This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application serial no. 2020-000217, filed on Jan. 6, 2020. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The disclosure relates to a resistive random-access memory device using a resistive random-access memory cell, particularly to a three-dimensional structure of an array including a resistive random-access memory cell.
In a resistive random-access memory (RRAM), a memory cell can be randomly selected in accordance with a row address and a column address, and data can be read from or written to the selected memory cell. A technique for manufacturing a resistive random-access memory using a three-dimensional structure in order to achieve high integration has been disclosed in, for example, US Patent Laid Open No. 2017/0330916. As shown in
The disclosure provides a resistive random-access memory device having an improved three-dimensional structure.
A random-access memory device of the disclosure includes: multiple vertical members, extending in a vertical direction with respect to a main surface of a substrate and including a first conductivity type semiconductor material; multiple horizontal members, extending in a horizontal direction with respect to the main surface of the substrate and including a semiconductive material; and a memory cell, formed at each intersection of the vertical members and the horizontal members. The memory cell includes a gate insulating film formed on an outer periphery of the vertical members, a semiconductor film formed on an outer periphery of the gate insulating film and including a second conductivity type semiconductor material, and a variable resistance film formed on a part of an outer periphery of the semiconductor film. An electrode region of an outer periphery of the variable resistance film is connected to one of a pair of horizontal members adjacent to each other, and the semiconductor film is connected to the other of the pair of horizontal members adjacent to each other.
The disclosure provides a resistive random-access memory including a stacked memory cell array (that is, a memory cell array having a three-dimensional structure). The resistive random-access memory of the disclosure is not only capable of randomly accessing a memory cell but also capable of simultaneously accessing multiple memory cells. A memory cell formed with a three-dimensional structure includes an access transistor between a pair of bit lines and a variable resistance element formed on one side of the access transistor. Among the memory cells in a row direction, adjacent memory cells share a bit line therebetween. Memory cell selection is performed so that when one of the memory cells is selected, the other memory cell becomes unselected, and it is prevented that an undesired sneak path is formed in a selected bit line connected to the selected memory cell.
In addition, the memory cell array having a three-dimensional structure of the disclosure can be applied to a crossbar array or a crossbar memory. The crossbar array is used as a device for constituting a neural network as artificial intelligence (AI) hardware.
The pillar 200 includes, for example, an N-type polysilicon material, and are electrically connected to corresponding word lines. As shown in
The bit line 210 includes, for example, an N-type polysilicon material. At the intersection with the pillar 200, one bit line 210 is electrically connected to the outer electrode layer of the variable resistance element 226, and the other bit line 210 is connected to the semiconductor film 224 not covered by the variable resistance element 226.
One example of a method for manufacturing the memory cell shown in
Next, a mask layer (not shown) is formed on the interlayer insulating film 234 by lithography. The shape and size of the mask layer define an outer shape of the pillar 200. For example, if the pillar 200 has a columnar shape, a circular opening pattern is formed in a portion of the mask layer where the pillar 200 is to be formed. By performing anisotropic etching using the mask layer on the interlayer insulating films 230, 232 and 234 and the bit lines 210A and 210B that are laminated together, an opening 240 having a cylindrical shape as shown in
Next, the mask layer is removed, and a material layer 250 of a variable resistance element is formed on the entire surface, as shown in
Next, the mask layer is removed, and a P+ polysilicon material 260 is formed on the entire surface, as shown in
Next, the mask layer is removed, and an insulating material 270 such as SiO2 or the like is formed on the entire surface, as shown in
Next, the mask layer is removed, and an N+ polysilicon material 280 is formed on the entire surface, as shown in
Referring to
The control circuit 160 includes hardware and/or software, and controls the operation of each part. In a certain embodiment, the control circuit 160 includes a microcontroller, microprocessor, or state machine that includes a read-only memory (ROM) or random-access memory (RAM), and controls the read operation, the write operation (set or reset) or the like by, for example, executing software stored in the ROM or RAM. In addition, the control circuit 160 is connected to each part through the internal data bus 170, provides data (including addresses) received from the outside to each part, and outputs the read data received from the sensing circuit 140 to the outside.
Details of operation of a resistive random-access memory of the present embodiment are described.
On a current path K0 between the bit line BL0 and the semiconductor film 224, a resistance component R0 formed by the variable resistance element 226 is formed. A current path K1 between the bit line BL1 and the semiconductor film 224 is a low resistance region formed by N-type polysilicon.
A memory cell MC1 adjacent to the selected memory cell MC0 in the row direction shares the bit line BL1 with the selected memory cell MC0, while a word line WL1 is not selected (a GND potential or a voltage lower than a threshold is applied to the word line WL1). No inversion layer is formed in the semiconductor film 224, and an access transistor of the memory cell MC1 remains off. Therefore, the bit line BL1 is actually isolated from the unselected memory cell MC1 and the formation of a sneak current path is avoided.
In addition, a memory cell MC2 adjacent to the selected memory cell MC0 in a column direction shares the bit line pair BL0/BL1 with the selected memory cell MC0, while a word line WL2 is unselected. A PN barrier is formed between the bit line pair BL0/BL1 and the semiconductor film 224, and an access transistor remains off. Therefore, the bit line pair BL0/BL1 is actually isolated from the unselected memory cell MC2 (and also the other unselected memory cells that share the bit line pair BL0/BL1 in the column direction), and the formation of sneak current paths is avoided.
A write operation on the selected memory cell MC0 is described. The write/read bias circuit 150 performs set writing or reset writing on the selected memory cell MC0 according to the write data from the control circuit 160. In the set writing, the row select drive circuit 120 applies a write voltage Vset to the selected word line WL0 and applies GND to an unselected word line. The write/read bias circuit 150 applies a set write voltage Vs (Vset>Vs) to one selected bit line BL0, and applies GND to the other selected bit line BL1. Accordingly, a voltage is applied from the bit line BL0 to the bit line BL1, and the variable resistance element 226, that is, the resistance component R0 on the current path K0, is programmed into a low resistance state.
In the reset writing, a voltage having a different polarity from that in the set writing is applied to the bit line pair BL0/BL1. That is, the row select drive circuit 120 applies a write voltage Vrset to the selected word line WL0 and applies GND to an unselected word line. The write/read bias circuit 150 applies GND to one selected bit line BL0, and applies a reset write voltage Vr (Vrset>Vr) to the other selected bit line BL1. Accordingly, a voltage is applied from the bit line BL1 to the bit line BL0, and the variable resistance element 226, that is, the resistance component R0 on the current path K0, is programmed into a high resistance state.
In the read operation on the selected memory cell MC0, the row select drive circuit 120 applies a read voltage Vread to the selected word line WL0, and applies GND to an unselected word line. The write/read bias circuit 150 applies a read voltage Vb1 to one selected bit line BL0, and applies GND to the other selected bit line BL1. If the variable resistance element 226 is in the low resistance state (set), a large current flows from the selected bit line BL0 to the selected bit line BL1; if the variable resistance element 226 is in the high resistance state (reset), a small current flows from the selected bit line BL0 to the selected bit line BL1. The sensing circuit 140 senses a current or voltage between the selected bit line pair BL0/BL1, and outputs, as the read data, data “0” and data “1” corresponding to a sensing result, to the control circuit 160 via the internal data bus 170.
In the above embodiment, the variable resistance element 226 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape. However, this is only an example, and the variable resistance element 226 may have any shape as long as it at least includes a region in electrical contact with the bit line BL0. In addition, in the above embodiment, the variable resistance element 226 is connected to the bit line BL0, and the semiconductor film 224 is connected to the bit line BL1. However, this is only an example, and the semiconductor film 224 may be connected to the bit line BL0, and the variable resistance element 226 may be connected to the bit line BL1.
A second embodiment of the disclosure is described. The above embodiment shows an example of randomly accessing one memory cell, and the second embodiment relates to an array configuration in which multiple memory cells can be simultaneously accessed. Such array configuration is suitable for a so-called crossbar array.
When one word line is selected by the row select drive circuit 120, the access transistors of multiple memory cells connected to the selected word line are simultaneously turned on, and multiple data stored in the multiple memory cells can be collectively read, or multiple data can be collectively written to the multiple memory cells. Such input and output of multiple data can be used in, for example, a matrix operation of a crossbar array.
Even if a bit line is shared between adjacent memory cells in the row direction, since an unselected memory cell is present between selected memory cells, and the access transistor of the unselected memory cell is turned off, the bit line pair of the selected memory cell is not interfered by the unselected memory cell, and a desired bias can be applied. In addition, although omitted from illustration, the access transistor of the unselected memory cell that shares the bit line with the selected memory cell in the column direction is also turned off. Therefore, the selected bit line pair of the selected memory cell is not interfered by the unselected memory cell, and the formation of an undesired sneak current path is suppressed.
In a certain embodiment, an insulating layer 330 is formed on the silicon substrate 300, a conductive layer 340 is formed on the insulating layer 330, and the memory cell array 310 is formed on the conductive layer 340. The conductive layer 340 provides, for example, a common source (GND potential) or power supply line of the memory cell array 310. The conductive layer 340 includes, for example, an N-type polysilicon layer, or a laminate of a metal layer and an N-type polysilicon layer. By forming the peripheral circuit 320 on the silicon substrate 300 and laminating the memory cell array 310 thereabove, two-dimensional area of a memory chip can be reduced.
A random-access memory device of the disclosure includes: multiple vertical members, extending in a vertical direction with respect to a main surface of a substrate and including a first conductivity type semiconductor material; multiple horizontal members, extending in a horizontal direction with respect to the main surface of the substrate and including a semiconductive material; and a memory cell, formed at each intersection of the vertical members and the horizontal members. The memory cell includes a gate insulating film formed on an outer periphery of the vertical members, a semiconductor film formed on an outer periphery of the gate insulating film and including a second conductivity type semiconductor material, and a variable resistance film formed on a part of an outer periphery of the semiconductor film. An electrode region of an outer periphery of the variable resistance film is connected to one of a pair of horizontal members adjacent to each other, and the semiconductor film is connected to the other of the pair of horizontal members adjacent to each other.
According to the disclosure, the memory cell is formed at each intersection of the vertical members and the horizontal members. The memory cell is formed so that the electrode region of the outer periphery of the variable resistance film is connected to one horizontal member, and the semiconductor film is connected to the other horizontal member.
Accordingly, a random-access memory device can be provided in which the three-dimensional structure of the memory cell array is simplified and the manufacturing steps are simplified.
Although the embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail, the disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments, and may be modified or altered within the scope of the gist of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
JP2020-000217 | Jan 2020 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4974060 | Ogasawara | Nov 1990 | A |
8547720 | Samachisa et al. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
9054308 | Zhang | Jun 2015 | B1 |
9853053 | Lupino | Dec 2017 | B2 |
10157909 | Or-Bach | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10224279 | Or-Bach | Mar 2019 | B2 |
10354995 | Or-Bach | Jul 2019 | B2 |
10388863 | Or-Bach | Aug 2019 | B2 |
10600657 | Or-Bach | Mar 2020 | B2 |
10700129 | Ando | Jun 2020 | B2 |
11157805 | Yajima | Oct 2021 | B2 |
20100270529 | Lung | Oct 2010 | A1 |
20130234095 | Baba | Sep 2013 | A1 |
20130328005 | Shin et al. | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20170271007 | Suzuki | Sep 2017 | A1 |
20170330916 | Hong et al. | Nov 2017 | A1 |
20180218775 | Kim | Aug 2018 | A1 |
20190221277 | Reznicek | Jul 2019 | A1 |
20190348465 | Ando | Nov 2019 | A1 |
20200013791 | Or-Bach | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200013800 | Or-Bach | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200194668 | Sato | Jun 2020 | A1 |
20210217473 | Cho | Jul 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
100411179 | Aug 2008 | CN |
I660463 | May 2019 | TW |
Entry |
---|
Office Action of Taiwan Counterpart Application, dated Jul. 7, 2021, pp. 1-8. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20210210555 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |