Patent ID: 9356034
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A three-dimensional NAND device, comprising: a substrate having a major surface; a stack of plurality of alternating word lines and insulating layers located over the major surface of the substrate and extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate, wherein the plurality of word lines comprise odd numbered word lines located in odd numbered device levels and even numbered word lines located in even numbered device levels over the major surface of the substrate; a plurality of semiconductor channels located in a device region of the stack, wherein at least one end portion of each of the plurality of the semiconductor channels extends substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate through the stack; a plurality of memory films located in the device region of the stack, wherein each of the plurality of memory films is located adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of semiconductor channels; a first stepped word line contact region located in a first side of the stack adjacent to a first side of the device region, wherein the odd numbered word lines contain contact portions which extend laterally beyond all overlying layers of the stack in the first stepped word line contact region; a second stepped word line contact region located in a second side of the stack adjacent to a second side of the device region opposite to the first side of the device region, wherein the even numbered word lines contain contact portions which extend laterally beyond all overlying layers of the stack in the second stepped word line contact region; a first plurality of word line contacts extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate in the first stepped word line contact region, wherein each of the first plurality of word line contacts is in contact with a respective contact portion of one of the plurality of odd numbered word lines, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of even numbered word lines in the first word line contact region do not contact a word line contact; and a second plurality of word line contacts extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate in the second stepped word line contact region, wherein each of the second plurality of word line contacts is in contact with a respective contact portion of one of the plurality of even numbered word lines, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of odd numbered word lines in the second word line contact region do not contact a word line contact.