READ:Reliability Enhancement in 3D-Memory Exploiting Asymmetric SER Distribution

Abstract

3D-memory is one of promising applications in 3D-IC technology. With a 3D integration technology, the effective density of memories can increase and the interconnect distance from processor to memory can be shortened. Due to its stacked structure, the upper dies behave as shields blocking outer particles from reaching lower dies, and it makes error rate of the top layer largest among all layers. From a heat perspective, the lower dies would suffer from reliability problems since the lower dies are placed on top of logic die. The heat dissipation can more influence lower dies than upper dies. This creates unequal a reliability distribution for each layer in 3D-memories. A novel ECC organization scheme for 3D-memory to secure reliable operations under soft error rate (SER) profiles is introduced in this paper. The proposed scheme does not require additional redundant arrays. Instead, it utilizes unused spare columns of relatively reliable layer memories to store additional check-bits of less reliable layer memories. It forms a heterogeneous ECC organization across different layers which enhances ECC capabilities in less reliable layers. In addition, redundancy sharing scheme for yield enhancement can be implemented with the proposed scheme. Experimental results show that a memory with the proposed method can tolerate more than three times of a bit-error rate compared to the conventional memory.