In some embodiments, a memory device implements a tile-based architecture including an arrangement of independently and concurrently operable arrays or tiles of memory transistors where each tile includes memory transistors that are arranged in a three-dimensional array and a localized modular control circuit operating the memory transistors in the tile. The tile-based architecture of the memory device enables concurrent memory access to multiple tiles, which enables independent and concurrent memory operations to be carried out across multiple tiles. The tile-based concurrent access to the memory device has the benefits of increasing the memory bandwidth and lowering the tail latency of the memory device by ensuring high availability of storage transistors. In other embodiments, a memory module includes multiple semiconductor memory dies coupled to a memory controller where the semiconductor memory dies are partitioned into independently accessible memory channels with each memory channel being formed across the multiple semiconductor memory dies.

An integrated circuit (IC) includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a handle substrate, an insulator layer over the handle substrate, and a semiconductor device layer over the insulator layer. A logic device includes a logic gate arranged over the semiconductor device layer. The logic gate is arranged within a high κ dielectric layer. A memory cell includes a control gate and a select gate laterally adjacent to one another and arranged over the semiconductor device layer. A charge-trapping layer underlies the control gate.

A memory device includes bit lines, and a cell array including strings, each of which includes memory cells, a select cell coupled to a respective one of the bit lines, and a dummy cell between the select cell and the memory cells. The memory device also includes a select line coupled to the select cells, a dummy word line coupled to the dummy cells, word lines each coupled to a respective row of the memory cells, and a controller coupled to the cell array. The controller is configured to drive a voltage on the dummy word line from a first level to a second level lower than the first level. The controller is also configured to drive a voltage on the select line from the first level to the second level, such that the voltage on the select line reaches the second level after the voltage on the dummy word line reaches the second level. The controller is further configured to, after the voltage on the select line reaches the second level, drive a voltage on a selected word line of the word lines from the second level to a third level higher than the first level to program the memory cells coupled to the selected word line.

A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. First charge-blocking material is formed to extend elevationally along the vertically-alternating tiers. The first charge-blocking material has k of at least 7.0 and comprises a metal oxide. A second charge-blocking material is formed laterally inward of the first charge-blocking material. The second charge-blocking material has k less than 7.0. Storage material is formed laterally inward of the second charge-blocking material. Insulative charge-passage material is formed laterally inward of the storage material. Channel material is formed to extend elevationally along the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers laterally inward of the insulative charge-passage material. Structure embodiments are disclosed.

Multi-gate NOR flash thin-film transistor (TFT) string arrays are organized as three dimensional stacks of active strips. Each active strip includes a shared source sublayer and a shared drain sublayer that is connected to substrate circuits. Data storage in the active strip is provided by charge-storage elements between the active strip and a multiplicity of control gates provided by adjacent local word-lines. The parasitic capacitance of each active strip is used to eliminate hard-wire ground connection to the shared source making it a semi-floating, or virtual source. Pre-charge voltages temporarily supplied from the substrate through a single port per active strip provide the appropriate voltages on the source and drain required during read, program, program-inhibit and erase operations. TFTs on multiple active strips can be pre-charged separately and then read, programmed or erased together in a massively parallel operation.

A semiconductor memory structure includes a substrate, two doped regions in the substrate, a plurality of gate layers, a plurality of insulating layers, a column over the substrate, a charge-trapping layer, and a channel layer. The substrate includes dopants of a first conductivity type, and the two doped regions include dopants of a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type. The gate layers and the insulating layers are alternately stacked over the substrate. The column penetrates the gate layers and the insulating layers, and includes an isolation structure, a source structure and a drain structure. at two sides of the isolation structure. The charge-trapping layer is at two sides of the column, and the channel layer is between the charge-trapping layer and the column. A bottom surface of the charge-trapping layer is in contact with the substrate and separated from the two doped regions.

An operation method of a memory cell includes steps of applying a pre pulse before a read pulse is applied, wherein the pre pulse is larger than a maximum threshold voltage or less than a lowest threshold voltage.

A method for changing functionality of an integrated circuit or improving performance of an integrated circuit, may include changing a threshold voltage of at least one charge trap transistor (CTT) in a nonvolatile multi-time programmable fashion. The at least one CTT may be fabricated using a high-k dielectric material as a gate dielectric. In some embodiments, the threshold voltage of the at least one CTT may be changed by increasing or decreasing the threshold voltage.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of first insulating layers; a plurality of first interconnect layers stacked alternately with the first insulating layers; a plurality of second interconnect layers arranged adjacently to the first interconnect layers; and a separation region including a plurality of first portions provided between the first interconnect layers and the second interconnect layers, and a plurality of second portions protruding from an outer periphery of each of the first portions. The second portions are linked to each other. The first interconnect layers and the second interconnect layers are separated from each other by the first portions and the linked second portions.

A fine-grained analog memory device includes: 1) a charge-trapping transistor including a gate and a high-k gate dielectric; and 2) a pulse generator connected to the gate and configured to apply a positive or negative pulse to the gate to change an amount of charges trapped in the high-k gate dielectric.