公开(公告)号：US20220230960A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-21

申请号：US17658404

申请日：2022-04-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Lifang Xu ,  Jian Li ,  Graham R. Wolstenholme ,  Paolo Tessariol ,  George Matamis ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L23/528 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L21/768

Abstract: Microelectronic devices include stadium structures within a stack structure and substantially symmetrically distributed between a first pillar structure and a second pillar structure, each of which vertically extends through the stack structure. The stack structure includes a vertically alternating sequence of insulative materials and conductive materials arranged in tiers. Each of the stadium structures includes staircase structures having steps including lateral ends of some of the tiers. The substantially symmetrical distribution of the stadium structures, and fill material adjacent such structures, may substantially balance material stresses to avoid or minimize bending of the adjacent pillars. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11387243B2

公开(公告)日：2022-07-12

申请号：US15931299

申请日：2020-05-13

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John D. Hopkins ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11524

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. Channel-material-string structures of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel-material-string structures individually comprise an upper portion above and joined with a lower portion. Individual of the channel-material-string structures comprise at least one external jog surface in a vertical cross-section where the upper and lower portions join. Other embodiments, including method are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20220189827A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-16

申请号：US17652346

申请日：2022-02-24

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Bo Zhao ,  Nancy M. Lomeli ,  Lifang Xu ,  Adam L. Olson

IPC: H01L21/8229 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11578

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a microelectronic device structure having a memory array region and a staircase region. The microelectronic device structure comprises a stack structure having tiers each comprising a conductive structure and an insulative structure; staircase structures confined within the staircase region and having steps comprising edges of the tiers of the stack structure within the deck and the additional deck; and semiconductive pillar structures confined within the memory array region and extending through the stack structures. The stack structure comprises a deck comprising a group of the tiers; an additional deck overlying the deck and comprising an additional group of the tiers; and an interdeck section between the deck and the additional deck and comprising a dielectric structure confined within the memory array region, and another group of the tiers within vertical boundaries of the dielectric structure and confined within the staircase region.

公开(公告)号：US11348933B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-31

申请号：US17125639

申请日：2020-12-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Kunal R. Parekh ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L27/115 ,  H01L29/788 ,  G11C16/08 ,  G11C16/04 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11524

Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having channel material structures extending upwardly from a conductive structure. Anchor structures are laterally offset from the channel material structures and penetrate into the conductive structure to a depth sufficient to provide mechanical stability to at least a portion of the assembly. The conductive structure may include a first conductive material over a second conductive material, and may be a source line of a three-dimensional NAND configuration. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies to have channel material structures and anchor structures.

公开(公告)号：US20220108947A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17064453

申请日：2020-10-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

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

IPC: H01L23/522 ,  G11C16/08 ,  G11C16/24 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11529 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/768

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：US10903220B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16578042

申请日：2019-09-20

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Kunal R. Parekh ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L27/115 ,  H01L29/788 ,  H01L29/66 ,  G11C16/04 ,  G11C16/08 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11524

Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having channel material structures extending upwardly from a conductive structure. Anchor structures are laterally offset from the channel material structures and penetrate into the conductive structure to a depth sufficient to provide mechanical stability to at least a portion of the assembly. The conductive structure may include a first conductive material over a second conductive material, and may be a source line of a three-dimensional NAND configuration. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies to have channel material structures and anchor structures.

公开(公告)号：US20200075620A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-05

申请号：US16542675

申请日：2019-08-16

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nancy M. Lomeli ,  Tom George ,  Jordan D. Greenlee ,  Scott M. Pook ,  John Mark Meldrim

IPC: H01L27/11578 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  G11C16/08

Abstract: Some embodiments include a conductive structure of an integrated circuit. The conductive structure includes an upper primary portion, with the upper primary portion having a first conductive constituent configured as a container. The container has a bottom, and a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom. An interior region of the container is over the bottom and between the sidewalls. The upper primary portion includes a second conductive constituent configured as a mass filling the interior region of the container. The second conductive constituent is a different composition than the first conductive constituent. One or more conductive projections join to the upper primary portion and extend downwardly from the upper primary portion. Some embodiments include assemblies comprising memory cells over conductive structures. Some embodiments include methods of forming conductive structures.

公开(公告)号：US20200066747A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-27

申请号：US16111648

申请日：2018-08-24

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Anish A. Khandekar ,  Mark W. Kiehlbauch ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L21/027 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11556

Abstract: A method of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming and removing a portion of lower-stack memory cell material that is laterally across individual bases in individual lower channel openings. Covering material is formed in a lowest portion of the individual lower channel openings to cover the individual bases of the individual lower channel openings. Upper channel openings are formed into an upper stack to the lower channel openings to form interconnected channel openings individually comprising one of the individual lower channel openings and individual of the upper channel openings. A portion of upper-stack memory cell material that is laterally across individual bases in individual upper channel openings is formed and removed. After the removing of the portion of the upper-stack memory cell material, the covering material is removed from the interconnected channel openings. After the removing of the covering material, transistor channel material is formed in an upper portion of the interconnected channel openings. After forming the transistor channel material, upper-stack and lower-stack sacrificial material is replaced with control-gate material having terminal ends corresponding to control-gate regions of individual memory cells. Charge-storage material is formed between the transistor channel material and the control-gate regions. Insulative charge-passage material is formed between the transistor channel material and the charge-storage material. A charge-blocking region is between the charge-storage material and individual of the control-gate regions.

公开(公告)号：US10553607B1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-04

申请号：US16111648

申请日：2018-08-24

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Anish A. Khandekar ,  Mark W. Kiehlbauch ,  Nancy M. Lomeli

IPC: H01L27/11 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/027 ,  H01L21/28

Abstract: A method of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming and removing a portion of lower-stack memory cell material that is laterally across individual bases in individual lower channel openings. Covering material is formed in a lowest portion of the individual lower channel openings to cover the individual bases of the individual lower channel openings. Upper channel openings are formed into an upper stack to the lower channel openings to form interconnected channel openings individually comprising one of the individual lower channel openings and individual of the upper channel openings. A portion of upper-stack memory cell material that is laterally across individual bases in individual upper channel openings is formed and removed. After the removing of the portion of the upper-stack memory cell material, the covering material is removed from the interconnected channel openings. After the removing of the covering material, transistor channel material is formed in an upper portion of the interconnected channel openings. After forming the transistor channel material, upper-stack and lower-stack sacrificial material is replaced with control-gate material having terminal ends corresponding to control-gate regions of individual memory cells. Charge-storage material is formed between the transistor channel material and the control-gate regions. Insulative charge-passage material is formed between the transistor channel material and the charge-storage material. A charge-blocking region is between the charge-storage material and individual of the control-gate regions.

公开(公告)号：US12295140B2

公开(公告)日：2025-05-06

申请号：US17533580

申请日：2021-11-23

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Jordan D. Greenlee ,  Allen McTeer ,  Rita J. Klein ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Nancy M. Lomeli ,  Xiao Li ,  Alyssa N. Scarbrough ,  Jiewei Chen ,  Naiming Liu ,  Shuangqiang Luo ,  Silvia Borsari ,  John Mark Meldrim ,  Shen Hu

IPC: H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/27 ,  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. Strings of memory cells comprise channel-material strings that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers in the memory blocks. A through-array-via (TAV) region comprises TAV constructions that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The TAV constructions individually comprise a radially-outer insulative lining and a conductive core radially-inward of the insulative lining. The insulative lining comprises a radially-inner insulative material and a radially-outer insulative material that are of different compositions relative one another. The radially-outer insulative material is in radially-outer recesses that are in the first tiers as compared to the second tiers. The radially-inner insulative material extends elevationally along the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.