Memory apparatus and method of operation using adaptive erase time compensation for segmented erase
Granted: January 17, 2023
Patent Number:
11557358
A memory apparatus and method of operation is provided. The apparatus includes memory cells connected to word lines and bit lines and arranged in strings and configured to retain a threshold voltage. Each of the memory cells is configured to be erased in an erase operation occurring during an erase time period. A control circuit is configured to adjust at least a portion of the erase time period in response to determining the erase operation is a segmented erase operation and is resumed…
Nonvolatile memory with combined reads
Granted: January 17, 2023
Patent Number:
11557334
An apparatus includes control circuits configured to connect to a plurality of non-volatile memory cells. Each non-volatile memory cell is configured to store a plurality of bits of a plurality of logical pages including at least a first bit of a first logical page, a second bit of a second logical page and a third bit of a third logical page. The control circuits are configured to select a subset of the plurality of logical pages for reading, perform pre-read steps, and read a first and…
Methods to tolerate programming and retention errors of crossbar memory arrays
Granted: January 17, 2023
Patent Number:
11556616
Systems and methods for reducing the impact of defects within a crossbar memory array when performing multiplication operations in which multiple control lines are concurrently selected are described. A group of memory cells within the crossbar memory array may be controlled by a local word line that is controlled by a local word line gating unit that may be configured to prevent the local word line from being biased to a selected word line voltage during an operation; the local word…
Reconfigurable input precision in-memory computing
Granted: January 17, 2023
Patent Number:
11556311
Technology for reconfigurable input precision in-memory computing is disclosed herein. Reconfigurable input precision allows the bit resolution of input data to be changed to meet the requirements of in-memory computing operations. Voltage sources (that may include DACs) provide voltages that represent input data to memory cell nodes. The resolution of the voltage sources may be reconfigured to change the precision of the input data. In one parallel mode, the number of DACs in a DAC node…
Non-volatile memory with speed control
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11551765
A non-volatile memory system adjusts the speed of a memory operation for a subset of non-volatile memory cells. For example, during a GIDL based erase process, the GIDL generation can be dampened for a subset of memory cells (e.g., for a set of NAND strings, or one or more sub-blocks).
Three-dimensional memory device including a composite semiconductor channel and a horizontal source contact layer and method of making the same
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11552100
A three-dimensional memory device includes a source contact layer overlying a substrate, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located overlying the source contact layer, and a memory opening fill structure located within a memory opening extending through the alternating stack and the source contact layer. The memory opening fill structure includes a composite semiconductor channel and a memory film laterally surrounding the composite semiconductor…
Three-dimensional memory device having on-pitch drain select gate electrodes and method of making the same
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11552094
A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and an array of memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, an array of drain-select-level assemblies overlying the alternating stack and having a same two-dimensional periodicity as the array of memory opening fill structures, a first strip electrode portion laterally surrounding a first set of multiple rows of…
Multi-zone plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus and methods for operating the same
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11551961
An apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck and located within a vacuum enclosure. A plurality of conductive plates can be embedded in the electrostatic chuck, and a plurality of plate bias circuits can be configured to independently electrically bias a respective one of the plurality of conductive plates. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of spot lamp zones including a respective set of spot lamps can be provided between a bottom portion of the vacuum enclosure and a backside…
Programming memory cells with concurrent storage of multi-level data as single-level data for power loss protection
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11551781
Apparatuses and techniques are described for programming data in memory cells while concurrently storing backup data. Initial pages of multiple bit per cell data are encoded to obtain at least first and second pages of single bit per cell data. The initial pages of multiple bit per cell data are programmed into a primary set of memory cells, while concurrently the first and second pages of single bit per cell data are programmed into first and second backup sets of memory cells,…
Read and verify methodology and structure to counter gate SiOdependence of non-volatile memory cells
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11551768
A method for programming a target memory cell in a memory array of a non-volatile memory system, the method comprising defining a default read biasing voltage value and a default verify biasing voltage value for each program state of a target memory cell of a memory structure, determining a location of a target memory cell within the memory structure and, based upon the determined location of the target memory cell, applying a first incremental offset voltage to the default read biasing…
Non-volatile memory with program skip for edge word line
Granted: January 10, 2023
Patent Number:
11551761
In a non-volatile memory, a block of NAND strings is divided into sub-blocks by etching the select gate layers between sub-blocks. This results in a subset of NAND strings (e.g., at the border of the sub-blocks) having select gates that are partially etched such that the partially etched select gates are partially shaped as compared to the select gates of NAND strings that have not been etched. Host data is programmed to non-volatile memory cells that are connected to an edge word line…
Charge pump with wide current range
Granted: January 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11545984
A charge pump has a first branch that includes a first node connected between a first pull-up switch and a first pull-down switch and a second branch that includes a second node connected between a second pull-up switch and a second pull-down switch. The second branch is connected in parallel with the first branch. The charge pump has a voltage equalization circuit to equalize a first voltage at the first node and a second voltage at the second node. A third branch includes a third node…
Ferroelectric field effect transistors having enhanced memory window and methods of making the same
Granted: January 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11545506
A ferroelectric transistor includes a semiconductor channel comprising a semiconductor material, a strained and/or defect containing ferroelectric gate dielectric layer located on a surface of the semiconductor channel, a source region located on a first end portion of the semiconductor channel, and a drain region located on a second end portion of the semiconductor channel.
Systems and methods for compensating for erase speed variations due to semi-circle SGD
Granted: January 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11545226
Non-volatile memory systems are disclosed. The memory systems include rows of memory holes FC-SGD and SC-SGD, the latter of which may be created by a SHE cutting operation. The SC-SGD include erase speeds slower than those of FC-SGD. In order to overcome the erase speed disparities, SC-SGD are programmed to a higher Vt as compared to FC-SGD. By programming SC-SGD to a higher Vt, the erase speed increases and matches the erase speed of FC-SGD. Further, different SC-SGDs are cut to…
“Read after erase” method for catching single word line “slow to erase” signature in nonvolatile memory structures
Granted: January 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11545225
A method for detecting a “slow to erase” condition of a non-volatile memory structure, wherein the method comprises initiating an erase/verify memory operation with respect to the memory structure, wherein the erase/verify memory operation comprises applying an erase verify voltage according to an alternating word line scheme; following the erase/verify memory operation, determining if a first bit scan mode criteria is satisfied; and, if the first bit scan mode criteria is satisfied,…
Concurrent programming of multiple cells for non-volatile memory devices
Granted: January 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11545221
Technology is disclosed herein for concurrently programming the same data pattern in multiple sets of non-volatile memory cells. Voltage are applied to bit lines in accordance with a data pattern. A select voltage is applied to drain select gates of multiple sets of NAND strings. The system concurrently applies a program pulse to control gates of a different set of selected memory cells in each respective set of the multiple sets of the NAND strings while the select voltage is applied to…
Apparatus and methods for smart verify with neighbor plane disturb detection
Granted: December 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11538538
An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells and a control circuit coupled to the non-volatile memory cells. The control circuit is configured to perform a first program-verify iteration on a first set of non-volatile memory cells coupled to a first word line to determine a first starting program voltage that programs the first set of the non-volatile memory cells to a first programmed state, and program a second set of non-volatile memory cells coupled…
Bonded memory devices and methods of making the same
Granted: December 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11538817
At least a portion of a memory cell is formed over a first substrate and at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line of the memory cell is formed over a second substrate. The at least a portion of the memory cell is bonded to at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line. At least one of the first or second substrate may be removed after the bonding.
Semiconductor structure containing pre-polymerized protective layer and method of making thereof
Granted: December 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11538777
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of semiconductor dies, providing a polymerized material layer, attaching the polymerized material layer to the semiconductor wafer such that the polymerized material layer is polymerized prior to the step of attaching the polymerized material layer to the semiconductor wafer, applying and patterning an etch mask layer over the polymerized material layer, such that openings are…
Multi-zone plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus and methods for operating the same
Granted: December 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11538708
An apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck and located within a vacuum enclosure. A plurality of conductive plates can be embedded in the electrostatic chuck, and a plurality of plate bias circuits can be configured to independently electrically bias a respective one of the plurality of conductive plates. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of spot lamp zones including a respective set of spot lamps can be provided between a bottom portion of the vacuum enclosure and a backside…
