . corresponding to the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . becomes irregular.
As a result, when the number of the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 remains in six, physically, it is not possible to arrange one of the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 just above the whole transfer transistors Tr.
For this reason, the conductive line 25 for connecting the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 to the transfer transistor Tr has a long and complicated layout.
Further, since the conductive line 25 exists in a lower layer (semiconductor substrate side) than the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, that the conductive line 25 becomes long means that the parasitic capacitance generated therein increases.
Since increase of the parasitic capacitance lowers signal speed, it is not preferable for improvement of write/read speed that the conductive line 25 becomes long and complicated.
Characteristics of the first embodiment are that the number of the signal lines extending in the column direction and leading the transfer voltage to the word lines is more than those of the first and second comparative examples.
Specifically, two or more signal lines are provided to a plurality of word lines having the same row address. However, it is acceptable as long as this condition is satisfied for at least one word line within the block. That is, when the number of the word lines within the block is six, there must be seven or more signal lines in the first embodiment.
As in the first and second comparative examples, it is assumed that the NAND string 23 within the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . is composed of six memory cells. Therefore, six word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are arranged within one block.
The word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are formed on, for example, the wiring layer M0 on the semiconductor substrate.
The transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . are arranged at one end side of the memory cell array 11 corresponding to the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . . Further, the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . are composed of the MISFET.
Here, all orientation of the transfer transistor Tr, like the first and second comparative examples, is caused to be the same, and the transfer channel direction (channel length direction) of the transfer voltage is caused to be the column direction.
The signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ are arranged on the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . . The number of the signal line corresponding to the word lines WL1, . . . WL5 is two each, and the number of the signal line corresponding to the word line WL6 is one.
Therefore, total of the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ are eleven.
Further, the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ and the transfer transistor Tr are connected to one another by the conductive line 25.
The conductive line 25 is formed on, for example, the wiring layer M1 on the wiring layer M0, while the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ are formed on, for example, the wiring layer M2 on the wiring layer M1.
Here, like the second comparative example, the array of the transfer transistor Tr becomes 3 (column direction)×8 (row direction) with respect to four NAND strings 23 in the column direction. In this case, like the second comparative example, the layout of the transfer transistor units 21 (BK1), 21 (BK2), . . . corresponding to the blocks BK1, BK2, . . . becomes irregular.
However, in the first embodiment, there are provided two signal lines each corresponding to the word lines WL1, . . . WL5.
As a result, it is possible to arrange the signal lines adjacent to and connected to the respective transfer transistors Tr, and therefore the conductive line 25 for connecting the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ and the transfer transistor Tr has a short and simple layout.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve improvement in the write/read speed, without increasing the parasitic capacitance generated in the conductive line 25.
Meanwhile, with respect to the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG5, and the signal lines CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′, the transfer voltage may be supplied to the both at the same time, or may be supplied to only one of the both.
Since the second embodiment is an application example of the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes all the characteristics of the first embodiment. Therefore, here, only different portion from the first embodiment will be described.
The second embodiment further adds a CG (control gate line) decoder 26 to a circuit of the first embodiment.
That is, in the case of
The CG decoders 24′, 26 have a function to supply the transfer voltage only to the signal line connected to the word line within the selected block.
For example, when the block BK1 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within the block BK1 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
Further, when the block BK2 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within the block BK2 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′, CG6 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
Thus, it is possible to suppress increase of the parasitic capacitance caused by increase in the number of the signal line, in such a way that the transfer voltage is not outputted to the signal line connected to the non-selected blocks.
Since the third embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment, description with respect to the same part as the first embodiment will be omitted.
The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the number of the signal line.
In the third embodiment, since there exist two signal lines each corresponding to the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6, total of the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG6′ are twelve.
Thus, it is possible to suppress variations in characteristics relating to the word line in such a way that the number of the signal lines is made m (m is natural number of 2 or more) times the number of the word line within one block.
Further, the conductive line 25 for connecting the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG6′ to the transfer transistor Tr has a short and simple layout.
Since the fourth embodiment is an application example of the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment includes all the characteristics of the third embodiment. Therefore, here, only different portion from the third embodiment will be described.
The fourth embodiment further adds a CG decoder 26 to the circuit of the third embodiment.
That is, in the case of
The CG decoders 24′, 26 have a function to supply the transfer voltage only to the signal lines connected to the word lines within the selected block.
For example, when the block BK1 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within the block BK1 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
Further, when the block BK2 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 within the block BK2 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG6′ from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
Thus, it is possible to suppress increase of the parasitic capacitance caused by increase in the number of the signal line, in such a way that the transfer voltage is not outputted to the signal line connected to the non-selected blocks.
The fifth embodiment relates to a device structure.
An element isolation insulating layer 32 with an STI (shallow trench isolation) structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate 31. The MISFET as the transfer transistor Tr is formed on the semiconductor substrate (element region) 31 surrounded by the element isolation insulating layer 32.
The transfer transistor Tr is composed of a source/drain diffusion layer 33, a gate insulating layer 34 on the channel between the source/drain diffusion layers 33, and a gate electrode 35 on the gate insulating layer 34.
A gate conductive line 36 is connected to the gate electrode 35. The gate conductive line 36 is made of metal and formed in the wiring layer M0.
Also the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are made of metal and formed within the wiring layer M0. Further, the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are constituted from conductive polysilicon (control gate electrode of memory cell) within the memory cell array.
The metal and the conductive polysilicon as the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WL6 are coupled to one another by a contact plug at an edge part of the memory cell array.
The conductive lines 25′, 25 formed within the wiring layers M0, M1 electrically connect the transfer transistor Tr with the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, CG5′. The signal lines CG1, CG2, CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ are formed on the wiring layer M2.
Both the conductive lines 25′, 25 and the signal lines CG1, CG2, . . . CG6, CG1′, CG2′, . . . CG5′ are made of metal.
The sixth embodiment relates to positional relationship between the memory cell array and the word line driver.
Characteristics of the sixth embodiment are that the word line drivers 17 (DRV1), 17 (DRV2), . . . each is arranged at both ends of the memory cell array 11.
The word line driver 17 (DRV1) drives the word lines WL1, WL2, . . . WLn within the block BK1. Similarly, the word line drivers 17 (DRV2), 17 (DRV3), 17 (DRV4), . . . drive the word lines within the blocks BK2, BK3, BK4,
Here, in
Further, in the case of
The CG decoders 24′, 26 supply the transfer voltage only to the signal line connected to the word line within the selected block.
For example, when the block BK1 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines WL11, WL12, . . . WL1n within the block BK1 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1L, CG2L, . . . CG6L at left side of the memory cell array 11 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
When the block BK2 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines within the block BK2 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1′L, CG2′L, . . . CG6′L at left side of the memory cell array 11 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
When the block BK3 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines within the block BK3 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1R, CG2R, . . . CG6R at right side of the memory cell array 11 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
When the block BK4 is selected, the transfer voltage transferred to the word lines within the block BK4 is selectively outputted to the signal lines CG1′R, CG2′R, . . . CG6′R at right side of the memory cell array 11 from the CG decoders 24′, 26.
According to such constitution, since the word line drivers 17 (DRV1), 17 (DRV2), . . . each is arranged at both ends of the memory cell array 11, as compared with
The examples of the present invention are not limited by the number of the memory cell constituting the NAND string. Also, the orientation of the MISFET within the transfer transistor unit is not limited to that in the above described embodiments.
For example, the transfer transistor may also have the transfer channel direction (channel length direction) of the transfer voltage in row direction. Further, the transfer transistor unit may be constituted in such a way that the MISFET having the transfer channel of the transfer voltage in the column direction is combined with the MISFET having the transfer channel of the transfer voltage in the row direction.
Further, wiring layer in which the word lines are formed, wiring layer in which the signal lines are formed, and wiring layer in which the conductive lines are different from each other. However, it is not limited to this.
For example, a whole or part of the wiring layer in which the word lines are formed and a whole or part of the wiring layer in which the conductive lines for connecting the word lines and the signal lines are formed may be formed in the same wiring layer.
Although the above embodiments have described the NAND type flash memory, the examples of the present invention are applicable to whole types of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which the memory cell array is composed of a plurality of blocks.
According to the examples of the present invention, it is possible to suppress generation of the parasitic capacitance by simplifying the layout of the conductive line within the word line driver.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-286913 | Oct 2006 | JP | national |