A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a substrate; a plate-like first conductivity layer provided above the substrate and extending parallel to a substrate plane to bestride first and second regions; a plate-like second conductivity layer provided above the first conductivity layer to be separated from the first conductivity layer, an end portion of the first conductivity layer has a protruding staircase shape in the first region, the second conductivity layer extending parallel to the first conductivity layer to bestride the first and second regions; a first contact connected to the first conductivity layer at a side surface or a bottom surface of the first conductivity layer and extending from the first conductivity layer toward the substrate, the first contact being connected at a position where the end portion of the first conductivity layer in the first region protrudes, and a diameter size of a portion of the first contact connected at a side surface or a bottom surface of the first conductivity layer having a maximum diameter size; a second contact connected to the second conductivity layer at a side surface or a bottom surface of the second conductivity layer in the first region and extending from the second conductivity layer toward the substrate to penetrate the first conductivity layer, a diameter size of a portion of the second contact connected at a side surface or a bottom surface of the second conductivity layer having a maximum diameter size; a channel body penetrating the first and second conductivity layers in the second region; and a memory film including a charge accumulation portion provided between the first and second conductivity layers and the channel body in the second region.

A semiconductor device package is described that includes a power consuming device (such as an SOC device). The power consuming device may include one or more current consuming elements. A passive device may be coupled to the power consuming device. The passive device may include a plurality of passive elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The passive elements may be arranged in an array of structures on the semiconductor substrate. The power consuming device and the passive device may be coupled using one or more terminals. The passive device and power consuming device coupling may be configured in such a way that the power consuming device determines functionally the way the passive device elements will be used.

Methods of forming arrays of small, densely spaced holes or pillars for use in integrated circuits are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used, in combination with pitch-reduction techniques, to create densely-packed features. Conventional photolithography steps can be used in combination with pitch-reduction techniques to form superimposed patterns of crossing elongate features with pillars at the intersections. Spacers are simultaneously applied to sidewalls of both sets of crossing lines to produce a pitch-doubled grid pattern. The pillars facilitate rows of spacers bridging columns of spacers.

A method for managing the endurance of a non-volatile rewritable memory including memory cells each including an ordered stack of a lower electrode, a layer of dielectric material and an upper electrode, the dielectric material switching between a high resistance state and a low resistance state, or vice versa, to enable a writing in the memory cell or an erasure of the memory cell. The method includes at the end of each writing and erasure cycle, reading the erasure conditions of the memory cell in the course of the final erasure operation of the cycle, and comparing the read erasure conditions with a predetermined median erasure value corresponding to a median resistance value which follows a predetermined dependency law linking the condition of erasure of a cycle with the condition of writing of a following cycle; and determining the writing conditions from the results of the comparison.

A semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor devices. The semiconductor devices each include a ferroelectric layer, a conductive metal oxide layer, and a semiconductor layer, between two electrodes. The conductive metal oxide layer may be between the ferroelectric layer and the semiconductor layer. The ferroelectric layer, the conductive metal oxide layer, and the semiconductor layer may all include a metal oxide. The conductive metal oxide layer may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an indium oxide, a zinc oxide, a tin oxide, and any combination thereof.

Resistive RAM (RRAM) devices having increased reliability and related manufacturing methods are described. Greater reliability of RRAM cells over time can be achieved by avoiding direct contact of metal electrodes with the device switching layer. The contact can be avoided by cladding the switching layer in a material such as silicon or using electrodes that may contain metal but have regions that are adjacent the switching layer and lack free metal ions except for possible trace amounts.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a lower interconnect layer disposed within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A plurality of MIM (metal-insulator-metal) structures are disposed within a second inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over the lower interconnect layer. An upper interconnect layer is coupled to the plurality of MIM structures at first locations that are directly over second locations at which the lower interconnect layer is coupled to the plurality of MIM structures. One or both of the lower interconnect layer and the upper interconnect layer are comprised within a conductive path that electrically couples the plurality of MIM structures in a series connection.

Some embodiments include a memory device having first structures arranged in a first direction and second structures arranged in a second direction. At least one structure among the first and second structures includes a semiconductor material. The second structures contact the first structures at contact locations. A region at each of the contact locations is configured as memory element to store information based on a resistance of the region. The structures can include nanowires. Other embodiments are described.

Cross-point memory cells, non-volatile memory arrays, methods of reading a memory cell, methods of programming a memory cell, and methods of writing to and reading from a memory cell are described. In one embodiment, a cross-point memory cell includes a word line extending in a first direction, a bit line extending in a second direction different from the first direction, the bit line and the word line crossing without physically contacting each other, and a capacitor formed between the word line and the bit line where such cross. The capacitor comprises a dielectric material configured to prevent DC current from flowing from the word line to the bit line and from the bit line to the word line.

A method of forming an array of cross point memory cells comprises using two, and only two, masking steps to collectively pattern within the array spaced lower first lines, spaced upper second lines which cross the first lines, and individual programmable devices between the first lines and the second lines where such cross that have an upwardly open generally U-shape vertical cross-section of programmable material laterally between immediately adjacent of the first lines beneath individual of the upper second lines. Arrays of cross point memory cells independent of method of manufacture are disclosed.