Mixed three-dimensional printed memory

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mixed three-dimensional printed memory (3D-P). The slow contents (e.g., digital books, digital maps, music, movies, and/or videos) are stored in large memory blocks and/or large memory arrays, whereas the fast contents (e.g., operating systems, software, and/or games) are stored in small memory blocks and/or small memory arrays.

Claims

1. A mixed three-dimensional printed memory (3D-P) comprising a plurality of memory blocks including a 3D-P block, wherein: said 3D-P block comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory levels including a topmost memory level, wherein said topmost memory level is the topmost memory level among all of said memory levels; said 3D-P block comprises a first memory array in said topmost memory level; said 3D-P block further comprises at least second and third memory arrays in a memory level below said topmost memory level, wherein said second and third memory arrays are located on a same memory level and do not share any address-select line; said first memory array fully covers both said second and third memory arrays.

2. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said first memory array stores digital books.

3. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said first memory array stores digital maps.

4. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said first memory array stores music.

5. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said first memory array stores movies.

6. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said first memory array stores videos.

7. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said second or third memory array stores operating system.

8. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said second or third memory array stores software.

9. The memory according to claim 1, wherein said second or third memory array stores games.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a prior-art three-dimensional printed memory (3D-P); FIG. 1B is a die diagram of a prior-art 3D-P;

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship between the array efficiency, the memory speed and the array size;

(3) FIG. 3 is a die diagram of a first preferred 3D-P with mixed memory blocks;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second preferred 3D-P with mixed memory arrays.

(5) It should be noted that all the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of the device structures in the figures have been shown exaggerated or reduced in size for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings. The same reference symbols are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar features in the different embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) Those of ordinary skills in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons from an examination of the within disclosure.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 2, the relationships between the array efficiency, the memory speed and the array size are disclosed. When the memory arrays are small, because the peripheral circuit of each memory array has a fixed size, the array efficiency degrades. As the memory arrays become larger, the array efficiency improves. However, as the parasitic capacitance and resistance increase, the access speed suffers.

(8) The preferred mixed 3D-P takes full advantage of the fact that the contents to be stored in the 3D-P are already known. Thus, the sizes of memory blocks and memory arrays can be adjusted according to the speed requirement of each individual content. The slow contents (i.e., contents that do not require fast access, e.g., digital books, digital maps, music, movies, and/or videos) are stored in large memory blocks and/or large memory arrays, whereas the fast contents (i.e., contents that require fast access, e.g., operating systems, software, and/or games) are stored in small memory block and/or small memory arrays.

(9) Referring now to FIG. 3, a first preferred 3D-P with mixed memory blocks is shown. This 3D-P die 2000 comprises a plurality of memory blocks 1a, 1b, 1ac-1dd. The memory blocks 1a, 1b contain larger memory arrays than those in memory blocks 1ac-1dd. As such, the memory blocks 1a,1b can be used to store slow contents, e.g., digital books, digital maps, music, movies, and/or videos, whereas the memory blocks 1ac-1dd can be used to store fast contents, e.g., operating systems, software, and/or games.

(10) Referring now to FIG. 4, a second preferred 3D-P with mixed memory arrays is shown. This preferred 3D-P comprises two memory levels 10, 20 with the memory level 20 stacked above the memory level 10. The memory level 20 comprises a single memory array 200A, while the memory level 10 comprises two side-by-side memory arrays 100A, 100A. Apparently, the memory array 200A in the memory level 20 is much larger than the memory arrays 100A, 100A in the memory level 10. The memory array 200A can be used to store slow contents, e.g., digital books, digital maps, music, movies, and/or videos, whereas the memory arrays 100A, 100A can be used to store fast contents, e.g., operating systems, software, and/or games.

(11) While illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that may more modifications than that have been mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts set forth therein. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited except in the spirit of the appended claims.