Various methods overcome the limitations and achieve superior scaling by (i) replacing a single highly challenging high aspect ratio etch step with two or more etch steps of less challenging aspect ratios and which involve wider and more mechanically stable active strips, (ii) using dielectric pillars for support and to maintain structural stability during a high aspect ratio etch step and subsequent processing steps, or (iii) using multiple masking steps to provide two or more etch steps of less challenging aspect ratios and which involve wider and more mechanically stable active strips.

Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.

A 3D semiconductor device, the device including: a first level including a first single crystal layer and including first transistors which each includes a single crystal channel; a first metal layer; a second metal layer overlaying the first metal layer; a second level including second transistors, first memory cells including at least one second transistor, and overlaying the second metal layer; a third level including third transistors and overlaying the second level; a fourth level including fourth transistors, second memory cells including at least one fourth transistor, and overlaying the third level, where at least one of the second transistors includes a metal gate, where the first level includes memory control circuits which control writing to the second memory cells, and at least one Phase-Lock-Loop (PLL) circuit or at least one Digital-Lock-Loop (DLL) circuit.

A 3-dimensional array of NOR memory strings being organized by planes of NOR memory strings, in which (i) the storage transistors in the NOR memory strings situated in a first group of planes are configured to be programmed, erased, program-inhibited or read in parallel, and (ii) the storage transistors in NOR memory strings situated within a second group of planes are configured for storing resource management data relating to data stored in the storage transistors of the NOR memory strings situated within the first group of planes, wherein the storage transistors in NOR memory strings in the second group of planes are configured into sets.

Structures and methods that facilitate the formation of gate contacts for vertical transistors constructed with semiconductor pillars and spacer-like gates are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a gate contact rests on an extended gate region, a piece of a gate film, patterned at a side of a vertical transistor at the bottom of the gate. In a second embodiment, an extended gate region is patterned on top of one or more vertical transistors, resulting in a modified transistor structure. In a third embodiment, a gate contact rests on a top surface of a gate merged between two closely spaced vertical transistors. Optional methods and the resultant intermediate structures are included in the first two embodiments in order to overcome the related topography and ease the photolithography. The third embodiment includes alternatives for isolating the gate contact from the semiconductor pillars or for isolating the affected semiconductor pillars from the substrate.

A memory cell of a charge-trapping non-volatile memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a well region, a first doped region, a second doped region, a gate structure, a protecting layer, a charge trapping layer, a dielectric layer, a first conducting line and a second conducting line. The first doped region and the second doped region are formed under a surface of the well region. The gate structure is formed over the surface of the well region. The protecting layer formed on the surface of the well region. The charge trapping layer covers the surface of the well region, the gate structure and the protecting layer. The dielectric layer covers the charge trapping layer. The first conducting line is connected with the first doped region. The second conducting line is connected with the second doped region.

In an embodiment, a device includes: a source line extending in a first direction; a bit line extending in the first direction; a back gate between the source line and the bit line, the back gate extending in the first direction; a channel layer surrounding the back gate; a word line extending in a second direction, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a data storage layer extending along the word line, the data storage layer between the word line and the channel layer, the data storage layer between the word line and the bit line, the data storage layer between the word line and the source line.

A 3D semiconductor device including: a first level including a first single crystal layer and first transistors, which each include a single crystal channel; a first metal layer with an overlaying second metal layer; a second level including second transistors, overlaying the first level; a third level including third transistors, overlaying the second level; a fourth level including fourth transistors, overlaying the third level, where the second level includes first memory cells, where each of the first memory cells includes at least one of the second transistors, where the fourth level includes second memory cells, where each of the second memory cells includes at least one of the fourth transistors, where the first level includes memory control circuits, where second memory cells include at least four memory arrays, each of the four memory arrays are independently controlled, and at least one of the second transistors includes a metal gate.

A semiconductor device includes: a fin that is a portion of a semiconductor substrate, protrudes from a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, has a width in a first direction, and extends in a second direction; a control gate electrode that is arranged on the fin via a first gate insulating film and extends in the first direction; and a memory gate electrode that is arranged on the fin via a second gate insulating film and extends in the first direction. Further, a width of the fin in a region in which the memory gate electrode is arranged via the second gate insulating film having a film thickness larger than the first gate insulating film is smaller than a width of the fin in a region in which the control gate electrode is arranged via the first gate insulating film.

A semiconductor storage device includes a first stacked body including first insulating films and first conductive films that are alternately stacked in a first direction. A first columnar body and a second columnar body extend within the first stacked body in the first direction. A second conductive film is provided above the first stacked body, and extends in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. A third insulator is adjacent to the second conductive film and extends in the third direction. A third conductive film is adjacent to the third insulator and extends in the third direction. A third columnar body is provided on the first columnar body. A fourth columnar body is provided on the second columnar body. A thickness of a third semiconductor portion in the first direction is greater than a thickness of the second conductive film in the first direction.