Patent ID: 8325529

Claim:
A non-volatile storage device, comprising: a plurality of non-volatile storage elements formed on a semiconductor substrate, the non-volatile storage elements are divided into a plurality of groups; a plurality of bit lines formed in a first metal layer over the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of first type of connections arranged in a first row that runs in a first direction perpendicular to the bit lines, the first type of connections includes a lower portion coupled to a first group of the non-volatile storage elements, the first type of connections includes a middle portion formed in a second metal layer, the middle portion is coupled to the lower portion, the first type of connections includes an upper portion that is coupled between the middle portion and one of the bit lines; a plurality of second type of connections arranged in a second row that runs in the first direction, the second type of connections includes a lower portion that is coupled to a second group of the non-volatile storage elements, the second type of connections includes an upper portion coupled between the lower portion and one of the bit lines, each connection of the second type of connections is coupled to a bit line that is adjacent to a bit line coupled to one of the first type of connections, the middle portion of the first type of connection extends away from the lower portion of the first type of connection in a second direction that is away from the second type of connection and a plurality of third type of connections arranged in a third row that runs in the first direction, the third type of connections includes a lower portion coupled to a third group of the non-volatile storage elements, the third type of connections includes a middle portion formed in the second metal layer, the middle portion is coupled to the lower portion, the third type of connections includes an upper portion that is coupled between the second portion and one of the bit lines, the middle portion of the third type of connection extends away from the lower portion of the third type of connection in a third direction away from the second type of connection, the second direction is opposite the third direction, the first type, the second type and the third type of connections alternate sequentially from a group of non-volatile storage elements to the adjacent group of non-volatile storage elements.