公开(公告)号：US20220189982A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-16

申请号：US17124313

申请日：2020-12-16

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  Brett D. Lowe

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  G11C5/06 ,  G11C5/02 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L23/528

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers, the stack structure divided into block structures separated from one another by slot structures, a staircase structure within the stack structure having steps comprising horizontal edges of the tiers, conductive contact structures in contact with the steps of the staircase structure, support pillar structures extending through the stack structure, and additional slot structures extending partially through the stack structure within one of the block structures, one of the additional slot structures extending between horizontally neighboring support pillar structures and closer to one of the horizontally neighboring support pillar structures than to an additional one of the horizontally neighboring support pillar structures. Related microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.

公开(公告)号：US20210343624A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US17367990

申请日：2021-07-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Indra V. Chary ,  Chet E. Carter ,  Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Jun Fang ,  Matthew J. King ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  Matthew Park ,  Justin D. Shepherdson

IPC: H01L23/48 ,  H01L21/033 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11519

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array and conductive through-array-vias (TAVs) comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. A mask is formed comprising horizontally-elongated trench openings and operative TAV openings above the stack. Etching is conducted of unmasked portions of the stack through the trench and operative TAV openings in the mask to form horizontally-elongated trench openings in the stack and to form operative TAV openings in the stack. Conductive material is formed in the operative TAV openings in the stack to form individual operative TAVs in individual of the operative TAV openings in the stack. A wordline-intervening structure is formed in individual of the trench openings in the stack.

公开(公告)号：US20180323212A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-08

申请号：US16031919

申请日：2018-07-10

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： David Daycock ,  Richard J. Hill ,  Christopher Larsen ,  Woohee Kim ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Qian Tao ,  Barbara L. Casey

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L29/10

CPC classification number: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/28282 ,  H01L29/1037 ,  H01L29/4234 ,  H01L29/7926

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have terminal ends corresponding to control gate regions. Charge-trapping material is along the control gate regions of the wordline levels and not along the insulative levels. The charge-trapping material is spaced from the control gate regions by charge-blocking material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack and is laterally spaced from the charge-trapping material by dielectric material. Some embodiments include methods of forming NAND memory arrays.

公开(公告)号：US10083981B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-25

申请号：US15422335

申请日：2017-02-01

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： David Daycock ,  Richard J. Hill ,  Christopher Larsen ,  Woohee Kim ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Qian Tao ,  Barbara L. Casey

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/10

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have terminal ends corresponding to control gate regions. Charge-trapping material is along the control gate regions of the wordline levels and not along the insulative levels. The charge-trapping material is spaced from the control gate regions by charge-blocking material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack and is laterally spaced from the charge-trapping material by dielectric material. Some embodiments include methods of forming NAND memory arrays.

公开(公告)号：US20170229470A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15497009

申请日：2017-04-25

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Charles H. Dennison ,  Anish A. Khandekar ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  Lining He ,  Brian Cleereman

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582

CPC classification number: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming vertically-stacked memory cells. An opening is formed through a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Cavities are formed to extend into the conductive levels along sidewalls of the opening. At least one of the cavities is formed to be shallower than one or more others of the cavities. Charge-blocking dielectric and charge-storage structures are formed within the cavities. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Cavities extend into the conductive levels. At least one of the cavities is shallower than one or more others of the cavities by at least about 2 nanometers. Charge-blocking dielectric is within the cavities. Charge-storage structures are within the cavities.

公开(公告)号：US08575716B2

公开(公告)日：2013-11-05

申请号：US13893454

申请日：2013-05-14

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Mathew ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  Yunjun Ho ,  H. Jim Fulford ,  Jie Sun ,  Zhaoli Sun

IPC: H01L21/70

CPC classification number: H01L29/0649 ,  H01L21/02164 ,  H01L21/022 ,  H01L21/02222 ,  H01L21/02271 ,  H01L21/02282 ,  H01L21/02326 ,  H01L21/02337 ,  H01L21/76229 ,  H01L27/11526 ,  H01L27/11573

Abstract: A method of forming memory array and peripheral circuitry isolation includes chemical vapor depositing a silicon dioxide-comprising liner over sidewalls of memory array circuitry isolation trenches and peripheral circuitry isolation trenches formed in semiconductor material. Dielectric material is flowed over the silicon dioxide-comprising liner to fill remaining volume of the array isolation trenches and to form a dielectric liner over the silicon dioxide-comprising liner in at least some of the peripheral isolation trenches. The dielectric material is furnace annealed at a temperature no greater than about 500° C. The annealed dielectric material is rapid thermal processed to a temperature no less than about 800° C. A silicon dioxide-comprising material is chemical vapor deposited over the rapid thermal processed dielectric material to fill remaining volume of said at least some peripheral isolation trenches. Other aspects are disclosed, including integrated circuitry resulting from the disclosed methods and integrated circuitry independent of method of manufacture.

公开(公告)号：US11756826B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-12

申请号：US17473679

申请日：2021-09-13

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Matthew J. King ,  Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Darwin A. Clampitt ,  Gordon Haller ,  Thomas George ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  David A. Daycock

IPC: H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/762 ,  H10B43/40 ,  H10B43/20 ,  H10B43/35 ,  H10B43/50

CPC classification number: H01L21/76802 ,  H01L21/762 ,  H01L21/76808 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H10B43/20 ,  H10B43/35 ,  H10B43/40 ,  H10B43/50

Abstract: A termination opening can be formed through the stack alternating dielectrics concurrently with forming contact openings through the stack. A termination structure can be formed in the termination opening. An additional opening can be formed through the termination structure and through the stack between groups of semiconductor structures that pass through the stack. In another example, an opening can be formed through the stack so that a first segment of the opening is between groups of semiconductor structures in a first region of the stack and a second segment of the opening is in a second region of the stack that does not include the groups of semiconductor structures. A material can be formed in the second segment so that the first segment terminates at the material. In some instances, the material can be implanted in the dielectrics in the second region through the second segment.

公开(公告)号：US11417681B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-16

申请号：US17215308

申请日：2021-03-29

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Yi Hu ,  Merri L. Carlson ,  Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  David Daycock ,  Harsh Narendrakumar Jain ,  Matthew J. King ,  Jian Li ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  Prakash Rau Mokhna Rau ,  Lifang Xu

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/115 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L27/11526 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L21/3213

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells and operative through-array-vias (TAVs) comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. The stack comprises a TAV region and an operative memory-cell-string region. The TAV region comprises spaced operative TAV areas. Operative channel-material strings are formed in the stack in the operative memory-cell-string region and dummy channel-material strings are formed in the stack in the TAV region laterally outside of and not within the operative TAV areas. Operative TAVs are formed in individual of the spaced operative TAV areas in the TAV region. Other methods and structure independent of method are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210408029A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-30

申请号：US17473679

申请日：2021-09-13

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Matthew J. King ,  Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Darwin A. Clampitt ,  Gordon Haller ,  Thomas George ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  David A. Daycock

IPC: H01L27/11573 ,  H01L21/762 ,  H01L27/11578 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/11575

Abstract: A termination opening can be formed through the stack alternating dielectrics concurrently with forming contact openings through the stack. A termination structure can be formed in the termination opening. An additional opening can be formed through the termination structure and through the stack between groups of semiconductor structures that pass through the stack. In another example, an opening can be formed through the stack so that a first segment of the opening is between groups of semiconductor structures in a first region of the stack and a second segment of the opening is in a second region of the stack that does not include the groups of semiconductor structures. A material can be formed in the second segment so that the first segment terminates at the material. In some instances, the material can be implanted in the dielectrics in the second region through the second segment.

公开(公告)号：US11121146B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-14

申请号：US16159955

申请日：2018-10-15

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Matthew J. King ,  Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Darwin A. Clampitt ,  Gordon Haller ,  Thomas George ,  Brett D. Lowe ,  David A. Daycock

IPC: H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/11578 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/762 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11575

Abstract: A termination opening can be formed through the stack alternating dielectrics concurrently with forming contact openings through the stack. A termination structure can be formed in the termination opening. An additional opening can be formed through the termination structure and through the stack between groups of semiconductor structures that pass through the stack. In another example, an opening can be formed through the stack so that a first segment of the opening is between groups of semiconductor structures in a first region of the stack and a second segment of the opening is in a second region of the stack that does not include the groups of semiconductor structures. A material can be formed in the second segment so that the first segment terminates at the material. In some instances, the material can be implanted in the dielectrics in the second region through the second segment.