Patent ID: 12211562

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary implementations of the present disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some implementations of the present disclosure are shown. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary implementations set forth herein. Rather, these implementations are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

It should also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as “on” another element or layer, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on or connected to another element or layer or there may be an element or layer between them. When the element or layer is referred to as “directly on” another element or layer, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there is no intermediate element or layer there between. For this purpose, the term “connecting” may refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection and/or a fluid connection with or without an intervening element.

Throughout the specification, like reference numerals denote like components. The thickness of layers and regions is exaggerated for clarity in the drawings.

Although the terms such as “first,” “second,” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms can be used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, the first element discussed below may be referred to as a second element without departing from the teachings of one or more implementations. Describing an element as a “first” element may not require or imply the presence of a second element or other elements. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like may also be used herein to distinguish elements of different classes or groups. For the sake of brevity, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like may mean “first class (or first group),” “second class (or second group),” etc., respectively.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific implementations only and are not intended to be limiting. The term “and/or” as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should also be understood that when used in this specification, the term “including” specifies the presence of the illustrated feature, region, step, operation, elements and/or components but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, region, step, operation, element, components and/or groups thereof.

In addition, the relative terms such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top” may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another as shown in the figures. It should be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientations depicted in the figures. In an exemplary implementation, when the device in one of the figures is flipped, elements described as being on the “lower” side of the other elements will then be oriented on the “upper” side of the other elements. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” may encompass both “lower” and “upper” orientations depending on the particular orientation of the figures. Similarly, when the device in one of the figures is flipped, elements described as “below” or “under” the other elements will then be oriented “above” the other elements. Thus, the exemplary term “below” or “under” may encompass both below and above orientations.

FIG.2is a block diagram of a three-dimensional non-volatile memory200according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.2, the three-dimensional non-volatile memory200may include a control unit210, a voltage generating unit220, a memory array230, and a layered erasure verification module240. The memory array230may include a plurality of memory blocks231each including a plurality of layers (or referred to “decks”). The control unit210and the layered erasure verification module240may together constitute a control circuit (not shown) of the three-dimensional non-volatile memory200. The control circuit may be coupled to the memory array230. The control circuitry may be configured to control layer selection of a plurality of layers of the memory array230and to perform an erase operation and a data erasure verification operation on the selected layers.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the three-dimensional non-volatile memory200may be a three-dimensional NAND memory, and the memory array230may be a three-dimensional NAND memory array. However, the memory is not limited to the three-dimensional NAND memory, and the memory array is not limited to the three-dimensional NAND memory array. The memory and the memory array may be implemented as other various types of non-volatile memory and non-volatile memory arrays capable of retaining stored data when power is turned down, respectively, without departing from the disclosure or teachings of the present disclosure.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the control circuit may control operations such as write, read, erase, and erasure verification performed on the memory array230. The control circuit may include a controller constructed in a peripheral circuit of the non-volatile memory chip. Further, the control circuit may perform the various operations described above in accordance with the acquired computer program instructions.

Further, since the write operation of the memory array230is performed within empty or erased memory blocks, thus if there is already data in the target memory block, it is generally necessary to erase first and then write. Therefore, the erasure verification operation is one of the basic operations of the three-dimensional non-volatile memory200.

In one implementation of the present disclosure, the memory blocks231may include a substrate and a plurality of layers (e.g., the top layer231A and the bottom layer231B) vertically stacked on the substrate, wherein a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells may exist in each layer (which will be further described later with reference toFIG.3). In order to efficiently read, write and erase in the memory blocks231having the plurality of layers, each layer may be erased as a separate memory block (half block).

As an option, the control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to supply the voltage configured for the above operations to the memory array230. Based on the fact that each layer of the memory array230may separately perform a data erase operation and a data erasure verification operation independently from other layers, the control unit210may select from the plurality of layers of the memory array230at a data erase phase and a data erasure verification phase of the memory array230, to select the layer or memory cells to be erased or verified, and control the voltage generating unit220to apply an appropriate voltage to the layer or memory cells to be erased or verified in the memory array230.

Specifically, in the data erasure verification operation, the control unit210may select from the plurality of layers of the memory array230, and control the voltage generating unit220to supply a local erasure verification voltage (Vver) to the selected layers and a pass voltage (Vpass) to the unselected layers.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the voltage generating unit220may generate a control voltage based on a control signal received from the control unit210or obtain a suitable voltage from another external source, which is not limited in the implementation of the present disclosure. In an implementation of the present disclosure, the layered erasure verification module240may include a determination unit and a verification unit, wherein the determination unit (e.g., the first determination unit241and the second determination unit242) is configured to determine whether the erase operation on the selected plurality of layers in the memory array230succeeds based on the data erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided by the present disclosure.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the first determination unit241may determine whether the erase operation on the selected top layer231A in the memory blocks231succeeds based on the data erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided by the present disclosure. Similarly, the second determination unit242may determine whether the erase operation on the selected bottom layer231B in the memory block231succeeds based on the data erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided in the present disclosure.

The verification unit (e.g., the first verification unit243and the second verification unit244) is configured to perform a re-erase operation in the respective layers that fail to pass the above erasure verification operation.

In one implementation of the present disclosure, the first verification unit243may perform the re-erase operation on the top layer231A that fails to pass the layered erasure verification operation; accordingly, the second verification unit244may perform the re-erase operation on the bottom layer231B that fails to pass the layered erasure verification operation.

The three-dimensional non-volatile memory structure including two layers is described above. In fact, with the increasing demand of storage capacity of three-dimensional non-volatile memory, the memory layers gradually increase. A multi-stack technique may be employed to form the three-dimensional non-volatile memory having a plurality of layers vertically stacked on the substrate (e.g., a three-stack structure including a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer). However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the content and structure involved in describing the three-dimensional non-volatile memory comprising two layers above may be fully or partially applicable to the three-dimensional non-volatile memory comprising multiple layers, therefore content related to or similar thereto will not be repeated.

Hereinafter, a data erasure verification method applicable to the above-mentioned three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided by an implementation of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG.3is a schematic structural diagram of a memory block400having a plurality of layers according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

As an example, the memory block400may include a substrate330, a bottom layer450, and a top layer452. The bottom layer450and the top layer452are stacked in a direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The bottom layer450is proximate to the substrate330, and the top layer452is disposed on the top (away from the substrate330) of the bottom layer450.

InFIG.3, the X and Y directions may be directions of the word line (WL) and bit line (BL) of the memory block400, and the Z direction may be the direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions.

In some implementations, the substrate330may provide a platform configured to form a subsequent structure. In some implementations, the substrate330may be any suitable semiconductor substrate having any suitable semiconductor material, such as a single crystal polycrystalline or a single crystal semiconductor. For example, the substrate330may include silicon, silicon-germanium (SiGe), germanium (Ge), silicon-on-insulator (SOI), germanium-on-insulator (GOI), gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride, silicon carbide, and III-V compound or any combination thereof. In some implementations, the substrate330may include a layer of semiconductor material, such as glass, plastic, or another semiconductor substrate, formed on the operating wafer.

The front surface330fof the substrate330is also referred to herein as the “major surface” or “top surface” of the substrate. Stacked structures (e.g., the bottom layer450and the top layer452) may be disposed on the front surface330fof the substrate330.

In some implementations, the bottom layer450and the top layer452include a bottom film stack335-1and a top film stack335-2, respectively. The bottom film stack335-1and the top film stack335-2may include a plurality of conductor layers454and dielectric layers456. The conductor layers454and the dielectric layers456in the bottom film stack335-1and the top film stack335-2alternate in the Z direction. Each conductor layer454may have the same thickness or have different thicknesses. Similarly, each dielectric layer456may have the same thickness or have different thicknesses. The conductor layers454may include a conductor material such as W, Co, Cu, Al, Ti, Ta, TiN, TaN, Ni, doped silicon, silicide (e.g., NiSix, WSix, CoSix, TiSix) or any combination thereof. The dielectric layers456may include a dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or any combination thereof.

In some implementations, the bottom layer450and the top layer452may also include a plurality of memory cells340(elliptically enclosed portions in the figure) of the three-dimensional non-volatile memory. The memory cells340may be stacked vertically into memory strings212, which may extend through the top film stack335-2and the bottom film stack335-1and include a bottom vertical structure212-1and a top vertical structure212-2. Each memory string212may include a channel layer338and a function layer337.

In some implementations, the channel layer338comprises silicon, such as amorphous silicon, polysilicon, or single crystal silicon. In some implementations, the functional layer337may include a composite layer of a tunneling layer, a memory layer, and a block layer. Each memory string212may have a cylindrical shape (e.g., a column shape). According to some implementations, the channel layer338, the tunneling layer, the memory layer, and the block layer may be arranged sequentially in a direction from the center of the column toward the outer surface.

In some implementations, the conductor layers454in the bottom film stack335-1and the top film stack335-2may act as a control gate for the memory cells340(e.g., the control gate333inFIG.4). The memory strings212may include a lower selective gate332(source selective gate) at a lower end of the memory string212(proximate to the end of the substrate330in Z-direction) in the bottom layer450. The memory strings212may also include a top selective gate334(drain selective gate) at an upper end of the memory string212(away from the end of the substrate330in the Z-direction) in the top layer452.

In some implementations, the memory block400may include an epitaxial layer458at the lower end of the channel layer338of the memory string212in the bottom layer450. For each memory string212, the epitaxial layer458may be referred to herein as an “epitaxial plug.”

The epitaxial plug458may contact the channel layer338and the array cell well body345in the substrate330. The epitaxial plug458may be the channel for the lower selective gate332. In some implementations, the array cell well body345may be P-type doped, and the doped source line region344may be N-type doped.

In some implementations, the memory block400includes insulating layers462in both the top layer452and the bottom layer450. The insulating layers462may surround the memory strings212and provide isolation between adjacent memory strings212.

In some implementations, the top vertical structure212-2of the memory string212in the top layer452may be substantially aligned with the bottom vertical structure212-1in the bottom layer450. In some implementations, each memory string212includes a conductive plug460between the top vertical structure212-2and the bottom vertical structure212-1. The conductive plug460may provide an electrical connection between the channel layer338located in the bottom vertical structure212-1and the channel layer338located in the top vertical structure212-2, so that the top vertical structure212-2and the bottom vertical structure212-1may form a memory string212for two layers of memory blocks400. The memory strings212may provide similar memory functions to the memory strings212in a three-dimensional non-volatile memory having a single layer. In some implementations, the conductive plug460includes polysilicon.

In some implementations, each film stack335-1and film stack335-2may include a stepped structure in which each conductive layer454terminates at a different length in the X direction. The stepped structure allows the electrical connection between the word lines and the conductive layers454.

In some implementations, the memory block400includes an array common source (ACS)464that perpendicularly penetrates the top layer452and the bottom layer450into the substrate330. The ACS464may be electrically connected to the doped source line region344.

Thus, the ACS464may be electrically connected to the lower end of the memory strings212if the lower selective gate332is turned on.

Further, the three-dimensional non-volatile memory with only two layers is described herein for illustrative purposes. Similar structures and functions can be extended to a three-dimensional non-volatile memory with more than two layers.

FIG.4is a circuit diagram of an equivalent circuit of the memory block400as shown inFIG.3.

As shown inFIG.4, the memory block400may include two layers, such as the top layer452and the bottom layer450. The memory block400may also include the memory string212having a plurality of stacked memory cells340(elliptically enclosed portions in the figure). The memory cell340-1is in the bottom layer450, and the memory cell340-2is in the top layer452. The memory block400also includes the conductive plug460between the top layer452and the bottom layer450. Thus, the memory cell340-2in the top layer452may be electrically connected to the memory cell340-1in the bottom layer450to form the memory string212. The memory string212may also include at least one field effect transistor (e.g., MOSFET) at each end which is controlled by the lower selective gate BSG332and the top selective gate TSG334, respectively. The above two transistors may be referred to as lower selection transistor332-T and top selection transistor334-T. The stacked memory cell340may be controlled by the control gate333. The control gate333includes a control gate333-1corresponding to the memory cell340-1and a control gate333-2corresponding to the memory cell340-2. The control gate333is connected to word lines (not shown) of the memory block400. The drain terminal of the top select transistors334-T may be connected to the bit line341, and the source terminal of the lower select transistors332-T may be connected to the doped source line regions344(seeFIG.3). ACS464may be formed from doped source line regions344and may be shared by the memory strings212throughout the memory block400.

The physical structure and circuit equivalent structure of the memory shown inFIGS.3and4include only state of memory blocks having a top layer and a bottom layer. Further, the present disclosure also provides a three-dimensional non-volatile memory including three-dimensional memory blocks of a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer and an erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory.FIG.5shows a schematic circuit diagram of a three-dimensional memory block500having a plurality of layers according to one implementation of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.5, the three-dimensional memory block500may include three layers, such as a top layer452, a middle layer454, and a bottom layer450. The three-dimensional memory block500may also include a memory string212having a plurality of stacked memory cells340(elliptically enclosed portions in the figure). The memory cell340-1is in the bottom layer450, the memory cell340-3is in the middle layer454, and the memory cell340-2is in the top layer452. The three-dimensional memory block500also includes conductive plugs460between the top layer452and the middle layer454and between the middle layer454and the bottom layer450. Thus, the memory cell340-2in the top layer452may be electrically connected with the memory cells340-3in the middle layer454and the memory cell340-1in the bottom layer450to form the memory string212. The memory string212may also include at least one field effect transistor (e.g., MOSFET) at each end, which is controlled by a lower selective gate BSG332and a top selective gate TSG334, respectively. The above two transistors may be referred to as lower selection transistors332-T and top selection transistors334-T. The stacked memory cells340may be controlled by control gates333. The control gates333includes a control gate333-1corresponding to the memory cell340-1, a control gate333-3corresponding to the memory cell340-3, and a control gate333-2corresponding to the memory cell340-2. The control gates333are connected to word lines (not shown) of the three-dimensional memory block500. The drain terminal of the top selection transistor334-T may be connected to the bit line341, and the source terminal of the lower selection transistor332-T may be connected to the doped source line region344(seeFIG.3). The ACS464may be formed from the doped source line region344and may be shared by the memory strings212throughout the memory block.

In the three-dimensional non-volatile memory, the memory cells of rows in each layer are connected to the same word line WL, and the memory cells in each column are connected in series to the same bit line BL. Each word line may correspond to a page, a memory block is composed of a plurality of pages, and a plane is further composed of a plurality of memory blocks. Further, in the three-dimensional non-volatile memory having a plurality of layers, each layer may be individually processed to efficiently read, write and erase. For example, each layer in the three-dimensional non-volatile memory may perform an erase operation and an erasure verification operation (layered erasure verification operation) independently of the other layers. In addition, read and write operations may also be performed in memory pages including memory cells sharing the same word line.

In a data erasure verification method for a three-dimensional non-volatile memory, an erasure verification operation (e.g., a layered erasure verification operation) may be performed on any layer of the memory. Specifically, an erasure verification voltage applied to any above layer may be a fixed value which may be the same as an erasure verification voltage implemented in performing an erasure verification operation on all memory cells of a memory block. However, since in the layered erasure verification operation, the pass voltage Vpass applied to the unselected layers (the layers on which the erasure verification operation is not performed) in the three-dimensional non-volatile memory is higher than the erasure verification voltage Vver applied to the selected layers (the layers on which the erasure verification operation is performed), the half-block resistance of the unselected layers is lower. The above effect of the half-block resistance will affect the result of the erasure verification operation when only the verification voltage Vver is set to a fixed value, thus causing the erase operation to fail. Further, it causes the distribution of erased memory cells to include too many memory cells with shallow erase effects.

FIGS.6A to6Care circuit diagrams of equivalent circuits of a data erasure verification method of a three-dimensional non-volatile memory.

Specifically, as shown inFIGS.6A-6C, as an example, the three-dimensional non-volatile memory100may include two layers, such as a top layer152and a bottom layer150. The three-dimensional non-volatile memory100may also include a memory string112having a plurality of stacked memory cells140. The memory cell140-1is in the bottom layer150, and the memory cell140-2is in the top layer152. The memory cell140-2in the top layer152may be electrically connected to the memory cell140-1in the bottom layer150to form a memory string112.

In the erasure verification operation, the erasure verification may be performed on the memory block and each layer therein separately. For example, as shown inFIG.6A, the erasure verification operation may be performed on a memory block including all the memory cells. In particular, an erasure verification voltage Vver may be applied to all the memory cells (the whole memory block) to verify whether the erase operation succeeds based on the applied erasure verification voltage Vver.

As an alternative, as shown inFIG.6B, it is also possible that the layered erasure verification operation is performed first on the bottom layer150in the memory block. In particular, the erasure verification voltage Vver may be applied to the bottom layer150while a pass voltage Vpass may be applied to the top layer152(the layer on which the erasure verification operation is not performed) to verify whether the erase operation succeeds based on the applied erasure verification voltage Vver. The erasure verification voltage Vver applied at the bottom layer150may be the same as the erasure verification voltage Vver applied to the memory block described above.

As another alternative, as shown inFIG.6C, it is also possible that the layered erasure verification operation is performed first on the top layer152in the memory block. In particular, the erasure verification voltage Vver may be applied to the top layer152while the pass voltage Vpass may be applied to the bottom layer150(the layer on which the erasure verification operation is not performed) to verify whether the erase operation succeeds based on the applied erasure verification voltage Vver. The erasure verification voltage Vver applied at the top layer152may be the same as the erasure verification voltage Vver applied to the memory block described above.

FIG.7is a relationship graph showing an erasure verification voltage obtained according to a data erasure verification method versus the distribution of the erased memory cells.

As described above, in an erasure verification operation, the erasure verification voltage Vver, which is independently applied to the top layer, the bottom layer, and the memory block, can be set to be the same. In other words, the operation for erasure verification may be performed by applying a single erasure verification voltage Vver to its corresponding memory cell. Whether the erase operation succeeds or not may be determined by sensing the on-off state of the memory cells.

As shown inFIG.7, curves B, B1and B2are relationship curves of the erasure verification voltage versus the distribution of the erased memory cells during independently implementing the erasure verification operations on the memory block, the top layer, and the bottom layer, respectively. In the erasure verification operation, when the erasure verification voltages applied to the top layer, the bottom layer, and the memory block are set to be the same, it can be determined that their respective distributions of the erased memory cells are not the same. Specifically, after the erasure verification operation is performed on the memory block, the maximum range of its distributions of the erased memory cells is S. After the erasure verification operation is performed on the top layer, the maximum range of its distributions of the erased memory cells is S1. After the erasure verification operation is performed on the bottom layer, the maximum range of its distributions of the erased memory cell is S2.

In addition, when the erase operation is performed on a memory block, if only a part of the word lines of the memory block are written with data and the rest are not used, then after new data is written to the memory block, the probability of data bit inversion will increase when the user reads the data, that is, the probability of data error will increase, due to the electric characteristics of the hardware. This phenomenon is called Shallow Erase.

In a layered erasure verification operation (the operation is performed only on at least one layer of the memory block), the layers of the memory block on which the erasure verification operation is to be performed is applied with the erasure verification voltage Vver. Other layers of the memory block on which the erasure verification operation is not performed are applied with the pass voltage Vpass. When the erasure verification voltage Vver is set to a fixed value, other layers on which the erasure verification operation is not performed will generally have lower half-block resistance because the pass voltage Vpass is generally higher than the erasure verification voltage Vver. The resistance of the source and drain of the memory block will change accordingly, which will further affect the corresponding current flowing through the memory cell between the source terminal and the drain terminal, and the threshold voltage Vth of the memory cell will be changed (half-block resistance effect). Therefore, the above half-block resistance effect will affect the result of the erase operation when only the erasure verification voltage is set to a fixed value in the layered erasure verification operation.

Further, the distribution of erased memory cells after the layered erasure verification operation includes too many memory cells having shallow erase effects. For example, the maximum range S1of the distribution of the erased memory cells after the erasure verification operation is performed on the top layer, and the maximum range S2of the distribution of the erased memory cells after the erasure verification operation is performed on the bottom layer inFIG.7both fall in the memory cell range Sa with shallow erase effect.

Based on the above problems, when executing the layered erasure verification operation, an implementation of the present disclosure selects the corresponding erasure verification voltage Vver by using system rules and separately applies it to the selected layer (the layered erasure verification operation), which can improve the distribution of the erased memory cells after the layered erasure verification operation to be the same as the distribution of the erased memory cells after the full-block erasure verification operation, and reduce the shallow erase area in the distribution of the erased memory cells after the layered erasure verification operation.

A data erase method and a data erasure verification method configured for a memory according to implementations of the present disclosure will be described below based on the three-dimensional non-volatile memory of the present disclosure shown inFIG.2and the physical and circuit structures of the memory shown inFIG.3,FIG.4andFIG.5with reference toFIG.1andFIG.9. It should be understood that although the physical and circuit structure shown inFIG.3,FIG.4andFIG.5are employed in describing the data erase method and the data erasure verification method, it is only exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In addition, the data erase operation mentioned in the erasure verification method of the three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided by the implementation of the present disclosure is only an erase operation performed on the data of the three-dimensional non-volatile memory and does not include an erasure verification operation.

FIG.1is a flowchart of a data erasure verification method1000for a three-dimensional non-volatile memory according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, the data erasure verification method1000for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory includes:

Step S1: selecting a first layer from the plurality of layers of the memory block on which an erase operation has been performed, and a verification operation has not been performed to perform layered erasure verification.

Step S2: applying a first local verification voltage to the first layer to verify the erase operation performed on the first layer.

Step S3: setting the first local verification voltage to be lower than the global verification voltage, wherein the global verification voltage is the voltage required for performing full-block erasure verification on the memory block corresponding to the first layer.

The above-described steps will be described in detail below so that the specific implementation of the above-described method1000will become more apparent to those skilled in the art.

Step S1

In step S1, the three-dimensional non-volatile memory may include a plurality of memory blocks as shown inFIG.4. The memory blocks may include a plurality of memory strings212consisting of a top layer452and a bottom layer450. Alternatively, as shown inFIG.5, the memory block may also include a plurality of memory strings212consisting of memory cells in the top layer452, the middle layer454, and the bottom layer450. Any layer of the memory string on which the erase operation has been performed and the verification operation has not been performed may be selected as the first layer to perform the erasure verification operation. The layer erasure verification operation (layered erasure verification operation) refers to that an erasure verification operation is performed only on at least one layer of the memory block and not on all memory blocks.

Step S2

In Step S2, applying a first local verification voltage to the first layer to verify the erase operation includes the control unit210controlling the voltage generating unit220to apply the local erasure verification voltage (Vver) to the first layer of the memory block to be verified while the lower selection transistor332-T is kept on, and performing the data erasure verification operation by the first determination unit241corresponding to the first layer among the determination units of the layered erasure verification module240. The local erasure verification voltage may be applied simultaneously to all the word lines WL of the first layer that have been erased in advance or sequentially one by one to these word lines WL.

After the erasure verification Phase (VER) is enabled, the control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to apply the local erasure verification voltage to the word line WL of the first layer that has been erased and is to be verified. The voltage of the word line WL of the first layer rises due to the application of the local erasure verification voltage. For example, the voltage of the word line WL may rise from the ground to about 2.2 V. At this time, the lower selection transistor332-T is always kept on due to the application of the gate bias voltage while the channel is always in the discharge state.

Step S3

In Step S3, the local verification voltage applied to the first layer that has been erased, but no verification operation is performed according to an implementation of the present disclosure can be adjusted so as to satisfy that the local verification voltage is lower than the global verification voltage required for performing the full-block erasure verification on the memory block corresponding to the first layer.

Specifically, in an implementation of the present disclosure, while the control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to apply the local erasure verification voltage to the first layer of the memory block on which the erasure verification operation is to be performed, it may also control the voltage generating unit220to apply the voltage Vpass to other layers in the memory block on which the erasure verification operation is not performed.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the memory block includes the bottom layer450and the top layer452sequentially stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1and340-2) of the memory block.

Alternatively, the control unit210may also control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1and340-2) of the memory block.

Further, in another implementation of the present disclosure, the memory block includes the bottom layer450and the top layer452sequentially stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1and340-2) of the memory block, while setting the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1and34-2) of the memory block, and setting the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450.

In addition, in another implementation of the present disclosure, prior to the step of selecting the first layer in the memory block comprising two layers on which the erase operation has been performed, the method further comprises: performing, by the control circuit, the write operation or the erase operation on the second layer of the memory block. For example, the first local verification voltage with a first voltage value may be applied to the first layer after the write operation is performed on the second layer; or the first local verification voltage with a second voltage value may be applied to the first layer after the erase operation is performed on the second layer. The first voltage value should be higher than the second voltage value in the above two states.

In another implementation of the present disclosure, the memory block includes a bottom layer450, a middle layer454, and a top layer452sequentially stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The bottom layer450is proximate to the substrate330. Correspondingly adjusting the local erasure verification voltage in the erase method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory may include:

The control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450to be lower than the erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells of the memory block.

As an alternative, the control unit210may also control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1,340-2and340-3) of the memory block.

As another alternative, the control unit210may also control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the middle layer454to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1,340-2and340-3) of the memory block.

Further, in another implementation of the present disclosure, the memory block includes a bottom layer450, a middle layer454, and a top layer452sequentially stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The bottom layer450is proximate to the substrate330. Correspondingly adjusting the local erasure verification voltage in the erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory may include: the control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1,340-2and340-3) of the memory block, and the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1,340-2and340-3) of the memory block, and the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450.

Further, in another implementation of the present disclosure, the memory block includes a bottom layer450, a middle layer454, and a top layer452sequentially stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate330. The bottom layer450is proximate to the substrate330. Correspondingly adjusting the local erasure verification voltage in the erasure verification method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory may include: the control unit210controlling the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450, the middle layer454and the top layer452respectively to be lower than the global erasure verification voltage applied to all the memory cells (340-1,340-2and340-3) of the memory block. Meanwhile, the controller also controls the voltage generating unit220to set the local erasure verification voltage applied to the top layer452to be lower than the local erasure verification voltage applied to the middle layer454and the local erasure verification voltage applied to the middle layer454to be lower than the local erasure verification voltage applied to the bottom layer450.

Further, in another implementation of the present disclosure, prior to the step of selecting the first layer in the memory block comprising three layers on which the erase operation has been performed, the method further includes: selecting a second layer of the three layers of the memory block, such as the bottom layer450, and performing the write operation or the erase operation on the second layer. For example, the first local verification voltage with a third voltage value may be applied to the first layer (e.g., the top layer452) after the write operation is performed on the second layer; or the first local verification voltage with a fourth voltage value can be applied to the first layer after the erase operation is performed on the second layer. The third voltage value should be higher than the fourth voltage value in the above two states.

Further, in another implementation of the present disclosure, prior to the step of selecting the first layer in the memory block comprising three layers on which the erase operation has been performed, the method further includes: selecting a third layer of the three layers of the memory block, such as a middle layer454which may be different from the second layer in the above-described implementation. The third layer may also be a remaining layer after the first layer and the second layer are selected in the above implementation. A write operation or erase operation may be performed on the third layer. For example, the first local verification voltage with a fifth voltage value may be applied to the first layer (e.g., the top layer452) after the write operation is performed on the third layer; or the first local verification voltage with a sixth voltage value may be applied to the first layer after the erase operation is performed on the third layer. The fifth voltage value should be higher than the sixth voltage value in the above two states.

In addition, as another alternative, in another implementation of the present disclosure, prior to the step of selecting the first layer in the memory block comprising three layers on which the erase operation has been performed, the method may further include: selecting a third layer of the three layers of the memory block, such as a middle layer454which may be different from the second layer in the above implementation. The third layer may also be a remaining layer after the first layer and the second layer are selected in the above implementation. A write operation or erase operation may be performed on the third layer. For example, the first local verification voltage with a seventh voltage value may be applied to the first layer (e.g., the top layer452) after the write operation is performed on the third layer; or the first local verification voltage with an eighth voltage value may be applied to the first layer after the erase operation is performed on the second layer and the third layer (e.g., the middle layer454and the bottom layer450). The seventh voltage value should be higher than the eighth voltage value in the above two states.

FIG.8is a relationship graph of an erasure verification voltage obtained according to a data erasure verification method for a three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided by the present disclosure versus the distribution of the erased memory cells.

As shown inFIG.8, the curves B, B1, and B2are the relationship curves of erasure verification voltages for selected layers (the memory block, the top layer, and the bottom layer) versus the distribution of the erased memory cells after performing the data erasure verification method provided according to the present disclosure, respectively. In the above-mentioned erasure verification operation, the local erasure verification voltages applied to selected layers on which the erasure verification operation is to be performed (e.g. the top layer and the bottom layer) are respectively selected to satisfy that the local erasure verification voltages are lower than the global verification voltages required for performing the erasure verification for the memory block, and their respective distributions of the erased memory cells can be adjusted to be the same (S is the maximum range of the distribution of the erased memory cells after the erasure verification operation is performed on the memory block, S1is the maximum range of the distribution of erased memory cells after the erasure verification operation is separately performed on the top layer, and S2is the maximum range of the distribution of the erased memory cells after the erasure verification operation is separately performed on the bottom layers), reducing the number of memory cells with shallow erase effect in the maximum range of the distribution of the erased memory cells after the layered erasure verification operation.

Particularly, although in the data erasure verification operation provided by the implementation of the present disclosure, other layers in the memory block on which the erasure verification operation is not performed are also applied with the pass voltage Vpass and the pass voltage Vpass is higher than the local erasure verification voltage Vver. However, the local erasure verification voltage of the selected layer on which erasure verification is to be performed may be selected and satisfies that the local erasure verification voltage is lower than the global verification voltage required for performing the erasure verification on the memory block. Under the combined effect of the local erasure verification voltage Vver and the pass voltage Vpass, the resistance of the source and drain of the memory block can be maintained at a fixed value without affecting the corresponding current flowing through the memory cell between the source terminal and the drain terminal. Therefore, the possible changes in the threshold voltage Vth (half block resistance effect) of the memory cells are effectively avoided. Further, due to the stability of the threshold voltage Vth of the memory cells, the occurrence of memory cells with shallow erase effects in the erased memory cells can be effectively avoided.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure also provides an erase method2000for a three-dimensional non-volatile memory. The data erase method2000for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory includes:

Step S2001: selecting a first layer from a plurality of layers.

Step S2002: performing an erase operation on the first layer.

Step S2003: selecting the first layer from the plurality of layers on which the erase operation has been performed.

Step S2004: applying a first local verification voltage to the first layer to verify the erase operation.

Step S2005: setting the first local verification voltage to be lower than the global verification voltage, which is the voltage required for performing the erasure verification for the memory block corresponding to the first layer.

Step2006: the erase step ends if the erase operation succeeds; and the erase operation and the erasure verification operation are repeated if the erase operation fails, until the erase operation succeeds.

Specifically, in steps S2001and S2002, the memory block may include a plurality of layers, and at least one layer (the first layer) of a plurality of layers may be arbitrarily selected for erase operations. A bias voltage may be applied to the lower selection transistor332-T of at least one memory block to turn it on under the control of the control unit210in response to performing the erase operation on the first layer of the memory block. For example, the control unit210may control the voltage generating unit220to apply the bias voltage to the gate332of the lower selection transistor332-T of the memory block, causing the lower selection transistor332-T to be turned on. In particular, the bias voltage may be applied to the gate332of the lower selection transistor332-T of the memory block during a voltage drop of the array cell well body345in the latter half of the erase process and kept constant until subsequent erasure verification begins.

As an example, the bias voltage may be applied to the gate332of the lower selection transistor332-T of the memory block to turn it on after the erase voltage is applied to the memory block for a predetermined time. A gate bias voltage is applied to the lower selection transistor332-T of the memory block to turn it on, for example, at the end of the erase operation and during the erase voltage drop. Further, the bias voltage may be applied to the lower selection transistor332-T at the end of the erase operation and before the gate voltage of the lower selection transistor332-T drops to a threshold to turn it off. In one particular implementation, the bias voltage applied is lower than the erase voltage configured for the erase operation. For example, the erase voltage may be about 20V, and the bias voltage may be about 6.5V.

Since the contents and structures involved in describing the erasure verification method1000for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory above may be fully or partially applicable to the steps S2003to S2005described herein, the contents related to or similar thereto will not be repeated.

In step S2006, the determination unit of the layered erasure verification module240may acquire the current voltage of the memory block word line WL, and determine whether the layered erasure verification passes according to whether the acquired current voltage reaches the target value. Specifically, whether a current flows through the memory string212can be sensed after applying the erasure verification voltage Vver to the layer word line WL on which the erasure verification is to be performed and the pass voltage Vpass to the layer word line WL on which the erasure verification is not performed. The erase operation is considered as being successful, and the layered erasure verification operation is passed if the current is sensed to flow through the memory string212. Otherwise, the erase is considered as being unsuccessful, and the layered erasure verification operation is not passed. In step2007, if it is determined that the data erase operation failed, the method returns to step2001to perform a second data erase operation by the verification unit of the layered erasure verification module240, and to perform a second erasure verification operation by the above determination unit for the layer on which once again the data erase operation is performed, until the verification passes.

In accordance with the erase method for the three-dimensional non-volatile memory provided according to an implementation of the present disclosure, the local erasure verification voltage of the selected layer on which the erasure verification is to be performed may be selected and satisfies that the local erasure verification voltage is lower than the global verification voltage required for performing a full-block erasure verification for the memory block. Under the combined effect of the local erasure verification voltage and the pass voltage (applied to the layer on which the erasure verification operation is not performed), the resistance of the source and drain of the memory block can be maintained at a fixed value without affecting the corresponding current flowing through the memory cell between the source terminal and the drain terminal. Therefore, the possible changes in the threshold voltage (half block resistance effect) of the memory cells are effectively avoided. Further, due to the stability of the threshold voltage of the memory cells, the occurrence of memory cells with shallow erase effects in erased memory cells can be effectively avoided.

The above description is only an implementation of the present disclosure and a description of the technical principles used. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection referred to in the present disclosure is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above technical features, but also includes other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above technical features or their equivalents without departing from the technical concept. For example, the technical scheme formed by replacing the above features with the technical features with similar functions disclosed in the present disclosure (but not limited to).