US5981995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Static random access memory cell having buried sidewall transistors, buried bit lines, and buried vdd and vss nodes
Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-13
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2017-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A static random access memory (SRAM) cell has a decreased cell size and utilizes transistors disposed in a number of trenches. Four trenches generally contain six transistors associated with the memory cell. The transistors are provided as sidewall transistors which are coupled to buried bit lines, VSS nodes, and VDD nodes at the bottom of the trenches. A first trench includes a driver transistor and a load transistor which have gates coupled together by a bridge over the trench. Another bridge is provided over the bridge over the trench to couple the source of the load transistor to the drain of the driver transistor. The drain of the driver transistor is coupled to another drain of the access gate transistor. The access gate transistor is located in a trench with a access gate transistor from another cell. The buried bit line is located in the trench with the access gate transistors.
Inventors
- 👤 Asim A. Selcuk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B10/00; H10B10/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S257/00; Y10S257/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A memory cell comprising: a first trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, the first trench at least partially including a first load device and a first driver transistor; and a second trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, the second trench at least partially including a first access transistor and a first bit line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A memory cell comprising: a first trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, the first trench at least partially including a first load device and a first driver transistor; and a second trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, the second trench at least partially including a first access transistor and a first bit line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The memory cell of claim 1 further comprising: a third trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, the third trench at least partially including a second load device and a second driver transistor; and a fourth trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, the fourth trench at least partially including a second access transistor and a second bit line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The memory cell of claim 2 wherein the first load device and the second load device are PMOS transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The memory cell of claim 1 wherein the first trench includes a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first load device is a load transistor, the load transistor having a gate disposed over the first wall, and the first driver transistor having a gate disposed over the second wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The memory cell of claim 4 wherein the gate of the load transistor and the gate of the driver transistor are coupled by a conductive material over a top opening of the first trench.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The memory cell of claim 5 wherein a drain of the driver transistor is coupled to a drain of the load transistor by an interconnection disposed over the conductive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The memory cell of claim 4 wherein the second trench includes a first wall, and a gate of the first access transistor is disposed over the first wall of the second trench.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The memory cell of claim 7 wherein a top surface of the substrate has a doped region between the first and second trench, and the doped region forms a drain of the first access transistor and a drain of the first driver transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The memory cell of claim 1 wherein a bottom of the first trench includes a first doped region and a second doped region, the first doped region being a source of the first driver transistor and coupled to VSS, and the second doped region being the source of first load device coupled to VDD.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The memory cell of claim 9 wherein a bottom of the second trench includes a third doped region, the third doped region being the source of the first access transistor and being coupled to the first bit line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A static memory cell, comprising: a first side wall load transistor partially formed in a first trench in a semiconductor substrate; a first side wall driver transistor at least partially formed in the first trench in the semiconductor substrate; a first sidewall access gate transistor at least partially formed in a second trench in the semiconductor substrate; and a first bit line coupled to the first access gate transistor within the second trench.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A static memory cell, comprising: a first side wall load transistor partially formed in a first trench in a semiconductor substrate; a first side wall driver transistor at least partially formed in the first trench in the semiconductor substrate; a first sidewall access gate transistor at least partially formed in a second trench in the semiconductor substrate; and a first bit line coupled to the first access gate transistor within the second trench.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The static memory cell of claim 11, further comprising: a second side wall load transistor at least partially formed in a third trench in the semiconductor substrate; a second side wall driver transistor at least partially formed in the third trench in the semiconductor substrate; and a second sidewall access gate transistor at least partially formed in a fourth trench in the semiconductor substrate; and a second bit line coupled to the second access gate transistor within the fourth trench.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The memory cell of claim 12 wherein the first bit line is disposed at a bottom of the second trench, and the second bit line is disposed at the bottom of the fourth trench.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The memory cell of claim 13 wherein a VSS line is disposed at a bottom of the first trench and at a bottom of the third trench.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The memory cell of claim 14 wherein a VDD line is disposed at the bottom of the first trench and at the bottom of the third trench.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A memory cell, comprising: a load transistor partially formed in a first trench in a semiconductor substrate; a driver transistor at least partially formed in the first trench in the semiconductor substrate; a VDD conductive node disposed at a bottom of the first trench and coupled to the load transistor; and a VSS conductive node disposed at the bottom of the first trench and coupled to the driver transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
A memory cell, comprising: a load transistor partially formed in a first trench in a semiconductor substrate; a driver transistor at least partially formed in the first trench in the semiconductor substrate; a VDD conductive node disposed at a bottom of the first trench and coupled to the load transistor; and a VSS conductive node disposed at the bottom of the first trench and coupled to the driver transistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The memory cell of claim 16 further comprising: a access gate transistor at least partially formed in a second trench in the semiconductor substrate; and a bit line coupled to the first access gate transistor within the second trench.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The memory cell of claim 16 wherein a top surface of the substrate has a doped region between the first trench and the second trench, and the doped region forms a drain of the access transistor and a drain of the driver transistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The memory cell of claim 18 wherein a gate of the load transistor and a gate of the driver transistor are coupled by a conductive material over a top opening of the first trench.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The memory cell of claim 19 wherein a drain of the driver transistor is coupled to a drain of the load transistor by an interconnection disposed over the conductive material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |