STACKED ARCHITECTURE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL NAND
20230050150 · 2023-02-16
Inventors
- Stephen Morein (San Jose, CA, US)
- Javier A. DeLaCruz (San Jose, CA)
- Xu Chang (San Jose, CA, US)
- Belgacem Haba (San Jose, CA, US)
- Rajesh Katkar (San Jose, CA, US)
Cpc classification
H01L25/18
ELECTRICITY
H01L2225/06524
ELECTRICITY
H01L25/50
ELECTRICITY
H10B43/27
ELECTRICITY
H01L2224/80894
ELECTRICITY
H10B41/27
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01L25/065
ELECTRICITY
H01L25/00
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure relate to forming stacked NAND with multiple memory sections. Forming the stacked NAND with multiple memory sections may include forming a first memory section on a sacrificial substrate. A logic section may be formed on a substrate. The logic section may be bonded to the first memory section. The sacrificial substrate may be removed from the first memory section and a second memory section having a second sacrificial substrate may be formed and bonded to the first memory section.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A method for forming a device stack comprising a logic section, a first memory section comprising a set of landing pads, and a second memory section, the method comprising: removing a first sacrificial substrate from the first memory section, wherein the set of landing pads are adjacent to the first sacrificial substrate prior to removing the first sacrificial substrate from the first memory section; subsequent to removing the first sacrificial substrate, adding a redistribution layer to the first memory section, wherein the redistribution layer is connected to the set of landing pads; bonding the redistribution layer of the first memory section to the second memory section; and bonding the logic section to the first memory section.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second memory section is on a substrate.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second memory section is on a second sacrificial substrate.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the logic section comprises a first set of bonding pads and the first memory section comprises a second set of bonding pads, and bonding the logic section to the first memory section comprises bonding the first set of bonding pads to the second set of bonding pads.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the redistribution layer comprises one or more dielectric layers.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein bonding the redistribution layer of the first memory section to the second memory section comprises hybrid bonding.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein a first side of the redistribution layer is connected to the set of landing pads and a second side of the redistribution layer opposite to the first side comprises a set of hybrid bonding pads.
28. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the first and second memory sections comprises a memory pyramid.
29. A method for forming a device stack comprising a logic section, a first memory section comprising a set of landing pads, and a second memory section, the method comprising: removing a first sacrificial substrate from the first memory section, wherein the set of landing pads are adjacent to the first sacrificial substrate prior to removing the first sacrificial substrate from the first memory section; adding a redistribution layer to the first memory section, wherein the redistribution layer is connected to the set of landing pads; bonding the redistribution layer of the first memory section to the second memory section; and subsequent to bonding the redistribution layer of the first memory section to the second memory section, bonding the logic section to the first memory section.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second memory section is on a substrate.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the second memory section is on a second sacrificial substrate.
32. The method of claim 29, wherein bonding the logic section to the first memory section comprises hybrid bonding.
33. The method of claim 29, wherein the logic section comprises a first set of bonding pads, the first memory section comprises a second set of bonding pads, and bonding the logic section to the first memory section comprises bonding the first set of bonding pads to the second set of bonding pads.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein a first side of the redistribution layer is connected to the set of landing pads and a second side of the redistribution layer opposite to the first side comprises the second set of bonding pads.
35. A method for forming a stack of memory sections on a first memory section on a substrate, the method comprising: forming a second memory section comprising a redistribution layer connected to a set of landing pads, wherein the redistribution layer comprises a first set of bonding pads, and wherein the redistribution layer is formed subsequent to removing a sacrificial substrate that is adjacent to the set of landing pads; and bonding the redistribution layer to the first memory section.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising: bonding a logic section to a bonding surface of the second memory section.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein: the logic section comprises a second set of bonding pads; the bonding surface of the second memory section comprises a third set of bonding pads; and bonding the logic section to the bonding surface of the second memory section comprises bonding the second set of bonding pads to the third set of bonding pads.
38. The method of claim 35, wherein bonding the redistribution layer to the first memory section comprises hybrid bonding.
39. The method of claim 35, wherein each of the first and second memory sections comprises a memory pyramid.
40. The method of claim 35, wherein forming the stack of memory sections comprises forming a stacked memory device, the stacked memory device comprising a logic section bonded to the second memory section, and the method further comprises: bonding the logic section to the second memory section.
41. The method of claim 35, wherein forming the stack of memory sections comprises forming a stacked memory device, the stacked memory device comprising a logic section bonded to a third memory section, the method further comprising: forming a third memory section on the second memory section; and bonding the logic section to the third memory section.
42. The method of claim 35, wherein forming the stack of memory sections comprises forming a stacked memory device, the stacked memory device comprising a third memory section bonded to the second memory section and a logic section bonded to a fourth memory section, and the method further comprises: bonding the logic section to the fourth memory section.
43. A method for forming a memory device comprising a bonded stack of a bottommost memory section, one or more intermediate memory sections, and a topmost memory section, each of the one or more intermediate and topmost memory sections comprising a redistribution layer, the method comprising: bonding the topmost memory section to one of the intermediate memory sections; and subsequent to bonding the topmost memory section to one of the intermediate memory sections, bonding a logic section to the topmost memory section.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein bonding the logic section to the topmost memory section comprises bonding the logic section to the redistribution layer of the topmost memory section.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
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[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
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[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] While the following disclosure provides a number of examples, it should be understood that the concepts and techniques are not limited to specific examples, but rather can be more broadly applied. For example, while the examples herein may refer to NAND memory, it should be understood that the technology described in such examples could also be applied to other devices and memory types, such as universal flash storage (UFS), solid state memory, or other such volatile and non-volatile memory including MRAM, NRAM, FE-RAM, etc.
FORMING STACKED NAND WITH MULTIPLE MEMORY SECTIONS (SNMMS)
[0038] Some aspects of the technology relate to stacking memory sections, that each includes at least one memory pyramid, and a single logic section to form a stacked NAND with multiple memory sections.
[0039] Although
[0040]
[0041] The memory pyramid 221 may include alternating layers of oxide and nitride stacked on top of a substrate. Each layer of oxide and nitride may be 3 or 4 nanometers thick, or more or less. In some instances the alternating layers of the memory pyramid 221 may include polysilicon in place of, or in addition to the nitride. The substrate of the memory pyramid 221 may be silicon or another material. The alternating layers of the memory pyramid may allow for the formation of one or more bit lines and word lines which provide read and write access to the memory cells (not shown) within the memory pyramid. Each bit line of the memory pyramid 221 may have connector, such as connector 223, which is configured to attach the bit lines to one or more through-stack vias 209 via a respective bit line interconnect, such as bit line interconnect 215. Although
[0042] Through-stack vias 209 provide connections between the memory pyramid 221 and other memory sections, logic sections, and/or other components as described herein. Each via 209 may include one or more landing pads 211 and interconnects 213. The landing pads 211 and interconnects 213 provide connection points for the vias 209 to hybrid bonding pads 219, bit line interconnects 215, and/or a redistribution layer 217. The vias 209, landing pads 211, interconnects 213, bit line interconnects 215, and hybrid bonding pads 219 may be tungsten, copper, and/or any other suitable conductive material for carrying signals and/or bonding, as described herein. For clarity, not all connectors 223, vias 209, landing pads 211, interconnects 213, and hybrid bonding pads 219 shown in
[0043]
[0044] Each interconnect 313 may attach to a line in the redistribution layer 317. In this regard, the redistribution layer 317 may include a line for each via and/or bit line interconnect 315. The vias may have a 560 nm array pitch, or more or less. The lines of the redistribution layer 317 may each attach to a respective bonding pad, such as hybrid bonding pads 219 via one or more other vias 319. In some instances, the lines of the redistribution layer may tie directly to the interconnects 313. In other words, each bit line interconnect may attach to a respective interconnect of a via. Each respective interconnect may be connected to a line in the redistribution layer which may each terminate at a respective bonding pad. As used herein, redistribution layer may include hybrid bonding pads.
[0045] The sacrificial substrate 203 may be a material capable of providing physical support for forming the rest of the memory section, including oxide layer 205, and the components incorporated therein. The sacrificial substrate 203 may be a silicon, such as a polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon. In this regard, since the sacrificial substrate will be removed, either partially or completely, lower grade silicon is preferable for its lower cost. However, the use of monocrystalline silicon as the sacrificial substrate 203 is possible. In some instances, the sacrificial substrate may be sapphire, quartz, glass, or other material. In some instances, the sacrificial substrate 203 may be silicon on insulator (SOI). The use of SOI as at least part of the sacrificial substrate substrate may provide convenient etch stops for the silicon removal discussed herein.
[0046]
[0047]
[0048]
[0049] After removal of the sacrificial substrate, a dielectric layer, such as nitride layer 207 may be formed on oxide layer 205. An additional dielectric layer, like oxide layer 206 may then be formed on top of the nitride layer 207 to “sandwich” the nitride layer 207 between the two oxide layers 207 and 205, as shown in
[0050]
[0051]
[0052] The hybrid bonding pads 819 may be configured to mirror the layout of the additional hybrid bonding pads 719 of the memory section. As such, when the additional memory section 801 is inverted and positioned on the top side of the exposed oxide section 205A of memory section 201 the hybrid bonding pads 819 are aligned with the additional hybrid bonding pads. As described previously, the bonding of memory section 201 to memory section 801 may be done using various bonding techniques, including using direct dielectric bonding, non-adhesive techniques, such as a ZiBond® direct bonding technique, or a DBI® hybrid bonding technique.
[0053] Referring again to
[0054] The sacrificial substrate of the final additional memory section, such as final memory section 901, may be left one or removed from the completed SNMMS. Although the foregoing examples provide for the formation of additional memory sections each time through the process, there is no time constraint on the formation of the additional memory sections. In this regard, additional memory sections may be formed at the same time and/or in any order and/or at the same time as the base, that is to say first, memory section.
[0055] In some instances, the logic section may be added to the multiple memory sections after all of the additional memory sections have been bonded. In this regard, steps 103-105 of
[0056] For example, a memory section, such as memory section 1001 may be formed on a sacrificial substrate 1003, as shown in
[0057] A logic section may be bonded to the additional memory section 1005 by forming hybrid bonding pads 1129, which mirror the layout of the hybrid bonding pads 1019 of the topmost memory section, which is another memory section 1005 in
[0058] In some instances, input/output (i/o) pads may be formed on the logic section to allow for communication between the SNMMS with other electrical devices. In this regard, exposed portion of the logic section, such as logic section 1101 in
FORMING STACKED NAND WITH MULTIPLE MEMORY SECTIONS WITH REMAINING SACRIFICIAL SUBSTRATE
[0059] In some instances, additional silicon may be needed for additional components, such as legacy logic including analog circuits, switching, multiplexing, etc. In this regard, not all of the sacrificial substrate may be removed during formation of the SNMMS. For instance, a stacked NAND with multiple memory sections 1250 may include memory sections 1201 and 1203, as shown in
[0060] To provide space for additional components, some, or all of the sacrificial substrates 1213, 1223 of memory sections 1201 and 1203, respectively, may be left behind during formation of the stacked NAND 1250. Referring to
MATRIX OF STACKED MEMORY PYRAMIDS
[0061] As described herein, memory pyramids are generally three-dimensional arrays of memory cells are stacked in vertical layers on a die to form memory cell stacks. By stacking the memory cells vertically, the density of the NAND memory is increased. However, slowdown from stacking memory cells may occur when larger arrays of memory cells having larger page sizes are stacked, as horizontal and vertical distance are added to each read and write action. In this regard, NAND is typically written and, in most instances, read in complete pages. As such, an entire row in a layer of the memory pyramid, which forms a single page, is required to perform a read or write operation in the memory pyramid. In some instances, an entire layer or sum of layers may comprise a page.
[0062] When stacking memory pyramids, as described herein, a 1× array of memory pyramids is formed. By arranging the memory pyramids in a 1× array, all memory pyramids can abut logic via bit lines and word lines and, in some instances, other connectors, distribution layers, redistribution layers, etc. However, the further the memory pyramid is from the logic, the more time to perform write and read operations is required. Memory pyramids having smaller page sizes and fewer layers may be used to reduce these problems. However, reducing the page size too much may more pages to be read and written, thereby reducing both I/O efficiency and density.
[0063] To address these issues, a page having an identified efficient size, which may be dependent upon the type of data stored in the memory pyramids and/or the use case of the SNMMS, may be spread across the same layer of the memory pyramids. In this regard, the sum of the page sizes in the layers of the memory pyramids may be equal to, or near the identified efficient page size. As such, each layer in the memory pyramid may be smaller, thereby reducing the amount of time to access and/or write to an identified page.
[0064] For instance, and as shown in
[0065] The bit lines can be routed, multiplexed, jogged, layered, etc., such that when data is requested from the memory pyramids in the SNMMS, the same word line in each of the memory pyramids is accessed. For instance, and as shown in
[0066] In some instances the page size of each memory pyramid may be sized such that there is sufficient amount of logic within the SNMMS. In this regard, if additional logic is necessary, more layers may be added to each of the memory pyramids, thereby providing more space for additional logic.
[0067] In some instances, the SNMMS can be configured to access just a single row of a single memory pyramid or rows in a subset of the memory pyramids. This may increase the access time for a small bit of data, but may reduce efficient use of the density of the SNMMS.
DOUBLE SIDED SILICON
[0068] To reduce the temperatures which the logic section of NAND memory is exposed to, the logic section may be produced on the opposite side of silicon on which the memory section(s) are formed. For instance and as shown in
[0069] Flowchart 1500 of
[0070] As shown in block 1503, a sacrificial substrate, such as sacrificial substrate 1403, may be bonded to the memory section. The sacrificial substrate may provide support for the NAND during further production as described herein.
[0071] As shown in block 1505 of
[0072] As shown in block 1507 of
INTERCONNECTIONS
[0073] The layout of the memory sections and/or logic sections within the SNMMS may be consistent. In this regard, the orientation, position, size, etc., of each memory section may be the same. By maintaining the layout of the memory sections within a SNMMS, bonding the memory sections together and/or memory sections with a logic section may be simplified as the bonding surfaces, such as hybrid bonding pads, may be easily aligned. Moreover, formation of the circuitry within each memory section and/or logic section may be repeated, easing production costs and reducing the complexity of accessing the memory pyramids. Although the layouts of the memory sections and/or logic section may be different, such a SNMMS may be more difficult to produce and/or operate than SNMMS having the same layout.
[0074] Connecting circuitry through bonded memory sections having consistent layouts may be done by forming jog-overs. In this regard, jog-overs may connect each via of a first memory section to a respective via of another memory sections bonded together with the first memory section. In instances where the memory sections have similar layouts, the jog-overs may connect the vias of the first memory section to vias of the other memory section located one pitch over, thereby creating a “staircase” pattern. As vertical electrical load may be smaller than the horizontal load on the same section, it may be more efficient electrically to drive vertically.
[0075] For example, the SNMMS 1601 of
[0076] Jog-overs 1653-1659 connect the vias to hybrid bonding pads positioned above an adjacent via. When the memory sections are bonded together, the hybrid bonding pads may be bonded to a via one pitch over. For instance, as further illustrated in
[0077] Although the jog-overs are shown as being implemented in the silicon layers 1611-1619, the jog-overs may be formed within the memory sections 1621-1627 and/or within redistribution layers within the silicon layers or memory sections. In some instances, jog-overs may be used in other memory and electronic devices to provide for interconnections between sections.
[0078] The jog-overs may enable each memory section to be individually routed. In this regard, the same layout may be used in each memory section without the need for vias to serve more than one connection. The jog-overs allow for the same or nearly the same design of memory section to be reused in each layer and yet have different connectivity based upon het layer a given memory section sits within the stack. For example, by forming the jog-overs such that they carry the signal to hybrid bonding pads one pitch over, the signal may be directly passed to and from the logic section from a respective memory section. For instance and as further shown in
[0079] In some instances, each section or sections of SNMSS may be offset by a pitch during formation. For instance, and referring to
[0080]
[0081]
[0082] Unless stated otherwise, the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive. They may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. As an example, the preceding operations do not have to be performed in the precise order described above. Rather, various steps can be handled in a different order or simultaneously. Steps can also be omitted unless otherwise stated. In addition, the provision of the examples described herein, as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like, should not be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar elements.