Patent ID: 7851851

Claim:
A monolithic, three dimensional NAND string comprising at least a first memory cell located over a second memory cell, wherein: a semiconductor active region of the first memory cell is formed epitaxially on a semiconductor active region of the second memory cell, such that a defined boundary exists between the semiconductor active region of the first memory cell and the semiconductor active region of the second memory cell; the semiconductor active region of the first memory cell comprises a first pillar comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor region located between second conductivity type semiconductor regions; the semiconductor active region of the second memory cell comprises a second pillar comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor region located between second conductivity type semiconductor regions; one second conductivity type semiconductor region in the first pillar directly contacts one second conductivity type semiconductor region in the second pillar; and the first pillar is not aligned with the second pillar, such that the first pillar extends laterally past the second pillar.