Patent attributes
A vertically oriented thin film transistor (TFT) having a tunnel barrier is disclosed. The tunnel barrier may be formed from a dielectric such as silicon oxide or hafnium oxide. The vertically oriented TFT selection device with tunnel barrier may serve as a selection device in a 3D memory array. The vertically oriented TFT may be used to connect/disconnect a global bit line to/from a vertical bit line in a 3D memory array. The vertically oriented TFT may be used to connect/disconnect a source line to/from a channel of a vertical NAND string in a 3D memory array. A vertical TFT with tunnel barrier has a high breakdown voltage, low leakage current, and high on current. The tunnel barrier can be at the top junction or bottom junction of the TFT.
