To provide more test data during the manufacture of non-volatile memories and other integrated circuits, machine learning is used to generate virtual test values. Virtual test results are interpolated for one set of tests for devices on which the test is not performed based on correlations with other sets of tests. In one example, machine learning determines a correlation study between bad block values determined at die sort and photo-limited yield (PLY) values determined inline during processing. The correlation can be applied to interpolate virtual inline PLY data for all of the memory dies, allowing for more rapid feedback on the processing parameters for manufacturing the memory dies and making the manufacturing process more efficient and accurate. In another set of embodiments, the machine learning is used to extrapolate limited metrology (e.g., critical dimension) test data to all of the memory die through interpolated virtual metrology data values.

A test structure for 3D memory arrays and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory array includes a first word line over a semiconductor substrate and extending in a first direction; a second word line over the first word line and extending in the first direction; a memory film contacting the first word line and the second word line; an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a first source line and a first bit line, the memory film being between the OS layer and each of the first word line and the second word line; and a test structure over the first word line and the second word line, the test structure including a first conductive line electrically coupling the first word line to the second word line, the first conductive line extending in the first direction.

A memory device includes a staircase structure, multiple first plugs, multiple second plugs, and multiple third plugs. The staircase structure includes multiple gate layers and multiple insulating layers alternately stacked on each other, and the staircase structure includes multiple first blocks and multiple second blocks which alternate with each other. The first plugs are disposed in the first blocks, and the first plugs in a same first block are staggered with each other. The second plugs are disposed in the first blocks. The second plugs in a same first block are staggered with each other, and the first plugs and the second plugs in a same first block are staggered with each other. The third plugs are disposed in the second blocks.

A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer extending in a first direction; a first gate electrode layer; a first insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the first gate electrode layer; a second insulating layer between the first insulating layer and the first gate electrode layer, the second insulating layer having a first portion containing a ferroelectric material; and a first layer between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, the first layer containing silicon, nitrogen, and fluorine, the first layer having a first region and a second region between the first region and the second insulating layer, the first layer having a second atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon in the second region higher than a first atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon in the first region, and the first layer having fluorine concentration higher than the second region.

A semiconductor device includes a stacked film including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked in a first direction and a columnar portion including a charge storage layer and a first semiconductor layer and extending in the first direction in the stacked film. The device further includes a second semiconductor layer provided on the stacked film and the columnar portion, and at least a part of regions in the second semiconductor layer contains phosphorus having an atomic concentration of 1.0×10.sup.21/cm.sup.3 or more and hydrogen having an atomic concentration of 1.0×10.sup.19/cm.sup.3 or less.

A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer extending in a first direction; a first gate electrode layer; a charge storage layer between the semiconductor layer and the first gate electrode layer, the charge storage layer containing a first element, a second element, and oxygen, the first element being at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium and zirconium, and the second element being at least one element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and aluminum; a first insulating layer between the charge storage layer and the first gate electrode layer; and a second insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the first gate electrode layer, the second insulating layer containing silicon and nitrogen, the second insulating layer surrounding the charge storage layer in a cross section that being parallel to the first direction and including the charge storage layer.

Semiconductor structures and methods for crystalline junctionless transistors used in nonvolatile memory arrays are introduced. Various embodiments in accordance with this disclosure provide a method of fabricating a monolithic 3D cross-bar nonvolatile memory array with low thermal budget. The method incorporates crystalline junctionless transistors into nonvolatile memory structures by transferring a layer of doped crystalline semiconductor material from a seed wafer to form the source, drain, and connecting channel of the junctionless transistor.

Techniques herein include methods of forming circuits by combining multiple substrates. High voltage devices are fabricated on a first wafer, and low voltage devices and/or memory are then fabricated on a second wafer and/or third wafer.

A semiconductor device includes a first substrate, circuit elements, lower interconnection lines, a second substrate, gate electrodes stacked on the second substrate to be spaced apart from each other in a first direction and forming first and second stack structures, channel structures penetrating through the gate electrodes, and first and second contact plugs penetrating through the first and second stack structures, respectively, and connected to the gate electrodes. The first stack structure has first pad areas in which the gate electrodes extend further than upper gate electrodes, respectively, and are connected to the first contact plugs, respectively. The second stack structure has second pad areas in which the gate electrodes extend further than upper gate electrodes, respectively, and are connected to the second contact plugs, respectively. The first and second pad areas are offset in relation to each other so as not to overlap each other in the first direction.

Disclosed are novel structures and methods for 3D NVM built with vertical transistors above a logic layer. A first embodiment has a conductive film under the transistors and serving as a common node in a memory block. The conductive film may be from a semiconductor layer used to build the transistors. Metal lines are disposed above the transistors for connection through 3D vias to underlying circuitry. Contact plugs may be formed between transistors and metal lines. The conductive film may be coupled to underlying circuitry through contacts on the conductive film or through interconnect vias underneath the film. A second embodiment has conductive lines disposed under the transistors. Either of conductive lines and metal lines may serve as source lines and the other as bit lines for the memory. For low parasitic resistances, the conductive lines may be shorted to bypass metal lines residing in underlying logic layer.