Patent ID: 9412749
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: G11C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A monolithic three dimensional memory device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a major surface and a doped well region of a first conductivity type extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of NAND memory strings extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of substantially pillar-shaped support members extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, each support member comprising an electrically insulating outer material surrounding an electrically conductive core material that extends substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate and electrically contacting the doped well region, wherein each of the plurality of NAND memory strings comprises a substantially pillar-shaped structure extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, and each of the plurality of substantially-pillar shaped support members has a width that is greater than a width of the substantially pillar shaped NAND strings; and wherein each of the plurality of NAND memory strings and the plurality of substantially pillar-shaped support members comprises a same set of insulating material layers including a first insulating material layer, a charge storage material layer, and a second insulating material layer.