3D Stacked Memory Patent Landscape Analysis

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3D STACKED MEMORY 04 02 © LexInnova 2015 www.lex-innova.com 02 03 01 The worldwide 3D IC market is expected to develop from US$2.21 billion in 2011 to US$6.55 billion in 2015 at a CAGR of 16.9% from 2011 to 2015. 0 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 50 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 Total 3D TSV devices(B$) 3D TSV Penetration rate Market value(BS) 3D TSV Penetration rate(%) Total semi value(B$) excluding 2.50 interposer substrate value SanDisk 793 Matrix Semiconductor 36 AMD 31 Unity Semiconductor 30 Hitachi 29 III HOLDINGS LLC 24 HP 24 Sharp Corp 19 Micron Technology 219 Samsung 194 Macronix 95 Intel Corp 90 Guobiao Zhang 57 Toshiba 47 IBM 39 Contact Formation+ Structural Features Assembly/Packing+ Structural Features Device Formation Structural Features Stacking+ Structural Features Interconnects Formation+ Structural Feature Other_FEOL+Structural Feature Water Development+ Structural Features Testing+ Structural Features Other-BEOL +Model Parameters Lithography+ Structural Features Other_BEOL+ Structural Features Etching+ Structural Features Stacking+ Model Parameters Contact Formation + Operating Speed Contact Formation + Model Parameters 3D Stacked Memory is an integrated circuit manufactured by stacking silicon wafers and interconnecting them vertically using through-silicon vias (TSVs). These stacked wafers behave as a single device and achieve higher performance at reduced power as compared to conventional two-dimensional devices. SanDisk, Micron, and Samsung are the top three assignees in terms of patent holdings. The number of patents /patent applications owned by top the three assignees comprise around 52% of the total patents/patent applications filed in the domain. Guobiao Zhang, an individual inventor has filed 57patents/patent applications. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Intel and its partner company, Micron, announced a 3D NAND solution that enables chips with 384Gbits (48GBs) of capacity which is three times that of existing 3D NAND chips. AMD has reported that it would be mutually working with memory device manufacturer SK Hynix in the development of cutting edge, high-bandwidth, 3D stacked memory items and arrangements. Market Projections TOP ASSIGNEES LICENSING HEAT MAP Model parameters & Operating Speed related to Contact Formation (FEOL) and Structural Features related to Assembly/ Packaging are red in color which reflects a very distributed portfolio with no monopoly of any assignee in these domains, hence have higher chances of licensing activity. While on the other hand, domains like Stacking and Etching combined with the structural features fall in the lighter shades reflecting that the patent portfolio in these domains is predominantly held by some top players. Sandisk, Samsung and Micron are the prominent assignees in most of the technology domains.

Transcript of 3D Stacked Memory Patent Landscape Analysis

Page 1: 3D Stacked Memory Patent Landscape Analysis

3D STACKED MEMORY

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© LexInnova 2015 www.lex-innova.com

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The worldwide 3D IC market is expected to develop from US$2.21 billionin 2011 to US$6.55 billion in 2015 at a CAGR of 16.9% from 2011 to 2015.

020172016201520142013201220112010

50

10%

9%

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0%

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Total 3D TSV devices(B$) 3D TSV Penetration rate

Mar

ket v

alue

(BS)

3D T

SV P

enet

ratio

n ra

te(%

)

Total semi value(B$)

excluding 2.50 interposer substrate value

SanDisk793

MatrixSemiconductor

36

AMD31

UnitySemiconductor

30

Hitachi29

III HOLDINGS LLC24

HP24

Sharp Corp19

MicronTechnology

219Samsung

194 Macronix95

Intel Corp90

Guobiao Zhang57

Toshiba47

IBM39

Con

tact

For

mat

ion+

Stru

ctur

al F

eatu

res

Ass

embl

y/Pa

ckin

g+St

ruct

ural

Fea

ture

s

Dev

ice

Form

atio

nSt

ruct

ural

Fea

ture

s

Stac

king

+St

ruct

ural

Fea

ture

s InterconnectsFormation+Structural Feature

Other_FEOL+StructuralFeature

WaterDevelopment+StructuralFeatures

Testing+StructuralFeatures

Other-BEOL+Model

ParametersLithography+StructuralFeatures

Other_BEOL+Structural Features

Etching+Structural Features

Stacking+ModelParameters

Contact Formation + Operating Speed

Contact Formation+ Model Parameters

3D Stacked Memory is an integrated circuit manufactured by stacking silicon wafers and interconnecting them vertically using through-silicon vias (TSVs). These stacked wafers behave as a single device and achieve higher performance at reduced power as compared to conventional two-dimensional devices.

SanDisk, Micron, and Samsung are the top threeassignees in terms of patent holdings. The number of patents/patent applications owned by top the three assignees comprise around 52% of the total patents/patent applicationsfiled in the domain. Guobiao Zhang, an individual inventor has filed 57patents/patent applications.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Intel and its partner company, Micron, announced a 3D NAND solution that enables chips with 384Gbits (48GBs) of capacity which is three times that of existing 3D NAND chips.

AMD has reported that it would be mutually working with memory device manufacturer SK Hynix in the development of cutting edge, high-bandwidth, 3D stacked memory items and arrangements.

Market Projections

TOP ASSIGNEES

LICENSING HEAT MAP

Model parameters & Operating Speed related to Contact Formation (FEOL) and Structural Features related to Assembly/Packaging are red in color which reflects a very distributed portfolio with no monopoly of any assignee in these domains, hence have higher chances of licensing activity. While on the other hand, domains like Stacking and Etching combined with the structural features fall in the lighter shades reflecting that the patent portfolio in these domains is predominantly held by some top players. Sandisk, Samsung and Micron are the prominent assignees in most of the technology domains.