阅读说明：本技术 包括双绞数字线配置的集成组件 (Integrated assembly including twisted pair digit line configuration ) 是由 李继云 于 2021-01-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及包括双绞数字线配置的集成组件。一些实施例包含一种集成组件,所述集成组件具有第一叠层并且具有在所述第一叠层上方的第二叠层。第一真实数字线具有沿着所述第一叠层的第一区域,并且具有沿着所述第二叠层的第二区域。第一互补数字线具有沿着所述第一叠层的第一区域,并且具有沿着所述第二叠层的第二区域。通过感测放大器电路将所述第一真实数字线与所述第一互补数字线进行相对比较。第二数字线具有第一区域,所述第一区域沿着所述第一叠层并且横向地邻近所述第一互补数字线的所述第一区域,并且第二数字线具有第二区域,所述第二区域沿着所述第二叠层并且横向地邻近所述第一真实数字线的所述第二区域。(The present application relates to an integrated assembly including a twisted pair digit line configuration. Some embodiments include an integrated component having a first laminate and having a second laminate over the first laminate. A first real digit line has a first region along the first stack and has a second region along the second stack. A first complementary digit line has a first region along the first stack and has a second region along the second stack. The first true digit line is relatively compared to the first complementary digit line by a sense amplifier circuit. A second digit line has a first region along the first stack and laterally adjacent the first region of the first complementary digit line, and a second digit line has a second region along the second stack and laterally adjacent the second region of the first true digit line.)

1. An integrated assembly, comprising:

a first laminate;

a second stack over the first stack;

a first real digit line having a first region along the first stack and having a second region along the second stack;

a first complementary digit line having a first region along the first stack and having a second region along the second stack; comparing, by a sense amplifier circuit, the first true digit line to the first complementary digit line; and

a second digit line having a first region along the first stack and laterally adjacent to the first region of the first complementary digit line, and a second region along the second stack and laterally adjacent to the second region of the first true digit line.

2. The integrated component of claim 1, wherein the second digit line is a second true digit line, and the integrated component further comprises a second complementary digit line; the second complementary digit line has a first region along the first stack and laterally adjacent to the first region of the first true digit line, and the second complementary digit line has a second region along the second stack and laterally adjacent to the second region of the first complementary digit line.

3. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein the second complementary digit line is oppositely coupled to the second true digit line.

4. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein the second complementary digit line is not oppositely coupled to the second true digit line.

5. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein word lines extend from memory cells along the first region of the second true digit line to memory cells along the first region of the first complementary digit line.

6. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein word lines extend from memory cells along the second region of the second true digit line to memory cells along the second region of the first true digit line.

7. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein a word line extends from memory cells along the second region of the second complementary digit line to memory cells along the second region of the first complementary digit line.

8. The integrated component of claim 2, wherein a word line extends from memory cells along the first region of the second complementary digit line to memory cells along the first region of the first true digit line.

9. The integrated assembly of claim 2, wherein the second true digitline and the second complementary digitline are configured as a first laterally open receptacle and a second laterally open receptacle, respectively; wherein the first and second laterally open containers have first and second openings, respectively, extending therein.

10. The integrated assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second openings of the first and second laterally-open containers face each other.

11. The integrated assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second openings of the first and second laterally-open containers face away from each other.

12. An integrated assembly, comprising:

a substrate including a first sense amplifier circuit and a second sense amplifier circuit;

a first laminate over the substrate; the first stack includes a first portion of a first array of first memory cells and includes a first portion of a second array of second memory cells;

a second stack over the first stack; the second stack includes a second portion of the first array of the first memory cells and includes a second portion of the second array of the second memory cells;

a first real digit line associated with the first array, the first real digit line having a first region associated with the first layer stack and having a second region associated with the second layer stack;

a first complementary digit line associated with the second array, the first complementary digit line having a first region associated with the first tier stack and having a second region associated with the second tier stack; comparing, by the first sense amplifier circuit, the first true digit line relative to the first complementary digit line;

a second true digit line associated with the first array, the second true digit line having a first region laterally adjacent the first region of the first complementary digit line and the second true digit line having a second region laterally adjacent the second region of the first true digit line; and

a second complementary digit line associated with the second array, the second complementary digit line having a first region laterally adjacent the first region of the first true digit line and the second complementary digit line having a second region laterally adjacent the second region of the first complementary digit line.

13. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein word lines extend from memory cells along the first region of the second true digit line to memory cells along the first region of the first complementary digit line.

14. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein word lines extend from memory cells along the second region of the second true digit line to memory cells along the second region of the first true digit line.

15. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein a word line extends from memory cells along the second region of the second complementary digit line to memory cells along the second region of the first complementary digit line.

16. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein a word line extends from memory cells along the first region of the second complementary digit line to memory cells along the first region of the first true digit line.

17. The integrated assembly of claim 12, wherein:

a vertical extension extending from the first region of the first true digit line to the second region of the first true digit line;

the first sense amplifier circuit is laterally offset to a first side of the vertically extending section; and is

The second sense amplifier circuit is laterally offset to a second side of the vertically extending segment, wherein the second side is in an opposing relationship to the first side.

18. The integrated assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the vertically extending section is a first vertically extending section;

a second vertical extension extending from the first region of the first complementary digit line to the second region of the first complementary digit line;

the first sense amplifier circuitry is laterally offset to the first side of the second vertically extending segment; and is

The second sense amplifier circuitry is laterally offset to the second side of the second vertically extending segment.

19. The integrated assembly of claim 18, wherein:

a word line extends from memory cells along the first true digit line and the first complementary digit line to memory cells along the second true digit line and the second complementary digit line;

a word line driver circuit coupled with the word line;

the first and second sense amplifier circuits are along the first region of the substrate;

the word line driver circuitry along a second region of the substrate laterally offset from the first region of the substrate; and is

At least some of the first and second regions are directly beneath the first and second memory cells of the first and second arrays.

20. The integrated assembly of claim 12, wherein:

a first vertical extension extending from the first region of the first true digit line to the second region of the first true digit line;

a second vertical extension extending from the first region of the first complementary digit line to the second region of the first complementary digit line; and is

The first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier circuit are each laterally offset to a first side of the second vertically extending segment.

21. The integrated assembly of claim 20, wherein:

a word line extends from memory cells along the first true digit line and the first complementary digit line to memory cells along the second true digit line and the second complementary digit line;

a word line driver circuit coupled with the word line;

the first and second sense amplifier circuits are along a first region of the substrate;

the word line driver circuitry along a second region of the substrate laterally offset from the first region of the substrate; and is

At least some of the first and second regions are directly beneath the first and second memory cells of the first and second arrays.

22. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein the second complementary digit line is oppositely coupled to the second true digit line.

23. The integrated component of claim 12, wherein the second complementary digit line is not oppositely coupled to the second true digit line.

24. The integrated assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the first region of the second true digit line is along a first end of the second true digit line;

the second region of the second true digit line is along an opposite second end of the second true digit line;

a first vertically extending segment extends between the first end and the second end of the second true digit line;

the first region of the second complementary digit line is along a first end of the second complementary digit line;

the second region of the second complementary digit line is along an opposite second end of the second complementary digit line; and is

A second vertically extending segment extends between the first and second ends of the second complementary digit line.

25. The integrated assembly of claim 24, wherein:

the second real digit line is shaped as a first laterally open container, wherein the first laterally open container has a first closed end corresponding to the first vertically extending section and has a first open end in opposing relation to the first closed end; and is

The second complementary digit line is shaped as a second laterally open container having a second closed end corresponding to the second vertically extending section and having a second open end in opposing relation to the second closed end.

26. The integrated assembly of claim 25, wherein the first open end and the second open end face each other.

27. The integrated assembly of claim 25, wherein the first open end and the second open end face away from each other.

28. An integrated assembly, comprising:

a substrate including a sense amplifier circuit;

a first laminate over the substrate; the first stack includes a first portion of a first array of first memory cells and includes a first portion of a second array of second memory cells;

a second stack over the first stack; the second stack includes a second portion of the first array of the first memory cells and includes a second portion of the second array of the second memory cells;

a first set of true and complementary digit lines associated with the first and second arrays; the true digit lines in the first set are oppositely coupled to the complementary digit lines in the first set by a first set of the sense amplifier circuits;

a second set of true and complementary digit lines associated with the first and second arrays; the true digit lines in the second set are oppositely coupled to the complementary digit lines in the second set by a second set of the sense amplifier circuits;

the true digit lines in the second set have a first region laterally adjacent a first region of the complementary digit lines in the first set and have a second region laterally adjacent a second region of the true digit lines in the first set;

the complementary digit lines in the second set have a first region laterally adjacent a first region of the true digit lines in the first set and have a second region laterally adjacent a second region of the complementary digit lines in the first set;

a first opening through the first laminate and a second opening through the second laminate; and

an interconnect extending from a power supply to one of the sense amplifier circuits; the interconnect extends through the first opening and the second opening.

29. The integrated assembly of claim 28, wherein:

the second true digit line is configured as a laterally open first receptacle, wherein the first receptacle has a first open edge;

the second complementary digit line is configured as a laterally open second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle has a second open edge; and is

The first opening edge and the second opening edge face each other.

30. The integrated assembly of claim 28, wherein:

the second true digit line is configured as a laterally open first receptacle, wherein the first receptacle has a first open edge;

the second complementary digit line is configured as a laterally open second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle has a second open edge; and is

The first opening edge and the second opening edge face away from each other.

31. The integrated assembly of claim 28, wherein the second opening is located directly above the first opening.

32. The integrated assembly of claim 28, wherein the second opening is not located directly above the first opening.

33. The integrated assembly of claim 32, wherein an intermediate region is located between the first and second stacks, and wherein the interconnect extends laterally along this intermediate region to travel from a location directly below the second opening to another location directly above the first opening.

Technical Field

A memory array (e.g., a DRAM array). The integrated assembly includes vertically stacked tiers. The integrated assembly includes a twisted pair digit line configuration.

Background

Memory is used in modern computing architectures to store data. One type of memory is Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The DRAM may provide advantages of a simple structure, low cost, and high speed, compared to alternative types of memory.

DRAM may utilize memory cells having a capacitor in combination with a transistor (so-called 1T-1C memory cells), where the capacitor is coupled to the source/drain region of the transistor. An exemplary 1T-1C memory cell 2 is shown in fig. 1, where the transistor is labeled T and the capacitor is labeled C. One node of the capacitor is coupled to the source/drain region of the transistor and the other node is coupled to the common plate CP. The common plate can be connected to any suitable voltage, such as a voltage in the range from greater than or equal to ground to less than or equal to VCC (i.e., ground ≦ CP ≦ VCC). In some applications, the voltage of the common plate is about one-half VCC (i.e., about VCC/2). The gate of the transistor is coupled to a word line WL (i.e., access line, routing line, first linear structure, etc.) and the source/drain region is coupled to a bit line BL (i.e., digit line, sense line, second linear structure, etc.). In operation, during read/write operations, an electric field generated by a voltage along a word line may gate couple a bit line to a capacitor.

FIG. 2 illustrates another prior art 1T-1C memory cell configuration. The configuration of fig. 2 shows two memory cells 2a and 2 b; memory cell 2a includes transistor T1 and capacitor C1, while memory cell 2b includes transistor T2 and capacitor C2. Word lines WL0 and WL1 are electrically coupled to the gates of transistors T1 and T2, respectively. Memory cells 2a and 2b share a connection to a bit line BL.

The above-described memory cells may be incorporated into a memory array, and in some applications, the memory array may have an open bitline arrangement. Fig. 3 shows an exemplary integrated component 9 with an open bitline architecture. Component 9 includes two laterally adjacent memory arrays ("array 1" and "array 2"), wherein each of the arrays includes memory cells of the type described in fig. 2 (not labeled in fig. 3 in order to simplify the drawing). Word lines WL 0-WL 7 extend across the array and are coupled with word line drivers. The digit lines D0 to D8 are associated with the first array (array 1), while the digit lines D0 to D8 are associated with the second array (array 2). Sense amplifiers SA 0-SA 8 are provided between the first and second arrays. The digitlines at the same height are paired with each other and compared by sense amplifiers (e.g., digitlines D0 and D0 are paired with each other and compared using sense amplifier SA 0). In a read operation, one of the paired digit lines can be used as a reference to determine an electrical characteristic (e.g., voltage) of the other of the paired digit lines.

Highly integrated memories have closely spaced memory cells and digit lines. Problems may be encountered due to undesirable capacitive coupling between closely spaced digit lines. Capacitive coupling can cause excessive noise during data read operations and becomes increasingly problematic as the level of integration increases. It is desirable to develop new architectures that can reduce or eliminate problematic capacitive coupling.

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments include an integrated component having a first laminate and having a second laminate over the first laminate. A first real digit line has a first region along the first stack and has a second region along the second stack. A first complementary digit line has a first region along the first stack and has a second region along the second stack. The first true digit line is relatively compared to the first complementary digit line by a sense amplifier circuit. A second digit line has a first region along the first stack and laterally adjacent the first region of the first complementary digit line, and a second digit line has a second region along the second stack and laterally adjacent the second region of the first true digit line.

Some embodiments include an integrated component having a substrate including a first sense amplifier circuit and a second sense amplifier circuit. A first stack is over the substrate. The first stack includes a first portion of a first array of first memory cells and includes a first portion of a second array of second memory cells. A second stack is over the first stack. The second stack includes a second portion of the first array of the first memory cells and includes a second portion of the second array of the second memory cells. A first true digit line is associated with the first array. The first true digit line has a first region associated with the first stack and has a second region associated with the second stack. A first complementary digit line is associated with the second array. The first complementary digit line has a first region associated with the first stack and has a second region associated with the second stack. The first true digit line is relatively compared to the first complementary digit line by a first sense amplifier circuit. A second true digit line is associated with the first array. The second true digit line has a first region laterally adjacent the first region of the first complementary digit line and the second true digit line has a second region laterally adjacent the second region of the first true digit line. A second complementary digit line is associated with the second array. The second complementary digit line has a first region laterally adjacent to the first region of the first true digit line and a second region laterally adjacent to the second region of the first complementary digit line.

Some embodiments include an integrated component having a substrate including sense amplifier circuitry. A first stack is over the substrate. The first stack includes a first portion of a first array of first memory cells and includes a first portion of a second array of second memory cells. A second stack is over the first stack. The second stack includes a second portion of the first array of the first memory cells and includes a second portion of the second array of the second memory cells. A first set of true and complementary digit lines are associated with the first and second arrays. The true digit lines in the first set are oppositely coupled to the complementary digit lines in the first set by a first set of the sense amplifier circuits. A second set of true and complementary digit lines are associated with the first and second arrays. The true digit lines in the second set are oppositely coupled to the complementary digit lines in the second set by a second set of the sense amplifier circuits. The true digit lines in the second set have a first region laterally adjacent the first region of the complementary digit lines in the first set and have a second region laterally adjacent the second region of the true digit lines in the first set. The complementary digit lines in the second set have a first region laterally adjacent the first region of the true digit lines in the first set and have a second region laterally adjacent the second region of the complementary digit lines in the first set. A first opening passes through the first laminate and a second opening passes through the second laminate. An interconnect extends from a power supply to one of the sense amplifier circuits. The interconnect extends through the first opening and the second opening.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art memory cell having 1 transistor and 1 capacitor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pair of prior art memory cells each having 1 transistor and 1 capacitor and sharing a bitline connection.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a prior art integrated component having an open bitline architecture.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary integrated assembly having a plurality of stacked layers that are vertically displaced relative to one another.

Fig. 5 is a multi-dimensional schematic side view of an example layout of complementary digit lines within the example stack of fig. 4.

Fig. 5A is an alternative multi-dimensional view of the layout of fig. 5.

Fig. 5B is a schematic side view of one of the memory cells of fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a region of components comprising the layout of fig. 5.

FIG. 7 is a multi-dimensional view of a region including exemplary components of the layout of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 8 is a multi-dimensional view of an alternate area of the example assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a multi-dimensional view of an alternate area of the example assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of an example region of an example assembly.

Fig. 11 is a multi-dimensional schematic side view of an example layout of complementary digit lines within the example stack of fig. 4.

FIG. 11A is an alternative multi-dimensional view of the layout of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a multi-dimensional view of a region of an exemplary component including a modification of the layout of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 13 is a multi-dimensional view of an alternate area of the example assembly of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of an example region of an example assembly.

Detailed Description

Some embodiments include integrated components having a twisted pair digit line configuration (i.e., a twisted pair bit line configuration). The twisted pair digit line configuration may reduce or eliminate problematic capacitive coupling. Some conventional components may utilize shielding between adjacent digit lines to reduce problematic capacitive coupling. Embodiments described herein may eliminate problematic coupling without utilizing such shielding. Omitting the shield may simplify fabrication of the architectures described herein as compared to conventional architectures that include a shield, and may enable the architectures described herein to be formed to more closely fill adjacent digit lines as compared to architectures having a shield between adjacent digit lines. Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to fig. 4 to 14.

Referring to fig. 4, the integrated component 10 includes a substrate 12, a first stack 14 over the substrate, and a second stack 16 over the first stack. Structures 12, 14 and 16 are vertically stacked upon one another. The substrate 12, the first stack 14 and the second stack 16 may be considered as examples of levels (layers) stacked on top of each other. The levels may be within different semiconductor dies, or at least two of the two levels may be within the same semiconductor die.

The first 14 and second 16 stacks have memory regions 18 and 22, respectively. The first and second memory arrays (array 1 and array 2) are supported by a first stack 14 and a second stack 16, with each of the memory arrays having a first portion along the first (lower) stack 14 and a second portion along the second (upper) stack 16. The first memory array includes a first memory cell 20a and the second memory array includes a second memory cell 20 b. The memory cells are schematically shown as circles. The first and second memory arrays may include any suitable number of memory cells, and may include hundreds, thousands, millions, etc. of memory cells in some embodiments. The memory cells may be DRAM cells and, in some embodiments, may be configured in an arrangement of the type described above with reference to prior art fig. 1-3 (i.e., array 1 and array 2 may be DRAM arrays). To simplify the illustration of fig. 4, array 1 and array 2 are shown as being separate from each other. In some embodiments, the area of array 1 may overlap the area of array 2, as shown in the embodiments described below with reference to fig. 5-14.

In some embodiments, the first and second stacks 14, 16 may be referred to as first and second memory stacks, respectively.

Substrate 12 may include a semiconductor material; and may, for example, comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of monocrystalline silicon. The base 12 may be referred to as a semiconductor substrate. The term "semiconductive substrate" means any structure comprising semiconductive material, including, but not limited to, bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductive wafer (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials), and semiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials). The term "substrate" refers to any supporting structure, including but not limited to the semiconductor substrate described above. In some applications, base 12 may correspond to a semiconductor substrate containing one or more materials associated with integrated circuit fabrication. Such materials may include, for example, one or more of refractory metal materials, barrier materials, diffusion materials, insulator materials, and the like. Each of the stacks 14 and 16 may also include a semiconductor material.

In the illustrated embodiment, substrate 12 includes a sense amplifier circuit (SA) and a word line driver circuit (WD).

The sense amplifier circuit includes regions labeled "SA-E" to identify them as being associated with "even" portions of the circuit, and regions labeled "SA-O" to identify them as being associated with "odd" portions of the circuit. The terms "even" and "odd" are arbitrary and are used to distinguish between different sense amplifier circuits. The configuration shown has sense amplifier circuits SA-O and SA-E paired with each other and distributed as structure (block) 24. Sense amplifier circuits SA-E and SA-O may be referred to as first and second sense amplifier circuits, respectively. In some embodiments, sense amplifier circuits SA-E may be considered to correspond to a first set of sense amplifier circuits, while sense amplifier circuits SA-O may be considered to correspond to a second set of sense amplifier circuits; and vice versa.

The word line driver circuits (i.e., row driver circuits) contain regions labeled SWD-L and SWD-U. The acronym SWD stands for sub-wordline driver, and is used to emphasize that components SWD-L and SWD-U are parts of a common wordline driver circuit. The word line driver circuits SWD-L are utilized during operation of the memory cells associated with the lower stack 14 and the word line driver circuits SWD-U are utilized during operation of the memory cells associated with the upper stack 16.

The configuration shown has word line driver circuits SWD-L and SWD-U paired with each other and distributed as a structure (block) 30.

The blocks 24 and 30 may be considered to form a block area. The block regions may together be considered to form a ridge arrangement of circuit sub-units along the substrate 12.

The first digit lines D0, D1, and D2 are associated with a first memory array (array 1). First digit lines D0, D1, and D2 extend along first memory array (array 1) and are coupled with first memory cell 20a of the first memory array. Bit lines D0, D1, and D2 are laterally spaced apart from one another and may represent a large number of substantially identical bit lines extending across the first memory array. The term "substantially identical" means identical within reasonable manufacturing and measurement tolerances. The first digit lines alternate between even first digit lines and odd first digit lines, wherein digit lines D0 and D2 represent even first digit lines and digit line D1 represents odd first digit lines. Even first digit lines (e.g., D0) are coupled to first sense amplifier circuits 26 (i.e., SA-E), and odd first digit lines (e.g., D1) are coupled to second sense amplifier circuits 28 (i.e., SA-O). The first digit lines D0, D1 and D2 have a first portion along the first stack 14 and have a second portion along the second stack 16.

Second digit lines D0, D1, and D2 are associated with the second memory array (array 2). Second digit lines D0, D1, and D2 extend along the second memory array and are coupled to second memory cell 20b of the second memory array (array 2). Bit lines D0, D1, and D2 are laterally spaced from one another and may represent a large number of substantially identical bit lines extending across the second memory array. The second digit lines alternate between even second digit lines and odd second digit lines, wherein digit lines D0 and D2 represent even second digit lines and digit line D1 represents odd second digit lines. Even second digit lines (e.g., D0) are coupled to the second sense amplifier circuits 26 (i.e., SA-E), while odd second digit lines (e.g., D1) are coupled to the second sense amplifier circuits 28 (SA-O). The second digit lines D0, D1, and D2 have a first portion along the first stack 14 and have a second portion along the second stack 16.

The even first digit lines D0 and D2 are oppositely coupled to the even second digit lines D0 and D2 by the first sense amplifier circuit 26 (SA-E); and the odd first digit line D1 is coupled opposite to the odd second digit line D1 by the second sense amplifier circuit 28 (SA-O). For purposes of understanding the present disclosure and appended claims, a first digit line is "oppositely coupled" to a second digit line by a sense amplifier circuit if the sense amplifier circuit is configured to compare electrical characteristics (e.g., voltages) of the first digit line and the second digit line to one another.

Two digit lines coupled opposite each other by a sense amplifier circuit may be considered to comprise a true digit line and a complementary digit line. For example, digit lines D0 and D0 may be considered to be a true digit line and a complementary digit line, respectively; and similarly, digit lines D1 and D1 may be considered to be true and complementary digit lines, respectively. The terms "true" and "complementary" are arbitrary. The electrical values of the true and complementary digit lines of this set are utilized together during a read/write operation of the memory cells (e.g., 20a, 20b) associated with the set. For purposes of describing embodiments herein, true digitlines will be those without an asterisk indication in the label (e.g., D0, D1, D2, etc.), while complementary digitlines will be those with an asterisk indication in the label (e.g., D0, D1, D2, etc.).

Still referring to fig. 4, word lines 32 extend along the first and second memory arrays (array 1 and array 2).

Each of the first memory cells 20a within the first memory array (array 1) is uniquely addressed by one of the digit lines extending along the first memory array (e.g., one of digit lines D0, D1, and D2 and one of word lines 32). Similarly, each of first memory cells 20b within the second memory array (array 2) is uniquely addressed by one of the digitlines extending along the second memory array (e.g., one of digitlines D0, D1, and D2 and one of wordlines 32). In some embodiments, the digit lines along the first memory array (array 1) may be referred to as a first set of digit lines, while the digit lines along the second memory (array 2) are referred to as a second set of digit lines.

An advantage of the configuration of FIG. 4 is that all sense amplifier circuitry and all word line driver circuitry can be disposed directly below the memory arrays (array 1 and array 2), which can enable dense packing of the memory arrays across a semiconductor substrate; or in other words, this may save valuable semiconductor space compared to conventional configurations in which at least some of the sense amplifier circuitry and/or at least some of the word line drivers of the word line driver circuitry are not located directly beneath the memory array. Vertical stacking of the areas of the memory arrays (array 1 and array 2) can further save valuable semiconductor space. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, digit lines D0, D0, D1, D1, D2, and D2 are all vertically displaced with respect to the first and second sense amplifier circuits SA-E and SA-0, and with respect to the word line driver circuits SWD-U and SWD-L.

The digit lines of fig. 4 are not twisted to simplify the drawing. However, embodiments described herein may include twisted pair digit line configurations. For example, fig. 5 illustrates an area of an exemplary integrated component 10 having a twisted pair digit line configuration in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The twisted pair digit lines comprise digit lines DL1 and DL 1. Digit lines DL1 and DL1 are coupled relative to each other through sense amplifier circuit 28 identified as SA-O (1). Digitline DL1 may be referred to as the true digitline and digitline DL1 may be referred to as the complementary digitline. In some embodiments, digit lines DL1 and DL1 may be referred to as first digit lines to distinguish them from the other digit lines shown in fig. 5; and in such embodiments, digit line DL1 may be referred to as a first true digit line and digit line DL1 may be referred to as a first complementary digit line.

The substrate 12, the first stack 14 and the second stack 16 are schematically shown in fig. 5 as having different heights. The true digit line DL1 is shown as having a first region 40a along (associated with) the first stack (lower stack) 14, a second region 40b along (associated with) the second stack (upper stack) 16, and a vertically extending segment 40c between the first segment 40a and the second segment 40 b. The complementary digit line DL1 is shown as having a first region 42a along (associated with) the first stack (lower stack) 14, a second region 42b along (associated with) the second stack (upper stack) 16, and a vertically extending section 42c between the first and second sections 40a, 40 b. The vertically extending sections 40c and 42c may be referred to as a first vertically extending section and a second vertically extending section, respectively. The region 44 including the vertically extending segments 40c and 42c may be referred to as a twisted region.

The assembly 10 also includes a digit line DL0 on one side of the twisted region 44 and another digit line DL2 on the opposite side of the twisted region 44. Digit line DL0 may be referred to as a true digit line and digit line DL2 may be referred to as a complementary digit line. In the illustrated embodiment, true digitline DL0 is not oppositely coupled to complementary digitline DL 2. In contrast, digit line DL0 is coupled to first sense amplifier circuit 26a (SA-E (1)), and digit line DL2 is coupled to second sense amplifier circuit 26b (SA-E (2)).

The digit lines DL0 and DL2 may be referred to as second digit lines to distinguish them from the first digit lines DL1 and DL 1. And in some embodiments, digit line DL0 may be referred to as a second true digit line and digit line DL2 may be referred to as a second complementary digit line.

The true digit line DL0 is shown as having a first region 46a along (associated with) the first stack (lower stack) 14, a second region 46b along (associated with) the second stack (upper stack) 16, and a vertically extending segment 46c between the first segment 46a and the second segment 46 b. The complementary digit line DL2 is shown as having a first region 48a along (associated with) the first stack (lower stack) 14, a second region 48b along (associated with) the second stack (upper stack) 16, and a vertically extending segment 48c between the first segment 48a and the second segment 48 b. The vertically extending sections 46c and 48c may be referred to as a third vertically extending section and a fourth vertically extending section, respectively.

In some embodiments, the regions 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, 46a, 46b, 48a, and 48b may be considered to be ends (end regions) of various digit lines, and the vertically extending segments 40c, 42c, 46c, and 48c may be considered to extend between the ends.

First region 46a of second true digit line DL0 is laterally adjacent to first region 42a of first complementary digit line DL1 and may be considered to be a neighborhood (in some applications, the nearest neighborhood) of the first region of the first complementary digit line in some embodiments.

Second region 46b of second true digit line DL0 is laterally adjacent to second region 40b of first true digit line DL1 and may be considered a neighborhood (in some applications, nearest neighborhood) of the second region of the first true digit line in some embodiments.

First region 48a of second complementary digit line DL2 is laterally adjacent to first region 40a of first true digit line DL1 and may be considered to be a neighborhood (in some applications, the nearest neighborhood) of the first region of the first true digit line in some embodiments.

Second region 48b of second complementary digit line DL2 is laterally adjacent to second region 42b of first complementary digit line DL1 and may be considered a neighborhood (in some applications, the nearest neighborhood) of the second region of the first complementary digit line in some embodiments.

Sense amplifier circuits 26a, 26b, and 28 are associated with (along) substrate 12.

Exemplary memory cells 20a and 20b are shown along a height corresponding to stacks 14 and 16, and word line 32 is also shown along a height corresponding to stacks 14 and 16. Each of the memory cells 20a of array 1 is uniquely addressed by a real digit line (DL0 or DL1) and a word line 32. Similarly, each of the memory cells 20b of array 2 is uniquely addressed by a complementary digit line (DL1 or DL2) and word line 32. Word lines extend along rows of memory cells 20a/20 b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the wordlines extend from memory cell 20a along first region 46a of second true digit line DL0 to memory cell 20b along first region 42a of first complementary digit line DL 1; the word line extends from memory cell 20a along second region 46b of second true digit line DL0 to memory cell 20a along second region 40b of first true digit line DL 1; the wordlines extend from memory cell 20b along first region 48a of second complementary digit line DL2 to memory cell 20a along first region 40a of first true digit line DL 1; and the word lines extend from memory cell 20b along second region 48b of second complementary digit line DL2 to memory cell 20b along second region 42b of first complementary digit line DL 1.

The wordline driver circuits (SWD-U and SWD-L) may be supported by the substrate 12 and may be coupled with the wordlines 32. The word line driver circuits are not shown in fig. 5 in order to simplify the drawing.

Memory cells 20a and 20b may have any suitable configuration. An exemplary memory cell 20 is shown in an enlarged view in fig. 5B to simplify labeling of the components of the memory cell. The memory cell 20 includes a transistor T coupled with a capacitor C. The transistor T comprises a vertically extending pillar 70 of semiconductor material 72. Semiconductor material 72 may include any suitable composition; and in some embodiments may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of one or more of silicon, germanium, III/V semiconductor materials (e.g., gallium phosphide), semiconductor oxides, and the like; the term III/V semiconductor material refers to a semiconductor material comprising an element selected from groups III and V of the periodic table of elements (where groups III and V are old nomenclature and are now referred to as groups 13 and 15).

Gate dielectric material (insulating material) 74 is along the sidewalls of the pillars 70 and conductive gate material 76 is along the gate dielectric material.

Gate dielectric material 74 may comprise any suitable composition; and in some embodiments may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of silicon dioxide.

Conductive gate material 76 may include any suitable conductive composition; such as, for example, one or more of various metals (e.g., titanium, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, platinum, ruthenium, etc.), metal-containing compositions (e.g., metal silicides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, etc.), and/or conductively-doped semiconductor materials (e.g., conductively-doped silicon, conductively-doped germanium, etc.).

Conductive gate material 76 forms the transistor gate of transistor T. The transistor includes a first source/drain region 86 within an upper region of the pillar 70, a second source/drain region 88 within a lower region of the pillar 70, and a channel region 90 between the first source/drain region 86 and the second source/drain region 88. In operation, an electric field generated by a voltage within gate material 76 (i.e., a voltage along word line 32 coupled with gate material 76) may gate source/drain regions 86 and 88 to each other through channel region 90. When the term "gated coupling" is utilized herein, this may refer to controlled coupling/decoupling of the source/drain regions of a transistor, which may be caused by electrical activation/deactivation of the gate of the transistor.

The capacitor C includes a first conductive node 78, a second conductive node 80, and an insulating material (capacitor dielectric material) 82 between the first and second conductive nodes.

The first conductive node 78 and the second conductive node 80 may comprise any suitable conductive composition; such as, for example, one or more of various metals (e.g., titanium, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, platinum, ruthenium, etc.), metal-containing compositions (e.g., metal silicides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, etc.), and/or conductively-doped semiconductor materials (e.g., conductively-doped silicon, conductively-doped germanium, etc.). The first conductive node and the second conductive node may include the same composition as each other or may include different compositions with respect to each other.

Insulating material 82 may include any suitable composition; and in some embodiments may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of silicon dioxide.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower conductive node 78 is configured as an upwardly open container. In other embodiments, the lower conductive node may have another suitable shape.

In the view of fig. 5B, word line 32 (gate material 76) is on both sides of channel region 70, while in the view of fig. 5, on one side of the channel region. The word lines (gate material) may be in any suitable configuration relative to the channel region of the transistor; and in some applications the "transistor" may be on one side of the channel region, on both sides of the channel region, or may completely surround the channel region (i.e., may be a gate-all-around configuration).

The digit lines DL0, DL1, DL1 and DL2 of fig. 5 include conductive material 84. The conductive gate material may comprise any suitable conductive composition; such as, for example, one or more of various metals (e.g., titanium, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, platinum, ruthenium, etc.), metal-containing compositions (e.g., metal silicides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, etc.), and/or conductively-doped semiconductor materials (e.g., conductively-doped silicon, conductively-doped germanium, etc.).

Second true digit line DL0 is configured as a first laterally open container 50a and second complementary digit line DL2 is configured as a second laterally open container 50 b. The first laterally open container 50a has a first closed end corresponding to the vertically extending section 46c, and has a first open end (opening edge) 51a in opposed relation to the first closed end. The second laterally open container 50b has a second closed end corresponding to the vertically extending section 48c, and has a second open end (open edge) 51b in opposing relation to the first closed end. The first and second laterally open containers may be considered to have first and second openings 52a, 52b therein. In the illustrated embodiment of fig. 5, the first opening 51a and the second open end 51b face each other.

An advantage of the configuration of fig. 5 is that each of the odd numbered lines (DL1 and DL1) has a first portion adjacent to a region of one of the even numbered lines (e.g., odd numbered line DL1 has a first portion 40a adjacent to even numbered line DL2) and has a second portion adjacent to a region in a different one of the even numbered lines (e.g., odd numbered line DL1 has a second portion 40b adjacent to even numbered line DL 0). Furthermore, the even digit lines adjacent to the first portion of odd digit lines will be a different type of even digit line (true or complementary) than the even digit lines adjacent to the second portion of odd digit lines. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 40a of odd digit line DL1 is adjacent to a region of complementary even digit line DL2, while the second portion 40b of odd digit line DL1 is adjacent to a region of true even digit line DL 0. This may enable cancellation of coupling noise along adjacent digit lines DL1, DL0, and DL2 during differential sensing operations. Similarly, coupled noise along adjacent digit lines DL1, DL0, and DL2 may be cancelled during the differential sensing operation. Thus, the configuration of fig. 5 may advantageously reduce problematic coupling noise between adjacent digit lines.

Fig. 5A shows an alternative view of the assembly 10 of fig. 5. In particular, each of the stacks 14 and 16 is schematically shown, and regions of the digit lines DL0, DL1, DL1 and DL2 are schematically shown as being associated with the stacks. Additional digit lines are shown but not labeled.

The connection between the region along the digit line of the upper stack 16 and the region along the digit line of the lower stack 14 is schematically illustrated with a dashed line 53 (only one of which is labeled), and such dashed lines extend to connection regions 55 (only two of which are labeled), which are schematically illustrated in stippling.

Referring to fig. 6, this shows a larger portion of the integrated assembly 10 having the various structures described above with reference to fig. 5. The view of fig. 6 shows a pair of twisted regions 44 laterally displaced relative to each other and shows the various digit lines DL0, DL0, DL1, DL1, DL2, DL2, DL3, DL3, DL4 and DL4 arranged in an opposing pair-wise configuration. Notably, the even-numbered pair configuration (e.g., SA-E (1)) is laterally offset relative to the odd-numbered pair configuration (e.g., SA-O (1)). Thus, the last even digit line (DL4) of the even digit lines shown is only used for comparison pairing with digit line DL4 and has no noise canceling relationship with any of the odd digit lines (e.g., DL3, DL 3).

Fig. 7 illustrates the assembly 10 of fig. 5 using a schematic of the type described above with reference to fig. 5A. FIG. 7 also shows substrate 12, and shows sense amplifier circuitry 28(SA-O) associated with substrate 12. A problem that can arise is that the illustrated configuration of the digit lines can block the regions that would otherwise be used to access interconnects extending to the sense amplifier circuitry. For example, it may be desirable to route power to the sense amplifier circuitry. Regions 54 and 56 along stacks 14 and 16 are schematically shown, where such regions correspond to desired locations of windows to be formed to extend through stacks 14 and 16 to access sense amplifier circuitry 28.

One solution to the problem shown in fig. 7 is described with reference to fig. 8. Specifically, the digit lines are reconfigured so as to be free of window regions 54 and 56 so that interconnects can extend through window regions 54 and 56. An example interconnect 58 is shown extending from a power supply 60 to the sense amplifier circuitry 28. During operation of this sense amplifier circuit, power may be provided to the sense amplifier circuit using power supply 60. Alternatively, the power supply 60 may correspond to an input/output that extends to the sense amplifier circuitry and/or any other structure/module that is desired to be electrically coupled with the sense amplifier circuitry.

Window regions 54 and 56 of fig. 8 are shown as corresponding to first and second openings through the first and second stacks 14 and 16, respectively; and interconnect 58 passes through such first and second openings. In the embodiment of fig. 8, the second opening 56 is located directly above the first opening 54.

Another solution to the problem shown in fig. 7 is described with reference to fig. 9. The embodiment of fig. 9 shows the digit lines arranged such that the window 56 (second opening) in the upper stack 16 is laterally offset (i.e., not directly above the window 54) relative to the window 54 (first opening) in the lower stack 14. In some embodiments, the intermediate region 62 is located between the first stack 14 and the second stack 16, and the interconnect 58 is routed to extend laterally within this interconnect region such that the interconnect travels from a location 59 directly below the second opening 56 to another location 61 directly above the first opening 54.

The configurations described above with reference to fig. 5-9 may have sense amplifier circuitry and word line driver circuitry associated with base 12. The sense amplifier circuitry and the word line driver circuitry may be provided in any suitable arrangement. An example arrangement is described with reference to fig. 10. This example arrangement includes repeated chunking (with example chunking identified as chunking 63). Each partition contains a digit line (with two exemplary digit lines identified as DL0 and DL 1). As shown, some of the digit lines are coupled to SA-E circuitry, while other digit lines are coupled to SA-O circuitry. Each partition also includes word lines (with example word lines identified as WL1 and WL 2). Some of the word lines extend from word line driver circuits of a block containing word lines, while other word lines extend from word line driver circuits of an adjacent block.

The illustrated embodiment shows socket regions 64 along the edges of the segments, where such socket regions enable interconnects to travel along the edges of the circuitry associated with the segments.

The twisted areas 44 are shown schematically with respect to the blocks. The twisted regions will be within the memory circuitry disposed above the tiles, but are shown schematically in the tiles to aid the reader in understanding the possible relative positions of the sense amplifier circuitry and word line driver circuitry with respect to the twisted regions. In the illustrated application of FIG. 10, the even and odd sense amplifier circuits within a tile (SA-E and SA-O) are both along the same side of the twisted area 44 and are laterally spaced from each other. As described above with reference to fig. 5, the twisted region 44 may include both the first vertically extending segment 40c of the true digit line DL1 and may include the second vertically extending segment 42c of the complementary digit line DL 1. Thus, the first and second sense amplifier circuits may be on the same side of the first and second vertically extending segments 40c, 42 c.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10, the word line driver circuits (SWDs) are laterally offset with respect to the sense amplifier circuits. In some embodiments, the word line driver circuitry may be considered to be within the second region of the substrate 12, while the sense amplifier circuitry may be considered to be within the first region of the substrate. The second region is laterally offset from the first region. In some embodiments, at least some of the first and second regions may be directly below the first and second memory cells of the first and second memory arrays, as described above with reference to fig. 4.

Fig. 11 shows an integrated assembly 10 similar to that described above with reference to fig. 5. However, the second digit line shown includes a second true digit line DL0 and a second complementary digit line DL0, which are relatively coupled to each other through the SA-E circuit 26. The first and second laterally open containers 50a, 50b face away from each other rather than facing each other as in the configuration of fig. 5.

Fig. 11A shows the assembly 10 of fig. 11 in a view similar to that utilized above in fig. 5A.

Fig. 12 shows the assembly 10 of fig. 11 modified in a manner similar to that described above with reference to fig. 8 to enable a pair of openings 54 and 56 to be formed within the stacks 14 and 16, with the opening 56 being directly above the opening 54. Interconnect 58 is shown passing through openings 56 and 54 and coupling power supply 60 with sense amplifier circuitry 28.

Fig. 13 shows the assembly 10 of fig. 11 modified in a manner similar to that described above with reference to fig. 9. The window 56 in the upper stack 16 is laterally offset relative to the window 54 in the lower stack 14. Accordingly, interconnect 58 passes through window 56 to a location 59 within an intermediate region 62 between the stacks, then extends laterally along this intermediate region to a location 57 directly above opening 54, and then extends through opening 54 to couple with sense amplifier circuitry 28.

The configurations described above with reference to fig. 11-13 may have sense amplifier circuitry and word line driver circuitry associated with base 12. The sense amplifier circuitry and the word line driver circuitry may be provided in any suitable arrangement. An example arrangement is described with reference to fig. 14. This example arrangement includes repeated chunking (with example chunking identified as chunking 63). Each partition contains a digit line (with two exemplary digit lines identified as DL1 and DL 2). As shown, some of the digit lines are coupled to SA-E circuitry, while other digit lines are coupled to SA-O circuitry. Each partition also includes a word line (with example word lines identified as WL 1-WL 4). Some of the word lines extend from word line driver circuits of a block containing word lines, while other word lines extend from word line driver circuits of an adjacent block. Regions in which a digit line has no noise canceling relationship with other digit lines are schematically indicated by the term "edge-only block", where such regions are used for comparison purposes only, and not for comparison purposes and noise cancellation purposes.

The illustrated embodiment shows socket regions 64 along the edges of the segments, where such socket regions enable interconnects to travel along the edges of the circuitry associated with the segments.

The twisted areas 44 are shown schematically with respect to the blocks. The twisted regions will be within the memory circuitry disposed above the tiles, but are shown schematically in the tiles to aid the reader in understanding the possible relative positions of the sense amplifier circuitry and word line driver circuitry with respect to the twisted regions. In the illustrated application of FIG. 14, the even sense amplifier circuits (SA-E) within a tile are along one side of the twisted region 44, while the odd sense amplifier circuits (SA-O) within a tile are along the opposite side of the twisted region 44. In other words, the illustrated arrangement of fig. 14 may be considered to correspond to the following application: the first sense amplifier circuit of FIG. 11 (e.g., SA-O) is along a first side of the illustrated twisted region 44 within the segment 63 below this twisted region, while the second sense amplifier circuit of FIG. 11 (e.g., SA-E) is along a second side of the illustrated twisted region 44 within the segment 63 below this twisted region; wherein the second side is in opposing relationship to the first side. As described above with reference to fig. 11, the twisted region 44 may include a first vertical extension 40c of the true digit line DL1 and may include a second vertical extension 42c of the complementary digit line DL 1. Thus, the first and second sense amplifier circuits may be on opposite sides of the first and second vertically extending segments 40c, 42c relative to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 14, the word line driver circuits (SWDs) are laterally offset with respect to the sense amplifier circuits. In some embodiments, the word line driver circuitry may be considered to be within the second region of the substrate 12, while the sense amplifier circuitry may be considered to be within the first region of the substrate. The second region is laterally offset from the first region. In some embodiments, at least some of the first and second regions may be directly below the first and second memory cells of the first and second memory arrays, as described above with reference to fig. 4.

The various imprints (pattern etches) used to form the illustrated digit lines of fig. 5 and 11 may be along any suitable segment, and in some embodiments, may be along the segment used to form word lines 32 of fig. 5 and 11.

Although the embodiments described herein indicate two memory stacks (14, 16) above the substrate 12, it should be understood that in other embodiments there may be more than two memory stacks above the substrate.

The components and structures discussed above may be utilized within an integrated circuit (where the term "integrated circuit" means an electronic circuit supported by a semiconductor substrate); and may be incorporated into an electronic system. Such electronic systems may be used in, for example, memory modules, device drivers, power modules, communication modems, processor modules, and application-specific modules, and may include multilayer, multichip modules. The electronic system may be any of a variety of systems such as, for example, a camera, a wireless device, a display, a chipset, a set-top box, a gaming console, a lighting device, a vehicle, a clock, a television, a cell phone, a personal computer, an automobile, an industrial control system, an aircraft, etc.

Unless otherwise specified, the various materials, substances, compositions, etc. described herein can be formed by any suitable method now known or yet to be developed, including, for example, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), etc.

The terms "dielectric" and "insulating" may be used to describe a material having insulating electrical properties. In this disclosure, the terms are considered synonyms. In some cases, the use of the term "dielectric" and in other cases the use of the term "insulating" (or "electrically insulating") may provide language changes in this disclosure to simplify the prerequisite foundation of the following claims and is not intended to indicate any significant chemical or electrical difference.

The terms "electrically connected" and "electrically coupled" may both be utilized in this disclosure. The terms are considered synonyms. The use of one term in some instances and the use of another term in other instances may provide language changes in the present disclosure to simplify the antecedent basis in the claims that follow. The term "coupled" or the like may refer to an electrical connection.

The particular orientation of the various embodiments in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only and, in some applications, the embodiments may be rotated relative to the orientation shown. The description provided herein and the claims that follow refer to any structure having the described relationships between various features, regardless of whether the structure is in a particular orientation in the drawings or rotated relative to such orientation.

Unless otherwise indicated, the cross-sectional views of the drawings only show features within the cross-sectional plane, and do not show material behind the cross-sectional plane, in order to simplify the drawings.

When a structure is referred to as being "on," "adjacent to," or "against" another structure, it can be directly on the other structure or intervening structures may also be present. In contrast, when a structure is referred to as being "directly on," "directly adjacent to," or "directly against" another structure, there are no intervening structures present. The terms "directly under", "directly over", and the like do not indicate direct physical contact (unless expressly stated otherwise), but rather indicate upright alignment.

Structures (e.g., layers, materials, etc.) may be referred to as extending "vertically" to indicate that the structures generally extend upward from an underlying base (e.g., substrate). The vertically extending structures may extend substantially orthogonally with respect to the upper surface of the base, or may not extend orthogonally.

In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise exemplary embodiments. The claims are, therefore, to be accorded the full scope literally and appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.