公开(公告)号：US12052863B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-30

申请号：US16572926

申请日：2019-09-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Gurtej S. Sandhu ,  Kunal R. Parekh

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/30 ,  H10B43/30 ,  H10B43/35 ,  H10B43/40 ,  H10B99/00

CPC classification number: H10B43/27 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/30 ,  H10B43/30 ,  H10B43/35 ,  H10B43/40 ,  H10B99/00

Abstract: A method used in forming a vertical string of memory cells and a conductive via comprises forming a first lower opening and a second lower opening into a lower material. A first material is formed within the first and second lower openings. An upper material is formed above the lower material and above the first material in the first and second lower openings. A first upper opening is formed through the upper material to the first material in the first lower opening. At least a majority of the first material is removed from the first lower opening through the first upper opening and channel material is formed within the first lower and first upper openings for the vertical string of memory cells being formed. After forming the channel material, a second upper opening is formed through the upper material to the first material in the second lower opening. Conductive material of the conductive via is formed within the second upper opening. Structure embodiments independent of method of formation are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11949022B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-02

申请号：US17678971

申请日：2022-02-23

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Zhenyu Lu ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Roger W. Lindsay ,  Andrew Bicksler ,  Brian J. Cleereman ,  Minsoo Lee

IPC: H01L29/788 ,  H01L21/285 ,  H01L23/535 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/27 ,  H10B43/35

CPC classification number: H01L29/788 ,  H01L21/28518 ,  H01L23/535 ,  H01L29/66825 ,  H01L29/66833 ,  H01L29/7889 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H01L29/7926 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/27 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A method to fabricate a three dimensional memory structure may include creating a stack of layers including a conductive source layer, a first insulating layer, a select gate source layer, and a second insulating layer, and an array stack. A hole through the stack of layers may then be created using the conductive source layer as a stop-etch layer. The source material may have an etch rate no faster than 33% as fast as an etch rate of the insulating material for the etch process used to create the hole. A pillar of semiconductor material may then fill the hole, so that the pillar of semiconductor material is in electrical contact with the conductive source layer.

公开(公告)号：US11626424B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-11

申请号：US17397338

申请日：2021-08-09

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Zhenyu Lu ,  Gordon Haller ,  Jie Sun ,  Randy J. Koval ,  John Hopkins

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L29/10 ,  H01L29/51 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H01L27/11563

Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.

公开(公告)号：US20220238543A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-28

申请号：US17723716

申请日：2022-04-19

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Luan C. Tran ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Yushi Hu

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/8234 ,  H01L21/8238 ,  H01L29/78

Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory having a continuous channel, and methods of processing the same. A number of embodiments include forming a vertical stack having memory cells connected in series between a source select gate and a drain select gate, wherein forming the vertical stack includes forming a continuous channel for the source select gate, the memory cells, and the drain select gate, and removing a portion of the continuous channel for the drain select gate such that the continuous channel is thinner for the drain select gate than for the memory cells and the source select gate.

公开(公告)号：US10651315B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-12

申请号：US13716287

申请日：2012-12-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Zhenyu Lu ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  Gordon A Haller ,  Roger W. Lindsay ,  Andrew Bicksler ,  Brian J. Cleereman ,  Minsoo Lee

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L21/225 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L29/788 ,  H01L27/11568 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L23/532 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/285 ,  H01L23/535 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L29/792

Abstract: A method to fabricate a three dimensional memory structure may include creating a stack of layers including a conductive source layer, a first insulating layer, a select gate source layer, and a second insulating layer, and an array stack. A hole through the stack of layers may then be created using the conductive source layer as a stop-etch layer. The source material may have an etch rate no faster than 33% as fast as an etch rate of the insulating material for the etch process used to create the hole. A pillar of semiconductor material may then fill the hole, so that the pillar of semiconductor material is in electrical contact with the conductive source layer.

公开(公告)号：US10446507B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-15

申请号：US15691303

申请日：2017-08-30

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Qinglin Zeng ,  Daniel Osterberg ,  Merri L. Carlson ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Jeremy Adams

IPC: H01L23/58 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/00

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die comprising integrated circuitry over a substrate of a semiconductor material. A first die ring comprises one or more electrically conductive materials at least partially surrounding the integrated circuitry, the one or more electrically conductive materials comprising an electrically conductive path from proximate a surface of the substrate to an exposed surface of the semiconductor die. A second die ring comprises an electrically conductive material and is disposed around the first die ring. A first electrically conductive interconnect electrically connects the first die ring and to second die ring. Related semiconductor devices and semiconductor dice are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US10242995B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-26

申请号：US15808468

申请日：2017-11-09

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Lijing Gou ,  Gordon Haller ,  Luan C. Tran

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/3205 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L21/306 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/302

Abstract: Some embodiments include a string of charge storage devices formed along a vertical channel of semiconductor material; a gate region of a drain select gate (SGD) transistor, the gate region at least partially surrounding the vertical channel; a dielectric barrier formed in the gate region; a first isolation layer formed above the gate region and the dielectric barrier; a drain region of the SGD transistor formed above the vertical channel; and a second isolation layer formed above the first isolation layer and the drain region, wherein the second isolation layer includes a conductive contact in electrical contact with the drain region of the SGD transistor. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20180315766A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US16028111

申请日：2018-07-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Zhenyu Lu ,  Gordon Haller ,  Jie Sun ,  Randy J. Koval ,  John Hopkins

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/285 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L29/51 ,  H01L29/10 ,  H01L21/28

CPC classification number: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/28273 ,  H01L21/28525 ,  H01L21/28556 ,  H01L21/31111 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/1037 ,  H01L29/513 ,  H01L29/66825

Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.

公开(公告)号：US10090318B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-02

申请号：US15229490

申请日：2016-08-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Hongbin Zhu ,  Charles H. Dennison ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Merri L. Carlson ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Jia Hui Ng ,  Jie Sun

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L29/788

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical string of memory cells comprises forming a lower stack comprising first alternating tiers comprising vertically-alternating control gate material and insulating material. An upper stack is formed over the lower stack, and comprises second alternating tiers comprising vertically-alternating control gate material and insulating material having an upper opening extending elevationally through multiple of the second alternating tiers. The lower stack comprises a lower opening extending elevationally through multiple of the first alternating tiers and that is occluded by occluding material. At least a portion of the upper opening is elevationally over the occluded lower opening. The occluding material that occludes the lower opening is removed to form an interconnected opening comprising the unoccluded lower opening and the upper opening. Charge storage material is deposited into the interconnected opening for the charge storage structures for the memory cells of the vertical string that are in each of the upper and lower stacks and thereafter tunnel insulator and channel material are formed into the interconnected opening for the memory cells of the vertical string that are in each of the upper and lower stack. Other embodiments are disclosed, including embodiments independent of method.

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.