公开(公告)号：US20210043644A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US16532019

申请日：2019-08-05

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 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L27/11526 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  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：US10658380B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-19

申请号：US16160146

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: H01L27/115 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11526 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11573

Abstract: In an example, a method of forming a stacked memory array includes forming a stack of alternating first and second dielectrics, forming a termination structure through the stack, the termination structure comprising a dielectric liner around a conductor, forming a set of contacts concurrently with forming the termination structure, forming a third dielectric over an upper surface of the stack and an upper surface of the termination structure, forming a first opening through the third dielectric and the stack between first and second groups of semiconductor structures so that the first opening exposes an upper surface of the conductor, and removing the conductor from the termination structure to form a second opening lined with the dielectric liner. In some examples, the dielectric liner can include a rectangular or a triangular tab or a pair of prongs that can have a rectangular profile or that can be tapered.

公开(公告)号：US12211746B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-28

申请号：US17231895

申请日：2021-04-15

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Anilkumar Chandolu ,  Indra V. Chary

IPC: H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/535 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B43/27

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack to form laterally-spaced memory-block regions. The memory-block regions comprise part of a memory-plane region. A pair of elevationally-extending walls are formed that are laterally-spaced relative one another and that are individually horizontally-longitudinally-elongated. The pair of walls are one of (a) or (b), where: (a): in the memory-plane region laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory-block regions; and (b): in a region that is edge-of-plane relative to the memory-plane region. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches and after forming the pair of walls, sacrificial material that is in the first tiers is isotropically etching away and replaced with conducting material of individual conducting lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20250017007A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18347752

申请日：2023-07-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Nancy M. Lomeli ,  Xiao Li

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H10B43/10 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device includes forming a microelectronic device structure. The microelectronic device structure includes a stack structure comprising insulative structures and electrically conductive structures vertically alternating with the insulative structures, pillar structures extending vertically through the stack structure, an etch stop material vertically overlaying the stack structure, and a first dielectric material vertically overlying the etch stop material. The method further includes removing portions of the first dielectric material, the etch stop material, and an upper region of the stack structure to form a trench interposed between horizontally neighboring groups of the pillar structures, forming a liner material within the trench, and substantially filling a remaining portion of the trench with a second dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier structure.

公开(公告)号：US12127400B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-22

申请号：US17648708

申请日：2022-01-24

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  Indra V. Chary

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/532 ,  H10B41/27

CPC classification number: H10B41/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/53271 ,  H10B43/27

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprising a stack structure comprising a non-staircase region, a staircase region, and an array region. Each of the non-staircase region, the staircase region, and the array region comprises tiers of alternating conductive materials and dielectric materials. One or more pillars are in the non-staircase region and in the array region, and one or more supports are in the staircase region. A conductive material is in each of the non-staircase region, the staircase region, and the array region and extends vertically into a source adjacent to the tiers. The source comprises corrosion containment features in each of the non-staircase region, the staircase region, and the array region, adjacent to the conductive material in the source. Additional microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20240081067A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-07

申请号：US18508875

申请日：2023-11-14

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Lifang Xu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Jian Li ,  Haitao Liu ,  Paolo Tessariol

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

CPC classification number: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L23/5283 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Operative channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The operative channel-material strings in the laterally-spaced memory blocks comprise part of a memory plane. An elevationally-extending wall is in the memory plane laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks and that completely encircles an island that is laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks in the memory plane. Other embodiments, including method are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11917817B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-27

申请号：US17125200

申请日：2020-12-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Lifang Xu ,  Nancy M. Lomeli ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Kar Wui Thong ,  Shicong Wang

IPC: H10B43/50 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  G11C5/02 ,  G11C5/06 ,  H10B43/27

CPC classification number: H10B41/27 ,  G11C5/025 ,  G11C5/06 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H10B43/27

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive material and insulative material arranged in tiers. The stack structure has blocks separated from one another by first dielectric slot structures. Each of the blocks comprises two crest regions, a stadium structure interposed between the two crest regions in a first horizontal direction and comprising opposing staircase structures each having steps comprising edges of the tiers of the stack structure, and two bridge regions neighboring opposing sides of the stadium structure in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction and having upper surfaces substantially coplanar with upper surfaces of the two crest regions. At least one second dielectric slot structure is within horizontal boundaries of the stadium structure in the first horizontal direction and partially vertically extends through and segmenting each of the two bridge regions. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.

公开(公告)号：US11910598B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17816299

申请日：2022-07-29

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Justin B. Dorhout

IPC: H10B41/27 ,  G11C5/02 ,  H01L23/00 ,  H01L23/538 ,  H01L21/768 ,  G11C5/06 ,  H10B43/27

CPC classification number: H10B41/27 ,  G11C5/025 ,  G11C5/06 ,  H01L21/76838 ,  H01L23/5386 ,  H01L24/14 ,  H10B43/27

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising alternating conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers, the tiers individually comprising one of the conductive structures and one of the insulative structures, first support pillar structures extending through the stack structure within a first region of the microelectronic device, the first support pillar structures electrically isolated from a source structure underlying the stack structure, second support pillar structures extending through the stack structure within a second region of the microelectronic device, the second support pillar structures comprising an electrically conductive material in electrical communication with the source structure, and bridge structures extending between at least some neighboring first support pillar structures of the first support pillar structures. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.

公开(公告)号：US11864387B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-02

申请号：US18083412

申请日：2022-12-16

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Lifang Xu ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Jian Li ,  Haitao Liu ,  Paolo Tessariol

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

CPC classification number: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L23/5283 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Operative channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The operative channel-material strings in the laterally-spaced memory blocks comprise part of a memory plane. An elevationally-extending wall is in the memory plane laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks and that completely encircles an island that is laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks in the memory plane. Other embodiments, including method are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20230335193A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-19

申请号：US17659102

申请日：2022-04-13

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shuangqiang Luo ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Mithun Kumar Ramasahayam

IPC: G11C16/04 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L23/528

CPC classification number: G11C16/0483 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L23/5283

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising blocks each including a vertically alternating sequence of conductive material and insulative material arranged in tiers, at least one of the blocks comprising: a memory array region having vertically extending strings of memory cells within a horizontal area thereof; and a staircase region horizontally neighboring the memory array region. The staircase structure has steps comprising horizontal ends of the tiers; and a crest sub-region horizontally interposed between the staircase structure and the memory array region. A masking structure overlies the stack structure and has a different material composition than each of the conductive material and the insulative material. Filled slot structures are interposed between the blocks of the stack structure, at least one of the filled slot structures comprises at least one fill material that has an uppermost boundary vertically underlying an uppermost boundary of the masking structure.