Integrated circuit (IC) devices implementing three-dimensional (3D) floating body memory are disclosed. An example IC device includes a floating body memory cell comprising a transistor having a first source or drain (S/D) region, a second S/D region, and a gate over a channel portion between the first and second S/D regions; a BL coupled to the first S/D region and parallel to a first axis of a Cartesian coordinate system; a SL coupled to the second S/D region and parallel to a second axis of the coordinate system; and a WL coupled to or being a part of the gate and parallel to a third axis of the coordinate system. IC devices implementing 3D floating body memory as described herein may be used to address the scaling challenges of conventional memory technologies and enable high-density embedded memory compatible with advanced CMOS processes.

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.

NAND string configurations and semiconductor memory arrays that include such NAND string configurations are provided. Methods of making semiconductor memory cells used in NAND string configurations are also described.

A transistor can include a plurality of source regions and a plurality of drain regions arranged in an alternating manner, with each of the source regions and the drain regions being implemented as a first type active region, and a plurality of gate structures implemented relative to the source regions and the drain regions such that application of a voltage to each gate structure results in formation of a conductive channel between a respective pair of source and drain regions. The transistor can further include a body region configured to provide the respective conductive channel upon the application of the voltage to the corresponding gate structure, with the body region being implemented as a second type active region. The transistor can further include a recessed region defined by an end of each drain region and one or both of the gate structures adjacent to the drain region.

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.

Semiconductor memory is provided wherein a memory cell includes a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell. The cell further includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a resistance change element configured to store data stored in the floating body under any one of a plurality of predetermined conditions. A method of operating semiconductor memory to function as volatile memory, while having the ability to retain stored data when power is discontinued to the semiconductor memory is described.

Methods of operating semiconductor memory devices with floating body transistors, using a silicon controlled rectifier principle are provided, as are semiconductor memory devices for performing such operations. A method of maintaining the data state of a semiconductor dynamic random access memory cell is provided, wherein the memory cell comprises a substrate being made of a material having a first conductivity type selected from p-type conductivity type and n-type conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being spaced apart from the first region; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the body region having the first conductivity type; and a gate positioned between the first and second regions and adjacent the body region. The memory cell is configured to store a first data state which corresponds to a first charge in the body region in a first configuration, and a second data state which corresponds to a second charge in the body region in a second configuration. The method includes: providing the memory cell storing one of the first and second data states; and applying a positive voltage to a substrate terminal connected to the substrate beneath the buried layer, wherein when the body region is in the first state, the body region turns on a silicon controlled rectifier device of the cell and current flows through the device to maintain configuration of the memory cell in the first memory state, and wherein when the memory cell is in the second state, the body region does not turn on the silicon controlled rectifier device, current does not flow, and a blocking operation results, causing the body to maintain the second memory state.

Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile modes and methods of operation. A semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of memory cells each having a floating body for storing, reading and writing data as volatile memory. The device includes a floating gate or trapping layer for storing data as non-volatile memory, the device operating as volatile memory when power is applied to the device, and the device storing data from the volatile memory as non-volatile memory when power to the device is interrupted.

A semiconductor memory cell and arrays of memory cells are provided In at least one embodiment, a memory cell includes a substrate having a top surface, the substrate having a first conductivity type selected from a p-type conductivity type and an n-type conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type, the first region being formed in the substrate and exposed at the top surface; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being formed in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region and exposed at the top surface; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the body region having the first conductivity type; a gate positioned between the first and second regions and above the top surface; and a nonvolatile memory configured to store data upon transfer from the body region.

The present disclosure provides semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof. A stacked substrate includes an insulating layer between a substrate and a semiconductor layer. First openings are formed in the semiconductor layer to define a first distance between adjacent sidewalls of adjacent first openings. Spacers are formed on sidewall surfaces of each first opening. Second openings corresponding to the first openings are formed through the insulating layer and into the substrate. The sidewall surfaces of the substrate in the second openings are etched to define a second distance between adjacent substrate sidewalls of adjacent etched second openings. The second distance is shorter than the first distance. An isolation layer is formed in the first and second openings. Conductive structures are formed on the semiconductor layer on both sides of a gate structure formed on the semiconductor layer. The conductive structures penetrate through the isolation layer and into the substrate.