Method and apparatus for incorporating block redundancy in a memory array

[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/095,415, filed on even date herewith, entitled “Integrated Circuit Memory Array Configuration Including Decoding Compatibility With Partial Implementation of Multiple Memory Layers” by Luca G. Fasoli and Roy E. Scheuerlein, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits containing memory arrays, and particularly those arrays incorporating redundancy, and more particularly, for certain embodiments, those having a three-dimensional memory array.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Integrated circuit memory arrays have frequently included redundant elements, such as rows and columns, which can be used to replace one or more defective elements. For example, a defective memory cell may be replaced by replacing either the row or the column containing the defective memory cell with a spare (i.e., redundant) row or column. Certain memory array technologies and architectures are more suitable for implementing redundant or spare rows than redundant columns, and others are more suitable for implementing spare columns than rows.

[0006] In some kinds of memory array technologies, certain types of failures, such as a low resistance bit line-to-word line short, or a short that affects many word lines and bit lines, can cause multiple bit failures that overwhelm row and column redundancy. A block redundancy scheme in accordance with the present invention may be implemented to save such devices that otherwise would fail and be discarded. Such a scheme replaces the whole block affected by the short with a spare one.

[0007] In one aspect the invention provides for a block redundancy method for use with an integrated circuit memory array. The method includes mapping the array lines of a defective block of a first type into a spare block of the same type, and mapping array lines of a first adjacent block which are shared with array lines of the defective block, and mapping array lines of a second adjacent block which are shared with array lines of the defective block, into a second spare block of a second type, thereby mapping the defective block and portions of both adjacent blocks into just two spare blocks.

[0008] The memory array may include passive element memory cells, and preferably includes antifuse cells. In some embodiments, the memory array comprises a three-dimensional memory array having more than one plane of memory cells, and in some three-dimensional embodiments, each word line includes a word line segment on each of at least two word line layers.

[0009] The method may include coupling a plurality of bus lines associated with spare memory blocks to a corresponding plurality of bus lines associated with a first plurality of regular memory blocks or a second plurality of regular memory blocks which includes the defective block.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method includes enabling the spare memory block into which the defective memory block has been mapped, when a selected word line otherwise would fall within the defective memory block. In some embodiments, the method includes enabling one of the adjacent non-spare memory blocks when a selected word line falls within the adjacent non-spare memory block and is not shared with a word line within the defective memory block. In some embodiments, the method includes enabling the spare memory block into which the adjacent non-spare memory blocks have been mapped when a selected word line otherwise would fall within one of the adjacent non-spare memory blocks and is shared with a word line within the defective memory block.

[0011] In another aspect, the invention provides an integrated circuit including a memory array having alternating first and second types of memory blocks, each memory block including respective array lines shared with a respective array line in an adjacent memory block. The integrated circuit also includes mapping circuits, responsive to an address corresponding to a defective block, for mapping the array lines of a defective block of one type into a spare block of the same type, and further for mapping array lines of a first adjacent block which are shared with array lines of the defective block, and mapping array lines of a second adjacent block which are shared with array lines of the defective block, into a second spare block of the other type, thereby mapping the defective block and portions of both adjacent blocks into just two spare blocks.

[0012] In some embodiments the spare blocks of the first and second type are disposed between a first plurality of regular memory blocks and a second plurality of regular memory blocks. In some embodiments the memory array comprises a three-dimensional memory array having more than one plane of memory cells. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes layer selector circuits of a first type that are arranged to respectively couple bit lines from a first memory plane to respective bus lines of a first group, and further includes layer selector circuits of a second type that are arranged to respectively couple bit lines from the first memory plane to respective bus lines of a second group.

[0013] In another aspect, the invention provides an integrated circuit including a memory array, a first plurality of lines of a first type associated with a first portion of the memory array, a second plurality of lines of the first type associated with a second portion of the memory array, and a third plurality of lines of the first type associated with a spare portion of the memory array. The third plurality of lines are respectively coupled to either the first or second plurality of lines when the spare portion of the memory array is utilized, and coupled to neither the first or second plurality of lines when the spare portion of the memory array is not utilized. In some embodiments, the spare portion may include at least one spare memory block, and may be disposed between the first and second portions of the memory array.

[0014] The invention in several aspects is suitable for integrated circuits having a memory array, for methods for operating such integrated circuits and memory arrays, and for computer readable media encodings of such integrated circuits or memory arrays, all as described herein in greater detail and as set forth in the appended claims. Moreover, the inventive concepts described herein may be used alone or in combination.

[0015] The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail. Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing summary is illustrative only and that it is not intended to be in any way limiting of the invention. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, may be apparent from the detailed description set forth below.

[0052] The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a top view representing a word line layer and a bit line layer of a three-dimensional memory array in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Memory blocks 182, 184 are shown respectively including a plurality of bit lines 183, 185, and having 2:1 interleaved word line segments. Vertical connections to half of the word line segments for a block are on the left side of the block (e.g., word line segment 187 and vertical connection 189), and vertical connections to the other half of the word line segments for the block are on the right side of the block (e.g., word line segment 186 and vertical connection 190). In addition, each vertical connection serves a word line segment in each of two adjacent blocks. For example, vertical connection 190 connects to word line segment 186 in array block 182 and connects to word line segment 188 in array block 184. In other words, each vertical connection (such as vertical connection 190) is shared by a word line segment in each of two adjacent blocks. As would be expected, however, the respective “outside” vertical connections for the first and last array blocks may serve only word line segments in the first and last array blocks. For example, if block 184 is the last block of a plurality of blocks forming a memory array, its outside vertical connections (e.g., vertical connection 194) may serve only the word line segment 192 within block 184, and are thus not shared by two word line segments as throughout the remainder of the array.

[0054] By interleaving the word line segments as shown, the pitch of the vertical connections is twice the pitch of the individual word line segments themselves. This is particularly advantageous since the word line pitch which is achievable for many passive element memory cell arrays is significantly smaller than achievable for many via structures which might be employed to form the vertical connections. Moreover, as described in greater detail below, this also may reduce the complexity of the word line driver circuitry to be implemented in the semiconductor substrate below the memory array.

[0055] Other word line layers and bit line layers may be implemented identically with those shown and thus would share the same vertical connections. Additional description of exemplary memory structures may be found in “Word Line Arrangement Having Multi-Layer Word Line Segments for Three-Dimensional Memory Array” by Scheuerlein, U.S. Published Patent Application No. US2004-0190360, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, while many exemplary embodiments may be described in the context of a three-dimensional memory array (i.e., a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit incorporating more than one memory plane formed above and below each other), other embodiments of the present invention having only a single memory plane are also specifically contemplated.

[0056] The memory array 180 is preferably a passive element memory array (PEMA), incorporating passive element memory cells. As used herein, a passive element memory array includes a plurality of 2-terminal memory cells, each connected between an associated X-line and an associated Y-line. Such a memory array may be a two-dimensional (planar) array or may be a three-dimensional array having more than one plane of memory cells. Each such memory cell has a non-linear conductivity in which the current in a reverse direction (i.e., from cathode to anode) is lower than the current in a forward direction. Application of a voltage from anode to cathode greater than a programming level changes the conductivity of the memory cell. The conductivity may decrease when the memory cell incorporates a fuse technology, or may increase when the memory cell incorporates an anti-fuse technology. A passive element memory array is not necessarily a one-time programmable (i.e., write once) memory array.

[0057] Such passive element memory cells may generally be viewed as having a current steering element directing current in a direction and another component which is capable of changing its state (e.g., a fuse, an antifuse, a capacitor, a resistive element, etc.). The programming state of the memory element can be read by sensing current flow or voltage drop when the memory element is selected.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 2, a portion of a memory array 200 is shown. Five memory blocks 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205 are depicted, each including five bit lines and five word lines, although in practice many more of such bit lines and word lines may be implemented. Nonetheless, five such bit lines and word lines are sufficient to illustrate the biasing of such an array, and the effect of a bit line-to-word line short (i.e., a “BL–WL short”).

[0059] Memory block 203 includes word lines 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 and bit lines 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Word line 209 is depicted as the selected word line (SWL) and is biased at 0 volts, while the bit line 214 is depicted as the selected bit line (SBL) and is biased at 10 volts, for programming a selected memory cell at the intersection of the SWL and SBL. The unselected word lines 207, 208, 210, and 211 within the selected block 203 are normally biased at an unselected word line bias voltage (also known as an unselected X-line bias voltage, V_UX) of 9 volts. The unselected bit lines 212, 213, 215, and 216 within the selected block 203 are normally biased at an unselected bit line bias voltage V_UB (also known as an unselected Y-line bias voltage) of 1 volts. Such bias voltages for programming a selected memory cell are exemplary, and other values may be used. Additional description of suitable bias levels for arrays of this type may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,295 to Roy E. Scheuerlein, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,085 to Bendik Kieveland, et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in “Word Line Arrangement Having Multi-Layer Word Line Segments for Three-Dimensional Memory Array” by Roy E. Scheuerlein, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/403,844 filed Mar. 31, 2003, now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0190360 A1, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0060] The memory block 204 may be referred to as a “half-selected” block because the selected word line 209 is shared with block 203 and block 204, as are the unselected word lines 207, 211 (being half of the unselected word lines of block 203). Because the biasing of these word lines is identical to the selected block 203, all the bit lines of block 204 (e.g., bit line 222) are also biased at the unselected bit line level V_UB, here shown as 1 volt, to prevent unintentional programming of any memory cells (since the selected word line 209 is shared with block 204) and to limit leakage current through the unselected memory cells of block 204.

[0061] The memory block 202 may be referred to as a “half-deselected” block because it shares unselected word lines (e.g., word lines 208 and 210) with the selected block 203, but not the selected word line 209. Since approximately half of the unselected word lines (i.e., the word lines shared with the selected block 203) are biased at the unselected level V_UX, and since no word line is bias at a selected (i.e., programming) bias level, all the bit lines of block 202 (e.g., bit line 220) may be left floating. The remaining word lines (e.g., word line 221) that are not shared with the selected block also may be left floating.

[0062] Memory blocks 201 and 205 may be referred to as “deselected” blocks because no array lines are shared with the selected memory block 203. All bit lines and word lines of such deselected blocks may be left floating.

[0063] Of note, in the exemplary PEMA as shown, in the selected block 203 the unselected bit lines are biased at a different voltage than the unselected word lines. Moreover, neither the unselected bit lines nor the unselected word lines are bias at ground. Consequently, a short between a bit line and a word line may cause the bias levels of such affected bit line and word line to become indeterminate, even if the affected bit line and word line are never selected (e.g., such as if replaced by a redundant bit line and/or replaced by a redundant word line). The indeterminate bias levels on such lines may cause other memory cells to mis-program, or to leak excessively, or to be non-readable. A short between one or more bit lines and one or more word lines is even more likely to cause unintended bias levels that result in failure of the block containing the short.

[0064] However, since two adjacent blocks share word lines, a BL–WL short not only affects the block containing the short, but also affects half of the adjacent block as well. Whenever the word lines and bit lines affected by the short need to be biased at their respective unselected bias levels, the short may prevent such affected array lines from reaching their intended bias levels, which would prevent correct programming and reading of the array. A BL–WL short 206 is depicted in the selected block 203 shown in FIG. 2. Consequently, the unselected bias levels for the affected bit lines 212 and 213 and for the affected word lines 207 and 208 are indeterminate and indicted as “???” in the figure. As can be seen, the word line 207 is shared with and affects the adjacent memory block 204 to one side of the selected block 203, while word line 208 is shared with and affects adjacent memory block 202 to the other side of selected block 203.

[0065] Referring now to FIG. 3, the array 200 is shown in which the selected block is adjacent to the defective block containing the BL–WL short. Memory block 202 is now the selected block. Memory block 202 is now the selected block, memory block 201 is now a half-deselected block, memory block 203 (containing the short) is now a half-selected block, and memory blocks 204 and 205 are both deselected memory blocks. The word line 210, which is shared between blocks 202 and 203, is now the selected word line, and is biased at 0 volts. Bit line 230 in block 202 is now the selected bit line, and is biased at 10 volts. As before the unselected bias levels of bit lines 212 and 213, and the unselected bias level of word line 208, are indeterminate.

[0066] As a consequence of this shared array line (e.g., here shown as a shared word line) architecture, proper operation of the memory array may be achieved if the block containing the BL–WL short is replaced, and if half of each neighboring block which shares word lines with the block containing the BL–WL short are also replaced. This arises because a block with a BL–WL short cannot be selected or half-selected.

[0067] At first glance, such a replacement may be seen to suggest that three spare blocks are required to replace a failing block. However, since the memory blocks in the array alternate between odd and even blocks (i.e., the difference here being whether the upper-most word line is shared with the adjacent block to the right or to the left), a total of four spare blocks might otherwise be required to replace an odd or an even memory block. In other words, to provide for an even spare block including both adjacent odd blocks, and to provide for an odd spare block including both adjacent even blocks, a group of four spare blocks (e.g., odd-even-odd-even blocks) might otherwise be required.

Memory Block Mapping

[0068] In one aspect of the present invention, a single memory block may be replaced in this memory array by using just two spare memory blocks. Referring now to FIG. 4, a memory array 240 is depicted which includes a main array including memory blocks 241, 242, 243, and 244, and further includes spare blocks 245 and 246. A BL–WL short 247 is shown within memory block 242, which may be thought of as an “even” memory block. All of the word lines within the defective even memory block 242 are mapped to corresponding word lines within an even spare block 245. For example, the word lines within defective block 242 which are driven into the block 242 from the left side of the block (i.e., which word lines are also shared with adjacent block 241 to the left of block 242) are mapped to a corresponding word line within even spare block 245 (which word lines also are driven into the spare block 245 from the left side of the block). An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 251. Similarly the word lines within defective block 242 which are driven into the block 242 from the right side of the block (i.e., which are also shared with adjacent block 243 to the right of block 242) are mapped to a corresponding word line within spare block 245 which also are driven into the spare block from the right side of such spare block. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 252. The word lines within adjacent odd block 243 (to the right side of defective memory block 242) which are shared with memory block 242 are mapped to odd spare block 246 which is adjacent to and to the right side of even spare block 245. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 253. However the word lines within the adjacent odd memory block 241 (to the left side of the defective memory block 242) which are shared with memory block 242 are folded and mapped into the same odd spare memory block 246. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 254.

[0069] In this manner, all of the word lines within the defective even memory block are mapped into an even spare memory block, and half the word lines within an adjacent odd memory block to one side of the defective memory block, and half the word lines within an adjacent odd memory block to the other side of the defective memory block, are mapped into an odd spare memory block, thereby mapping at least portions of three memory blocks into just two spare memory blocks.

[0070] Referring now to FIG. 5, the memory array 240 is again depicted, this time having a BL–WL short 247 within odd memory block 243. All of the word lines within the defective odd memory block 243 are mapped to corresponding word lines within the odd spare block 246. For example, the word lines within defective block 243 which are driven into the block 243 from the left side of the block (i.e., which word lines are also shared with adjacent block 242 to the left of block 243) are mapped to a corresponding word line within spare block 246 (which word lines also are driven into the spare block 246 from the left side of the block). An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 262. Similarly the word lines within defective block 243 which are driven into the block 243 from the right side of the block (i.e., which are also shared with adjacent block 244 to the right of block 243) are mapped to a corresponding word line within spare block 246 which also is driven into the block from the right side of such spare block. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 261. The word lines within adjacent even block 242 (to the left side of defective memory block 243) which are shared with memory block 243 are mapped to even spare block 245 which is adjacent to and to the left side of odd spare block 246. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 264. However the word lines within the adjacent even memory block 244 (to the right side of the defective memory block 243) which are shared with memory block 243 are folded and mapped into the same even spare memory block 245. An example of such mapping is depicted as mapping 263.

[0071] In this manner, all of the word lines within the defective odd memory block are mapped into an odd spare memory block, and half the word lines within an adjacent even memory block to one side of the defective memory block, and half the word lines within an adjacent odd memory block to the other side of the defective memory block, are mapped into a single odd spare memory block, thereby mapping at least portions of three memory blocks into just two spare memory blocks.

[0072] Generalizing somewhat, all of the array lines of a first type (e.g., word lines) within a defective memory block of a first type (e.g., odd or even) are mapped into a spare memory block of the first type, and half the array lines within a first adjacent memory block of a second type (to one side of the defective memory block) which are shared with the defective memory block, and half the array lines within a second adjacent memory block of the second type (to the other side of the defective memory block) which are shared with the defective memory block, are mapped into a spare memory block of the second type. Thus, to replace a single bad block which shares array lines with both adjacent blocks, two spare blocks are needed: one to replace the bad block itself, and the other to replace the respective halves of the two adjacent blocks.

Bay Organization

[0073] Referring now to FIG. 6, the memory array may be organized in bays. Memory array 270 includes a first bay 271, also labeled as BAY 0, and a second bay 272, also labeled BAY 1, and spare memory blocks 273 and 274. Each bay includes a number of memory blocks (preferably 16 memory blocks), and preferably includes its own sense amplifiers (not shown) and page sub-register (not shown) (which, for some three-dimensional memory array embodiments, may be disposed beneath the memory array, and for some embodiments, may be disposed outside the memory array). In the embodiment shown, each sense amplifier within a bay is connected to a corresponding SELB line which traverses across the whole bay. For example, BAY 0 includes a group of SELB lines 277 (e.g., here shown as 16 such SELB lines). During a given memory operation, a group of selected bit lines within BAY 0 (e.g., from one or more memory planes in a three-dimensional array) is respectively coupled to the group of SELB lines 277 by column select circuitry (not shown). In a read operation, a sense amplifier for each SELB line then senses the state of the corresponding bit line, while during a programming operation (for embodiments that support such operation), programming and/or inhibit voltages may be driven onto the various SELB lines according to the desired data pattern to be written, and such bias voltages coupled to the corresponding bit lines by the column select circuitry.

[0074] Different bays have different and independent SELB lines. BAY 1 includes a group of SELB lines 279 (e.g., here shown as 16 such SELB lines). As with BAY 0, during a given memory operation, a group of selected bit lines within BAY 1 may be respectively coupled to the group of SELB lines 279 by column select circuitry (not shown).

[0075] One possible choice for the spare blocks would be to add them in every bay, sharing the bay's SELB lines. This would add 2 extra blocks for every 16 blocks, causing a memory array area increase of around 12.5% (i.e., 2/16), and would allow replacing one block (e.g., having a BL–WL short) in every bay. Alternatively, to reduce the die size impact, it is possible to share the two spare blocks between two different bays, as is shown in FIG. 6. Coupling circuits 282, 283 on both ends of the SELB lines 278 associated with the spare blocks 273 and 274 allow connecting the spare block's SELB lines 278 to either bay. Depending upon the bias levels of such SELB lines, the coupling circuits may be as simple as a PMOS transistor switch, as shown in the figure. If control signal 280 is active (i.e., in this example, low) then the spare block's SELB lines 278 are respectively coupled to the SELB lines 277 for BAY 0. Control signal 281 would remain inactive in such a case to isolate the spare block's SELB lines 278 from the SELB lines 279. Alternatively, if control signal 281 is active, then the spare block's SELB lines 278 are respectively coupled to the SELB lines 279 for BAY 1. Control signal 280 would remain inactive in such a case to isolate the spare block's SELB lines 278 from the SELB lines 277.

[0076] Once the spare block SELB lines 278 are connected (e.g., via PMOS switches) to the SELB lines of the appropriate bay, and thus to the sense amplifiers for the bay, the block redundancy operation becomes completely transparent to the sense amplifier and page sub-register without further multiplexing and, if programmable, transparent to the programming operations as well. No duplication of read/write circuitry is required. This scheme provides for replacing one memory block every 2 bays (i.e. one BL∝WL short is allowed for every 2 bays). Although the spare block read path contains an extra PMOS switch device (or other coupling circuit), careful read and program path simulation may be performed to ensure similar behavior between main array and spare block read/write operations. With this configuration, the memory array area increase is around 6.7% (i.e., 2/32, plus a small additional area for the PMOS switch, around 5 um).

[0077] Similar gating or coupling considerations may also apply to other column select and/or column decoder lines, in which such column selection lines for the spare blocks may be coupled to either the analogous lines in BAY 0 or BAY 1 when a memory block is replaced by a spare block. For example, a group of global column select (CSG) lines may be respectively coupled at left and right ends thereof to either the CSG lines for BAY 0 or the CSG lines for BAY 1. Because such CSG lines are full-rail signals, such a coupling circuit preferably includes a full transmission gate (i.e., both an NMOS and PMOS transistor). In certain embodiments, each bay includes 10 such CSG lines, although other numbers and types of column selection signal lines are contemplated as well. Alternatively, the spare blocks may include a separate global column select decoder which is enabled whenever a spare block is enabled, as described in greater detail herebelow, such as is shown in FIG. 12. A lower set of SELB lines is also provided, as the array preferably includes interlelaved bit lines, with half exiting the array to the top, and the other half exiting to the bottom.

[0078] Additional details of useful column circuitry, including such aforementioned CSG lines and related decoder circuits, SELB lines, and layer selection circuits, may be found in “Apparatus and Method for Hierarchical Decoding of Dense Memory Arrays Using Multiple Levels of Multiple-Headed Decoders” by Luca G. Fasoli, et al., U.S. application Ser. No. 11/026,470, filed Dec. 30, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. FIGS. 2–5 are particularly appropriate, and the group of sixteen lines labeled I/0[15]-I/O[0] depicted in FIG. 3 correspond to the SELB lines described herein.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a memory array 300 that includes four pairs of bays, each with a pair of spare blocks and a group of SELB lines connectable by PMOS switches to the SELB lines of either adjacent bay, all as shown in FIG. 6, and here grouped in a 2×2 grid.

[0080] Referring now to FIG. 8, an embodiment is shown of a memory array 320 in which the word lines are shared across the boundaries between the main array blocks (e.g., BAY 0, BAY 1) and the spare blocks. For example, the word line 326 in spare block 273 is shared with the last block within BAY 0 (e.g., the last of sixteen blocks), which is shown as block 271P and also shown as Block 15 (being numbered from Block 0 for the left-most block through Block 15 for the right-most block of BAY 0). More specifically, the word line 326 in block 273 is shared with word line 327 in block 271P. In other words, half of the word lines are shared between memory block 271P and memory block 273.

[0081] If a BL–WL short occurs within the spare block 274, from the above description this spare block 274 cannot be used, but half of each neighboring block also cannot be used. The word lines in the two adjacent memory blocks that are shared with word lines of the defective block are also tainted and cannot be used. For example, word line 324 in block 272A is shared with the defective spare block 274. This word line may be folded and mapped into word line 326 in the other spare block 273 (as indicated by mapping 328). Because word line 326 is not shared with the defective spare memory block 274, the word line 326 may take the place of word line 324. Similarly, all the word lines within block 272A, which are shared with spare block 274, are mapped into a corresponding word line within spare block 273, each of which word lines is shared with memory block 271P. As described below, an additional bit of redundancy information may be provided to allow a defect within the spare block itself to be mapped out of the array, as shown in this figure.

[0082] However, other embodiments are specifically contemplated in which word lines are not shared between the main array blocks and the spare blocks. In such cases, the extra bit to store the defective address may not be required.

Trim Bits and Control Logic for Block Redundancy

[0083] Using the memory array 300 shown in FIG. 7 as an exemplary embodiment, there are four possible block replacements, since each pair of spare blocks can replace a bad block in either of the adjacent bays, but not both. Referring now to FIG. 9, a block diagram is shown representing the control of such memory block replacements. A TRIM BITS 340 block is programmed to contain the addresses of the failing blocks. Since there are four possible block replacements, there are 4 entries of 7 bits each. Table 1 describes the purposes of each bit in the entry. Note that the failing address has one bit more that the actual block address (BLKADD[3:0]). This is required to ensure that a die with a BL–WL short in a spare block can be recovered, which would otherwise compromise half of Block 15/BAY 0 (if the short is in spare block 0) or Block 0/BAY 1 (if the short is in spare block 1).

[0084]

TABLE 1
Bit #	Name	Purpose
[6]	ENABLE	Enable bit, if 0 the entry is disabled
		(not used)
[5]	RXL_BAY	Failure in left or right bay
		(0 = left, 1 = right)
[4:0]	FAIL_BLKADD[4:0]	Address of block with BL-WL short
		FAIL_BLKADD[4:0] =
		11111 (−1) => Short in Spare block 1
		FAIL_BLKADD[4:0] =
		OXYXW => Short in block with
		BLKADD[3:0] = XYZW
		FAIL_BLKADD[4:0] =
		10000 (16) => Short in Spare block 0

[0085] Such trim bits may be implemented in any suitable programmable technology. For example, electrically programmable fuses, laser programmable fuses, non-volatile programmable memory cells such as FLASH EEPROM, passive element memory cells such as anti-fuse cells, or any other technology may be employed. The terminology here of “trim bit” is convenient to distinguish such bits of programmable memory from the memory cells in the array (both spare blocks and main array blocks), and because other such trim bits may be also used to provide calibration or other analog “trimming” functionality to an otherwise digital memory device.

Match Logic

[0086] The 28 total bits containing the four 7-bit entries are conveyed on bus 341 to the MATCH LOGIC block 342. This block also receives a 4-bit block address BLKAD[3:0] conveyed on bus 345, the least-significant word line address RAD[0] conveyed on bus 346, and an 8-bit group of individual bay enable signals BAYE[7:0] conveyed on bus 347, all of which may be generated from a control logic block (not shown) for controlling memory array operations. The MATCH LOGIC block 342 compares these signals with the trim bit entries to decide whether to deactivate the main array block that would otherwise have been enabled, and instead enable the spare blocks.

[0087] The 8 output signals (spare block enable, SPBLKEN[7:0]) indicate in which of the 8 bays normal block should be replaced with the spare one. If SPBLKEN[7:0] are all zero, no replacement is needed. The RAD[0] signal is needed to be able to activate the correct SPBLKEN signals when replacing half blocks, neighbors of the one affected by the short. In other words, as described above, if the current block address corresponds to a main array block which happens to be adjacent to a defective block, the main array block is disabled if the current row address corresponds to a word line shared with the defective block, but the main array block is not disabled (and the access allowed to proceed in the main array block) if the row address corresponds to a word line which is not shared with the defective block.

[0088] The logic to generate the SPBLKEN[7:0] signals is a little bit convoluted due to the necessity to activate the SPBLKEN for neighbor blocks as well. In the exemplary code below, the least significant bit of the block address may be compared to the least significant bit of the row address to deduce whether the word line is shared with an adjacent defective block. Referring to the seven trim bits of each of the four entries as variables ENABLE_i, RXL_BAY_i, and FAIL_BLKADD_i[4:0] (i=0, 1,2,3), exemplary logic to generate the 8 bit signal SPBLKEN[7:0] may be described as:

For i=0,1,2,3

REPL_i=0

If FAIL_BLKADD_i=BLKADD then

[0089] REPL_i=1

Else if 0≦FAIL_BLKADD_i−1≦15 and BLKADD[0]=RAD[0] and FAIL_BLKADD_i−1=BLKADD then

[0090] REPL_i=1

Else if 0≦FAIL_BLKADD_i−1≦15 and BLKADD[0]=not(RAD[0]) and FAIL_BLKADD_i−1=BLKADD then

[0091] REPL_i=1

SPBLKEN[2i]=ENABLE_i and not(RXL_BAY) and REPL_i

SPBLKEN[2i+1]=ENABLE_i and RXL_BAY and REPL_i

[0092] In this code, the variable BLKADD refers to the block address for the current memory operation, and references to such multi-bit variables such as FAIL_BLKADD_i and BLKADD should be viewed as referring to all 5 bits of such variables. However, a reference such as BLKADD[0] refers to just bit zero of the current block address. Other equivalent logic functionality may be substituted to generate such spare block enable signals.

[0093] The SPENBLK[7:0] signals are conveyed on bus 343 to the memory core 300. Each respective SPENBLK[i] signal is conveyed to a respective BAY[i] of the memory array, and when such spare block enable signal is active (e.g., high), it should disable all the main array blocks in the BAY[i]. Such logic can be implemented in the row decode and/or predecode logic within every block.

[0094] Referring now to FIG. 10, an exemplary memory array configuration 350 is shown in which the respective match logic for each respective pair of bays is located beneath the respective spare blocks for the respective pair of bays. The memory array includes eights bays, labeled 351, 352, . . . 358, and four spare block areas 361, 362, 363, 364. The TRIM BIT block 340 generates four sets of 7-bit entries, one for each block replacement. Here, the 7 bit entry for SPARE BLOCK 361 (i.e., to replace a block in BAY 351 or 352) is labeled TF_BLKRED_ENTRY1_TB[6:0] and is conveyed on bus 368 to MATCH LOGIC 365. The other three entries, TF_BLKRED_ENTRY2_TB[6:0], TF_BLKRED_ENTRY2_TB[6:0], and TF_BLKRED_ENTRY3_TB[6:0], are conveyed to respective MATCH LOGIC blocks for BAY 2/BAY 3, BAY 4/BAY 5, and BAY 6/BAY 7, as shown.

[0095] The MATCH LOGIC block 365 for BAY 0/BAY 1 also receives a pair of bay enable signals BAYE[1:0]. Similarly, Other pairs of bay enable signals BAYE[3:2], BAYE[5:4], and BAYE[7:6], are conveyed to respective MATCH LOGIC blocks for BAY 2/BAY 3, BAY 4/BAY 5, and BAY 6/BAY 7, as shown. All four MATCH LOGIC blocks receive the 4-bit block address signal BLKADD[3:0] and the least significant row address bit RAD[0]. Each MATCH LOGIC block generates a respective left and right spare block enable signal, SPBLKEN_L and SPBLKEN_R. (As described herein, these four sets of SPBLKEN_L and SPBLKEN_R signals, one set respectively for BAY 0/BAY 1, BAY 2/BAY 3, BAY 4/BAY 5, and BAY 6/BAY 7, are also described herein as the SPENBLK[7:0] signals). For example, MATCH LOGIC block 365 for BAY 0/BAY 1 generates a SPBLKEN_L signal on node 366 and a SPBLKEN_R signal on node 367. When the SPBLKEN_L signal on node 366 is active, all main array blocks in BAY 0 are disabled. Likewise, when the SPBLKEN_R signal on node 367 is active, all main array blocks in BAY 1 are disabled. Such logic can be implemented in the row decode and/or predecode logic within every block. An exemplary circuit for accomplishing such functionality is depicted in FIG. 11, in which a BLKEN signal 381 which would otherwise enable a block is over-ridden by the appropriate left or right spare block enable signal, shown here as SPBLKEN_LR 382, to generate the actual block enable signal 383.

Spare Blocks

[0096] Referring now to FIG. 12, a representative spare block section is shown, such as spare block area 361 (from FIG. 10) which includes two spare blocks 401 and 402. A group of SELB lines 410 at the top of the spare block 401, 402 is coupled to either the SELB lines in the BAY 0 to the left or in the BAY 1 to the right by way of coupling circuits, such as PMOS switches 411. Likewise, a group of SELB lines 412 at the bottom of the spare block 401, 402 is similarly coupled to the SELB lines in BAY 0 or BAY 1. The SPBLKEN_L and SPBLKEN_R signals are received on respective nodes 366 and 367. When either signal is active, the spare block area 361 is enabled, and the SPEN signal on node 403 is active to enable the spare global column decoder 413 at the top of the spare blocks and the spare global column decoder 414 at the bottom of the spare blocks.

[0097] Depending upon the least significant row address BLDADD[0], either the spare block 401 is enabled (by way of a BLOCK 0 ENABLE signal on node 415), or the spare block 402 is enabled (by way of a BLOCK 1 ENABLE signal on node 416). A pair of high voltage level shifters 408, 409 generate a pair of high voltage enable signals XSPBLKEN_HV_R and XSPBLKEN_HV_L on nodes 406 and 407 to control the PMOS switches 411 which couple the SELB lines 410, 412 to the left or right bay. As mentioned above, the spare global column decoders 413, 414 may include high voltage transfer gates (not shown) to couple the global column decoder (CSG) lines to the ones coming from the left bay or the right bay, and may also be controlled by the left and right spare block enable level shifters 408, 409. Alternatively, the spare global column decoders 413, 414 may be independent decoders for generating the CSG lines within the particular spare block area, and which spare block CSG lines need not be coupled to the CSG lines in either the left bay or the right bay.

[0098] As described below, the spare blocks in certain three-dimensional embodiments do not include a corresponding sense amplifier or, for some embodiments, a page sub-register, the spare block control circuits shown here may be implemented using the layout area otherwise allocated for the sense amplifier and page sub-register.

[0099] Referring now to FIG. 13, an embodiment of a memory array is depicted in which word lines are shared across the boundary between two bays. In other words, half of the word lines in the last memory block of one bay are shared with the first memory block in the adjacent bay. Block 15/Bay 1 (also labeled block 352P) is the last of sixteen memory blocks in BAY 1 (also described herein as bay 352). The next memory block to the right is Block 0/Bay 2 (also labeled block 353A) is the first of sixteen memory blocks in BAY 2 (also described herein as bay 353). The two spare blocks 401, 402 for BAY 0 are shown, as are the two spare blocks 362A and 362B for BAY 2.

[0100] If a BL–WL short 420 occurs in one of the memory blocks at the boundary between bays, the block may still be replaced, but two entries in the used in the TRIM BIT block because portions of both pairs of spare memory blocks (i.e., portions of all four spare blocks) must be used. All the word lines in the defective block 353A are mapped to the corresponding (e.g., odd or even) spare block 362A for BAY 2/BAY 3, depicted here as mappings 421 and 422. The word lines in the adjacent block 353B which are shared with the defective block 353A are mapped to the other spare block 362B. However, the word lines in the other adjacent memory block 352P which are shared with word lines in the defective block 353A cannot be mapped into the spare block 362B because these blocks 352P and 362B do not share the same SELB lines and the same sense amplifiers. Instead, half of the word lines in adjacent block 352P are mapped to spare block 402 for BAY 0/BAY 1, as shown by mapping 424. While this block replacement mapping affords the ability to replace a defective block that occurs on a boundary between bays, it consumes all spare block resources for four different bays (e.g., BAY 0, BAY 1, BAY 2, and BAY 3; or BAY 4, BAY 5, BAY 6, and BAY 7), and so only one defective block can be replaced in all four bays if the defective block is one of the four blocks adjacent to a bay boundary (e.g., BAY 1/BLOCK 15; BAY 2/BLOCK 0; BAY 5/BLOCK 15; or BAY 6/BLOCK 0). Alternatively, in other embodiments, the word lines are not shared across the boundary between bays, and the block replacement constraints within each pair of bays are independent of other pairs of bays. Thus, a defect in BAY 1/BLOCK 15 would not consume all the spare block resources of the entire stripe.

[0101] Referring now to FIG. 14, a schematic diagram is shown representing a three-dimensional memory array having a segmented word line arrangement in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Each word line is formed by one or more word line segments on at least one, and advantageously more than one, word line layer of the memory array. For example, a first word line is formed by word line segment 130 disposed on one word line layer of the memory array and by word line segment 132 disposed on another word line layer. The word line segments 130, 132 are connected by a vertical connection 128 to form the first word line. The vertical connection 128 also provides a connection path to a driver device 126 (or alternatively a driver circuit) disposed in another layer (e.g., within the semiconductor substrate). A decoded output 122 from a row decoder (not shown) traverses substantially parallel to the word line segments 130, 132 and when selected, couples the word line segments 130, 132 through device 126 to a decoded bias line 124 which traverses substantially perpendicular to the word line segments.

[0102] Also shown are word line segments 131, 133 which are connected by a vertical connection 129 to form a second word line and to provide a connection path to driver device 127. Another decoded output 123 from the row decoder couples, when selected, these word line segments 131, 133 through device 127 to the decoded bias line 124. Other details of similar segmented word line structures are described in “Word Line Arrangement Having Multi-Layer Word Line Segments for Three-Dimensional Memory Array” by Roy E. Scheuerlein, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/403,844 filed Mar. 31, 2003, now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0190360 A1, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0103] FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of a three-dimensional memory array having word line layers each corresponding to a respective bit line layer. Four word line layers are depicted, labeled WL1, WL3, WL5, and WL7. The word line segments on layer WL1 correspond to bit lines on bit line layer BL2. Similarly, the word line segments on layers WL3, WL5, and WL7 correspond respectively to bit lines on bit line layers BL4, BL6, and BL8.

[0104] Word line segments 132, 133, 134, and 135 within a BLOCK 137 are connected by vertical connection 128 to form a logical word line. A plurality of bit lines 144 is shown on bit line layer BL8. A plurality of memory cells 146 is formed between each bit line 144 and the word line segment 142. Such memory cells are preferably passive element memory cells incorporating an antifuse structure, although other memory cell technologies may also be used.

[0105] The word line segment 132 falls within a memory block 137, while word line segment 142 falls within an adjacent block 136. These two word lines segments are vertically connected to other word line segments to both form the word line in each block, and to share the word lines between these blocks 136 and 137.

[0106] The four bit line layers BL2, BL4, BL6, and BL8 are also labeled as LAYER 0, LAYER 1, LAYER 2, and LAYER 3, respectively, since the word line layers are connected together and fed from below. There are a variety of ways that column decoding may be accomplished in such a memory array structure. For example, each column address might correspond to a single bit line on a single bit line layer. However, it is exceedingly difficult to layout such a column decoder with the necessary pitch to decode such individual bit lines. As a result, it is useful to select a group of bit lines for each column address, and couple each selected bit line to a respective sense line (e.g., SELB line) which is coupled to a respective sense amplifier.

[0107] In some embodiments of the present invention, when a logical column is selected in a selected memory block, a group of 16 bit lines are selected (e.g., four bit lines from each of four layers) and respectively coupled to a corresponding SELB line. One such layer selection is depicted in FIG. 15. Since the bit lines for this exemplary embodiment are interleaved, half of the bit lines (e.g., even-numbered bit lines) exit to the top of the memory block, and the other half of the bit lines (e.g., odd-numbered bit lines) exit to the bottom of the memory block. Such bit lines could also be interleaved in pairs rather than individually. In other embodiments, the bit lines need not be interleaved at all. In such a case, all the bit lines would typically exit the memory block to the top or bottom, but not both.

[0108] When column 0 is selected in block 137, the first four bit lines on LAYER 0 which exit to the top of the memory block (labeled 0T, 1T, 2T, 3T) are coupled to SELB[3:0], the first four bit lines on LAYER 1 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[7:4], the first four bit lines on LAYER 2 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[11:8], and the first four bit lines on LAYER 3 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[15:12]. (In the figure, each bit line 144 is labeled to indicate this exemplary decoding and layer selection using, for example, “0T” to represent a bit line coupled to SELB[0] on the top of the memory block, “2B” to represent a bit line coupled to SELB[2] on the bottom of the memory block, etc.) Similarly, when column 1 is selected in block 137, the next four bit lines on LAYER 0 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[3:0], the next four bit lines on LAYER 1 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[7:4], the next four bit lines on LAYER 2 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[11:8], and the next four bit lines on LAYER 3 which exit to the top of the memory block are coupled to SELB[15:12]. This may be accomplished by using a 16-headed column decoder as described in detail in “Apparatus and Method for Hierarchical Decoding of Dense Memory Arrays Using Multiple Levels of Multiple-Headed Decoders” by Luca G. Fasoli, et al., U.S. application Ser. No. 11/026,470, filed Dec. 30, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such a circuit may be viewed as a single decoder node driving four layer selector circuits. Each respective layer selector circuit couples four adjacent bit lines (i.e., of those bit lines exiting the memory block to the top or bottom of the block) on a respective bit line layer to a group of SELB lines associated with the respective layer selector circuit.

[0109] Additional useful circuit and layout arrangements for driving each word line (e.g., by way of a respective vertical connection, such as vertical connection 128) are described in “Transistor Layout Configuration for Tight-Pitched Memory Array Lines” by Christopher J. Petti, et al., U.S. application Ser. No. 11/095,905, filed on even date herewith, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0110] Referring now to FIG. 16, a block diagram is depicted showing a memory array 440 including 32 memory blocks and 16 SELB lines in 4 groups of four such SELB lines. No spare blocks are provided, and hence no block redundancy is supported. 16 of the memory blocks include a sense amplifier, each respectively connected to one of the SELB lines. For example memory block 444 includes a sense amplifier 443 which is coupled to SELB[0], while memory block 445 includes no sense amplifier. Each memory block also includes four layer selector circuits, such as Layer 0 selector 446, Layer 1 selector 447, Layer 2 selector 448, and Layer 3 selector 449, all associated with memory block 450. The four layer selectors associated with each memory block are identical across all the depicted memory blocks.

[0111] Referring now to block 444, if the left most column decoder line is selected, a group of four layer selectors 442 are simultaneously enabled, and four bit lines from each of four memory layers are respectively coupled to a respective group of four of the 16 SELB lines. Thus, a respective bit line is coupled to each of the 16 SELB lines, and each is sensed by a corresponding sense amplifier such as sense amplifier 443.

[0112] In a memory architecture is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, it may be desirable to implement only a portion of the memory layers. For example, although four such memory layers have been described thus far, and column selection circuitry described to couple a bit line to each of 16 SELB lines during a memory operation, it may be desirable to implement a partial memory array which includes only layer 0 and layer 1. This could be accomplished by omitting the masks and processing steps associated with layer 2 and layer 3, and proceeding directly to processing for layers (e.g., metal layers) above the memory layers, as the word line and bit line masks within the memory block itself for each of the four memory planes are identical, and the memory array may be fabricated with fewer memory planes actually implemented. However, referring again to FIG. 16, if there are no bit lines implemented on Layer 2 or on Layer 3, no bit lines will ever be coupled to half of the SELB lines, namely SELB[15:8] which are coupled to the Layer 2 and Layer 4 Selector Circuits. While it is conceptually possible to alter the decoding so as to ignore half of these SELB lines (and the sense amplifier circuits connected thereto), in practice this may be much more difficult than other decode options.

[0113] One possible technique is shown in FIG. 17, in which they layer selector circuits for half of the memory blocks are interchanged. Block 0 through Block 15 include a layer selector circuits as before, while Block 16 through Block 31 include Layer 0 and Layer 1 selector circuits interchanged for Layer 2 and Layer 3 selector circuits. Such layer selector interchanging may be accomplished, for some embodiments, by merely swapping vertical connections (i.e., “zias”) from the respective bit lines to the transistor source/drain regions within the 16-headed column decoders. If all four memory layers are implemented, only one memory block is enabled at a given time and all 16 SELB lines are provided data irrespective of the block and column address, although the decode mapping varies depending upon which block is enabled. For example, the SELB[0] line corresponds to a bit line on Layer 0 for Block 0 through Block 15, while the SELB[0] line corresponds to a bit line on Layer 2 for Block 16 through Block 31.

[0114] Referring now to FIG. 18, the same memory array configuration 460 is shown, this time corresponding to an embodiment in which only the first two memory layers are actually implemented. During a memory operation a respective bit line is coupled to each of the 16 SELB lines by enabling two different memory blocks, one chosen from Block 0 through Block 15, and of the other chosen from Block 16 through Block 31. (Another trim bit can be used to indicate whether the device should decode in accordance with the 4-layer or 2-layer assumptions.) In memory block 0, a group of two layer selectors 462 are simultaneously enabled, and four bit lines from each of Layer 0 and Layer 1 are respectively coupled to SELB[3:0] and SELB[7:4]. In memory block 16, for the same column address, another group of two layer selectors 463 are also simultaneously enabled, and a different group of four bit lines from each of Layer 0 and Layer 1 are respectively coupled to SELB[11:8] and SELB[15:12]. Thus, a 2-layer or 4-layer compatibility may be achieved without requiring any changes to the read/write path. Instead, the block enable decoding is altered to simultaneously enable two separate blocks (associated with the same SELB lines) for the 2-layer option, while only enabling one block for the 4-layer option. Of course, in a larger memory array, additional memory blocks may also be enabled if additional independent sets of SELB lines and sense amplifiers are provided.

[0115] If block redundancy is also desired, spare memory blocks may be provided as described above. Referring now to FIG. 19, a memory array 480 is depicted which includes 16 memory blocks, each with a sense amplifier, and two spare blocks with no sense amplifier. The layer selector circuits are interchanged for blocks 8–15 compared to blocks 0–7. Relative to increasing SELB line numbers, the layer selector circuits are arranged in an order of Layer 0/Layer 2/Layer 1/Layer 3 for each of memory blocks 0 through 7, and these blocks may be termed TYPE A blocks for this layer mapping. (Recall that these blocks may also be alternating odd and even memory blocks based upon the sharing of word lines between adjacent blocks.) The layer selector circuits are arranged in an order of Layer 2/Layer 0/Layer 3/Layer 1 for each of memory blocks 7 through 15, and these blocks may be termed TYPE B blocks for this layer mapping. In a 4-layer embodiment, only one block is enabled, while in a 2-layer embodiment (as depicted in the figure), two blocks are simultaneously enabled to couple a respective bit line to each SELB line during a memory operation.

[0116] Both spare blocks are shown as TYPE A memory blocks (although, as described above, one may be odd and the other even). This implies that a TYPE A block may be replaced so long as both neighboring blocks are also TYPE A blocks. In other words, Blocks 0–6 may be replaced, but not blocks 7–15. If both spare blocks were TYPE B blocks, then only blocks 9–15 could be replaced. This restriction applies only to a 2-layer embodiment. In a 4-layer embodiment, any memory block may be replaced, although the layer mapping may be different in a spare block compared to the defective main array block (e.g., spare TYPE A block replacing a main array TYPE B block).

[0117] Another configuration is shown in FIG. 20 in which a memory array 500 includes alternating TYPE A and TYPE B memory blocks and further includes a spare TYPE A memory block and spare TYPE B memory block. In a 4-layer embodiment, only one memory block is enabled, and in a 2-layer embodiment a pair of blocks are simultaneously enabled, as before. But here, the pair of simultaneously enabled memory blocks are adjacent blocks, as shown. Moreover, any block may now be replaced, so long as any odd/even personalization of memory blocks is consistent with the TYPE A and TYPE B configuration. For example, if Block 0 is an even memory block and also a TYPE A memory block, then spare block 0 should also be both an even memory block and a TYPE A memory block. Similarly, if Block 1 is an odd memory block and also a TYPE B memory block, then spare block 1 should also be both an odd memory block and a TYPE B memory block. As a result, any TYPE A (even) memory block has TYPE B (odd) neighbors, and can be replaced by the TYPE A (even) spare block 0, with half of each neighboring TYPE B (odd) memory block mapped into the TYPE B (odd) spare block 1. Likewise, any TYPE B (odd) memory block has TYPE A (even) neighbors, and can be replaced by the TYPE B (odd) spare block 1, with half of each neighboring TYPE A (even) memory block mapped into the TYPE A (even) spare block 0.

[0118] In a 4-layer device (i.e., all layer selector circuits actually coupled to implemented memory layers), the mapping described above is equally valid for this A/B layer selector arrangement. The mapping is also identical for a 2-layer device, however, the spare block enabling (and resultant disabling of the otherwise addressed main array block) is somewhat more complicated as two different blocks are simultaneously enabled. For a given memory operation: (1) two main array blocks may be enabled; (2) one main array block and one spare block may be enabled (with the second main array block disabled); or (3) both spare blocks may be enabled (and both main array blocks disabled).

[0119] The next 6 figures provide examples of which blocks are enabled for each of several different situations in which a pair of blocks in the main array would otherwise be enabled but for the presence of a BL–WL short or other defect which causes one of the blocks (or a nearby block) to be marked as defective. These figures describe only to a 2-layer embodiment. In a 4-layer embodiment, only a single memory block is enabled at a time.

[0120] Referring now to FIG. 21, a portion of an array is represented having odd blocks 521 and 523 and even blocks 522 and 524, and further having even spare block 526 and odd spare block 527. Assume even blocks are TYPE A blocks and odd blocks are TYPE B blocks, although this is arbitrary. A short is depicted in odd block 523 which renders this block defective. As described above, the defective odd block 523 is mapped to odd spare block 527, while word lines in the adjacent even block 522 which are shared with the defective block, and word lines within the adjacent even block 524 which are shared with the defective block, are both mapped to even spare block 526, as depicted in the figure.

[0121] Blocks 522 and 523 would otherwise be enabled in the main array but for the block replacement (i.e., the selected or active word line falls within these blocks). The active (i.e., selected) word line for both block 522 and 523 is shown. The defective block 523 is always disabled and remapped to the spare block 527, but the block 522 is enabled if the active word line is not shared with the defective block 523. Such is the case here, and consequently, block 522 is enabled and not remapped to a spare block. As used herein with respect to FIGS. 21–26, an “active” word line is one that corresponds to an address presented to the device, and would be “selected” if the block is enabled, but which word line may be mapped to a spare block. It should also be clear that in certain embodiments (e.g., certain 2-layer implementations), there are two active word lines, a respective one in each of two memory blocks.

[0122] Referring now to FIG. 22, the same situation is depicted but with different active word lines. The mapping is the same as above, but in this situation, since the active word line in block 522 is shared with the defective block 523, block 522 is also disabled and mapped instead to spare even block 526. In other words, both spare blocks are enabled.

[0123] Referring now to FIG. 23, yet another situation is depicted. Here, the active word lines fall within blocks 524 and 525. The defective block remains as block 523, so the mapping remains as above. However, in this case, even block 524 is disabled and remapped to spare even block 526 if the active word line in block 524 is shared with the defective block 523, as is the case here. In block 525, the active word line is not shared with the defective block 523, and so block 525 is enabled and not remapped to a spare block.

[0124] Referring now to FIG. 24, the same array is represented having odd blocks 521 and 523 and even blocks 522 and 524, and further having even spare block 526 and odd spare block 527. Again assume even blocks are TYPE A blocks and odd blocks are TYPE B blocks. A short is depicted in even block 522 which renders this block defective. In this case the defective even block 522 is mapped to even spare block 526, while word lines in the adjacent odd block 521 which are shared with the defective block, and word lines within the adjacent odd block 523 which are shared with the defective block, are both mapped to odd spare block 527, as depicted in the figure.

[0125] The active word lines again fall within block 522 and 523, as shown, and blocks 522 and 523 would otherwise be enabled in the main array but for the block replacement. The defective block 522 is always disabled and remapped to the spare block 526, but the block 523 is still enabled if the active word line is not shared with the defective block 522. Such is the case here, and consequently, block 523 is enabled and not remapped to a spare block.

[0126] Referring now to FIG. 25, the same situation is depicted but with different active word lines. The mapping is the same as above, but in this situation, since the active word line in block 523 is shared with the defective block 522, block 523 is also disabled and mapped instead to spare odd block 527.

[0127] Referring now to FIG. 26, yet another situation is depicted. Here, the active word lines fall within blocks 520 and 521. The defective block remains as block 522, so the mapping remains as above. However, in this case, odd block 521 is disabled and remapped to spare odd block 527 if the active word line in block 521 is shared with the defective block 522, as is the case here. In block 520, the active word line is not shared with the defective block 520, and so block 520 is enabled and not remapped to a spare block.

[0128] For some embodiments, the decision as to whether to enable a block in a 2-layer device may be summarized as follows:

• • [0129] 1. If a selected (i.e., active) word line falls within a defective block, disable the defective block and instead remap to the appropriate spare block (i.e., enable the appropriate spare block);
  • [0130] 2. If a selected word line falls within a block adjacent to a defective block, but is shared with the defective block, then disable the adjacent block and instead remap to the appropriate spare block (i.e., enable the appropriate spare block);
  • [0131] 3. If a selected word line falls within a block adjacent to a defective block, but is not shared with the defective block, then enable the adjacent block and do not remap to a spare block;
  • [0132] 4. If a selected word line falls within any other block, then enable the block;

[0133] Referring now to FIG. 27, a memory array 550 is shown in which 16 different memory bays are implemented, each including 16 memory blocks. Two different 64 MByte cores are shown, CORE 0 and CORE 1, each enabled by a COREE[i] signal. Each core includes respective Bays 0 through 7 and four pairs of spare blocks, each pair placed between and configured to replace a single block in one of a respective pair of bays. A total of 256 (i.e., 16×16) logically addressable memory blocks are shown, as well as 16 spare memory blocks, for a total of 272 physical memory blocks. Up to 8 blocks may be replaced in this array, although no more than one block for every pair of bays (i.e., if the failures are relatively evenly distributed in the bays).

[0134] An exemplary arrangement of block replacement logic is next described in the context of this memory array 550, which accomplishes 2-layer compatibility for an otherwise 4-layer device. Referring now to FIG. 28, a block diagram of such an exemplary arrangement is shown. Compared to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 10–12, provision is now made to enable two blocks in a 2-layer device. Since one enabled block may be in the main array and one enabled block may be in the spare block area, two different spare enable signals are provided, one for even blocks (SPBLKENA) and one for odd blocks (SPBLKENB). For example, if SPBLKENA is activated but SPBLKENB is not, the even main array block is disabled (since the even spare block is enabled), but the odd block in the main array is not disabled.

[0135] A TRIM BITS block 580 is provided, much as before, to include the addresses of the failing blocks. Since there are 8 possible replacements, there are 8 entries of 7 bits each. Table 1 above describes the purposes of each bit in the entry. Each bad block is indicated the same way irrespective of whether the device is implemented as a 4-layer device or a 2-layer device.

[0136] The MATCH LOGIC is similar to that described before, although there are now 8 instances of such logic, one for each pair of spare blocks, and each now generates 4 output signals: 2 which are driven to the memory blocks within the bay to the left of the spare blocks, and 2 which are driven to the memory blocks within the bay to the right of the spare blocks. The match logic is preferably located beneath the spare blocks themselves (e.g., in the area that would otherwise be used to implement a sense amplifier), so that it would be easy to remove the block redundancy if not needed in other designs. The various interface signals received by the match logic is summarized in FIG. 31.

[0137] The 4 spare block enable output signals (SPBLKENA_L, SPBLKENB_L, SPBLKENA_R, SPBLKENB_R) indicate in which of the 2 bays (left or right) we need to replace the normal blocks with one or both spare blocks. The SPBLKENA_L/R signals go to the even blocks, while the SPBLKENB_L/R signals go to odd blocks. If all four SPBLKEN signals are zero, no replacement is needed in either of the two bays. As before, the least significant row address bit RAD[0] signal is used to be able to activate the correct SPBLKENA/B_L/R signal when replacing half blocks adjacent to the defective block (i.e., the block affected by the short).

[0138] Indicating with ENABLE, RXL_BAY and FAIL_BLKADD[7:0] the seven trim bits of one entry, the logic to generate SPBLKENA/B_L/R can be described as:

REPLA=0

REPLB=0

FBP1=FAIL_BLKADD[4:0]+1

FBM1=FAIL_BLKADD[4:0]−1

If SMI_TWOLAYER=0 then

[0139] If FAIL_BLKADD=BLKADD then

• • [0140] If FAIL_BLKADD[0]=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0141] If FAIL_BLKADD[0]=1 then REPLB=1

[0142] End if

[0143] If FBP1=BLKAD and RAD[0]=not(FAIL_BLKADD[0]) then

• • [0144] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0145] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=1 then REPLB=1

[0146] End if

[0147] If FBM1=BLKADD and RAD[0]=FAIL_BLKADD[0] then

• • [0148] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0149] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=1 then REPLB=1

[0150] End if

End if

If SMI_TWOLAYER=1 then

[0151] If FAIL_BLKADD[4:1]=BLKADD[3:1] then

• • [0152] If FAIL_BLKADD[0]=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0153] If FAIL_BLKADD[0]=1 then REPLB=1

[0154] End if

[0155] If FBP1[4:1]=BLKADD[3:1] and RAD[0]=not(FAIL_BLKADD[0]) then

• • [0156] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0157] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=1 then REPLB=1

[0158] End if

[0159] If FBM1[4:1]=BLKADD[3:1] and RAD[0]=FAIL_BLKADD[0] then

• • [0160] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=0 then REPLA=1
  • [0161] If not(FAIL_BLKADD[0])=1 then REPLB=1

[0162] End if

End if

SPBLKENA_L=ENABLE and not(RXL_BAY) and REPLA

SPBLKENA_R=ENABLE and RXL_BAY and REPLA

SPBLKENB_L=ENABLE and not(RXL_BAY) and REPLB

SPBLKENB_R=ENABLE and RXL_BAY and REPLB

[0163] In the main array, the SPENBLKA_L/R signal, when high, should disable all the even blocks in the (left or right) bay. The SPENBLKB_L/R signal, when high, should disable all the odd blocks in the (left or right) bay. This logic may be implemented in the row predecoder logic within every block. An exemplary configuration is shown in FIG. 29.

[0164] FIG. 30 depicts an exemplary spare block control logic for this configuration. It is adapted to receive the four spare block enable signals rather than just two such signals (as shown in FIG. 12).

[0165] In some embodiments, a useful test mode may be implemented to activate both spare blocks in all 8 spare block groups without disabling the main array blocks. The mode is activated when SMI_ALLSPBLKON_TMCR=1 and can be used alone or in conjunction with a main array multiple block selection mode to speed-up tests (e.g., stress tests) by applying the same operation in parallel on all spare blocks.

[0166] To enable the block redundancy in any of the above configurations, the trim bits are programmed with the address of the failing block. The match logic circuitry and spare and main array block control circuitry will take care of automatically remapping the failing block and the two halves of the neighboring blocks, and enabling either one block (4-layer implementation) or two blocks (2-layer implementation), with the exception of the case in which the failing block is at the boundary of 2 bays without spare blocks in between (i.e. bay 1/block 15, bay 2/block 0, bay 5/block 15 or bay 6/block 0). In this case, both resources of the stripe may be used to repair the block, as described above, and consequently the block redundancy will be able to replace only a single bad block within a stripe.

[0167] Referring now to FIG. 32, the depicted table summarizes the appropriate trim bit settings and the resultant remappings for various failing block locations. This table is appropriate for a 4-layer implementation and a 2-layer implementation.

[0168] Another technique for accomplishing 2-layer compatibility in an otherwise 4-layer device makes use of interchanging adjacent column decoder outputs for half of the layer selector circuits. Referring now to FIG. 33, a group of layer selector circuits is shown, with four such layer selector circuits connected to each column decoder output. For example, column decoder output 651 is coupled to layer selector 652 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 0 to SELB[3:0] lines), coupled to layer selector 653 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 1 to SELB[7:4] lines), coupled to layer selector 654 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 0 to SELB[11:8] lines), and coupled to layer selector 655 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 1 to SELB [15:12] lines). The column decoder output 656 is coupled to layer selector 657 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 2 to SELB[3:0] lines), coupled to layer selector 658 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 3 to SELB[7:4] lines), coupled to layer selector 659 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 2 to SELB[11:8] lines), and coupled to layer selector 660 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 3 to SELB[15:12] lines).

[0169] In a 4-layer implementation, all column decoders are enabled, and one column decoder output is selected at a single time. In a 2-layer implementation, half of the column decoders are disabled, and one of the remaining half is selected at a single time. For example, in a 2-layer implementation, column decoder output 651 couples the first eight bit lines on both layer 0 and layer 1 (exiting to this side of the block) to a corresponding SELB line. Column decoder output 656 is disabled, as layer 2 and layer 3 are not even implemented. The next column address would select column decoder 661, which couples the next eight bit lines on both layer 0 and layer 1 (of those exiting the block in this direction) to a corresponding SELB line. In this configuration, each memory block is essentially a mixed A/B block, and both spare blocks likewise would be the same mixed A/B configuration, although if word lines are shared as depicted in FIG. 1, then such memory blocks would still be odd or even. Moreover, in this configuration, only one block is enabled, even for a 2-layer device, and the match logic and spare block control logic may be implemented as described in relation to FIGS. 10–12.

[0170] Referring now to FIG. 34, another technique for accomplishing 2-layer compatibility in an otherwise 4-layer device makes use of a different variation of a mixed A/B block. Here, the same group of layer selector circuits is shown, with four such layer selector circuits connected to each column decoder output, but without a cross-over. For example, column decoder output 681 is coupled to layer selector 652 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 0 to SELB[3:0] lines), coupled to layer selector 653 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 1 to SELB[7:4] lines), coupled to layer selector 659 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 2 to SELB[11:8] lines), and coupled to layer selector 660 (which couples bit lines BL[3:0] from Layer 3 to SELB[15:12] lines). The column decoder output 682 is coupled to layer selector 657 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 2 to SELB[3:0] lines), coupled to layer selector 658 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 3 to SELB[7:4] lines), coupled to layer selector 654 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 0 to SELB[11:8] lines), and coupled to layer selector 655 (which couples bit lines BL[7:4] from Layer 1 to SELB[15:12] lines).

[0171] In a 4-layer implementation, all column decoders are enabled, and one column decoder output is selected at a single time. In a 2-layer implementation, however, all the column decoders are still enabled, but now two column decoders are selected at a single time. For example, column decoder output 681 and 682 would be selected at the same time to couple the first eight bit lines (of those exiting the block to the top or bottom, if interleaved bit lines) on both layer 0 and layer 1 (i.e., a total of sixteen bit lines) to a corresponding SELB line. In this configuration, each memory block is essentially a mixed A/B block, and both spare blocks likewise would be the same mixed A/B configuration, although if word lines are shared as depicted in FIG. 1, then such memory blocks would still be odd or even. Moreover, in this configuration, only one block is enabled, even for a 2-layer device, and the match logic and spare block control logic may be implemented as described in relation to FIGS. 10–12. Moreover, since only one block is enabled for either a 2-layer or 4-layer implementation, the impedances driving various nodes in the array, such as those driving the selected word line, will be similar in either version. Simultaneously selecting two adjacent column decoders may be accomplished by disabling a low order column address within the blocks.

[0172] The concept of sharing one or more spare blocks between a pair of adjacent memory bays need not be limited to the embodiments described above. Referring now to FIG. 35, a memory array 700 incorporating hierarchical bit lines is depicted. A spare block area 702 includes one or more spare blocks, which may be shared by a first group of main array blocks 703 above the spare block area 702 and by a second group of main array blocks 704 below the spare block area 702. A spare block within the spare block area 702 is coupled to one of the two main array block areas by a group of switches 705, 706 which couple the global bit lines (e.g., GBL 707) in the spare block area 702 to the global bit lines (e.g., GBL 706) in one of the main array block areas. Any memory structure and architecture that uses global bit lines may be implemented using spare blocks in accordance with aspects of the invention described herein. This includes, for example, certain NAND memory structures, including those described in “NAND Memory Array Incorporating Capacitance Boosting of Channel Regions in Unselected Memory Cells and Method for Operation of Same” by En-Hsing Chen, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0145024, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other memory structures which use local and global bit lines are also contemplated for use with spare block redundancy.

[0173] As the above example suggests, but to clearly make the point, the aspect of the block redundancy techniques described herein in which one or more spare blocks are shared between a pair of main array blocks does not necessarily require odd/even structure of the memory blocks. Such sharing can advantageously be employed even if all main array memory blocks are identical, and in such a case, a single spare memory block may be utilized.

[0174] In some embodiments, more than one set of spare blocks may be provided within each spare block area. For example, two pairs of spare blocks may be included between pairs of bays, even though only a single pair of spare blocks is needed to replace a bad block. This would allow two defective blocks in the same bay to be replaced, or would allow a single defective block to be replaced in both the bay to the left, and the bay to the right, so long as the defective block addresses are different (since the SELB lines in the spare block area are shared).

[0175] While the embodiments described above, in which a pair of spare blocks is shared by (and disposed between) two adjacent bays, are particularly efficient regarding the routing of the SELB lines and other control lines, it is also contemplated to share a group of spare blocks with more than two bays.

[0176] The techniques described herein to achieve 2-layer compatibility for a design nominally intended as 4-layer implementation need not be restricted to such numbers of memory layers or planes. For example, an 8-layer design may be 4-layer compatible using the same or similar techniques taught here. Likewise, a 2-layer memory device may be implemented with only one memory layer. Moreover, such techniques may also be extended to even achieve 2-layer compatibility in such an 8-layer design, or 1-layer or 2-layer compatibility in a 4-layer design. In addition, while such 2-layer compatibility in a 4-layer design implies a three-dimensional memory array, the block redundancy techniques described herein may equally well be employed in a memory array having just a single memory plane (i.e., a 2-D memory array).

[0177] The inventive aspects disclosed herein may be used alone or in combination. For example, the various block redundancy techniques, the partial-layer compatibility techniques, and others, may be used alone or in combination together or with other techniques.

[0178] In the embodiments described, layer selector circuits is formed for all potential memory layers. Each layer selector circuit is responsive to an associated enable signal for coupling respective array lines on an associated memory layer to respective ones of an associated group of I/O bus lines. When a partial number of layers is implemented, some of the layer selector circuits are not connected to an implemented memory layer array line (e.g., a bit line), but the device can be fabricated without changes to any of the other masks in the semiconductor processing sequence. Nonetheless, a respective array line on an implemented memory layer is coupled to each respective I/O bus line irrespective of whether the second memory layer is implemented. This results from the physical arrangement of the layer selector circuits, and the configurability of the device to control the layer selector circuits in accordance with the actual number of implemented memory layers. Such configuration may be, for some embodiments, by way of programming a configuration memory, as described above. For some embodiments, such configuration may be accomplished by the presence or absence of a feature on a layer associated with one or more of the optional memory layers.

[0179] In some embodiments, the memory array includes word lines and a word line decoder having a configuration that is independent of whether the optional one or more memory layers are implemented. For example, embodiments having word lines which each include a word line segment on each of a plurality of word line layers (each word line layer associated with one or two bit line layers) may be implemented with such a word line decoder configuration.

[0180] Most memory arrays are designed having a relatively high degree of uniformity. For example, usually every bit line includes the same number of memory cells. As another example, the number of bit lines, word lines, array blocks, and even memory planes is frequently an integral power of two in number (i.e., 2^N), for ease and efficiency of decode circuitry. But such regularity or consistency is certainly not required for any of the embodiments of the present invention. For example, word line segments on different layers may include different numbers of memory cells, the memory array may include three memory planes, word line segments within the first and last array block may be different in number of memory cells or bit line configuration, and any of many other irregular variations to the usual consistency of memory array design. Unless otherwise explicitly recited in the claims, such usual regularity, even as shown in the embodiments described herein, should not be imported into the meaning of any claim.

[0181] It should be appreciated that the designations top, left, bottom, and right are merely convenient descriptive terms for the four sides of a memory array. The word line segments for a block may be implemented as two inter-digitated groups of word line segments oriented horizontally, and the bit lines for a block may be implemented as two inter-digitated groups of bit lines oriented vertically. Each respective group of word lines or bit lines may be served by a respective decoder/driver circuit and a respective sense circuit on one of the four sides of the array. Useful column circuits are set forth in “Tree Decoder Structure Particularly Well Suited to Interfacing Array Lines Having Extremely Small Layout Pitch,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,410, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and further in “Apparatus and Method for Hierarchical Decoding of Dense Memory Arrays Using Multiple Levels of Multiple-Headed Decoders” by Luca G. Fasoli, et al., U.S. application Ser. No. 11/026,470, filed Dec. 30, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0182] Word lines may also be referred to as row lines or X-lines, and bit lines may also be referred to as column lines or Y-lines. Both word lines and bit line may be referred to as array lines. If word lines are referred to as array lines of a first type, then bit lines may be referred to as array lines of a second type (or vice versa). Global array lines, such as global bit lines, may also be referred to as array lines of a first type. The distinction between “word” lines and “bit” lines may carry at least two different connotations to those skilled in the art. When reading a memory array, it is assumed by some practitioners that word lines are “driven” and bit lines are “sensed.” In this regard, X-lines (or word lines) are usually contemplated as being connected to the gate terminal of memory cell transistors, or the switch terminal of the memory cell switch device, if present. The Y-lines (or bit lines) are usually contemplated as being connected to a switched terminal of the memory cell (e.g., source/drain terminal). Secondly, the memory organization (e.g., data bus width, number of bits simultaneously read during an operation, etc.) may have some association with viewing one set of the two array lines more aligned with data “bits” rather than data “words.” Consequently, the designations herein of X-lines, word lines, and row lines, and of Y-lines, bit lines, and column lines are illustrative of the various embodiments but should not be viewed in a restrictive sense, but rather a more general sense.

[0183] As used herein, word lines (e.g., including word line segments) and bit lines usually represent orthogonal array lines, and generally follow a common assumption in the art that word lines are driven and bit lines are sensed, at least during a read operation. Thus, the bit lines of an array may also be referred to as sense lines of the array. No particular implication should be drawn as to word organization by use of such terms. Moreover, as used herein, a “global array line” (e.g., a global word line, a global bit line) is an array line that connects to array line segments in more than one memory block, but no particular inference should be drawn suggesting such a global array line must traverse across an entire memory array or substantially across an entire integrated circuit.

[0184] As used herein, “memory blocks of a first type” does not necessarily imply any particular layer selection configuration is common for all such memory blocks of the first type, although such may also be true. Similarly, “memory blocks of a second type” does not necessarily imply any particular layer selection configuration is common for all such memory blocks of the second type, nor that any layer configuration in a block of the second type is necessarily different than a layer configuration for a block of the first type, although such may be true. Memory blocks of the first and second type may refer to whether the first array line at the top (or bottom) of the block is shared with an adjacent block to the left or to the right of the block.

[0185] As used herein, a passive element memory array includes a plurality of 2-terminal memory cells, each connected between an associated X-line and an associated Y-line. Such a memory array may be a two-dimensional (planar) array or may be a three-dimensional array having more than one plane of memory cells. Each such memory cell has a non-linear conductivity in which the current in a reverse direction (i.e., from cathode to anode) is lower than the current in a forward direction. Application of a voltage from anode to cathode greater than a programming level changes the conductivity of the memory cell. The conductivity may decrease when the memory cell incorporates a fuse technology, or may increase when the memory cell incorporates an anti-fuse technology. A passive element memory array is not necessarily a one-time programmable (i.e., write once) memory array.

[0186] Such passive element memory cells may generally be viewed as having a current steering element directing current in a direction and another component which is capable of changing its state (e.g., a fuse, an antifuse, a capacitor, a resistive element, etc.). The programming state of the memory element can be read by sensing current flow or voltage drop when the memory element is selected.

[0187] In various embodiments of the invention described herein, many different memory cell technologies are contemplated for use. Suitable three-dimensional anti-fuse memory cell structures, configurations, and processes include, without limitation, those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,882 to Johnson, et al, entitled “Vertically Stacked Field Programmable Nonvolatile Memory and Method of Fabrication”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,215 to Knall, et al, entitled “Three-Dimensional Memory Array and Method of Fabrication”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,953 to Johnson, entitled “Vertically-Stacked, Field Programmable Nonvolatile Memory and Method of Fabrication”; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0002184 A1, by Cleeves, entitled “Three Dimensional Memory”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/326,470 by Herner, et al, filed Dec. 19, 2002, entitled “An Improved Method for Making a High Density Nonvolatile Memory”. Each of these enumerated disclosures is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0188] The present invention is contemplated for advantageous use with any of a wide variety of memory cell technologies and memory array configurations, including both traditional single-level memory arrays and multi-level (i.e., three-dimensional) memory arrays, and particularly those having extremely dense X-line or Y-line pitch requirements. In certain embodiments, the memory cells may be comprised of semiconductor materials, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,882 to Johnson et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,396 to Zhang. In certain embodiments, an antifuse memory cell is contemplated. Other types of memory arrays, such as NRAM and organic passive element arrays, can also be used. MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) is based on magnetic memory elements, such as a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). MRAM technology is described in “A 2556 kb 3.0V ITIMTJ Nonvolatile Magnetoresistive RAM” by Peter K. Naji et al., published in the Digest of Technical Papers of the 2001 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, ISSCC 2001/Session 7/Technology Directions: Advanced Technologies/7.6, Feb. 6, 2001 and pages 94–95, 404–405 of ISSCC 2001 Visual Supplement. Certain passive element memory cells may be used which incorporate layers of organic materials including at least one layer that has a diode-like characteristic conduction and at least one organic material that changes conductivity with the application of an electric field. U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,180 to Gudensen et al. describes such organic passive element arrays. Memory cells comprising materials such as phase-change materials and amorphous solids can also be used. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,012 to Wolstenholme et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,266 to Ovshinsky et al., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In other embodiments, three-terminal memory cells may also be employed, rather than two-terminal passive element memory cells, and multiple X-lines (or row lines) selected to sum currents from more than one memory cell on a selected Y-line (or bit line). Such memory cells include flash EPROM and EEPROM cells, which are well known in the art. Moreover, other memory array configurations having extremely dense X-line and/or Y-line pitch requirements are also contemplated such as, for example, those incorporating thin-film transistor (TFT) EEPROM memory cells, as described in “Dense Arrays and Charge Storage Devices, and Methods for Making Same,” by Thomas H. Lee, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002-0028541 A1, and for those incorporating TFT NAND memory arrays, as described in “Programmable Memory Array Structure Incorporating Series-Connected Transistor Strings and Methods for Fabrication and Operation of Same” by Scheuerlein, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004-0125629 A1, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0189] The directionality of various array lines in the various figures is merely convenient for ease of description of the two groups of crossing lines in the array. While word lines are usually orthogonal to bit lines, such is not necessarily required. As used herein, an integrated circuit memory array is a monolithic integrated circuit structure, rather than more than one integrated circuit device packaged together or in close proximity.

[0190] The block diagrams herein may be described using the terminology of a single node connecting the blocks. Nonetheless, it should be appreciated that, when required by the context, such a “node” may actually represent a pair of nodes for conveying a differential signal, or may represent multiple separate wires (e.g., a bus) for carrying several related signals or for carrying a plurality of signals forming a digital word or other multi-bit signal.

[0191] Based upon the teachings of this disclosure, it is expected that one of ordinary skill in the art will be readily able to practice the present invention. The descriptions of the various embodiments provided herein are believed to provide ample insight and details of the present invention to enable one of ordinary skill to practice the invention. Nonetheless, in the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It should, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0192] For example, decisions as to the number of memory cells within each array or sub-array, the particular configuration chosen for word line and bit line pre-decoder and decoder circuits and bit line sensing circuits, as well as the word organization, are all believed to be typical of the engineering decisions faced by one skilled in the art in practicing this invention in the context of developing a commercially-viable product. As is well known in the art, various row and column decoder circuits are implemented for selecting a memory block, and a word line and bit line within the selected block, based upon address signals and possibly other control signals. Nonetheless, even though a mere routine exercise of engineering effort is believed to be required to practice this invention, such engineering efforts may result in additional inventive efforts, as frequently occurs in the development of demanding, competitive products.

[0193] While circuits and physical structures are generally presumed, it is well recognized that in modern semiconductor design and fabrication, physical structures and circuits may be embodied in computer readable descriptive form suitable for use in subsequent design, test or fabrication stages as well as in resultant fabricated semiconductor integrated circuits. Accordingly, claims directed to traditional circuits or structures may, consistent with particular language thereof, read upon computer readable encodings and representations of same, whether embodied in media or combined with suitable reader facilities to allow fabrication, test, or design refinement of the corresponding circuits and/or structures. The invention is contemplated to include circuits, related methods or operation, related methods for making such circuits, and computer-readable medium encodings of such circuits and methods, all as described herein, and as defined in the appended claims. As used herein, a computer-readable medium includes at least disk, tape, or other magnetic, optical, semiconductor (e.g., flash memory cards, ROM), or electronic medium and a network, wireline, wireless or other communications medium. An encoding of a circuit may include circuit schematic information, physical layout information, behavioral simulation information, and/or may include any other encoding from which the circuit may be represented or communicated.

[0194] The foregoing details description has described only a few of the many possible implementations of the present invention. For this reason, this detailed description is intended by way of illustration, and not by way of limitations. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made based on the description set forth herein, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of this invention. Moreover, the embodiments described above are specifically contemplated to be used alone as well as in various combinations. Accordingly, other embodiments, variations, and improvements not described herein are not necessarily excluded from the scope of the invention.