SBIR Phase II: Massively Dense 3D Integrated Memory

SBIR 第二阶段：高密度 3D 集成存储器

• 批准号: 1127537
• 负责人: Burt Fowler
• 金额: $ 50万
• 依托单位: Privatran
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-15 至 2014-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1127537&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; Massively; Dense

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will further develop a two-terminal, electronically-programmable, nonvolatile memory array using materials commonly found in integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing. Each element is smaller than a single transistor and is formed using standard IC layers. This results in a three-dimensional (3D) integrated memory (3DIM) architecture achieved using a single substrate without need to assemble multiple die or wafers together with advanced bonding techniques. The ON/OFF conductance ratio and switching speed of these devices exceed the performance of competing technologies. Current flows through nanometer-sized regions of the device, and, as a result, the memory elements will scale to smaller dimensions without reducing the current through the device, thereby resulting in a dense memory array architecture with improved signal-to-noise ratio for each subsequent IC technology. The proposed overall program will include integrating a passivation layer, connecting each element with an isolation diode, optimizing device architecture to minimize footprint, and implementing 3DIM control and drive interface electronics. The program proposed herein addresses the topic by providing material innovations for improved performance in electronics where nano-scale semiconducting filaments are fabricated within a dielectric material for commercial data storage applications.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project are in the areas of microelectronics chip manufacturing for wireless, mobile internet and other portable devices using nonvolatile memory. Memristive device arrays impact numerous commercial markets including flash and embedded memory, and offer orders of magnitude more density as compared to conventional memory. By implementing massively dense 3D memory array architecture on a single substrate, there is no need to fabricate multiple substrates and bond them together, thereby simplifying the fabrication process, reducing manufacturing cost and increasing yield. In addition to portable devices, the proposed device may find applications in space-based earth sciences and astronomy since it is tolerant to x-ray and heavy ion radiation. Some recent approaches to achieve 3D memory on a single substrate have not been successful due to problems with external fields causing bit errors and low signal-to-noise ratio, or because device operation is based on thermal, ionic transport, or phase-change mechanisms that are inherently slow. The proposed memory elements are controlled using electrical signals rather than thermal or chemical energy, making them highly efficient and faster than competing technologies. Memory arrays will be fabricated in a commercial foundry and scaled to smaller dimensions throughout the Phase II project.

该小型企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第二阶段项目将使用集成电路 (IC) 制造中常见的材料进一步开发两端电子可编程非易失性存储器阵列。每个元件都比单个晶体管小，并使用标准 IC 层形成。这样就可以使用单个基板实现三维 (3D) 集成存储器 (3DIM) 架构，而无需使用先进的键合技术将多个芯片或晶圆组装在一起。这些器件的开/关电导比和开关速度超过了竞争技术的性能。电流流过器件的纳米级区域，因此，存储元件将缩小尺寸，而不会减少通过器件的电流，从而形成具有改进的信噪比的密集存储阵列架构随后的每一个IC技术。拟议的总体计划将包括集成钝化层、将每个元件与隔离二极管连接、优化器件架构以最大限度地减少占地面积，以及实施 3DIM 控制和驱动接口电子器件。本文提出的计划通过提供材料创新来提高电子产品的性能来解决该主题，其中在商业数据存储应用的介电材料中制造纳米级半导体丝。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是在微电子芯片领域使用非易失性存储器制造无线、移动互联网和其他便携式设备。忆阻器件阵列影响着包括闪存和嵌入式存储器在内的众多商业市场，并且与传统存储器相比，其密度高出几个数量级。通过在单个基板上实现大规模密集的3D存储阵列架构，无需制造多个基板并将它们粘合在一起，从而简化了制造工艺，降低了制造成本并提高了产量。除了便携式设备之外，所提出的设备还可以在基于空间的地球科学和天文学中找到应用，因​​为它能够耐受 X 射线和重离子辐射。最近一些在单个基板上实现 3D 存储器的方法尚未成功，原因是外部场导致位错误和低信噪比的问题，或者因为器件操作基于热、离子传输或相变机制这本质上很慢。所提出的存储元件是使用电信号而不是热能或化学能来控制的，这使得它们比竞争技术更高效、更快。存储器阵列将在商业代工厂中制造，并在整个第二阶段项目中缩小到更小的尺寸。